Objective To develop the Quality of Life Scale for Patients with Aplastic Anemia(QLS-AA)and to test its reliability and validity.Methods According to the concept category and the four-dimensional model of quality of life,the scale item pool was initially constructed through literature review and qualitative interview.The draft of the QLS-AA was formed through expert inquiry,cognitive interviews and expert consultation.A questionnaire survey was conducted on 429 patients with aplastic anemia from the hematology departments of a tertiary general hospital in Zhejiang Province and a tertiary hematology hospital in Tianjin with the convenient sampling method from December 2021 to November 2022,and the item analysis and reliability,validity test of the pre-test scale were carried out.Results 422 valid questionnaires were collected,and the effective questionnaire recovery rate was 98.37％.3 common factors were extracted by exploratory factor analysis,and the cumulative variance contribution rate was 66.113％.The scale level consensus content validity index was 0.821,the scale level average content validity index was 0.970,the item level content validity index was 0.833～1.000,and the correlation coefficient with SF-36 was 0.719.The Cronbach's α was 0.944,and the split half reliability was 0.882,and retest reliability was 0.931.The final QLS-AA includes 3 dimensions with 39 items.Conclusion The process of developing QLS-AA in this study is scientifically standardized,and the scale has good reliability and validity,which can effectively evaluate the quality of life for patients with aplastic anemia.

Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of concurrent chemoradiotherapy combined with nimotuzumab in the treatment of patients with inoperable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 503 patients with inoperable ESCC who underwent concurrent chemoradiotherapy in the Department of Radiation Oncology, Changzhou No. 2 People′s Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University and Department of Radiation Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University from 2014 to 2020. Among these patients, 69 received concurrent chemoradiotherapy combined with nimotuzumab (the combined therapy group) and 434 received concurrent chemoradiotherapy alone (the concurrent chemoradiotherapy group). Patients of both groups were matched at a ratio of 1∶2 using the propensity score matching (PSM) method. As a result, 168 patients were determined for clinical analysis, including 61 in the combined therapy group and 107 in the concurrent chemoradiotherapy group. The short-term efficacy and adverse reactions of both groups were compared. The overall survival (OS) curves and progression-free survival (PFS) curves were plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method for the Log-rank test.Results:The two groups showed no statistical difference ( P > 0.05) in clinical baseline characteristics after the PSM. The objective response rate (ORR) of the combined therapy group was significantly higher than that of the concurrent chemoradiotherapy group with statistically significant differences (85.2% vs. 71.0%, χ2 = 4.33, P = 0.037). There was no statistical difference (98.4% vs. 91.6%, P > 0.05) in the disease control rate (DCR) between the two groups. The combined therapy group had median PFS of 28.07 months and 1-, 3-, and 5-year PFS ratios of 78.2%, 37.5% and 29.1%, respectively. The concurrent chemoradiotherapy group had mPFS of 19.54 months and 1-, 3-, and 5-year PFS ratios of 72.9%, 28.3% and 21.3%, respectively. Both groups showed statistically significant differences in PFS ( χ2 = 4.49, P = 0.034). The combined group had median OS of 34.93 months and 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS ratios of 88.5%, 46.8% and 37.4%, respectively. The concurrent chemoradiotherapy group had mOS of 24.30 months and 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS ratios of 81.3%, 35.2% and 28.0%, respectively. Both groups showed statistically significant differences in OS (χ 2= 5.11, P = 0.024), but did not show statistical differences ( P > 0.05) in the severity degree of each adverse effect during the treatment. Conclusions:Concurrent chemoradiotherapy combined with nimotuzumab can improve the ORR and prolong the PFS and OS of patients with inoperable ESCC compared with concurrent chemoradiotherapy alone. Furthermore, combining with nimotuzumab does not increase adverse effects and can be tolerated by patients with high safety.

The Ly-6 and uPAR (LU) domain-containing proteins represent a large family of cell-surface markers. In particular, mouse Ly-6A/Sca-1 is a widely used marker for various stem cells; however, its human ortholog is missing. In this study, based on a systematic survey and comparative genomic study of mouse and human LU domain-containing proteins, we identified a previously unannotated human gene encoding the candidate ortholog of mouse Ly-6A/Sca-1. This gene, hereby named LY6A, reversely overlaps with a lncRNA gene in the majority of exonic sequences. We found that LY6A is aberrantly expressed in pituitary tumors, but not in normal pituitary tissues, and may contribute to tumorigenesis. Similar to mouse Ly-6A/Sca-1, human LY6A is also upregulated by interferon, suggesting a conserved transcriptional regulatory mechanism between humans and mice. We cloned the full-length LY6A cDNA, whose encoded protein sequence, domain architecture, and exon-intron structures are all well conserved with mouse Ly-6A/Sca-1. Ectopic expression of the LY6A protein in cells demonstrates that it acts the same as mouse Ly-6A/Sca-1 in their processing and glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchoring to the cell membrane. Collectively, these studies unveil a novel human gene encoding a candidate biomarker and provide an interesting model gene for studying gene regulatory and evolutionary mechanisms.
Humans ; Membrane Proteins/genetics* ; Pituitary Neoplasms/genetics* ; Biomarkers

Objective:To construct a targeted and accurate evaluation system for facial and cervical wounds and scars of burn patients.Methods:The method combining literature analysis and survey research was adopted, and the basic principles of item system construction were followed. From June to August 2020, based on the aesthetic standards of facial and cervical plastic surgery, the topographic map assessment system for facial and cervical wounds and scars of burn patients was preliminarily formed, focusing on the assessment of wounds and scars in the necks and faces of patients after burns. In September 2020, 38 experts in the relevant fields were consulted in advance and the questionnaire was revised according to the experts' opinions. From December 2020 to March 2021, the Delphi method was applied to conduct inquiry by correspondence with 35 experts in relevant fields from Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Beijing, and other cities, who met the inclusion criteria, and the items were screened and established. The effective recovery rate of inquiry questionnaire was calculated to determine the level of enthusiasm of experts, the average authority coefficient of all items was calculated to determine the level of expert authority, the average importance expert score, the average coefficient of variation, and the average full score rate of all the third-level items were calculated to determine the concentration of expert opinions, the average coefficients of variation and Kendall's harmony coefficients of the importance, sensitivity, and operability expert scores of all the third-level items were calculated to determine the degree of coordination of expert opinions. The Kendall's harmony coefficients for the importance, sensitivity, and operability expert scores of all the third-level items were statistically analyzed with chi-square test.Results:Among the 35 experts consulted by Delphi method, mainly were male, aged (48±10) years, with 8-38 years of working experience, mainly with associate senior titles and above, all with a bachelor's degree or above education background, and of whom 11 were burn experts, 7 were wound repair experts, 4 were plastic surgery experts, and 13 were rehabilitation medicine experts. Finally, a topographic map assessment system for facial and cervical wounds and scars of burn patients was formed, including 4 first-level items, 21 second-level items, 40 third-level items, and 1 mask. The effective recovery rate of inquiry questionnaire was 100% (35/35). The average authority coefficient of all items was 0.89. The average importance expert score was 4.67, the average coefficient of variation of importance expert score was 0.01, and the average full score rate of all the third-level items was 86.3%. The average coefficients of variation of the importance, sensitivity, and operability expert scores of all the third-level items were 0.01, 0.01, and 0.02, respectively. The Kendall's harmony coefficients for the importance, sensitivity, and operability expert scores of all the third-level items were statistically significant (with χ2 values of 1 201.53, 745.67, and 707.07, respectively , P<0.05). Conclusions:The established topographic map assessment system for facial and cervical wounds and scars of burn patients has high scientificity and reliability, which can be used for the evaluation of facial and neck wounds or scars in burn patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the composition and distribution of beta-thalassemia-associated genotypes in Liuzhou area of Guangxi, China. METHODS: From January to December 2017, 13 847 individuals who came for premarital examination, maternity examination or health check were recruited with informed consent. The subjects were analyzed by reverse dot blotting (RDB) for 17 common beta-thalassemia-associated variants among the Chinese population. Individuals with inconsistent results by blood test, electrophoresis, and RDB were subjected to Sanger sequencing to detect rare variants of the beta globin gene. RESULTS: In total 2098 individuals were found to harbor beta-thalassemia-associated variants, which included 2075 heterozygotes (98.90%), 12 compound heterozygotes (0.57%) and 11 homozygotes (0.52%). CD41-42 (48.43%) and CD17 (31.45%) were the most common variants. Three hundred and thirty eight-individuals were found to also carry heterozygous variants of the alpha globin gene, with the most common types being --SEA/aa, -a3.7/aa, aCSa/aa, -a4.2/aa. Through Sanger sequencing, rare genotypes such as beta-32/betaN, betaCD41-42/betaIVS-II-5 and betaCD30/betaN were detected. CONCLUSION Liuzhou area has a high incidence of beta-thalassemia, but with a complex variant spectrum and clinical phenotypes different from other regions. Genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis for the carrier population is crucial for the reduction of the related birth defects. Our result may provide valuable information for the prevention and control of beta-thalassemia in this area.
China ; Female ; Genetic Counseling ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Humans ; Mutation ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; alpha-Globins ; genetics ; beta-Globins ; genetics ; beta-Thalassemia ; diagnosis ; genetics

Objective To establish a time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TRFIA) method for detecting M-type phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) antibody and to investigate the diagnostic value of serum PLA2R antibody for idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN).Methods The microplates coated with recombined PLA2R antigen and Eu3+-streptavidin labeled PLA2R antigen were used to establish a dual-antigen sandwich-type TRFIA for PLA2R antibody detection (anti-PLA2R-TRFIA).The serum concentrations of PLA2R antibody in 63 IMN patients (36 males,27 females,age 25-75 years) and 90 healthy volunteers (30 males,60 females,age 22-53 years) were quantitatively analyzed.Kruskal-Wallis H test and MannWhitney u test were used to analyze the data.Results The range of anti-PLA2R-TRFIA was 0-10 mg/L and the sensitivity was 5 μg/L,while ED20,ED50 and ED80 of the standard curve were (0.144±0.012),(0.707±0.029) and (3.466±0.098) mg/L,respectively.The CV of inter-and intra-assay were 4.7％ and 5.1％,respectively.The average concentration of serum PLA2R antibody in healthy volunteers was 0.455(0.320,0.593) mg/L,but in IMN patients it was 2.690(0.717,7.750) mg/L (z=-3.688,P＜0.05).Meanwhile,the serum levels of PLA2R antibody in IMN patients were significantly different between different stages and ages (x2 values:10.328,9.716,both P＜0.05).According to the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve,when the diagnostic cut-off was set at 0.80 mg/L for IMN detection,the sensitivity and specificity of anti-PLA2R-TRFIA were 73.0％ (46/63) and 95.6％ (86/90),respectively.Conclusions AntiPLA2R-TRFIA has been well established.This quick and easy-performance method could increase the diagnostic accuracy for IMN.

Objective To investigate the clinico-pathological features of idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN ) and the expression of phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R ) in elderly patients. Methods A total of 109 elderly patients with IMN confirmed by renal biopsy at Wuxi People's Hospital from July 2008 to February 2015 were included.Data were retrospectively collected. Results (1)Participating patients with IMN had a mean age of (67.3 ± 5.4)years ,and 67.9% of them had hypertension and 65.1% had nephrotic syndrome.Compared with non-elderly patients ,elderly patients had a higher proportion with hypertension (67.9% vs.25.2%)(P＝0.000) ,higher systolic pressure[(143.1 ± 15.2)mmHg vs. (127.3 ± 13.3)mmHg](P＝ 0.000) ,higher diastolic pressure [(88.4 ± 10.0)mmHg vs. (80.2 ± 8.4)mmHg](P＝ 0.000) ,more severe tubulointerstitial lesions [(3.1±1.9)points vs.(2.0±1.9)points](P＝0.000),and lower eGFR[(70.9±22.9)ml·min－1· 1.73 m －2vs. (90.6 ± 27.1 ) ml·min－1·1.73 m －2] ( P ＝ 0.000 ). (2 ) There were more severe tubulointerstitial lesions[(4.7 ± 1.8)points vs. (2.4 ± 1.7)points ,2.9 ± 1.6 points](P ＝ 0.000 , 0.000)and lower eGFR[(50.4 ± 17.4)ml·min－1·1.73 m －2vs. (80.3 ± 19.7)ml·min－1·1.73 m －2, (72.3 ± 21.4)ml·min－1·1.73 m －2](P＝0.000 ,0.000)in elderly patients of pathological stage Ⅱ, compared with patients of pathological stages Ⅰ and Ⅰ-Ⅱ. (3)The rate of positive PLA2R was 82.4%.Patients with positive PLA2R had higher proteinuria[(4.5 ± 2.3)g vs. (2.9 ± 1.1)g](P＝0.042) ,lower eGFR[(66.8 ± 21.8)ml·min－1·1.73 m －2vs. (97.7 ± 16.0)ml·min－1·1.73 m －2](P＝0.000) ,and more severe tubulointerstitial lesions [(3.1 ± 2.0)points vs. (1.7 ± 1.1)points](P＝0.037)than patients with negative PLA2R. (4)Multiple regression analysis showed that PLA2R positive rate(P＝0.008) ,tubulointerstitial lesion(P＝0.000) ,and level of cholesterol(P＝0.025)were negatively correlated with eGFR (R2＝0.572). Conclusions Compared with non-elderly patients , elderly patients with IMN have poorer prognosis as a result of higher blood pressure and more severe tubulointerstitial lesions.Elderly patients with IMN of advanced pathological stages and positive PLA2R have more severe kidney injury and tubulointerstitial lesions ,resulting in poor prognosis.

Objective To investigate the features and correlation analysis of clinico-pathological and expression of phospholipase A2 receptor(PLA2R)in idiopathic membranous nephropathy. Methods A number of 244 patients of IMN proved by renal biopsy were recruited in Wuxi People's Hospital from July 2008 to February 2015. Data were restrospectively collected. Results In the 244 IMN patients(mean age 54.07 ± 15.22 years,130 males and 114 females),44.3% had hypertension and 62.7% had nephrotic syndrome. Compared with female patients ,male patients had more severe proteinuria and lower eGFR(P < 0.05). Compared with the group of proteinuria < 4 g/24 h,the groups of proteinuria 4~8 g/24 h and > 8 g/24 h had higher level of cholesterol and blood pressure ,lower eGFR and more severe tubulointerstitial lesions(P < 0.05). Pathological stage Ⅰ and Ⅱaccounted for 98%,and there were more severe tubulointerstitial lesions and lower eGFR in the patients of stage Ⅱthan that in the patients of stageⅠandⅠ~Ⅱ(P<0.05). The positive rate of PLA2R accounted for 84.3%. Lower eGFR and more severe tubulointerstitial lesions were found in PLA2R-positive patients than those in PLA2R-neg-ative patients(P < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis showed that tubulointerstitial lesions(B =-7.253),hyper-tension ratio(B=-10.726)and the level of cholesterol(B=-2.077)had negative correlations with eGFR(P<0.01, R2=0.470). Conclusions IMN patients of male gender,grave proteinuria,high pathological stage and positive PLA2R should be treated more actively , since severe tubulointerstitial lesions and kidney injury were more common in those patients.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy ofHejie Fenxiao Decoction on damp-heat patients with acute kidney injury (AKI).Methods Totally 68 patients were divided into the control group and the treatment group according to the patients’ willings. Both groups were given treatment, such as elimination of the incentives and symptomatic treatment. Besides, patients of the treatment group acceptedHejie Fenxiao Decoction for 30 days. The changes of renal function indexes, such as serum creatinine (SCr), blood urine nitrogen (BUN), uric acid (UA), albumin (ALB) and integral of TCM syndrome, were observed, and recovery ratio and clinical endpoints were compared.Results SCr and eGFR of both group were improved on day 14 (P<0.05). After treatment, the renal function recovery ratio and renal replacement ratio in the two groups showed obvious differences (P<0.05);although survival rate of treatment group was higher than control group, it showed no statistical significance (P>0.05);clinical endpoints analysis of the two groups showed statistical significance (P<0.05). The difference of integrals of TCM syndrome between the two groups showed statistical significance (P<0.05) on day 14.ConclusionHejie Fenxiao Decoction combined with basic regular Western medicine can better improve the clinical symptom, recover the renal function, and decrease the rate of renal replacement and death of AKI damp-heat patients.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical value of multicolor melting curve analysis(MMCA) for detecting genetic mutations in G6PD deficiency.

METHODSA total of 402 peripheral blood samples(256 males and 146 females) were collected from suspected patients or their relatives at the Prenatal Diagnosis Center of Liuzhou Maternal and Child Health Hospital between March 2012 and May 2012. The samples were screened by G6PD/6PGD quantitative ratio testing. The reliability of the assay was evaluated by multiplex probe melting curve assay(which can detect 16 G6PD mutations) and DNA sequencing through a double blind study.

RESULTSOne hundred seventy cases with G6PD/6PGD ratio < 1.0 and 232 cases with G6PD/6PGD ratio ≥ 1.0 were detected by the enzymological method. DNA sequencing has identified 182 wild type samples, 151 hemizygous mutation samples, 5 female homozygous mutation samples, 54 female heterozygous mutation samples and 10 female double heterozygous mutation samples. Multicolor melting curve analysis has detected 185 wild type samples, 148 hemizygous mutation samples, 5 female homozygous mutation samples, 55 female heterozygous mutation samples and 9 female double heterozygous mutation samples. The specificity and sensitivity of G6PD gene mutation detection by multicolor melting curve analysis were 100%(182/182) and 98.6%(217/220), respectively. The positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 99.5%(216/217) and 98.4%(182/185), respectively, and the Youden's index was 0.986. The concordance rate of the sample detection between the melting curve assay and DNA sequencing was 99.0%(398/402). Twenty-one different genotypes were detected by the multicolor melting curve analysis and 24 different genotypes were detected by DNA sequencing. Four samples containing mutations(c.196T>A or c.406C>T) were not detected by multicolor melting curve analysis, which can be attributed to different technical settings of the two methods.

CONCLUSIONMulticolor melting curve analysis for G6PD gene mutation detection is a simple, rapid, sensitive and specific method, which can be used for clinical diagnosis of G6PD deficiency.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase ; genetics ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Sequence Analysis, DNA