Background Per- and polyfuoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are categorized as persistent organic pollutants and commonly detected in humans, and their toxicity has attracted widespread attention. However, few studies have reported comparison of PFAS levels and potential factors between women pregnant using assisted reproduction technology (ART) and women pregnant naturally. Objective To analyze and compare serum concentrations and sociodemographic determinants of PFAS in pregnant women conceiving through ART and conceiving naturally from Shanghai. Methods Based on the China National Birth Cohort (CNBC) in Shanghai from 2017 to 2019, 333 pregnant women conceiving through ART and 689 pregnant women conceiving naturally were recruited during the same period as study subjects. The concentrations of 32 PFAS were measured in early-pregnancy serum of all pregnant women, and four PFAS with the highest co-exposure levels in both groups were included in the subsequent analysis. Multiple linear regression models were performed to evaluate the associations of sociodemographic factors with serum PFAS concentrations in the two groups respectively. Beta coefficients and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were exponentiated to calculate the ratio of the geometric mean (GM) of PFAS concentrations after each unit change in the independent variable. Results Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), 6∶2 chlorinated polyfluoroethersulfonic acid (6∶2 Cl-PFESA), and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) were four major PFAS in serum of pregnant women conceiving through ART and conceiving naturally, and the concentrations of PFOA, PFOS, and 6∶2 Cl-PFESA were higher in pregnant women conceiving through ART than in pregnant women conceiving naturally (P <0.05). The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that age at pregnancy and household income were associated with serum PFAS levels in both groups. The serum concentrations of PFOS were higher in pregnant women aged ≥35 years old who conceiving through ART (GM ratio=1.26, 95%CI: 1.04, 1.54) and conceiving naturally (GM ratio=1.24, 95%CI: 1.08, 1.42) than pregnant women aged <30 years old respectively. Pregnant women conceiving through ART and conceiving naturally whose household annual income >300000 CNY had lower serum concentrations of PFOA [GM ratio (95%CI): 0.82 (0.72, 0.95) and 0.89 (0.81, 0.97), respectively] and PFHxS [GM ratio (95%CI): 0.66 (0.51, 0.86) and 0.77 (0.66, 0.90), respectively] than those women whose household annual income <200000 CNY. Additionally, pregnant women conceiving naturally with a graduate education or above had lower serum 6∶2 Cl-PFESA concentrations than women with an education below college (GM ratio: 0.81), and multiparous pregnant women conceiving naturally had higher serum concentrations of PFOS, 6∶2 Cl-PFESA, and PFHxS than primiparous pregnant women (GM ratio: 1.14, 1.25, and 1.27 respectively). Conclusion Although differences in serum PFAS levels are found between pregnant women conceiving through ART and women conceiving naturally in this study, maternal age and household income are common determinants of PFAS exposure levels in both populations. We find no special sociodemographic factors to affect PFAS concentrations of pregnant women conceiving through ART compared to pregnant women conceiving naturally. Further research is required to explore other potential factors.

We studied the patients diagnosed with X-linked hypophosphatemicrickets(XLH) and treated with burosumab in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2021 to December 2022. In addition, we described the clinical characteristics of the patients, the changes of clinical indexes before and after burosumab treatment, and the adverse drug reactions during treatment. We also evaluated the efficacy and safety of burosumab for XLH. The results showed that three children XLH patients and one adult XLH patients received burosumab treatment. After treatment, the serum phosphorus level of all patients increased; the serum phosphorus of 3 children patients increased above the lower limit of the reference value range; the serum alkaline phosphatase(ALP) of all patients was lower than that of before treatment; the serum ALP of one adult patient was close to the normal range after 2.5 years of treatment. One child patient showed small crystals in kidney through ultrasound 48 weeks after treatment; one child and one adult showed increased serum parathyroid hormone(PTH)level before treatment and serum PTH continued increasing after treatment. Finally, it may be concluded that burosumab increased serum phosphorus levels in XLH patients, kept the level relatively stable, and reduced serum ALP levels. No serious adverse reactions occurred during treatment, in order to provide reference for the use of burosumab in patients with XLH.

Objective To identify the biomarkers for early rheumatoid arthritis(RA)diagnosis and explore the possible immune regulatory mechanisms.Methods The differentially expressed genesin RA were screened and functionally annotated using the limma,RRA,batch correction,and clusterProfiler.The protein-protein interaction network was retrieved from the STRING database,and Cytoscape 3.8.0 and GeneMANIA were used to select the key genes and predicting their interaction mechanisms.ROC curves was used to validate the accuracy of diagnostic models based on the key genes.The disease-specific immune cells were selected via machine learning,and their correlation with the key genes were analyzed using Corrplot package.Biological functions of the key genes were explored using GSEA method.The expression of STAT1 was investigated in the synovial tissue of rats with collagen-induced arthritis(CIA).Results We identified 9 core key genes in RA(CD3G,CD8A,SYK,LCK,IL2RG,STAT1,CCR5,ITGB2,and ITGAL),which regulate synovial inflammation primarily through cytokines-related pathways.ROC curve analysis showed a high predictive accuracy of the 9 core genes,among which STAT1 had the highest AUC(0.909).Correlation analysis revealed strong correlations of CD3G,ITGAL,LCK,CD8A,and STAT1 with disease-specific immune cells,and STAT1 showed the strongest correlation with M1-type macrophages(R=0.68,P=2.9e-08).The synovial tissues of the ankle joints of CIA rats showed high expressions of STAT1 and p-STAT1 with significant differential expression of STAT1 between the nucleus and the cytoplasm of the synovial fibroblasts.The protein expressions of p-STAT1 and STAT1 in the cell nuclei were significantly reduced after treatment.Conclusion CD3G,CD8A,SYK,LCK,IL2RG,STAT1,CCR5,ITGB2,and ITGAL may serve as biomarkers for early diagnosis of RA.Gene-immune cell pathways such as CD3G/CD8A/LCK-γδ T cells,ITGAL-Tfh cells,and STAT1-M1-type macrophages may be closely related with the development of RA.

Objective To investigate the effects of pretreatment with Xuebijing injection on renal tubular injury in rats with contrast-induced acute kidney injury(CI-AKI).Methods Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were selected and divided into normal group,model group,control group,and treatment group according to the random number table method,with 6 rats in each group.The animal model of CI-AKI was prepared by adopting iohexol,and the normal group was not subjected to any treatment.The rats in the treatment group were injected with Xuebijing injection via the tail vein 15 hours before modeling until 24 hours after modeling.The injection volume was 10 mL/kg for every 6 hours.The control group was injected with normal saline at the same time point.After 24 hours of modeling,the urine of rats in each group was collected to determine the levels of blood urea nitrogen(BUN)and urine N-acetyl-β-D-gluco-aminidase(uNAG),and the blood was collected to determine the levels of serum creatinine(SCr).Then the rats were killed and the kidney tissues were extracted,and then stained with hematoxylin-eosin(HE),and the pathological changes of the kidney tissues were observed under the light microscope.Results BUN,SCr and uNAG were significantly higher in the model group than those in the normal group[BUN(μmol/L):37.29±6.18 vs.6.37±1.19,SCr(mmol/L):30.43±4.44 vs.14.90±1.61,uNAG(U/L):47.77±4.71 vs.11.32±3.62,all P<0.01];BUN,SCr and uNAG levels were obviously decreased in the treatment group compared to the model group[BUN(μmol/L):9.45±3.04 vs.37.29±6.18,SCr(mmol/L):19.83±2.16 vs.30.43±4.44,uNAG(U/L):21.70±6.21 vs.47.77±4.71,all P<0.05],however,BUN and uNAG in the treatment group were still significantly higher than those in the normal group[BUN(μmol/L):9.45±3.04 vs.6.37±1.19,uNAG(U/L):21.70±6.21 vs.11.32±3.62,P<0.05 or P<0.01];SCr in the treatment group was not statistically significant compared to the normal group(μmol/L:19.83±2.16 vs.14.90±1.61,P>0.05).Under the light microscope,the renal tubular epithelial cells at the junction of cortex and dermatomedulla in the kidneys of the model group were obviously vacuolated,accompanied by cell detachment and necrosis,and the tubules were dilated,with no obvious lesions in the glomeruli.The degree of damage in the control group and the treatment group was reduced compared with that in the model group.The degree of renal tubular damage in the model group was higher than that in the normal group;while the degree of renal tubular damage in the control group was significantly lower than that in the model group;and the degree of renal tubular damage in the treatment group was lower than that in the model group.There was no statistically significant difference in the degree of renal tubular damage between the treatment group and the control group.Conclusion Xuebijing injection may exert a protective effect on renal function in rats with CI-AKI by attenuating renal tubular injury.

Objective To identify the biomarkers for early rheumatoid arthritis(RA)diagnosis and explore the possible immune regulatory mechanisms.Methods The differentially expressed genesin RA were screened and functionally annotated using the limma,RRA,batch correction,and clusterProfiler.The protein-protein interaction network was retrieved from the STRING database,and Cytoscape 3.8.0 and GeneMANIA were used to select the key genes and predicting their interaction mechanisms.ROC curves was used to validate the accuracy of diagnostic models based on the key genes.The disease-specific immune cells were selected via machine learning,and their correlation with the key genes were analyzed using Corrplot package.Biological functions of the key genes were explored using GSEA method.The expression of STAT1 was investigated in the synovial tissue of rats with collagen-induced arthritis(CIA).Results We identified 9 core key genes in RA(CD3G,CD8A,SYK,LCK,IL2RG,STAT1,CCR5,ITGB2,and ITGAL),which regulate synovial inflammation primarily through cytokines-related pathways.ROC curve analysis showed a high predictive accuracy of the 9 core genes,among which STAT1 had the highest AUC(0.909).Correlation analysis revealed strong correlations of CD3G,ITGAL,LCK,CD8A,and STAT1 with disease-specific immune cells,and STAT1 showed the strongest correlation with M1-type macrophages(R=0.68,P=2.9e-08).The synovial tissues of the ankle joints of CIA rats showed high expressions of STAT1 and p-STAT1 with significant differential expression of STAT1 between the nucleus and the cytoplasm of the synovial fibroblasts.The protein expressions of p-STAT1 and STAT1 in the cell nuclei were significantly reduced after treatment.Conclusion CD3G,CD8A,SYK,LCK,IL2RG,STAT1,CCR5,ITGB2,and ITGAL may serve as biomarkers for early diagnosis of RA.Gene-immune cell pathways such as CD3G/CD8A/LCK-γδ T cells,ITGAL-Tfh cells,and STAT1-M1-type macrophages may be closely related with the development of RA.

Background Exercise during pregnancy is closely related to maternal and infant health. Previous studies in developed countries have linked maternal exercise during pregnancy with newborn body weight as well as subcutaneous fat thickness. However, the relevant studies in China are limited, and the conclusions remain inconsistent. Objective To investigate the effects of maternal exercise during pregnancy on neonatal weight and subcutaneous fat thickness. Methods Based on the Shanghai Birth Cohort, 959 maternal-infant pairs were included in this study. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to collect average weekly frequency and daily minutes of walking in the first and second trimesters, and entropy weight method was used to calculate the cumulative exercise index in the two trimesters. Birth weight was measured using a calibrated weigh scale. Subcutaneous fat thickness was measured at abdomen, scapula, and triceps with a Harpenden skinfold caliper for all newborns and the sum of the thickness for the three sites was then calculated. A multiple linear regression model was employed to estimate the relationships of cumulative exercise index during pregnancy with neonatal body weight and subcutaneous fat thickness. Subgroup analyses stratified by pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and sex of newborns were also performed. Results The mean age of pregnant women was (28.5±3.8) years, and the pre-pregnancy BMI was (21.4±3.0) kg·m⁻². Newborn boys were slightly more than newborn girls (54.3% vs 45.7%), and the neonatal weight was (3374.0±427.5) g. The means of newborns' abdominal, scapular, and triceps subcutaneous fat thickness were (4.4±1.3), (5.4±1.4), and (6.0±1.5) mm, respectively, and the sum of subcutaneous fat thickness was (15.8±3.9) mm. In the first and second trimesters, 77.3% and 88.7% of pregnant women walked 4 d per week and more, respectively; the daily minutes of walking was (36.9±27.2) min and (43.3±26.3) min, respectively; the cumulative exercise index was 25.6±17.7 and 35.9±21.1, respectively. The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that the cumulative exercise index in the second trimester was negatively associated with newborns' abdominal (b=−0.006, 95%CI: −0.010-−0.003), scapular (b=−0.005, 95%CI: −0.009-−0.002), triceps (b=−0.006, 95%CI: −0.010-−0.002), and their sum of (b=−0.018, 95%CI: −0.028-−0.007) subcutaneous fat thickness (P<0.05); in the first and second trimesters, however, the relationship between maternal cumulative exercise and newborns' body weight was not significant. The results of stratified analyses showed that the negative associations between maternal cumulative exercise index and newborns' subcutaneous fat thickness for the second trimester remained significant in the subgroups of boys and neonates whose mothers had normal pre-pregnancy BMI (P<0.05). Conclusion Cumulative exercise index in the second trimester is negatively correlated with the neonatal thickness of subcutaneous fat, and the association may be altered by neonatal sexes and maternal pre-pregnancy BMI levels.

Objective:To comprehensively understand the operational status and existing problems of the neurosurgery professional training bases for standardized residency training in Guangdong Province.Methods:According to the scoring rules of "Standardized Residency Training Evaluation Indicators—Surgery (Neurosurgery) Professional Base" formulated by the Post-Graduation Medical Education Neurosurgery Professional Committee of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association, 28 training bases were supervised and evaluated. The scoring results of the supervision of 28 neurosurgery training bases were collected, and the training bases were divided into two categories according to the traditional teaching history, 6 affiliated hospitals of traditional medical schools and 22 non-traditional affiliated/teaching hospitals. GraphPad 5.0 software was used for statistical analysis of the 14 core indicators, and t-test, variance analysis and Chi-square test were used for analysis. Results:The results showed that there was a statistically significant difference in the compliance rate of 14 core indicators between traditional teaching hospitals and non-traditional teaching hospitals ( P = 0.003), skill operation and type and number of surgeries ( P = 0.041) and student rotation plan ( P = 0.012). The differences were also statistically significant. Conclusion:This study reveals that the comprehensive management ability of training bases in traditional teaching hospitals is significantly better than that in non-traditional teaching hospitals. Additionally, it's suggested to strengthen the construction of professional bases, enhance the institutionalized management of bases, and thus realize the homogenization training of neurosurgery residents.

Objective: To explore the correlation between thromboelastography (TEG) parameters and the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and bleeding in patients receiving anticoagulant therapy in surgical intensive care unit (SICU). Methods: 205 patients received low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) anticoagulant therapy admitted to SICU of Tianjin Hospital from December 2016 to December 2017 were consecutively enrolled. TEG detection was performed in all patients at 1 day after anticoagulation therapy, and coagulation reaction time (R value), blood clot generation time (K value), blood clot generation rate (α angle) and maximum width value (MA value) were recorded. At the same time, the traditional coagulation function test was carried out, and prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and D-dimer levels were also recorded. The incidence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE) and bleeding during hospitalization were observed. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors for VTE and bleeding in patients receiving anticoagulant therapy. Results: Of 205 patients, during the anticoagulant treatment, 14 patients developed DVT, and 4 patients with PE (2 of them were combined with DVT) with an incidence of 7.8% (16/205). There were 2 patients suffering from cerebral hemorrhage, 2 patients with gastric bleeding, and 1 patient with intra-tracheal hemorrhage with an incidence of 2.4% (5/205). Compared with the patients without VTE or bleeding, the R value of TEG in patients with VTE was significantly lowered (minutes: 4.6±2.2 vs. 7.4±1.4, P < 0.01), which was significantly increased in patients with hemorrhagic complications (minutes: 12.1±1.1 vs. 7.4±1.4, P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the K value, α angle, MA value of TEG, or PT, APTT, D-dimer between the patients with and without VTE or bleeding. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that the R value of TEG was independent risk factor for incidence of VTE and hemorrhagic complication in SICU patients who receiving anticoagulation therapy [VTE: β = 0.386, odds ratio (OR) = 1.096, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 1.021-2.361, P = 0.006; hemorrhagic complication: β = -1.213, OR = 1.051, 95%CI = 1.017-3.458, P = 0.045]. Conclusion The R value of TEG is associated with the occurrence of VTE and hemorrhagic complications in patients receiving anticoagulant therapy in SICU.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the correlation between thromboelastography (TEG) parameters and the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and bleeding in patients receiving anticoagulant therapy in surgical intensive care unit (SICU). METHODS: 205 patients received low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) anticoagulant therapy admitted to SICU of Tianjin Hospital from December 2016 to December 2017 were consecutively enrolled. TEG detection was performed in all patients at 1 day after anticoagulation therapy, and coagulation reaction time (R value), blood clot generation time (K value), blood clot generation rate (α angle) and maximum width value (MA value) were recorded. At the same time, the traditional coagulation function test was carried out, and prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and D-dimer levels were also recorded. The incidence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE) and bleeding during hospitalization were observed. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors for VTE and bleeding in patients receiving anticoagulant therapy. RESULTS: Of 205 patients, during the anticoagulant treatment, 14 patients developed DVT, and 4 patients with PE (2 of them were combined with DVT) with an incidence of 7.8% (16/205). There were 2 patients suffering from cerebral hemorrhage, 2 patients with gastric bleeding, and 1 patient with intra-tracheal hemorrhage with an incidence of 2.4% (5/205). Compared with the patients without VTE or bleeding, the R value of TEG in patients with VTE was significantly lowered (minutes: 4.6±2.2 vs. 7.4±1.4, P < 0.01), which was significantly increased in patients with hemorrhagic complications (minutes: 12.1±1.1 vs. 7.4±1.4, P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the K value, α angle, MA value of TEG, or PT, APTT, D-dimer between the patients with and without VTE or bleeding. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that the R value of TEG was independent risk factor for incidence of VTE and hemorrhagic complication in SICU patients who receiving anticoagulation therapy [VTE: β = 0.386, odds ratio (OR) = 1.096, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 1.021-2.361, P = 0.006; hemorrhagic complication: β = -1.213, OR = 1.051, 95%CI = 1.017-3.458, P = 0.045]. CONCLUSIONS The R value of TEG is associated with the occurrence of VTE and hemorrhagic complications in patients receiving anticoagulant therapy in SICU.
Anticoagulants ; Critical Care ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight ; Humans ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Risk Factors ; Thrombelastography ; Venous Thromboembolism

Objective To investigate the status quo of nutritional risks, malnutrition and nutritional support of inpatients with neoplasms and to provide a theoretical basis for making targeted clinic nutritional support standards and training programs.Methods Totally 421 patients with neoplasms who were admitted in Wuhan Union Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology between October 2015 and April 2016 were selected as respondents by cross-sectional survey and convenience sampling, and investigated with self-made nutritional support questionnaires based on Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS 2002) and China's real nursing practice.Results The incidence of malnutrition of the 421 patients was 44.2%, and the incidence of nutritional risks was 68.6%. The incidence of nutritional risks of patients with gastrointestinal neoplasms was higher than that of those patients with other neoplasms (χ2=24.541, 4.405;P<0.05); 92.6% of patients received nutritional support, 76.2% of which received parenteral nutrition and 14.5% received enteral nutrition; the incidence of gastrointestinal complications among those patients who received enteral nutrition was up to 30.2%, and the incidence of mechanical complications among those patients who received parenteral nutrition was up to 13.4%; the nursing achievement rates of the patients who received enteral nutrition and parenteral nutrition were 41.8% and 61.6%, respectively.Conclusions Inpatients with neoplasms show high incidence of nutritional risks and malnutrition. Therefore, healthcare workers should standardize the nutritional risk management for inpatients with neoplasms and strengthen the nutrition nursing training and quality control for nurses so as to reduce nutritional support-related complications among inpatients with neoplasms and accelerate their recovery.