OBJECTIVES: To investigate the risk factors for neonatal asphyxia in Hubei Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture and establish a nomogram model for predicting the risk of neonatal asphyxia. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted with 613 cases of neonatal asphyxia treated in 20 cooperative hospitals in Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture from January to December 2019 as the asphyxia group, and 988 randomly selected non-asphyxia neonates born and admitted to the neonatology department of these hospitals during the same period as the control group. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify risk factors for neonatal asphyxia. R software (4.2.2) was used to establish a nomogram model. Receiver operator characteristic curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis were used to assess the discrimination, calibration, and clinical usefulness of the model for predicting the risk of neonatal asphyxia, respectively. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that minority (Tujia), male sex, premature birth, congenital malformations, abnormal fetal position, intrauterine distress, maternal occupation as a farmer, education level below high school, fewer than 9 prenatal check-ups, threatened abortion, abnormal umbilical cord, abnormal amniotic fluid, placenta previa, abruptio placentae, emergency caesarean section, and assisted delivery were independent risk factors for neonatal asphyxia (P<0.05). The area under the curve of the model for predicting the risk of neonatal asphyxia based on these risk factors was 0.748 (95%CI: 0.723-0.772). The calibration curve indicated high accuracy of the model for predicting the risk of neonatal asphyxia. The decision curve analysis showed that the model could provide a higher net benefit for neonates at risk of asphyxia. CONCLUSIONS The risk factors for neonatal asphyxia in Hubei Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture are multifactorial, and the nomogram model based on these factors has good value in predicting the risk of neonatal asphyxia, which can help clinicians identify neonates at high risk of asphyxia early, and reduce the incidence of neonatal asphyxia.
Infant, Newborn ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Female ; Nomograms ; Retrospective Studies ; Cesarean Section ; Risk Factors ; Asphyxia Neonatorum/etiology*

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the levels of physical growth and neurodevelopment in preterm infants at the corrected age of 18-24 months. METHODS: The physical growth data and neurodevelopment data of 484 preterm infants at corrected age of 18-24 months were prospectively collected by a post-discharge follow-up system for preterm infants. The infants were regularly followed up in Shenzhen Bao'an Maternal and Child Health Hospital Affiliated to Jinan University from April 2018 to December 2021. The neurodevelopment was evaluated by the Children Neuropsychological and Behavioral Scale-Revision 2016. A total of 219 full-term infants served as controls. The infants were divided into groups (extremely preterm, very preterm, moderate late preterm, and full-term) based on gestational age, and the groups were compared in the levels of physical growth and neurodevelopment. RESULTS: Except that the moderate preterm group had a higher length-for-age Z-score than the full-term group (P=0.038), there was no significant difference in physical growth indicators between the preterm groups and the full-term group (P>0.05). Each preterm group had a significantly lower total developmental quotient (DQ) than the full-term group (P<0.05). Except for the social behavior domain, the DQ of other domains in the extremely preterm and very preterm groups was significantly lower than that in the full-term group (P<0.05). The <32 weeks preterm group had a significantly higher incidence rate of global developmental delay than the full-term group (16.7% vs 6.4%, P=0.012), and the incidence rate of global developmental delay tended to increase with the reduction in gestational age (P=0.026). CONCLUSIONS Preterm infants can catch up with full-term infants in terms of physical growth at the corrected age of 18-24 months, but with a lower neurodevelopmental level than full-term infants. Neurodevelopment monitoring and early intervention should be taken seriously for preterm infants with a gestational age of <32 weeks.
Infant ; Child ; Infant, Newborn ; Humans ; Child, Preschool ; Infant, Premature ; Aftercare ; Patient Discharge ; Gestational Age

Professor YANG Ji-guo's clinical experience in treatment of functional gastrointestinal diseases was summerized. Professor YANG Ji-guo believes that this disease is caused by the deficiency of six fu organs. Dysfunction of six fu organs in descending transportation is the basic pathogenesis. The principle of acupoint selection includes benefiting gastrointestinal functions, unblocking and purging six fu, soothing liver qi and calming down the mind. In treatment, acupuncture is combined with umbilicus moxibustion. In acupuncture, the deqi promoting technique by rotating and trembling needle is adopted. Focusing on the deficiency of six fu organs, umbilicus moxibustion is adopted to benefit the spleen and stomach and harmonize the functions of six fu organs for both biao (symptoms) and ben (root cause).
Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/therapy* ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; Umbilicus

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical treatment outcomes and the changes of the outcomes over time in extremely preterm twins in Guangdong Province, China. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for 269 pairs of extremely preterm twins with a gestational age of <28 weeks who were admitted to the department of neonatology in 26 grade A tertiary hospitals in Guangdong Province from January 2008 to December 2017. According to the admission time, they were divided into two groups: 2008-2012 and 2013-2017. Besides, each pair of twins was divided into the heavier infant and the lighter infant subgroups according to birth weight. The perinatal data of mothers and hospitalization data of neonates were collected. The survival rate of twins and the incidence rate of complications were compared between the 2008-2012 and 2013-2017 groups. RESULTS: Compared with the 2008-2012 group, the 2013-2017 group (both the heavier infant and lighter infant subgroups) had lower incidence rates of severe asphyxia and smaller head circumference at birth (P<0.05). The mortality rates of both of the twins, the heavier infant of the twins, and the lighter infant of the twins were lower in the 2013-2017 group compared with the 2008-2012 group (P<0.05). Compared with the 2008-2012 group, the 2013-2017 group (both the heavier infant and lighter infant subgroups) had lower incidence rates of pulmonary hemorrhage, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage (P-IVH), and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) and a higher incidence rate of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS There is a significant increase in the survival rate over time in extremely preterm twins with a gestational age of <28 weeks in the 26 grade A tertiary hospitals in Guangdong Province. The incidences of severe asphyxia, pulmonary hemorrhage, PDA, P-IVH, and NRDS decrease in both the heavier and lighter infants of the twins, but the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia increases. With the improvement of diagnosis and treatment, the multidisciplinary collaboration between different fields of fetal medicine including prenatal diagnosis, obstetrics, and neonatology is needed in the future to jointly develop management strategies for twin pregnancy.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia/epidemiology* ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Extremely Premature ; Infant, Newborn ; Pregnancy ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Objective: To explore the action mechanism of hsa_circ_0000231 in the occurrence and development of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC). Methods: Tissue samples of 60 TSCC patients were examined. The patients, including 32 males and 28 females, aged from 36 to 84 years old, underwent surgery in the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University and Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Nantong University from December 2014 to December 2017. Saliva samples were obtained from healthy volunteers (5 males and 5 females, aged from 40 to 75 years old) and 10 TSCC patients. The TSCC cell lines (CAL-27, Tca-8113 and HN-4) were used. The expression levels of hsa_circ_0000231 in 60 pairs of freshly matched TSCC and para-carcinoma tissue samples, 10 pairs of saliva samples and 3 TSCC cell lines were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). hsa_circ_0000231 gene interference and lentiviral transfection were constructed, hsa_circ_0000231 in TSCC cell lines CAL-27 and Tca-8113 was knocked down, and the expressions of hsa_circ_0000231 in hsa_circ_0000231 interference group (sh-circ) and no-load lentivirus group (negative control) were tested with qRT-PCR. Cells with the highest knock-down efficiency were selected for CCK-8 test, colony formation assay, transwell invasion assay and scratch assay. The expressions of EMT-related proteins including E-cadherin, snail protein, N-cadherin and vimentin and proteins related to Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway including β-catenin, C-myc, Bcl-2, MMP-9 and Cyclin D1 were measured by western blot. After TSCC cells in the interference group were co-cultured with Wnt/β-catenin pathway activator LiCl, the expressions of above proteins were re-measured by western blot. TSCC cells in interference group and control group were subcutaneously injected into nude mice to compare the effect of hsa_circ_0000231 knockdown on the growths of the tumors grafted subcutaneously in the nude mice. Statistical analysis software 25.0 was used for data analysis, and t-test or chi-square test was used for comparison between groups. Results: hsa_circ_0000231 was highly expressed in the tissue and saliva samples of TSCC patients and cell lines CAL-27, Tca-8113 and HN-4, but lowly expressed in paired para-carcinoma tissues, saliva samples of healthy people and normal human oral keratinocytes (all P<0.05). Log-rank univariate analysis showed that hsa_circ_0000231 expression level, tumor differentiation degree and T stage were related to the survival of TSCC patients (all P<0.05). Multivariate Cox risk regression model analysis suggested that hsa_circ_0000231 expression level (χ²=5.77,P=0.016) and T stage (χ²=5.27,P=0.029) were independent factors for the poor prognosis of TSCC patients. Western blot showed the expressions of snail protein, N-cadherin and vimentin were down-regulated, but E-cadherin was up-regulated in interference group compared with control group. In interference group, the expressions of β-catenin, C-myc, Bcl-2, MMP-9 and CyclinD1 were down-regulated, which were reversed after TSCC cells were co-cultured with LiCl. The knockdown of hsa_circ_0000231 reduced the proliferation, invasion and metastasis abilities of CAL-27 and Tca-8113 cells, which were reversed after TSCC cells were co-cultured with LiCl. The growth rate and volume of the tumors grafted subcutaneously in interference group using LiCl were greater than those in negative control group. Conclusion: hsa_circ_0000231 is an independent prognostic factor of TSCC. Highly expressed hsa_circ_0000231 can promote the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of TSCC cells.
Male ; Animals ; Mice ; Female ; Humans ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Tongue Neoplasms ; Wnt Signaling Pathway/genetics* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/genetics* ; beta Catenin/metabolism* ; Mice, Nude ; Vimentin ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9/metabolism* ; RNA, Circular ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Cell Proliferation/genetics* ; Cadherins/genetics* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/metabolism* ; Tongue

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical effect of root canal obturation therapy using cold flowable gutta-percha on young permanent teeth after apexification. METHODS: Ninety cases of young permanent teeth with pulp necrosis or periapical periodontitis treated by apexification were randomly divided into two groups. The cases in each group were divided into single root canal and multiple root canal according to the number of the root canal, and divided into classifications Ⅰ, and Ⅱ/Ⅲ/Ⅳ according to Frank's classification of root development after apexification. Cold flowable gutta-percha and warm gutta-percha obturation techniques were used for root canal obturation of the two groups. The operation time was recorded, and the patients' therapy pain degree was evaluated by visual analog scale (VAS) immediately after operation. Periapical X-ray was performed after operation to evaluate the effect of the root canal filling. The total length of the root was divided into equal three parts on the X-ray film, and three-dimensional tightness of the apical, middle, and coronal region of the root canals were statistically analyzed respectively. Clinical examinations and X-ray examination were performed 6 and 12 months after the operation to evaluate the treatment success rate. RESULTS: The operation time of cold flowable gutta-percha group was significantly lower than that of the control group, which were 51 s and 74 s (P < 0.05); The percentages of pain and discomfort in the two groups were 26.67% and 40.00%, respectively. There were two cases of underfilling and no overfilling in both groups. The percentages of proper filling and tight three-dimensional obturation in the experimental and control groups were 71.11% and 60.00% respectively; and the percentages of tight three-dimensional obturation in the apical third areas were 86.67% and 66.67%, the difference was significant (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the three-dimensional tightness between the two groups in the middle and coronal third areas. The percentages of tight three-dimensional obturation in classification Ⅰ groups were 86.67%, 83.33%, 93.33% and 76.67%, 90.00%, 96.67% in experimental and control group, respectively; The percentages of classification Ⅱ/Ⅲ/Ⅳ groups were 86.67%, 86.67%, 100.00% and 46.67%, 86.67%, 100.00%, respectively, and the difference was significant (P < 0.05). There were no apical lesions that occurred in either group during the one-year review period. CONCLUSION The application of cold flowable gutta-percha on young permanent teeth root canal obturation after apexification can achieve good obturation effect. The root obturation effect in the apical third area is significantly better than that of warm gutta-percha obturation techniques. Cold flowable gutta-percha can shorten the clinical treatment time and ameliorate the patients' therapy comfort.
Apexification ; Dental Pulp Cavity ; Gutta-Percha ; Humans ; Radiography ; Root Canal Filling Materials ; Root Canal Obturation ; Root Canal Preparation

OBJECTIVES: To assess the growth of preterm infants up to a corrected age of 24 months, and to understand the growth trend and pattern of preterm infants. METHODS: A preterm infant follow-up database was established based on the Internet Plus follow-up system. A total of 3 188 preterm infants who were born from April 2018 to April 2021 were enrolled. Their length, weight, and head circumference were recorded at birth and at the corrected ages of 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. The preterm infants were grouped by perinatal factors. The growth curves of these infants were plotted and compared with the International Fetal and Newborn Growth Consortium for the 21st Century (INTERGROWTH-21st) standard and World Health Organization (WHO) standard. RESULTS: The weight, length, and head circumference curves of each group of preterm infants grouped by various perinatal factors all rose rapidly within the corrected age of 6 months, but the growth rate slowed down after the corrected age of 6 months. Based on the actual age for the groups of preterm infants with different gestational ages (<28 weeks, 28-31 CONCLUSIONS The physical growth rate of preterm infants is faster within the corrected age of 6 months, and the growth rate slows down after the corrected age of 6 months. Preterm infants with a smaller gestational age need longer time to catch up in weight and head circumference. More attention should be paid to the physical growth of extremely preterm infants, extremely low birth weight infants, and small-for-gestational-age infants.
Cephalometry ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Infant, Small for Gestational Age ; Pregnancy

When this paper was first published the following ethical statement was omitted in error: All animal experimental protocols were approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, Approval NO: 048483). Further, all methods were performed in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations. NIH mice were purchased from the Guangdong Medical Laboratory Animal Center (Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, Certificate NO.44007200031795). The authors would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Objective To investigate the risk of Anisakis infections among high-risk populations along the coastal areas of Jiangsu Province, so as to develop the strategy for the prevention and control of anisakiasis in the province. Methods Three counties along the coastal areas of Jiangsu Province were selected as the study sites in 2018, including Rudong County in Nantong City, Haizhou District in Lianyungang City and Dongtai City in Yancheng City. The knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of anisakiasis prevention and control, and the prevalence of serum specific IgG antibody against Anisakis were investigated among high-risk populations among these three study sites, including fishermen, fish seller and people who liked eating fresh and live marine fish. Factors affecting the prevalence of the specific IgG antibody against Anisakis were identified using a multiple logistic regression model. In addition, Anisakis larvae infections were detected in fresh and live marine fish samples collected from local markets, and the prevalence and intensity of Anisakis infections were estimated. Results A total of 625 high-risk populations were investigated, including 349 men (55.8%). Only 13.0% of the subjects heard about anisakiasis, and a low awareness rate of anisakiasis prevention and control knowledge was seen among these three types of high-risk populations. There were 21.6% of the subjects eating raw or half-cooked marine fish, 5.8% eating undercooked marine fish, 3.2% presenting vomiting, nausea and diarrhea after eating marine fish, 5.1% developing systemic allergic symptoms, and 65.6% using the same chopping board for raw and cooked food. The sero-prevalence of the anti-Anisakis IgG antibody was 7.0% among the study subjects. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified education level [OR = 0.687, 95% CI (0.478, 0.987)] and development of systemic allergic symptoms [OR = 4.641, 95% CI(1.411, 15.268)]as factors affecting the positive anti-Anisakis IgG antibody among the study subjects. Among 494 fresh and live marine fish detected, the prevalence and intensity of Anisakis larvae infection was 64.0% and 8.1 larvae per fish, with high prevalence seen in Trichiurus haumela and Pneumatophorus japonicas. Conclusions The awareness of anisakiasis prevention and control knowledge is low among the high-risk populations living along the coastal areas of Jiangsu Province, and there are high-risk behaviors, such as eating raw or half-cooked food, using the same chopping board for raw and cooked food. In addition, the prevalence of Anisakis infections is high in the marine fish in these areas. Therefore, the health education and health promotion for anisakiasis prevention and control should be intensified.

Objective To establish a nucleic acid assay for detection of Echinococcus granulosus based on recombinase-aided isothermal amplification (RAA) assay. Methods The 12S rRNA gene of E. granulosus was selected as the target gene, and the specific primers and fluorescent probes for RAA assay were designed, screened and synthesized to establish a fluorescent RAA assay for detection of E. granulosus. The sensitivity of the fluorescent RAA assay was evaluated using different copy numbers of target gene sequence-contained recombinant plasmids and various concentrations of E. granulosus genomic DNA as templates, and the specificity of the fluorescent RAA assay was evaluated using the genomic DNA from E. granulosus, E. multilocularis, Schistosoma japonicum, S. mansoni, Ancylostoma duodenale, Clonorchis sinensis, Taenia saginata, Spirometra mansoni and Taenia solium as templates. Results A fluorescent RAA assay was successfully established for detection of E. granulosus, which achieved specific amplification of E. granulosus genomic DNA within 20 min at 39 ℃. The lowest detection limit of the fluorescent RAA assay was 10 copies/μL of recombinant plasmids and 0.1 ng/μL E. granulosus genomic DNA, which exhibited a high sensitivity, and the fluorescent RAA assay was all negative for the genomic DNA from E. multilocularis, S. japonicum, S. mansoni, A. duodenale, C. sinensis, T. saginata, Spirometra mansoni and T. solium, which exhibited a high specificity. In addition, this fluorescent RAA assay successfully detected genomic DNA from E. granulosus cysts. Conclusions A rapid, sensitive and specific fluorescent RAA assay is successfully established for nucleic acid detection of E. granulosus.