Objective To explore the role pathway and pattern of the myeloma cancer gene (MYC) and its mRNA interaction with the microRNAs(miRNAs) and circular RNA(circRNAs) at hour 0, hour 6 and hour 72 in the rat liver regeneration. Methods The rat 2/3 hepatectomy (PH) model was prepared as described by Higgins, the hepatocytes were isolated according to the method of Smedsrod et al. The expression changes of mRNA, miRNA and circRNA [together named as competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA)] were detected by the large-scale quantitative detection technology, the interaction network of ceRNA was constructed by Cytoscape 3.2 software, and their correlation in expression and role were analyzed by ceRNA comprehensive analysis. Results It was found that at hour 0 and hour 6 after PH, the ratio value of MYC mRNA showed 0.15±0.03 and 2.36±0.20, miR-134-5p indicated 3.22±0.61 and 0.08±0.02, circRNA_12112 displayed 0.68±0.21 and 13.35±3.53. At the same time, the cell cycle initiation-related genes ras association domain family member 1 (RASSF1), cyclin dependent kinase 2 (CDK2), superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), which were promoted in expression by MYC, were down-regulated at hour 0 after PH, but the cell cycle initiation-related genes nestin (NES), RAD21 cohesin complex component (RAD21), CUE domain containing 2 (CUEDC2), which are inhibieted in expression by MYC, had no meaningful express changes at hour 0 after PH. On the other hand, the cell cycle initiation-related gene SOD2, which was promoted in expression by MYC, was up-regulated at hour 6 after PH, but the cell cycle initiation-related genes NES, RAD21, CUEDC2, which are inhibieted in expression by MYC, were down-regulated at hour 6 after PH. In contrary, at hour 72 after PH, the ratio value of MYC mRNA showed 2.36±0.20, miR-880-3p indicated 0.54±0.01, circRNA_09599 displayd 0.54±0.16. At the same time, the cell cycle termination-related gene hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), which is promoted in expression by MYC, was up-regulated 72 hours after PH, the cell cycle termination-related genes MET proto-oncogene receptor tyrosine kinase (MET) and cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (CDKN1A), which are inhibieted in expression by MYC, were down-regulated 72 hours after PH. Conclusion The correlation in expression and role of the miRNAs, which are inhibited by circRNAs, MYC, its mRNA is inhibited by miRNAs, and the cell cycle initiation-related and cell cycle termination-related genes, which are regulated by MYC, are helpful for the hepatocyte to be in cell cycle initiation state at hour 6 after PH and to be in cell cycle termination state at hour 72 after PH.

Objective To study the effect and mechanism of estradiol (E

AIM To prepare bergenin nanostructured lipid carriers,and to investigate their in vivo pharmacokinetics.METHODS The nanostructured lipid carriers were prepared by melting method.With solid lipid type,liquid lipid type,solid-liquid lipid ratio,lipid-drug ratio and poloxamer 188 concentration as influecing factors,encapsulation efficiency,drug loading and particle size as evaluation indices,the formulation was optimized by single factor test,after which the in vitro drug release was investigated,the stability was determined,and crystalline form analysis was performed.Eighteen rats were randomly assigned into three groups and given intragastric administration of the 0.5%CMC-Na suspensions of bergenin,physical mixture and bergenin solid dispersions(60 mg/kg),respectively,after which blood collection was made at 0.25,0.5,1,2,3,4,5,6,8,10,12 h,HPLC was adopted in the plasma concentration determination of bergenin,and main pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated.RESULTS The optimal formulation was determined to be glyceryl behenate as solid lipid,oleic acid as liquid lipid,4 ∶ 1 for solid-liquid lipid ratio,10 ∶ 1 as lipid-drug ratio 2.0%for poloxamer 188 concentration,the average concentration,drug loading,particle size and Zeta potential were(84.16±1.57)%,(7.73±0.27)%and(215.53±18.04)nm and-(37.56±2.03)mV,respectively.The nanostructured lipid carriers demonstrated the accumulative release rate of less than 50%within 240 min in simulated gastric fluid,which was 71.04%within 36 h in simulated intestinal fluid,along with good stability within 12 h in the latter.Bergenin existed in the nanostructured lipid carriers in an amorphous state.Compared with raw medicine and physical mixture,the nanostructured lipid carriers displayed prolonged tmax and t1/2(P<0.01),and increased Cmax,AUC0-t,AUC0-∞(P<0.01),whose relative bioavailability was enhanced to 6.08 times as compared with that of raw medicine.CONCLUSION Nanostructured lipid carriers can improve the stability and oral bioavailability of bergenin.

Objective: To analyze the prevalence and the risk factors of fungal sepsis in 25 neonatal intensive care units (NICU) among preterm infants in China, and to provide a basis for preventive strategies of fungal sepsis. Methods: This was a second-analysis of the data from the "reduction of infection in neonatal intensive care units using the evidence-based practice for improving quality" study. The current status of fungal sepsis of the 24 731 preterm infants with the gestational age of <34⁺⁰ weeks, who were admitted to 25 participating NICU within 7 days of birth between May 2015 and April 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. These preterm infants were divided into the fungal sepsis group and the without fungal sepsis group according to whether they developed fungal sepsis to analyze the incidences and the microbiology of fungal sepsis. Chi-square test was used to compare the incidences of fungal sepsis in preterm infants with different gestational ages and birth weights and in different NICU. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to study the outcomes of preterm infants with fungal sepsis, which were further compared with those of preterm infants without fungal sepsis. The 144 preterm infants in the fungal sepsis group were matched with 288 preterm infants in the non-fungal sepsis group by propensity score-matched method. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the risk factors of fungal sepsis. Results: In all, 166 (0.7%) of the 24 731 preterm infants developed fungal sepsis, with the gestational age of (29.7±2.0) weeks and the birth weight of (1 300±293) g. The incidence of fungal sepsis increased with decreasing gestational age and birth weight (both P<0.001). The preterm infants with gestational age of <32 weeks accounted for 87.3% (145/166). The incidence of fungal sepsis was 1.0% (117/11 438) in very preterm infants and 2.0% (28/1 401) in extremely preterm infants, and was 1.3% (103/8 060) in very low birth weight infants and 1.7% (21/1 211) in extremely low birth weight infants, respectively. There was no fungal sepsis in 3 NICU, and the incidences in the other 22 NICU ranged from 0.7% (10/1 397) to 2.9% (21/724), with significant statistical difference (P<0.001). The pathogens were mainly Candida (150/166, 90.4%), including 59 cases of Candida albicans and 91 cases of non-Candida albicans, of which Candida parapsilosis was the most common (41 cases). Fungal sepsis was independently associated with increased risk of moderate to severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) (adjusted OR 1.52, 95%CI 1.04-2.22, P=0.030) and severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) (adjusted OR 2.55, 95%CI 1.12-5.80, P=0.025). Previous broad spectrum antibiotics exposure (adjusted OR=2.50, 95%CI 1.50-4.17, P<0.001), prolonged use of central line (adjusted OR=1.05, 95%CI 1.03-1.08, P<0.001) and previous total parenteral nutrition (TPN) duration (adjusted OR=1.04, 95%CI 1.02-1.06, P<0.001) were all independently associated with increasing risk of fungal sepsis. Conclusions: Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis are the main pathogens of fungal sepsis among preterm infants in Chinese NICU. Preterm infants with fungal sepsis are at increased risk of moderate to severe BPD and severe ROP. Previous broad spectrum antibiotics exposure, prolonged use of central line and prolonged duration of TPN will increase the risk of fungal sepsis. Ongoing initiatives are needed to reduce fungal sepsis based on these risk factors.
Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Humans ; Birth Weight ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; Retrospective Studies ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight ; Gestational Age ; Infant, Extremely Premature ; Sepsis/epidemiology* ; Retinopathy of Prematurity/epidemiology* ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia/epidemiology*

OBJECTIVES: To establish the GC-MS qualitative and quantitative analysis methods for the synthetic cannabinoids, its main matrix and additives in suspicious electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) oil samples. METHODS: The e-cigarette oil samples were analyzed by GC-MS after diluted with methanol. Synthetic cannabinoids, its main matrix and additives in e-cigarette oil samples were qualitatively analyzed by the characteristic fragment ions and retention time. The synthetic cannabinoids were quantitatively analyzed by using the selective ion monitoring mode. RESULTS: The linear range of each compound in GC-MS quantitative method was 0.025-1 mg/mL, the matrix recovery rate was 94%-103%, the intra-day precision relative standard deviations (RSD) was less than 2.5%, and inter-day precision RSD was less than 4.0%. Five indoles or indazole amide synthetic cannabinoids were detected in 25 e-cigarette samples. The main matrixes of e-cigarette samples were propylene glycol and glycerol. Additives such as N,2,3-trimethyl-2-isopropyl butanamide (WS-23), glycerol triacetate and nicotine were detected in some samples. The content range of synthetic cannabinoids in 25 e-cigarette samples was 0.05%-2.74%. CONCLUSIONS The GC-MS method for synthesizing cannabinoid, matrix and additive in e-cigarette oil samples has good selectivity, high resolution, low detection limit, and can be used for simultaneous qualitative and quantitative analysis of multiple components; The explored fragment ion fragmentation mechanism of the electron bombardment ion source of indole or indoxamide compounds helps to identify such substances or other compounds with similar structures in cases.
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems ; Illicit Drugs/analysis* ; Indazoles/chemistry* ; Glycerol/analysis* ; Cannabinoids ; Indoles/chemistry* ; Ions

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the incidence of extrauterine growth retardation (EUGR) and its risk factors in very preterm infants (VPIs) during hospitalization in China. METHODS: A prospective multicenter study was performed on the medical data of 2 514 VPIs who were hospitalized in the department of neonatology in 28 hospitals from 7 areas of China between September 2019 and December 2020. According to the presence or absence of EUGR based on the evaluation of body weight at the corrected gestational age of 36 weeks or at discharge, the VPIs were classified to two groups: EUGR group (n=1 189) and non-EUGR (n=1 325). The clinical features were compared between the two groups, and the incidence of EUGR and risk factors for EUGR were examined. RESULTS: The incidence of EUGR was 47.30% (1 189/2 514) evaluated by weight. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that higher weight growth velocity after regaining birth weight and higher cumulative calorie intake during the first week of hospitalization were protective factors against EUGR (P<0.05), while small-for-gestational-age birth, prolonged time to the initiation of total enteral feeding, prolonged cumulative fasting time, lower breast milk intake before starting human milk fortifiers, prolonged time to the initiation of full fortified feeding, and moderate-to-severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia were risk factors for EUGR (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS It is crucial to reduce the incidence of EUGR by achieving total enteral feeding as early as possible, strengthening breastfeeding, increasing calorie intake in the first week after birth, improving the velocity of weight gain, and preventing moderate-severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia in VPIs.
Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Gestational Age ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors

Objectives: To summarize the clinical phenotypes and the variation spectrum of ATP7B gene in Chinese children with Wilson's disease (WD) and to investigate their significance for early diagnosis. Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 316 children diagnosed as WD in Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center during the period from January 2010 to June 2021. The general situations, clinical manifestations, lab test results, imaging examinations, and ATP7B gene variant characteristics were collected. The patients were divided into asymptomatic WD group and symptomatic WD group based on the presence or absence of clinical symptoms at the time that WD diagnosis was made. The χ² test, t test or Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare the differences between groups. Results: Among the 316 children with WD, 199 were males and 117 were females, with the age of 5.4 (4.0, 7.6) years at diagnosis; 261 cases (82.6%) were asymptomatic with the age of 4.9 (3.9, 6.4) years; whereas 55 cases (17.4%) were symptomatic with the age of 9.6 (7.3, 12.0) years. The main symptoms invloved liver, kidney, nervous system, or skin damage. Of all the patients, 95.9% (303/316) had abnormal liver function at diagnosis; 98.1% (310/316) had the serum ceruloplasmin lever lower than 200 mg/L; 97.7% (302/309) had 24-hour urine copper content exceeding 40 μg; only 7.4% (23/310) had positive corneal K-F rings, 8.2% (23/281) had abnormal MRI signals in the lenticular nucleus, and all of them had symptoms of damage in liver, kidney or nervous system. Compared with the group of symptomatic WD, asymptomatic group had higher levels of serum alanine aminotransferase and lower levels ceruloplasmin and 24-hour urine copper [(208±137) vs. (72±78) U/L, (55±47) vs. (69±48) mg/L, 103 (72, 153) vs. 492 (230, 1 432) μg; t=9.98, -1.98, Z=-4.89, all P<0.001]. Among the 314 patients completing genetic sequencing, a total of 107 mutations in ATP7B gene were detected, of which 10 are novel variants, and 3 cases (1.0%) had large heterozygous deletion (exons 10 to exon 11) in ATP7B gene. The percentage of missense mutation in asymptomatic WD children was significantly higher than that in symptomatic WD (81.5% (422/518) vs. 69.1% (76/110), χ²=8.47, P<0.05). WD patients carrying homozygous variant of c.2 333G>T had significantly low levels of ceruloplasmin than those not carrying this variant ((23±5) vs. (61±48) mg/L, t=-2.34, P<0.001). Conclusions: The elevation of serum ALT is an important clue for early diagnosis of WD in children, while serum ceruloplasmin and 24-hour urine copper content are specific markers for early diagnosis of WD. In order to confirm the diagnosis of WD, it is necessary to combine the Sanger sequencing with multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification or other testing technologies.
Ceruloplasmin/metabolism* ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Copper/metabolism* ; Copper-Transporting ATPases/genetics* ; Female ; Hepatolenticular Degeneration/genetics* ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; Retrospective Studies

Abstract: To analyze the clinical, therapeutic and laboratory characteristics of disseminated cryptococcosis caused by Cryptococcus neoformans invading the blood stream in patient with liver cirrhosis and splenectomy. A 30-year-old male underwent splenectomy plus pericardial devascularization due to "splenomegaly and hypersplenism" in March in 2016. The patient had intermittent fever after operation for many times, and successively accompanied with back pain, left lower limb abscess and right hip pain. The highest body temperature was 39 ℃. CT and MRI revealed the lung lesion and multiple bone destruction. During that period, the effect of antibiotics was not good. On April 19th, 2017, Gram's stain, India ink stain, API 32C, Vitek 2 Compact, ribosomal ITS and IGS sequence analysis were performed to identify the strain isolated from the pus and blood stream. The serum of the patient was detected for cryptococcal antigen. Antifungal susceptibility test was used to determine drug sensitivity and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The Cryptococcus neoformans isolated from fresh pus specimen showed a prominent, thick capsule after India ink stain. The colonies isolated from pus and blood stream were identified Cryptococcus neoformans using API 32C, Vitek 2 Compact, and sequence analysis of rDNA ITS and IGS. Cryptococcal capsule antigen was positive. The minimal inhibitory concentrations of 5-Flucytosine, amphotericin B, fluconazole, itriconazole, voriconazole against the isolate were <4 μg/mL, <0.5 μg/mL, 4 μg/mL, ≤0.25 μg/mL, 0.125 μg/mL respectively. The patient was initially treated with intravenous amphotericin B and flucytosine. After anti-Cryptococcus treatment for two months, the patient clinically improved, and the lesions were reduced on a follow-up CT scan. The patient made a full functional recovery after treatment for six months. Cryptococcosis has hidden onset, atypical clinical symptoms and lack of specificity. Blood stream is the main channel for Cryptococcus to spread and involve many organs of the whole body, including skin, bone and so on. Therefore, early use of blood culture to monitor blood flow dissemination, actively removing the primary focus and cutting off the infection route in time and carrying out effective anti-Cryptococcus treatment are conducive to the patient's early recovery.

Objective: To examine the outcomes of Tiantan first-aid protocol on critically ill patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). Methods: The clinical data of 18 patients with PCNSL who were treated according to Tiantan first-aid protocol at Department of Neurosurgery,Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University from November 2019 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 9 males and 9 females, aged (56.9±11.1)years (range: 29 to 77 years). The median Karnofsky performance status(KPS) score at admission was 40 (range: 20 to 60). Three patients were mild coma, 3 were lethargy and 12 were conscious. The mean midline shift was 0.7 cm (range: 0 to 1.8 cm). After admission, all patients were treated according to the plan of rapid biopsy, rapid routine pathology and rapid salvage chemotherapy. The treatment procedures, clinical and radiographic outcomes, KPS score and adverse reactions of patients after chemotherapy were collected. Results: All of the 18 patients completed the first-aid treatment. The median duration from admission to the biopsy was 1 day (range: 0 to 5 days), from biopsy to routine pathological diagnosis was 1 day (range: 1 to 4 days) and from routine pathology to salvage chemotherapy was 1 day (range: 0 to 4 days). All the patients were pathologically confirmed with diffuse large B cell lymphoma, 1 patient was double-hit lymphoma. Seventeen patients underwent clinical remission and 1 died of cardiac dysfunction. The successful salvage rate was 17/18. Radiologically, complete remission was observed in 1 case, partial remission in 16 cases, and stable disease in 1 case. The median KPS score at discharge was 60 (range: 30 to 80). The mild gastrointestinal, hematological and hepatic adverse effects were observed after chemotherapy. Conclusion: Tiantan first-aid protocol is effective for critically ill patients with PCNSL, which has the merit to be popularly used and improved.
Central Nervous System ; Central Nervous System Neoplasms/therapy* ; Critical Illness ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphoma/therapy* ; Male ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the disease spectrums underlying orthostatic intolerance (OI) and sitting intolerance (SI) in Chinese children, and to understand the clinical empirical treatment options. METHODS: The medical records including history, physical examination, laboratory examination, and imagological examination of children were retrospectively studied in Peking University First Hospital from 2012 to 2021. All the children who met the diagnostic criteria of OI and SI were enrolled in the study. The disease spectrums underlying OI and SI and treatment options during the last 10 years were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 2 110 cases of OI and SI patients were collected in the last 10 years, including 943 males (44.69%) and 1 167 females (55.31%) aged 4－18 years, with an average of (11.34±2.84) years. The overall case number was in an increasing trend over the year. In the OI spectrum, postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) accounted for 826 cases (39.15%), followed by vasovagal syncope (VVS) (634 cases, 30.05%). The highest proportion of SI spectrum was sitting tachycardia (STS) (8 cases, 0.38%), followed by sitting hypertension (SHT) (2 cases, 0.09%). The most common comorbidity of OI and SI was POTS coexisting with STS (36 cases, 1.71%). The highest proportion of treatment options was autonomic nerve function exercise (757 cases, 35.88%), followed by oral rehydration salts (ORS) (687 cases, 32.56%), metoprolol (307 cases, 14.55%), midodrine (142 cases, 6.73%), ORS plus metoprolol (138 cases, 6.54%), and ORS plus midodrine (79 cases, 3.74%). The patients with POTS coexisting with VVS were more likely to receive pharmacological intervention than the patients with POTS and the patients with VVS (41.95% vs. 30.51% vs. 28.08%, χ²= 20.319, P < 0.01), but there was no significant difference in the proportion of treatment options between the patients with POTS and the patients with VVS. CONCLUSION POTS and VVS in children are the main underlying diseases of OI, while SI is a new disease discovered recently. The number of children with OI and SI showed an increasing trend. The main treatment methods are autonomic nerve function exercise and ORS. Children with VVS coexisting with POTS were more likely to take pharmacological treatments than those with VVS or POTS only.
Child ; Electrolytes ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Metoprolol ; Midodrine ; Orthostatic Intolerance/therapy* ; Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome/diagnosis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Salts ; Sitting Position ; Syncope, Vasovagal/diagnosis* ; Tilt-Table Test