Child ; Humans ; Mpox (monkeypox)/prevention & control* ; Disease Outbreaks

OBJECTIVES: To explore the optimal maintenance dose of caffeine citrate for preterm infants requiring assisted ventilation and caffeine citrate treatment. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical data of 566 preterm infants (gestational age ≤34 weeks) who were treated and required assisted ventilation and caffeine citrate treatment in the neonatal intensive care unit of 30 tertiary hospitals in Jiangsu Province of China between January 1 and December 31, 2019. The 405 preterm infants receiving high-dose (10 mg/kg per day) caffeine citrate after a loading dose of 20 mg/kg within 24 hours after birth were enrolled as the high-dose group. The 161 preterm infants receiving low-dose (5 mg/kg per day) caffeine citrate were enrolled as the low-dose group. RESULTS: Compared with the low-dose group, the high-dose group had significant reductions in the need for high-concentration oxygen during assisted ventilation (P=0.044), the duration of oxygen inhalation after weaning from noninvasive ventilation (P<0.01), total oxygen inhalation time during hospitalization (P<0.01), the proportion of preterm infants requiring noninvasive ventilation again (P<0.01), the rate of use of pulmonary surfactant and budesonide (P<0.05), and the incidence rates of apnea and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (P<0.01), but the high-dose group had a significantly increased incidence rate of feeding intolerance (P=0.032). There were no significant differences between the two groups in the body weight change, the incidence rates of retinopathy of prematurity, intraventricular hemorrhage or necrotizing enterocolitis, the mortality rate, and the duration of caffeine use (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS This pilot multicenter study shows that the high maintenance dose (10 mg/kg per day) is generally beneficial to preterm infants in China and does not increase the incidence rate of common adverse reactions. For the risk of feeding intolerance, further research is needed to eliminate the interference of confounding factors as far as possible.
Caffeine/therapeutic use* ; Citrates ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Respiration, Artificial ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of levetiracetam (LEV) versus phenytoin (PHT) as second-line drugs for the treatment of convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) in children. METHODS: English and Chinese electronic databases were searched for the randomized controlled trials comparing the efficacy and safety of LEV and PHT as second-line drugs for the treatment of childhood CSE. RevMan 5.3 software was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Seven studies with 1 434 children were included. The Meta analysis showed that compared with the PHT group, the LEV group achieved a significantly higher control rate of CSE ( CONCLUSIONS LEV has a better clinical effect than PHT in the treatment of children with CSE and does not increase the incidence rate of adverse events.
Anticonvulsants/adverse effects* ; Child ; Humans ; Levetiracetam/therapeutic use* ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; Phenytoin/adverse effects* ; Status Epilepticus/drug therapy*

Objective To investigate the prevalence and influencing factors of Enterobius vermicularis infections among children in Fanxian County, Henan Province in 2019, so as to provide insights into the management of enterobiasis. Methods Five kindergartens were selected in urban and rural areas of Fanxian County, Henan Province using the stratified sampling method in 2019, and a census of E. vermicularis infections was performed among all children in the kindergartens. E. vermicularis eggs were detected using adhesive and scotch cellophane-tape anal swab methods, and the basic characteristics of children and their families, health habits and the kindergartens’ information were investigated with questionnaires. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the risk factors and protective factors of pinworm infection in children. Results A total of 671 children were tested, and the mean prevalence of E. vermicularis infections was 15.50% (104/671). The prevalence of E. vermicularis infections was higher among children in rural kindergartens (28.13%, 72/256) than in urban kindergartens (7.71%, 32/415) (χ² = 50.380, P < 0.01), and greater in private kindergartens (32.26%, 60/186) than in public kindergartens (9.07%, 44/485) (χ² = 55.183, P < 0.01). There was no gender-specific prevalence of E. vermicularis infections among children (χ² = 1.442, P > 0.05), and the prevalence of E. vermicularis infections presented a tendency towards a rise with age (χ²_trend = 8.373, P < 0.05) and school grade (χ²_trend = 30.274, P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis identified rural kindergartens and high grades as risk factors, and separate washing of children’s and adults’ cloths, frequent bathing and frequent dinnerware disinfection in kindergartens as protective factors for E. vermicularis infections among children. In addition, there was no significant difference in the detection of E. vermicularis infections among children by using adhesive (73.08%, 76/104) and scotch cellophane-tape anal swab methods (56.73%, 59/104) (χ² = 3.959, P > 0.05). Conclusions The prevalence of E. vermicularis infection is high among children in Fanxian Country, Henan Province. Health education and surveillance of enterobiasis are required to be intensified among children in rural kindergartens and senior grades and their parents and teachers.

Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy in the reproductive system of older males. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is an important treatment for prostate cancer patients. However, almost all prostate cancer patients unavoidably progress to the castration-resistant stage after ADT treatment. Recent studies have shown that tumor-associated immune cells play major roles in the initiation, progression, and metastasis of prostate cancer. Various phenotypes of tumor-associated immune cells have tumor-promoting or antitumor functions mediated by interacting with tumor cells. Here, we review the current knowledge of tumor-associated immune cells in prostate cancer.
Disease Progression ; Humans ; Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating/pathology* ; Macrophages/pathology* ; Male ; Neutrophils/pathology* ; Prostatic Neoplasms/therapy* ; Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/therapy*

Objective To observe the effect of lentiviral vector-mediated basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) gene transfection on the biological characteristics of rabbit bone marrow stromal cells(BMSCs)under in vitro culture conditions. Methods BMSCs were obtained by density gradient centrifugation and adherence screening. The bFGF gene was transfected into BMSCs by lentiviral vector and divided into bFGF transfection group,empty virus group and untransfected group according to the transfection conditions.After transfection,the morphology,expressions of bFGF mRNA and protein, cell proliferation,cell cycle and alkaline phosphatase(ALP)activity were observed in three groups of cells. Results High density BMSCs were successfully obtained by density gradient centrifugation and adherence screening.After transfection of BMSCs with bFGF gene, the cell morphology showed no significant changes, while the expressions of bFGF mRNA and protein were significantly increased, the cell proliferation curve shifted upward, the proportion of proliferating cells increased,and the activity of ALP was significantly enhanced.There were significant differences between three groups(P<0.05).Conclusion The rabbit bFGF gene is successfully introduced into the BMSCs cultured in vitro by lentiviral vector, and the target gene is stably expressed.The expression of bFGF can promote the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs.

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of fire-needle therapy in treating deglutition disorders due to pseudobulbar palsy in the remission stage of stroke.Methods:Sixty-two eligible subjects were divided into a fire-needle group and a rehabilitation group by a simple randomization method at a ratio of 1:1.The two groups received same basic intervention;in addition,the fire-needle group received fire-needle treatment,while the rehabilitation group received rehabilitation training.The two groups of subjects all received a 3-week treatment and were evaluated by the dysphagia severity rating scale (DSRS),modified Mann assessment of swallow ability (MMASA) and Kubota Toshio swallow test (KTST) before and after the intervention.The complications and adverse events occurred during the trial were recorded.The data were statistically analyzed.Results:At the third week,the DSRS,MMASA and KTST scores changed significantly compared with the baseline in both groups (P＜0.05),and the changes in the fire-needle group were more significant than those in the rehabilitation group (P＜0.05).The between-group comparison at the third week showed that the therapeutic efficacy in the fire-needle group was superior to that in the rehabilitation group (P＜0.05).Conclusion:Fire-needle therapy can obviously change the DSRS,MMASA and KTST scores in pseudobulbar palsy in the remission stage of stroke,and significantly enhance the therapeutic efficacy of the treatment of deglutition disorders in this stage.

Objective To explore the etiology and clinical countermeasures for cerebral infarction following surgeries for hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage (HCH). Methods The clinical data of 17 patients with cerebral infarction following surgeries for HCH treated in our department between January, 2000 and January, 2007 were analyzed retrospectively. Results All the patients received appropriate treatment and were subsequently rated for Glasgow Outcome Score (GOS), which was grade Ⅰ in 5 patients (capable of independent daily activities without assistance or instructions), grade Ⅱ in 6 patients (capable of activities with instructions), grade Ⅲ in 4 patients (activities requiring assistance and capable of assisted walking), grade Ⅳ in 1 patient (bed-redden but conscious), and gradeⅤ in 1 patient (vegetative state). Conclusion As one of the severe complications of surgeries for HCH, cerebral infarction involves complex etiologies, and early diagnosis and comprehensive treatment are crucial for decreasing the mortality and disability rates to improve the quality of life of the patients.

OBJECTIVETo study the changes of intracellular interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) expressions in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at different stages, and to examine the correlation between IL-6 and IFN-gamma in ALL children.

METHODSThe levels of intracellular IL-6 and IFN-gamma in venous blood lymphocytes were detected by flow cytometry in 42 children with ALL at diagnosis and at remission stage. Twenty healthy children were used as the controls.

RESULTSThe intracellular IL-6 level in ALL children at diagnosis was 81.74+/-9.31, which was much higher than that in the Control group (5.67 +/- 0.96 ) (P < 0.01). The intracellular IFN-gamma level in ALL children (1.31 +/- 0.32) was significantly lower than that in the Control group (1.46 +/- 0.49) (P < 0.01). However, the intracellular IL-6 level (27.52 +/- 3.40) decreased remarkably in ALL patients at remission stage (P < 0.01), but was still higher than that in the Control group (P < 0.01). In contrast, the intracellular IFN-gamma level (1.97 +/- 0.72) increased noticeably in ALL patients at remission stage, which was higher than that at diagnosis and the Control group (P < 0.01). A negative correlation was found between the intracellular IL-6 and the IFN-gamma levels in ALL patients (r=-0.476, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSIntracellular IL-6 and IFN-gamma levels may be used as the markers for monitoring the response to treatment in ALL patients. There is a negative correlation between intracellular IL-6 and IFN-gamma levels in ALL children.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; chemistry ; Male ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; immunology

OBJECTIVESTo analyze the relationship between oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL), angiogenesis and stabilization of atherosclerotic plaques in human coronary arteries; and to investigate the role of oxLDL in creating vulnerable sites in atherosclerotic plaques.

METHODSSamples of coronary arteries were obtained at autopsies of 42 patients with acute coronary syndrome. Eighty randomly selected blocks were studied by immunohistochemistry using antibodies against oxLDL and endothelial cells (factor VIII). Computer-aided planimeter was used for quantitative analysis.

RESULTSIn unstable plaques, percentage of immunoreactive areas for oxLDL was significantly higher than that in stable plaques. Most of the oxLDL were located in shoulder region of these plaques, as compared to the fibrous cap and basal regions. The details of distribution of oxLDL were as follows: shoulder region (20.43 +/- 3.12 for unstable plaques and 17.65 +/- 4.22 for stable plaques), fibrous cap (4.77 +/- 2.03 for unstable plaque and 2.80 +/- 0.22 for stable plaques) and basal region (5.65 +/- 1.65 for unstable plaques and 3.22 +/- 1.02 for unstable plaques). OxLDL was also a main component in the lipid core. In the shoulder region, there was a significant positive correlation between neovascularization and oxLDL (r = 0.8247, P = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONSThe amount of oxLDL is significantly higher in unstable atherosclerotic plaques, especially over the shoulder region. OxLDL in coronary atherosclerotic plaques is thus an important factor in determining stabilization of the plaques. OxLDL may induce influx of inflammatory cells which subsequently leads to decreased plaque stabilization.

Angina, Unstable ; metabolism ; pathology ; Coronary Artery Disease ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; metabolism ; Myocardial Infarction ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; metabolism ; pathology