Objective:To analyze the short-term clinical efficacy and safety of arsenic trioxide (ATO) combined with a modified N7 induction regimen in the treatment of children with high-risk neuroblastoma (NB).Methods:This study was a prospective, single-arm, multicenter phase Ⅱ clinical study. Sixty-seven high-risk NB children from eight units of Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Wuhan Children′s Hospital of Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Hainan General Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Kunming Children′s Hospital, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, and Guangdong Provincial Agricultural Reclamation Center Hospital were enrolled from January 2019 to August 2023 and were treated with ATO combined with a modified N7 induction regimen. The efficacy and adverse effects at the end of induction chemotherapy were assessed and analyzed, and the differences in the clinical characteristics were further compared between the treatment-responsive and treatment-unresponsive groups by using the Fisher′s exact test.Results:Among 67 high-risk NB children, there were 40 males (60%) and 27 females (40%), with the age of disease onset of 3.5 (2.6, 4.8) years. Primary NB sites were mostly in retroperitoneum (including adrenal gland) (56/67, 84%) and the common metastases sites at initial diagnosis were distant lymph node in 25 cases (37%),bone in 48 cases (72%),bone marrow in 56 cases (84%) and intracalvarium in 3 cases (4%). MYCN gene amplification were detected in 28 cases (42%). At the end of induction, 33 cases (49%) achieved complete remission, 29 cases (43%) achieved partial remission, 1 case (1%) with stable disease, and 4 cases (6%) were assessed as progressive disease (PD). The objective remission rate was 93% (62/67) and the disease control rate was 94% (63/67). The percentage of central system metastases at the initial diagnosis was higher in the treatment-unresponsive group than in the treatment-responsive group (2/5 vs. 2% (1/62), P=0.013), whereas the difference in MYCN gene amplification was not statistically significant between two groups (3/5 vs.40% (25/62), P=0.786). Grade Ⅲ or higher adverse reactions during the induction chemotherapy period were myelosuppression occurred in 60 cases (90%), gastrointestinal symptoms occurred in 33 cases (49%), infections occurred in 20 cases (30%), hepatotoxicity occurred in 4 cases (6%), and cardiovascular toxicity occurred in 1 case (2%). There were no chemotherapy-related deaths. Conclusion:ATO combined with N7-modified induction regimen had a superiority in efficacy and safety, which deserved further promotion in clinical practice.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of rituximab in pediatric myasthenia gravis (MG).Methods:Case series study. The clinical manifestations, laboratory tests, treatment plans and prognosis of 27 pediatric MG patients treated with rituximab from June 2013 to June 2023 at Children′s Medical Center of Peking University First Hospital were retrospectively collected.Results:There were 5 males and 22 females in 27 MG children. The onset age was 2.1 (1.6, 4.8) years, ranging from 8 months to 11 years. The clinical classification included 20 children (74%) of ocular MG and 7 children (26%) of generalized MG. Seventeen children (63%) had positive MG-related pathogenic antibodies, including 17 children of anti-AchR antibody and 1 of them also had anti-MuSK antibody. Rituximab was used as first-line immunosuppressant in 13 children, second-line immunosuppressant in 13 children and third-line immunosuppressant in 1 child. Immunosuppressants used before rituximab including 8 children of cyclosporine, 3 children of tacrolimus, 1 child of azathioprine, 1 child of mycophenolate mofetil and 1 child of cyclosporine combined with azathioprine. Rituximab was used for at least half a year with a follow-up period of more than 12 months. At the last follow-up after rituximab treatment, all children achieved improved or above, 14 children (52%) achieved complete stable remission, 7 children (26%) achieved pharmacologic remission, 1 child (4%) achieved minimal manifestations, and 5 children (18%) improved. After rituximab treatment, 27 children all could reduce the immunomodulation therapy and shorten the course of glucocorticoid therapy, and 22 children (81%) had stopped the glucocorticoid therapy. Among the 14 children with poor efficacy of other immunosuppressants, rituximab had complete stable remission of 7 children. The most common adverse reaction was respiratory infection (4 children (15%)). Only 2 children had allergic reaction to rituximab and got better after symptomatic treatment.Conclusions:Rituximab has good efficacy and tolerance in pediatric MG. Early application of rituximab can improve the prognosis and shorten the course of glucocorticoid treatment.

Mammals exhibit limited heart regeneration ability, which can lead to heart failure after myocardial infarction. In contrast, zebrafish exhibit remarkable cardiac regeneration capacity. Several cell types and signaling pathways have been reported to participate in this process. However, a comprehensive analysis of how different cells and signals interact and coordinate to regulate cardiac regeneration is unavailable. We collected major cardiac cell types from zebrafish and performed high-precision single-cell transcriptome analyses during both development and post-injury regeneration. We revealed the cellular heterogeneity as well as the molecular progress of cardiomyocytes during these processes, and identified a subtype of atrial cardiomyocyte exhibiting a stem-like state which may transdifferentiate into ventricular cardiomyocytes during regeneration. Furthermore, we identified a regeneration-induced cell (RIC) population in the epicardium-derived cells (EPDC), and demonstrated Angiopoietin 4 (Angpt4) as a specific regulator of heart regeneration. angpt4 expression is specifically and transiently activated in RIC, which initiates a signaling cascade from EPDC to endocardium through the Tie2-MAPK pathway, and further induces activation of cathepsin K in cardiomyocytes through RA signaling. Loss of angpt4 leads to defects in scar tissue resolution and cardiomyocyte proliferation, while overexpression of angpt4 accelerates regeneration. Furthermore, we found that ANGPT4 could enhance proliferation of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, and promote cardiac repair in mice after myocardial infarction, indicating that the function of Angpt4 is conserved in mammals. Our study provides a mechanistic understanding of heart regeneration at single-cell precision, identifies Angpt4 as a key regulator of cardiomyocyte proliferation and regeneration, and offers a novel therapeutic target for improved recovery after human heart injuries.
Humans ; Mice ; Rats ; Cell Proliferation ; Heart/physiology* ; Mammals ; Myocardial Infarction/metabolism* ; Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism* ; Pericardium/metabolism* ; Single-Cell Analysis ; Zebrafish/metabolism*

We explored clinicopathological features and treatment strategies for thoracic SMARCA4-deficient undifferentiated tumor (SMARCA4-UT). Thoracic SMARCA4-UT is a new entity recently acknowledged in the 2021 edition of World Health Organization Classification of Thoracic Tumors, and doctors are relatively unfamiliar with its diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. Taking a case of SMARCA4-UT treated in Peking University First Hospital as an example, this multi-disciplinary discussion covered several hot issues on diagnosing and treating thoracic SMARCA4-UT, including histological features, immu- nohistochemical and molecular phenotype, immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy, and pathological assessment of neoadjuvant therapy response. The patient was an older man with a long history of smoking and was admitted due to a rapidly progressing solid tumor in the lower lobe of the right lung. Histologically, tumor cells were epithelioid, undifferentiated, diffusely positive for CD34, and partially positive for SALL4.The expression of BRG1 protein encoded by SMARCA4 gene was lost in all of tumor cells, and next-generation sequencing(NGS)confirmed SMARCA4 gene mutation (c.2196T>G, p.Y732Ter). The pathological diagnosis reached as thoracic SMARCA4-UT, and the preoperative TNM stage was T1N2M0 (ⅢA). Tumor proportion score (TPS) detected by immunohistochemistry of programmed cell death 1-ligand 1 (PD-L1, clone SP263) was 2%. Tumor mutation burden (TMB) detected by NGS of 1 021 genes was 16. 3/Mb. Microsatellite detection showed the tumor was microsatellite stable (MSS). Neo-adjuvant therapy was implemented with the combined regimen of chemotherapy and ICI. Right lower lobectomy was performed through thoracoscopy after the two weeks' neoadjuvant. The pathologic assessment of lung tumor specimens after neoadjuvant therapy revealed a complete pathological response (CPR). The post-neoadjuvant tumor TNM stage was ypT0N0M0. Then, five cycles of adjuvant therapy were completed. Until October 2022, neither tumor recurrence nor metastasis was detected, and minimal residual disease (MRD) detection was negative. At present, it is believed that if BRG1 immunohistochemical staining is negative, regardless of whether SMARCA4 gene mutation is detected, it should be classified as SMARCA4-deficient tumors. SMARCA4-deficient tumors include a variety of carcinomas and sarcomas. The essential criteria for diagnosing SMARCA4-UT includes loss of BRG1 expression, speci-fic histological morphology, and exclude other common thoracic malignant tumors with SMARCA4-deficiency, such as squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and large cell carcinoma. SMARCA4-UT is a very aggressive malignant tumor with a poor prognosis. It has almost no targeted therapy mutations, and little response to chemotherapy, but ICI is currently the only effective drug. The successful diagnosis and treatment for this case of SMARCA4-UT should enlighten significance for various kinds of SMARCA4-deficient tumors.
Humans ; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Lung Neoplasms/genetics* ; Thoracic Neoplasms/pathology* ; Adenocarcinoma ; DNA Helicases ; Nuclear Proteins ; Transcription Factors

Objective: To evaluate the impact of interventional therapy on top of drug therapy on cardiac function and structure in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) patients complicating with middle aortic syndrome caused by Takayasu arteritis (TA-MAS). Methods: It was a retrospective longitudinal study. The data of patients with TA-MAS and HFrEF, who received interventional therapy on top of drug therapy in Fuwai Hospital from January 2010 to September 2020, were collected and analyzed. Baseline clinical data (including demographic data, basic treatment, etc.) were collected through the electronic medical record system. Changes of indexes such as New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular mass index (LVMI) before and after therapy were analyzed. Results: A total of 10 patients were collected. There were 8 females in this patient cohort, age was (18.4±5.0) years and onset age was (15.3±5.0) years. All 10 patients received standard heart failure medication therapy in addition to hormone and/or immunosuppressive anti-inflammatory therapy, but cardiac function was not improved, so aortic balloon dilatation and/or aortic stenting were performed in these patients. The median follow-up was 3.3(1.3, 5.6) years. On the third day after interventional therapy, the clinical symptoms of the 10 patients were significantly improved, NYHA classfication was restored from preoperative Ⅲ/Ⅳ to Ⅱ at 6 months post intervention(P<0.05). Compared with preoperation, NT-proBNP (P=0.028), LVEDD (P=0.011) and LVMI (P=0.019) were significantly decreased, LVEF was significantly increased (P<0.001) at 6 months after operation. Compared with preoperation, NT-proBNP (P=0.016), LVEDD (P=0.023) and LVMI (P=0.043) remained decreased, LVEF remained increased (P<0.001) at 1 year after operation. Conclusion: Results from short and medium term follow-up show that interventional therapy on top of heart failure drug therpay can effectively improve left cardiac function and attenuate cardiac remodeling in patients with TA-MAS comorbid with HFrEF.
Adolescent ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Young Adult ; Heart Failure/surgery* ; Longitudinal Studies ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; Peptide Fragments ; Retrospective Studies ; Stroke Volume ; Takayasu Arteritis/surgery* ; Ventricular Function, Left/drug effects* ; Heart Ventricles/drug effects* ; Male ; Cardiovascular Agents/therapeutic use* ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; Stents ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation

Objective:To explore the clinical characteristics and predictors of severe acute pancreatitis complicated with acute respiratory distress syndrome (SAP-ARDS).Methods:Clinical data of consecutive 313 SAP patients hospitalized from January 2000 to January 2020 in Peking Union Medical College Hospital, were retrospectively analyzed, including 258 cases with ARDS (ARDS group) and 55 cases without ARDS (non-ARDS group). According to the severity of ARDS, ARDS group were further divided into mild ARDS group (165 cases) and moderate to severe ARDS group (93 cases). Clinical symptoms, laboratory examination and imaging results, ICU admission time and clinical outcome, as well as the local and systemic complications, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHEⅡ) within 24 h after admission, bedside index for severity in acute pancreatitis (BISAP), CT severity index (CTSI), sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) and quick sequenctial organ failure assessment(qSOFA) score were recorded. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed to analyze independent risk factors of SAP complicated with moderate to severe ARDS. Receiver operating characteristics curves (ROC) was drawn to calculate area under the ROC curve (area under curve, AUC) and evaluate the performance of WBC and hsCRP in predicting SAP complicated with moderate to severe ARDS, and assess the performance of APACHEⅡ, BISAP, CTSI, SOFA and qSOFA scores in predicting SAP-ARDS endotracheal intubation.Results:The ICU length of stay and mortality rate of SAP-ARDS patients were significantly higher than those without ARDS [(8.3±11.6 day vs 5.7±7.7 day, 12.4% vs 3.6%, all P value <0.05)]. Univariate analysis showed that elevated WBC ( OR 4.52, 95% CI 1.64-12.4) and hsCRP ( OR 3.69, 95% CI 1.29-10.48) on admission were independent risk factors for moderate to severe ARDS with SAP. The AUC of WBC and hsCRP for predicting SAP with moderate to severe ARDS at admission were 0.651(95% CI 0.532-0.770) and 0.615 (95% CI 0.500-0.730), respectively. The predicted cut-off values (Cut-off values) were 17.5×10 9/L and 159 mg/L, respectively, and the sensitivity was 53.1% and 78.1%, the specificity was 78.1% and 48.4% respectively. The area under the ROC curve for APACHEⅡ, BISAP, CTSI, SOFA, and qSOFA score 24 h after admission in the early prediction of endotracheal intubation were 0.739 (95% CI 0.626-0.840), 0.705 (95% CI 0.602-0.809), 0.753 (95% CI 0.650-0.849 ), 0.737 (95% CI 0.615-0.836) and 0.663 (95% CI 0.570-0.794), and the optimum Cut-off values were 14 points, 3 points, 5 points, 7 points, 2 points, and the sensitivity and specificity for these predictors were 58.8% and 81.4%, 79.4% and 60.0%, 73.5% and 67.1%, 38.2% and 98.6%, 45.5% and 83.3%, respectively. Conclusions::Elevated blood WBC and hsCRP on admission were independent risk factors for moderate to severe ARDS in SAP. APACHEⅡ≥14, BISAP≥3, CTSI≥5, SOFA≥7, or qSOFA≥2 within the 24 h admission indictaed that the risk of SAP patients to receive endotracheal intubation was high.

OBJECTIVE: To construct a preoperative evaluation system for partial nephrectomy using CT three-dimensional visualization technology and to explore its practical value. METHODS: The clinical data of the patients who underwent partial nephrectomy for renal tumors in Department of Urology, Peking University First Hospital were collected retrospectively. At the same time, the homogenized standard data of patients who underwent partial nephrectomy for renal tumors were collected in 16 clinical centers in China. The CT three-dimensional visualization system was applied (IPS system, Yorktal) to evaluate tumor anatomy, blood supply, perirenal fat and other information. The parameters were summarized to build a three-dimensional nephrometry system, on the basis of which virtual surgery design and intraoperative navigation were completed. RESULTS: A three-dimensional visualization image was established based on the enhanced CT urography. The nephrometry system included the longest diameter and volume of the tumor, proportion volume of tumor invading the parenchyma, maximum depth of the tumor invading the parenchyma, contact surface area, flatness of the tumor surface, renal segment where the tumor was located, vascular variation, and perirenal fat. The average two-dimensional diameter of the tumor was (2.78±1.43) cm, the average three-dimensional maximum diameter was (3.09±1.35) cm, and the average postoperative pathological size was (3.01±1.38) cm. The maximum tumor diameter in the three-dimensional image was significantly related to the prolonged renal artery clamping time and intra-operative blood loss (r=0.502, P=0.020; r=0.403, P=0.046). The three-dimensional and pathological tumor volume were (25.7±48.4) cm³ and (33.0±36.4) cm³, respectively (P=0.229). The tumor volume was significantly related to the intraoperative blood loss (r=0.660, P < 0.001). The proportion volume of the tumor invading into renal parenchyma was significantly related to the prolongation of renal artery clamping and the occurrence of postoperative complications (r=0.410, P=0.041; r=0.587, P=0.005). The tumor contact surface area and the presence of vascular variation did not show correlation with the perioperative data and postoperative complications. While the preoperative evaluation was completed, the reconstructed three-dimensional image could be zoomed, rotated, combined display, color adjustment, transparency, and simulated cutting on the Touch Viewer system. The process generally consisted of showing or hiding the tissue, adjusting the transparency of the interested area, rotating and zooming the image to match the position of the surgical patient. Together, these functions met the requirements of preoperative virtual surgery plan and intraoperative auxiliary navigation. CONCLUSION Three-dimensional images can provide a more intuitive anatomical structure. The CT three-dimensional visua-lization system clearly displays tumor anatomical parameters, blood supply and perirenal fat. The three-dimensional nephrometry system for renal tumors can help predict the difficulty of partial nephrectomy and perioperative complications. Importing the reconstructed three-dimensional visualization image into the specified program or robot operating system can complete virtual surgery and intraoperative navigation, helping the surgeon to better grasp the surgical process. The indexes included in the nephrometry system and the score weights of each index need to be confirmed and perfected by multi-center study with large samples.
China ; Humans ; Kidney/surgery* ; Kidney Neoplasms/surgery* ; Laparoscopy ; Nephrectomy ; Retrospective Studies

Objective:To evaluate the relationship between silence information regulator 1 (SIRT1) and signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) acetylation during high glucose-induced cardiac microvascular endothelial cell injury.Methods:Cardiac microvascular endothelial cells of Sprague-Dawley rats were cultured.The cells at the logarithmic growth phase were selected and divided into 3 groups ( n=24 each) using a random number table method: control group (C group), high glucose group (HG group) and high glucose+ SIRT1 agonist SRT1720 group (HG+ SRT group). The cardiac microvascular endothelial cells were seeded in a 6- or 96-well cell culture plate at a density of 2×10 5 cells/ml.When the cell density reached 50%, the culture medium was then replaced with high-glucose (glucose 33 mmol/L) DMEM culture medium containing with 10% fetal bovine serum and 1% double antibody in HG and HG+ SRT groups.In group HG+ SRT, 20 μmol/L SRT1720 was added simultaneously, and the cells were cultured at 37 ℃ in an incubator with 5% CO 2 for 24 h. The cell viability was determined by CCK-8 assay, the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was detected using a spectrophotometer, the levels of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-β (TNF-β) in the supernatant were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the expression of SIRT1, acetylated STAT3 (ac-STAT3) and phosphorylated STAT3 (p-STAT3) was determined by Western blot. Results:Compared with C group, the cell viability and SOD activity were significantly decreased, levels of LDH, IL-6 and TNF-β in the supernatant were increased, expression of SIRT1 was down-regulated, and expression of ac-STAT3 and p-STAT3 was up-regulated in group HG and group HG+ SRT ( P<0.05). Compared with group HG, the cell viability and SOD activity were significantly increased, levels of LDH, IL-6 and TNF-β in the supernatant were decreased, expression of SIRT1 was up-regulated, and expression of ac-STAT3 and p-STAT3 was down-regulated in group HG+ SRT ( P<0.05). Conclusion:SIRT1 can alleviate high glucose-induced cardiac microvascular endothelial cell injury by promoting STAT3 deacetylation.

Consensus ; Critical Illness ; Humans ; Serum Albumin ; Serum Albumin, Human

The earthquake occurred in Japan on March 11， 2011 was accompanied by a tsunami， which also led to a leakage accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The disaster caused large-scale casualties and property damage. Soma City in Fukushima Prefecture established a disaster response headquarter and held its first meeting 9 minutes after the earthquake. Disaster response can be divided into three stages. In the first phase， life protection is the primary task. In the second phase， the primary tasks are health protection and basic life support. And in the third phase， life quality improvement is the primary task. This article reviewed the public health emergency response of local governments in Japan after the disaster in order to improve the response to public health emergencies in China.