Objective To investigate the risk factors for bronchopulmonary dysplasia(BPD)in twin preterm infants with a gestational age of<34 weeks,and to provide a basis for early identification of BPD in twin preterm infants in clinical practice.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for the twin preterm infants with a gestational age of<34 weeks who were admitted to 22 hospitals nationwide from January 2018 to December 2020.According to their conditions,they were divided into group A(both twins had BPD),group B(only one twin had BPD),and group C(neither twin had BPD).The risk factors for BPD in twin preterm infants were analyzed.Further analysis was conducted on group B to investigate the postnatal risk factors for BPD within twins.Results A total of 904 pairs of twins with a gestational age of<34 weeks were included in this study.The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that compared with group C,birth weight discordance of>25%between the twins was an independent risk factor for BPD in one of the twins(OR=3.370,95%CI:1.500-7.568,P<0.05),and high gestational age at birth was a protective factor against BPD(P<0.05).The conditional logistic regression analysis of group B showed that small-for-gestational-age(SGA)birth was an independent risk factor for BPD in individual twins(OR=5.017,95%CI:1.040-24.190,P<0.05).Conclusions The development of BPD in twin preterm infants is associated with gestational age,birth weight discordance between the twins,and SGA birth.

This study aimed to investigate the anti-fatigue effect and mechanism of Lubian(Cervi Penis et Testis) on kidney Yin deficiency and kidney Yang deficiency mice. After one week of adaptive feeding, 88 healthy male Kunming mice were randomly divided into a blank group, a kidney Yin deficiency model group, a kidney Yin deficiency-Panacis Quinquefolii Radix(PQR) group, kidney Yin deficiency-Lubian treatment groups, a kidney Yang deficiency model group, a kidney Yang deficiency-Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma(GR) group, and kidney Yang deficiency-Lubian treatment groups, with eight mice in each group. The kidney Yin deficiency model and kidney Yang deficiency model were prepared by daily regular oral administration of dexamethasone acetate and hydrocortisone, respectively, and meanwhile, corresponding drugs were provided. The mice in the blank group received blank reagent. The treatment lasted 14 days. The exhaustive swimming time was measured 30 min after drug administration on the 14th day. On the 15th day, blood was collected from eyeballs and the serum was separated to determine the content of lactic acid(LD), blood urea nitrogen(BUN), lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), cyclic adenosine monophosphate(cAMP), and cyclic guanosine monophosphate(cGMP). The liver was dissected to determine the content of liver glycogen and the protein expression of phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K) and protein kinase B(Akt). Compared with the kidney Yang deficiency model group, the kidney Yang deficiency-Lubian treatment groups showed increased body weight(P<0.05), relieved symptoms of Yang deficiency, decreased cGMP content(P<0.01), increased cAMP/cGMP(P<0.01), prolonged exhausted swimming time(P<0.01), reduced LD(P<0.01), elevated BUN content(P<0.01), increased liver glycogen content(P<0.01), and increased protein expression of PI3K and Akt in the liver(P<0.05). Compared with the kidney Yin deficiency model group, the kidney Yin deficiency-Lubian treatment groups showed increased body weight(P<0.01), relieved symptoms of Yin deficiency, increased content of cGMP(P<0.01), decreased cAMP/cGMP(P<0.01), prolonged exhausted swimming time(P<0.01), decreased LD(P<0.01), decreased BUN content(P<0.01), increased liver glycogen content(P<0.01), and increased protein expression of PI3K(P<0.05) and Akt in the liver(P<0.05). To sum up, Lubian can regulate Yin deficiency and Yang deficiency and increase glycogen synthesis by affecting the PI3K-Akt pathway, thereby exerting an anti-fatigue role.
Male ; Mice ; Animals ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/genetics* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics* ; Liver Glycogen ; Yang Deficiency/drug therapy* ; Yin Deficiency/drug therapy* ; Kidney ; Body Weight

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in the treatment of locally advanced olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB), and to explore the factors related to the efficacy of NACT. Methods: A total of 25 patients with ONB who underwent NACT in Beijing TongRen Hospital from April 2017 to July 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 16 males and 9 females, with an average age of 44.9 years (ranged 26-72 years). There were 22 cases of Kadish stage C and 3 cases of stage D. After multiple disciplinary team(MDT) discussion, all patients were treated sequentially with NACT-surgery-radiotherapy. Among them, 17 cases were treated with taxol, cis-platinum and etoposide (TEP), 4 cases with taxol, nedaplatin and ifosfamide (TPI), 3 cases with TP, while 1 case with EP. SPSS 25.0 software was used for statistical analysis, and survival analyses were calculated based on the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: The overall response rate of NACT was 32% (8/25). Subsequently, 21 patients underwent extended endoscopic surgery and 4 patients underwent combined cranial-nasal approach. Three patients with stage D disease underwent cervical lymph node dissection. All patients received postoperative radiotherapy. The mean follow-up time was 44.2 months (ranged 6-67 months). The 5-year overall survival rate was 100.0%, and the 5-year disease-free survival rates was 94.4%. Before NACT, Ki-67 index was 60% (50%, 90%), while Ki-67 index was 20% (3%, 30%) after chemotherapy [M (Q₁, Q₃)]. The change of Ki-67 before and after NACT was statistically significant (Z=-24.24, P<0.05). The effects of age, gender, history of surgery, Hyams grade, Ki-67 index and chemotherapy regimen to NACT were analyzed. Ki-67 index≥25% and high Hyams grade were related to the efficacy of NACT (all P<0.05). Conclusions: NACT could reduce Ki-67 index in ONBs. High Ki-67 index and Hyams grade are clinical indicators sensitive to the efficacy of NACT. NACT-surgery-radiotherapy is effective for patients with locally advanced ONB.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Neoadjuvant Therapy/methods* ; Retrospective Studies ; Esthesioneuroblastoma, Olfactory/etiology* ; Ki-67 Antigen ; Paclitaxel ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use* ; Nasal Cavity ; Nose Neoplasms/therapy* ; Neoplasm Staging

ObjectiveTo investigate the compatibility rule of traditional Chinese patent medicines （TCPMs） against liver diseases through network analysis. MethodWith “liver” as the search term， TCPMs against liver diseases were retrieved from volume Ⅰ of Chinese Pharmacopoeia （2020 edition）， and the basic information of them was collected. TCPMs with same Chinese medicinal materials （CMMs）， usage， and indications， but different dosage forms， were unified as one formula. Mutual information entropy （MIE） of CMM couples was calculated to quantify the relationship between them， and the top 25% CMM pairs in MIE were used to construct the compatibility network， with CMM as node and the relationship between CMM pairs as the edge. Key CMM and frequently used CMM combinations were identified based on node centrality and cluster analysis， respectively. The indications of TCPMs related to the CMMs in clusters were recorded. Cytoscape 3.6.1 was employed for visualization and topology analysis of the compatibility network. ResultA total of 179 TCPMs， involving 428 CMMs， were retrieved. Angelicae Sinensis Radix， Paeoniae Radix Alba， and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma were identified as key CMMs with high frequency， and Cuscutae Semen-Lycii Fructus， Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium-Cyperi Rhizoma， and Ecliptae Herba-Ligustri Lucidi Fructus combinations had high MIE. Furthermore， the CMMs were clustered into ten groups corresponding to different diseases which， however， all belonged to digestive diseases. ConclusionThis study unveils potential CMM pairs and common CMM combinations against liver diseases， which can serve as a reference for revealing compatibility rules of CMMs and research and development of Chinese medicine.

BACKGROUND: Human infections with zoonotic coronaviruses (CoVs), including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)-CoV, have raised great public health concern globally. Here, we report a novel bat-origin CoV causing severe and fatal pneumonia in humans. METHODS: We collected clinical data and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimens from five patients with severe pneumonia from Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital, Hubei province, China. Nucleic acids of the BAL were extracted and subjected to next-generation sequencing. Virus isolation was carried out, and maximum-likelihood phylogenetic trees were constructed. RESULTS: Five patients hospitalized from December 18 to December 29, 2019 presented with fever, cough, and dyspnea accompanied by complications of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Chest radiography revealed diffuse opacities and consolidation. One of these patients died. Sequence results revealed the presence of a previously unknown β-CoV strain in all five patients, with 99.8% to 99.9% nucleotide identities among the isolates. These isolates showed 79.0% nucleotide identity with the sequence of SARS-CoV (GenBank NC_004718) and 51.8% identity with the sequence of MERS-CoV (GenBank NC_019843). The virus is phylogenetically closest to a bat SARS-like CoV (SL-ZC45, GenBank MG772933) with 87.6% to 87.7% nucleotide identity, but is in a separate clade. Moreover, these viruses have a single intact open reading frame gene 8, as a further indicator of bat-origin CoVs. However, the amino acid sequence of the tentative receptor-binding domain resembles that of SARS-CoV, indicating that these viruses might use the same receptor. CONCLUSION A novel bat-borne CoV was identified that is associated with severe and fatal respiratory disease in humans.
Adult ; Aged ; Betacoronavirus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Coronavirus Infections ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; virology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; virology ; Tomography, X-Ray ; Treatment Outcome

Background: Human infections with zoonotic coronaviruses (CoVs), including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)-CoV, have raised great public health concern globally. Here, we report a novel bat-origin CoV causing severe and fatal pneumonia in humans. Methods: We collected clinical data and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimens from five patients with severe pneumonia from Jin Yin-tan Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei province, China. Nucleic acids of the BAL were extracted and subjected to next-generation sequencing. Virus isolation was carried out, and maximum-likelihood phylogenetic trees were constructed. Results: Five patients hospitalized from December 18 to December 29, 2019 presented with fever, cough, and dyspnea accompanied by complications of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Chest radiography revealed diffuse opacities and consolidation. One of these patients died. Sequence results revealed the presence of a previously unknown β-CoV strain in all five patients, with 99.8–99.9% nucleotide identities among the isolates. These isolates showed 79.0% nucleotide identity with the sequence of SARS-CoV (GenBank NC_004718) and 51.8% identity with the sequence of MERS-CoV (GenBank NC_019843). The virus is phylogenetically closest to a bat SARS-like CoV (SL-ZC45, GenBank MG772933) with 87.6–87.7% nucleotide identity, but is in a separate clade. Moreover, these viruses have a single intact open reading frame gene 8, as a further indicator of bat-origin CoVs. However, the amino acid sequence of the tentative receptor-binding domain resembles that of SARS-CoV, indicating that these viruses might use the same receptor. Conclusion: A novel bat-borne CoV was identified that is associated with severe and fatal respiratory disease in humans.

[Objective]To investigate the characteristics of immunophenotypes in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) before liver transplantation.[Methods]The immunophenotypes of T-,B- cells,monocytes,dendritic cells(DC)and NK-cells in peripheral blood from 6 HCC patient who were ready to have liver transplantation and 6 healthy volunteers were analyzed by multicolor flow cytometry.[Results]In the patients,the proportions of CD4+PD-1+T cells,Treg cell (CD4+CD25+CD39+T cells),CD19+B cells,Plasmablasts(CD27highCD38highIgD-IgM-),classical monocytes(CD14high CD16-)and mature NK-cells(CD3-CD56high)were all higher than those in the healthy controls(all P<0.05).However, marginal zone B cell(CD27+IgD+),Non-switched B cells(CD27+CD38dimIgM+),intermediate monocytes(CD14high CD16+)and immature NK-cells(CD3-CD56+)were lower than those in the healthy controls(all P<0.05). And there wasn't any obvious difference in quantity being observed among other cell types.[Conclusion]There was difference in the immunophenotypes of immune cells in peripheral blood between HCC patients before liver transplantation and healthy people.And this finding exerts important effects on monitoring the immune status of the patients after liver transplantation and guiding the administrations of immunosuppressors.

Objective To investigate the distribution characteristics of gallbladder diseases in children with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis, and to analyze the related factors for hepatic alveolar echinococcosis and gallbladder diseases. Methods The clinical data of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis patients under 18 years were collected in Qinghai Provincial People’s Hospital-from January 2012 to December 2017, and the gallbladder-related complications in the surgically treated patients with hepatic al-veolar echinococcosis were analyzed. Results The clinical data of 51 child patients with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis were collected and analyzed. According to the PNM classification criteria of WHO, P1, P2 and P3 in the 51 patients accounted for 37.25% (19/51), 41.18% (21/51) and 19.60% (10/51), respectively. According to the diagnostic criteria (WS 257–2006) of China for echinococcosis, the patients of infiltration type, calcification type and liquefaction cavitary type accounted for 66.67% (34/51), 21.57% (11/51) and 11.76% (6/51), respectively. Among the 51 patients, 78.43% (40/51) of the patients had clinical symptoms of biliary tract disease, and 58.82% (30/51) had gallbladder-related complications. The operations were performed on 40 patients, and 77.50% (31/40) of them had the postoperative complications. The results of binary multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the clinical image classification, the liver segment distribution, size, location and number of lesions of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis were important correlative factors for the occurrence of gallbladder complications in hepatic alveolar echinococcosispatients. Conclusions The incidence of complications related to gallbladder diseases is higher in the children with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis in Qinghai Province, and it has great influence on the operation mode and the occurrence and prognosis of postoperative complications. The early diagnosis and treatment of alveolar echinococcosis in children is particularly important.

OBJECTIVETo explore the value of CD3CD4T cell count in prediction of viral infections after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(allo-HSCT) in the patients with severe aplastic anemia(SAA).

METHODSA total of 78 SAA patients with allo-HSCT in Guangzhou First People's Hospital from January 2014 to July 2016 were enrolled in this study. The absolute numbers of CD3CD4T cells were measured by flow cytometry at 1,2,3,6, and 12 month after allo-HSCT. According to the cell counts, the patients were divided into 3 groups: i.e. <50/µl (n=120), 50-100/µl(n=48) and >100/µl(n=123)groups. The infection incidences of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and Epstein-Barr virus(EBV) within 2 weeks around each time point were compared between different groups. According the counts of CD3CD4T cells at 3 months after-transplant, these patients were divided into 2 groups, i.e.>100/µl (n=30) and ≤100/µl (n=48). The incidences and duration of HCMV and EBV infection, overall survival rate were compared between 2 groups.

RESULTSThe incidences of CMV and EBV infection significantly decreased in CD3CD4T cell >100/µl group as compared with <50/µl and 50-100/µl groups. At 3 months after-transplant, there was lower incidence rates of CMV disease, EBV infection, shorter durations of CMV infection and better survival in CD3CD4T cell >100/µl group as compared with ≤100/µl group.

CONCLUSIONCD3CD4T cell count is a good predictor for CMV and EBV infection after allo-HSCT in SAA patients. There are low risk of infe-ctions from CMV and EBV when CD3CD4T cell count >100/µl in any time after transplant, which means lower occurrence of CMV and EBV infection and better survival when CD3CD4T cell counts is >100/µl in 3 months after transplant in SAA patients.

BACKGROUNDAdenoid hypertrophy (AH) is associated with pediatric chronic rhinosinusitis (pCRS), but its role in the inflammatory process of pCRS is unclear. It is thought that innate immunity gene expression is disrupted in the epithelium of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), including antimicrobial peptides and pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). The aim of this preliminary study was to detect the expression of innate immunity genes in epithelial cells of hypertrophic adenoids with and without pCRS to better understand their role in pCRS.

METHODSNine pCRS patients and nine simple AH patients undergoing adenoidectomy were recruited for the study. Adenoidal epithelium was isolated, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was employed to measure relative expression levels of the following messenger RNAs in hypertrophic adenoid epithelial cells of pediatric patients with and without CRS: Human β-defensin (HBD) 2 and 3, surfactant protein (SP)-A and D, toll-like receptors 1-10, nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptors NOD 1, NOD 2, and NACHT, LRR and PYD domains-containing protein 3, retinoic acid-induced gene 1, melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5, and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). RT-qPCR data from two groups were analyzed by independent sample t-tests and Mann-Whitney U-tests.

RESULTSThe relative expression of SP-D in adenoidal epithelium of pCRS group was significantly lower than that in AH group (pCRS 0.73 ± 0.10 vs. AH 1.21 ± 0.15; P = 0.0173, t = 2.654). The relative expression levels of all tested PRRs and NF-κB, as well as HBD-2, HBD-3, and SP-A, showed no statistically significant differences in isolated adenoidal epithelium between pCRS group and AH group.

CONCLUSIONSDown-regulated SP-D levels in adenoidal epithelium may contribute to the development of pCRS. PRRs, however, are unlikely to play a significant role in the inflammatory process of pCRS.

Adenoids ; cytology ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides ; metabolism ; Child ; Epithelial Cells ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; genetics ; physiology ; Male ; Receptors, Pattern Recognition ; metabolism ; Sinusitis ; metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptors ; metabolism