Objective: To analyze the clinical epidemiological characteristics including composition of pathogens , clinical characteristics, and disease prognosis acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) in Chinese children. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical and laboratory data of 1 610 children <15 years of age with ABM in 33 tertiary hospitals in China from January 2019 to December 2020. Patients were divided into different groups according to age,<28 days group, 28 days to <3 months group, 3 months to <1 year group, 1-<5 years of age group, 5-<15 years of age group; etiology confirmed group and clinically diagnosed group according to etiology diagnosis. Non-numeric variables were analyzed with the Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, while non-normal distrituction numeric variables were compared with nonparametric test. Results: Among 1 610 children with ABM, 955 were male and 650 were female (5 cases were not provided with gender information), and the age of onset was 1.5 (0.5, 5.5) months. There were 588 cases age from <28 days, 462 cases age from 28 days to <3 months, 302 cases age from 3 months to <1 year of age group, 156 cases in the 1-<5 years of age and 101 cases in the 5-<15 years of age. The detection rates were 38.8% (95/245) and 31.5% (70/222) of Escherichia coli and 27.8% (68/245) and 35.1% (78/222) of Streptococcus agalactiae in infants younger than 28 days of age and 28 days to 3 months of age; the detection rates of Streptococcus pneumonia, Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus agalactiae were 34.3% (61/178), 14.0% (25/178) and 13.5% (24/178) in the 3 months of age to <1 year of age group; the dominant pathogens were Streptococcus pneumoniae and the detection rate were 67.9% (74/109) and 44.4% (16/36) in the 1-<5 years of age and 5-<15 years of age . There were 9.7% (19/195) strains of Escherichia coli producing ultra-broad-spectrum β-lactamases. The positive rates of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture and blood culture were 32.2% (515/1 598) and 25.0% (400/1 598), while 38.2% (126/330)and 25.3% (21/83) in CSF metagenomics next generation sequencing and Streptococcus pneumoniae antigen detection. There were 4.3% (32/790) cases of which CSF white blood cell counts were normal in etiology confirmed group. Among 1 610 children with ABM, main intracranial imaging complications were subdural effusion and (or) empyema in 349 cases (21.7%), hydrocephalus in 233 cases (14.5%), brain abscess in 178 cases (11.1%), and other cerebrovascular diseases, including encephalomalacia, cerebral infarction, and encephalatrophy, in 174 cases (10.8%). Among the 166 cases (10.3%) with unfavorable outcome, 32 cases (2.0%) died among whom 24 cases died before 1 year of age, and 37 cases (2.3%) had recurrence among whom 25 cases had recurrence within 3 weeks. The incidences of subdural effusion and (or) empyema, brain abscess and ependymitis in the etiology confirmed group were significantly higher than those in the clinically diagnosed group (26.2% (207/790) vs. 17.3% (142/820), 13.0% (103/790) vs. 9.1% (75/820), 4.6% (36/790) vs. 2.7% (22/820), χ²=18.71, 6.20, 4.07, all P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the unfavorable outcomes, mortility, and recurrence between these 2 groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions: The onset age of ABM in children is usually within 1 year of age, especially <3 months. The common pathogens in infants <3 months of age are Escherichia coli and Streptococcus agalactiae, and the dominant pathogen in infant ≥3 months is Streptococcus pneumoniae. Subdural effusion and (or) empyema and hydrocephalus are common complications. ABM should not be excluded even if CSF white blood cell counts is within normal range. Standardized bacteriological examination should be paid more attention to increase the pathogenic detection rate. Non-culture CSF detection methods may facilitate the pathogenic diagnosis.
Adolescent ; Brain Abscess ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Escherichia coli ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Meningitis, Bacterial/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Streptococcus agalactiae ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Subdural Effusion ; beta-Lactamases

Schizophrenia is a serious mental disease. The diagnosis of schizophrenia so far relies heavily on subjective evidence, including self-reported experiences by patients, manifestations described by relatives, and abnormal behaviors assessed by psychiatrists. The diagnosis, monitoring of the disease progression and therapy efficacy assessment are challenging due to the lack of established laboratory biomarkers. Based on the current literature, clinical consensus, guidelines, and expert recommendations, this review highlighted evidence-based potential laboratory biomarkers for the diagnosis of schizophrenia, including genetic biomarkers, neurotransmitters, neurodevelopmental-related proteins, and intestinal flora, and discussed the potential future directions for the application of these biomarkers in this field, aiming to provide an objective basis for the use of these biomarkers in the early and accurate diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis and rehabilitation assessment of schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to investigate the microstructure and mechanical properties of dental zirconia manufactured by digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing and the clinical application prospects of this material. METHODS: The experiment (DLP) group was zirconia manufactured by DLP 3D printing, and the control (MILL) group was milled zirconia. The density, grain size, and phase composition were measured to study the microstructure. Flexural strength was measured by using three-point bending tests, while Vickers hardness was determined through a Vickers hardness tester. Fracture toughness was tested using the single-edge V-notched beam method. RESULTS: Zirconia density of the DLP group was (6.019 8±0.021 3) g·cm CONCLUSIONS Zirconia manufactured by DLP 3D printing had microstructure and mechanical properties similar to those of the milled zirconia. Only the flexural strength and the Vickers hardness of the experimental zirconia were slightly lower than those of the milled zirconia. Therefore, DLP-manufactured zirconia has a promising future for clinical use.
Dental Porcelain ; Materials Testing ; Printing, Three-Dimensional ; Zirconium

Objective:To analyze the pathogenic genes and clinical phenotypes of a Chinese Han family with autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (ADRP).Methods:A pedigree investigation study was conducted, and a Chinese Han RP family that underwent genetic counseling in the Henan Provincial People's Hospital in November 2019 was collected.Twenty members of this family from 4 generations, including 9 patients and 11 phenotypically normal individuals, were enrolled.Visual acuity, peripheral visual field test and fundus examination were performed on some family members.Peripheral blood samples were collected from the family members, and DNA was extracted.Exon-targeted sequencing containing 43 genes associated with RP was performed on the proband using the Ion Torrent PGM sequencing platform.The mutations were verified by polymerase chain reaction and Sanger sequencing.Online software was applied to predict the protein function of the variant.The amino acid sequences of the variant loci were compared using the ClustalW2 multiplex alignment program.The pathogenicity of the variant was analyzed according to American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) criteria and guidelines for classification of genetic variant.This study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki.The study protocol was approved by an Ethics Committee of Henan Provincial People's Hospital (No.HNEECKY-2019[15]).Results:The family was consistent with autosomal dominant inheritance.The proband, a 26-year-old male, had bilateral night blindness since childhood, with visual acuity of 0.25 in the right eye and 0.5 in the left eye.There was osteoblast-like pigmentation in his both retinas, thinned retinal vessels and pale optic disc.Full-field electroretinogram examination showed reduced scotopic a- and b-wave peaks and severely reduced photopic a- and b-wave peaks.The rest of the family began to develop night blindness when 7 to 10 years old, having complete loss of peripheral vision around 50 years of age, and typical RP changes were found in ophthalmic examination.Genetic testing revealed a heterozygous missense variant c. 982delC (p.L328fs) in exon 5 of the family's rhodopsin ( RHO) gene (NM_000539.3). This variant resulted in the change of 21 amino acids after amino acid 328 in the encoded RHO protein, increasing amino acids in the coding region from 348 to 358 and altering the structure of the RHO protein.The analysis of protein homology sequence alignment between several different species showed that the locus was highly conserved.According to the guidelines of the ACMG criteria and guidelines for classification of genetic variants, the variant was a pathogenic mutation because there were six evidences including one very strong evidence of pathogenicity PVS1, two moderate evidences of pathogenicity PM2 and three supporting evidences of pathogenicity, PP1, PP3 and PP4. Conclusions:The c. 982delC variant in the RHO gene is a pathogenic mutation in this pedigree, and this variant is reported for the first time in a Chinese Han family.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a leading cause of liver disease worldwide. Although several HCV protease/polymerase inhibitors were recently approved by U.S. FDA, the combination of antivirals targeting multiple processes of HCV lifecycle would optimize anti-HCV therapy and against potential drug-resistance. Viral entry is an essential target step for antiviral development, but FDA-approved HCV entry inhibitor remains exclusive. Here we identify serotonin 2A receptor (5-HTR) is a HCV entry factor amendable to therapeutic intervention by a chemical biology strategy. The silencing of 5-HTR and clinically available 5-HTR antagonist suppress cell culture-derived HCV (HCVcc) in different liver cells and primary human hepatocytes at late endocytosis process. The mechanism is related to regulate the correct plasma membrane localization of claudin 1 (CLDN1). Moreover, phenoxybenzamine (PBZ), an FDA-approved 5-HTR antagonist, inhibits all major HCV genotypes in vitro and displays synergy in combination with clinical used anti-HCV drugs. The impact of PBZ on HCV genotype 2a is documented in immune-competent humanized transgenic mice. Our results not only expand the understanding of HCV entry, but also present a promising target for the invention of HCV entry inhibitor.

OBJECTIVE: To identify pathogenic mutation in a Chinese family affected with hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) through genetic testing and a follow-up survey. METHODS: Whole exome sequencing was performed on DNA samples of two patients and one unaffected member to screen candidate mutations. Sanger sequencing was used to validate the suspected mutations in all ten family members. RESULTS: Four patients and three asymptomatic members (under 25 years old) carried a c.1771T>C mutation of the KIAA0196, while the other three asymptomatic members (over 40 years old) did not carry the mutation. The mutation was predicted to be "affect protein function", "probably damaging" and "disease causing" by SIFT, PolyPhen-2 and Mutation Taster, respectively. Three asymptomatic carriers were followed up and one of them developed HSP one year later, while the other two had no signs of the disease yet. CONCLUSION The clinical phenotype of the c.1771T>C mutation of KIAA0196 has a considerable heterogeneity and this mutation may be a common pathogenic site of KIAA0196 mutations among Chinese patients with hereditary spastic paraplegia.
Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Phenotype ; Proteins ; genetics ; Spastic Paraplegia, Hereditary ; genetics

OBJECTIVE: Identification of new risk factors is needed to improve prediction of adverse outcomes in patients with three-vessel disease (TVD). The present study aimed to evaluate the prognostic values of serum chloride and sodium levels in patients with TVD. METHODS: We used data from a prospective cohort of consecutive patients with angiographically confirmed TVD. The primary endpoint was all-cause death. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to analyze the relationship of serum chloride and sodium levels with long-term outcomes of TVD patients. RESULTS: A total of 8,318 participants with available serum chloride and sodium data were included in this analysis. At baseline, patients in the low tertiles group of serum chloride level (⪕ 102.0 mmol/L) or serum sodium level (⪕ 139.0 mmol/L) had more severe disease conditions. During a median follow-up of 7.5-year, both low serum chloride level and low serum sodium level were found to be associated with an increased risk for mortality in univariate analysis. However, when both parameters were incorporated into a multivariate model, only low serum sodium level remained to be an independent predictor of all-cause death (hazard ratio: 1.16, 95% confidence interval: 1.01-1.34, P = 0.041). Modest but significant improvement of discrimination was observed after incorporating serum sodium level into the Synergy between percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery score. CONCLUSION Serum sodium level is more strongly associated with long-term outcomes of TVD patients compared with serum chloride level. Low serum sodium level is an independent risk factor for mortality, but only provides modest prognostic information beyond an established risk model.
Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Chlorides ; blood ; Coronary Artery Disease ; blood ; diagnosis ; mortality ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Sodium ; blood

Objective To compare urodynamic studies (UDS) and perineal sonography for assessing mixed urinary incontinence (MUI) in women. Methods A total of 118 adult females with MUI and 30 controls were enrolled from September, 2010 to December, 2017. Their baseline clinical characteristics were recorded. The MUI patients were divided into stress-predomi-nant (S-MUI, n=51), urge-predominant (U-MUI, n=34) and equal predominance (E-MUI, n=33) according to King's Health Questionnaire. Both UDS and perineal sonography were performed in all the subjects. Tolerability of the two methods was compared. Results For sonography parameters, compared with the controls, S-MUI patients had greater dynamic posterior urethral angle, dynamic angle of urethral inclination, dynamic pubo-urethral distance and descent of bladder neck (P<0.001), U-MUI patients had greater detrusor thickness (P<0.05), and E-MUI patients had greater descent of blad- der neck (P<0.05). For UDS parameters, compared with the controls, S-MUI patients had lower Pure.clos.max and functional urethral length; U-MUI patients had lower Qmax, smaller bladder volume, higher Pdet.open, high-er Pdet.Qmax and higher incidence of detrusor overactivity; and E-MUI patients had higher Pdet.Qmax and low-er Pure.clos.max (P<0.05). All UDS and sonography parameters differed significantly between S-MUI and U-MUI patients. The descent of the bladder neck, dynamic angle of urethral inclination, and dynamic puboure-thral distance were negatively correlated with detrusor pressure at maximal flow and functional urethral length, while detrusor wall thickness was positively correlated with detrusor pressure at maximal flow and functional urethral length. Perineal ultrasound was better tolerated than UDS in 82.3% patients. Conclusion Perineal sonography parameters show good correlation with UDS parameters. Ultrasonography is better tol-erated than UDS and provides additional morphologic data. Perineal sonography could facilitate to diagnose U-MUI.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between NK cell count/activity and acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) in patients receiving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT).

METHODSA total of 26 patients who had undergone allo-HSCT from January to July 2015 were enrolled in this study. The NK cell count/activity in the peripheral blood of recipients on day 30 after allo-HSCT were monitored by using 4-color flow cytometry. The incidence of aGVHD in patients was evaluated by clinical manifestation combinating with related pathologic indicators, and the relationship between NK cell count/activity and aGVHD were analyzed.

RESULTSIn the aGVHD group and the no-aGVHD group, the NK cell count and activity on days 30 after allo-HSCT were 655±216 cells/µl vs 1169±372 cells/µl(P=0.002) and 7.3±3.6% vs 9.0±3.6% (P=0.008). In the II-IV grade aGVHD group and the 0-I grade aGVHD group, the NK cell count/activity were 617±220 cells/µl vs 1081±399 cells/µl (P=0.001) and 4.2±1.7% vs 8.3±3.5%(P=0.001). As compared with the 0-I grade aGVHD group, patients in the II-IV grade aGVHD group had higher relapse rate (57% vs 5%)(P=0.010) , lower 1-year progression-free survival(PFS) rate (43% vs 84%)(P=0.010).

CONCLUSIONNK cell count/activity on day 30 after allo-HSCT were closely relates with aGVHD, which may be a potential marker for aGVHD and can provide a new target for aGVHD therapy.

Objective To describe the effects of China diabetes educator training and explore the influencing factors.Methods Totally 314 diabetes educators who graduated from Johnson & Johnson Diabetes Institute(JJDI) from 2007 to 2014 were recruited and investigated via self-designed evaluation form.Results The total score was 76.64±22.24.The top three items with highest scores were performing nurses training (93.36±62.81),form of health education (84.27±23.09) and working responsibility and procedure of diabetes educator (82.07±32.43).The items scored lower than 60 were regular follow-up system(56.16±31.74),publishing health education papers(38.47±47.75) and conducting related researches (26.11±44.00).Multiple linear regression analysis showed that educators who had longer time of working in diabetes department(t=3.515,P=0.001) and whose post were educators(t=3.404,P=0.001) and who were not first line practitioners (t=-2.589,P=0.001) had higher scores.Conclusion The educators' main work in China is focusing on regular health education.Follow-up management and research renovation capacity should be enhanced in the future for educators.