Objective:To understand the current status of anemia, iron deficiency, and iron-deficiency anemia among preschool children in China.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted with a multi-stage stratified sampling method to select 150 streets or townships from 10 Chinese provinces, autonomous regions, or municipalities (East: Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong, and Hainan; Central: Henan; West: Chongqing, Shaanxi, Guizhou, and Xinjiang; Northeast: Liaoning). From May 2022 to April 2023, a total of 21 470 children, including community-based children aged 0.5 to<3.0 years receiving child health care and kindergarten-based children aged 3.0 to<7.0 years, were surveyed. They were divided into 3 age groups: infants (0.5 to<1.0 year), toddlers (1.0 to<3.0 years), and preschoolers (3.0 to<7.0 years). Basic information such as sex and date of birth of the children was collected, and peripheral blood samples were obtained for routine blood tests and serum ferritin measurement. The prevalence rates of anemia, iron deficiency, and iron-deficiency anemia were analyzed, and the prevalence rate differences were compared among different ages, sex, urban and rural areas, and regions using the chi-square test.Results:A total of 21 460 valid responses were collected, including 10 780 boys (50.2%). The number of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers were 2 645 (12.3%), 6 244 (29.1%), and 12 571 (58.6%), respectively. The hemoglobin level was (126.7±14.8) g/L, and the serum ferritin level was 32.3 (18.5, 50.1) μg/L. The overall rates of anemia, iron deficiency, and iron-deficiency anemia were 10.4% (2 230/21 460), 28.3% (6 070/21 460), and 3.9% (845/21 460), respectively. The prevalence rate of anemia was higher for boys than for girls (10.9% (1 173/10 780) vs. 9.9% (1 057/10 680), χ2=5.58, P=0.018), with statistically significant differences in the rates for infants, toddlers and preschoolers (18.0% (475/2 645), 10.6% (662/6 244), and 8.7% (1 093/12 571), respectively, χ2=201.81, P<0.01), and the rate was significantly higher for children in rural than that in urban area (11.8% (1 516/12 883) vs. 8.3% (714/8 577), χ2=65.54, P<0.01), with statistically significant differences in the rates by region ( χ2=126.60, P<0.01), with the highest rate of 15.8% (343/2 173) for children in Central region, and the lowest rate of 5.3% (108/2 053) in Northeastern region. The prevalence rates of iron deficiency were 33.8% (895/2 645), 32.2% (2 011/6 244), and 25.2% (3 164/12 571) in infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, respectively, and 30.0% (3 229/10 780) in boys vs. 26.6% (2 841/10 680) in girls, 21.7% (1 913/8 821), 40.0% (870/2 173), 27.1% (2 283/8 413), 48.9% (1 004/2 053) in Eastern, Central, Western, and Northeastern regions, respectively, and each between-group showed a significant statistical difference ( χ2=147.71, 29.73, 773.02, all P<0.01). The prevalence rate of iron-deficiency anemia showed a significant statistical difference between urban and rural areas, 2.9% (251/8 577) vs. 4.6% (594/12 883) ( χ2=38.62, P<0.01), while the difference in iron deficiency prevalence was not significant ( χ2=0.51, P=0.476). Conclusions:There has been a notable improvement in iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia among preschool children in China, but the situation remains concerning. Particular attention should be paid to the prevention and control of iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia, especially among infants and children in the Central, Western, and Northeastern regions of China.

Objective To understand the characteristics and developmental differences between cerebral organoids in vitro and normal cerebral cortices in vivo. Methods 1. Grouping: cerebral cortices in vivo group and cultured cerebral organoids in vitro group. 2. Sample collection: cortical tissues were collected from Kunming mouse embryos at embryonic day 7.5(E7.5), E9.5, E11.5, E14.5, and postnatal day 3 (P3) or P7. Three specimens were taken from each group. Meanwhile, cerebral organoids were cultured with mouse induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and samples at different culture time point were collected, and more than 3 samples were collected at each time point. 3. Detection method: the distribution of different types of cells in each group of specimens was analyzed by immunofluorescent staining. Results While relative similarities between in vivo cerebral cortical development and the cerebral organoids in vitro were observed, including the histogenesis, and the morphological differentiation of nerve cells and glial cells, the lamellar architecture of cerebral cortex in mouse brain was not observed in cerebral organoids. Conclusion The development of cerebral organoids in vitro has some similarity with body's cortical development. Therefore, cerebral organoids can be used to a substitution of cortex and diseases' models, but improvement of the existing technologies is necessary.

Background: Dysfunction of vascular endothelial cells (ECs) plays a central role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular complications in diabetes. SWI/SNF-related matrix-associated actin-dependent regulator of chromatin subfamily A member 5 (SMARCA5) is a key regulator of chromatin structure and DNA repair, but its role in ECs remains surprisingly unexplored. The current study was designed to elucidate the regulated expression and function of SMARCA5 in diabetic ECs. Methods: SMARCA5 expression was evaluated in ECs from diabetic mouse and human circulating CD34+ cells using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. Effects of SMARCA5 manipulation on ECs function were evaluated using cell migration, in vitro tube formation and in vivo wound healing assays. Interaction among oxidative stress, SMARCA5 and transcriptional reprogramming was elucidated using luciferase reporter assay, electrophoretic mobility shift assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation. Results: Endothelial SMARCA5 expression was significantly decreased in diabetic rodents and humans. Hyperglycemia-suppressed SMARCA5 impaired EC migration and tube formation in vitro, and blunted vasculogenesis in vivo. Contrarily, overexpression of SMARCA5 in situ by a SMARCA5 adenovirus-incorporated hydrogel effectively promoted the rate of wound healing in a dorsal skin punch injury model of diabetic mice. Mechanistically, hyperglycemia-elicited oxidative stress suppressed SMARCA5 transactivation in a signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)-dependent manner. Moreover, SMARCA5 maintained transcriptional homeostasis of several pro-angiogenic factors through both direct and indirect chromatin-remodeling mechanisms. In contrast, depletion of SMARCA5 disrupted transcriptional homeostasis to render ECs unresponsive to established angiogenic factors, which ultimately resulted in endothelial dysfunction in diabetes. Conclusion Suppression of endothelial SMARCA5 contributes to, at least in part, multiple aspects of endothelial dysfunction, which may thereby exacerbate cardiovascular complications in diabetes.

Professor SHAO Jing-ming's clinical experience of fire needling for bone-joint tuberculosis, tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis, ganglion cyst and thyrophyma is summarized. Professor SHAO used fire needling to treat bone-joint tuberculosis. The acupoints included ashi points and nearby acupoints, particularly local opposite acupoints (Neixiyan [EX-LE 4] and Dubi [ST 35], Yinlingquan [SP 9] and Yanglingquan [GB 34], Xuehai [SP 10] and Liangqiu [ST 34]), and for the patients with severe yin-cold syndrome, Yanghe decoction was additionally used. For tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis, fire needling was used at different stages. In the early stage, the nucleus was punctured with fire needling; in the middle stage, the pustule was punctured with fire needling combined with cupping; in the late stage, the fire needling was inserted into the fistula or sinus tract, and the surrounding granulation tissue was treated with horizontal penetrating needling. For ganglion cyst, fire needling combined with centro-square needling was applied. For thyrophyma, the surrounding needling with filiform was used; for simple thyroid mass and thyroid nodule, the surrounding needling with fire needling was used.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Ganglion Cysts ; Humans ; Lymphadenitis ; Tuberculosis, Osteoarticular

Objective: To investigate the function of primary cilia in regulating the cellular response to temozolomide (TMZ) and ionizing radiation (IR) in glioblastoma (GBM). Methods: GBM cells were treated with TMZ or X-ray/carbon ion. The primary cilia were examined by immunostaining with Arl13b and γ-tubulin, and the cellular resistance ability was measured by cell viability assay or survival fraction assay. Combining with cilia ablation by IFT88 depletion or chloral hydrate and induction by lithium chloride, the autophagy was measured by acridine orange staining assay. The DNA damage repair ability was estimated by the kinetic curve of γH2AX foci, and the DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) activation was detected by immunostaining assay. Results: Primary cilia were frequently preserved in GBM, and the induction of ciliogenesis decreased cell proliferation. TMZ and IR promoted ciliogenesis in dose- and time-dependent manners, and the suppression of ciliogenesis significantly enhanced the cellular sensitivity to TMZ and IR. The inhibition of ciliogenesis elevated the lethal effects of TMZ and IR via the impairment of autophagy and DNA damage repair. The interference of ciliogenesis reduced DNA-PK activation, and the knockdown of DNA-PK led to cilium formation and elongation. Conclusion Primary cilia play a vital role in regulating the cellular sensitivity to TMZ and IR in GBM cells through mediating autophagy and DNA damage repair.
Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating/therapeutic use* ; Brain Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA/therapeutic use* ; Glioblastoma/metabolism* ; Humans ; Radiation, Ionizing ; Temozolomide/therapeutic use*

Objective: miR-663a has been reported to be downregulated by X-ray irradiation and participates in radiation-induced bystander effect via TGF-β1. The goal of this study was to explore the role of miR-663a during radiation-induced Epithelium-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Methods: TGF-β1 or IR was used to induce EMT. After miR-663a transfection, cell migration and cell morphological changes were detected and the expression levels of miR-663a, TGF-β1, and EMT-related factors were quantified. Results: Enhancement of cell migration and promotion of mesenchymal changes induced by either TGF-β1 or radiation were suppressed by miR-663a. Furthermore, both X-ray and carbon ion irradiation resulted in the upregulation of TGF-β1 and downregulation of miR-663a, while the silencing of TGF-β1 by miR-663a reversed the EMT process after radiation. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate an EMT-suppressing effect by miR-663a via TGF-β1 in radiation-induced EMT.
Down-Regulation ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Epithelium/metabolism* ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1/pharmacology*

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

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical effect differences between "'s five-needle method" and routine acupoint selection on allergic rhinitis and asthma syndrome. METHODS: A total of 210 patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma syndrome were randomly divided into an observation group (105 cases, 4 cases dropped off) and a control group (105 cases, 4 cases dropped off). The patients in the observation group were treated with "'s five-needling method", and the acupoints of Feishu (BL 13), Dazhui (GV 14), Fengmen (BL 12), Yintang (GV 29), Shangyingxiang (EX-HN 8) and Hegu (LI 4), etc. were selected; the patients in the control group was treated with routine acupuncture, and the acupoints of Feishu (BL 13), Zhongfu (LU 1), Taiyuan (LU 9), Dingchuan (EX-B 1), Danzhong (CV 17), Yintang (GV 29), Fengmen (BL 12) and Zusanli (ST 36), etc. were selected. The treatment in the two groups was given once a day, 6 times a week, for 4 weeks. The score of symptoms and signs was observed before and after treatment as well as 1 month, 2 months and 3 months after treatment. The forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF) and eosinophils in peripheral blood were measured before and after treatment in the two groups. After treatment, the clinical therapeutic effect was compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The total effective rate was 98.0% (99/101) in the observation group, which was superior to 94.1% (95/101) in the control group (<0.01). Compared before treatment, the total score of symptoms and signs in the two groups was significantly decreased at 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks of treatment (<0.01); after treatment and at each time point of follow-up, the total score of symptoms and signs in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (<0.01). Compared with 4 weeks of treatment, the total score of symptoms and signs at each time point of follow-up was not statistically different in the observation group (>0.05), and the total score of symptoms and signs in the third month of follow-up in the control group was significantly increased (<0.05). After treatment, FEV1 and PEF in the two groups were increased (<0.01), eosinophil count in peripheral blood was decreased (<0.01), and the improvement in the observation group was greater than that in the control group (<0.01, <0.05). CONCLUSION "'s five-needle method" can improve the clinical symptoms and pulmonary function, reduce the count of eosinophils in peripheral blood in patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma syndrome, and the curative effect is better than routine acupuncture.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Asthma ; therapy ; Humans ; Needles ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

Vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) is frequently used in abdominal surgeries. However, relevant guidelines are rare. Chinese Trauma Surgeon Association organized a committee composed of 28 experts across China in July 2017, aiming to provide an evidence-based recommendation for the application of VSD in abdominal surgeries. Eleven questions regarding the use of VSD in abdominal surgeries were addressed: (1) which type of materials should be respectively chosen for the intraperitoneal cavity, retroperitoneal cavity and superficial incisions? (2) Can VSD be preventively used for a high-risk abdominal incision with primary suture? (3) Can VSD be used in severely contaminated/infected abdominal surgical sites? (4) Can VSD be used for temporary abdominal cavity closure under some special conditions such as severe abdominal trauma, infection, liver transplantation and intra-abdominal volume increment in abdominal compartment syndrome? (5) Can VSD be used in abdominal organ inflammation, injury, or postoperative drainage? (6) Can VSD be used in the treatment of intestinal fistula and pancreatic fistula? (7) Can VSD be used in the treatment of intra-abdominal and extra-peritoneal abscess? (8) Can VSD be used in the treatment of abdominal wall wounds, wound cavity, and defects? (9) Does VSD increase the risk of bleeding? (10) Does VSD increase the risk of intestinal wall injury? (11) Does VSD increase the risk of peritoneal adhesion? Focusing on these questions, evidence-based recommendations were given accordingly. VSD was strongly recommended regarding the questions 2-4. Weak recommendations were made regarding questions 1 and 5-11. Proper use of VSD in abdominal surgeries can lower the risk of infection in abdominal incisions with primary suture, treat severely contaminated/infected surgical sites and facilitate temporary abdominal cavity closure.
Abdomen ; surgery ; China ; Drainage ; methods ; Evidence-Based Medicine ; Humans ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Societies, Medical ; organization & administration ; Surgical Wound Infection ; prevention & control ; Traumatology ; organization & administration ; Vacuum

OBJECTIVE: To noninvasively assess the neurodegenerative changes in the brain of patients with Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease by measuring the lesion tissue with the iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least square estimation-iron quantification (IDEAL-IQ). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Routine brain MRI, IDEAL-IQ and 1H-proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS, served as control) were performed on 12 patients with type C Niemann-Pick disease (4 males and 8 females; age range, 15–61 years; mean age, 36 years) and 20 healthy subjects (10 males and 10 females; age range, 20–65 years; mean age, 38 years). The regions with lesion and the normal appearing regions (NARs) of patients were measured and analyzed based on the fat/water signal intensity on IDEAL-IQ and the lipid peak on 1H-MRS. RESULTS: Niemann-Pick type C patients showed a higher fat/water signal intensity ratio with IDEAL-IQ on T2 hyperintensity lesions and NARs (3.7–4.9%, p < 0.05 and 1.8–3.0%, p < 0.05, respectively), as compared to healthy controls (HCs) (1.2–2.3%). After treatment, the fat/water signal intensity ratio decreased (2.2–3.4%), but remained higher than in the HCs (p < 0.05). The results of the 1H-MRS measurements showed increased lipid peaks in the same lesion regions, and the micro-lipid storage disorder of NARs in NPC patients was detectable by IDEAL-IQ instead of 1H-MRS. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggested that IDEAL-IQ may be useful as a noninvasive and objective method in the evaluation of patients with NPC; additionally, IDEAL-IQ can be used to quantitatively measure the brain parenchymal adipose content and monitor patient follow-up after treatment of NPC.
Brain ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Male ; Methods ; Niemann-Pick Diseases ; Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Water