Objective: To explore the heterogeneity and correlation of clinical phenotypes and genotypes in children with disorders of sex development (DSD). Methods: A retrospective study of 1 235 patients with clinically proposed DSD in 36 pediatric medical institutions across the country from January 2017 to May 2021. After capturing 277 DSD-related candidate genes, second-generation sequencing was performed to analyzed the heterogeneity and correlation combined with clinical phenotypes. Results: Among 1 235 children with clinically proposed DSD, 980 were males and 255 were females of social gender at the time of initial diagnosis with the age ranged from 1 day of age to 17.92 years. A total of 443 children with pathogenic variants were detected through molecular genetic studies, with a positive detection rate of 35.9%. The most common clinical phenotypes were micropenis (455 cases), hypospadias (321 cases), and cryptorchidism (172 cases) and common mutations detected were in SRD5A2 gene (80 cases), AR gene (53 cases) and CYP21A2 gene (44 cases). Among them, the SRD5A2 mutation is the most common in children with simple micropenis and simple hypospadias, while the AMH mutation is the most common in children with simple cryptorchidism. Conclusions: The SRD5A2 mutation is the most common genetic variant in Chinese children with DSD, and micropenis, cryptorchidism, and hypospadias are the most common clinical phenotypes. Molecular diagnosis can provide clues about the biological basis of DSD, and can also guide clinicians to perform specific clinical examinations. Target sequence capture probes and next-generation sequencing technology can provide effective and economical genetic diagnosis for children with DSD.
3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase/genetics* ; Child ; China/epidemiology* ; Cryptorchidism/genetics* ; Disorders of Sex Development/genetics* ; Female ; Genital Diseases, Male ; Genotype ; Humans ; Hypospadias/genetics* ; Male ; Membrane Proteins/genetics* ; Penis/abnormalities* ; Phenotype ; Retrospective Studies ; Steroid 21-Hydroxylase/genetics*

Ischemic stroke causes brain inflammation and multi-organ injury, which is closely associated with the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ) signaling pathway. Recent studies have indicated that ginsenoside Rb1 (GRb1) can protect the integrity of the blood-brain barrier after stroke. In the current study, a mouse model of middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) was established to determine whether GRb1 can ameliorate brain/lung/intestinal barrier damage via the PPARγ signaling pathway. Staining (2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride, hematoxylin, and eosin) and Doppler ultrasonography were employed to detect pathological changes. Endothelial breakdown was investigated with the leakage of Evans Blue dye and the expression of TJs (tight junctions) and AJs (adherent junctions). Western blot and immunofluorescence were used to determine the levels of cell junction proteins, PPARγ and NF-κB. Results showed that GRb1 significantly mitigated multi-organ injury and increased the expression of cerebral microvascular, pulmonary vascular, and intestinal epithelial connexins. In brain, lung, and intestinal tissues, GRb1 activated PPARγ, decreased the levels of phospho-NF-κB p65, and inhibited the production of proinflammatory cytokines, thereby maintaining barrier permeability. However, co-treatment with GRb1 and the PPARγ antagonist GW9662 reversed the barrier-protective effect of GRb1. These findings indicated that GRb1 can improve stroke-induced brain/lung/intestinal barrier damagevia the PPARγ pathway.
Animals ; Brain ; Brain Ischemia ; Ginsenosides ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery ; Lung ; Mice ; NF-kappa B ; Neuroprotective Agents ; PPAR gamma ; Reperfusion ; Reperfusion Injury ; Signal Transduction

Objective: To investigate the incidence and trend of short-term outcomes among preterm infants born <34 weeks' gestation. Methods: A secondary analysis of data from the standardized database established by a multicenter cluster-randomized controlled study "reduction of infection in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) using the evidence-based practice for improving quality (REIN-EPIQ) study". This study was conducted in 25 tertiary NICU. A total of 27 192 infants with gestational age <34 weeks at birth and admitted to NICU within the first 7 days of life from May 2015 to April 2018 were enrolled. Infants with severe congenital malformation were excluded. Descriptive analyses were used to describe the mortality and major morbidities of preterm infants by gestational age groups and different admission year groups. Cochran-Armitage test and Jonckheere-Terpstra test were used to analyze the trend of incidences of mortality and morbidities in 3 study-years. Multiple Logistic regression model was constructed to analyze the differences of outcomes in 3 study-years adjusting for confounders. Results: A total of 27 192 preterm infants were enrolled with gestational age of (31.3±2.0) weeks at birth and weight of (1 617±415) g at birth. Overall, 9.5% (2 594/27 192) of infants were discharged against medical advice, and the overall mortality rate was 10.7% (2 907/27 192). Mortality for infants who received complete care was 4.7% (1 147/24 598), and mortality or any major morbidity was 26.2% (6 452/24 598). The incidences of moderate to severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia, sepsis, severe intraventricular hemorrhage or periventricular leukomalacia, proven necrotizing enterocolitis, and severe retinopathy of prematurity were 16.0% (4 342/27 192), 11.9% (3 225/27 192), 6.8% (1 641/24 206), 3.6% (939/25 762) and 1.5% (214/13 868), respectively. There was a decreasing of the overall mortality (P<0.001) during the 3 years. Also, the incidences for sepsis and severe retinopathy of prematurity both decreased (both P<0.001). However, there were no significant differences in the major morbidity in preterm infants who received complete care during the 3-year study period (P=0.230). After adjusting for confounders, infants admitted during the third study year showed significantly lower risk of overall mortality (adjust OR=0.62, 95%CI 0.55-0.69, P<0.001), mortality or major morbidity, moderate to severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia, sepsis and severe retinopathy of prematurity, compared to those admitted in the first study year (all P<0.05). Conclusions: From 2015 to 2018, the mortality and major morbidities among preterm infants in Chinese NICU decreased, but there is still space for further efforts. Further targeted quality improvement is needed to improve the overall outcome of preterm infants.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia/epidemiology* ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Mortality/trends* ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Infant, Premature, Diseases/epidemiology* ; Patient Discharge ; Retinopathy of Prematurity/epidemiology* ; Sepsis/epidemiology*

Objective: The relationship between serum uric acid (SUA) levels and glycemic indices, including plasma glucose (FPG), 2-hour postload glucose (2h-PG), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), remains inconclusive. We aimed to explore the associations between glycemic indices and SUA levels in the general Chinese population. Methods: The current study was a cross-sectional analysis using the first follow-up survey data from The China Cardiometabolic Disease and Cancer Cohort Study. A total of 105,922 community-dwelling adults aged ≥ 40 years underwent the oral glucose tolerance test and uric acid assessment. The nonlinear relationships between glycemic indices and SUA levels were explored using generalized additive models. Results: A total of 30,941 men and 62,361 women were eligible for the current analysis. Generalized additive models verified the inverted U-shaped association between glycemic indices and SUA levels, but with different inflection points in men and women. The thresholds for FPG, 2h-PG, and HbA1c for men and women were 6.5/8.0 mmol/L, 11.0/14.0 mmol/L, and 6.1/6.5, respectively (SUA levels increased with increasing glycemic indices before the inflection points and then eventually decreased with further increases in the glycemic indices). Conclusion An inverted U-shaped association was observed between major glycemic indices and uric acid levels in both sexes, while the inflection points were reached earlier in men than in women.
Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Blood Glucose/analysis* ; China/epidemiology* ; Cohort Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus/blood* ; Female ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Glycated Hemoglobin A/analysis* ; Glycemic Index ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Uric Acid/blood*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical features and outcome of neonatal acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in southwest Hubei, China. METHODS: According to the Montreux definition of neonatal ARDS, a retrospective clinical epidemiological investigation was performed on the medical data of neonates with ARDS who were admitted to Department of Neonatology/Pediatrics in 17 level 2 or level 3 hospitals in southwest Hubei from January to December, 2017. RESULTS: A total of 7 150 neonates were admitted to the 17 hospitals in southwest Hubei during 2017 and 66 (0.92%) were diagnosed with ARDS. Among the 66 neonates with ARDS, 23 (35%) had mild ARDS, 28 (42%) had moderate ARDS, and 15 (23%) had severe ARDS. The main primary diseases for neonatal ARDS were perinatal asphyxia in 23 neonates (35%), pneumonia in 18 neonates (27%), sepsis in 12 neonates (18%), and meconium aspiration syndrome in 10 neonates (15%). Among the 66 neonates with ARDS, 10 neonates (15%) were born to the mothers with an age of ≥35 years, 30 neonates (45%) suffered from intrauterine distress, 32 neonates (49%) had a 1-minute Apgar score of 0 to 7 points, 24 neonates (36%) had abnormal fetal heart monitoring results, and 21 neonates (32%) experienced meconium staining of amniotic fluid. Intraventricular hemorrhage was the most common comorbidity (12 neonates), followed by neonatal shock (9 neonates) and patent ductus arteriosus (8 neonates). All 66 neonates with ARDS were treated with mechanical ventilation in addition to the treatment for primary diseases. Among the 66 neonates with ARDS, 10 died, with a mortality rate of 15% (10/66), and 56 neonates were improved or cured, with a survival rate of 85% (56/66). CONCLUSIONS Neonatal ARDS in southwest Hubei is mostly mild or moderate. Perinatal asphyxia and infection may be the main causes of neonatal ARDS in this area. Intraventricular hemorrhage is the most common comorbidity. Neonates with ARDS tend to have a high survival rate after multimodality treatment.
China ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Meconium Aspiration Syndrome ; Pregnancy ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn ; Retrospective Studies

In Taiwan, high-risk patients have been identified and tested for preventing community spread of COVID-19. Most sample collection was performed in emergency departments (EDs). Traditional sample collection requires substantial personal protective equipment (PPE), healthcare professionals, sanitation workers, and isolation space. To solve this problem, we established a multifunctional sample collection station (MSCS) for COVID-19 testing in front of our ED. The station is composed of a thick and clear acrylic board (2 cm), which completely separates the patient and medical personnel. Three pairs of gloves (length, 45 cm) are attached and fixed on the outside wall of the MSCS. The gloves are used to conduct sampling of throat/nasal swabs, sputum, and blood from patients. The gap between the board and the building is only 0.2 cm (sealed with silicone sealant). ED personnel communicate with patients using a small two-way broadcast system. Medical waste is put in specific trashcans installed in the table outside the MSCS. With full physical protection, the personnel conducting the sampling procedure need to wear only their N95 mask and gloves. After we activated the station, our PPE, sampling time, and sanitization resources were considerably conserved during the 4-week observation period. The MSCS obviously saved time and PPE. It elevated the efficiency and capacity of the ED for handling potential community infections of COVID-19.
Betacoronavirus ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; Coronavirus Infections ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; organization & administration ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; methods ; Pandemics ; Personal Protective Equipment ; supply & distribution ; Pneumonia, Viral ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Taiwan ; epidemiology

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence of neonatal asphyxia and possible contributing factors for the development of severe asphyxia in Hubei Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, China. METHODS: A total of 16 hospitals in Hubei Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture were selected as research centers. A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 22 294 live births in these 16 hospitals from January to December, 2016 to investigate the incidence rate of neonatal asphyxia and possible contributing factors for the development of severe asphyxia. RESULTS: Of the 22 294 neonates born alive, 733 (3.29%) were diagnosed with neonatal asphyxia, among whom 627 had mild asphyxia and 106 had severe asphyxia. The neonates with low maternal education level, maternal anemia during pregnancy, chorioamnionitis, abnormal amniotic fluid, abnormal umbilical cord, placenta previa, placental abruption, Tujia Minority, preterm birth, and low birth weight had a higher incidence of severe asphyxia (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The incidence rate of neonatal asphyxia in Hubei Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture is higher. Low maternal education level, maternal anemia during pregnancy, chorioamnionitis, abnormal amniotic fluid, abnormal umbilical cord, placenta previa, placental abruption, Tujia Minority, preterm birth, and low birth weight may be related to the development of severe neonatal asphyxia.
Asphyxia Neonatorum ; epidemiology ; China ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Retrospective Studies

AIM:To study whether homocysteine (Hcy) inhibits the expression of ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) and ATP-binding cassette transporter G1 (ABCG1) by microRNA-33 (miRNA-33) signaling, and reduces the efficiency of reverse cholesterol transport (RCT).METHODS:RAW264.7 macrophages were induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) to establish foam cell model.Oil red O staining was used to determine whether the model was established successfully.miRNA-33 mimics and miRNA-33 inhibitor were transfected into the cells by Lipofectamine 2000, and the cells were exposed to Hcy at concentration of 5 mmol/L for 24 h.The intracellular lipid droplets were observed by Oil red O staining.The expression of ABCA1 and ABCG1 at mRNA and protein levels was determined by real-time PCR and Western blot.The cellular cholesterol content was analyzed by HPLC, and effluent rate of cholesterol was detected by the method of liquid scintillation counting.RESULTS:Compared with blank control group, the lipid content in miRNA-33 mimics group was increased, and the expression of ABCA1 and ABCG1 at mRNA and protein levels was decreased (P<0.05).The intracellular cholesterol content was increased gradually (P<0.05) , and the cellular cholesterol efflux rate was gradually decreased (P<0.05) in miRNA-33 mimics group.Compared with blank control group, the testing results in miRNA-33 inhibitor group were the opposition of those in miRNA-33 mimics group (P<0.05).No difference of the above indexes among blank control group, miRNA-33 mimics-NC group and miRNA-33 inhibitor-NC group was observed.CONCLUSION:Hcy inhibits the mRNA and protein expression of ABCA1 and ABCG1 through miRNA-33 signaling, and reduces the efficiency of RCT in RAW264.7 macrophage-derived foam cells.

Objective: To compare the outcomes between haploidentical donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (haplo-HSCT) and matched-sibling donor transplantation (MSD-HSCT) for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) . Methods: The clinical data of 40 PNH patients received HSCT (haplo-HSCT=25, MSD-HSCT=15) from July 2007 to May 2018 were analyzed retrospectively to compare the outcomes between haplo-HSCT and MSD-HSCT groups. Results: There were no differences in terms of gender, age, patients of PNH-AA and median time from diagnosis to transplantation between the 2 groups (P>0.05) . The median values of absolute mononuclear cell counts and CD34⁺ cells infused were 10.74 (4.80-22.86) ×10⁸/kg and 12.19 (5.14-17.25) ×10⁸/kg (P=0.866) , 3.57 (0.68-7.80) ×10⁶/kg and 4.00 (3.02-8.42) ×10⁶/kg (P=0.151) respectively, in haplo-HSCT and MSD-HSCT groups. All patients attained complete engraftment, no patient occurred graft failure. The median durations for myeloid and platelet engraftment were 12 (range, 9-26) and 11 (range, 7-15) days (P=0.065) , 19 (range, 11-75) and 13 (range, 11-25) days (P=0.027) respectively, in haplo-HSCT and MSD-HSCT groups. During a median follow-up of 26 (4-65) months in haplo-HSCT and 36 (4-132) months in MSD-HSCT groups (P=0.294) , the incidences of grade Ⅰ-Ⅳ acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) were 32.0% and 20.0% (P=0.343) , grade Ⅱ-Ⅳ aGVHD were 16.0%, 13.3% (P=0.759) , chronic GVHD were 30.7% and 24.6% (P=0.418) , moderate-severe chronic GVHD were 12.7% and 7.1% (P=0.522) respectively, in haplo-HSCT and MSD-HSCT groups. The incidences of infection were 32.0% (8/25) and 26.7% (4/15) (P=1.000) respectively, in haplo-HSCT and MSD-HSCT groups. No patients occurred early death and relapse. Three-year estimated overall survival (OS) were (86.5±7.3) % and (93.3 ±6.4) % (P=0.520) , GVHD-free and failure-free survival (GFFS) were (78.3±8.6) % and (92.9±6.9) % (P=0.250) respectively, in haplo-HSCT and MSD-HSCT groups. Conclusion: The preliminary results indicated that haplo-HSCT was a feasible choice for PNH with favorable outcomes, haplo-HSCT and MSD-HSCT produced similar therapeutic efficacy.
Graft vs Host Disease ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Hemoglobinuria, Paroxysmal/therapy* ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Siblings ; Treatment Outcome

Objective: To compare the outcomes of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria-aplastic anemia (PNH-AA) syndrome. Methods: The outcomes of 46 patients who received allo-HSCT (16 PNH patients, 30 PNH-AA patients) from July 10, 2007 to June 2, 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. The conditioning regimen was busulfan, cyclophosphoramide, and ATG in haploidentical donors and unrelated donors. Patients with matched sibling donors were treated with the fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and ATG regimen. Results: There were no differences of baseline data between the 2 groups except gender distribution and the numbers of haploidentical donor transplantation. The median values of absolute nucleated cell counts were 10.58 (3.83-13.83) ×10(8)/kg in the PNH group and 10.81 (3.96-33.40) ×10(8)/kg in the PNH-AA group (P=0.668) . The median doses of CD34(+) cells infused were 5.00 (3.14-8.42) ×10(6)/kg and 3.57 (1.97-6.17) ×10(6)/kg (P=0.002) , respectively. All patients obtained complete engraftment. The median time for myeloid engraftment were 11 (7-14) days in the PNH group and 12 (10-26) days in the PNH-AA group (P=0.003) . The median time for platelet engraftment were 13 (11-16) days and 18 (12-75) days (P=0.002) , respectively, after a median follow-up of 36 (4-132) months in the PNH group and 26 (4-75) months in the PNH-AA group (P=0.428) . There were no differences of incidence rates of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) , chronic GVHD and infection between PNH and PNH-AA groups (P>0.05) . No patient occurred early death and relapse. The estimated 3-year overall survival (OS) of PNH and PNH-AA groups were (100.0±0.0) % and (85.7± 6.6) % (P=0.141) , GVHD-free and failure-free survival (GFFS) were (100.0±0.0) %, (78.7±7.7) % (P=0.067) . Conclusions: allo-HSCT is effective for patients with PNH and PNH-AA syndrome. The preliminary results indicate that myeloid and platelet engraftment in PNH group were faster than PNH-AA group. There were no differences in OS and GFFS between PNH group and PNH-AA group.
Anemia, Aplastic/therapy* ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Hemoglobinuria, Paroxysmal/therapy* ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Treatment Outcome