Objective:To analyze the application value of MCV,MCH and HbA2 in screening for thalassemia in the population of childbearing age in Quanzhou area,and to determine the optimal screening cut-off value of relevant indicators in this area. Methods:2725 couples of childbearing age were included in the study and underwent routine blood test,capillary hemoglobin electrophoresis,and α and β thalassemia gene test. Statistical methods were used to analyze the distribution of thalassemia genotypes,and compare the performance of MCV,MCH,and HbA2 in screening various types of thalassemia. According to the ROC curve,the best cut-off values of MCV,MCH and HbA2 in screening for thalassemia in this area were determined. Results:In this study,a total of 1801 thalassemia carriers were detected,including 1341 cases of α-thalassemia,420 cases of β-thalassemia,and 40 cases of αβ compound thalassemia. The most common genotypes of α-thalassemia and β-thalassemia were--SEA/αα and β654/βN,respectively. ROC curves were drawn to evaluate the performance of MCV,MCH and HbA2 in screening for α-thalassemia,mild β-thalassemia,αβ compound thalassemia,silent α-thalassemia,mild α-thalassemia,and intermediate α-thalassemia. The maximum areas under the curves (AUC) were 0.747,0.865,0.724,0.486,0.812,0.841;0.747,0.846,0.703,0.479,0.796,0.903;0.613,0.980,0.909,0.465,0.674,0.996,respectively;and the best cut-off values corresponding to the three screening indicators were 76.15fl,71.95fl,77.35fl,86.15fl,75.41fl,61.15fl;24.35pg,21.51pg,25.45pg,28.65pg,24.01pg,20.51pg;2.45％,3.05％,3.55％,3.25％,2.45％,1.65％,respectively. Conclusion:The levels of MCV,MCH and HbA2 are correlated with the phenotype of thalassemia,and the detection of these indicators is of great significance for the prevention and control of thalassaemia.

Objective: To analyze the clinical and molecular diagnostic status of Fanconi anemia (FA) in China. Methods: The General situation, clinical manifestations and chromosome breakage test and genetic test results of 107 pediatric FA cases registered in the Chinese Blood and Marrow Transplantation Registry Group (CBMTRG) and the Chinese Children Blood and Marrow Transplantation Registry Group (CCBMTRG) from August 2009 to January 2022 were analyzed retrospectively. Children with FANCA gene variants were divided into mild and severe groups based on the type of variant, and Wilcoxon-test was used to compare the phenotypic differences between groups. Results: Of the 176 registered FA patients, 69 (39.2%) cases were excluded due to lack of definitive genetic diagnosis results, and the remaining 107 children from 15 hospitals were included in the study, including 70 males and 37 females. The age at transplantation treatment were 6 (4, 9) years. The enrolled children were involved in 10 pathogenic genes, including 89 cases of FANCA gene, 7 cases of FANCG gene, 3 cases of FANCB gene, 2 cases of FANCE gene and 1 case each of FANCC, FANCD1, FANCD2, FANCF, FANCJ, and FANCN gene. Compound heterozygous or homozygous of loss-of-function variants account for 69.2% (72/104). Loss-of-function variants account for 79.2% (141/178) in FANCA gene variants, and 20.8% (37/178) were large exon deletions. Fifty-five children (51.4%) had chromosome breakage test records, with a positive rate of 81.8% (45/55). There were 172 congenital malformations in 80 children.Café-au-Lait spots (16.3%, 28/172), thumb deformities (16.3%,28/172), polydactyly (13.9%, 24/172), and short stature (12.2%, 21/172) were the most common congenital malformations in Chinese children with FA. No significant difference was found in the number of congenital malformations between children with severe (50 cases) and mild FANCA variants (26 cases) (Z=-1.33, P=0.185). Conclusions: FANCA gene is the main pathogenic gene in children with FA, where the detection of its exon deletion should be strengthened clinically. There were no phenotypic differences among children with different types of FANCA variants. Chromosome break test is helpful to determine the pathogenicity of variants, but its accuracy needs to be improved.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Child ; Fanconi Anemia/genetics* ; Chromosome Breakage ; Retrospective Studies ; Exons ; China/epidemiology*

Objective: To analyze the immunological characteristics and antibody changes of patients infected with the Omicron BA.1 and evaluate the possibility of secondary infection. Methods: A total of 104 patients infected with Omicron BA.1 in the Jinnan District of Tianjin from January 8 to February 2, 2022, were included in the study. The control group and case group were matched 1∶1 based on age, sex and vaccination status. Serum was collected from the case group and control group at 3, 6 and 9 months after infection. The serum levels of interleukin4 (IL-4), IL-5 and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), as well as the positive rates of IgG, IgG1 and IgG2, were detected by ELISA. Results: The highest concentration of IFN-γ in the case group at 6 months after infection was 145.4 pg/ml, followed by a decrease in concentration. The concentrations of IL-4 and IL-5 began to decrease at 6 months after infection (all P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the IgG2 positive rate between the case group and the control group at 6 months after BA.1 infection. However, at 9 months, there was a significant decrease compared to the control group (P=0.003). The ratio of IFN-γ/IL4 at 3 months after infection in the case group was lower than that in the control group (P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the ratio between the case group and the control group at 9 months after infection. Conclusion: The cellular immune function has been impaired at 3 months after infection with BA.1, and the specific cellular immune and humoral immune functions decrease significantly after 6 months, and the risk of secondary infection increases.
Adult ; Humans ; Immunity, Humoral ; Coinfection ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-5 ; Immunoglobulin G ; Interferon-gamma

Objective: To analyze the immunological characteristics and antibody changes of patients infected with the Omicron BA.1 and evaluate the possibility of secondary infection. Methods: A total of 104 patients infected with Omicron BA.1 in the Jinnan District of Tianjin from January 8 to February 2, 2022, were included in the study. The control group and case group were matched 1∶1 based on age, sex and vaccination status. Serum was collected from the case group and control group at 3, 6 and 9 months after infection. The serum levels of interleukin4 (IL-4), IL-5 and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), as well as the positive rates of IgG, IgG1 and IgG2, were detected by ELISA. Results: The highest concentration of IFN-γ in the case group at 6 months after infection was 145.4 pg/ml, followed by a decrease in concentration. The concentrations of IL-4 and IL-5 began to decrease at 6 months after infection (all P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the IgG2 positive rate between the case group and the control group at 6 months after BA.1 infection. However, at 9 months, there was a significant decrease compared to the control group (P=0.003). The ratio of IFN-γ/IL4 at 3 months after infection in the case group was lower than that in the control group (P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the ratio between the case group and the control group at 9 months after infection. Conclusion: The cellular immune function has been impaired at 3 months after infection with BA.1, and the specific cellular immune and humoral immune functions decrease significantly after 6 months, and the risk of secondary infection increases.
Adult ; Humans ; Immunity, Humoral ; Coinfection ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-5 ; Immunoglobulin G ; Interferon-gamma

Eight compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of the 80% aqueous ethanol extract of the roots and stems of Rubus pirifolius Smith by AB-8 macroporous resin, silica gel, ODS, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, and semi-preparative HPLC. Their structures were identified by spectral analysis such as 1D/2D NMR, MS, UV, IR and by comparison with literature information as rubussecotriterpene A (1), rubussecotriterpene B (2), cecropiacic acid (3), cecropiacic acid 3-methyl ester (4), alphitolic acid (5), betulinic acid (6), betulin (7), and obtusalin (8). Compounds 1 and 2 are new compounds, and compounds 3-8 were isolated from this plant for the first time.

The modernization and development of traditional Chinese medicine has led to higher standards for the quality of traditional Chinese medicine products. The extraction process is a crucial component of traditional Chinese medicine production, and it directly impacts the final quality of the product. However, the currently relied upon methods for quality assurance of the extraction process, such as simple wet chemical analysis, have several limitations, including time consumption and labor intensity, and do not offer precise control of the extraction process. As a result, there is significant value in incorporating near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in the production process of traditional Chinese medicine to improve the quality control of the final products. In this study, we focused on the extraction process of Xiao'er Xiaoji Zhike oral liquid (XXZOL), using near-infrared spectra collected by both a Fourier transform near-infrared spectrometer and a portable near-infrared spectrometer. We used the concentration of synephrine, a quality control index component specified by the pharmacopoeia, to achieve rapid and accurate detection in the extraction process. Moreover, we developed a model transfer method to facilitate the transfer of models between the two types of near-infrared spectrometers (analytical grade and portable), thus resolving the low resolution, poor performance, and insufficient prediction accuracy issues of portable instruments. Our findings enable the rapid screening and quality analysis of XXZOL onsite, which is significant for quality monitoring during the traditional Chinese medicine production process.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of standardized Jin's three-needle therapy on limb motor function and nerve function defect in stroke patients, and to evaluate the placebo control method. METHODS: A total of 66 patients with stroke were randomly divided into a Jin's three-needle group (33 cases, 3 cases dropped off) and a placebo needle group (33 cases, 4 cases dropped off). All the patients were treated with conventional medication and rehabilitation treatment. In addition, the patients in the Jin's three-needle group were treated with standardized Jin's three-needle therapy at temporal three points, spirit four points, hand three points, foot three points, upper extremity spasm three points, lower extremity spasm three points, etc.; while the patients in the placebo needle group were treated with placebo needling at identical points. All the treatments were given once a day, 5 days a week, and 3-week treatment was given with an interval of 2 days between weeks. The scores of Fugl-Meyer assessment scale (FMA) and National Institutes of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) were observed before treatment, 10 d and 21 d into treatment, and the blind evaluation was conducted after treatment. RESULTS: On the 10 d and 21 d into treatment, the FMA scores in both groups were higher than those before treatment (P<0.01), and the NIHSS scores were lower than those before treatment (P<0.01). On the 10 d and 21 d into treatment, the FMA scores in the Jin's three-needle group were higher than those in the placebo needle group (P<0.05); on the 10 d into treatment, the NIHSS score in the Jin's three-needle group was were lower than that in the placebo needle group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups on judging the type of treatment (P>0.05), and the consistency with the real situation was poor (Cohen's kappa coefficient<0.20). CONCLUSION The standardized Jin's three-needle therapy could effectively improve the limb motor function and nerve function defect in stroke patients. The placebo control method used in this study shows good clinical operability and masking effect.
Humans ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Acupuncture Points ; Stroke/therapy* ; Lower Extremity ; Needles ; Treatment Outcome ; Stroke Rehabilitation

This study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of CPD1, a novel phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor, on renal interstitial fibrosis after unilateral renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (UIRI). Male BALB/c mice were subjected to UIRI, and treated with CPD1 once daily (i.g, 5 mg/kg). Contralateral nephrectomy was performed on day 10 after UIRI, and the UIRI kidneys were harvested on day 11. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE), Masson trichrome and Sirius Red staining methods were used to observe the renal tissue structural lesions and fibrosis. Immunohistochemical staining and Western blot were used to detect the expression of proteins related to fibrosis. HE, Sirius Red and Masson trichrome staining showed that CPD1-treated UIRI mice had lower extent of tubular epithelial cell injury and deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) in renal interstitium compared with those in the fibrotic mouse kidneys. The results from immunohistochemistry and Western blot assay indicated significantly decreased protein expressions of type I collagen, fibronectin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) after CPD1 treatment. In addition, CPD1 dose-dependently inhibited the expression of ECM-related proteins induced by transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) in normal rat kidney interstitial fibroblasts (NRK-49F) and human renal tubular epithelial cell line (HK-2). In summary, the novel PDE inhibitor, CPD1, displays strong protective effects against UIRI and fibrosis by suppressing TGF-β signaling pathway and regulating the balance between ECM synthesis and degradation through PAI-1.
Animals ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Rats ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins ; Fibrosis ; Kidney ; Kidney Diseases ; Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1

Objective: To investigate the association between triiodothyronine (T₃) and inflammatory factors, and its potential effect on long-term outcomes in hospitalized patients with heart failure (HF). Methods: A total of 2 475 patients with HF admitted in Heart Failure Care Unit were consecutively enrolled in this retrospective cohort study from December 2006 to June 2018. Patients were divided into low T₃ syndrome group (n=610, 24.6%) and normal thyroid function group (n=1 865, 75.4%). The median follow-up time was 2.9 (1.0, 5.0) years. A total of 1 048 all-cause deaths were recorded at the final follow-up. The effects of free T₃ (FT₃) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) on the risk of all-cause death were evaluated by Cox regression analysis and Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results: The age of the total population was 19-95 (57±16) years, 1 823 cases (73.7%) were male. Compared to those with normal thyroid function, albumin [(36.5±5.4) vs. (40.7±4.7) g/L], hemoglobin [(129.4±25.1) vs. (140.6±20.6) g/L], total cholesterol [3.6 (3.0, 4.4) vs. 4.2 (3.5, 4.9) mmol/L] (all P<0.001) were lower, Whereas age [(60.5±16.0) vs. (55.2±15.4) years], creatinine [105.0 (83.6, 137.0) vs. 87.8 (75.6, 106.3) mmol/L], log N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide [(8.2±1.3) vs. (7.2±1.4) ng/L] were higher in LT₃S patients (all P<0.001). In Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, patients with lower FT₃ and higher hsCRP had significantly lower cumulative survival (P<0.001), lower FT₃ combined with higher hsCRP subgroup had the highest risk of all-cause death (P_trend<0.001). In multivariate Cox regression analysis, LT₃S was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality (HR=1.40, 95%CI 1.16-1.69, P<0.001). Conclusion: LT₃S is an independent predictor of poor prognosis in patients with heart failure. FT₃ combined with hsCRP improve the predictive value of all-cause death in hospitalized patients with heart failure.
Humans ; Male ; Young Adult ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; C-Reactive Protein ; Retrospective Studies ; Heart Failure ; Prognosis ; Triiodothyronine ; Syndrome

Objective: This cross-sectional investigation aimed to determine the incidence, clinical characteristics, prognosis, and related risk factors of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain in mainland China. Methods: Data of patients with SARS-CoV-2 from December 28, 2022, to February 21, 2023, were collected through online and offline questionnaires from 45 tertiary hospitals and one center for disease control and prevention in mainland China. The questionnaire included demographic information, previous health history, smoking and alcohol drinking, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, olfactory and gustatory function before and after infection, other symptoms after infection, as well as the duration and improvement of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction. The self-reported olfactory and gustatory functions of patients were evaluated using the Olfactory VAS scale and Gustatory VAS scale. Results: A total of 35 566 valid questionnaires were obtained, revealing a high incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain (67.75%). Females(χ2=367.013, P<0.001) and young people(χ2=120.210, P<0.001) were more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Gender(OR=1.564, 95%CI: 1.487-1.645), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), oral health status (OR=0.881, 95%CI: 0.839-0.926), smoking history (OR=1.152, 95%CI=1.080-1.229), and drinking history (OR=0.854, 95%CI: 0.785-0.928) were correlated with the occurrence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2(above P<0.001). 44.62% (4 391/9 840) of the patients who had not recovered their sense of smell and taste also suffered from nasal congestion, runny nose, and 32.62% (3 210/9 840) suffered from dry mouth and sore throat. The improvement of olfactory and taste functions was correlated with the persistence of accompanying symptoms(χ2=10.873, P=0.001). The average score of olfactory and taste VAS scale was 8.41 and 8.51 respectively before SARS-CoV-2 infection, but decreased to3.69 and 4.29 respectively after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and recovered to 5.83and 6.55 respectively at the time of the survey. The median duration of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions was 15 days and 12 days, respectively, with 0.5% (121/24 096) of patients experiencing these dysfunctions for more than 28 days. The overall self-reported improvement rate of smell and taste dysfunctions was 59.16% (14 256/24 096). Gender(OR=0.893, 95%CI: 0.839-0.951), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), history of head and facial trauma(OR=1.180, 95%CI: 1.036-1.344, P=0.013), nose (OR=1.104, 95%CI: 1.042-1.171, P=0.001) and oral (OR=1.162, 95%CI: 1.096-1.233) health status, smoking history(OR=0.765, 95%CI: 0.709-0.825), and the persistence of accompanying symptoms (OR=0.359, 95%CI: 0.332-0.388) were correlated with the recovery of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2 (above P<0.001 except for the indicated values). Conclusion: The incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain is high in mainland China, with females and young people more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Active and effective intervention measures may be required for cases that persist for a long time. The recovery of olfactory and taste functions is influenced by several factors, including gender, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status, history of head and facial trauma, nasal and oral health status, smoking history, and persistence of accompanying symptoms.
Female ; Humans ; Adolescent ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Smell ; COVID-19/complications* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; COVID-19 Vaccines ; Incidence ; Olfaction Disorders/etiology* ; Taste Disorders/etiology* ; Prognosis