Objective: To investigate the status and influencing factors of platelet bacterial contamination in China, and to provide theoretical support for relevant policies in blood collection and transfusion institutions. Methods: A meta-analysis by systematically searching studies on platelet bacterial contamination in China published between 1998 and 2023 was conducted. Data analysis was performed using R4.4 software to combine studies that met the inclusion criteria. Results: Twenty-three studies were included after screening. The combined analysis showed that the overall contamination rate of platelets in China was 0.18% (95% CI: 0.12%-0.24%). The contamination rate of manually condensed platelets was significantly higher than that of apheresis platelet concentrates (0.28% vs 0.17%, P<0.01). No significant difference in platelet contamination rates was found between eastern and central regions (0.21% vs 0.15%, P>0.01). The contamination rate of aerobic bacteria was higher than that of anaerobic bacteria (0.11% vs 0.06%, P<0.01). Publication bias analysis indicated robust results, and sensitivity analysis showed minimal impact of excluding individual studies on the overall conclusion. Conclusion: Although the platelet contamination rate in China is generally low, significant differences exist across collection methods and regions.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics, treatment course and prognosis of children with intermediate-high risk pulmonary embolism.Methods:The clinical data of 48 children with pulmonary embolism treated in Beijing Children′s Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2017 to December 2021 were analyzed retrospectively.Including 12 intermediate-high risk cases and 36 low-risk cases.The clinical manifestations, laboratory results, treatment and prognosis were compared between groups by the t-test, rank sum test and Chi- square test with the yates continuity correlation or Fisher′ s exact test. Results:There were no significant differences in the sex and age between the intermediate-high risk group and the low-risk group.The proportions of patients with shortness of breath, dyspnea, cyanosis or hypoxemia were higher in the intermediate-high risk group than those of in low-risk group.Twelve children in the low-risk group did not have specific symptoms of pulmonary embolism.There were no significant differences in the D-dimer level, and the distribution of pulmonary embolism between the two groups (all P>0.05). However, the proportion of children with other thromboembolism in the intermediate-high risk group was significantly higher than that of the low-risk group, among which heart thrombosis was the most common (7 cases). There were no significant differences in the underlying diseases and thrombophilia between the two groups (all P>0.05). The treatment of the intermediate-high risk group was more active: 6/12(50.00%) patients in the intermediate-high risk group received reperfusion treatment, including 3 cases of systemic thrombolysis, 1 case of catheter thrombolysis, and 2 cases of thrombectomy.In the low-risk group, only 1 case was treated with systematic thrombolysis.Unfavorable outcomes were reported in 3/48 (6.25%) patients, including 1 death of massive bleeding after catheter-directed thrombolysis in the acute phase, 1 case of recurrent pulmonary embolism after self-decided withdrawal and 1 case of progression of pulmonary embolism that was managed by surgical thrombectomy, all of whom were in the intermediate-high risk group. Conclusions:Shortness of breath, dyspnea, cyanosis or hypoxemia and co-existed venous thromboembolism were more common in intermediate-high risk cases.The treatment regimen of was more aggressive, but the incidence of unfavorable outcomes was higher in intermediate-high risk group; further research is needed to determine the risk factors for intermediate-high risk pulmonary embolism in children.

Objective To investigate the clinical application value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) after pediatric liver transplantation. Methods Clinical data of 126 pediatric recipients undergoing liver transplantation were retrospectively analyzed. The incidence of HAT after pediatric liver transplantation was summarized. Color Doppler ultrasound and CEUS manifestations of HAT were compared. Results According to color Doppler ultrasound, 17 cases were highly suspected with HAT. Nine cases were highly suspected with HAT by CEUS, who were subsequently confirmed by CT angiography (CTA) or surgery. CEUS manifestations of HAT showed that hepatic artery was not seen surrounding the portal vein during the arterial phase or even portal venous phase. Hepatocyte necrosis occurred in 4 patients with HAT, and no perfusion of intrahepatic contrast agent was observed on CEUS. Conclusions CEUS yields high clinical application value in the diagnosis of HAT after pediatric liver transplantation. It has significant advantages compared with traditional CTA, which could be widely applied in clinical practice.

Background/Aims: Endoscopic wound suturing is an important factor that affects the ability to remove large and full-thickness lesions during endoscopic resection. We aimed to evaluate the effect of a traction metal clip with a fishhook-like device on wound sutures after endoscopic resection. Methods: From July 2020 to April 2021, patients who met the enrollment criteria were treated with a fishhook-like device during the operation to suture the postoperative wound (group A). Patients with similar conditions and similar size wounds who were treated with a “purse-string suture” to suture the wounds were retrospectively analyzed as the control group (group B). Difference in the suture rate, adverse events, time required for suturing, and number of metal clips were compared between the two groups. Results: The time required for suturing was 7.72±0.51 minutes in group A and 11.50±0.91 minutes in group B. This difference was statistically significant (F=13.071, p=0.001). The number of metal clamps used in group A averaged 8.1 pieces/case, and the number of metal clamps used in group B averaged 7.3 pieces/case. This difference was not statistically significant (F=0.971, p>0.05). Conclusions The traction metal clip with the fishhook-like device is ingeniously designed and easy to operate. It has a good suture effect on the wound after endoscopic submucosal dissection and effectively prevents postoperative adverse events.

Objective:To investigate the etiology of pleural effusion in hospitalized children in Beijing Children′s Hospital.Methods:Clinical information of children with pleural effusion admitted to Beijing Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from January 2016 to December 2018 was retrospectively analyzed.According to the etiology, the children were divided into infection group (parapneumonic pleural effusion, tuberculous pleurisy and empyema) and non infection group.According to the age, the children were further divided into ≤ 3 years old, >3-7 years old and > 7 years old groups.Classification of statistics was performed, and the etiology of pleural effusion were retrospectively analyzed.Results:Among the 1 165 children with pleural effusion, 746 cases(64.0%) were infected with pleural effusion, 697 cases (697/746, 93.4%) of who were parapneumonic effusion.In patients with parapneumonic effusion, 457 cases (61.3%) had Mycoplasma pneumonia (MP) infection.Infectious pleural effusion was more common in children >7 years old(339/479 cases, 70.8%), while non-infectious pleural effusion was prevalent in children under 3 years old(188/324 cases, 58.0%). The difference was statistically significant ( χ2=96.33, P<0.05). Among the patients with non-infectious pleural effusion, 239 cases (239/419 cases, 57.0%) had multi-system diseases and 97 cases (97/419 cases, 23.2%) had malignant pleural effusion.All the 18 deaths were non-infectious pleural effusion. Conclusions:The leading reason for pleural effusion in children is infection.The most prevalent symptom is parapneumonic effusion, which is mainly caused by MP.

Objective:To investigate the protective effect of adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector-mediated heme oxygenase-1 ( HO-1) gene overexpression on retinitis pigmentosa (RP) models in rats. Methods:Eighty healthy male SD rats were selected and randomized into the blank control group, RP model group, AAV-GFP group and AAV-HO-1-GFP group, with 20 rats in each group.The RP model was established via tail vein injection of 1% sodium iodate solution at the dose of 50 mg/kg.Rats in the RP model group, AAV-GFP group and AAV-HO-1-GFP group were subretinally injected with normal saline, AAV-GFP virus and AAV-HO-1-GFP virus according to grouping.Rats in the blank control group were administrated with subretinal injection of equal volume of normal saline.The eyeballs of rats were enucleated on 14th day after molding.The retinal structure and thickness were detected by hematoxylin-eosin staining; apoptosis in retinal tissue was detected by TUNEL assay; the expression levels of cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase 3 (caspase 3), B-lymphoma-2 (bcl-2) and HO-1 protein in rats retina was identified by Western blot.The use and care of the animals complied with the Statement of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). The study protocol was approved by an Ethics Committee of The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University (No.202188).Results:Hematoxylin-eosin staining results showed normal retinal structure in the blank control group, obvious retinal structure damage with thinned and wavy outer nuclear layer in the RP model group and AAV-GFP group, and mild retinal structure damage with slightly thinned outer nuclear layer in the AAV-HO-1-GFP group.Compared with the blank control group, the outer nuclear layer was significantly thinner in the RP model group and AAV-GFP group (both at P<0.05). Relative expression level of HO-1 protein in the RP model group, AAV-GFP group, and AAV-HO-1-GFP group was 0.76±0.21, 0.76±0.16, 0.92±0.05, respectively, which were all significantly higher than 0.48±0.25 in the blank control group (all at P<0.05). The relative expression level of HO-1 protein in the AAV-HO-1-GFP group was significantly higher than that in the RP model group and the AAV-GFP group (both at P<0.05). There were significant differences in apoptosis rate, the relative expression levels of bcl-2 and caspase 3 protein among the four groups ( F=1 596.333, 1 043.806, 364.331; all at P<0.01). The apoptosis rate and the relative expression level of caspase 3 were significantly higher, and the relative expression level of bcl-2 was lower in the RP model group and AAV-GFP group than those in the AAV-HO-1-GFP group (all at P<0.05). Conclusions:AAV-mediated overexpression of HO-1 gene can protect the retina of RP rats.

Objective:To investigate the effect of antibiotics application in perioperative period on carotid artery and serum interluekin-6 (IL-6) in chronic periodontitis (CP) rats with hyperlipidemia (HL) or diabetes mellitus (DM).Methods:The models of CP rats with HL or DM were established in different batches. The rats were divided into groups as follows: A and A' were normal control groups, n=7 in each group; B(HL) and B'(DM) were groups of HL and DM, n=7 in each; C(HL+CP) and C'(DM+CP) were groups of CP with HL and CP with DM, n=21 in each. After the establishment of the models, groups C and C' were divided into C1 and C1' non-intervention group, C2 and C2' simple tooth extraction group and C3 and C3' antibiotic-assisted tooth extraction, with 7 rats in each of the groups. Two time interventions were performed to extract experimental teeth (bilateral maxillary first and second molars) in groups C2, C2', C3 and C3'. Serum samples were collected at 5 time points before and after tooth extraction (T1: before the first tooth extraction; T2: one week after the first tooth extraction; T3, T4, T5: the first, third and fifth week after the second tooth extraction), respectively. The absolute content of IL-6 in serum was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Ratio of the absolute content in the experimental groups and control groups were calculated as the relative content of IL-6. At the end of the experiments, all rats were euthanasia and the bifurcation vascular tissues of carotid artery were collected for the observation of the carotid artery pathology and plaque formation and the measurement of the thickness of carotid intimal-medial layer (IMT). Results:Carotid artery pathology observation showed the IMT in group C was significantly thickened and the group C2 was the most thickened one (compared with group A, P＜0.01). Elastic fibers in groups C1 and C2 were disordered or even broken and disappeared, presenting typical atherosclerotic plaques, which were diffuse calcium salt deposits in the intimal-medial layers and protrude into the lumen. Elastic fibers in group C3 were ranged in ordered relatively without obvious fracture and the number of plaques was significantly reduced. The vascular walls in rats of groups B' and C' were incomplete, the IMTs had no obvious changes, elastic fibers were ranged disorderly and broken and the smooth muscle cells had vacuolar changes. In group C2', the vascular wall was significantly thinned and calcified plaques appeared in the artery, which showed multiple calcification lesions penetrating through the intimal-medial layer or even the whole layer. The vascular wall of group C3' was integrity and the elastic fibers arranged relatively clutter-free, the number of plaques was reduced. Results of detections of IL-6 showed the relative contents of IL-6 in groups B, B', C1, and C1' increased with time. At T3 time point, the relative contents of IL-6 in groups C2 and C3 reached the peak, C2 was 10.4 times of group A and C3 was 9.5 times of group A, and then decreased to different low levels. At T5 point, comparisons of the relative contents of IL-6 showed C3 < C2 < C1 (3.2 times, 5.4 times, 9.6 times of group A, respectively). The relative contents of IL-6 in groups C2' and C3' reached the peak at T2 point (4.9 times and 4.5 times of group A, respectively), and then decline with time. At T5 point, comparisons of the relative contents of IL-6 showed C3'< C2'< C1' (1.2 times, 1.4 times and 3.1 times of group A, respectively). Conclusions:Blood vessels were observed more obvious thickened in the tooth extraction without antibiotic of HL+CP rats with calcifications increase. Blood vessels of DM+CP rats became thin and fragile and even the integrity was damaged. Perioperative use of antibiotics might reduce the carotid artery lesions and decrease serum levels of inflammatory cytokines.

Objective To evaluate the application value of quantitative parameters of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in evaluating the donor liver from donation after brain death (DBD). Methods Clinical data of 25 DBD donor livers and 10 healthy adult livers were retrospectively analyzed. CEUS examinations of DBD donor livers and healthy livers were collected. Quantitative parameters included the area under curve (AUC), maximum intensity (I_max), time to peak (TTP) and mean transit time (mTT), etc. Results Among 25 cases of DBD donor livers, 23 cases showed normal enhancement pattern, and the other 2 cases presented with abnormal enhancement pattern. Compared with the control group, the AUC, I_max and mTT values of DBD donor livers were significantly decreased (all P < 0.05). Conclusions CEUS quantitative parameters can be effective means to evaluate the micro-perfusion of DBD donor livers.

The expression or dysfunction of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) is closely related to various hereditary diseases, autoimmune diseases, metabolic diseases and tumors. LncRNAs were also recently recognized as functional regulators of fibrosis, which is a secondary process in many of these diseases and a primary pathology in fibrosis diseases. We review the latest findings on lncRNAs in fibrosis diseases of the liver, myocardium, kidney, lung and peritoneum. We also discuss the potential of disease-related lncRNAs as therapeutic targets for the clinical treatment of human fibrosis diseases.
Autoimmune Diseases ; Fibrosis ; Genetic Diseases, Inborn ; Humans ; Kidney ; Liver ; Lung ; Metabolic Diseases ; Myocardium ; Pathology ; Peritoneum ; RNA, Long Noncoding