Humans ; Asthma/drug therapy* ; Biological Therapy

OBJECTIVES: To study new biomarkers for the early diagnosis of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) by analyzing the differences in blood metabolites based on liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and metabolomics. METHODS: Dried blood spots were collected from 21 infants with ROP (ROP group) and 21 infants without ROP (non-ROP group) who were hospitalized in the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from January 2013 to December 2016. LC-MS/MS was used to measure the metabolites, and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis was used to search for differentially expressed metabolites and biomarkers. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in blood metabolic profiles between the ROP and non-ROP groups. The pattern recognition analysis, Score-plot, and weight analysis obtained 10 amino acids with a relatively large difference. Further statistical analysis showed that the ROP group had significant increases in blood levels of glutamic acid, leucine, aspartic acid, ornithine, and glycine compared with the non-ROP group (P<0.05). The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that glutamic acid and ornithine had the highest value in diagnosing ROP. CONCLUSIONS Blood metabolites in preterm infants with ROP are different from those without ROP. Glutamic acid and ornithine are the metabolic markers for diagnosing ROP. LC-MS/MS combined with metabolomics analysis has a potential application value in the early identification and diagnosis of ROP.
Infant, Newborn ; Infant ; Humans ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Infant, Premature ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Retinopathy of Prematurity/diagnosis* ; Glutamic Acid ; Ornithine

Humans ; Consensus ; Hypersensitivity ; Desensitization, Immunologic/adverse effects* ; Immunotherapy/adverse effects* ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Allergens

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of health education on knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) relating to malaria control among overseas enterprise employees. Methods In September 2019, on-site malaria control health education was conducted among all Chinese employees of a China-funded mining enterprise in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The KAP questionnaire for malaria control was generated on the Questionstar website, and the participants were subjected to two questionnaire surveys prior to and 14 months after health education. After the questionnaires were recovered, all valid questionnaires were divided into 4 groups, including the baseline group (the questionnaires filled out by respondents who received health education and participated in two questionnaire surveys before health education), the loss-to-follow-up group (the questionnaires filled out by respondents who received health education but only participated in the questionnaire survey after health education), the retest group (the questionnaires filled out by respondents who received health education and participated in two questionnaire surveys after health education) and the new group (questionnaires filled out by respondents who did not receive health education and only participated in the questionnaire survey after health education) according to subjects’ receiving health education and participation in two questionnaire surveys. The correct rate of malaria control knowledge, the proportion to good attitudes towards malaria control and the proportion of good practices towards malaria control were compared between the baseline group and the loss-to-follow-up group, between the baseline group and the retest group, and between the retest group and the new group. Results A total of 110 and 142 valid questionnaires were recovered during the two surveys, and the recovery rates were 90.9% and 70.3%, respectively. There were 77, 77, 33, and 65 valid questionnaires recovered from the baseline group, the loss-to-follow-up group, the retest group, and the new group, respectively. There were no significant differences in respondents’ gender, age and educational levels between the baseline group and the loss-to-follow-up group (all P values > 0.05), and there were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of the mean score of malaria control knowledge (Z = 2.011, P > 0.05), the mean score of attitudes towards malaria control (t = −0.787, P > 0.05) and the mean score of practices towards malaria control (t = −0.787, P > 0.05). There were significant differences between the retest group and the baseline group in terms of the mean score of malaria control knowledge (10.83 vs. 9.79; Z = −4.017, P < 0.05), the mean score of attitudes towards malaria control (29.48 vs. 28.61; Z = −1.981, P < 0.05) and the mean score of practices towards malaria control (6.43 vs. 5.91; Z = −2.499, P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the retest group and the new group in terms of gender, age or education levels (all P values > 0.05), and a higher mean score of malaria control knowledge was found in the retest group than in the new group (10.83 vs. 9.81; Z = −2.962, P < 0.05), while no significant differences were seen in the mean score of attitudes towards malaria control (29.48 vs. 30.17; Z = −1.158, P > 0.05) and the mean score of practices towards malaria control (6.43 vs. 6.37; Z = −0.048, P > 0.05) between the two groups. Conclusion Malaria control health education may significantly improve the understanding of malaria control knowledge, positive attitudes towards malaria control and the compliance of practices towards malaria control among overseas enterprise employees.

The present study investigated the mechanism of the Tibetan patent medicine Ershiwuwei Shanhu Pills(ESP) in alleviating Alzheimer's disease in mice via Akt/mTOR/GSK-3β signaling pathway. BALB/c mice were randomly assigned into a blank control group, a model group, low(200 mg·kg~(-1)), medium(400 mg·kg~(-1)) and high(800 mg·kg~(-1)) dose groups of ESP, and donepezil hydrochloride group. Except the blank control group, the other groups were given 20 mg·kg~(-1) aluminum chloride by gavage and 120 mg·kg~(-1) D-galactose by intraperitoneal injection for 56 days to establish Alzheimer's disease model. Morris water maze was used to detect the learning and memory ability of mice. The level of p-tau protein in mouse hippocampus and the levels of superoxide dismutase(SOD), malondialdehyde(MDA), catalase(CAT), and total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC) in hippocampus and serum were detected. Hematoxylin-eosin staining and Nissl staining were performed for the pathological observation of whole brain in mice. TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling(TUNEL) staining was employed for the observation of apoptosis in mouse cortex. Western blot was adopted to detect the protein levels of p-mTOR, p-Akt, and GSK-3β in the hippocampus. Compared with the model group, the ESP groups showcased alleviated pathological damage of the whole brain, decreased TUNEL positive cells, reduced level of p-tau protein in hippocampus, and risen SOD, CAT, and T-AOC levels and declined MDA level in hippocampus and serum. Furthermore, the ESP groups had up-regulated protein levels of p-mTOR and p-Akt while down-regulated protein level of GSK-3β in hippocampus. Therefore, ESP can alleviate the learning and memory decline and oxidative damage in mice with Alzheimer's disease induced by D-galactose combined with aluminum chloride, which may be related to Akt/mTOR/GSK-3β signaling pathway.
Aluminum Chloride/adverse effects* ; Alzheimer Disease/drug therapy* ; Animals ; Galactose/metabolism* ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta/metabolism* ; Hippocampus/metabolism* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Plant Extracts ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism* ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism* ; tau Proteins

BACKGROUND: Delivery room resuscitation assists preterm infants, especially extremely preterm infants (EPI) and extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWI), in breathing support, while it potentially exerts a negative impact on the lungs and outcomes of preterm infants. This study aimed to assess delivery room resuscitation and discharge outcomes of EPI and ELBWI in China. METHODS: The clinical data of EPI (gestational age [GA] <28 weeks) and ELBWI (birth weight [BW] <1000 g), admitted within 72 h of birth in 33 neonatal intensive care units from five provinces and cities in North China between 2017 and 2018, were analyzed. The primary outcomes were delivery room resuscitation and risk factors for delivery room intubation (DRI). The secondary outcomes were survival rates, incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and risk factors for BPD. RESULTS: A cohort of 952 preterm infants were enrolled. The incidence of DRI, chest compressions, and administration of epinephrine was 55.9% (532/952), 12.5% (119/952), and 7.0% (67/952), respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that the risk factors for DRI were GA <28 weeks (odds ratio [OR], 3.147; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.082-4.755), BW <1000 g (OR, 2.240; 95% CI, 1.606-3.125), and antepartum infection (OR, 1.429; 95% CI, 1.044-1.956). The survival rate was 65.9% (627/952) and was dependent on GA. The rate of BPD was 29.3% (181/627). Multivariate analysis showed that the risk factors for BPD were male (OR, 1.603; 95% CI, 1.061-2.424), DRI (OR, 2.094; 95% CI, 1.328-3.303), respiratory distress syndrome exposed to ≥2 doses of pulmonary surfactants (PS; OR, 2.700; 95% CI, 1.679-4.343), and mechanical ventilation ≥7 days (OR, 4.358; 95% CI, 2.777-6.837). However, a larger BW (OR, 0.998; 95% CI, 0.996-0.999), antenatal steroid (OR, 0.577; 95% CI, 0.379-0.880), and PS use in the delivery room (OR, 0.273; 95% CI, 0.160-0.467) were preventive factors for BPD (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Improving delivery room resuscitation and management of respiratory complications are imperative during early management of the health of EPI and ELBWI.
Birth Weight ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; China/epidemiology* ; Delivery Rooms ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Extremely Premature ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Pregnancy

Objective:To investigate clinical significance of the detection of bone mineral density(BMD)and serum levels of vitamin D in elderly patients with Parkinson's disease(PD).Methods:Sixty elderly patients with PD(the PD group)admitted in our hospital from June 2016 to December 2018 were enrolled in this retrospective study.And 60 healthy persons confirmed by annual health check-up matched for age and sex during the same period were included as the control group.PD patients were divided into the osteoporosis group(n=23)and the non-osteoporosis group(n=37). The clinical data, bone mineral density and serum vitamin D level were compared between the two groups.Multivariate Logistic regression method was used to analyze related factors for osteoporosis in PD patients.Results:The incidences of osteoporosis and vitamin D deficiency were higher in PD group than in control group[23 cases(38.3%) vs.13 cases(21.7%)、35 cases(58.3%) vs.21 cases(35.0%), all P<0.05]. Bone mineral density and serum 25-(OH)D level were lower in PD group than in control group[(0.77±0.08)g/m 2vs.(0.83±0.09)g/m 2, (25.65±8.65)nmol/L vs.(39.80±10.74)nmol/L, t=4.381 and 8.439, P<0.05]. The age, course of disease and H-Y grade were higher and serum level of 25-(OH)D was lower in the osteoporosis group than in the control group( P<0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed that BMD and 25-(OH)D were negatively correlated with age, course of disease and H-Y stage, respectively, and BMD was positively correlated with 25-(OH)D( r=0.396, P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that vitamin D deficiency was an independent risk factor for osteoporosis in elderly PD patients( OR=2.332, 95% CI: 1.772-8.224, P<0.01). Conclusions:The incidence of osteoporosis is high in elderly PD patients, and vitamin D deficiency is often present.Vitamin D deficiency may be an independent risk factor for osteoporosis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical effect of lower extremity varicose veins between fire needling bloodletting and operation, and to explore the possible mechanism. METHODS: A total of 60 patients were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. In the control group，the operation was adopted. The fire needling bloodletting was applied in the observation group, twice a week for 4 weeks. Before and after treatment, the venous clinical severity score (VCSS) and venous disability score (VDS) were recorded, the hemorheological indexes [blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, hematocrit, fibrinogen and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)], immune inflammatory response indexes[serum C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6)], vascular endothelial cell function indexes [the number of circulatingendothelial cell (CEC), plasma endothelin (ET-1) and NO)] and apoptosis indexes (Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase-3) were detected in the two groups. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the scores of VCSS and VDS, hemorheological indexes, immune inflammatory response indexes and levels of plasma NO after treatment were reduced in the two groups (<0.05). The level of serum Bax after treatment was reduced in the observation group (<0.05). The number of CEC and levels of plasma ET-1 after treatment were increased in the two groups (<0.05). The levels of serum Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 after treatment were increased in the observation group (<0.05). In the observation group, the scores of VCSS and VDS, hemorheological indexes，immune inflammatory response indexes, vascular endothelial cell function indexes and level of serum Bax after treatment were lower than the control group (<0.05), and the levels of Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 were higher than the control group (<0.05). CONCLUSION Fire needling bloodletting could effectively treat lower extremity varicose veins, and the mechanism may be related to the improvement of hemorheology, downregulation of immune inflammatory response, improvement of vascular endothelial cell function and inhibition of apoptosis.

Objective: To probe the prognostic value of consolidation chemotherapy in non-favorable acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients who were candidates for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) with first complete remission (CR(1)) and negative minimal residual disease (MRD(-)) . Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 155 patients with non-favorable AML who received allo-HSCT in CR(1)/MRD(-) from January 2010 to March 2019. The survival data were compared between patients who received and those not received pre-transplant consolidation chemotherapy. Results: A total of 102 patients received pre-transplant consolidation chemotherapy (consolidation group) , and 53 cases directly proceeded to allo-HSCT when CR(1)/MRD(-) was achieved (nonconsolidation group) . The median ages were 39 (18-56) years old and 38 (19-67) years old, respectively. Five-year post-transplant overall survival [ (59.3±7.5) % vs (62.2±6.9) %, P=0.919] and relapse-free survival [ (53.0±8.9) % vs (61.6±7.0) %, P=0.936] were not significantly different between the two groups (consolidation vs nonconsolidation) . There was a weak relationship between consolidation therapy and cumulative incidence of relapse [consolidation: (21.9±5.4) % vs nonconsolidation: (18.3±6.0) %, P=0.942], as well as non-relapse mortality [consolidation: (22.4±4.3) % vs nonconsolidation: (28.4±6.5) %,P=0.464]. Multivariate analysis indicated that pre-transplant consolidation and the consolidation courses (< 2 vs ≥2 courses) did not have an impact on allo-HSCT outcomes. Conclusion: Allo-HSCT for candidate patients without further consolidation when CR(1)/MRD(-) was attained was feasible.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/therapy* ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Young Adult

Objective To explore the experience of infantile liver transplantation ,reconstructing portal vein (PV) and avoid the higher incidence of portal vein low flow and complications .Methods The clinical data were reviewed for 152 infantile liver transplantations performed by a single surgery group .And 114 cases with PV risk factors underwent customized PV reconstructions .All of them were diagnosed as cholestatic liver diseases and 106 (93％ ) belonged to biliary atresia .Forty-two cases (36％ ) had 2 or more risk factors .Results Most cases (n= 106 ,93％ ) underwent living donor transplantations using lateral left graft while another 8 cases had deceased donor transplantations . Four types of PV reconstructions were adopted based upon individual conditions :left/right branch of PV trunk (n= 103) ,autogenous patch PV venoplastic reconstruction (n= 3) ,duct-to-duct of PV trunk (n= 5) and donor PV duct-to-recipient confluence of SMV/CV and SV (n= 3) .Graft size reduction was performed when GRWR > 4 .5％ (n= 16) .During a median follow-up period of 6 .5 (1 .5-13) months ,there were 3 LPVF (2 .6％ ) ,2PVS (1 .7％ ) and 1 PVT (0 .8％ ) .Three LPVF cases was corrected by PV stenting ,two cases of PVS were stable after anticoagulation therapy while one PVT case undergoing thromboectomy plus PV stenting resumed a normal PV flow .Conclusions PV reconstruction of high-risk infants require comprehensive risk evaluations ,precise surgical skills and customized strategies .For PV complications ,stenting is both safe and feasible .