Determination of 22 phospholipids in serum by ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

Objective: To establish ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for the determination of 22 phospholipids in serum. Methods: In September 2022, Using synthetic non endogenous phospholipids as internal standard, phospholipids in serum were extracted by methanol-dichloromethane (2∶1, V/V) protein precipitation method. Chromatographic separation was achieved on an ACQUITY UPLC BEH shield RP18 column, and the mobile phase was methanol/water (5∶95, V/V) containing 10 mM ammonium formate and methanol. Detection was performed in multiple reaction monitoring mode with ion mode switching. And the method was applied by analyzing phospholipids in the serum of coal workers' pneumoconiosis patients. Results: The 22 phospholipids showed good linear relationships in their respective concentration ranges and the correlation coefficients were higher than 0.990. The spiked recoveries of the 22 phospholipids were 81.03%-121.63% at the three spiked levels. The intra-assay were less than 14.52%, and the inter-assay were less than 15.00%. Conclusion: The method with the advantages of simplicity, stability and high sensitivity, and it can be used for the analysis of phospholipids in serum.

Chronic spontaneous urticaria treated with bloodletting therapy and auricular point sticking on the base of xuanfu theory: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the clinical therapeutic effect and the impacts on recurrence rate on chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) between the combined treatment of bloodletting therapy and auricular point sticking on the base of xuanfu theory and the oral solution of levocetirizine hydrochloride.@*METHODS@#A total of 86 patients with CSU were randomized into an observation group (43 cases, 1 case dropped off) and a control group (43 cases, 3 cases dropped off). In the observation group, bloodletting therapy at Dazhui (GV 14), Feishu (BL 13), Geshu (BL 17) and Pishu (BL 20) was combined with auricular point sticking at lung (CO14), kidney (CO10), shenmen (TF4) and heart (CO15), etc. This combined treatment was given once every two days. In the control group, the oral solution of levocetirizine hydrochloride was prescribed, 10 mL each time, once daily. The treatment lasted for 4 weeks in the two groups. Before and after treatment, urticaria activity score 7 (UAS7), the score of dermatology life quality index (DLQI) and the levels of serum immune globulin E (IgE), interleukin 4 (IL-4) and interferon γ (IFN-γ) were compared in the patients between the two groups. The clinical therapeutic effect was evaluated in patients of the two groups and the recurrence rate was followed up 4, 8 and 12 weeks after treatment separately.@*RESULTS@#After treatment, the scores of UAS7 and DLQI, as well as the levels of serum IgE and IL-4 were all reduced as compared with those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.05), and the level of serum IFN-γ was increased (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 83.3% (35/42) in the observation group and was 85.0% (34/40) in the control group. There was no statistical significance for the difference in the clinical therapeutic effect between the two groups (P>0.05). Eight and 12 weeks after treatment, the recurrence rates were 21.1% (4/19) and 26.3% (5/19) in the observation group, lower than 55.0% (11/20) and 65.0% (13/20) in the control group, respectively (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The combined therapy of bloodletting and auricular point sticking on the base of xuanfu theory relieves the clinical symptoms, regulates the levels of serum IgE, IL-4 and IFN-γ and improves the quality of life in the patients with CSU. The clinical therapeutic effect of this combined treatment is similar to the oral solution of levocetirizine hydrochloride. But, the recurrence rate of the combined treatment of bloodletting and auricular point sticking is lower and its long-term curative effect is better.

Interpretation of Update: Standardized CT/HRCT Classification of Occupational and Environmental Thoracic Diseases in Germany published in 2014 / 中国职业医学

@#Imaging diagnosis is one of the main bases for the diagnosis of occupational pneumoconiosis. At present the - diagnosis of occupational pneumoconiosis is mainly based on high kV X ray chest radiography or chest digital radiography. With （ ） ， （ ） the wide application of computed tomography CT in occupational lung diseases high resolution CT HRCT is increasingly Update： Standardized CT/HRCT Classification of Occupational valuable in the diagnosis of occupational pneumoconiosis. The and Environmental Thoracic Diseases in Germany， ， published in 2014 is the latest and highly reliable standard. The standard - - - recommends the use of low dose HRCT scanning regimens and whole lung thin layer volumetric scanning with a thickness of - ， ， 1.0 mm and high resolution reconstruction which classify CT image quality into four levels and describes methods for （ ， classification and quantitative recording of CT manifestations of lung lesions including round opacities irregular and/or linear ， ， ， ， ） opacities ground glass opacity honeycombing emphysema and large opacities and pleural lesions. It is beneficial for ， ， ， epidemiological research early screening diagnosis and differential diagnosis treatment and prognosis of occupational ， pneumoconiosis as well as the comparison of international data related to occupational pneumoconiosis.

Interpretation of Update: Standardized CT/HRCT Classification of Occupational and Environmental Thoracic Diseases in Germany published in 2014 / 中国职业医学

@#Imaging diagnosis is one of the main bases for the diagnosis of occupational pneumoconiosis. At present the - diagnosis of occupational pneumoconiosis is mainly based on high kV X ray chest radiography or chest digital radiography. With （ ） ， （ ） the wide application of computed tomography CT in occupational lung diseases high resolution CT HRCT is increasingly Update： Standardized CT/HRCT Classification of Occupational valuable in the diagnosis of occupational pneumoconiosis. The and Environmental Thoracic Diseases in Germany， ， published in 2014 is the latest and highly reliable standard. The standard - - - recommends the use of low dose HRCT scanning regimens and whole lung thin layer volumetric scanning with a thickness of - ， ， 1.0 mm and high resolution reconstruction which classify CT image quality into four levels and describes methods for （ ， classification and quantitative recording of CT manifestations of lung lesions including round opacities irregular and/or linear ， ， ， ， ） opacities ground glass opacity honeycombing emphysema and large opacities and pleural lesions. It is beneficial for ， ， ， epidemiological research early screening diagnosis and differential diagnosis treatment and prognosis of occupational ， pneumoconiosis as well as the comparison of international data related to occupational pneumoconiosis.

Projects status analysis of occupational respiratory diseases funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China from 1987 to 2018 / 中国职业医学

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the funding status of the National Natural Science Fund(NNSF) in the field of occupational respiratory disease(ORD) research in China. METHODS: Through the NNSF Committee Science Foundation sharing service network database, we collected the information of funded projects in the field of ORD research in China from 1987 to 2018, and analyzed the funding expenditure, funding categories, supporting units and research contents. RESULTS: A total of 106 NNSF funded projects were obtained in the research field of ORD in China in the period 1987-2018, and the total amount of funding was 37.945 million yuan. The number of funded projects, the average and the total amounts of fundings showed an increasing trend year by year(all P<0.05). The main types of funded projects were general projects and Youth Science Foundation projects(97.2%). The funded projects and funds were mainly concentrated in colleges and universities, accounting for 79.2% and 83.4% respectively. Beijing(29 items, 27.4%), Hebei(13 items, 12.3%) and Jiangsu(11 items, 10.4%) were the top three provinces and municipalities in the number of funded projects. Silicosis, pulmonary fibrosis, quartz, alveolar macrophages and acute lung injury were the top five keywords of funded project items, and the research types mainly focused on the mechanism of diseases. CONCLUSION: The NNSF funding is imbalanced in the types of funding, supporting units, and regional distribution on ORD research field in China. It is suggested that the funding structure of NNSF should be optimized, interdisciplinary research should be encouraged and expanded, and cooperation among different institutions and regions should be promoted.

Seroprevalence of IgM and IgG Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in Asymptomatic People in Wuhan: Data from a General Hospital Near South China Seafood Wholesale Market during March to April in 2020 / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

The aim of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence of immunoglobulin M (IgM) and G (IgG) antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in asymptomatic people in Wuhan. This was a cross-sectional study, which enrolled 18,712 asymptomatic participants from 154 work units in Wuhan. Pearson Chi-square test,

Analysis of Health Service Utilization and its Influencing Factors among Patients with Pneumoconiosis in China / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

Pneumoconiosis, an interstitial lung disease that occurs from breathing in certain kinds of damaging dust particles, is a major occupational disease in China. Patients diagnosed with occupational pneumoconiosis can avail of free medical treatment, whereas patients without a diagnosis of occupational diseases cannot not claim free medical treatment in most provinces from the government before 2019. This study aimed to analyze the priority of medical facility selection and its influencing factors among patients with pneumoconiosis. A total of 1,037 patients with pneumoconiosis from nine provinces in China were investigated. The health service institutions most frequently selected by the patients were county-level hospitals (37.5%). The main reason for the choice was these hospitals' close distance to the patients' homes (47.3%). The factors for the choice of health care institutions were living in the eastern region (

Optimized cutoff maternal age for adverse obstetrical outcomes: a multicenter retrospective cohort study in Urban China during 2011 to 2012 / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#China's two-child policy has led to a trend of aging in pregnancy which was associated with adverse outcomes. This study aimed to identify the clinically cutoff maternal age for adverse obstetric outcomes in China.@*METHODS@#This secondary analysis of a multicenter retrospective cohort study included data of childbearing women from 39 hospitals collected in urban China during 2011 to 2012. Logistic regression was used to assess the adjusted odds ratios (aOR) of adverse outcomes in different age groups in comparison to women aged 20 to 24 years. The adjustments included the location of the hospital, educational level, and residence status. Clinically cutoff age was defined as the age above which the aOR continuously become both statistically (P  2) significant.@*RESULTS@#Overall, 108,059 women were recruited. In primiparae, clinically cutoff maternal ages for gestational diabetes (aOR: 2.136, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.856-2.458, P < 0.001), placenta previa (aOR: 2.400, 95% CI: 1.863-3.090, P < 0.001), cesarean section (aOR: 2.511, 95% CI: 2.341-2.694, P < 0.001), hypertensive disorder (aOR: 2.122, 95% CI: 1.753-2.569, P < 0.001), post-partum hemorrhage (aOR: 2.129, 95% CI: 1.334-3.397, P < 0.001), and low birth weight (aOR: 2.174, 95% CI: 1.615-2.927, P < 0.001) were 27, 31, 33, 37, 41, and 41 years, respectively. In multiparae, clinically cutoff ages for gestational diabetes (aOR: 2.977, 95%CI: 1.808-4.904, P < 0.001), hypertensive disorder (aOR: 2.555, 95% CI: 1.836-3.554, P < 0.001), cesarean section (aOR: 2.224, 95% CI: 1.952-2.534, P < 0.001), post-partum hemorrhage (aOR: 2.140, 95% CI: 1.472-3.110, P < 0.001), placenta previa (aOR: 2.272, 95% CI: 1.375-3.756, P < 0.001), macrosomia (aOR: 2.215, 95% CI: 1.552-3.161, P < 0.001), and neonatal asphyxia (aOR: 2.132, 95% CI: 1.461-3.110, P < 0.001) were 29, 31, 33, 35, 35, 41, and 41 years, respectively.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Early cutoff ages for gestational diabetes and cesarean section highlight a reasonable childbearing age in urban China. The various optimized cutoff ages for different adverse pregnancy outcomes should be carefully considered in childbearing women.

Risk of Active Pulmonary Tuberculosis among Patients with Coal Workers'Pneumoconiosis: A Case-control Study in China / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

The aim of this study was to estimate the association between occupational, environmental, behavioral risk factors, and active pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) among coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) patients. A matched case-control study was conducted in 86 CWP patients with active PTB and 86 CWP controls without TB. A standardized questionnaire was used for risk factors assessment. Conditioned logistic regression analysis was used to identify associations between the risk factors and active PTB among CWP patients. The results showed that the stage of CWP, poor workplace ventilation, family history of TB, and exposure to TB were independent risk factors for active PTB in patients with CWP with which recommendations for improving work environments, and for case finding activities in patients with CWP could be made.

Clinical analysis on hard metal lung disease / 中国职业医学

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical features,and diagnostic and therapeutic method of hard metal lung disease( HMLD). METHODS: By using literature metrology method,the open published case reports associated with HMLD from January 1980 to October 2015 were searched using the China Hospital Knowledge Database,Wanfang Database and Pub Med Database. The data of patients with hard metal dust exposure history were collected and analyzed based on the inclusive and exclusive criteria. RESULTS: Thirty-six cases of HMLD were collected. The onset age of patients was 21. 0-63. 0( 37. 2 ± 11. 7) years old. The median exposure time was 6. 0( 0. 6-43. 0) years,and the major working type was hard metal grinder. The main clinical type of HMLD maily was giant cell interstitial pneumonia( GIP),hypersensitivity pneumonitis and occupational asthma were also seen. HMLD was lack of characteristic clinical manifestation. The clinical symptoms of HMLD mainly included dry cough,dyspnea on exertion,restrictive pulmonary ventilation,and diffuse pulmonary dysfunction. The imaging study showed ground-glass opacity,diffuse small nodule shadow and reticular opacity shadow,which were mainly seen in the lower lobes of both lungs. There were 24 cases( 66. 7%) showed GIP in the lung tissue in pathological examination. The tungsten and cobalt elements were detected in lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in some cases. Among 22 patients treated with glucocorticoid after keeping away from hard metal dust exposure,the treatment was effective in 19 patients. The clinical symptoms of 6 patients were improved by avoiding hard metal dust exposure. CONCLUSION: HMLD belongs to the interstitial lung disease and there is no specific clinical manifestation. Glucocorticoid therapy is effective in most of the patients. The history of exposure to hard metal dust has important significance in making the diagnosis.

Occupational Exposure to Indium of Indium Smelter Workers / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

Case reports of indium-related lung disease in workers have raised public concern to the human toxicity of indium (In) and its compounds. However, studies evaluating the exposure or health of workers in In smelting plants are rare. Therefore, in this study, we focused on four In smelting plants, with the main objective of characterizing In in smelter plants in China and discussing the potential exposure biomarkers of In exposure. We recruited 494 subjectsat four In smelting plants in China. Personal air samples, first morning urine and spot blood samples were collected. In concentrations in samples were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. In concentrations in air samples did not exceed the permissible concentration-time weighed average, but the smelter workers had a higher internal exposure to In. Positive correlations were observed between the air In and urine In concentrations, and between the air In and blood In concentrations. This study provides basic data for the following In exposure and health risk assessment.

Improvement in cardiac morphology and function in young rats with dilated cardiomyopathy by recombinant human growth hormone / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) on the morphology and function of the left cardiac ventricle in young rats with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rhGH in the treatment of DCM.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly and equally assigned to control group, DCM group, and rhGH group. Furazolidone (0.25 mg/g) was given by gavage for 12 weeks to prepare the DCM model. Rats in the rhGH group received an intraperitoneal injection of rhGH (0.15 U/kg) once per day for 12 weeks, while rats in the DCM group received an equal volume of normal saline instead. Rats in the control group did not receive any treatment. Cardiac indices, serum biochemical parameters, hemodynamic indices, cardiac histopathological changes, and levels of myocardial collagen fibrils in each group were determined using Doppler echocardiography, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, multi-channel physiological recorder, light and electron microscopy, and picrosirius red staining plus polarization microscopy, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, rats in the DCM group had significantly increased cardiac chamber size, significantly reduced ventricular wall thickness, and significantly decreased fractional shortening (FS) and ejection fraction (EF) (P<0.05). Rats in the rhGH group had significantly improved cardiac chamber size, ventricular wall thickness, FS, and EF compared with the DCM group (P<0.05). Those indices in the rhGH group were similar to those in the control group (P>0.05). There were significant differences in serum biochemical parameters and hemodynamic indices between the DCM and control groups (P<0.05). Compared with the DCM group, the rhGH group had significantly improved serum biochemical parameters and hemodynamic indices (P<0.05). Those indices in the rhGH group were similar to those in the control group (P>0.05), except for the levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3. The DCM group had a significantly higher collagen type I/collagen type III (Col I/Col III) ratio in the myocardium than the control group (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in the Col I/Col III ratio between the control and rhGH groups (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>rhGH plays a certain role in improvement in the morphology and function of the left cardiac ventricle in young rats with DCM.</p>

Urbanization and workers' compensation in China from 1995 to 2012 / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

In order to determine the trend in the number of employees covered by workers' compensation (WC) and trends in the burdens and benefits of WC, and to discuss the possible factors that might influence those trends. A relevant national statistical data from 1995 to 2012 are collected and analyzed. In the results, we found that the proportion of employees covered by WC to total employees in urban areas increased from 13.7% in 1995 to 51.2% in 2012 and also exhibited a significant degree of polarization. In 2012, 27.3% of the peasant workers were covered by WC, which accounted for 37.8% of the total employees covered by WC. Factors found to impact the number of employees covered by WC and trends in the burdens and benefits of WC from 1995 to date in China included urbanization, represented by the migration of farm labor to urban areas, changes in industry mix, regional disparity, GDP movements, and changes to legislation on WC and occupational health and safety. It still has a long way to go to reduce work-related injuries and occupational diseases (ODs) to levels comparable with other industrialized countries.

A comparative study of the occupational disease list between Taiwan region and the mainland / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To provide technical reference for the revision of the list of occupational diseases of China, the list of occupational diseases between the Taiwan district and the Mainland China have been analyzed and compared.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Focus on the system of occupational diseases list between the Taiwan district and the Mainland China, the literature analysis and comparative methods were commonly used, and to explore the similarities and differences of the list of occupational diseases between the mainland and Taiwan.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The list of occupational diseases between the mainland and Taiwan shows uniformity in the legislative process, the status and role, classification, but exists difference in the enumeration mode, the legal basis of the development, the institutions to develop the list, classification and coverage et al.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>To revise the National List of Occupational Diseases, the socio-economic development requirements should be based on, combined with social security capacity, gradually expand the coverage of occupational diseases, to adapt to the needs of the occupational disease prevention.</p>

Misdiagnosis of pneumoconiosis or silicotuberculosis in China: a pooled analysis of 1178 cases / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the situation and causes of misdiagnosis of pneumoconiosis or silicotuberculosis in China by pooled analysis, and to provide a reference for the clinical diagnosis of pneumoconiosis in China and reduce the misdiagnosis rate.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A computer search was performed to collect the studies on the misdiagnosis of pneumoconiosis or silicotuberculosis published in China from 1985 to 2013. The obtained data were subjected to pooled analysis to investigate the causes of misdiagnosis and seek the measures for reducing misdiagnosis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Fifty-nine studies involving 1178 cases of misdiagnosed pneumoconiosis or silicotuberculosis were collected. There were 13 causes of misdiagnosis, and the most common one was the poor ability of identification due to inadequate experience in reading chest X-ray films (45.93%), followed by neglect of patient's occupational history (44.99%). Other causes of misdiagnosis included complex X-ray findings that are difficult to judge (29.03%), poor quality of chest radiographs (23.09%), and lack of regular health supervision (19.95%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Inadequate experience of physicians is the main cause of misdiagnosis of pneumoconiosis or silicotuberculosis. To reduce misdiagnosis of the disease, measures should be taken to enhance the training and evaluation of knowledge and skills of diagnosis and differential diagnosis of pneumoconiosis among physicians.</p>

Analysis of qualifications of medical and health institutions and certified doctors for providing occupational disease diagnosis in China / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the qualifications and current situations of the medical and health institutions and certified doctors for providing occupational disease diagnosis in China and to provide a reference for developing relevant policies.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Work reports and questionnaires survey were used to investigate the qualifications of all medical and health institutions and certified doctors for providing occupational disease diagnosis in China and their acceptance and diagnosis of occupational disease cases from 2006 to 2010. The rate for the work reports was 100%, and the response rate for the questionnaires was 71.0%.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>By the end of 2010, in the 31 provincial-level regions (excluding Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan) in China, there had been 503 medical and health institutions which were qualified for providing occupational disease diagnosis, including 207 centers for disease control and prevention, accounting for 41.2%, 145 general hospitals, accounting for 28.8%, 69 enterprise-owned hospitals, accounting for 13.7%, and 64 institutes or centers for occupational disease prevention and control, accounting for 12.7%; 4986 certified doctors got the qualification for providing occupational disease diagnosis, with 9.4 certified doctors on average in each institution, and there was 0.65 certified doctor per 100 000 employees. In addition, 16.5% of the institutions got all the qualifications for diagnosing 9 occupational diseases, and 17.1% of the institutions got the qualification for diagnosing one occupational disease. Each certified doctor accepted diagnosis of 16.8 cases of occupational diseases on average every year.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A national occupational disease diagnosis network has been established in China, but the imbalance in regional distribution and specialty programs still exists among the qualified medical and health institutions and certified doctors. It is essential to further strengthen the development of regional qualified medical and health institutions and training of qualified doctors.</p>

Clinical and pathological features in children with progressive muscular dystrophy / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical and pathological features of progressive muscular dystrophy (PMD) in children and to provide help for the early and accurate diagnosis of PMD.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 99 hospitalized children with PMD, including clinical manifestations, age of onset, family history, creatase, electromyogram (EMG) and pathological changes of muscles.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 99 children with PMD, the age of onset was 0.5-14.5 (4.7 ± 3.1) years. Eleven cases (11%) had a family history of PMD. Twenty-six (26%) were misdiagnosed as other diseases. All patients presented with muscle weakness when seeing the doctor, and 66 (67%) of them had muscle atrophy and/or hypertrophy. All patients had elevated creatine kinase (CK) levels. The 2-7-year-old group (n=51) had a mean CK level of 9965 ± 8876 U/L, and the 7-15-year-old group (n=48) had a mean CK level of 5110 ± 4498 U/L, with a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.01). The EMG examination performed on 66 patients showed that 54 cases (82%) had myogenic damage and 10 cases (15%) had neurogenic damage. Light microscopy revealed coexistence of atrophy and hypertrophy of muscle fibers, hyaline degeneration and granular degeneration. Electron microscopy showed that muscle fibers were different in thickness, some atrophic or hypertrophic; muscle cell nuclei moved inwardly, myofilaments dissolved and disappeared mildly under the sarcolemma, there were scattered melting lesions within muscle fibers, the numbers of glycogen granules and mitochondria increased, mild hyperplasia and expansion of sarcoplasmic reticulum were seen, and a small number of muscle fibers had necrosis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Weakness of both lower extremities remains the main reason for PMD patients seeing the doctor. CK is the main laboratory indicator for diagnosis of PMD. PMD is mainly manifested as myogenic damage in the early stage and may be accompanied by neurogenic damage in the late stage, according to the EMG examination. With a high misdiagnosis rate, PMD may be misdiagnosed as many other diseases. Pathological examination under light microscope and electron microscope is the main means for confirming a PMD diagnosis.</p>

Clinical significance of skin prick test for inhalant allergens in 3085 children with allergic diseases / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the main inhalant allergens and their distribution patterns in children with allergic diseases from Xi'an and the surrounding area and to provide evidence for the prevention and treatment of allergic diseases in children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Skin prick test was performed using liquid with 13 standardized allergens (ALK-ABELL, Denmark) on 3085 children from Xi'an and the surrounding area who were treated for allergic diseases between July 2006 and July 2011, to detect inhalant allergens.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 3085 patients, 1368 (44.34%) had positive SPT results, with the most prevalent inhalant allergen being Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (804 cases, 26.06%), followed by Dermatophagoides farinae (793 cases, 25.71%), Blomia tropicalis (440 cases, 14.26%), mugwort (282 cases, 9.14%), and cat hair (204 cases, 6.61%). The positive rates were 28.66% in the <4 years group, 41.85% in the 4-6 years group, and 58.61% in the 7-15 years group (P<0.01). Males had a significantly higher SPT positive rate than females (47.78% vs 38.50%；P<0.05). The SPT positive rate was highest in children with allergic rhinitis (72.41%), followed by bronchial asthma (62-25%), allergic dermatosis (45.83%), and allergic purpura (36.28%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In children from Xi'an and the surrounding area, the main inhalant allergens for allergic diseases include Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae, Blomia tropicalis, mugwort and cat hair. The SPT positive rate increases with age. Male children have a higher SPT positive rate than female children. The SPT positive rate is highest in children with allergic rhinitis.</p>

Gene expression of Notch1 and Jagged1 in children with acute leukemia / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the gene expression of Notch1 and Jagged1 in children with acute leukemia (AL) and their possible roles in the pathogenesis of AL.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Mononuclear cells from bone marrow or peripheral blood of 47 children with AL and 20 controls (normal children or children with nonmalignant hematologic disease) were collected from February 2009 to July 2011. A two-step method to semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the gene expression of Notch1 and Jagged1. Of the 47 children with AL, there were 26 cases of B-ALL, 6 cases of T-ALL and 15 cases of AML.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The positive expression rate of Notch1 in the ALL and AML groups was higher than in the control group (P<0.05). The expression level of Notch1 in T-ALL children was higher than in B-ALL children (P<0.01). The positive expression rate of Jagged1 in the ALL and AML groups was not significantly different from the control group, however, the expression level of Jagged1 in the ALL and AML groups was higher than in the control group (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>There are significant differences in the gene expression of Notch1 between children with different types of ALL, and a higher expression of Notch1 relates to T-ALL. The activation of Notch1 signal is common in children with AL. The abnormal gene expression of Notch1 in children with AML shows the role of Notch1 in AML. The gene expression of Jagged1 in children with ALL or AML is abnormal, and this needs to be confirmed by further research.</p>

Therapeutic effects of erythropoietin on hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in neonates / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the efficacy of erythropoietinin (EPO) in the treatment of moderate or severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in neonates.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy neonates with moderate or severe HIE were randomly assigned to two groups: EPO treatment and control (n=35 each). The EPO treatment group included 22 cases of moderate HIE and 13 cases of severe HIE. The control group included 24 cases of moderate HIE and 11 cases of severe HIE. Thirty-five healthy full-term infants served as normal group. The control group received a conventional treatment. Beside the conventional treatment, the EPO treatment group was intravenously injected with EPO of 200 IU/kg•d, 3 times weekly. Routine blood test was performed every 6 days. EPO dose was adjusted based on the results of the routine blood test. The course of EPO treatment was 2 to 4 weeks. Neonatal Behavioral Neurological Assessment (NBNA) was performed at age of 28 days. The infant development test of Child Development Centre of China (CDCC) was performed at ages of 3 months and 6 months.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The percentage of normal NBNA scores in the EPO treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group at age of 28 days (P<0.05), but was significantly lower than that in the normal group (P<0.01). The CDCC test including physical development index (PDI) and physical development index (MDI) showed the percentage of normal results in the EPO treatment group was significantly higher than in the control group at age of 3 months (P<0.05), but was significantly lower than in the normal group (P<0.01). The CDCC test including PDI and MDI showed that the percentage of normal results in the EPO treatment group was significantly higher than in the control group at age of 6 months. The MDI test results in the EPO treatment group were not significantly different from those in the normal group at age of 6 months, but the percentage of normal results in the PDI test in the EPO treatment group was still significantly lower than that in the normal group (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>EPO treatment has neuroprotective effects against moderate or severe HIE and improves long-term behavioral neurological developments in neonates.</p>