Incidence of extrauterine growth retardation and its risk factors in very preterm infants during hospitalization: a multicenter prospective study / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To investigate the incidence of extrauterine growth retardation (EUGR) and its risk factors in very preterm infants (VPIs) during hospitalization in China.@*METHODS@#A prospective multicenter study was performed on the medical data of 2 514 VPIs who were hospitalized in the department of neonatology in 28 hospitals from 7 areas of China between September 2019 and December 2020. According to the presence or absence of EUGR based on the evaluation of body weight at the corrected gestational age of 36 weeks or at discharge, the VPIs were classified to two groups: EUGR group (n=1 189) and non-EUGR (n=1 325). The clinical features were compared between the two groups, and the incidence of EUGR and risk factors for EUGR were examined.@*RESULTS@#The incidence of EUGR was 47.30% (1 189/2 514) evaluated by weight. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that higher weight growth velocity after regaining birth weight and higher cumulative calorie intake during the first week of hospitalization were protective factors against EUGR (P<0.05), while small-for-gestational-age birth, prolonged time to the initiation of total enteral feeding, prolonged cumulative fasting time, lower breast milk intake before starting human milk fortifiers, prolonged time to the initiation of full fortified feeding, and moderate-to-severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia were risk factors for EUGR (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#It is crucial to reduce the incidence of EUGR by achieving total enteral feeding as early as possible, strengthening breastfeeding, increasing calorie intake in the first week after birth, improving the velocity of weight gain, and preventing moderate-severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia in VPIs.

Analysis of treatment efficacy for congenital hypothyroidism in some regions of Yunnan Province, China / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of initial doses and treatment timing of levothyroxine (L-T4) on the clinical efficacy in children with congenital hypothyroidism (CH).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This study included 98 children who had an abnormal level of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in neonatal screening in four regions of Yunnan Province and who finally had a confirmed diagnosis of CH. They received treatment with L-T4 and were divided into standard dose group (10-15 μg/kg per day) and low dose group (<10 μg/kg per day) by the therapeutic dose of L-T4. Meanwhile, these patients were also classified into two treatment groups based on the starting time of L-T4 treatment, namely under 2 months old group and more than 2 months old group. The thyroid function and physical and neural development were examined before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the low dose group, the standard dose group had a significantly lower TSH level and a significantly higher free thyroxine (FT4) level at 2 weeks after treatment (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in TSH and FT4 levels at other time points after treatment between the standard and low dose groups (P>0.05). The physical and neural development were not significantly different between the two dose groups before and at all time points after treatment (P>0.05). At all time points after treatment, the levels of TSH and FT4 and physical development were not significantly different between the different starting time groups (P>0.05). However, the Gesell score was significantly higher in the under 2 months old group than in the more than 2 months old group at all time points after treatment (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The standard dose group has a better treatment outcome than the low dose group, whereas the symptoms of hyperthyroidism deserve close attention. The treatment timing is vital to the neurodevelopment of children with CH. Once diagnosed, the patients should receive treatments immediately.</p>

Effects of mitomycin C on membrane permeability and ultrastructure changes in human pterygium fibroblasts / 中华实验眼科杂志

Background Mitomycin C (MMC) has an inhibitory effect on the growth and proliferation of human pterygium fibroblasts,however,there is little literature about its influence on plasma membrane. Objective This study was to investigate the influence of MMC on the physical and chemical features and ultrastructures of plasma membrane. Methods Human pterygium tissues were obtained during the surgery.Human pterygium fibroblasts were primarily cultured and passaged using explant cultured method and identified by Vimentin staining.The third generation of cells were incubated to 96 well plate at a density of 5 × 103 cells/well,and 0,50,100,200,300 and 400 mg/L MMC was added in the culture well respectively to act for 12 hours.Cell viability was assayed using cell counting kit-8 ( CCK-8 ),and cellular apoptosis was detected using annexin V-FICT/PI.The changes of cell membrane structure were examined under an atomic force microscope.Malondialdehyde( MDA ) content in cell supernatant and level of lactate dehydrogenase ( LDH ) in extracellular fluid were detected to assess the lipid peroxidation level and permeability of cell membrane.Intracellular Ca2+ changes and membrane surface topography were assessed by Fluo-3/AM mark and flow cytometry( FCM ).This study was approved by Ethic Commission of Affiliated First Hospital of Jinan University.Informed consent was obtained from each patient. Results A lot of cells grew with the shape of spindle 1-2 weeks after culture.Positive response was seen in cultured cells for Vimentin.Growth and proliferation of the cells reduced 12 hours after action of MMC with the increase of MMC concentrations.The apoptosis rate of human pterygium fibroblasts was 4.2％,4.2％,5.4％,19.3％ and 25.8％ in 0,50,100,200 and 300 mg/L MMC groups respectively.Different degrees of abnormalities of cells membrane were found in various concentrations of MMC groups.The elevated contents of LDH and MDA in extracellular fluid were detected in various concentrations of MMC groups compared with the control group,and the LDH and MDA levels were gradually ascended as the increase of MMC concentrations,with a significant difference between any two groups(P＜0.05).The disturbance of intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis was also been seen after MMC acted. Conclusions MMC leads to the changes of physical and chemical features in human pterygium fibroblasts at a dose-dependent manner.Cell membrane may be the acting target of MMC.

Modified retention elements of removable reverse headgear appliances / 华西口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Retention elements were added in the removable reverse headgear appliances in order to achieve better treatment effects of skeletal Class III malocclusion.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighteen patients who needed treatments with reverse headgear appliances were randomly and equally divided into two groups with traditional type of retention elements (T group) and modified type of retention elements (M group) respectively. For the modified type appliances, an adams clasp was added in the position of central incisors on the basis of the traditional type. The minimum dislocating force for both types was measured with the same forcemeter in the first and second visit, respectively. The occurrence of dislocation caused by traction was recorded during the visits of the first three months.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The M group showed significantly greater retention than the T group. The minimum dislocating force for M group was larger in the first and second visit (P<0.01, P<0.001). Furthermore, during the first three months, two times of dislocation occurred in M group while it was nine times for T group, indicating great difference in retention (P< 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Adding an adams clasp in the position of upper central incisors could effectively prevent the downward dislocation of the appliance when traction force was applied. Accordingly, the therapeutic efficacy was greatly improved.</p>

A therapeutic anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody inhibits T cell receptor signal transduction in mouse autoimmune cardiomyopathy / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>T cell immune abnormalities in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) has been intensively studied over the past 10 years. Our previous study has suggested that immunization of mice with the peptides derived from human adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT) result in the production of autoantibodies against the ANT and histopathological changes similar to those in human DCM. The ANT peptides can induce autoimmune cardiomyopathy like DCM in Balb/c mice. In this study we aimed to focus on the molecular mechanism of T cells in the autoimmune cardiomyopathy mouse model by detecting the expression of the two T cell signaling molecules.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The ANT peptides were used to cause autoimmune cardiomyopathy in Balb/c mice. Anti-L3T4 or rat anti-mouse IgG was administered to the mice (n = 6 in each group) simultaneously immunized with ANT. ELISA analysis was used to detect autoantibodies against the ANT peptides and the percentages of interferon-gamma and interleukin-4 producing cells among splenic CD4(+) lymphocytes was determined by using flow cytometry analysis. The expression of CD45 in spleen T cells was determined by immunohistochemistry and the mRNAs of T cell signaling molecules were detected by real-time PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Treatment of ANT immunized Balb/c mice with anti-CD4 mAb caused a reduction in the gene expression of P56lck and Zap-70 and a lower level of CD45 expression by spleen T cells. Also, a reverse of the Th1/Th2 ratio that results in the reduced production of antibodies against ANT was found in the anti-CD4 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) group. Whereas irrelevant antibody (rat anti-mouse IgG) did not suppress T cell signaling molecules nor inhibit CD45 expression, and control-antibody mice did not show any significant differences compared with the DCM group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results show that anti-CD4 mAb is a powerful inhibitor of the early initiating events of T cell receptor (TCR) signal transduction in mouse autoimmune dilated cardiomyopathy.</p>

Double sites short hairpin RNAs targeting epidermal growth factor receptor to promote colon cancer cells apoptosis and enhance 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy effect / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the differences about RNA interference (RNAi) technique which focuses on single or multiple sites to suppress colon cancer LoVo cell line's epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mRNA and protein expression, induce cell apoptosis and enhance 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) sensitivity.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The human colon cancer LoVo cells were transfected by liposome with pU6-EGFR-shRNA-1 and pU6-EGFR-shRNA-2 expressive vectors which were established by p Genesil-1 plasmid and EGFR short hairpin RNA (shRNA) synthesized in vitro, then were selected for 4 weeks by using G418. Five groups were selected for the study: Group 1: the normal cultured LoVo cells; Group 2: the negative control plasmid HK; Group 3: pU6-EGFR-shRNA-1 plasmid vector; Group 4: pU6-EGFR-shRNA-2 plasmid vector; Group 5: pU6-EGFR-shRNA-1 and pU6-EGFR-shRNA-2, half for each. The mRNA and protein expression were assessed using Real Time PCR and Western blot, the cell apoptosis was determined via flow cytometry, and the suppressive rate and IC(50) to LoVo cells by 5-FU of different concentrations and time points were carried out by using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Expression plasmids encoding shRNA were successfully established and transfected into the LoVo cells. In group 3, 4 and 5, the mRNA expression was decreased by (80.2 +/- 3.4)%, (81.3 +/- 2.8)% and (90.6 +/- 2.8)%, respectively, and protein expression was decreased by (74.1 +/- 4.0)%, (73.4 +/- 2.3)% and (90.4 +/- 3.3)%, respectively; meanwhile, cell apoptosis increased by (10.4 +/- 0.5)%, (10.1 +/- 0.4)% and (14.2 +/- 0.5)%, respectively. The IC(50) of 5-FU and cell suppressive rate analysis demonstrated that there were significant differences among group 5, groups 3 and 4, and groups 1 and 2, but there were no significant difference between group 1 and group 2, as well as group 3 and group 4.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Both pU6-EGFR-shRNA-1 and pU6-EGFR-shRNA-2 were capable of suppressing EGFR expression of LoVo cells, and therefore promoting apoptosis and increasing the cell toxicity of 5-FU. The targeting double combined sites RNAi technique was significantly better than single site interference. The new therapeutic modalities in the treatment of human colon cancer are suggested by this study.</p>