Non-invasive prenatal testing for the diagnosis of congenital abnormalities: Insights from a large multicenter study in southern China.

Although non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) is widely used to detect fetal abnormalities, the results of NIPT vary by population, and data for the screening efficiency of NIPT positive predictive value (PPV) from different populations is limited. Herein, we retrospectively analyzed the NIPT results in a large multicenter study involving 52,855 pregnant women. Depending on gestational age, amniotic fluid or umbilical cord blood was extracted for karyotype and/or chromosome microarray analysis (CMA) in NIPT-positive patients, and the PPV and follow-up data were evaluated to determine its clinical value. Among the 52,855 cases, 754 were NIPT-positive, with a positivity rate of 1.4%. Karyotype analysis and/or CMA confirmed 323 chromosomal abnormalities, with a PPV of 45.1%. PPV for trisomy 21 (T21), trisomy 18 (T18), trisomy 13 (T13), sex chromosomal aneuploidies (SCAs), and copy number variations (CNVs) were 78.9, 35.3, 22.2, 36.9, and 32.9%, respectively. The PPVs for T21, T18, and T13 increased with age, whereas the PPVs for SCAs and CNVs had little correlation with age. The PPV was significantly higher in patients with advanced age and abnormal ultrasound. The NIPT results are affected by population characteristics. NIPT had a high PPV for T21 and a low PPV for T13 and T18, and screening for SCAs and CNVs showed clinical significance in southern China.

Non-invasive prenatal testing for the diagnosis of congenital abnormalities: Insights from a large multicenter study in southern China

Although non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) is widely used to detect fetal abnormalities, the results of NIPT vary by population, and data for the screening efficiency of NIPT positive predictive value (PPV) from different populations is limited. Herein, we retrospectively analyzed the NIPT results in a large multicenter study involving 52,855 pregnant women. Depending on gestational age, amniotic fluid or umbilical cord blood was extracted for karyotype and/or chromosome microarray analysis (CMA) in NIPT-positive patients, and the PPV and follow-up data were evaluated to determine its clinical value. Among the 52,855 cases, 754 were NIPT-positive, with a positivity rate of 1.4%. Karyotype analysis and/or CMA confirmed 323 chromosomal abnormalities, with a PPV of 45.1%. PPV for trisomy 21 (T21), trisomy 18 (T18), trisomy 13 (T13), sex chromosomal aneuploidies (SCAs), and copy number variations (CNVs) were 78.9, 35.3, 22.2, 36.9, and 32.9%, respectively. The PPVs for T21, T18, and T13 increased with age, whereas the PPVs for SCAs and CNVs had little correlation with age. The PPV was significantly higher in patients with advanced age and abnormal ultrasound. The NIPT results are affected by population characteristics. NIPT had a high PPV for T21 and a low PPV for T13 and T18, and screening for SCAs and CNVs showed clinical significance in southern China.

Internet addiction and nonsuicidal self-injury in adolescence: Associations with offline and online social support.

OBJECTIVES: Both nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and Internet addiction (IA) are important health issues for adolescents, and social support has been extensively examined as a protective factor for both. This study aims to compare the effect of offline and online social support on IA, and that on NSSI as well. METHOD: A total of 1911 Chinese adolescents (53.27% females, Mage = 16.83 ± 0.37) completed self-report questionnaires assessing offline social support, online social support, IA, and NSSI. RESULTS: The structural equation modeling analysis showed that offline social support was negatively associated with IA and NSSI, while online social support was positively associated with IA and NSSI; IA was positively associated with NSSI. Furthermore, implications for preventions and interventions of IA and NSSI were discussed. The indirect model explained a relatively small variance of NSSI, indicating the possibility of additional factors in the development of NSSI that should be further investigated. CONCLUSION: This study indicated the differences between offline and online social support, and their different associations with IA and NSSI.

Experimental research on forecasting index of biological image aerobic exercise analysis of artificial neural network / Pesquisa experimental sobre índice de previsão de imagem biológica análise de exercício aeróbio de rede neural artificial / Investigación experimental sobre índice de pronóstico de imágenes biológicas análisis de ejercicio aeróbico de redes neuronales artificiales

ABSTRACT Objective: The paper uses artificial neural network images to explore the effects of aerobic exercise on the gamma rhythm of theta period in the awake hippocampal CA1 area of APP/PS1/tau mice and the low-frequency gamma rhythm of the sleep state hippocampal CA1 area SWR period. Methods: Clean grade 6-month-old APP/PS1/tau mice were randomly divided into quiet group (AS) and exercise group (AE), C57BL/6J control group mice were randomly divided into quiet group (CS) and exercise group (CE). The AE group and the CE group performed 12-week treadmill exercise, 5d/week, 60min/d, the first 10min exercise load was 12m/min, the last 50min was 15m/min treadmill slope was 0°. Eight-arm maze detection of behavioral changes in mice; multi-channel in vivo recording technology to record the electrical signals of the awake state and sleep state in the hippocampal CA1 area, MATLAB extracts the awake state theta period and sleep state SWR period, multi-window spectrum estimation method Perform time-frequency analysis and power spectral density analysis. Results: 12 weeks of aerobic exercise can significantly improve the working memory and reference memory of the AS group, increase the gamma energy in theta period of the awake hippocampus CA1 area and the low-frequency gamma energy in the sleep state CA1 area SWR period. Conclusions: Aerobic exercise can improve the neural network state of the AD model and increase the gamma energy in theta period of the hippocampus CA1 area, and the low-frequency gamma energy in the SWR period is one of the neural network mechanisms for its overall behavioral improvement. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment results.

RESUMO Objetivo: o artigo usa imagens de redes neurais artificiais para explorar os efeitos do exercício aeróbio no ritmo gama do período teta na área CA1 do hipocampo desperto de camundongos APP/PS1/tau e o ritmo gama de baixa frequência da área CA1 do hipocampo do estado de sono Período SWR. Métodos: Camundongos APP/PS1/tau de grau limpo de 6 meses de idade foram divididos aleatoriamente em grupo quieto (AS) e grupo de exercício (AE), os camundongos do grupo controle C57BL/6J foram divididos aleatoriamente em grupo quieto (CS) e grupo de exercício (CE). O grupo AE e o grupo CE realizaram 12 semanas de exercício em esteira, 5d/semana, 60min/d, a primeira carga de exercício de 10min foi de 12m/min, a última de 50min foi de 15m/min e a inclinação da esteira foi de 0 °. Detecção de labirinto de oito braços de mudanças comportamentais em camundongos; tecnologia de gravação in vivo multicanal para registrar os sinais elétricos do estado de vigília e do estado de sono na área CA1 do hipocampo, MATLAB extrai o período de tempo teta do estado de vigília e o período de tempo SWR do estado de sono, método de estimativa de espectro de múltiplas janelas. e análise de densidade espectral de potência. Resultados: 12 semanas de exercícios aeróbicos podem melhorar significativamente a memória de trabalho e a memória de referência do grupo AS, aumentar a energia gama no período teta da área CA1 do hipocampo acordado e a energia gama de baixa frequência na área CA1 do estado de sono período SWR. Conclusões: O exercício aeróbico pode melhorar o estado da rede neural do modelo AD e aumentar a energia gama no período teta da área CA1 do hipocampo e a energia gama de baixa frequência no período SWR é um dos mecanismos da rede neural para seu comportamento geral. Nível de evidência II; Estudos terapêuticos- investigação dos resultados do tratamento.

RESUMEN Objetivo: El artículo utiliza imágenes de redes neuronales artificiales para explorar los efectos del ejercicio aeróbico en el ritmo gamma del período theta en el área CA1 del hipocampo despierto de ratones APP/PS1/tau y el ritmo gamma de baja frecuencia del área CA1 del hipocampo en estado de sueño. Período de ROE. Métodos: Se dividieron aleatoriamente ratones APP/PS1/tau de 6 meses de edad de grado limpio en grupo tranquilo (AS) y grupo de ejercicio (AE), los ratones del grupo de control C57BL/6J se dividieron aleatoriamente en grupo tranquilo (CS) y grupo de ejercicio (CE). El grupo de EA y el grupo de EC realizaron 12 semanas de ejercicio en cinta rodante, 5 días a la semana, 60 min/d, la primera carga de ejercicio de 10 min fue de 12 m/min, los últimos 50 min fueron de 15 m/min y la pendiente de la cinta fue de 0 °. Detección en laberinto de ocho brazos de cambios de comportamiento en ratones; tecnología de grabación in vivo multicanal para registrar las señales eléctricas del estado despierto y del estado de sueño en el área CA1 del hipocampo, MATLAB extrae el período de tiempo theta del estado despierto y el período de tiempo de SWR del estado de suspensión, método de estimación de espectro de múltiples ventanas Realizar análisis de tiempo-frecuencia y análisis de densidad espectral de potencia. Resultados: 12 semanas de ejercicio aeróbico pueden mejorar significativamente la memoria de trabajo y la memoria de referencia del grupo AS, aumentar la energía gamma en el período theta del área CA1 del hipocampo despierto y la energía gamma de baja frecuencia en el período SWR del área CA1 del estado de sueño. Conclusiones: El ejercicio aeróbico puede mejorar el estado de la red neuronal del modelo AD y aumentar la energía gamma en el período theta del área del hipocampo CA1 y la energía gamma de baja frecuencia en el período SWR es uno de los mecanismos de la red neuronal para su comportamiento general. Nivel de evidencia II; Estudios terapéuticos- investigación de los resultados del tratamiento.

Active Surveillance of Asymptomatic, Presymptomatic, and Oligosymptomatic SARS-CoV-2-Infected Individuals in Communities Inhabiting Closed or Semi-closed Institutions.

Background: The high COVID-19 dissemination rate demands active surveillance to identify asymptomatic, presymptomatic, and oligosymptomatic (APO) SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals. This is of special importance in communities inhabiting closed or semi-closed institutions such as residential care homes, prisons, neuropsychiatric hospitals, etc., where risk people are in close contact. Thus, a pooling approach-where samples are mixed and tested as single pools-is an attractive strategy to rapidly detect APO-infected in these epidemiological scenarios. Materials and Methods: This study was done at different pandemic periods between May 28 and August 31 2020 in 153 closed or semi-closed institutions in the Province of Buenos Aires (Argentina). We setup pooling strategy in two stages: first a pool-testing followed by selective individual-testing according to pool results. Samples included in negative pools were presumed as negative, while samples from positive pools were re-tested individually for positives identification. Results: Sensitivity in 5-sample or 10-sample pools was adequate since only 2 Ct values were increased with regard to single tests on average. Concordance between 5-sample or 10-sample pools and individual-testing was 100% in the Ct ≤ 36. We tested 4,936 APO clinical samples in 822 pools, requiring 86-50% fewer tests in low-to-moderate prevalence settings compared to individual testing. Conclusions: By this strategy we detected three COVID-19 outbreaks at early stages in these institutions, helping to their containment and increasing the likelihood of saving lives in such places where risk groups are concentrated.

Vancomycin-induced severe thrombocytopenia in a young infant.

Vancomycin is a first-line drug for treating methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Thrombocytopenia is a rare adverse reaction to vancomycin treatment, and there are no reports of vancomycin-induced thrombocytopenia (VIT) in infants. We describe the case of a 3-month-old girl who was diagnosed with purulent meningitis. After 13 days of treatment with vancomycin, her platelet count reduced to 8 × 109/L. Vancomycin was discontinued, and intravenous methylprednisolone was administered. The platelet count returned to normal after 4 days. Patients, especially young children, receiving vancomycin for a long clinical course should undergo careful monitoring of laboratory indicators and blood tests.

Vancomycin-induced severe thrombocytopenia in a young infant

Abstract Vancomycin is a first-line drug for treating methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Thrombocytopenia is a rare adverse reaction to vancomycin treatment, and there are no reports of vancomycin-induced thrombocytopenia (VIT) in infants. We describe the case of a 3-month-old girl who was diagnosed with purulent meningitis. After 13 days of treatment with vancomycin, her platelet count reduced to 8 × 109/L. Vancomycin was discontinued, and intravenous methylprednisolone was administered. The platelet count returned to normal after 4 days. Patients, especially young children, receiving vancomycin for a long clinical course should undergo careful monitoring of laboratory indicators and blood tests.

Effects of White Roman gosling quality on their growth parameters, intestinal villus morphology, blood biochemistry, and nonspecific pathological lesions

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of gosling quality on their growth parameters, intestinal villus morphology, blood biochemistry, and nonspecific pathological lesions from 0 to 4 weeks old. Seventy-two goslings were randomly distributed into 12 pens, with each pen containing three males and three females in a completely randomized design of two control variables, including healthy and weak goslings. Healthy goslings all shared the same characteristics, such as good features with no abnormalities and full absorption of yolk sac. Albeit lighter body weight (<85 g/bird) and incomplete absorption of the yolk sac were found in the weak geese, no obvious disease was exhibited in them. Post mortem examination revealed that the incidence of nonspecific pathological lesions of the 4 week-old healthy and weak gosling groups were 25.0 and 50.0%, respectively. Nonspecific pathological changes of 4 week-old goslings in the liver, ileum, lung, and heart were 16.7, 12.5, 8.3, and 4.2%, respectively. The healthy goslings also had higher total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein than weak goslings. Separately raising weak goslings from 0 to 4 weeks old could increase the survival rate and reduce economic losses of feeding.(AU)

Postnatal Risk of Acquiring Kawasaki Disease: A Nationwide Birth Cohort Database Study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the postnatal risk of Kawasaki disease and coronary complications from a nationwide birth cohort in Taiwan, a country with the third-highest incidence of Kawasaki disease worldwide. STUDY DESIGN: We enrolled children born between 2000 and 2009 with complete postnatal medical care records for 2000-2014 in the Taiwan national database. RESULTS: Out of a total of 2 150 590 live births, we identified 6690 (62.6% boys) patients with Kawasaki disease. The onset was mostly (93.9%) within the first 5 years of life (median, 16 months; 38% during infancy), but was rare within the first 3 months of life. The overall cumulative incidence of Kawasaki disease by age 5 years was 2.78‰ (3.33‰ for boys and 2.17‰ for girls; P < .001) and exhibited an increasing trend with birth year (from 2.28‰ for 2000 to 3.67‰ for 2009). The incidence ratio was 1.535 in boys and 1.055 in each increasing year. Kawasaki disease recurred more often in younger patients (cumulative incidence, 2.3% in infants vs 1.7% in children aged 1-4 years). Coronary complications occurred in 16.2% of the patients, including 4 cases of acute myocardial infarction (3 occuring during the acute stage and 1 occurring 5 years later). The probability of a major cardiac event (infarction, undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting, or death) by adolescence was 1.9%. CONCLUSIONS: The postnatal risk of Kawasaki disease was 3‰-4‰ and increased with every birth year. Patients with Kawasaki disease are at substantial risk for a major cardiac events during childhood.

Epidemiology of Kawasaki disease: prevalence from national database and future trends projection by system dynamics modeling.

OBJECTIVE: To update the epidemiologic trend in Kawasaki disease (KD) and develop models for projection. STUDY DESIGN: From our national databases 2000-2010 and previous studies, we obtained the epidemiologic data to develop and validate system dynamics models. Population model incorporated birth rate and mortality. KD model incorporated the population at risk, incidence, and risk of coronary complications. RESULTS: The average annual incidence in age group <5, 5-10, 10-15, and 15-20 years was 67.3, 5.75, 0.79, and 0.26 per 100,000. The KD population was 23,349 and the model estimated 20,254 patients with KD, and 25% of these patients received medical care or continued surveillance in 2010. Projection up to 2030 suggests an average of 725 new patients with KD annually and a KD population of 35,006 by 2030. In 2030, 1469 patients with KD will need medical care for coronary complications. Simulation on the model modified to US data is also effective and suggests an average of 6200 new patients annually and KD population of 161,776 by 2030, and 5664 patients will need coronary care in 2030. By 2030, there will be 1 per 700 people in Taiwan and 1 per 1600 in the US with a history of KD. CONCLUSION: Simulations on our system dynamics models tailored to any epidemiologic and outcome variables and any changes with medical advance can dynamically project the futures.

Expanding the phenotype of late-onset Pompe disease: tongue weakness: a new clinical observation.

INTRODUCTION: Following the clinical observation of lingual weakness in 2 patients with late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD), tongue strength was assessed in 19 consecutive patients to determine the frequency and severity of this neurological sign. METHODS: Lingual strength was assessed using manual muscle testing; if weakness was present, severity was established as mild, moderate, or severe. RESULTS: All the patients exhibited lingual weakness, even 2 asymptomatic patients with a positive family history. Weakness was mild in 12 (63%), moderate in 6 (32%), and severe in 1 (5%). Dysarthria and/or dysphagia were observed or reported in 7 of 19 (37%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: Lingual weakness may be present as an axial sign of LOPD, even relatively early in the disease course, and may contribute to the differential diagnosis of this now treatable condition. Dysphagia and/or dysarthria may also occur. This finding further expands the phenotype of LOPD.