Children with severe neurological symptoms associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection during Omicron pandemic in China.

BACKGROUND: To analyze the clinical characteristics and outcomes of children with severe neurological symptoms associated with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection during the Omicron pandemic in China. METHODS: This study used a questionnaire to obtain data from pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) centers in seven tertiary hospitals in Northeast China from December 1, 2022, to January 31, 2023. RESULTS: A total of 255 patients were confirmed to have SARS-CoV-2 infection, and 45 patients (17.65 %) were included in this study. Of these, seven (15.6%) patients died, and the median time from admission to death was 35 h (IQR, 14-120 h). Twenty (52.6%) survivors experienced neurological sequelae. Patients with platelet counts lower than 100 × 109/L had a higher incidence of complications such as multiple organ dysfunction, mechanical ventilation rate, and mortality. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) always reveals cerebral tissue edema, with some severe lesions forming a softening site. CONCLUSION: Children infected with SARS-CoV-2 often exhibit severe neurological symptoms, and in some cases, they may rapidly develop malignant cerebral edema or herniation, leading to a fatal outcome. An early decrease in platelet count may associated with an unfavorable prognosis. IMPACT: Since early December 2022, China has gradually adjusted its prevention and control policy of SARS-CoV-2; Omicron outbreaks have occurred in some areas for a relatively short period. Due to the differences in ethnicity, endemic strains and vaccination status, there was a little difference from what has been reported about children with SARS-CoV-2 infection with severe neurological symptoms in abroad. This is the first multicenter clinical study in children with nervous system involvement after acute SARS-CoV-2 infection in China, and helpful for pediatricians to have a more comprehensive understanding of the clinical symptoms and prognosis of such disease.

Genome-Wide Transcriptome Analysis in Type 2 Diabetes Patients Treated by Sitagliptin.

Objective: In this study, transcriptome sequencing was performed on patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus treated with different prognosis to explore the differential level genes of different hypoglycemic effects of sitagliptin. Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed T2DM (within six months of diagnosis) were selected as the study subjects. Patients were given sitagliptin 100 mg once a day orally. After 12 weeks of regular drug therapy, the reduction in glycated hemoglobin was compared before and after drug administration. The patients were then divided into two groups: the significantly effective group (M) and the less effective group (N). High-throughput sequencing of the transcriptome was conducted to detect the differential expression levels of genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Expanded sample size validation of the candidate differential genes was conducted using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: After 12 weeks of treatment with sitagliptin, high-throughput sequencing of the transcriptome found that expression of the following genes was different when comparing the significantly effective group (M) and the less effective group (N): ghrelin (GHRL), insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF1R), mitogen-activated protein kinase-3 (MAPK3), phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphonate 3-kinase, catalytic subunit delta (PIK3CD), and the suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 (SOCS3). The validation results of RT-PCR showed that, in the significantly effective group (M), the expression of IGF1R was significantly increased (P = 0.034), the expression of MAPK3 was significantly reduced (P = 0.002), and the expression of SOCS3 was also significantly reduced (P < 0.001). Conclusion: There was a significant difference in gene level between patients with significant hypoglycemic effect and patients with poor hypoglycemic effect, and the expression of IGF1R increased and the expression of MAPK3 and SOCS3 decreased.

Amniocentesis and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)-Based Noninvasive Prenatal DNA Testing (NIPT) for Prenatal Diagnosis of Fetal Chromosomal Disorders.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to evaluate and analyze the results of karyotyping by amniocentesis and next generation sequencing (NGS)-based noninvasive prenatal DNA testing (NIPT) for the prenatal diagnosis of fetal chromosomal disorders. METHODS: A total of 2267 high-risk pregnant females with the indications for prenatal diagnosis who met the enrollment criteria between January 2015 and May 2019 at the Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University were included and underwent NGS-based NIPT in the present study. Amniocentesis, chromosome karyotyping by cell culture, and follow-up of the pregnancy outcomes were also conducted in the NIPT-positive pregnant females to assess the consistency between NIPT and results of karyotyping by amniocentesis. RESULTS: Among the 2267 cases, 29 cases were positive for NIPT, including 10 cases with a high risk of trisomy 21, 2 cases with a high risk of trisomy 18, 2 cases with a high risk of chromosome 13, and 20 cases with sex chromosome abnormalities. All the above NIPT-positive cases underwent amniocentesis, and 20 cases were eventually diagnosed. The sensitivity and specificity of NIPT for the diagnosis of trisomy 21, trisomy 13, and trisomy 18 were 100%, 99.96%, 100%, and 99.96%, 100%, 100%, respectively, and the positive predictive values were 91.67%, 66.67%, and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSION: NGS of the fetal free DNA from the peripheral blood of pregnant females was an important complement to the prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal disorders represented by fetal chromosome aneuploidy with high sensitivity and specificity. In combination with the traditional karyotyping by amniocentesis, it could improve the diagnostic efficacy for fetal chromosomal disorders.

[Analysis on formula of Mongolian medicine for prevention of COVID-19].

The epidemic situation of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) is developing rapidly in the world, and the influence is serious. In this study, the prescription of Mongolian medicine to prevent new type of COVID-19 was investigated. Based on the second edition and the third edition of COVID-19 Mongolian Medicine Prevention and Treatment Guidance Program issued by the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Health Commission, using Excel 2007, SPSS Modeler 18, SPSS Statistics 25, Cytoscape 3.7.1 statistical software as a tool, the association rules analysis and cluster analysis of Mongolian medicine included in the standard were carried out. Among the 45 prophylactic prescriptions included in the standard, a total of 34 high-frequency drugs using frequency ≥5 were used, of which Carthami Flos(21 times, 4.46%), Chebulae Fructus(20 times, 4.26%), Moschus(13 times, 2.77%), Myristicae Semen(12 times, 2.55%), Santali Albi Lignum(12 times, 2.55%), and Bovis Calculus(12 times, 2.55%) were the most common. The main drugs for the prevention of COVID-19 were Liang(13 times, 38.23%), Wen(9 times, 26.47%), the flavor was Ku(20 times, 34.48%), Xin(13 times, 22.41%), Gan(11 times, 18.97%), the most used drugs treating hot evil(99 times, 32.46%), treatment of "Heyi" drugs(51 times, 16.72%), treatment of "Badagan" drugs(40 times, 13.11%), treatment of "sticky" drugs(37 times, 12.13%), and a cough, eliminating phlegm and antiasthmatic(31 times, 10.16%), the association rule analysis found that the highest association intensity of the drug pair combination of 11. Clustering analysis using the cluster analysis of inter-group join method found a total of 8 categories. In this study, 45 prescriptions of Mongolian medicine for the prevention of COVID-19 were collec-ted and further analyzed, hoping to provide new ideas for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

[Monitoring and driving force analysis of net primary productivity in native grassland: A case study in Xilingol steppe, China]. / 天然草原净初级生产力变化监测与驱动力分析­­ä»¥é”¡æž—郭勒草原为例.

Grassland is an important type of terrestrial ecosystem. Using remote sensing technology to study the change and driving force of native grassland productivity at large scale is an important way to understand the ecological status of grassland. In this study, potential and actual net primary productivity (NPP) of Xilingol steppe from 2000 to 2018 were examined based on climatic model and light-use efficiency model, respectively. NPP damage value driven by human activities was calculated from the difference between potential and actual NPP. The least square method was used to analyze the temporal and spatial variation of NPP in Xilingol and the driving role of climate and human activities on NPP. The results showed that NPP in Xilingol increased from west to east, with mean annual NPP being 271.54 g C·m-2·a-1, the area with increased NPP (grassland restoration) being 36500 km2, and the area with decreased NPP (grassland degradation) being 59900 km2. The potential NPP tended to rise under the driving force of temperature and precipitation, with an average annual increase of 6.5 g C·m-2·a-1, which indicated that regional climate played a positive role in the improvement of NPP in Xilingol steppe, and that human activities were the main driving force for grassland degradation. The value of NPP damage driven by human activities decreased from east to west and from south to north, with the highest value in Wuzhumuqin meadow and southern steppe. Human activities, such as mining and reclamation, had the most obvious negative impact on grassland NPP.

[Study on Precursors for Synthesis of Anthraquinone Metabolites from Rheum tanguticum].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the potential precursors of the anthraquinone metabolites from Rheum tanguticum and preliminanly identify the synthesis pathway thereof. METHODS: Sterile seedlings sprouted from the seeds of Rheum tanguticum were chosen as materials for inducing callus. The effects of different precursors and feeding duration on the callus of Rheum tanguticum and the anthraquinone yield in adult rheum were studied. RESULTS: The greatest improvement of anthraquinone yield was achieved by acetic acid, increasing 43. 9% for the callus and 45. 8% in the adult rheum; the second greatest improvement was achieved by malonic acid, increasing 15. 8% for the callus and only 3. 6% in the adult rheum. The yield of anthraquinone was not influenced significantly by benzoic acid and p-benzoquinone, and in contrast, was inhibited in some degree by shikimic acid and α-ketoglutaric acid. A suitable feeding duration was 36 h, which worked well for the effects of precursors. CONCLUSION: The precursor for synthesis of anthraquinone metabolites from Rheum tan- guticum is acetic acid, which improves the yields of callus and anthraquinone in adult rheum, concluding that the anthraquinone metabolites are synthesized via polyketone pathway.

[Synthesis and characterization of phenyl-acetylmethylene sulfoxide complexes with light rare earth and fluorescence spectrum of Eu(III) complex].

Five solid complexes of phenyl-acetylmethylene sulfoxide(L) with light rare earth (La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu) were synthesized and characterized. Elemental analysis and molar conductivities show that the complexes have a composition of RE(ClO4)3 x L5 x 2H2O; two ClO4 anions coordinated with rare earth ions and the other did not. IR spectra suggested that the ligand coordinated with RE3+ by oxygen atom in sulfinyl group, and the oxygen atom in carbonyl group did not bond. The phosphorescence and 1H NMR and TG-DTA of the ligand and complexes were determind. Fluorescence spectra of Eu(III) complex with the sulfoxide indicated that the complex has no symmetrical center. All the complexes have good solubility.

[Synthesis and luminescence of methyl-phenacyl sulfoxide complexes with heavy rare earth perchlorate].

RE(ClO4)3 x L5 x C2H5OH(RE=Gd, Tb, Dy, Tm, Yb; L = C6H5COCH2SOCH3) complexes were synthesized. The composion of the complexes was determined by elemental analysis, coordination titration, molar conductivities, and TGA studies. The ligand and coordination compounds were studied by means of IR spectra, 1H NMR, and the Tb(II) coordination compound was studied by means of phosphorescence spectra, and fluorescence excitation and emission spectra. Each energy level of Tb3+ was calculated according to the fluorescent emission spectra results.