Inhibiting Interleukin-6/Signal Transducers and Activators of Transduction-3/Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α Signaling Pathway Suppressed the Growth of Infantile Hemangioma.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the expression of interleukin 6 (IL-6) in patients with infantile hemangioma (IH) and investigate the role of the IL-6/signal transducers and activators of transduction-3 (STAT3)/hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) pathways in the progression of IH. METHODS: Serum samples were obtained from the patients with IH and normal infants to measure IL-6 expression. Hemangioma-derived stem cells (HemSCs) were transfected with small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting IL-6, HIF-1α, or STAT3. Then, cell viability and wound healing assays were conducted. After that, the HemSC tumor mouse model was established. The in vivo anticancer effect of the IL-6 inhibitor was investigated. RESULTS: The patients with IH had much higher IL-6 levels compared with the healthy controls (p = 0.005). HemSCs transfected with IL-6 siRNA had significantly lower viability and migration rates than normal HemSCs. HemSCs transfected with STAT3 siRNA or HIF-1α siRNA had similar tendencies. On tumor-bearing mice, the IL-6 inhibitor treatment significantly delayed tumor growth. Compared with the control group, caspase-3 was significantly increased in the IL-6 inhibitor group (p < 0.05), whereas Ki-67 was decreased in the IL-6 inhibitor group (p < 0.05). In the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, the IL-6 inhibitor group had much higher apoptosis rates than the controls (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that inhibiting the IL-6/STAT3/HIF-1α signaling pathways could suppress IH growth.

Analysis of the Components of 236 Cases of Urinary Stones in Xinjiang Uyghur Children.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study is to explore the relationship between clinical characteristics and urinary calculus in Xinjiang Uyghur children, and to provide clinical basis for the prevention as well as treatment of urinary stone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 236 urinary tract stone samples were collected from pediatric patients from February 2017 to April 2019, and those samples were analyzed by infrared spectroscopy. Stone compositions were compared with demographic data. RESULTS: Among the 236 cases, 166 cases were boys (70.34%) and 70 cases were girls (29.66%), with a male-to-female ratio of 2.37:1. A total of 21 kinds of calculi were detected, including 107 cases with six kinds of simple calculi and 129 cases with 15 kinds of mixed calculi. In this study, magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate was only found in boys, and the difference was statistically significant (6.6 vs. 0.0%, p = 0.037). There were statistical differences in the age distribution of children with ammonium hydrogen urate, calcium oxalate, and other stone components (p < 0.05), while there were no statistical differences in the age distribution of children with apatite carbonate, magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate, and anhydrous uric acid. The results showed that there was a significant difference in the localization of calculi between male and female children (upper urinary tract stones: 78.9 vs. 98.6%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Uyghur pediatric patients with urolithiasis were young and the majority of stones was mixed, The main components of calculi were ammonium hydrogen urate, calcium oxalate and apatite carbonate, and there are differences in the localization of calculi between genders.

A single-center clinical study of 61 children with ammonium urate stones / 现代泌尿外科杂志

【Objective】 To analyze the clinical characteristics of children with ammonium urate stones in Xinjiang, so as to provide reference for the prevention and treatment of this disease. 【Methods】 The clinical data of all children with ammonium urate stones admitted to the People’s Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from 2016 to 2021 were retrospectively analyzed, including age, sex, body mass index, stone site, stone size, stone component, urine pH, urine culture and biochemical examination results. The serum total protein, albumin, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, uric acid and urine pH were compared between the pure and mixed groups. 【Results】 A total of 61 children (31.6%) had ammonium urate stones, their average age was (4.05±3.37) years, and the male to female ratio was 2.21∶1. Among them, there were 37 cases (60.7%) of renal calculi and 50 cases (82.0%) of upper urinary calculi. The most common component of mixed ammonium urate stones was calcium oxalate, including calcium oxalate monohydrate, calcium oxalate monohydrate and calcium oxalate dihydrate. Compared with mixed type, children with pure stone type had a younger age (P=0.001) and a smaller stone size (P=0.003). Positive urine culture was detected in 14 cases (23.0%), 7 of which (50% were infected with Escherichia coli, and 11 (78.6%) with non-urease bacteria. 【Conclusion】 Non-urease bacteria are the main pathogens of urinary tract infection in children with ammonium urate stones. The incidence is higher in boys, and the most common stone location is upper urinary tract. Calcium oxalate is the most common mixed component. Pure type is more common in young children and the stones are relatively small.

Analysis of stone composition and clinical characteristics of urinary calculi in infants in Xinjiang / 国际外科学杂志

Objective:To analyze the composition and clinical characteristics of urinary calculi in infants in Xinjiang.Methods:The clinical data of 75 infants with urinary calculi admitted to the People′s Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from January 2016 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed, including the general situation of the children, stone-related parameters, random urine pH value, urine culture and biochemical examination results. The serum uric acid, serum calcium, urine pH value, positive rate of urine culture, and stone length between infants with and without ammonium urate stones were compared. Measurement data conforming to normal distribution were expressed as mean ± standard deviation ( ± s), and independent sample t-test was used for inter-group comparison. Measurement data that did not conform to the normal distribution were expressed as the median (interquartile distance) [ M ( Q1, Q3)], and Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison between groups. The Chi-square test, continuity-corrected Chi-square test or Fisher exact probability method were used for the comparison of count data. Results:The median age of infants with urinary calculi was 23.04 months, and the ratio of male to female was 3.2∶1. More than half of the infants (81.3%, 61/75) came from rural areas, 57.3% (43/75) were malnourished, 33.3% (25/75) were complicated with urinary tract infection, and 8.0% (6/75) were combined with urinary system congenital malformation. The calculi were found in 53 cases (70.67%) of kidney, 27 cases (36.0%) of ureter, 17 cases (22.67%) of urethra and 16 cases (21.33%) of bladder. The analysis of calculi composition showed that there were 44 cases (58.67%) of ammonium urate, 39 cases (52.0%) of calcium oxalate, 14 cases (18.67%) of apatite carbonate and 7 cases (9.33%) of uric acid. Kidney calculi was more common in female infants ( P=0.011). Compared with the infant group ( n=19), calcium oxalate stones were more common in the preschooler group ( n=56) ( P=0.039), but there were not statistical difference in the incidence of ammonium urate, apatite carbonate and uric acid stones. There were not statistical difference in gender, age, place of residence, nutritional status, serum uric acid, serum calcium, urine pH value, positive rate of urine culture, stone maximum diameter and incidence of bladder stones between ammonium urate group and non-ammonium urate group. Conclusions:The incidence of urinary calculi in infants is higher in boys, and the most common site of calculi is the upper urinary tract, especially in female kidney calculi. Ammonium urate is the main component of urinary calculi in infants. Calcium oxalate stones are more common in preschooler group. Infants with urinary calculi are mostly rural residents, and malnutrition and urinary tract infection are more common.