Surgical treatment of multiple magnet ingestion by children: A single-center experience from China.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of magnet ingestion in children has escalated concurrent with the rise in popularity of magnetic playthings, bearing the capacity to induce substantial morbidity. AIM: The objective of this study was to encapsulate our accumulated expertise in handling pediatric cases featuring multiple magnetic foreign bodies within the gastrointestinal tract sometimes necessitating surgical intervention, as well as to formulate a clinical management algorithm. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of patients with multiple magnetic foreign bodies in the digestive tract, admitted to Shenzhen Children's Hospital, between January 2018 and December 2022. RESULTS: A total of 100 cases were included in this study, including 66 males and 34 females. The main clinical manifestation ns were abdominal pain and vomiting. All patients had abdominal x-ray, all of which indicated foreign bodies in the digestive tract. 33 patients had to undergo a surgical intervention. Among these cases, the gastrointestinal complications occurred in 31 patients, including gastric rupture (n = 9), intestinal obstruction (n = 11) and intestinal perforation (n = 30). Postoperative intestinal obstruction occurred in 6 children. There was no statistical significant difference in age and gender between the Surgical group and Non-surgical group, but the Surgical group had a higher number of magnets ([7.5(2-44) vs 4(2-20)], p = 0.009), a longer interval between time of misingestion to clinical visit ([48(7.2-480) vs 5(2-336)]hours, p < 0.001), and a longer length of hospital stay ([10(6-19) vs 2(1-8)]days, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Multiple magnet ingestion in children can lead to serious complications and carry severe risks. Timely diagnosis and effective treatment are crucial for managing such patients.

[Cystic fibrosis primarily presenting with pseudo-Bartter syndrome: a report of three cases and literature review]. / 以假性Bartter综合征为主要表现的囊性纤维化患儿3ä¾‹å¹¶æ–‡çŒ®å¤ä¹ .

OBJECTIVES: To summarize the clinical characteristics and genetic variations in children with cystic fibrosis (CF) primarily presenting with pseudo-Bartter syndrome (CF-PBS), with the aim to enhance understanding of this disorder. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of three children who were diagnosed with CF-PBS in Hunan Children's Hospital from January 2018 to August 2023, and a literature review was performed. RESULTS: All three children had the onset of the disease in infancy. Tests after admission showed hyponatremia, hypokalemia, hypochloremia, and metabolic alkalosis, and genetic testing showed the presence of compound heterozygous mutation in the CFTR gene. All three children were diagnosed with CF. Literature review obtained 33 Chinese children with CF-PBS, with an age of onset of 1-36 months and an age of diagnosis of 3-144 months. Among these children, there were 29 children with recurrent respiratory infection or persistent pneumonia (88%), 26 with malnutrition (79%), 23 with developmental retardation (70%), and 18 with pancreatitis or extrapancreatic insufficiency (55%). Genetic testing showed that c.2909G>A was the most common mutation site of the CFTR gene, with a frequency of allelic variation of 23% (15/66). CONCLUSIONS: CF may have no typical respiratory symptoms in the early stage. The possibility of CF-PBS should be considered for infants with recurrent hyponatremia, hypokalemia, hypochloremia, and metabolic alkalosis, especially those with malnutrition and developmental retardation. CFTR genetic testing should be performed as soon as possible to help with the diagnosis of CF.

Genome-scale signatures of adaptive gene expression changes in an invasive seaweed Gracilaria vermiculophylla.

Invasive species can successfully and rapidly colonize new niches and expand ranges via founder effects and enhanced tolerance towards environmental stresses. However, the underpinning molecular mechanisms (i.e., gene expression changes) facilitating rapid adaptation to harsh environments are still poorly understood. The red seaweed Gracilaria vermiculophylla, which is native to the northwest Pacific but invaded North American and European coastal habitats over the last 100 years, provides an excellent model to examine whether enhanced tolerance at the level of gene expression contributed to its invasion success. We collected G. vermiculophylla from its native range in Japan and from two non-native regions along the Delmarva Peninsula (Eastern United States) and in Germany. Thalli were reared in a common garden for 4 months at which time we performed comparative transcriptome (mRNA) and microRNA (miRNA) sequencing. MRNA-expression profiling identified 59 genes that were differently expressed between native and non-native thalli. Of these genes, most were involved in metabolic pathways, including photosynthesis, abiotic stress, and biosynthesis of products and hormones in all four non-native sites. MiRNA-based target-gene correlation analysis in native/non-native pairs revealed that some target genes are positively or negatively regulated via epigenetic mechanisms. Importantly, these genes are mostly associated with metabolism and defence capability (e.g., metal transporter Nramp5, senescence-associated protein, cell wall-associated hydrolase, ycf68 protein and cytochrome P450-like TBP). Thus, our gene expression results indicate that resource reallocation to metabolic processes is most likely a predominant mechanism contributing to the range-wide persistence and adaptation of G. vermiculophylla in the invaded range. This study, therefore, provides molecular insight into the speed and nature of invasion-mediated rapid adaption.

Intrinsic Electrical Remodeling Underlies Atrioventricular Block in Athletes.

[Figure: see text].

The relationship between dietary patterns and blood mineral concentration among children in Hunan Province of China.

BACKGROUND: Minerals have crucial biological functions in metabolism and are primarily obtained through diet. As a result, various dietary patterns can impact blood mineral levels. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between dietary patterns and the concentration of calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and copper in the bloodstream. METHODS: Three hundred eighty healthy children (53.7% male) were recruited in a region of Hunan Province in September 2019. We gathered basic information and measured physical proportions, along with completing a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Using principal component analysis (PCA), we determined dietary patterns. To analyze mineral levels in the blood, we used flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). We utilized linear regression models to investigate if certain dietary patterns are related to mineral concentration. RESULTS: Three dietary patterns were identified: 'Vegetables/Nuts,' 'Snacks/Beverages,' and 'Cereal/Beans.' Children from high-income families (annual average income > 50,000 yuan) prefer the 'Vegetables/Nuts' dietary pattern (P = 0.004). In comparison, those from low-income families (annual average income < 20,000 yuan) prefer the 'Snacks/Beverages' dietary pattern (P = 0.03). Following adjustment for age, gender, guardian's identity, education level, and annual household income. We found that an increase in the 'Vegetables/Nuts' pattern score (ß = 0.153, CI: 0.053 ~ 0.253; P = 0.003) and 'Snacks/Beverages' pattern score (ß = 0.103, CI: 0.002 ~ 0.204; P = 0.033) were significantly associated blood copper concentration. CONCLUSIONS: Household income was found to be associated with dietary behavior. Furthermore, higher blood copper concentration was significantly correlated with the 'Vegetables/Nuts' dietary pattern and 'Snacks/Beverages' dietary pattern, but the correlation is extremely low.

Possible Role of Docosahexaenoic Acid in Response to Diarrhetic Shellfish Toxins in the Mussel Perna viridis.

Marine bivalves are rich in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a polyunsaturated fatty acid known to be beneficial for human health; however, the potential role of DHA in protecting shellfish from the toxicity of diarrhetic shellfish toxins (DSTs) remains poorly understood. Here, we aimed to study the effect of DHA on the response of the bivalve, Perna viridis, to DSTs by using LC-MS/MS, RT-qPCR, and histological examination. In this study, we observed that the DHA content decreased significantly with esterification of DSTs in the digestive gland of the mussel P. viridis after 96 h of exposure to Prorocentrum lima, a DST-producing dinoflagellate. The addition of DHA significantly increased the esterification level of DSTs and increased the expression of Nrf2 signaling pathway-related genes and enzyme activities, alleviating the damage of DSTs to digestive glands. These results suggested that DHA may mediate the esterification of DSTs and activation of the Nrf2 signaling pathway in P. viridis to protect mussels from the toxic effects of DSTs. This study may provide new insights regarding the response of bivalves to DSTs and lay the foundation for uncovering the role of DHA in environmental adaptation of bivalves.

Colorimetric and photothermal dual-mode lateral flow immunoassay based on Au-Fe3O4 multifunctional nanoparticles for detection of Salmonella typhimurium.

Au-Fe3O4 multifunctional nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized and integrated with lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) for dual-mode detection of Salmonella typhimurium. The Au-Fe3O4 NPs not only combined excellent local surface plasmon resonance characteristics and superparamagnetic properties, but also exhibited good photothermal effect. In the detection, antibody-conjugated Au-Fe3O4 NPs first captured S. typhimurium from complex matrix, which was then loaded on the LFIA strip and trapped by the T-line. By observing the color bands with the naked eyes, qualitative detection was performed free of instrument. By measuring the photothermal signal, quantification was achieved with a portable infrared thermal camera. The introduction of magnetic separation achieved the enrichment and purification of target bacteria, thus enhancing the detection sensitivity and reducing interference. This dual-mode LFIA achieved a visual detection limit of 5 × 105 CFU/mL and a photothermal detection limit of 5 × 104 CFU/mL. Compared with traditional Au-based LFIA, this dual-mode LFIA increased the detection sensitivity by 2 orders of magnitude and could be directly applied to unprocessed milk sample. Besides, this dual-mode LFIA showed good reproducibility and specificity. The intra-assay and inter-assay variation coefficients were 3.0% and 7.9%, and with this dual-mode LFIA, other bacteria hardly produced distinguishable signals. Thus, the Au-Fe3O4 NPs-based LFIA has potential to increase the efficiency of pandemic prevention and control. Au-Fe3O4 nanoparticle proved to be a promising alternative reporter for LFIA, achieving multifunctions: target purification, target enrichment, visual qualitation, and instrumental quantification, which improved the limitations of traditional LFIA.

Extracellular Histone-Induced Protein Kinase C Alpha Activation and Troponin Phosphorylation Is a Potential Mechanism of Cardiac Contractility Depression in Sepsis.

Reduction in cardiac contractility is common in severe sepsis. However, the pathological mechanism is still not fully understood. Recently it has been found that circulating histones released after extensive immune cell death play important roles in multiple organ injury and disfunction, particularly in cardiomyocyte injury and contractility reduction. How extracellular histones cause cardiac contractility depression is still not fully clear. In this work, using cultured cardiomyocytes and a histone infusion mouse model, we demonstrate that clinically relevant histone concentrations cause significant increases in intracellular calcium concentrations with subsequent activation and enriched localization of calcium-dependent protein kinase C (PKC) α and ßII into the myofilament fraction of cardiomyocytes in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, histones induced dose-dependent phosphorylation of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) at the PKC-regulated phosphorylation residues (S43 and T144) in cultured cardiomyocytes, which was also confirmed in murine cardiomyocytes following intravenous histone injection. Specific inhibitors against PKCα and PKCßII revealed that histone-induced cTnI phosphorylation was mainly mediated by PKCα activation, but not PKCßII. Blocking PKCα also significantly abrogated histone-induced deterioration in peak shortening, duration and the velocity of shortening, and re-lengthening of cardiomyocyte contractility. These in vitro and in vivo findings collectively indicate a potential mechanism of histone-induced cardiomyocyte dysfunction driven by PKCα activation with subsequent enhanced phosphorylation of cTnI. These findings also indicate a potential mechanism of clinical cardiac dysfunction in sepsis and other critical illnesses with high levels of circulating histones, which holds the potential translational benefit to these patients by targeting circulating histones and downstream pathways.

Cardiomyocyte-specific loss of plasma membrane calcium ATPase 1 impacts cardiac rhythm and is associated with ventricular repolarisation dysfunction.

Plasma membrane calcium ATPase 1 (PMCA1, Atp2b1) is emerging as a key contributor to cardiac physiology, involved in calcium handling and myocardial signalling. In addition, genome wide association studies have associated PMCA1 in several areas of cardiovascular disease including hypertension and myocardial infarction. Here, we investigated the role of PMCA1 in basal cardiac function and heart rhythm stability. Cardiac structure, heart rhythm and arrhythmia susceptibility were assessed in a cardiomyocyte-specific PMCA1 deletion (PMCA1CKO) mouse model. PMCA1CKO mice developed abnormal heart rhythms related to ventricular repolarisation dysfunction and displayed an increased susceptibility to ventricular arrhythmias. We further assessed the levels of cardiac ion channels using qPCR and found a downregulation of the voltage-dependent potassium channels, Kv4.2, with a corresponding reduction in the transient outward potassium current which underlies ventricular repolarisation in the murine heart. The changes in heart rhythm were found to occur in the absence of any structural cardiomyopathy. To further assess the molecular changes occurring in PMCA1CKO hearts, we performed proteomic analysis. Functional characterisation of differentially expressed proteins suggested changes in pathways related to metabolism, protein-binding, and pathways associated cardiac function including ß-adrenergic signalling. Together, these data suggest an important role for PMCA1 in basal cardiac function in relation to heart rhythm control, with reduced cardiac PMCA1 expression resulting in an increased risk of arrhythmia development.

Are Highly Stable Covalent Organic Frameworks the Key to Universal Chiral Stationary Phases for Liquid and Gas Chromatographic Separations?

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography (GC) over chiral stationary phases (CSPs) represent the most popular and highly applicable technology in the field of chiral separation, but there are currently no CSPs that can be used for both liquid and gas chromatography simultaneously. We demonstrate here that two olefin-linked covalent organic frameworks (COFs) featuring chiral crown ether groups can be general CSPs for extensive separation not only in GC but also in normal-phase and reversed-phase HPLC. Both COFs have the same 2D layered porous structure but channels of different sizes and display high stability under different chemical environments including water, organic solvents, acids, and bases. Chiral crown ethers are periodically aligned within the COF channels, allowing for enantioselective recognition of guest molecules through intermolecular interactions. The COF-packed HPLC and GC columns show excellent complementarity and each affords high resolution, selectivity, and durability for the separation of a wide range of racemic compounds, including amino acids, esters, lactones, amides, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, and drugs. The resolution performances are comparable to and the versatility is superior to those of the most widely used commercial chiral columns, showing promises for practical applications. This work thus advances COFs with high stability as potential universal CSPs for chromatography that are otherwise hard or impossible to produce.

Basiliximab for steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease: A real-world analysis.

Steroid-refractory (SR) acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) is one of the leading causes of early mortality after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). We investigated the efficacy, safety, prognostic factors, and optimal therapeutic protocol for SR-aGVHD patients treated with basiliximab in a real-world setting. Nine hundred and forty SR-aGVHD patients were recruited from 36 hospitals in China, and 3683 doses of basiliximab were administered. Basiliximab was used as monotherapy (n = 642) or in combination with other second-line treatments (n = 298). The cumulative incidence of overall response rate (ORR) at day 28 after basiliximab treatment was 79.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 76.5%-82.3%). The probabilities of nonrelapse mortality and overall survival at 3 years after basiliximab treatment were 26.8% (95% CI 24.0%-29.6%) and 64.3% (95% CI 61.2%-67.4%), respectively. A 1:1 propensity score matching was performed to compare the efficacy and safety between the monotherapy and combined therapy groups. Combined therapy did not increase the ORR; conversely, it increased the infection rates compared with monotherapy. The multivariate analysis showed that combined therapy, grade III-IV aGVHD, and high-risk refined Minnesota aGVHD risk score before basiliximab treatment were independently associated with the therapeutic response. Hence, we created a prognostic scoring system that could predict the risk of having a decreased likelihood of response after basiliximab treatment. Machine learning was used to develop a protocol that maximized the efficacy of basiliximab while maintaining acceptable levels of infection risk. Thus, real-world data suggest that basiliximab is safe and effective for treating SR-aGVHD.

Cytokine release syndrome and relevant factors of CD19 targeted chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy in relapsed/refractory B cell hematological malignancies.

OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: We reviewed the outcomes of 77 episodes of CD19 CAR-T therapy in 67 patients with B cell hematological malignancies from October 2016 to January 2020. Factors related to the grade of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) were explored by multivariate analysis, nonparametric test was conducted to explore the correlation between CRS and response. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to indicate survival profiles, and the correlation between CRS and survival was determined by the log-rank test. RESULTS: The rate of complete remission (CR) was 74.0% (57/77). CRS of any grade occurred in 68 of 77 episodes (grade 1: 32.5%, grade 2: 24.7%, grade 3: 22.1%, grade 4: 6.5%, grade 5: 2.6%). Patients with a history of transplantation had less severe CRS, and dose escalation-based infusion reduced the severity of CRS. Severe CRS was related to a higher CR rate but had no significant impact on event-free survival (EFS), relapse-free survival (RFS), or overall survival (OS). CONCLUSION: As a common adverse reaction of CAR-T therapy, the severity of CRS can be alleviated by dose escalation infusion, a history of transplantation was correlated with less severe CRS. Severe CRS was related to better response but was unrelated to long-term survival.

Chiral derivatives of covalent organic framework TpBD (NH2 )2 used as stationary phases in gas chromatography.

Chiral covalent organic framework materials have many excellent properties, which have received much attention in the field of separation. Synthesized the covalent organic framework COF-TpBD (NH2 )2 modified, respectively, by L-valine trifluoroacetyl derivative, L-hydroxyproline, and (1S)-(+)-10-camphorsulfonyl chloride, three capillary columns of chiral covalent organic framework materials were obtained for gas chromatography. Those columns are able to separate some chiral compounds, positional isomers, n-alkanes, n-alcohols, aromatic hydrocarbon mixture, and Grob's reagents. They are complementary to other chiral capillary columns and are possible for potential applications.

A population-based predictive model to identify patients with signet ring cell carcinoma of the stomach who are most suitable for primary tumor resection.

BACKGROUND: Though the survival benefit of primary tumor operation for patients with signet ring cell carcinoma of the stomach is known, the specific characteristics of those patients who would profit from the operation are yet to be determined. To this end, a predictive model was developed to identify the conjecture that the survival profit from primary tumor operation would only be obtained by patients. METHOD: The clinical data of the patients with signet ring cell carcinoma of the stomach were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database, and then divided into operation and no-operation groups based on whether the patients underwent the primary tumor operation. To remove the confounding factors, propensity score matching was employed, and it was hypothesized that the patients who had been operated on and lived a longer life than the median cancer-specific survival time of those who hadn't must have profited from the surgery. To discuss the independent factors of cancer-specific survival time in the beneficial group and the non-beneficial group, the Cox model was used, and based on the various vital predictive factors, a nomogram was drawn using logistic regression. RESULT: The number of eligible patients was 12,484, with 43.9% (5483) of them having received surgery. After employing propensity score matching, the cancer-specific survival time of the operation group was found to be apparently longer (median: 21 vs. 5 months; p < 0.001) than the no-operation group. In the operation group, 4757 (86.7%) of the patients lived longer than five months (beneficial group). The six indexes (beneficial and non-beneficial group) included gender, age, Tumor Node Metastasis stage, histologic type, differentiation grade, and tumor position, and were used as predictors to draw the nomogram. The nomogram was used to divide the patients who had taken operations into two groups: the beneficial operation group and the non-beneficial operation group. The beneficial operation group, it was found, survived longer than the non-beneficial operation group (median cancer-specific survival time: 28 vs. 3 months, p < 0.001). Moreover, there was we could tell little difference in survival between the two groups (median cancer-specific survival time: 3 vs. 5 months). CONCLUSIONS: The predictive model created to select suitable candidates for surgical treatment from patients with signet ring carcinoma of the stomach could be adopted to identify certain patients benefiting from the primary tumor operation.

Investigation Driven by Network Pharmacology on Potential Components and Mechanism of DGS, a Natural Vasoprotective Combination, for the Phytotherapy of Coronary Artery Disease.

Phytotherapy offers obvious advantages in the intervention of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), but it is difficult to clarify the working mechanisms of the medicinal materials it uses. DGS is a natural vasoprotective combination that was screened out in our previous research, yet its potential components and mechanisms are unknown. Therefore, in this study, HPLC-MS and network pharmacology were employed to identify the active components and key signaling pathways of DGS. Transgenic zebrafish and HUVECs cell assays were used to evaluate the effectiveness of DGS. A total of 37 potentially active compounds were identified that interacted with 112 potential targets of CAD. Furthermore, PI3K-Akt, MAPK, relaxin, VEGF, and other signal pathways were determined to be the most promising DGS-mediated pathways. NO kit, ELISA, and Western blot results showed that DGS significantly promoted NO and VEGFA secretion via the upregulation of VEGFR2 expression and the phosphorylation of Akt, Erk1/2, and eNOS to cause angiogenesis and vasodilation. The result of dynamics molecular docking indicated that Salvianolic acid C may be a key active component of DGS in the treatment of CAD. In conclusion, this study has shed light on the network molecular mechanism of DGS for the intervention of CAD using a network pharmacology-driven strategy for the first time to aid in the intervention of CAD.

Intraspecific genetic variation matters when predicting seagrass distribution under climate change.

Seagrasses play a vital role in structuring coastal marine ecosystems, but their distributional range and genetic diversity have declined rapidly in recent decades. To improve conservation of seagrass species, it is important to predict how climate change may impact their ranges. Such predictions are typically made with correlative species distribution models (SDMs), which can estimate a species' potential distribution under present and future climatic scenarios given species' presence data and climatic predictor variables. However, these models are typically constructed with species-level data, and thus ignore intraspecific genetic variability, which can give rise to populations with adaptations to heterogeneous climatic conditions. Here, we explore the link between intraspecific adaptation and niche differentiation in Thalassia hemprichii, a seagrass broadly distributed in the tropical Indo-Pacific Ocean and a crucial provider of habitat for numerous marine species. By retrieving and re-analysing microsatellite data from previous studies, we delimited two distinct phylogeographical lineages within the nominal species and found an intermediate level of differentiation in their multidimensional environmental niches, suggesting the possibility for local adaptation. We then compared projections of the species' habitat suitability under climate change scenarios using species-level and lineage-level SDMs. In the Central Tropical Indo-Pacific region, models for both levels predicted considerable range contraction in the future, but the lineage-level models predicted more severe habitat loss. Importantly, the two modelling approaches predicted opposite patterns of habitat change in the Western Tropical Indo-Pacific region. Our results highlight the necessity of conserving distinct populations and genetic pools to avoid regional extinction due to climate change and have important implications for guiding future management of seagrasses.

Optimizing conditioning regimen with low-dose irradiation or busulfan enables the outcome of transplantation from a 6-7/8 HLA-matched donor comparable to that from an 8/8 HLA-matched unrelated donor in severe aplastic anemia patients under 40 years.

With the dramatic improvements in outcomes following alternative donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), interest in the use of alternative donors in severe aplastic anemia (SAA) is increasing. We conducted a multicenter prospective study to explore the efficiency and safety of upfront HSCT from a 6-8/8 HLA-matched unrelated donor (MUD) or 6-7/8 HLA-matched related donor (MRD) in acquired SAA patients under 40 years. Between August 2014 and July 2017, 115 patients were enrolled, including 48 (41.7%) patients receiving grafts from an 8/8 MUD, 25 (21.7%) from a 6-7/8 MRD, and 42 (36.5%) from a 6-7/8 MUD. The incidence of grade II-IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was higher in the 6-7/8 MUD group than in the 8/8 MUD group (42.9% vs. 12.8%, P=0.001). The corresponding incidence in the 6-7/8 MRD group was comparable to that in the 8/8 MUD group (21.7% vs. 12.8%, P=0.332). There was no significant difference in the incidence of chronic GVHD (24.3%, 13.6%, and 17.9%, P=0.676), graft failure (2.4%, 8.0%, and 6.3%, P=0.551), overall survival (85.7%, 96.0%, and 87.5%, P=0.424), and failure-free survival (83.3%, 88.0%, and 83.3%, P=0.885) among the three groups (6-7/8 MUD, 6-7/8 MRD, and 8/8 MUD). In multivariate analysis, conditioning regimen without low-dose irradiation or busulfan was associated with an inferior failure-free survival (HR=2.973, P=0.042). In conclusion, after an intensified conditioning regimen with additional low-dose irradiation or busulfan, the outcome of HSCT from a 6-7/8 MRD or 6-7/8 MUD is comparable to that from an 8/8 MUD.

Exploring the effects of formula feeding on infant immune development in China: A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The worldwide exclusive breastfeeding rate is suboptimal and this study aims to evaluate effects on infant immune development of formula feeding. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study including 221 infants fed with breast milk or formula was conducted. At 3-month and 9-month, the concentrations of total immunoglobulin (Ig)G, IgM, IgA, IgG1, IgG2, interleukin (IL)-4, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Natural killer (NK) cell activity and lymphocyte transformation testing were conducted. Furthermore, the occurrence of infantile diarrhea, respiratory infections and allergic diseases were questioned. RESULTS: The levels of total IgG (Z=-3.21, p=0.001), IgG1 (Z=-2.12, p=0.034), IFN-γ (t=-2.09, p=0.039) and NK cell activity (t=-2.14, p=0.034) were significant higher in formula-fed infants compared to breast-fed after 3 months. At 9-month, the levels of total IgG (Z=-4.34, p<0.001), IgA (Z=-2.05, p=0.041) and TNF-α (t=-2.10, p=0.037) of formula-fed infants were higher, but the lymphocyte stimulation index (t=2.76, p=0.007) was lower than breast-fed infants. While, no significant differences were found in the incidences of diarrhea and respiratory tract infection (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This investigation suggested that formula- and breast-feeding have different contributions to infant immune development, but the formula feeding would not cause significantly increase of diarrhea and respiratory infections.

1,8-Cineole: a review of source, biological activities, and application.

1,8-Cineole (also known as eucalyptol) is mostly extracted from the essential oils of plants, which showed extensively pharmacological properties including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mainly via the regulation on NF-κB and Nrf2, and was used for the treatment of respiratory diseases and cardiovascular, etc. Although various administration routes have been used in the application of 1.8-cineole, few formulations have been developed to improve its stability and bioavailability. This review retrospects the researches on the source, biological activities, mechanisms, and application of 1,8-cineole since 2000, which provides a view for the further studies on the application and formulations of 1,8-cineole.

Chiral metal-organic cages used as stationary phase for enantioseparations in capillary electrochromatography.

Since some metal-organic cages (MOCs) have been synthesized in past several years, the applications of MOCs such as drug delivery, molecular recognition, separation, catalysis, and gas storage, etc. have been witnessed with a significant increase. However, to the best of our knowledge, so far no one has used MOCs as chiral stationary phase to separate chiral compounds in CEC. In this study, three MOCs were developed as the stationary phase for CEC separation of enantiomers. The MOCs coated capillary column showed good chiral recognition ability for some chiral compounds, including amine, alcohols, ketone, etc. The influence of buffer concentration, applied voltage, pH of buffer solution on the chiral separations was also investigated. The RSDs of run-to-run, day-to-day, and column-to-column for retention time were 2.1-4.67%, 1.2-4.36%, and 3.62-6.43%, respectively. This work reveals that the chiral MOCs material is feasible for the enantioseparation in CEC.