Incidence and familial clustering of infantile haemangiomas: a multicentre study.

BACKGROUND: The exact incidence of infantile haemangiomas (IH) in the Chinese population is still unknown. A positive family history of IH was considered as a risk factor for the development of IH. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the incidence of IH in the Chinese population and the mechanism of family history increases the risk for IH development. METHODS: A total of 2489 women and their newborns were enrolled in the prospective study. All newborns were followed up for 12 months to determine whether they developed IH. In addition, 213 IH probands and their 174 siblings were enrolled in the study. The incidence of IH in siblings of the IH probands was investigated. Information regarding risk factors for IH and demographic data were collected on all children. RESULTS: Of the 2572 newborns, 58 IH were identified in 56 (2.2%) newborns. The majority of IH were located on the trunk (46.6%). Siblings of the IH probands were at increased risk for the development of IH (P = 0.024, relative risk 2.451), and the occurrence of prenatal risk factors for IH(P = 0.003) compared with the general population. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that the incidence of IH is 2.2% in the Chinese population. Siblings of the individuals with IH were at increased risk for the development of IH may be related to the family clustering of prenatal risk factors for IH. Further exploration of the mechanisms and common features of these prenatal risk factors may help to disclose the origin and pathogenesis of IH.

Psychological and cognitive impairment of long-term migrators to high altitudes and the relationship to physiological and biochemical changes.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The present study aimed to examine how long-term migration to high-altitude regions affects mentality and cognition, and the correlation with various physiological and biochemical changes. METHODS: The WHO Neurobehavioral Core Test Battery, Raven's Standard Progressive Matrices (RSPM) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire were used to assess 141 young male subjects who lived in plain regions and 217 young male subjects who had migrated to a 4500 m high-altitude region and lived there for 1-5 years. Arterial oxyhemoglobin saturation, cerebral tissue oxygenation indices (TOIs), serum S100B and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were also measured. RESULTS: Long-term migrators to a high-altitude region exhibited exacerbated mood disorders, retarded color discrimination ability, decreased visual memory capacity, and impaired perceptual motor skill and motion stability. In addition, the migrators exhibited lower RSPM scores and lower sleep quality. Further analyses revealed significant correlations between sleep quality and cerebral TOIs, mood and sleep quality, mood and certain cognitive functions, mood and serum BDNF levels, and RSPM scores and serum S100B levels. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term living at high altitudes causes significant impairment of psychological and cognitive function. Cerebral hypoxic extent, sleep quality and biochemical dysfunction are major influencing factors.

Vertical platysma myocutaneous flap reconstruction for oral defects using three different incision designs: experience with 68 cases.

This study evaluated the effects of three different incision designs for the vertical platysma myocutaneous flap (VPMF): apron, MacFee, and T-shaped. This flap was used for the reconstruction of intraoral defects following cancer ablation in selected patients. Sixty-eight cases of VPMF reconstruction were assessed: the apron incision was used in 28, MacFee incision in 22, and T-shaped incision in 18. With regard to postoperative outcomes, there were 26 cases of flap survival and two of partial necrosis with the apron incision; 20 of survival and two of partial necrosis with the MacFee incision; 15 of survival and three of partial necrosis with the T-shaped incision. Success rates were 92.9%, 90.9% and 83.3%, respectively, for VPMF with the apron, MacFee, and T-shaped incisions. A wound healing disturbance in the neck was seen in three cases of VPMF with the apron incision and one case with the MacFee incision. The MacFee incision had the best aesthetic effect, and the postoperative neck scar was more obvious for the T-shaped incision. It is recommended that VPMF with the MacFee or apron incision be used for the reconstruction of larger buccal mucosa and floor of the mouth defects, while VPMF with the T-shaped incision should be used for smaller intraoral defects, especially tongue defects of the lateral surface.

Carbon monoxide releasing molecule-2 suppresses proliferation, migration, invasion, and promotes apoptosis in non-small cell lung cancer Calu-3 cells.

OBJECTIVE: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer, which is the leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. The carbon monoxide-releasing molecules (CO-RMs) are transition metal carbonyls with the capacity to release carbon monoxide (CO). The aims of our study were to assess the effects and underlying mechanisms of CO-releasing molecules-2 (CORM-2) on proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis in NSCLC cells, and to evaluate its potential application for lung cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: NSCLC cells Calu-3 were treated with CORM-2, negative control and blank control. Cell proliferation, migration and invasion were assessed by cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), scratch assay and matrigel invasion chamber experiment, respectively. Apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry. Real-time PCR and Western blot were applied to examine the expression of apoptosis-related molecules on mRNA and protein levels. RESULTS: CORM-2 markedly attenuated proliferation, migration and invasion of Calu-3 cells. CORM-2 treatment also significantly reduced the ratio of B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2)/B cell lymphoma 2 associated X protein (Bax) while increased expression of caspase-3 and cytochrome c. The optimal dose of CORM-2 for Calu-3 cells was 100 µM. CONCLUSIONS: CORM-2 modulates biological functions of NSCLC cells and may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for lung cancer.

The study of prevalence rate, and clinical characteristics of high altitude deterioration.

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed to investigate the prevalence rate and clinical characteristics of high altitude deterioration (HADT), which would provide a scientific basis for the diagnosis and prevention of HADT. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 175 subjects, who had migrated to a high altitude (4516 m) for more than 1 year, were investigated. A questionnaire survey based on the symptoms of HADT was conducted, and 117 subjects were determined to have HADT according to the diagnostic criteria of HADT. To explore the clinical characteristics of HADT, 117 HADT patients and 31 healthy individuals were assigned to HADT patient group and healthy control group, respectively. Their body mass indexes (BMIs), blood rheology, full blood count (including hemoglobin concentration, leukocyte count, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count and platelet count), blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation as well as left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and fraction shortening (LVFS) were assessed. RESULTS: The prevalence rate of HADT was 66.9% at a high altitude of 4516 m. Compared with those in healthy people at high altitude, some health indicators such as BMI, leukocyte count, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, platelet count, systolic blood pressure, oxygen saturation, LVEF value and LVFS value were lower but other indicators including the blood viscosity, hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration and heart rate were higher in patients with HADT. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence rate of HADT (66.9%) was high among people moving to a high altitude of 4516 m. Clinical characteristics of HADT were: (1) Impairment of left ventricular systolic function; (2) Immune depression; (3) Microcirculation disturbance; and (4) Decline of hemostasis and coagulation function.