Efficacy and Prognosis of Hyperbaric Oxygen as Adjuvant Therapy for Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy: A Meta-Analysis Study.

Background: Preclinical and clinical evidence suggests that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) may benefit newborns. The effectiveness of HBOT for neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) remains controversial. We conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and prognosis of HBOT in neonates with HIE. Methods: A systematic search of eight databases was performed for available articles published between January 1, 2015, and September 30, 2020, to identify randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) on HBOT for neonatal HIE. Methodological quality assessment was performed by applying the simple procedure detailed by the Cochrane collaboration. Afterward, quality assessment and data analysis were performed using Revman 5.3 software. STATA 15 software was used to detect publication bias as well as for sensitivity analysis. Results: A total of 46 clinical RCTs were selected for the study and included 4,199 patients with neonatal HIE. The results indicated that HBOT significantly improved the total efficiency (TEF) of treatment for neonatal HIE patients [odds ratio (OR) = 4.61, 95% confidence interval (CI) (3.70, 5.75), P < 0.00001] and reduced the risk of sequelae (OR = 0.23, 95% CI (0.16, 0.33), P < 0.00001) and the neonatal behavioral neurological assessment (NBNA) scores [mean difference (MD) = 4.51, 95%CI (3.83,5.19, P < 0.00001)]. Conclusion: In light of the effectiveness of HBOT neonatal HIE, this meta-analysis suggested that HBOT can be a potential therapy for the treatment of neonatal HIE. Due to the heterogeneity of studies protocol and patient selection being only from China, more research is needed before this therapy can be widely implemented in the clinic. Protocol Registration: PROSPERO (ID: CRD42020210639). Available online at: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42020210639.

Spatial-temporal analysis and visualization of scarlet fever in mainland China from 2004 to 2017.

This study retrospectively analyzed the spatio-temporal distribution and spatial clustering of scarlet fever in mainland China from 2004 to 2017. In recent years, the incidence of scarlet fever is increasing. Previous studies on the spatial distribution of scarlet fever in China are mainly focused at the provincial and municipal levels, and there is few systematic report on the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of scarlet fever on the national level. Based on the incidence information of scarlet fever in mainland China between 2004 and 2017 collected from the China Center for Disease Control, this paper systematically explored the Spatio-temporal distribution of scarlet fever by three methods, contains spatial autocorrelation analysis, Spatio-temporal scanning analysis, and trend surface analysis. The results demonstrate that the incidence of scarlet fever varies by seasons, which is in line with double-peak distribution.The first peak generally occurs from May to June and the second one from November to December, while February and August is the lowest period of incidence. Trend surface analysis indicates that the incidence of scarlet fever in northern China is higher than the south, slightly higher in western compared to the east, and lower in the central part. Additionally, the results show that the clustering regions of scarlet fever centrally distributed in the northeast, northwest, north china and some provinces in the east, such as Zhejiang, Shanghai, Shandong, and Jiangsu.

Older age at first birth is a risk factor for pancreatic cancer: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Some studies found that age at first birth is associated with pancreatic cancer; others did not. The present meta-analysis was to evaluate the relationship between age at first birth and pancreatic cancer in women. DATA SOURCES: We searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for relevant publications on age at first birth and pancreatic cancer up to April, 2014. The eligible studies (six cohorts and five case-controls) were independently selected by two authors. Pooled relative risk (RR) estimates and corresponding 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were calculated using the inverse-variance method. RESULTS: The pooled RR of pancreatic cancer risk for the highest versus lowest categories of age at first birth was 1.21 (95% CI: 1.01-1.45, P=0.314, I2=13.7%). Consistent relationships were also observed within subgroup analyses stratified by study design, geographic region, and whether the studies included adjustment for cigarette smoking, diabetes, or all of the confounders. In this meta-analysis, no publication bias among studies was observed using Egger's test (P=0.383) or Begg's test (P=0.436). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that older age at first birth is associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer in women and the exact functional mechanism needs further investigation.

[Correlations of IL-4R gene polymorphism and serum IgE levels with asthma predictive index].

OBJECTIVE: To study the correlations of IL-4R gene polymorphism and serum IgE levels with asthma predictive index (API) in children. METHODS: One hundred and sixty-seven children with positive API, 187 children with negative API and 203 healthy children (control group) were enrolled. PCR and DNA sequencing were used to identify genotypes of the Arg551Gln locus in IL-4R gene. Serum IgE levels were measured using ELISA. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the genotype frequencies of the Arg551Gln locus in IL-4R gene among the positive API, negative API and control groups. Serum IgE levels in the positive API group were significantly higher than in the negative API and control groups (P<0.01). In the positive API group, the children aged less than 2 years had significantly lower serum IgE levels than those aged over 2 years (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: There is no correlation between the Arg551Gln polymorphism in IL-4R gene and API results. API positivity is correlated with elevated serum IgE levels. An older age (>2 years) may be a risk factor for increased serum IgE levels in children with positive API.