Effects of Parent-Child Sandplay Therapy for preschool children with autism spectrum disorder and their mothers: A randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of the Parent-Child Sandplay Therapy (PCST) Program on autism behaviors, social responsiveness and sleep quality among preschool children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and their mothers' parenting stress. DESIGN AND METHODS: A prospective, randomized controlled, parallel-group trial was employed. Fifty-two child-mother dyads were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 26) or a control group (n = 26) from February 2017 to February 2019. The intervention group was treated with a 20-week PCST Program plus an Applied Behavior Analysis-based program (ABA-based program), whereas the control group received only the ABA-based program. Outcome measures included the Autism Behavior Checklist total scores, Social Responsiveness Scale scores, Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire scores, and Parenting Stress Index-Short Form scores, measured at baseline, post-intervention (20 weeks after baseline) and follow-up assessments (32 weeks after baseline). RESULTS: Finally, 43 dyads completed the study. The linear mixed model analysis resulted in a significant group*time interaction effect of ABC score (Est = 2.027, t = 3.277; p < 0.01), SRS score (Est = 3.377, t = 6.095; p < 0.01), PSI-SF score (Est = 3.873, t = 4.253, p < 0.01), and CSHQ score (Est = 3.158, t = 6.485; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggested that the PCST Program could potentially improve social interaction and sleep quality of preschool children with ASD while decreasing parenting stress. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The PCST Program was found to be a feasible and a promising treatment for children with mild-to-moderate ASD as well as for their parents. It was a nurse-led program, which could be integrated into the usual nursing care of children with autism spectrum disorder in special education schools. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trials Registry, ChiCTR2100047699.

A prospective study of the decision tree prediction model for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in preschool children. / å­¦é¾„å‰å„¿ç«¥æ³¨æ„ç¼ºé™·å¤šåŠ¨éšœç¢å†³ç­–æ ‘é¢„æµ‹æ¨¡åž‹çš„å‰çž»æ€§ç ”ç©¶.

OBJECTIVES: To study the clinical value of attention time combined with behavior scale in the screening of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in preschool children. METHODS: A total of 200 preschool children with ADHD diagnosed in Fujian Maternal and Child Health Hospital from February 2019 to March 2020 were enrolled as the ADHD group. A total of 200 children who underwent physical examination in the hospital or kindergartens during the same period were enrolled as the control group. Attention time was recorded. Chinese Version of Swanson Nolan and Pelham, Version IV Scale-Parent Form (SNAP-IV) scale was used to evaluate symptoms. With clinical diagnosis as the gold standard, the decision tree analysis was used to evaluate the clinical value of attention time combined with behavior scale in the screening of ADHD. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the ADHD group had significantly higher scores of SNAP-IV items 1, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 18, 20, 21, and 22 (P<0.05) and a significantly shorter attention time (P<0.05). The variables with statistically significant differences between the two groups in univariate analysis were used as independent variables to establish a decision tree model. The accuracy of the model in predicting ADHD was 81%, that in predicting non-ADHD was 69%, and the overall accuracy was 75%, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.816 (95% CI: 0.774-0.857, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The decision tree model for screening ADHD in preschool children based on attention time and assessment results of behavior scale has a high accuracy and can be used for rapid screening of ADHD among children in clinical practice.

Association between prenatal exposure to ambient particulate matter and risk of hypospadias in offspring: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies on whether prenatal exposure to PM2.5, PM2.5-10, and PM10 increases the risk of hypospadias are limited and the results are inconsistent. OBJECTIVES: We conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate these associations. METHODS: Relevant studies were identified by searching the PubMed and Embase databases up to the end of February 2020. Observational studies that investigated the relationships between prenatal exposure to PM10, PM2.5, and PM2.5-10 and the risk of hypospadias in offspring were eligible for the review. The risk of bias was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Random-effects models were used to estimate pooled relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations. RESULTS: Nine studies (two cohort and seven case-control studies) with a total of 2806 hypospadias cases were included. Eight studies were at low risk of bias and only one study was at high risk of bias. Five studies reported the association between per interquartile range increase in PM2.5 exposure within the first trimester and the risk of hypospadias. The pooled RR was 1.17 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.36). Two studies reported the per interquartile range increase in PM2.5 exposure during 1 month before pregnancy associated with the risk of hypospadias, with a pooled RR of 1.25 (95% CI: 1.03, 1.51). No association was observed between PM2.5-10 and PM10 exposure during pregnancy and the risk of hypospadias in offspring. CONCLUSION: This study suggested a modest association between prenatal PM2.5 exposure during 1 month before pregnancy or within the first trimester and the risk of hypospadias in offspring. Further large-scale cohort studies are required to verify this association.

Long-term effectiveness of behavioural intervention in preschool children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in Southeast China - a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common behavioral disorder. Behavioural intervention in preschool children with ADHD is considered effective. This study discussed the long-term effectiveness of behavioural intervention in the context of nondrug therapy. METHODS: The study was a prospective, randomised controlled trial in which 201 preschoolers diagnosed with ADHD who were not receiving any treatment were assigned to two groups from January 2018 to May 2019, 101 were assigned to the conventional group and 100 to the behavioural intervention group. The behavioural intervention group included parental training, behavioural therapy, attention training, relief therapy and game therapy, in addition to the conventional group offerings. Children were evaluated at a baseline, at the end of the 12-month intervention and six months after the intervention. The primary and secondary outcome variables included attention time, the impulse-hyperactivity and hyperactivity index from Conners parent symptom questionnaire (PSQ), full-scale attention quotient (FAQ) and full-scale response control quotient (FRCQ) from integrated visual and auditory comprehensive continuous performance tests. The attention time was observed and recorded by parents, and others were performe(PSQ)d by physicians in the clinic. All statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS V26.0 (IBM), including the descriptive statistics and mixed-effects models and so on. RESULTS: The participants' mean age was (66.17±9.00) months in the behavioural group and (67.54±6.22) months in the conventional group .A total of 190 participants completed a follow-up six months after the intervention. The attention time, Conners parent symptom questionnaire (PSQ), full-scale attention quotient (FAQ) and full-scale response control quotient (FRCQ) increased significantly over time, and the behavioural group improvements were higher than those of conventional group. There was a significant main effect of time (pretest/posttest/follow-up) and group on all outcome measures (t =-12.549-4.069, p<0.05), and a significant interaction of time and group on attention time, impulsivity/hyperactivity, FAQ and FRCQ (t =-3.600-3.313, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Behavioural intervention can effectively improve behaviour management and relieve symptoms in children with ADHD. These effects lasted at least six months. This study provides a promising approach for improving clinical efficacy with preschool children with ADHD.

Effects of parent-child painting and creative crafting therapy on preschool children with autism spectrum disorder and their mothers: a prospective randomized controlled trial. / äº²å­ç»˜ç”»å’Œåˆ›æ„æ‰‹å·¥ç–—æ³•å¯¹å­¦é¾„å‰æœŸå­¤ç‹¬ç—‡è°±ç³»éšœç¢å„¿ç«¥åŠå ¶æ¯äº²æ•ˆæžœè¯„ä»·çš„å‰çž»æ€§éšæœºå¯¹ç §ç ”ç©¶.

OBJECTIVES: To study the effects of parent-child painting and creative crafting therapy on the core symptoms of preschool children with mild-to-moderate autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the parenting stress and hope level of their mothers. METHODS: A total of 56 preschool children with mild-to-moderate ASD and their mothers were divided into an experimental group and a control group using the block randomization method, with 28 pairs in each group. The subjects in the control group received an applied behavior analytic intervention and those in the experimental group received parent-child painting and creative crafting therapy in addition to the intervention in the control group. The intervention time was 20 weeks for both groups. Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC), Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (PSI-SF), and Herth Hope Index (HHI) were used to evaluate the core symptoms of children and the parenting stress and hope level of their mothers before and after 20 weeks of intervention. RESULTS: Forty-nine child-mother pairs completed the study (25 pairs in the intervention group and 24 pairs in the control group). The children in the experimental group had significantly lower scores of social interaction, language, social communication, and social motivation and total scores of ABC and SRS compared with those in the control group (P<0.05). The mothers in the experimental group had significantly lower scores of parental distress and parent-child dysfunctional interaction and total score of PSI-SF (P<0.05) and significantly higher total score of HHI and scores of each dimension compared with those in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The combination of applied behavior analytic intervention with parent-child painting and creative crafting therapy can more effectively improve the core symptoms and social interaction of preschool children with mild-to-moderate ASD, reduce the parenting stress of mothers and improve their hope level.

Novel MYH8 mutations in 152 Han Chinese samples with ovarian endometriosis.

Endometriosis is a common gynecological disease affecting up to 10% of women at reproductive age. Prior combined studies implied that MYH8 mutations might exist in endometriosis. Here, 152 Han Chinese samples with ovarian endometriosis were analyzed for the presence of MYH8 mutations. Two heterozygous missense mutations in the MYH8 gene, c.1441A > C (p.I481L) and c.4057G > A (p.E1353K), were identified in our samples. These mutations were neither found in public databases nor detected in our 485 Han Chinese control women without endometriosis. The p.I481L-mutated sample belonged to 34-year-old, who had slightly elevated serum CA 125 (42.09 U/mL); while the sample with p.E1353K mutation belonged to 25 years old, who had a markedly increased serum CA125 (89.86 U/mL). The evolutionary conservation analysis results suggested that these MYH8 mutations caused highly conserved amino acid substitutions among vertebrate species. Both the mutations were predicted to be 'disease causing' by MutationTaster and SIFT programs. In addition, no association was observed between MYH8 mutations and the available clinical data. In summary, the present study identified two novel potential pathogenic mutations in the MYH8 gene in samples with ovarian endometriosis for the first time, implying that MYH8 mutations might play a positive role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.

Suppression of PRDX4 inhibits cell proliferation and invasion of ectopic endometrial stromal cells in endometriosis.

Oxidative stress (OS) has been proposed to play a role in the development of EMs. Peroxiredoxins are a family of antioxidant proteins that exhibit peroxidase activity in a thioredoxin-dependent manner, protecting cells against OS. The Western blotting results showed that the relative expression of PRDX4 was significantly increased in ectopic endometria compared with the normal endometria of EMs-free (p < .05). The H2O2 concentration was also significantly higher in the ectopic endometrium. PRDX4 siRNA was transfected into primary ectopic endometrial stromal cells (EESCs). The viability of the transfected EESCs was measured by CCK-8 assay, and the results showed significantly decreased cell viability. Furthermore, the apoptosis rate and ROS generation in flow cytometry assays were significantly increased after the knockdown of PRDX4 expression (p < .05). Scratch assays and transwell assays revealed that decreased expression of PRDX4 mediated by siRNA inhibited EESC migration and invasion. In conclusion, these findings indicate the potential role of PRDX4 in the development of EMs and PRDX4 as a possible therapeutic target for EMs treatment.

Estimating the remaining atmospheric environmental capacity using a single-box model in a high pollution risk suburb of Chengdu, China.

The atmospheric pollution has been the public attention in recent years. In order to better coordinate economic development and atmospheric environmental management, China introduced the concept of atmospheric environmental capacity (AEC). The remaining atmospheric environmental capacity (RAEC) calculated by existing atmospheric pollution sources and AEC is an important basis for regional development and environmental protection. The RAEC of the high-pollution risk suburb of Chengdu in 2015 was estimated by the single-box model and analyzed on multiple time scales. The results show that the RAEC of SO2 and NO2 in this region is 3299 t/a and 2849 t/a, respectively under the annual time scale. However, in the daily time scale, the RAEC of NO2 is negative for 3 days, that is, there are 3 days with serious air pollution. Therefore, it is not appropriate to plan the industrial area only by relying on annual RAEC. Especially, RAEC displays inter-seasonal and monthly variability. On the one hand, in plain areas with low wind speed and little change in wind direction, achieving the prediction of atmospheric mixing layer height could give early warning of atmospheric pollution events. On the other hand, different management measures are taken on different time scales. On a long timescale, the regional energy structure should be optimized. On seasonal and monthly time scales, the production plans should be adapted to RAEC. On the daily time scale, it mainly deals with the serious atmospheric pollution accident timely.

The mitochondrial DNA 4977-bp deletion and copy number alteration in Han Chinese samples with uterine fibroids.

Uterine fibroids (UFs) are the most common benign neoplasms, but their pathogenesis is not completely understood. Thus far, alterations in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content and the mtDNA 4977-bp deletion level in UFs, as well as the corresponding nontumorous tissue, have remained elusive. To test whether large mtDNA deletions and mtDNA content are involved in the pathogenesis of UFs, a total of 309 UF tissues and 28 paired adjacent myometrium from 270 UF patients were enrolled for the analysis of large mtDNA deletions and mtDNA content through the use of nested PCR and qPCR techniques, respectively. In our samples, a 4977-bp deletion was identified: 36 out of 309 UF tissues (11.56%) and 15 out of 28 (53.57%) paired adjacent myometrium were detected to harbor the 4977-bp deletion. In addition, a novel 4838-bp mtDNA deletion was identified in three UF tissues, and other different sizes of deleted fragments (4910, 4926, 5135-bp) were also found in UFs for the first time. Furthermore, older age was significantly associated with an mtDNA large deletion in the paired adjacent myometrium. We also found that increased mtDNA content and higher expression of ND1 occurred in solitary fibroids compared to adjacent myometrium. In conclusion, we identified a lower frequency of mtDNA large deletions and some novel large deletion in UFs for the first time. Furthermore, there was a general increase of mtDNA copy number during solitary UF development. Although the definite mechanism by which mtDNA was altered is supposed to be further confirmed, it will be helpful for further studies on the pathological mechanism of UFs.

Implementation of long-term assessment of human health risk for metal contaminated groundwater: A coupled chemical mass balance and hydrodynamics model.

Assessing human health risk using spatiotemporal migration and geochemical evolution concurrently in an area where the groundwater is contaminated with heavy metals can provide more instructive information to protect specific potential negative impacts on human health. In this research, we established a model of long-term assessment of human health risk for metal contaminated groundwater by coupling two models: the geochemical (based on the law of chemical mass balance) model and the hydrodynamics module. The hydrodynamics module is used to initially identify the total temporal concentration of various elements, and the chemical mass balance module is used to gain the concentration and ionic activity of various toxic elements according to the range of environmental pH. Effective concentrations calculated using activity weight (based on speciation and ionic activity) were introduced into the formula for risk analysis. The results of the study show that, with the exploitation and recharge of groundwater, the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks cannot be reduced to acceptable levels until 18 and 22 years, respectively. The calculated risk values of using the coupling model are lower than that of statistics or single hydrokinetics. The sensitivity analysis results show that this model is reliable. The recharge, pH and the permeability coefficient are defined as the most sensitive factors.

[Clinical efficacy of interactive group sandplay versus individual sandplay in the treatment of preschool children with autism spectrum disorder].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical efficacy of interactive group sandplay versus individual sandplay in the treatment of preschool children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS: A total of 80 ASD children, aged 4-6 years, were enrolled and randomly divided into experimental and control groups, with 40 children in each group. The children in the experimental group joined group sandplay with normal children at a ratio of 1: 3, and those in the control group were treated with individual sandplay. The Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) and Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) were used to evaluate the treatment outcome after three months of intervention. RESULTS: There were 33 children in the experimental group and 28 in the control group. After three months of intervention, the experimental group had significant reductions in the scores of irritability, social withdrawal, and stereotypic behavior and the total score of the ABC scale (P<0.05), and the control group had significant reductions in the scores of behavior and inappropriate speech and the total score of the ABC scale (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the experimental group had significantly greater improvements in the score of social withdrawal and the total score of the ABC scale after three months of intervention (P<0.05). After three months of intervention, the experimental group had significant reductions in the scores of sociability, sensory and cognitive awareness, and physical/health behavior and the total score of the ATEC scale (P<0.05), and the control group had significant reductions in the scores of speech, sociability, and physical/health behavior and the total score of the ATEC scale (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the experimental group had significantly greater improvements in the scores of speech, sociability, and sensory and cognitive awareness and the total score of the ATEC scale after intervention (P<0.01). Compared with the control group, the experimental group also had significantly greater improvements in eye contact and sand stereotyped arrangement (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both interactive group sandplay and individual sandplay are effective in the treatment of ASD in preschool children. Interactive group sandplay is better than individual sandplay in the treatment of ASD, with significant improvements in sociability, emotion and stereotypic behavior.

[Clinical effect of psychological and behavioral intervention combined with biofeedback in the treatment of preschool children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical effect of psychological and behavioral intervention combined with biofeedback in the treatment of preschool children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHODS: Sixty children each with inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive or combined type ADHD were enrolled. According to the intervention measure, they were randomly divided into 4 groups: control, psychological and behavioral intervention, biofeedback treatment and comprehensive treatment (psychological and behavioral intervention + biofeedback). Attention concentration time and impulse/hyperactivity and hyperactivity index scores of the Conners Parent Symptom Questionnaire (PSQ) were evaluated after 4 months of treatment. RESULTS: The attention concentration time increased in all types children with ADHD after psychological and behavioral intervention, biofeedback treatment or comprehensive treatment (P<0.05). In children with inattentive ADHD, hyperactive/impulsive ADHD or combined-type ADHD, biofeedback or comprehensive treatment reduced the impulse/hyperactivity index score (P<0.05). In children with inattentive or combined-type ADHD, psychological and behavioral intervention or comprehensive treatment reduced the hyperactivity index score (P<0.05). In children with hyperactive/impulsive ADHD, biofeedback treatment, psychological and behavioral intervention or comprehensive treatment reduced the hyperactivity index score (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In children with ADHD, psychological and behavioral intervention combined with biofeedback treatment can improve the attention concentration and impulsive/hyperactive and hyperactive symptoms. The treatment strategies are slightly different for children with different types of ADHD.

[Clinical effect of integrated sandplay therapy in children with Asperger syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical effect of integrated sandplay therapy in preschool children with Asperger syndrome (AS). METHODS: A total of 44 preschool children with AS were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group, with 22 children in each group. The children in the control group were given routine training, and those in the experimental group were given integrated sandplay therapy in addition to the routine training. The treatment response was assess by the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), emotional recognition tools and changes in sandplay theme characteristics after 6 months of treatment. RESULTS: Before intervention, there were no significant differences between the two groups in the total score of SRS, the score of each factor of SRS, and correct rates of facial expression recognition of the upright position, inverted position, upper face and lower face (P>0.05). After 6 months of intervention, both groups had significant reductions in the total score of SRS and the score of each factor of SRS (P<0.01); the control group had significant increases in the correct rates of facial expression recognition of all positions except the upright position (P<0.05), while the experimental group had significant increases in the correct rates of facial expression recognition of all positions (P<0.05). Compared with the control group after intervention, the experimental group had significantly lower total score of SRS and scores of all factors of SRS except social perception (P<0.01) and significantly higher correct rates of facial expression recognition of all positions (P<0.01). The experimental group had a significant change in the number of sandplay theme characteristics after intervention (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Integrated sandplay therapy can improve social responsiveness and emotion recognition ability in preschool children with AS.

Establishing a health risk assessment for metal speciation in soil-A case study in an industrial area in China.

An improved method was proposed which integrates the distribution of metal speciation simulated by chemical equilibrium model, different exposure models and average daily intake dose modified by analytic hierarchy process for human health risk assessment of metal species (MS). With the rapid development of economic and urbanization, the metals pollution had become more serious in industrial areas. Adverse effects of soil contaminants on human health in typical industrial area should be assessed to evaluate the risks of soils in these areas. The method was applied to study nickel (Ni) species health risks in soil of industrial areas. The pH possessed significant impact to determine distribution/existence and solubility of Ni species, followed by DOC. The non-carcinogenic risk (HQ) of Ni species were less than 1 in each sampling points, except Ni2+. In addition, the carcinogenic risk (CR) of different Ni species were less than 10-6, except for FANi and Ni2+.

[Prevalence of simple obesity and its high-risk factors in preschool children in Fuzhou, China].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of simple obesity and its risk factors in preschool children in Fuzhou, China. METHODS: The physical examination data of 14 kindergartens in Fuzhou, China were collected by stratified cluster random sampling. The detection rate of simple obesity was calculated. The children with normal body weight were selected as the control group by 1:1 case-control method. The risk factors for childhood simple obesity were investigated by self-made questionnaire and multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 5 767 children aged 3-6 years were enrolled in this study. A total of 289 (5.01%) children with simple obesity were screened out, including 153 with mild obesity and 136 with moderate to severe obesity. The prevalence rate of simple obesity gradually increased with the age of children. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the following factors were independent risk factors for simple obesity: preference for fried food (OR=4.789, P<0.05), caregivers' over-concern about diet (OR=4.620, P<0.05), eating before sleep (OR=4.006, P<0.05), eating fast (OR=3.221, P<0.05), preference for sweets (OR=2.282, P<0.05), high birth weight (OR=2.202, P<0.05), overweight or obesity in father (OR=2.074, P<0.05), overweight or obesity in mother (OR=2.047, P<0.05), more than 1.2 times the food intake at the same age (OR=2.013, P<0.05), watching TV (OR=1.665, P<0.05), and lack of exercise (OR=1.463, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence rate of simple obesity is 5.01% in preschool children in Fuzhou, China. The development of simple obesity is multifactorial. It is suggested that doctors, parents, and teachers should strengthen health education for preschool children, help them develop good living and eating habits, and encourage them to take more exercise, in order to reduce the development of simple obesity.

[Efficacy of clonidine transdermal patch in treatment of moderate to severe tic disorders in children].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the difference in the efficacy between clonidine transdermal patch and haloperidol tablets in the treatment of moderate to severe tic disorders in children. METHODS: A total of 134 children with moderate to severe tic disorders were randomly divided into clonidine group (n=70) and haloperidol group (n=64). The clonidine and haloperidol groups were treated with clonidine transdermal patch and haloperidol tablets respectively, and the treatment lasted for 8 weeks in both groups. The Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) was used to evaluate the conditions of the children before and after treatment, and the adverse events during the treatment were recorded. RESULTS: The haloperidol group had a significantly better treatment outcome than the clonidine group after one week of treatment (P<0.05); the treatment outcome showed no significant difference between the two groups after 3, 5, and 8 weeks of treatment (P>0.05). The clonidine group had significantly less reductions in the motor tics, vocal tics, and function impairment scores and total score of YGTSS than the haloperidol group after one week of treatment (P<0.05); there were no significant differences in YGTSS score reductions between the two groups after 3, 5, and 8 weeks of treatment (P>0.05). The clonidine group had a significantly lower overall incidence of adverse events than the haloperidol group (8% vs 37%; P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Clonidine transdermal patch and haloperidol are both effective in the treatment of moderate to severe tic disorders in children. The clonidine transdermal patch, despite slow action, has comparable efficacy and fewer adverse effects compared with haloperidol.

[Influence of home nurture environment on language development and social emotion in children with developmental language disorder].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of home nurture environment on language development and social emotion in children with developmental language disorder (DLD). METHODS: The 1-3 Years Child Home Nurture Environment Scale, Gesell Developmental Scale, and Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment Scale were used for the evaluation of 125 children with DLD. A total of 130 children with normal language development matched for age and sex were enrolled as control group. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the DLD group had a significantly higher proportion of children in a bad home nurture environment and significantly lower scores of all domains of home nurture environment (P<0.05). In children with DLD, the home nurture environment score was positively correlated with the level of language development (r=0.536, P<0.01) and the score of ability domain in social emotion (r=0.397, P<0.01) and was negatively correlated with the scores of the domains of explicit behavior, covert behavior, and imbalance in social emotion (r=-0.455, -0.438, and -0.390 respectively, P<0.01). Home nurture environment had direct influence on language development in children with DLD and affected their language development via the mediating effect of social emotion. CONCLUSIONS: Home nurture environment influences language development and social emotion in children with DLD, and social emotion has a partial mediating effect between home nurture environment and language development.

Tanshinone IIA inhibits the proliferation, migration and invasion of ectopic endometrial stromal cells of adenomyosis via 14-3-3ζ downregulation.

BACKGROUND: Adenomyosis is a specific subtype of endometriosis and recent evidences have indicated that Tanshinone IIA (TSIIA) might be a potential therapeutic option for endometriosis. Meanwhile, endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) of adenomyosis might play crucial roles in the progression of this disease, emphasizing the importance of targeting ESCs in the treatment of adenomyosis. Furthermore, previous evidences also implicated that deregulated 14-3-3ζ expression might be associated with therapeutic effects of certain drugs. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential involvement of 14-3-3ζ in the process of TSIIA-treated adenomyosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ectopic endometrial stromal cells (EESCs) were isolated from a total of 3 patients with adenomyosis. Cells were treated with TSIIA and infected with 14-3-3ζ-overexpressing adenovirus, the expression level of 14-3-3ζ was determined by western blotting (WB), cell viability was detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8), cell invasion and migration was evaluated by transwell assay, and cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. RESULTS: TSIIA could decrease cell viability, induce cell apoptosis, and inhibit cell migration and invasion in EESCs. Mechanistically, TSIIA markedly reduced the expression of 14-3-3ζ in EESCs, and overexpression of 14-3-3ζ could restore the ability of cell viability, migration and invasion, but has no effect on cell apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: TSIIA could be a promising novel therapeutic agent for adenomyosis, via inducing cell apoptosis, inhibiting cell viability, migration and invasion in EESCs. Furthermore, the effects of cell viability, migration and invasion were mediated in 14-3-3ζ-dependent manner while that of cell apoptosis was mediated in 14-3-3ζ-independent manner.

Frequent POLE1 p.S297F mutation in Chinese patients with ovarian endometrioid carcinoma.

The catalytic subunit of DNA polymerase epsilon (POLE1) functions primarily in nuclear DNA replication and repair. Recently, POLE1 mutations were detected frequently in colorectal and endometrial carcinomas while with lower frequency in several other types of cancer, and the p.P286R and p.V411L mutations were the potential mutation hotspots in human cancers. Nevertheless, the mutation frequency of POLE1 in ovarian cancer still remains largely unknown. Here, we screened a total of 251 Chinese samples with distinct subtypes of ovarian carcinoma for the presence of POLE1 hotspot mutations by direct sequencing. A heterozygous somatic POLE1 mutation, p.S297F (c.890C>T), but not p.P286R and p.V411L hotspot mutations observed in other cancer types, was identified in 3 out of 37 (8.1%) patients with ovarian endometrioid carcinoma; this mutation was evolutionarily highly conserved from Homo sapiens to Schizosaccharomyces. Of note, the POLE1 mutation coexisted with mutation in the ovarian cancer-associated PPP2R1A (protein phosphatase 2, regulatory subunit A, α) gene in a 46-year-old patient, who was also diagnosed with ectopic endometriosis in the benign ovary. In addition, a 45-year-old POLE1-mutated ovarian endometrioid carcinoma patient was also diagnosed with uterine leiomyoma while the remaining 52-year-old POLE1-mutated patient showed no additional distinctive clinical manifestation. In contrast to high frequency of POLE1 mutations in ovarian endometrioid carcinoma, no POLE1 mutations were identified in patients with other subtypes of ovarian carcinoma. Our results showed for the first time that the POLE1 p.S297F mutation, but not p.P286R and p.V411L hotspot mutations observed in other cancer types, was frequent in Chinese ovarian endometrioid carcinoma, but absent in other subtypes of ovarian carcinoma. These results implicated that POLE1 p.S297F mutation might be actively involved in the pathogenesis of ovarian endometrioid carcinoma, but might not be actively involved in other subtypes of ovarian carcinoma.

Breastfeeding is associated with reduced risks of central obesity and hypertension in young school-aged children: a large, population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies examined the effects of breastfeeding on measured values of body circumferences or blood pressure during childhood. However, limited data are available for the association between child feeding and a specific disease diagnosed as central obesity or hypertension. Hence, we aimed to examine whether the type and duration of breastfeeding are associated with obesity/central obesity or hypertension in young school-aged children. METHODS: We matched the data obtained from a cross-sectional survey in 2019 with retrospective breastfeeding information recorded in the database. Heights, weights, waist circumferences, and blood pressures of 8480 children in first grade of primary schools in Shanghai, China were measured to diagnose obesity, central obesity, and hypertension. Data on child feeding was collected retrospectively from clinical records. Associations between the type/duration of breastfeeding and children's measured values of body mass index, waist circumference, and blood pressure were analysed by linear regression. Associations between the type/duration of breastfeeding and risks of obesity, central obesity, and hypertension were analysed by generalised linear models. RESULTS: Breastfeeding duration was inversely associated with blood pressure values in children in the first grade. Each month's increase in the duration of any breastfeeding was associated with a 0.07 mmHg decrease in systolic blood pressure (P < 0.01) and a 0.05 mmHg decrease in diastolic blood pressure (P < 0.01). Any breastfeeding > one month was associated with a reduced risk of hypertension (adjusted risk ratio 0.84; 95% CI 0.73, 0.96, P = 0.01). Exclusive breastfeeding > one month was associated with a reduced risk of central obesity (adjusted risk ratio 0.76; 95% CI: 0.60, 0.96, P = 0.02). Any breastfeeding > 12 months was linked with a lower risk of hypertension (adjusted risk ratio 0.83; 95% CI 0.70, 0.98, P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Lack of breastfeeding is associated with higher risks of central obesity and hypertension during middle childhood. As a potential component of the public health strategy to reduce population levels of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, breastfeeding could be a vital prevention strategy.