[Risk factors for recurrence after intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injection for retinopathy of prematurity]. / çŽ»ç’ƒä½“è ”å† æ³¨å°„æŠ—è¡€ç®¡å† çš®ç”Ÿé•¿å› å­æ²»ç–—æ—©äº§å„¿è§†ç½‘è†œç— å¤å‘çš„å±é™©å› ç´ åˆ†æž.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the efficacy of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injection in the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and the risk factors for recurrence. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical data of 159 infants with ROP who were born in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University and underwent anti-VEGF treatment from January 2016 to December 2021. According to the presence or absence of recurrence within the follow-up period after initial anti-VEGF treatment, they were divided into a recurrence group with 24 infants and a non-recurrence group with 135 infants. The medical data were compared between the two groups, and a multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the risk factors for the recurrence of ROP after anti-VEGF treatment. RESULTS: After one-time anti-VEGF treatment, all 159 infants showed regression of plus disease. Recurrence was observed in 24 infants (15.1%) after anti-VEGF treatment, with a mean interval of (8.4±2.6) weeks from treatment to recurrence. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that preoperative fundus hemorrhage and prolonged total oxygen supply time were risk factors for the recurrence of ROP (P<0.05), while gestational hypertension was a protective factor (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal anti-VEGF injection is effective for ROP. Preoperative fundus hemorrhage and long duration of oxygen therapy may increase the risk of ROP recurrence, and further studies are needed to investigate the influence of gestational hypertension on the recurrence of ROP.

iTRAQ protein profile analysis provides integrated insight into mechanisms of tolerance to TMV in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum).

UNLABELLED: To further investigate the mechanism of the plant tolerance to tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) infection, tobacco NC89 (N) hypersensitive to TMV and its natural mutant Yuyan8 (Y) with tolerance to TMV were employed for differential accumulation proteome analysis. There were 260 specifically accumulated proteins in Yuyan8 after 24 h inoculation (Yd), and the accumulations of 285 proteins inherent in Y have changed after TMV infection. Equally, there were 183 specifically accumulated proteins in NC89 after 24 h inoculation (Nd), and 132 proteins inherent in N have changed after TMV infection. These differential proteins were respectively enriched in two pathways, of which photosynthesis pathway was the common pathway in two varieties. In photoreaction system, the accumulations of differential proteins, especially D1 protein, were not decreased in Yd compared to Nd. The results indicated that maintaining the stability of D1 protein and reasonable utilization of the energy was the essential for tolerance to TMV infection. It was also revealed that 14-3-3 protein and PR4 was specific expressed, and the expression of LRR was enhanced in Yd, suggesting that regulation of defense protein mediated by 14-3-3 protein quickly activated resistance system and enhanced the plant tolerance to TMV infection. SIGNIFICANCE: This is the first work that the molecular basis of tobacco tolerance was discussed basic on proteomic investigation performed on wild type and its natural mutant. Our results lay the foundation for development of molecular breeding and further proteome research in tobacco.

Application of NT-proBNP in ventilator weaning for preterm infants with RDS.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the value of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels along with spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) in the prediction of ventilator weaning outcome among respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) preterm infants ready to wean. METHODS: NT-proBNP along with plasma albumin concentration, serum sodium, serum potassium, and hematocrit were measured immediately before SBT in preterm infants (≤32 weeks) mechanically ventilated due to RDS. Extubation was considered successful if infants remained extubated >48 hr. Either SBT failure or extubation failure was considered weaning failure. RESULTS: Sixty-three of 88 infants passed the SBT and were subsequently extubated. Of these, two (3.2%) cases rapidly developed laryngeal dyspnea imposing reintubation (excluded from analysis). Of the remaining 61 infants, 45 (73.8%) cases had successful extubation, and 16 (26.2%) cases were reintubated. Infants who failed weaning had lower gestational age, birth weight, and plasma albumin concentrations, higher NT-proBNP, doses of surfactant, occurrence of ventilator-associated pneumonia, and occurrence of pulmonary arterial hypertension than those who did not. NT-proBNP was the only independent factor that could predict weaning failure (OR = 1.872; P = 0.044). The ROC-AUC for NT-proBNP to predict weaning failure was 0.977 (95% CI 0.918-0.997; P < 0.001). The cut-off of NT-proBNP level 18,500 pg/ml to predict weaning failure had a positive likelihood ratio of 25.180. The addition of NT-proBNP to SBT in prediction of weaning failure significantly improved the net reclassification improvement (NRI = 0.224; P = 0.034). CONCLUSION: NT-proBNP is an independent factor that could predict weaning failure. Measurement of NT-proBNP prior to SBT may be helpful in promoting successful ventilator weaning along with SBT.

[Investigation on factors related to pyelic separation in early newborns].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship of pyelic separation with gestational age, body weight and sex in early newborns. METHODS: A total of 320 neonates were examined by renal ultrasound 2-7 days after birth. The neonates included 180 boys and 140 girls, with a mean gestational age of 36±3 weeks (28-42 weeks) and a mean birth weight of 2430±1000 g (900-4870 g). Correlation analysis was performed between renal pelvis anteroposterior diameter (APD) and gestational age/body weight. The newborns were grouped based on gestational age, body weight and sex and the incidence of pyelic separation was compared among the groups. RESULTS: Pyelic separation was found in 100 of the 320 newborns. The incidence of pyelic separation in boys (37.8%, 70 cases) was significantly higher than in girls (22.2%, 30 cases) (P<0.05). The incidence rates of pyelic separation on the left side, right side and both sides were 59%, 13% and 29% respectively in boys, and 53%, 7% and 40% respectively in girls. There was no significant difference in the location of renal pelvis separation between boys and girls (P>0.05). There significant difference in the incidence of pyelic separation between different gestational age groups (P>0.05). APD was positively correlated with gestational age and birth weight (P<0.05). The incidence of pyelic separation was negatively correlated with birth weight in all newborns except those who were macrosomic (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of pyelic separation in early newborns is closely associated with birth weight and sex. APD is positively correlated to gestational age and birth weight. Pyelic separation often occurs more frequently on the left side or both sides than on the right side.

[A clinico-pathological comparison between Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis and IgA nephropathy in children].

OBJECTIVE: To study the difference in clinico-pathological features between IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) in children. METHODS: The medical data of 103 children with HSPN and 61 children with IgAN were retrospectively studied. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, sex and disease course between the HSPN and IgAN groups (P>0.05). Clinical classification demonstrated that more severe conditions were found in the IgAN group than in the HSPN group and gross hematuria was more common in the IgAN group (P<0.05). Serum creatinine and cholesterol levels were higher in the IgAN group than in the HSPN group (P<0.05). Fibrinogen-related antigen deposition was more common in the HSPN group, while complement 3(C3) deposition was more common in the IgAN group. Interstitial fibrosis, tubular casts and tubular inflammatory infiltration were also more common in the IgAN group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Significant clinico-pathological differences can be found between HSPN and IgAN in children, and these differences do not support a one disease entity hypothesis.

The level of expression of thioredoxin is linked to fundamental properties and applications of wheat seeds.

Work with cereals (barley and wheat) and a legume (Medicago truncatula) has established thioredoxin h (Trx h) as a central regulatory protein of seeds. Trx h acts by reducing disulfide (S-S) groups of diverse seed proteins (storage proteins, enzymes, and enzyme inhibitors), thereby facilitating germination. Early in vitro protein studies were complemented with experiments in which barley seeds with Trx h overexpressed in the endosperm showed accelerated germination and early or enhanced expression of associated enzymes (alpha-amylase and pullulanase). The current study extends the transgenic work to wheat. Two approaches were followed to alter the expression of Trx h genes in the endosperm: (1) a hordein promoter and its protein body targeting sequence led to overexpression of Trx h5, and (2) an antisense construct of Trx h9 resulted in cytosolic underexpression of that gene (Arabidopsis designation). Underexpression of Trx h9 led to effects opposite to those observed for overexpression Trx h5 in barley-retardation of germination and delayed or reduced expression of associated enzymes. Similar enzyme changes were observed in developing seeds. The wheat lines with underexpressed Trx showed delayed preharvest sprouting when grown in the greenhouse or field without a decrease in final yield. Wheat with overexpressed Trx h5 showed changes commensurate with earlier in vitro work: increased solubility of disulfide proteins and lower allergenicity of the gliadin fraction. The results are further evidence that the level of Trx h in cereal endosperm determines fundamental properties as well as potential applications of the seed.

Changes in proteins within germinating seeds of transgenic wheat with an antisense construct directed against the thioredoxin.

Thioredoxin h is closely related to germination of cereal seeds. The mechanism of transgenic wheat seeds with antisense trxs gene, which is responsible for low germination rate was studied through analyzing the changes in proteins of wheat seeds during germination. The antisense trxs could weaken the metabolism of wheat seeds by decreasing the quantity of proteins involved in metabolism, while chloroform-methanol (CM) protein fraction consisted mostly of some low molecular weight proteins (<20 kD). Compared with wild-type wheat seeds, the folding of glutenin in transgenic wheat ones was affected during the wheat maturating. Big glutenin macropolymers could be formed more easily in transgenic wheat seeds than in wild-type wheat ones. Therefore, the degradation speed of glutenin in transgenic wheat seeds was slower than that in wild-type wheat ones during seed germination. In addition, the degradation of some proteins in transgenic wheat embryos was also delayed during germination.