Comparison of genomic prediction methods for early growth traits of Inner Mongolia cashmere goats based on multi trait models.

Inner Mongolia cashmere goat is an excellent livestock breed formed through long-term natural selection and artificial breeding, and is currently a world-class dual-purpose breed producing cashmere and meat. Multi trait animal model is considered to significantly improve the accuracy of genetic evaluation in livestock and poultry, enabling indirect selection between traits. In this study, the pedigree, genotype, environment, and phenotypic records of early growth traits of Inner Mongolia cashmere goats were used to build multi trait animal model., Then three methods including ABLUP, GBLUP, and ssGBLUP wereused to estimate the genetic parameters and genomic breeding values of early growth traits (birth weight, weaning weight, average daily weight gain before weaning, and yearling weight). The accuracy and reliability of genomic estimated breeding value are further evaluated using the five fold cross validation method. The results showed that the heritability of birth weight estimated by three methods was 0.13-0.15, the heritability of weaning weight was 0.13-0.20, heritability of daily weight gain before weaning was 0.11-0.14, and the heritability of yearling weight was 0.09-0.14, all of which belonged to moderate to low heritability. There is a strong positive genetic correlation between weaning weight and daily weight gain before weaning, daily weight gain before weaning and yearling weight, with correlation coefficients of 0.77-0.79 and 0.56-0.67, respectively. The same pattern was found in phenotype correlation among traits. The accuracy of the estimated breeding values by ABLUP, GBLUP, and ssGBLUP methods for birth weight is 0.5047, 0.6694, and 0.7156, respectively; the weaning weight is 0.6207, 0.6456, and 0.7254, respectively; the daily weight gain before weaning was 0.6110, 0.6855, and 0.7357 respectively; and the yearling weight was 0.6209, 0.7155, and 0.7756, respectively. In summary, the early growth traits of Inner Mongolia cashmere goats belong to moderate to low heritability, and the speed of genetic improvement is relatively slow. The genetic improvement of other growth traits can be achieved through the selection of weaning weight. The ssGBLUP method has the highest accuracy and reliability in estimating genomic breeding value of early growth traits in Inner Mongolia cashmere goats, and is significantly higher than that from ABLUP method, indicating that it is the best method for genomic breeding of early growth weight in Inner Mongolia cashmere goats.

Generation and analysis of TPI deficiency zebrafish model.

Triosephosphate isomerase deficiency (TPI DF) is a severe multisystem degenerative disease, manifested clinically as hemolytic anemia, neuromuscular abnormalities, and susceptibility to infection, frequently leading to death within 5 years of onset. There is a lack of effective clinical treatment as the pathogenesis underlying TPI DF remains largely unknown. In this study, we generate a transgenic zebrafish line [Tg(Ubi:TPI1E105D-eGFP)] with the human TPI1E105D (hTPI1E105D) mutation, which is the most recurrent mutation in TPI DF patients. Overexpression of hTPI1E105D affects the development of erythroid and myeloid cells and leads to impaired neural and muscular development. In conclusion, we create a TPI DF zebrafish model to recapitulate the majority clinical features of TPI DF patients, providing a new animal model for pathogenesis study and drug screening of TPI DF.

Neuro-Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment Using the Right Transradial Approach in Patients with Aberrant Right Subclavian Artery.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness and safety of neurological interventions using the right transradial approach (R-TRA) in patients with aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed cases that underwent cerebral angiography and interventions at Huangpi District People's Hospital from January 2023 to July 2023. Out of 335 cases, 5 patients with ARSA were identified. RESULTS: All 5 cases underwent diagnostic cerebral angiography via R-TRA. Two of the patients received interventions via R-TRA: 1 underwent right internal carotid artery balloon dilation angioplasty, while another underwent left vertebral artery stenting. No surgery-related complications were observed during these procedures. CONCLUSIONS: R-TRA proves to be a safe and effective option for neuro-interventional surgery in patients with ARSA.

Combinatorial expression of γ-protocadherins regulates synaptic connectivity in the mouse neocortex.

In the process of synaptic formation, neurons must not only adhere to specific principles when selecting synaptic partners but also possess mechanisms to avoid undesirable connections. Yet, the strategies employed to prevent unwarranted associations have remained largely unknown. In our study, we have identified the pivotal role of combinatorial clustered protocadherin gamma (γ-PCDH) expression in orchestrating synaptic connectivity in the mouse neocortex. Through 5' end single-cell sequencing, we unveiled the intricate combinatorial expression patterns of γ-PCDH variable isoforms within neocortical neurons. Furthermore, our whole-cell patch-clamp recordings demonstrated that as the similarity in this combinatorial pattern among neurons increased, their synaptic connectivity decreased. Our findings elucidate a sophisticated molecular mechanism governing the construction of neural networks in the mouse neocortex.

Storage stability and shelf-life of soymilk obtained via repeated boiling and filtering: A predictive model.

This study investigated the effects of different processing methods on the quality and nutrition of soymilk, as well as the changes in storage stability (centrifugal sedimentation rate (CSR), viscosity, and particle size) and shelf-life of soymilk at different storage temperatures (25°C, 35°C, 45°C, and 55°C). Results showed that soymilk processed via the repeated boiling-to-filtering method (RBFM) exhibited the highest protein content (3.89 g/100 g), carbohydrate content (1.27 g/100 g), and stability coefficient (0.950). The CSR and particle size of RBFM soymilk increased gradually during storage at different temperatures, while the viscosity and sensory score decreased. The correlation between the CSR and the sensory score of RBFM soymilk was the highest (R 2 = .9868). The CSR was selected as the key indicator to predict the shelf-life of RBFM soymilk. The average residual variation in RBFM soymilk shelf-life based on the predictive model was 10.78%, indicating the strong accuracy of the model for predicting the shelf-life of RBFM soymilk stored at temperatures ranging from 25-45°C. This study provides a theoretical basis and technological support for the development, transportation, and storage of soymilk and soymilk beverage products.

The MBD-ACD DNA methylation reader complex recruits MICRORCHIDIA6 to regulate ribosomal RNA gene expression in Arabidopsis.

DNA methylation is an important epigenetic mark implicated in selective rRNA gene expression, but the DNA methylation readers and effectors remain largely unknown. Here, we report a protein complex that reads DNA methylation to regulate variant-specific 45S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene expression in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). The complex, consisting of METHYL-CpG-BINDING DOMAIN PROTEIN5 (MBD5), MBD6, ALPHA-CRYSTALLIN DOMAIN PROTEIN15.5 (ACD15.5), and ACD21.4, directly binds to 45S rDNA. While MBD5 and MBD6 function redundantly, ACD15.5 and ACD21.4 are indispensable for variant-specific rRNA gene expression. These 4 proteins undergo phase separation in vitro and in vivo and are interdependent for their phase separation. The α-crystallin domain of ACD15.5 and ACD21.4, which is essential for their function, enables phase separation of the complex, likely by mediating multivalent protein interactions. The effector MICRORCHIDIA6 directly interacts with ACD15.5 and ACD21.4, but not with MBD5 and MBD6, and is recruited to 45S rDNA by the MBD-ACD complex to regulate variant-specific 45S rRNA expression. Our study reveals a pathway in Arabidopsis through which certain 45S rRNA gene variants are silenced, while others are activated.

CRH neurons in the lateral hypothalamic area regulate feeding behavior of mice.

Food cues serve as pivotal triggers for eliciting physiological responses that subsequently influence food consumption. The magnitude of response induced by these cues stands as a critical determinant in the context of obesity risk. Nonetheless, the underlying neural mechanism that underpins how cues associated with edible food potentiate feeding behaviors remains uncertain. In this study, we revealed that corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)-expressing neurons in the lateral hypothalamic area played a crucial role in promoting consummatory behaviors in mice, shedding light on this intricate process. By employing an array of diverse assays, we initially established the activation of these neurons during feeding. Manipulations using optogenetic and chemogenetic assays revealed that their activation amplified appetite and promoted feeding behaviors, whereas inhibition decreased them. Additionally, our investigation identified downstream targets, including the ventral tegmental area, and underscored the pivotal involvement of the CRH neuropeptide itself in orchestrating this regulatory network. This research casts a clarifying light on the neural mechanism underlying the augmentation of appetite and the facilitation of feeding behaviors in response to food cues. VIDEO ABSTRACT.

[Detection and analysis of moving reaction boundary-based electrophoresis distance using smartphone images].

Electrophoresis titration (ET) based on the moving reaction boundary (MRB) theory can detect the analyte contents in different samples by converting content signals into distance signals. However, this technique is only suitable for on-site qualitative testing, and accurate quantification relies on complex optical equipment and computers. Hence, applying this method to real-time point-of-care testing (POCT) is challenging. In this study, we developed a smartphone-based ET system based on a visual technique to achieve real-time quantitative detection. First, we developed a portable quantitative ET device that can connect to a smartphone; this device consisted of five components, namely, an ET chip, a power module, a microcontroller, a liquid crystal display screen, and a Bluetooth module. The device measured 10 cm×15 cm×2.5 cm, weighed 300 g, and was easy to hold. Thus, it is suitable for on-site testing with a run time of only 2-4 min. An assistant mobile software program was also developed to control the device and perform ET. The colored electrophoresis boundary can be captured using the smartphone camera, and quantitative detection results can be obtained in real time. Second, we proposed a quantitative algorithm based on ET channels. The software was used to recognize the boundary migration distance of three channels, a standard curve based on two given contents of the standards was established using the two-point method, and the content of the test sample was calculated. Human serum albumin (HSA) and uric acid (UA) were used as a model protein and biosample, respectively, to test the performance of the detection system. For HSA detection, different HSA solutions were mixed with a polyacrylamide gel (PAG) stock solution, phenolphthalein was added as an indicator, and sodium persulfate and tetramethyl ethylenediamine (TEMED) were used to promote polymerization to form a gel. For UA detection, agarose gel was filled into the ET channel, the UA sample, urate oxidase, and leucomalachite green were added into the anode cell and incubated for 20 min. ET was then performed. The fitting goodness (R2) values of HSA and UA were 0.9959 and 0.9935, respectively, with a linear range of 0.5-35.0 g/L and a log-linear range of 100-4000 µmol/L. The limits of detection for HSA and UA were 0.05 g/L and 50 µmol/L, respectively, and the corresponding relative standard deviations (RSDs) were not greater than 2.87% and 3.21%, respectively. These results demonstrate that the detection system has good accuracy and sensitivity. Clinical samples collected from healthy volunteers were used as target blood samples, and the developed system was used to measure serum total protein and UA levels. Serum samples from five volunteers were selected, standard curves of total serum protein and UA were established, and the test results were compared with hospital standard testing results. The relative errors for serum total protein and UA were less than 6.03% and 6.21%, respectively, and the corresponding RSDs were less than 3.72% and 5.84%, respectively. These findings verify the accuracy and reliability of the proposed detection system. The smartphone-based ET detection system introduced in this paper presents several advantages. First, it enables the portable real-time detection of total serum protein and UA. Second, compared with traditional ET strategies based on colored boundaries, it does not rely on optical detection equipment or computers to obtain quantitative detection results; as such, it can reduce the complexity of the operation and provide portability and real-time metrics. Third, the detection of two biomarkers, serum total protein and UA, is achieved on the same device, thereby improving the multitarget detection potential of the ET method. These advantages render the developed method a promising detection platform for clinical applications and real-time POCT.

Massive Open Online Courses and intercultural competence: analysis of courses fostering soft skills through language learning.

This paper aims to survey language teaching MOOCs that promote intercultural competence (IC). Specifically, the survey aims to identify the keywords most relevant to MOOCs with IC components, the languages taught, the offering countries, and the embedded soft skills. The selection of keywords is important because they can indicate connection between different disciplines. After trialing a broader set of keywords in several rounds of initial search, we identified five keywords that are the most relevant to language education with IC components on MOOCs: culture, intercultural, cross culture, multi culture, and society. Then courses with these five keywords on language learning are selected for further analysis. The results are summarized as follows: (1) Most language teaching MOOCs are found under the keyword "culture," indicating a strong connection between language education and intercultural communication; (2) In terms of the target languages and the offering countries, it is found that English, Chinese, and Spanish are the major languages widely taught in the context of intercultural competence; China, United States, and Ireland are the three countries which offer the highest numbers of MOOCs in this respect; United States, United Kingdom, and Australia are the three countries which offer the highest numbers of MOOCs of different languages. The results indicate that a limited number of languages and offering countries dominate the language learning MOOCs. The study calls for a plurality of languages and cultures to be taught through MOOCs, making more diversified knowledge systems accessible to global audiences. (3) The language teaching MOOCs not only focus on language but also aim to foster five types of soft skills (language learning skills, communication skills, business and entrepreneurship skills, career development skills, and cultural development skills), suggesting that intercultural competence and its related soft skills are usually important components embedded in such MOOCs courses.

[Determination of human serum total protein via electrophoresis titration and capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection].

Serum total protein refers to the sum of all proteins in the serum, and its content determination is relevant to human health monitoring and disease diagnosis. However, existing detection techniques present a number of limitations; for example, the Kjeldahl method suffers from the negative effects of interfering substances such as non-protein nitrogen (NPN). Although the electrophoresis titration (ET) method has solved interference problems to some extent, the current ET technique relies on optical detection methods, which increases the tediousness of the operation. This study addresses the challenge of accurate serum total protein detection by combining the traditional ET technique with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (C4D). The research contributions of this work are multifold. First, it presents the first development of an ET-C4D detection system, which consists of six components: an ET power module, an ET chip, a C4D sensing module, a detection module, a data acquisition card, and software. The developed system can capture the conductivity of substances in the channel using the software developed by our laboratory during ET. The detection system can be used to quantify the total protein content in human serum without the addition of specific labeling reagents or using optical detection equipment, and its running time is approximately 300 s. Second, this research proposes the corresponding principle of the system. Under an electric field, ion migration results in different pH levels before and after the boundary, leading to a protein surface charge difference. The maintenance of the electrical neutrality of the substances in the detection channel is related to the protein surface charge; therefore, the ion concentration distribution of the substances in the detection channel changes as the protein surface charge varies. A plot of conductivity as a function of running time showed an "inverted clock shape", first falling and then rising. Owing to the addition of different types and concentrations of proteins, the microenvironment of the entire system changes, resulting in different changes in conductivity. Third, the performance of the detection system was tested using human serum albumin (HSA) standard protein, which was mixed with polyacrylamide gel (PAG) mother liquor, riboflavin, etc., and irradiated under ultraviolet light for 10 min to form a gel. The ET experiments were then carried out. The shape of the conductivity curve was consistent with the proposed principle, and the higher the HSA concentration, the lower the conductivity curve trough, followed by a lagged time of the trough. Quantitative analysis of the conductivity signals showed that the linear range was 0.25-3.00 g/L, with a linearity of up to 0.98. The limit of detection (LOD) was 0.01 g/L, the relative standard deviation (RSD) was 1.90%, and the relative error of the test values was <7.20%, indicating the good detection stability and sensitivity of the system. Clinical samples collected from healthy volunteers were used as target blood samples for serum total protein content measurement using our detection system. Blood samples from a volunteer were used to obtain a standard curve, and the serum samples of other four volunteers were selected for ET-C4D and biuret detection. The results showed that the relative errors between the two methods were within 4.43%, indicating the accuracy and reliability of the detection system. The advantages of the ET-C4D detection system proposed in this paper are as follows: (i) ET-C4D realizes the rapid detection of total serum protein content based on the ET technique; (ii) compared with the traditional protein ET technique, the ET-C4D method does not rely on specific labeling components or optical detection equipment, thereby reducing the complexity of the operation; and (iii) the output signal of ET-C4D can be used for quantitative analysis with excellent analytical performance and high accuracy. These merits highlight the potential of the developed system for clinical application and biochemical analysis.

A novel microbe-drug association prediction model based on stacked autoencoder with multi-head attention mechanism.

Microbes are intimately tied to the occurrence of various diseases that cause serious hazards to human health, and play an essential role in drug discovery, clinical application, and drug quality control. In this manuscript, we put forward a novel prediction model named MDASAE based on a stacked autoencoder (SAE) with multi-head attention mechanism to infer potential microbe-drug associations. In MDASAE, we first constructed three kinds of microbe-related and drug-related similarity matrices based on known microbe-disease-drug associations respectively. And then, we fed two kinds of microbe-related and drug-related similarity matrices respectively into the SAE to learn node attribute features, and introduced a multi-head attention mechanism into the output layer of the SAE to enhance feature extraction. Thereafter, we further adopted the remaining microbe and drug similarity matrices to derive inter-node features by using the Restart Random Walk algorithm. After that, the node attribute features and inter-node features of microbes and drugs would be fused together to predict scores of possible associations between microbes and drugs. Finally, intensive comparison experiments and case studies based on different well-known public databases under 5-fold cross-validation and 10-fold cross-validation respectively, proved that MDASAE can effectively predict the potential microbe-drug associations.

Minimally invasive spine surgery strategy for congenital cervicothoracic scoliosis in children: Less blood loss and shortened segmental fusions/fewer pedical screws.

Objective: To explore the feasibility of a minimally invasive spine surgery strategy for congenital cervicothoracic scoliosis. Materials and methods: From April 2022 to August 2022 in the hospital, three patients with torticollis and/or shoulder imbalance due to a cervicothoracic hemivertebra were performed on by hemivertebra resection and short fusion of the adjacent vertebrae. Resection was operated by a posterior approach. The average age of three patients of surgery was 8 years 2 months and the mean follow-up period was 6 months. Radiographic assessments and cosmetic outcomes were documented on changes in measurements of segmental scoliosis, neck tilt, head shift, shoulder balance, and sagittal profiles. Results: The mean operating time of the procedure was 283 min and the instrumentation density was 1.5 pedicle screws per vertebra. The mean estimated blood loss was 257 ml, which was 20% less than the data described in various literatures. The mean segmental Cobb angle at the cervicothoracic deformity was 35.9° before surgery, 20.7° after surgery, and 16.3° at the latest follow-up, with a correction rate of 54.59%. Neck tilt decreased from 17.3° before surgery to 14.3° after surgery, and 11.7° at the latest follow-up, with a correction rate of 32.37%. T1 tilt improved from 16.5° before surgery to 12.9° after surgery, and 7.6° at the latest follow-up, with a correction rate of 53.94%. The clavicle angle improved from 4.8° before surgery to 3.1° after surgery, and 1.9° at the latest follow-up, with a correction rate of 60.42%. Head shift improved from 21.4 mm before surgery to 9.2 mm after surgery, and 12.3 mm at the latest follow-up, with a correction rate of 42.52%. The correction of torticollis and shoulder asymmetry was achieved in all cases. Conclusions: Minimally invasive spine surgery strategy may be an option for congenital cervicothoracic scoliosis. A good correction of cervicothoracic dissymmetry is achieved, accompanied by fewer pedicle screws and less blood loss. By deliberate operation in young kids, surgical intervention for severe compensatory curves can be prevented.

Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A2 Correlates with Reduced Left Ventricle Ejection Fraction in Hemodialysis Patients.

OBJECTIVE: Reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is common in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is considered an important determinant of cardiovascular events. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between Lp-PLA2 and LVEF in HD patients. METHODS: Fifty-seven HD patients with coronary heart disease were enrolled. Predialysis and postdialysis venous whole blood samples were collected. The patients were divided into preserved and reduced LVEF groups. The relationship between Lp-PLA2 and LVEF was assessed. RESULTS: A significant difference in C-reactive protein (CRP) and Lp-PLA2 was observed, with higher levels noted in patients with reduced LVEF (P ≤ .001). Both Lp-PLA2 and CRP were negatively correlated with LVEF in the HD patients. Only Lp-PLA2 remained associated with LVEF in multiple regression analysis. CONCLUSION: Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 levels are associated with LVEF and could potentially be used to evaluate chronic heart failure with reduced LVEF in HD patients for risk stratification management.

Incidence and prognosis of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to infection of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain: a national multi-center survey of 35 566 population / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective: This cross-sectional investigation aimed to determine the incidence, clinical characteristics, prognosis, and related risk factors of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain in mainland China. Methods: Data of patients with SARS-CoV-2 from December 28, 2022, to February 21, 2023, were collected through online and offline questionnaires from 45 tertiary hospitals and one center for disease control and prevention in mainland China. The questionnaire included demographic information, previous health history, smoking and alcohol drinking, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, olfactory and gustatory function before and after infection, other symptoms after infection, as well as the duration and improvement of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction. The self-reported olfactory and gustatory functions of patients were evaluated using the Olfactory VAS scale and Gustatory VAS scale. Results: A total of 35 566 valid questionnaires were obtained, revealing a high incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain (67.75%). Females(χ2=367.013, P<0.001) and young people(χ2=120.210, P<0.001) were more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Gender(OR=1.564, 95%CI: 1.487-1.645), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), oral health status (OR=0.881, 95%CI: 0.839-0.926), smoking history (OR=1.152, 95%CI=1.080-1.229), and drinking history (OR=0.854, 95%CI: 0.785-0.928) were correlated with the occurrence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2(above P<0.001). 44.62% (4 391/9 840) of the patients who had not recovered their sense of smell and taste also suffered from nasal congestion, runny nose, and 32.62% (3 210/9 840) suffered from dry mouth and sore throat. The improvement of olfactory and taste functions was correlated with the persistence of accompanying symptoms(χ2=10.873, P=0.001). The average score of olfactory and taste VAS scale was 8.41 and 8.51 respectively before SARS-CoV-2 infection, but decreased to3.69 and 4.29 respectively after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and recovered to 5.83and 6.55 respectively at the time of the survey. The median duration of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions was 15 days and 12 days, respectively, with 0.5% (121/24 096) of patients experiencing these dysfunctions for more than 28 days. The overall self-reported improvement rate of smell and taste dysfunctions was 59.16% (14 256/24 096). Gender(OR=0.893, 95%CI: 0.839-0.951), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), history of head and facial trauma(OR=1.180, 95%CI: 1.036-1.344, P=0.013), nose (OR=1.104, 95%CI: 1.042-1.171, P=0.001) and oral (OR=1.162, 95%CI: 1.096-1.233) health status, smoking history(OR=0.765, 95%CI: 0.709-0.825), and the persistence of accompanying symptoms (OR=0.359, 95%CI: 0.332-0.388) were correlated with the recovery of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2 (above P<0.001 except for the indicated values). Conclusion: The incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain is high in mainland China, with females and young people more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Active and effective intervention measures may be required for cases that persist for a long time. The recovery of olfactory and taste functions is influenced by several factors, including gender, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status, history of head and facial trauma, nasal and oral health status, smoking history, and persistence of accompanying symptoms.

Research Progress of Cancer-associated Fibroblasts in Hematolo- gic Malignancies --Review / 中国实验血液学杂志

Cancer-associated fibroblasts （CAF） are a key component of the tumor microenvironment, which can secrete a variety of cytokines, chemokines and growth factors, directly and indirectly support cancer cells, also alter the immune cellular environment by inhibiting the activity of immune effector cells and recruiting immunosuppressive cells, thereby allowing cancer cells to evade immune surveillance. CAF has been proven to be associated with the development, progression, and poor prognosis of solid tumors. However, the role of CAF in hematological malignancies is still unclear. This article reviews the research progress of CAF in hematological malignancies.

Clinical features of Kawasaki disease complicated by macrophage activation syndrome: an analysis of 27 cases / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To investigate the clinical manifestations and laboratory examination results of children with Kawasaki disease complicated by macrophage activation syndrome (KD-MAS), and to provide a basis for identifying early warning indicators for the early diagnosis and treatment of KD-MAS.@*METHODS@#A retrospective study was performed on 27 children with KD-MAS (KD-MAS group) and 110 children with KD (KD group) who were admitted to Wuhan Children's Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, from January 2014 to January 2022. Clinical and laboratory data were compared between the two groups. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to investigate the value of laboratory markers with statistical significance in the diagnosis of KD-MAS.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the KD group, the KD-MAS group had significantly higher incidence rates of hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, incomplete KD, no response to intravenous immunoglobulin, coronary artery damage, multiple organ damage, and KD recurrence, as well as a significantly longer length of hospital stay (P<0.05). Compared with the KD group, the KD-MAS group had significantly lower levels of white blood cell count, absolute neutrophil count, hemoglobin, platelet count (PLT), erythrocyte sedimentation rate, serum albumin, serum sodium, prealbumin, and fibrinogen (FIB), a significantly lower incidence rate of non-exudative conjunctiva, and significantly higher levels of C-reactive protein, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and serum ferritin (SF) (P<0.05). The ROC curve analysis showed that SF, PLT, FIB, and LDH had high value in the diagnosis of KD-MAS, with areas under the curve (AUC) of 0.989, 0.966, 0.932, and 0.897, respectively (P<0.001), and optimal cut-off values of 349.95 μg/L, 159×109/L, 3.85 g/L, and 403.50 U/L, respectively. The combination of SF, PLT, FIB, and LDH had a larger AUC than PLT, FIB, and LDH alone in the diagnosis of KD-MAS (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the AUC between the combination of SF, PLT, FIB, and LDH and SF alone (P>0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#KD-MAS should be considered when children with KD have hepatosplenomegaly, no response to intravenous immunoglobulin, coronary artery damage, and KD recurrence during treatment. SF, PLT, FIB, and LDH are of high value in the diagnosis of KD-MAS, especially SF is of great significance in the diagnosis of KD-MAS.

Comparison of clinical efficacy of intravitreal injection of Conbercept and Aflibercept in the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM: To compare the clinical efficacy of conbercept and aflibercept in the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration(wARMD)based on 4 consecutive intravitreal injections.METHODS: The clinical data of 108 patients(108 eyes)who were diagnosed as wARMD and treated with intravitreal injection at our hospital from January 2019 to January 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into conbercept group(54 cases, 54 eyes)and aflibercept group(54 cases, 54 eyes)according to the different injectable drugs. All patients received intravitreal injection once a month, with four consecutive injections. Follow up for 12mo to observe best corrected visual acuity(BCVA), central macular thickness(CMT), complications and recurrence before and after injection.RESULTS: BCVA and CMT of patients in the two groups at 1, 2, 5 and 8mo after injection had no between-group differences(P&#x0026;#x003E;0.05), but both were significantly improved compared with those before injection(P&#x0026;#x003C;0.05). By the end of follow-up, conjunctival hemorrhage occurred in 2 eyes of the conbercept group at the early stage, and increased intraocular pressure and conjunctival hemorrhage occurred respectively in 2 eyes of the aflibercept group. There were no serious complications related to drug injection such as retinal detachment, complicated cataract, endophthalmitis and retinal pigment epithelial tear in the two groups, and there was no difference in the recurrence rate between the two groups(7% vs. 6%, P=1.000).CONCLUSION: On the basis of continuous 4 times of intravitreal injection, both conbercept and aflibercept are safe and effective in the treatment of wARMD, and the efficacy is even.

Combination pattern of internal fixation for periprosthesis fractures of the proximal femur after hip replacement / 中华骨科杂志

Objective:To investigate the combination of internal fixation for periprosthetic fractures of the proximal femur (PFFF) after hip arthroplasty.Methods:The data of 58 patients with periprosthetic fractures after hip arthroplasty from May 2008 to March 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, including 31 males and 27 females. The average age was 75.5±18.2 years (range, 35-95 years). There were 39 total hip arthroplasty and 19 hemiarthroplasty; 37 biological prosthesis and 21 cemented prosthesis. Intraoperative periprosthetic fractures occurred in 6 cases and 52 cases postoperatively. Unified classification system (UCS): UCS IV.3A1 type 2 cases, 3A2 type 1 case, 3B1.1 type 19 cases, 3B2.1 type 25 cases, 3B3 type 2 cases, 3C type 9 cases. Fracture site: 3 cases in zone A (greater trochanter), 46 cases in zone B (around the femoral stem), and 9 cases in zone C (distal to the tip of the femoral stem. Internal fixation is composed of primary and secondary fixation, the main fixation method was the cerclage of steel wire or titanium cable, locking compression plate, and locking attachment plate fixation. The secondary fixation method was the cerclage of titanium cable, which was required to cover three zones A, B and C to form an overall balanced fixation. The modified Harris hip scores (mHHS), plate length, working length and screw number of different internal fixation combinations were compared.Results:The follow-up time was 54.2±21.6 months (range, 11-86 months). All patients showed signs of fracture healing at 10.2±1.5 weeks (range, 7-13 weeks) after operation, and bony union was observed at 19.6±1.3 weeks (range, 17-22 weeks) after operation. No delayed union or nonunion was observed. After operation, one case had a stress fracture and was revised with double-plate internal fixation; one case had a failed internal fixation and was revised with double-plate internal fixation and a large allograft bone graft. The mHHS score of UCSIV.3B2.1 group (80.3±4.6) was the lowest at 6 months after operation, and the difference between the groups of different types was statistically significant ( F=256.72, P<0.001). The score of simple internal fixation group (91.6±4.2) was higher than that of revision combined with internal fixation group (81.9±4.1), and the difference was statistically significant ( t=8.32, P<0.001). The plate length and working length were 24.9±2.5 cm and 12.6±1.7 cm for UCS IV.3B1.1, 25.4±2.6 cm and 13.6±1.8 cm for 3B2.1 and 28.1±2.5 cm and 4.9±1.9 cm for 3C, respectively ( F=5.33, P=0.005; F=6.78, P<0.001). The number of screws in zone A was significant difference among different UCS types ( F=52.67, P<0.001); UCS IV.3B1.1 (6.5±2.3) and 3B2.1 (6.7±2.2) were more than 3B3 (3.5±1.5) and 3C (3.7±1.6). The number of screws in zone B was significant difference among different UCS types ( F=42.15, P<0.001); The number of UCS IV.3B1.1 (2.3±1.6) and 3B2.1 (2.8±1.9) were significantly more than that of 3B3 (1.0±0.5) and 3C (1.2±0.6). The number of screws in zone C was significant differences among different UCS types ( F=39.62, P<0.001); The number of UCS IV.3B1.1 (3.8±1.9) and 3B2.1 (3.9±1.7) were more than that of 3B3 (2.0±0.5), the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The function of hip after simple internal fixation of proximal femoral periprosthetic fractures was better than that of those who underwent revision at the same time; the number of screws of UCSIV.B1 and B2 is more than that of B3.

Periprosthetic fractures: the increasing challenges / 中华创伤骨科杂志

Surgery for periprosthetic fractures (PPF) is one of the most complex procedures in orthopedics. It is difficult, highly risky and extremely challenging, because the patients are usually advanced in age and suffering from essential organ dysfunction, numerous comorbidities, poor overall body condition, poor bone quality combined with osteolysis and even bone loss, and because the surgeons have to apply the concepts and techniques of Modern Orthopedic Trauma and artificial joint revision techniques in fracture fixation and prosthesis revision. This paper expounds on the clinical challenges due to the characteristics of PPF in order to call on clinical surgeons to update their concepts, deal with seriously and standardize their PPF treatment, and effectively improve their efficacy.

Analysis of chest imaging features of novel coronavirus pneumonia, bacterial pneumonia and viral pneumonia / 中华危重病急救医学

Objective:To investigate and summarize the chest CT imaging features of patients with novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19), bacterial pneumonia and other viral pneumonia.Methods:Chest CT data of 102 patients with pulmonary infection due to different etiologies were retrospectively analyzed, including 36 patients with COVID-19 admitted to Hainan Provincial People's Hospital and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University from December 2019 to March 2020, 16 patients with other viral pneumonia admitted to Hainan Provincial People's Hospital from January 2018 to February 2020, and 50 patients with bacterial pneumonia admitted to Haikou Affiliated Hospital of Central South University Xiangya School of Medicine from April 2018 to May 2020. Two senior radiologists and two senior intensive care physicians were participated to evaluated the extent of lesions involvement and imaging features of the first chest CT after the onset of the disease.Results:Bilateral pulmonary lesions were more common in patients with COVID-19 and other viral pneumonia, and the incidence was significantly higher than that of bacterial pneumonia (91.6%, 75.0% vs. 26.0%, P < 0.05). Compared with other viral pneumonia and COVID-19, bacterial pneumonia was mainly characterized by single-lung and multi-lobed lesion (62.0% vs. 18.8%, 5.6%, P < 0.05), accompanied by pleural effusion and lymph node enlargement. The proportion of ground-glass opacity in the lung tissues of patients with COVID-19 was 97.2%, that of patients with other viral pneumonia was 56.2%, and that of patients with bacterial pneumonia was only 2.0% ( P < 0.05). The incidence rate of lung tissue consolidation (25.0%, 12.5%), air bronchial sign (13.9%, 6.2%) and pleural effusion (16.7%, 37.5%) in patients with COVID-19 and other viral pneumonia were significantly lower than those in patients with bacterial pneumonia (62.0%, 32.0%, 60.0%, all P < 0.05), paving stone sign (22.2%, 37.5%), fine mesh sign (38.9%, 31.2%), halo sign(11.1%, 25.0%), ground-glass opacity with interlobular septal thickening (30.6%, 37.5%), bilateral patchy pattern/rope shadow (80.6%, 50.0%) etc. were significantly higher than those of bacterial pneumonia (2.0%, 4.0%, 2.0%, 0%, 22.0%, all P < 0.05). The incidence of local patchy shadow in patients with COVID-19 was only 8.3%, significantly lower than that in patients with other viral pneumonia and bacterial pneumonia (8.3% vs. 68.8%, 50.0%, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of peripheral vascular shadow thickening in patients with COVID-19, other viral pneumonia and bacterial pneumonia (27.8%, 12.5%, 30.0%, P > 0.05). Conclusions:The probability of ground-glass opacity, paving stone and grid shadow in chest CT of patients with COVID-19 was significantly higher than those of bacterial pneumonia, and it was more common in the lower lungs and lateral dorsal segment. In other patients with viral pneumonia, ground-glass opacity was distributed in both upper and lower lungs. Bacterial pneumonia is usually characterized by single lung consolidation, distributed in lobules or large lobes and accompanied by pleural effusion.