Inverse relationship between HBV DNA levels and liver histopathological changes in immune-tolerant CHB patients.

Limited data exist regarding the association between hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels and liver histopathological changes in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) during the immune tolerant (IT) phase. In this study, we retrospectively analysed liver biopsy results from 150 adult IT-CHB patients. The liver tissue necroinflammation and fibrosis were evaluated by the Scheuer scoring system. Multivariate logistic regression, smooth curve fitting, and segmented regression models were used to examine the association between HBV DNA levels and liver histopathological changes. A total of 26%, 30.67% and 42% of IT patients had significant necroinflammation (≥G2), significant fibrosis (≥S2) and significant histopathological changes (≥G2 and/or ≥S2), respectively. HBV DNA levels were independently and non-linear inversely associated with significant necroinflammation and histopathological changes in IT-CHB patients. Patients with HBV DNA levels <107 IU/mL had a higher risk of significant histopathological changes compared to those with levels >107 IU/mL. The findings were further confirmed by smooth curve fitting analyses, subgroup and sensitivity analyses. In segmented regression model analyses, the optimal DNA value for the lowest odds ratio of significant histopathological changes was 7.26 log10 IU/mL. A non-linear inverse association between HBV DNA levels and significant histopathological changes in IT-CHB patients. DNA 7.26 log10 IU/mL may serve as a potential cut-off point to define a 'true immune tolerant phase' with minimal liver histopathological changes.

Causal association of sleep traits with the risk of thyroid cancer: A mendelian randomization study.

BACKGROUND: This study was to explore the causal associations of sleep traits including sleep duration, snoring, chronotype, sleep disorders, getting up in the morning, sleeplessness/insomnia and nap during day with the risk of thyroid cancer based on Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. METHOD: Summary single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-phenotype association data were obtained from published genome-wide association studies (GWASs) using the FinnGen and UK Biobank databases. A series of screening processes were performed to select qualified SNPs strongly related to exposure. We applied the inverse variance weighted (IVW), the Mendelian Randomization robust adjusted profile score (MR-RAPS), the Mendelian randomization pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO), and the Weighted Median to estimate the causal links between sleep traits and the risk of thyroid cancer. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. RESULTS: The IVW results showed that getting up in the morning (OR = 0.055, 95%CI: 0.004-0.741) and napping during day (OR = 0.031, 95%CI: 0.002-0.462) were associated with decreased risk of thyroid cancer in the Italian population. A 1.30-h decrease of sleep duration was associated with 7.307-fold of thyroid cancer risk in the Finnish population (OR = 7.307, 95%CI: 1.642-32.519). Cronotype could decrease the risk of thyroid cancer in the Finnish population (OR = 0.282, 95%CI: 0.085-0.939). Sleep disorders increased the risk of thyroid cancer in the Finnish population (OR = 2.298, 95%CI: 1.194-4.422). The combined results revealed that sleep duration was correlated with increased risk of thyroid cancer (OR = 5.600, 95%CI: 1.458-21.486). CONCLUSION: Decreased sleep duration was associated with increased risk of thyroid cancer, which indicated the importance of adequate sleep for the prevention of thyroid cancer.

Surgical management of endolymphatic sac tumor: classification, outcomes and strategy. A single institution's experience.

PURPOSE: To review the resections of endolymphatic sac tumor (ELST) and describe our experience in the surgical management of ELST. METHODS: Retrospective investigation of consecutive patients who underwent resection of ELSTs at our hospital between 1999 and 2019. The symptoms, diagnosis, surgical findings, and outcomes were analyzed to develop a tumor staging system and corresponding surgical strategy. RESULTS: Retrospective review revealed the surgical treatment of 22 ELSTs. Based on intraoperative findings of tumor extent and size, ELSTs were classified into two types. Type-I (n = 6) referred to the small tumors that were locally confined with limited invasion of semicircular canals and dura; type-II (n = 16) referred to the large tumors that presented extensive erosion of at least one anatomic structure apart from the semicircular canals and the dura around endolymphatic sac. In this case series, Type-I ELST is amenable to resection through a transmastoidal approach, and subtotal petrosectomy is appropriate for the resection of type-II ELST. Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is the most commonly preoperative symptom in both two types of cases. Five type-II ELSTs experienced recurrence and underwent reoperation, whereas all type-I ELSTs did not. CONCLUSION: ELST usually results in SNHL (95%) at the time of diagnosis. The surgical strategy and prognosis of ELST resections are different between type-I and type-II: type-I ELST is amenable to transmastoidal approach with the preservation of facial nerve, whereas type-II ELST increase the surgical difficulty and the risk of recurrence, and subtotal petrosectomy is the basic requirement for the resection of type-II ELST.

Global Quantification of Glutathione S-Transferases in Human Serum Using LC-MS/MS Coupled with Affinity Enrichment.

The members of the glutathione S-transferase (GST) superfamily often exhibit functional overlap and can compensate for each other. Their concentrations in serum are considered as disease biomarkers. A global and quantitative evaluation of serum GSTs is therefore urgent, but there is a lack of efficient approaches due to technological limitations. GSH magnetic beads were examined for their affinity to enrich GSTs in serum, and the enriched GSTs were quantitatively targeted using a Q Exactive HF-X mass spectrometer in parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) mode. To optimize the quantification of GST peptides, sample types, trypsin digestion, and serum loading were carefully assessed; a biosynthetic method was employed to generate isotope-labeled GST peptides, and instrumental parameters were systematically optimized. A total of 134 clinical sera were collected for GST quantification from healthy donors and patients with four liver diseases. Using the new approach, GSTs in healthy sera were profiled: 14 GST peptides were quantified, and the abundance of five GST families was ranked GSTM > GSTP > GSTA > MGST1 > GSTT1, ranging from 0.1 to 4 pmol/L. Furthermore, combining the abundance of multiple GST peptides could effectively distinguish different types of liver diseases. Quantification of serum GSTs through targeted proteomics, therefore, has apparent clinical potential for disease diagnosis.

Incidence and prognosis of thyroid cancer in children: based on the SEER database.

OBJECTIVE: To update the recognition of the trends in the incidence of childhood thyroid cancer (TC) and its prognosis. METHODS: A large-scale sample based on long time-line public database was recruited. Join-point regression model was used to analyze the incidence trend of childhood TC. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression model analyses were applied to explore the survival situation and prognostic factors. RESULTS: The incidence rate of childhood TC increased between 1975 and 2016 from 3.8/million (95% CI 2.6-5.5) to 11.5/million (95% CI 9.2-14.1), AAPC = 2.38% (95% CI 1.98-9.65) and could be divided into two stages of increasing trends. The incidence rate of Trend1 (1975-2005) increased slowly (APC = 1.08%, 95% CI 0.38-1.82) while Trend2 (2005-2016) increased dramatically (APC = 6.77%, 95% CI 4.30-9.28). Annual incidence rate of small size tumor (< 4 cm) and local stage childhood TC increased significantly. The overall cumulative survival rate for childhood TC was high up to 97-99%. Males, black race, MTC type, distant metastasis, tumor size ≥ 4 cm, non-primary cancer were the independent risk factors of childhood TC prognosis. CONCLUSION: A contribution of overdetection to rising pediatric TC rates might not be able to rule out. For clinical implications, screening TC in children with potential specific risk factors is feasible. Over-treatment to small size and local stage TC in children should be avoided.

COVID-19: Abnormal liver function tests.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Recent data on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has begun to shine light on the impact of the disease on the liver. But no studies to date have systematically described liver test abnormalities in patients with COVID-19. We evaluated the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in patients with abnormal liver test results. METHODS: Clinical records and laboratory results were obtained from 417 patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 who were admitted to the only referral hospital in Shenzhen, China from January 11 to February 21, 2020 and followed up to March 7, 2020. Information on clinical features of patients with abnormal liver tests were collected for analysis. RESULTS: Of 417 patients with COVID-19, 318 (76.3%) had abnormal liver test results and 90 (21.5%) had liver injury during hospitalization. The presence of abnormal liver tests became more pronounced during hospitalization within 2 weeks, with 49 (23.4%), 31 (14.8%), 24 (11.5%) and 51 (24.4%) patients having alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin and gamma-glutamyl transferase levels elevated to more than 3× the upper limit of normal, respectively. Patients with abnormal liver tests of hepatocellular type or mixed type at admission had higher odds of progressing to severe disease (odds ratios [ORs] 2.73; 95% CI 1.19-6.3, and 4.44, 95% CI 1.93-10.23, respectively). The use of lopinavir/ritonavir was also found to lead to increased odds of liver injury (OR from 4.44 to 5.03, both p <0.01). CONCLUSION: Patients with abnormal liver tests were at higher risk of progressing to severe disease. The detrimental effects on liver injury mainly related to certain medications used during hospitalization, which should be monitored and evaluated frequently. LAY SUMMARY: Data on liver tests in patients with COVID-19 are scarce. We observed a high prevalence of liver test abnormalities and liver injury in 417 patients with COVID-19 admitted to our referral center, and the prevalence increased substantially during hospitalization. The presence of abnormal liver tests and liver injury were associated with the progression to severe pneumonia. The detrimental effects on liver injury were related to certain medications used during hospitalization, which warrants frequent monitoring and evaluation for these patients.

COVID-19 in a designated infectious diseases hospital outside Hubei Province, China.

BACKGROUND: The clinical characteristics of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) patients outside the epicenter of Hubei Province are less understood. METHODS: We analyzed the epidemiological and clinical features of all COVID-2019 cases in the only referral hospital in Shenzhen City, China, from January 11, 2020, to February 6, 2020, and followed until March 6, 2020. RESULTS: Among the 298 confirmed cases, 233 (81.5%) had been to Hubei, while 42 (14%) did not have a clear travel history. Only 218 (73.15%) cases had a fever as the initial symptom. Compared with the nonsevere cases, severe cases were associated with older age, those with underlying diseases, and higher levels of C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Slower clearance of the virus was associated with a higher risk of progression to critical condition. As of March 6, 2020, 268 (89.9%) patients were discharged and the overall case fatality ratio was 1.0%. CONCLUSIONS: In a designated hospital outside Hubei Province, COVID-2019 patients could be effectively managed by properly using the existing hospital system. Mortality may be lowered when cases are relatively mild, and there are sufficient medical resources to care and treat the disease.

Longitudinal changes of liver function and hepatitis B reactivation in COVID-19 patients with pre-existing chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

AIM: With the current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and high endemic levels of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection worldwide, it is urgent to investigate liver function changes of COVID-19 patients with chronic HBV infection, and how severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in turn affects the course of chronic HBV infection. METHOD: We undertook a retrospective study based on 347 COVID-19 patients (21 vs. 326 with vs. without chronic HBV infection). With the propensity score matching (PSM) method, we yielded 20 and 51 matched patients for the HBV group and the non-HBV group, respectively. RESULTS: At the end of follow-up, all of these 71 patients achieved SARS-CoV-2 clearance (P = 0.1). During the follow-up, 30% versus 31.4% in the HBV group versus non-HBV group progressed to severe COVID-19 (P = 0.97). After PSM, the longitudinal changes of median values for liver biochemistries were not significantly different between the two groups. In the HBV group versus non-HBV group, 35% (7/20) versus 37.25% (19/51) (P = 0.86) had abnormal alanine aminotransferase at least once during hospitalization, 30% (6/20) versus 31.37% (16/51) had abnormal aspartate aminotransferase (P = 0.91), 40% (8/20) versus 37.25% (19/51) had abnormal γ-glutamyltransferase (P = 0.83), and 45% (9/20) versus 39.22% (20/51) had abnormal total bilirubin levels (P = 0.91). Moreover, three patients in the HBV group had hepatitis B reactivation. CONCLUSIONS: Liver dysfunction presented in COVID-19 patients with/without chronic HBV. Moreover, those COVID-19 patients co-infected with chronic HBV could have a risk of hepatitis B reactivation. It is necessary to monitor liver function of COVID-19 patients, as well as HBV-DNA levels for those co-infected with HBV during the whole disease course.

Preoperative serum total cholesterol is a predictor of prognosis in patients with renal cell carcinoma: a meta- analysis of observational studies.

PURPOSE: Several studies have demonstrated the strong correlation between the levels of preoperative serum total cholesterol (TC) and the survival of patients with surgically treated renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, this association remains controversial. We performed a meta-analysis of published reports to evaluate the prognostic signifi cance of the preoperative serum TC levels for patients with surgically treated RCC. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The databases from MEDLINE (via PubMed), Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Library were systematically searched to identify the eligible studies published before August 2019. Multivariate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confi dence intervals (CIs) were calculated through inverse variance by using random effects models. RESULTS: Nine cohort studies comprising 15.609 patients were identifi ed. Low preopera- tive serum TC levels were associated with poor cancer-specifi c survival (CSS; HR=0.98, 95% CI: 0.97-0.99; P=0.005; I2=74.2%) and progression-free survival (PFS; HR=0.69, 95% CI: 0.49-0.98; P=0.036; I2=80%) in patients with surgically treated RCC. However, no signifi cant association was observed between low preoperative serum TC levels and shorter overall survival (HR=0.93, 95% CI: 0.87-1.00; P=0.057; I2=86.2%). Sensitivity analyses validated the reliability and rationality of the results. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative serum TC level is an independent poor prognostic factor for patients with surgically treated RCC, with lower levels associated with worse CSS and PFS. Hence, this parameter may provide additional guidance in the selection of therapeutic strategies to improve prognosis, considering that cholesterol is a broadly applied routine marker in clinical practice.

Pathway cross-talk network strategy reveals key pathways in non-small cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the pathway cross-talks and key pathways in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to better understand the underlying pathological mechanism. METHODS: Integrated gene expression data, pathway data and protein-protein interaction (PPI) data were assessed to identify the pathway regulatory interactions in NSCLC, and constructed the background and disease pathway crosstalk networks, respectively. In this work, the attractor method was implemented to identified the differential pathways, and the rank product (RP) algorithm was used to determine the importance of pathways. RESULTS: Based on 787,896 PPI interactions from STRING database and 300 human pathways from KEGG, we constructed the back pathway cross-talk network with 300 nodes and 42239 edges. Integrating with expression data of NSCLC, each pathway cross-talk endowed with a weight value, and disease pathway cross-talks were identified. By RP algorithm and topology analysis of network, we selected 5 key pathways, including Alanine, DNA replication, Fanconi anemia pathway, Cell cycle and MicroRNAs in cancer under the pre-set thresholds. CONCLUSION: We successfully revealed the disease pathway cross-talks and explored 5 key pathways in NSCLC, which may be the underlying therapeutic targets for lung cancer.

Liver histological changes in untreated chronic hepatitis B patients in indeterminate phase.

BACKGROUND: Studies with large size samples on the liver histological changes of indeterminate phase chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients were not previously conducted. AIM: To assess the liver histological changes in the indeterminate phase CHB patients using liver biopsy. METHODS: The clinical and laboratory data of 1532 untreated CHB patients were collected, and all patients had least once liver biopsy from January 2015 to December 2021. The significant differences among different phases of CHB infection were compared with t-test, and the risk factors of significant liver histological changes were analyzed by the multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Among 1532 untreated CHB patients, 814 (53.13%) patients were in the indeterminate phase. Significant liver histological changes (defined as biopsy score ≥ G2 and/or ≥ S2) were found in 488/814 (59.95%) CHB patients in the indeterminate phase. Significant liver histological changes were significant differences among different age, platelets (PLTs), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) subgroup in indeterminate patient. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that age ≥ 40 years old [adjust odd risk (aOR), 1.44; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06-1.97; P = 0.02], PLTs ≤ 150 × 109/L (aOR, 2.99; 95%CI: 1.85-4.83; P < 0.0001), and ALT ≥ upper limits of normal (aOR, 1.48; 95%CI: 1.08, 2.05, P = 0.0163) were independent risk factors for significant liver histological changes in CHB patients in the indeterminate phase. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that significant liver histological changes were not rare among the untreated CHB patients in indeterminate phase, and additional strategies are urgently required for the management of these patients.

Time of Liver Function Abnormal Identification on Prediction of the Risk of Anti-tuberculosis-induced Liver Injury.

Background and Aims: Anti-tuberculosis (anti-TB) drug-induced liver injury (AT-DILI) is the most common side effect in patients who received anti-TB therapy. AT-DILI management includes monitoring liver function until symptoms arise in patients without high-risk factors for liver damage. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of liver function test (LFT) abnormal identification on the risk of DILI, including liver failure and anti-TB drug resistance in patients without high-risk factors. Methods: A total of 399 patients without high-risk factors for liver damage at baseline and who experienced LFT abnormal during the 6 months of first-line anti-TB treatment were enrolled. The Roussel Uclaf Causal Relationship Assessment Method (RUCAM, 2016) was applied in suspected DILI. The correlations between the time of LFT abnormal identification and DILI, liver failure, and anti-TB drug resistance were analyzed by smooth curve fitting and multivariable logistic regression models. Results: Among all study patients, 131 met the criteria for DILI with a mean RUCAM causality score of 8.86±0.63. 26/131 and 105/131 were in the probable grading and highly probable grading, respectively. The time of abnormal LFT identification was an independent predictor of DILI, liver failure, and anti-TB drug resistance in the crude model and after adjusting for other risk patient factors. The time of abnormal LFT identification was positively correlated with DILI, liver failure, and anti-TB drug resistance. The late identification group (>8 weeks) had the highest risk of DILI, followed by liver failure compared with the other two groups. Conclusions: The time to identification of LFT was positively correlated with DILI, liver failure, and anti-TB drug resistance. The risk of DILI and liver failure was significantly increased in the late identification group with abnormal LFT identified after 8 weeks compared with 4 and 8 weeks. Early monitoring of LFT is recommended for patients without the high-risk factor of DILI after anti-TB treatment is initiated.

Identification of SLC26A4 c.919-2A>G compound heterozygosity in hearing-impaired patients to improve genetic counseling.

BACKGROUND: Mutations in the SLC26A4 gene, which encodes the anion transporter, pendrin, are a major cause of autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss (NSHL) in some Asian populations. SLC26A4 c.919-2A>G (IVS7-2A>G) is the most common mutation in East Asian deaf populations. To provide a basis for improving the clinical diagnosis of deaf patients, we evaluated 80 patients with the SLC26A4 c.919-2A>G monoallelic mutation from 1065 hearing-impaired subjects and reported the occurrence of a second mutant allele in these patients. METHODS: The occurrence of a second mutant allele in these 80 patients with a single c.919-2A>G mutation was investigated. Mutation screening was performed by bidirectional sequencing in SLC26A4 exons 2 to 6 and 9 to 21. RESULTS: We found that 47/80 patients carried another SLC26A4 c.919-2A>G compound mutation. The five most common mutations were: p.H723R, p.T410M, 15+5G>A (c.1705+5G>A), p.L676Q and p.N392Y. We found a Chinese-specific SLC26A4 mutation spectrum and an associated SLC26A4 contribution to deafness. CONCLUSION: Our study illustrates that mutation analysis of other SLC26A4 exons should be undertaken in deaf patients with a single heterozygous SLC26A4 mutation. Moreover, a model of compound heterozygosity may partially explain the disease phenotype.

Relationship between M6A methylation regulator and prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization.

Background: Patients with mid-stage HCC (hepatocellular carcinoma) may benefit from transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). However, patient efficacy varies widely, and the detailed assessment index is unknown. The most general methylation alteration in mRNA (Messenger RNA), N6-methyladenosine (m6A), is controlled by the m6A regulator, which is associated with the emergence of tumors. To include the molecular causes of cancer, competition with ceRNA (endogenous RNA) networks is crucial. However, the exact processes they contribute to TACE HCC remain uncertain. The purpose of this study was tantamount to investigating the possible function of ceRNA networks and m6A regulators in patients with TACE HCC. Methods: Genes Associated with m6A were discovered using the TACE GEO (Gene Expression Omnibus) dataset. An additional estimate of M6A-associated DEGs (differentially expressed genes) was used to create a predictive response model, which is required. LncRNA-miRNA and miRNA-mRNA interactions were then predicted, the regulatory ceRNA network was set up using Cytoscape software, and target genes were identified using GEPIA online analysis. The connection between immunological checkpoints, immune cell marker genes, and target genes for immune cells was also examined. Results: The detection of 4 m6A-associated DEGs, the development and evaluation of 2 Machine learning models, and the development of risk models that accurately predicted the response rate of specific patients. Additionally, we obtained two miRNAs (micro RNAs)and six lncRNAs (Long non-coding RNAs), forming an 8-pair ceRNA network, and the target gene LRPPRC deletion of one copy number and gene expression was highly correlated with the amount of Tregs immune cells. LRPPRC was related positively with NRP1, IRF5, and ITGAM and negatively with CCR7 and CD8B among immune cell marker genes. We also discovered that LRPPRC correlates positively with immune checkpoint CD274 cells. Conclusion: The response of HCC patients to TACE therapy may be predicted using a model based on four gene expression data. We also developed a ceRNA network for TACE HCC related to m6A, which offered suggestions for more research into its molecular processes and possible prognostic indicators.

Prognostic effects of surgery or radiotherapy on adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: There is little evidence exploring prognostic effects of surgery and radiotherapy on adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the head and neck. This study sought to evaluate the prognostic effects of surgery or radiotherapy on ACC of the salivary gland, oropharynx, and nose, nasal cavity, and middle ear. Methods: In this cohort study, the data of 2,392 participants with ACC of the head and neck were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database. Participants were divided into the salivary gland group (n=1,351), the mouth and oropharynx group (n=563), and the nose, nasal cavity, and middle ear group (n=478). Baseline characteristics were assessed via questionnaires or laboratory analysis and outcome variables were all-cause death and cancer-specific death of patients. Baseline data were collected in 2004, and patients were followed-up to 2016. The survival time of patients were recorded. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses explored the effects of surgery and radiotherapy on overall prognosis of ACC patients. Fine-Gray test assessed the effects of surgery and radiotherapy on cancer-specific mortality of ACC patients. Results: In total, 766 died and 1,626 survived with a median survival time of 9.92 years. After adjusting for confounders, patients with ACC of the salivary gland who underwent surgery had a decreased risk of all-cause mortality [hazard ratio (HR) =0.51; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.36-0.71] and cancer-specific mortality (HR =0.57; 95% CI: 0.34-0.97). Surgery was found to be a protective factor for the risk of all-cause mortality (HR =0.47; 95% CI: 0.28-0.78) and cancer-specific mortality (HR =0.70; 95% CI: 0.33-1.50) of patients with ACC of the mouth and oropharynx after adjusting for confounders. After adjusting for confounders, patients with ACC of the nose, nasal cavity, and middle ear who underwent surgery had a decreased risk of all-cause mortality (HR =0.46; 95% CI: 0.30-0.70) and cancer-specific mortality (HR =0.35; 95% CI: 0.20-0.61). Conclusions: Surgery was associated with a decreased risk of mortality in patients with ACC of the salivary gland, oropharynx, and nose, nasal cavity, and middle ear, which suggested the value of surgery for improving their prognosis.

Acute Kidney Injury and Early Predictive Factors in COVID-19 Patients.

Objectives: Our objective was to explore the incidence and early predictive factors of acute kidney injury in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Method: We established a retrospective cohort of 408 patients who were admitted to Shenzhen Third People's Hospital in Shenzhen, China, between January 1 and March 31, 2020. Clinical outcomes and renal function were monitored until April 12, 2020, with a median follow-up duration of 21 days [interquartile range (IQR) = 14-33]. Results: When first admitted to hospital (baseline), 19.36% (79/408) presented renal dysfunction [estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <90 ml/min/1.73 m2]. During follow-up, 3.9% (16/408) developed acute kidney injury (AKI). Age ≥60 years [hazard ratio (HR) = 4.78, 95% CI = 1.10-20.69], PaO2/FiO2 ratio <300 (HR = 3.48, 95% CI = 1.04-11.62), and higher creatinine (HR = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.01-1.07) at baseline independently predicted the risk of AKI. Respectively, 25.0% (102/408), 3.9% (16/408), 0.5% (2/408), 1.0% (4/408), and 0.2% (1/408) experienced G2, G3a, G3b, G4, and G5 as their most severe category during hospitalization, while 69.4% (283/408) had normal eGFRs throughout the follow-up period. When finally discharged from hospital, there were 12.5% (51/408) of patients with abnormal eGFRs. Conclusions: COVID-19 patients can be at risk of AKI and continuous eGFR decline during hospitalization, which can be early predicted by baseline factors. Some individuals still had renal dysfunction when finally discharged from hospital.

Prevalence of the GJB2 IVS1+1G >A mutation in Chinese hearing loss patients with monoallelic pathogenic mutation in the coding region of GJB2.

BACKGROUND: Mutations in the GJB2 gene are the most common cause of nonsyndromic recessive hearing loss in China. In about 6% of Chinese patients with severe to profound sensorineural hearing impairment, only monoallelic GJB2 mutations known to be either recessive or of unclear pathogenicity have been identified. This paper reports the prevalence of the GJB2 IVS1+1G>A mutation in a population of Chinese hearing loss patients with monoallelic pathogenic mutation in the coding region of GJB2. METHODS: Two hundred and twelve patients, screened from 7133 cases of nonsyndromic hearing loss in China, with monoallelic mutation (mainly frameshift and nonsense mutation) in the coding region of GJB2 were examined for the GJB2 IVS1+1G>A mutation and mutations in the promoter region of this gene. Two hundred and sixty-two nonsyndromic hearing loss patients without GJB2 mutation and 105 controls with normal hearing were also tested for the GJB2 IVS1+1G>A mutation by sequencing. RESULTS: Four patients with monoallelic mutation in the coding region of GJB2 were found carrying the GJB2 IVS1+1G>A mutation on the opposite allele. One patient with the GJB2 c.235delC mutation carried one variant, -3175 C>T, in exon 1 of GJB2. Neither GJB2 IVS1+1G>A mutation nor any variant in exon 1 of GJB2 was found in the 262 nonsyndromic hearing loss patients without GJB2 mutation or in the 105 normal hearing controls. CONCLUSION: Testing for the GJB2 IVS 1+1 G to A mutation explained deafness in 1.89% of Chinese GJB2 monoallelic patients, and it should be included in routine testing of patients with GJB2 monoallelic pathogenic mutation.

[Sequencing analysis of whole SLC26A4 gene in severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss patients with IVS7-2A to G mutation of the gene].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the whole sequence of the SLC26A4 gene in moderate to profound sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) patients with IVS7-2A to G mutation of the gene in China. METHODS: Whole SLC26A4 gene sequence was analyzed by direct sequencing in 80 SLC26A4 gene IVS7-2A to G mutation carriers for the occurrence of a second mutation in the gene. RESULTS: Forty-seven out of the 80 patients were found to have a second heterozygous mutation, whereas a single IVS7-2A to G mutation could be responsible for SNHL in the remaining 33 patients. Three novel mutations, 5+ 2T to A, 14-2A to G and 1825del G, were identified. The five most common mutations include H723R (20%), T410M(5%), C.1705+ 5G to A (15+ 5G to A)(5%), L676Q(5%), and N392Y (3.75%). Exon 17 harbored the most types of compound heterozygosity with the IVS7-2A to G mutation. CONCLUSION: A Chinese specific SLC26A4 diversity was found, and comparable SLC26A4 contributing to deafness. This study suggested that if a heterozygous SLC26A4 mutation is found in a patient with deafness, other exons of the SLC26A4 gene should be analyzed. Furthermore, double heterozygosity of the SLC26A4 gene may also account for some of the disease phenotype.

[Analysis of misdiagnosis glomus jugulare tumor].

Objective:To analyze the causes of misdiagnosis of patients with glomus jugulare tumor. Method:The clinical data of 116 patients with glomus jugulare tumor were retrospectively analyzed. Result:Among the 116 patients, 65 were misdiagnosed, the average duration of misdiagnosis was 4.90 years. The misdiagnosed diseases were chronic otitis media or cholesteatoma in 25 cases, neurological tinnitus or hearing loss in 16 cases, facial paralysis in 6 cases, external auditory canal masses in 4 cases, secretory otitis media in 3 cases, neck mass in 3 cases, intracranial neoplasma in 2 cases, middle ear cancer in 1 case, vocal cord paralysis in 1 case, stomatitis in 1 case, optic nerve head edema in 1 case, middle ear hemangioma in 1 case and vascular tinnitus in 1 case. Conclusion:The misdiagnosis of glomus jugulare tumor can be summarized as follows: the patients' first symptoms were not specific; lack of auxiliary examination, especially imaging examination; physicians have insufficient understanding of imaging and pathological examination of glomus jugulare tumor.

AIF knockdown induce apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction in cochlear spiral ganglion neurons in vitro.

The underlying mechanism involved in auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD) remains largely unclear. It has been previously reported that mutations in the apoptosis­inducing factor (AIF) gene are associated with auditory neuropathy and delayed peripheral neuropathy, which can eventually cause ANSD. In the present study, the regulatory effects of AIF knockdown on the cellular functions of spiral ganglion neurons (SNGs) and the molecular mechanism(s) of AIF knockdown in inducing cell apoptosis in SGNs were further investigated. The results showed that the AIF knockdown via siRNA transfection resulted in high levels of oxidative stress, and impaired mitochondrial respiration activity and membrane potential in SGNs. Western blotting further proved that the knockdown of AIF can decrease the content of anti­apoptotic and anti­oxidative proteins, as well as mitochondrial respiratory chain Complex I proteins. The present experimental data suggested that the abnormal expression of AIF may affect SGNs cellular function, and may contribute to the progress of ANSD.