A rare family outbreak of infection in immunocompetent fraternal triplets.

Background: () infection is rare in children who were previously healthy, particularly in infants. We present the first report of a family outbreak of infection among immunocompetent infant triplets.

Methods: We reviewed triplets' demographic data, laboratory tests and imaging examinations to describe their clinical features.

Alanine aminotransferase as a risk marker for new-onset metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease.

In this editorial, we comment on the article by Chen . Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a global public health burden whose incidence has risen concurrently with overweight and obesity. Given its detrimental health impact, early identification of at-risk individuals is crucial.

N6-methyladenosine dynamics in placental development and trophoblast functions, and its potential role in placental diseases.

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant modification controlling RNA metabolism and cellular functions, but its roles in placental development are still poorly understood. Here, we characterized the synchronization of m6A modifications and placental functions by mapping the m6A methylome in human placentas (n = 3, each trimester), revealing that the dynamic patterns of m6A were associated with gene expression homeostasis and different biological pathways in placental development. Then, we generated trophoblast-specific knockout mice of Wtap, a critical component of methyltransferase complex, and demonstrated that Wtap was essential for trophoblast proliferation, placentation and perinatal growth.

Wide QRS complex tachycardia with a mysterious mask-Tricuspid isthmus-dependent atrial flutter with preexcitation syndrome and dual atrioventricular nodal pathway conduction.

Key Clinical Message: Atrial flutter (AFL) and supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) are common arrhythmias in clinic. However, some AFL cases may present additional complexities, such as both accessory pathways (AP) and dual atrioventricular node pathways, putting on a mysterious mask and making it challenging to distinguish on electrocardiograms (ECGs).

Abstract: A 60-year-old male patient had a sudden syncope, and an ECG showed wide QRS complex tachycardia.

N6-methyladenosine modifications in maternal-fetal crosstalk and gestational diseases.

As a medium among pregnant women, environment and fetus, placenta owns powerful and delicate epigenetic processes to regulate gene expression and maintain cellular homeostasis. N6-methyladenosine (mA) is the most prevalent modification that determines the fate of RNA, and its dynamic reversibility indicates that mA may serve as a sensitive responder to environmental stimuli. Emerging evidence suggests that mA modifications play an essential role in placental development and maternal-fetal crosstalk, and are closely related to gestational diseases.

Screening of undernutrition in children with Hirschsprung disease using preoperative anthropometric parameters: A multicenter cross-sectional study.

Background: The prevalence of malnutrition is unknown in patients with Hirschsprung disease. Undernutrition is associated with poor clinical outcomes. This study aims to describe the nutrition status among patients with Hirschsprung disease at admission.

Inflammatory bowel disease is associated with worse sexual function: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Several studies report that sexuality is often affected by inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). The aim of this meta-analysis was to investigate the association between IBD and sexual function.

Methods: A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases (up to September 1, 2020).

NOX1/4 Inhibitor GKT-137831 Improves Erectile Function in Diabetic Rats by ROS Reduction and Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Reconstitution.

Background: Previous studies have shown that oxidative stress contributes to hyperglycemia-induced erectile dysfunction. A preferential direct inhibitor of NOX1 and NOX4, GKT-137831, exhibited a strong anti‑oxidative role via blockade of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in endothelial cells, but whether GKT-137831 could improve erectile function was not clear.

Aim: Our study was designed to investigate the effect of NOX1/4 inhibition on improving diabetic erectile dysfunction (ED) in rats.

Challenges Facing Percutaneous Ablation in the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Extension of Ablation Criteria.

As an emerging minimally invasive treatment method, percutaneous ablation is more and more widely used in the treatment of liver tumors. It has been recommended by guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as a curative treatment alongside surgical resection and liver transplantation. In recent years, with the continuous advancement and innovation of percutaneous ablation technologies, their clinical efficacy and safety have been significantly improved, which has led to the expanded application of percutaneous ablation in the treatment of HCC-more and more patients who were previously considered unsuitable for ablation therapies are now being treated with percutaneous ablation.

Advances of Naturally Derived and Synthetic Hydrogels for Intervertebral Disk Regeneration.

Intervertebral disk (IVD) degeneration is associated with most cases of cervical and lumbar spine pathologies, amongst which chronic low back pain has become the primary cause for loss of quality-adjusted life years. Biomaterials science and tissue engineering have made significant progress in the replacement, repair and regeneration of IVD tissue, wherein hydrogel has been recognized as an ideal biomaterial to promote IVD regeneration in recent years. Aspects such as ease of use, mechanical properties, regenerative capacity, and their applicability as carriers for regenerative and anti-degenerative factors determine their suitability for IVD regeneration.

Baicalein Alleviates Erectile Dysfunction Associated With Streptozotocin-Induced Type I Diabetes by Ameliorating Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Dysfunction, Inhibiting Oxidative Stress and Fibrosis.

Background: Management of diabetes mellitus induced-erectile dysfunction (DMED) is challenging because of its poor responses to phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors. Increasingly important roles of 12-lipoxygenase (12-LOX) have been proven in diabetes mellitus.

Aim: To investigate 12-LOX activity and therapeutic effect of its inhibitor, baicalein (BE), on DMED.

Flexible Cyclosiloxane-Linked Fluorescent Porous Polymers for Multifunctional Chemical Sensors.

The construction of porous polymers linked by flexible building units has been considered a great challenge. Here, we address this challenge by using flexible 2,4,6,8-tetramethyl-2,4,6,8-tetravinylcyclotetrasiloxanes to react with brominated pyrene, tetraphenylethene, and spirobifluorene via the Heck reaction, resulting in three cyclosiloxane-linked fluorescent porous polymers. The materials exhibit high porosity, strong fluorescence, and tunable emission colors.

Symptomatic sinus tachycardia with perpetuating slow pathway: successful treatment with radiofrequency ablation.

We report a case of sinus tachycardia with perpetuating slow pathway (SP) conduction in a 42-year-old woman who developed severe symptoms as a result of atrioventricular (AV) desynchronization. The restoration of an AV synchrony, achieved with selective radiofrequency ablation of the SP, eliminated the symptomatic arrhythmia and may represent a reasonable therapeutic option despite the fact that the patient has no AV-node reentrant tachycardia. This case demonstrates the importance of AV timing.

Early diagnosis and rescue pericardiocentesis for acute cardiac tamponade during radiofrequency ablation for arrhythmias. Is fluoroscopy enough?

Background: With the number of complex catheter ablation procedures increasing, procedure-related acute cardiac tamponade is encountered more frequently in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. Survival depends on prompt recognition and rescue pericardiocentesis.

Objective: The aim of this report was to validate fluoroscopic heart silhouette characteristics associated with cardiac tamponade as a diagnostic method, and evaluate the safety and effectiveness of fluoroscopy-guided pericardiocentesis during catheter ablation.

Hazardous waste generation and management in China: a review.

Associated with the rapid economic growth and tremendous industrial prosperity, continues to be the accelerated increase of hazardous waste generation in China. The reported generation of industrial hazardous waste (IHW) was 11.62 million tons in 2005, which accounted for 1.