Genetically predicted selenium concentrations and thyroid function: A two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Objective: The impact of selenium (Se) on human thyroid function remains unclear, with inconsistent results from recent epidemiological studies. Moreover, the observed associations are prone to bias due to potential confounding and reverse causation. Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis facilitates the large minimization of biases produced by environmental and lifestyle influences, providing unconfounded estimates of causal effects using instrumental variables.

Educational attainment and offspring birth weight: A bidirectional Mendelian randomization study.

The association between educational attainment (EA) and offspring birth weight (BW) has been reported by several traditional epidemiological studies. However, evidence for this association tends to be mixed and confounded. This study aimed to investigate the causal association between EA of parents and offspring BW.

Off-Label, but on-Evidence? A Review of the Level of Evidence for Pediatric Pharmacotherapy.

Many drugs are still prescribed off-label to the pediatric population. Although off-label drug use not supported by high level of evidence is potentially harmful, a comprehensive overview of the quality of the evidence pertaining off-label drug use in children is lacking. The Dutch Pediatric Formulary (DPF) provides best evidence-based dosing guidelines for drugs used in children.

Associations between seasonal ambient air pollution and adverse perinatal outcomes: a retrospective cohort study in Wenzhou, China.

Prenatal exposure to ambient air pollution has been associated with adverse perinatal outcomes in previous studies. However, few studies have examined the interaction between air pollution and the season of conception on term low birth weight (TLBW) or macrosomia. Birth registry data of singleton live births in Wenzhou, China, between January 2015 and December 2016 were accessed from the Wenzhou Maternal and Child Health Information Management platform, and data on the ambient air pollutants in Wenzhou were obtained from the Chinese Air Quality Online Monitoring and Analysis Platform.

Decreased Risk of Dementia Among Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury Receiving Acupuncture Treatment: A Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: We conducted a longitudinal cohort study comparing the effect of acupuncture on the risk of dementia in Taiwanese individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Design And Participants: A national health insurance database was used to identify 15 440 newly diagnosed TBI patients 20 to 70 years old between 1998 and 2007. Of the identified patients, 6308 received acupuncture following the onset of TBI (acupuncture users) and 9132 patients did not receive acupuncture (nonacupuncture users).

[Correlation between end-tidal carbon dioxide and partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide in ventilated newborns].

Objective: To study the correlation between end-tidal carbon dioxide (PetCO2) and partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) in ventilated newborns.

Methods: Thirty-one ventilated newborn underwent mainstream PetCO2 monitoring; meanwhile, arterial blood gas analysis was performed. The correlation and consistency between PetCO2 and PaCO2 were assessed.

[Feasibility study for limited filamentous bulking under low dissolved oxygen at different operation regimes].

Limited filamentous bulking under low dissolved oxygen (DO) is a new technology for energy saving and high quality effluent. In order to investigate the feasibility of this technology, four sequence batch reactors (SBRs) were occupied to operate at different regimes to stimulate different processes under low DO (0.5 mg/L).

Energy saving achieved by limited filamentous bulking sludge under low dissolved oxygen.

Limited filamentous bulking caused by low dissolved oxygen (DO) was proposed to establish a low energy consumption wastewater treatment system. This method for energy saving was derived from two full-scale field observations, which showed pollutants removal would be enhanced and energy consumption could be reduced by at least 10% using limited filamentous bulking. Furthermore, preliminary investigation including the abundance evaluation and the identification of filamentous bacteria demonstrated that the limited filamentous bulking could be repeated steadily in a lab-scale anoxic-oxic reactor fed with domestic wastewater.

[Energy saving achieved by limited filamentous bulking under low dissolved oxygen: experimental validation in A/O process].

Preliminary studies had been conducted to determine the correctness of the theory and technique of energy saving achieved by limited filamentous bulking under low DO using a lab-scale A/O reactor with real domestic wastewater as the influent. The results showed that SVI could be maintained 150-230 mL/g and sludge settleability would not become very poor under the condition of low DO. During the period of limited filamentous bulking, COD and total nitrogen removal efficiencies were improved, and distinct simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) was achieved, while ammonia removal efficiency would slightly decline with decreasing of DO, compared with the period of good settleability sludge under high DO.

[Dynamic change in respiratory mechanic dynamics and its clinical significance during mechanical ventilation in hyaline membrane disease of children].

Objective: To explore the characteristics of changes in respiratory mechanic dynamics and clinical significance in hyaline membrane disease (HMD) under mechanical ventilation.

Methods: One hundred and twenty-six newborns with HMD undergoing mechanical ventilation were divided into two groups: complication group with 43 cases and no-complication group with 83 cases. The blood gases and indices of respiratory mechanic dynamics were monitored 2, 24, 48 and 72 hours after the first ventilation and before the first weaning from ventilation.

[Correlation between mannose-binding lectin gene codon 54 polymorphism and susceptibility of Kawasaki disease].

Objective: Human mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is a C-type serum lectin synthesized by the liver as an acute-phase protein. MBL can bind to glycoproteins terminated with mannose and N-acetylglucosamine present in the cell walls on a variety of microorganisms. Therefore, MBL appears to play an important role in the immune system.

[The correlation between Kawasaki disease and polymorphisms of Tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-10 gene promoter].

Objective: Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute febrile vasculitic syndrome of unknown etiology that preferentially affects coronary artery. It has been suggested that proinflammatory cytokines like tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) are key players during acute KD. Recently, the polymorphisms relative to major transcriptional start site of TNF-alpha and IL-10 gene were shown to influence the level of TNF-alpha and IL-10 production in vitro.