Age-specific reference values for cerebrospinal fluid protein concentrations in children in southern China.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein values decline over the first few months of life as the infant's blood-CSF barrier matures. However, published studies have not reported CSF protein reference values of Chinese infants and differ in the reported rate, timing, and magnitude of this decline. The objective of this study was to determine reference intervals for CSF protein using available data of children in southern China.

Anemia and Low Albumin Levels Are Associated with Severe Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Pregnancy: A Case-Control Study.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is the most common form of pneumonia in pregnancy and may lead to severe adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Severe CAP (SCAP) is defined as the need for invasive mechanical ventilation and with septic shock with the need for vasopressors. This study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics and factors associated with SCAP in pregnancy.

Prevalence of Zika virus in blood donations: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Transfusion-Transmitted Zika virus (TT-ZIKV) has become an emerging threat to world blood banks due to the fast spread of ZIKV epidemics and high rate of asymptomatic infections. For the risk assessment of ZIKV infection in blood products, relevant studies in blood donations or blood donors tested for ZIKV were collected and analyzed systematically. The overall prevalence of ZIKV infection were estimated through meta-analysis and potential risk factors were detected.

Interleukin-6-mediated CCR9 interleukin-17-producing regulatory T cells polarization increases the severity of necrotizing enterocolitis.

Background: Increased frequency of CCR9 CD4 T cells in peripheral blood is linked to several gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases; however, its relationship with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is not understood. We investigated whether the frequencies of CCR9 CD4 T cells and related subsets were increased in peripheral blood of both patients and mice with NEC.

Methods: CCR9 CD4 T cells and related subsets were evaluated by flow cytometry in peripheral blood collected from both patients and mice with NEC and controls.

A higher circulating concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin-D decreases the risk of renal cell carcinoma: a case-control study.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between vitamin D status, using circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25 (OH) D], and renal cell carcinoma (RCC) risk in a case-control study, because the association between the two is unclear in China.

Materials And Methods: A total of 135 incident RCC cases were matched with 135 controls by age and sex. The blood samples were collected on the first day of hospitalization before surgery to measure plasma 25 (OH) D.

Correlation Between Raf/MEK/ERK Signaling Pathway and Clinicopathological Features and Prognosis for Patients With Breast Cancer Having Axillary Lymph Node Metastasis.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the correlations between rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma/mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling pathway and clinicopathological features and prognosis for patients with breast cancer having axillary lymph node metastasis.

Methods: A total of 118 breast cancer tissues with axillary lymph node metastasis (axillary lymph node metastasis group), 150 breast cancer tissues with non-axillary lymph node metastasis (non-axillary lymph node metastasis group), and 216 normal breast tissues (normal group) were enrolled in this study. The messenger RNA and protein expressions of rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma, MEK, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and their phosphorylated (p-) proteins were examined by reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry, respectively.

[The effect of warm needling pretreatment for endometrial receptivity of frozen embryo transfer].

Objective: To explore the effect of warming needling pretreatment for endometrial receptivity before frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET).

Methods: Fifty-six repeatedly embryo transfer (ET) failure patients with ultrasound showing follicular phase endometrium of C type, hysteroscopy examination presenting endometritis were randomly assigned into an observation group (25 cases) and a control group (31 cases). The patients in the observation group three months before ET were treated with antibiotics in the menstrual period, warming needle (once a day) at Zhongwan (CV 12), Tianshu (ST 25), Guanyuan (CV 4), Zhongji (CV 3), Zigong (EX-CA 1), Liangu (ST 34), Zusanli (ST 36), Shangjuxu (ST 37), Xiajuxu (ST 39) after menstruation until the ovulation stopped, and oral administration of progesterone was applied after ovulation.

Association of Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor Polymorphisms With Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Preterm Infants.

Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like growth factor (HB-EGF) protects the intestines from injury in experimental necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). We hypothesized that polymorphisms in the HB-EGF gene lead to low HB-EGF production in peripheral blood and increased risk of NEC in the Chinese Han population. To test this hypothesis, 30 NEC patients and 80 control subjects were selected.

Outcome of isolated enlarged cisterna magna identified in utero: experience at a single medical center in mainland China.

Objective: The objective of this study is to explore the effects of prenatal isolated enlarged cisterna magna (IECM) on postnatal development.

Methods: We followed up 123 fetuses with an enlarged cisterna magna (ECM), who were divided into IECM (group 1) and non-IECM (ECM plus other anomalies, group 2) groups, and compared 60 normal infants with normal fetal ultrasound. We assessed infants postnatally using the Gesell Developmental Schedules.

Blood and urine 8-iso-PGF2α levels in babies of different gestational ages.

Objective: We measured cord blood and urine 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α) levels in babies of different gestational ages to determine lipid peroxidation status.

Methods: Babies at gestational ages of 28-43 weeks were divided into group A (28-32 weeks), group B (33-36 weeks), group C (37-41 weeks), and group D (42-43 weeks). 8-iso-PGF2α in umbilical cord blood (UCB) at birth and urine at 6 hours after birth was and tested by ELISA.

[Expectant treatment of placenta previa with ritodrine].

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of the expectant treatment in placenta previa with adrenergic agonist ritodrine.

Methods: 50 women with placenta previa of preterm labor were randomly assigned into two groups. 26 patients treated with magnesium sulfate were served as control group.