Age-specific reference genomes of the human gut microbiome can provide higher resolution for metagenomic analyses including taxonomic classification, strain-level genomic investigation and functional characterization. We present the Early-Life Gut Genomes (ELGG) catalog with 32,277 genomes representing 2172 species from 6122 fecal metagenomes collected from children under 3 years old spanning delivery mode, gestational age, feeding pattern, and geography. The ELGG substantially expanded the phylogenetic diversity by 38% over the isolate microbial genomes, and the genomic landscape of the early-life microbiome by increasing recruitment of metagenomic reads to 82.8%. More than 60% of the ELGG species lack an isolate representative. The conspecific genomes of the most abundant species from children differed in gene diversity and functions compared to adults. The ELGG genomes encode over 80 million protein sequences, forming the Early-Life Gut Proteins (ELGP) catalog with over four million protein clusters, 29.5% of which lacked functional annotations. The ELGG and ELGP references provided new insights into the early-life human gut microbiome and will facilitate studies to understand the development and mechanisms of disturbances of the human gut microbiome in early life.
Hypoxia can threaten the metabolic functions of different systems in immature neonates, particularly the central nervous system. The red blood cell distribution width (RDW) has recently been reported as a prognostic factor in neurologic diseases. Herein, we examined the correlation between RDW and regional cerebral tissue oxygen saturation (rcSO2).This cross-sectional study included 110 preterm infants born at a gestational age (GA) of <32 weeks, or with a birth weight (BW) of <1,500 g at our institution between January and June 2,022. The rcSO2 was monitored using near-infrared spectroscopy, and RDW was extracted from the complete blood count during the first 14 days after birth. RDW and rcSO2 measurements were analyzed using a cross-sectional research method.We divided the study population into two groups, with a mean rcSO2 value over the first 14 days. Fifty-three preterm had rcSO2 ≥ 55% and 57% < 55%. The 14-days-mean in the study population showing an association of lower rcSO2 values with higher RDW values. Significantly higher RDW values were observed in the low rcSO2 group compared with those in the high rcSO2 group. Threshold effect analysis showed that rcSO2 decreased with RDW values ≥18% (β, -0.03; 95% CI, -0.04 and -0.02; p ≥ 0.0001). After adjusting for potential confounders, an RDW of ≥18% was determined as the predictive cutoff value for preterm infants with low rcSO2 (Model I: OR, 3.31; 95% CI, 1.36-8.06; p = 0.009; and Model II: OR, 3.31; 95% CI, 1.28-8.53; p = 0.013).An RDW of ≥18% in the first 14 days is associated with rcSO2 of <55% in preterm infants.
To compare the effect and safety of prednisolone and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in the treatment of infantile spasms (IS).Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, China Biology Medicine Disc, CNKI, and Wanfang Data were searched for clinical studies on the comparison between prednisolone and ACTH in the treatment of IS. Literature screening, data extraction, and quality assessment were performed. Review Manager 5.3 was used for Meta analysis.Five clinical studies were included according to the inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria. Meta analysis showed that there was no significant difference in the spasm remission rate, spasm remission time, complicating infection rate, and irritability rate between the prednisolone and ACTH treatment groups (P>0.05), but the disappearance rate of hypsarrhythmia in the electroencephalogram was higher in the ACTH treatment group than in the prednisolone treatment group (P<0.05).The available evidence shows no difference in the clinical efficacy of prednisolone versus ACTH in the treatment of IS. However, ACTH is superior to prednisolone in stabilizing EEG. The two therapies have no difference in the incidence of adverse reactions such as infection and irritability.
Abstract Tuberculin skin test and interferon-gamma release assay are not good at differentiating active tuberculosis from latent tuberculosis. Interferon-gamma-induced protein 10 (IP-10) has been widely used to detect tuberculosis infection. However, its values of discriminating active and latent tuberculosis is unknown. To estimate the diagnostic potential of IP-10 for differentiating active tuberculosis from latent tuberculosis, we searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, the Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP and CBM databases. Eleven studies, accounting for 706 participants (853 samples), were included. We used a bivariate diagnostic random-effects model to conduct the primary data. The overall pooled sensitivity, specificity, negative likelihood rate, positive likelihood rate, diagnostic odds ratio and area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve were 0.72 (95% CI: 0.68–0.76), 0.83 (95% CI: 0.79–0.87), 0.32 (95% CI: 0.22–0.46), 4.63 (95% CI: 2.79–7.69), 17.86 (95% CI: 2.89–38.49) and 0.8638, respectively. This study shows that IP-10 is a potential biomarker for differentiating active tuberculosis from latent tuberculosis.
In preterm infants (i.e. the gestational age less than 37 weeks), postnatal growth remains a concern. This study used multicenter longitudinal data from China's Under 5 Child Nutrition and Health Surveillance System to investigate the postnatal growth in the weight and length of preterm infants. Gender-stratified differences in weight and length were assessed between preterm and term infants. 1221 preterm infants and 1221 matched term infants were included. The rates of growth in weight and length in preterm infants was greater than those in term infants, especially from the first to sixth month. The rates were higher in males compared to females in the first 3 months. The differences of weight and length between preterm and term infants decreased with increasing age, however, these measurements did not reach the level of their term peers until 12 months before adjusting for gestational age. The median values of weight and length were even larger in preterm infants in the first month after adjusting for gestational age.
Pericytes are functional components of the neurovascular unit that are located around the blood vessels, and their roles in the regulation of cerebral health and diseases has been reported. Currently, the potential properties of pericytes as emerging therapeutic targets for cerebrovascular diseases have attracted considerable attention. Nonetheless, few reviews have comprehensively discussed pericytes and their roles in cerebrovascular diseases. Therefore, in this review, we not only summarized and described the basic characteristics of pericytes but also focused on clarifying the new understanding about the roles of pericytes in the pathogenesis of cerebrovascular diseases, including white matter injury, hypoxic–ischemic brain damage, depression, neovascular insufficiency disease, and Alzheimer's disease. Furthermore, we summarized the current therapeutic strategies targeting pericytes for cerebrovascular diseases. Collectively, this review is aimed at providing a comprehensive understanding of pericytes and new insights about the use of pericytes as novel therapeutic targets for cerebrovascular diseases.
To investigate the effect of different operation time to percutaneous balloon pulmonic valvuloplasty (PBPV) to critical pulmonary valve stenosis (CPS).Twenty-one infants (age ≤ 60 days at operating day) suffered from CPS, diagnosed by fetal echocardiogram and confirmed by echocardiography after birth, were enrolled in this case-control-study with written informed consent during April 2007 to December 2011. Of the 21 cases, 7 had prenatal diagnosis in our prenatal diagnosis center (prenatal group, Pre) and 14 were referred from other hospitals, who were divided into postpartum group A (Post A, referred within 28 days after birth) and postpartum group B (Post B, referred 29 to 60 days after birth). To Pre-group, the integrative interventional protocol was cautiously made by the consultative specialists, including intrauterine diagnosis, perinatal care and urgent PBPV soon after birth. To Post-group, emergency PBPV was preformed after the referral. Tei index of right ventricular and pressure-gradient (PG) between right ventricular and pulmonary artery were measured before and at different time points one year after PBPV.The values of SpO2 in Pre-group ranged from 82%-92% (86.57% ± 5.34%) under the state of continuous intravenous infusion of alprostadil. PBPV was successfully preformed within 3-6 days after birth. The values of SpO2 increased to 97.33% ± 1.15% post procedure. The values of PG pre- and post- procedure were (86.34 ± 11.77) mm Hg and (31.43 ± 8.46) mm Hg respectively. Preoperative RV Tei-index was 0.68 ± 0.05, it decreased rapidly after procedure, and recovered to normal one month after procedure. Only one case showed restenosis seven months after procedure and repeated PBPV. Fourteen referral cases (6 cases in Post A group and 8 cases in Post B group, accompanied in 1 and 3 cases with heart failure), the values of SpO2 ranged from 83%-91% under state of continuous intravenous infusion of alprostadil. And the operating time was 10-57 days after birth. The values of SpO2 recovered to normal post procedure, and heart failure alleviated. Increased preoperative RV pressure obviously decreased significantly post-procedure. And increased Tei-index declined gradually, at one-year follow-up, the value of Tei-index in Post A group recovered to normal, whereas that of Post B was (0.51 ± 0.06), compared to Pre and Post A groups, the difference was significant (P < 0.05) . One case showed restenosis nine months after procedure and repeated PBPV was performed. The hypoxic exposure durations were (4.43 ± 0.68) , (16.33 ± 4.46) , (41.25 ± 9.19) , respectively, and the difference among the three groups was significant (P < 0.05).To the fetuses with definite prenatal diagnosis of critical pulmonary valve stenosis, preoperative general condition can be adjusted to more suitable for emergency operation. Early PBPV can achieve shorter hypoxic exposure and better recovery of right ventricular function post procedure. Perinatal integrated intervention for CPS can significantly improve the prognosis and quality of life in this patient population.
To review the role of hypoxia inducible factor 1alpha (HIF-1alpha) in hypoxic-ischemic injury and its repair, and to analyze the possible mechanisms.Recent literature on HIF-1alpha and its role in hypoxic-ischemic injury was reviewed and analyzed.HIF-1alpha was involved in the hypoxic-ischemic injury of various organs or tissues and their repair processes.HIF-1alpha has a potential to treat common clinical hypoxic-ischemic injuries and has a promising future for application.