Growth Retardation Research Articles

CLASSİFİCATİON OF CLİNİCAL SYMPTOMS DEPENDİNG ON THE SEVERİTY OF ANEMİA İN PREGNANT WOMEN

The article provides information on the results of research conducted to study the changes in clinical signs during pregnancy in women with different degrees of iron deficiency anemia (IDA). Hemogram parameters were studied using the “ Mythic 18” (Switzerland) hematological analyzer. For this purpose, the mutual relationships between the main indicators of iron metabolism and the main symptoms of anemia were analyzed using clinical-biochemical methods in the blood of 110 women of reproductive age at various stages of pregnancy. The main contingent of the study consisted of 80 pregnant women with IDA (main group). 30 pregnant women without anemia were included in the comparison group, and 21 healthy women without pregnancy were included in the control group. It has been determined that in multiparous pregnant women, the hemoglobin level in mild anemia is Me = 10.4 (10.0-10.5), in moderate anemia Me = 8.9 (8.3-9.5), in severe anemia Me = 6.9 (6.3-6.9) p<0.001; the level of iron in mild anemia is Me = 9.0 (8.0-9.4), in moderate anemia Me = 6.7 (6.1-7.7), in severe anemia Me = 5.3 (3.5-5.8) p<0.001; the level of ferritin in mild anemia is Me = 19.3 (12.0-28.0), in moderate anemia Me = 9.9 (9.1-12.0), in severe anemia Me = 3.0 (2.0-8.0) p<0.001. During pregnancy, significant changes occur in iron metabolism in iron deficiency anemia. Pregnancy anemia is a significant risk factor for fetal and maternal morbidity. Thus, depending on the severity of anemia, complications such as intrauterine growth retardation, chronic fetal hypoxia, preeclampsia, preterm birth, and primary birth weakness during delivery have been predominant. This allows us to carry out corrective treatment.

A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF THE CRUCIAL ROLE OF RASA DHATU IN PRODUCING HEALTHY PROGENY.

Each year in India, there are approximately 28 million pregnancies, in which 26 million live births, a million neonatal deaths & congenital deformities is occurring due to malnutrition of mother and fetus. The classics of Ayurveda detail the crucial role of Rasa dhatu in the production of healthy progeny. During gametogenesis, Rasa dhatu is the foremost requirement for normal, healthy sperm and oocytes (Shukra & Artava). Malformed paternal Rasa dhatu leads to malnourished and malformed gametocytes through mitochondrial dysfunction, epigenetics and defects in meiosis cause Bija dosha, which in turn lead to Garbhshrava (miscarriage), deformed Garbha formation or congenital deformities like Suchi Mukh uterus in female fetus and sterile progeny. After fertilization, the ceased Artava (accumulated nutritional substance in the fluid of decidual cells) acts as a storage nutrition for the developing embryo in the embryonic phase. During organogenesis the Artava which is the Upadhatu of Rasa dhatu forms the maternal part of placenta. After formation of placenta & umbilical cord the Maternal Rasa dhatu provides directly nutrition to growing fetus. The malformed Rasa dhatu or the blocked Rasavaha channels of mother may cause different levels of intra uterine growth retardation such as Nagdhadara, Upavistaka, Lina garbha, Garbhashaya or Mritgarbha (IUD).

The Effect of Oxidative Stress and Antioxidants Treatment on Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Outcome: A Scoping Review.

Diagnosing a pregnant woman's glucose intolerance is referred to as gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Diabetes has been linked to enhanced oxidative stress. In this condition, oxidative stress may damage nucleic acids, fats, and proteins, which in turn affects cell and tissue functions. The present study highlights the relationship between oxidative stress and GDM, with a particular focus on the role of hyperglycemia-induced processes during reactive oxygen species (ROS) oversupply, followed by it discusses the oxidative stress biomarkers and assesses the effects of antioxidant supplements on glycemic control, inflammatory processes, and oxidative stress among individuals with GDM. Two reviewers conducted a comprehensive literature search utilizing the PubMed®, Web of Science™, and Scopus® databases. Only items published in the English language up until June 2024 were taken into account. We conducted a thorough search of research databases to identify articles that had the terms "oxidative stress" or "antioxidant" and "GDM". From this search, we selected 55 relevant papers to be included in this narrative review. Pregnancy-induced hypertension, postpartum bleeding, lower birth weight, a higher risk of hyperbilirubinemia in their neonates, fetal growth retardation, and birth asphyxia were revealed to be outcomes of women enduring major oxidative stress during pregnancy. Furthermore, tight glycemic control both before and throughout pregnancy as well as oxidative stress treatment may help women highly prone to GDM.

Comparison of the clinical picture and hormonal test results in children with growth hormone deficiency and idiopathic short stature – diagnostic difficulties and brief overview

Introduction and objective: Short stature is a common paediatric problem. Some children with short stature present growth hormone (GH) deficiency (GHD), whereas others have no hormonal disturbances (idiopathic short stature, ISS). Distinguishing between these two conditions is the task of the paediatric endocrinology centres. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical picture and hormonal tests results in patients with short stature caused by GHD and ISS. Materials and methods: The study included 100 short stature children. In all the children, medical history was obtained and a physical examination was performed. Next, bone age, insulin-like growth factor type 1 (IGF-1) levels, and GH secretion in two stimulation tests were assessed. With respect to the GH results, the children were divided into two groups: GHD (n = 38) and ISS (n = 62). Results: There were no significant differences between the groups with respect to age, sex, puberty stage, bone age, birth length and birth weight. Growth retardation was observed in both groups with a similar frequency, but in the ISS group it occurred significantly earlier. The mother’s height was lower in the ISS group. Body mass was significantly higher, but IGF-1 significantly lower in the GHD group. In both groups, the maximum GH secretion in the stimulation tests was higher after clonidine than after glucagon, which indicates that this test is more reliable. Conclusions: A similar degree of growth deficiency, growth rate deceleration and bone age delay are observed in ISS and GHD children, though ISS children are thinner and have higher IGF-1 levels. Despite some differences in clinical presentation, all short stature patients with growth rate deceleration should undergo thorough diagnostic testing along with GH stimulation tests.

Probiotics relieve growth retardation and stress by upgrading immunity in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) during high temperature events

Global warming is disastrous to aquatic animals and supplementation of probiotics might mitigate its adverse effects. Therefore, to mitigate the effects of high temperature on growth retardation, stress and immunity, multi-species probiotics consisting of Bacillus subtilis (5×109 cfu/ml), B. thuringiencis (4×109 cfu/ml), Lactobacillus plantarum (5.8×109 cfu/ml), and L. buchneri (6.5×109 cfu/ml) were added in rearing water (1.0 ml/L) of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Fingerlings (1.08 ± 0.13 g) were reared at normal (31ºC) and elevated (34ºC and 37ºC) temperatures with or without probiotics for 6 weeks in triplicates. At the end of the experimental period, weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) decreased significantly at 37ºC in fish supplemented with or without probiotics relative to normal temperature (31ºC). Importantly, at the high temperature (37ºC), WG and SGR were improved in fish supplemented with probiotics in contrast to fish reared without probiotics. The physiological status was improved by increasing the hemoglobin level and number of red blood cells and lowering white blood cells and glucose levels in the probiotics-treated high-temperature group. Frequencies of cellular and nuclear abnormalities of erythrocytes were significantly lowered in probiotics-supplemented fish. Histological observation demonstrated that multi-probiotics mitigated the high-temperature stress through increasing mucosal fold fattening, goblet cells, and the size of lamina propria and enterocytes in the intestine. Fish under higher temperatures (34 and 37ºC) showed up-regulated expression of the stress-related heat shock protein 70 (hsp70) gene, while its expression was decreased after probiotics addition. In contrast, two antioxidant-related genes (superoxide dismutase; SOD) and catalase; CAT) showed opposite expression patterns. The expression of three immune response-related genes (tumor necrosis factor alpha; TNF-α, interleukin 1 beta; IL-1β, and interferon gamma; IFN-γ) down-regulated with increase of temperature, while their expressions were increased after probiotics addition. Therefore, addition of probiotics in aquatic environment improved hemato-biochemical properties, blood cell structure, and immunity which ultimately relieve the growth retardation and stress in extreme temperatures in Nile tilapia.

A case of chronic kidney disease with refractory periodic vomiting and hypertension in a pediatric patient.

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) sometimes experience gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting. In addition, hypertension and CKD are closely linked, and sustained hypertension in children is associated with the progression of CKD, leading to early cardiomyopathy and premature atherosclerosis. These symptoms substantially affect the quality of daily life of CKD patients, and particularly in children with CKD, they may cause growth retardation. Therefore, establishing effective management methods to alleviate these symptoms is very important. Here, we report a case of a male patient who was born at 34weeks of gestation weighing 1400g. At birth, abdominal ultrasonography displayed left multicystic dysplastic kidney. From 6months after birth, he was frequently hospitalized owing to refractory periodic vomiting. At 9 months old, he was diagnosed as having stage 3a CKD, and at 20 months old, he presented with stage 2 high blood pressure. In Japan, the uremic toxin adsorbent AST-120 and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor-I (ACE-I) are not strongly recommended for CKD patients. However, after the patient underwent combination therapy of AST-120 and ACE-I, his frequent hospitalizations for refractory periodic vomiting ceased, and his blood pressure decreased. These results indicate that AST-120 and ACE-I are effective for refractory periodic vomiting and hypertension associated with CKD. The patient's height, weight, and mental development are catching up smoothly. The cause of the patient's refractory periodic vomiting remains unclear. However, his impaired kidney function owing to congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract may have caused the refractory periodic vomiting and dehydration. The production of uremic toxins in CKD patients is thought to lead to the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines into the circulation. However, our patient had low serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines, and his serum levels of the chemokines CX3CL1 and CCL2 decreased with age, together with improvement in his clinical course. Therefore, some specific chemokines might be diagnostic and/or prognostic biomarkers of CKD.

Progeroid Cockayne Syndrome

Cockayne syndrome is a rare genetic disease from the group of premature aging syndromes associated with impaired DNA repair. The syndrome is autosomal recessive, and it is caused by pathogenic variants in ERCC8, ERCC6, XPB (ERCC3), XPD (ERCC2), and XPG (ERCC5) genes. Its prevalence is 1 case per 2.5 million people. The clinical signs include nervous, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems impairments, severe growth retardation, and body weight deficiency. The average life expectancy of these patients varies from 5 to 30 years and depends on the disease type and severity. There is no pathogenetic treatment. This article presents the results of the latest research on the disease diagnosis and management.

Network pharmacology analysis of the regulatory effects and mechanisms of ALAE on sow reproduction in vivo and in vitro

Ethnopharmacological relevanceReproductive ability of sows is a primary element influencing the development of pig farming. Herbal extracts of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels, Astragalus mongholicus Bunge, Eucommia ulmoides Oliv., and Polypodium glycyrrhiza D.C.Eaton showed effects on improvement of reproduction in sows. Aims of the studyTo investigate the mechanism of the treatment effects by a compound of these four Chinese herbs in a 1:1:1:1 ratio (ALAE) on endometriosis, endometritis, uterine adhesion, intrauterine growth retardation, pre-eclampsia, and its enhancement of reproductive efficiency in sows. Materials and methodsActive components of ALAE were identified by using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis and network pharmacology. Then we used the results to construct a visualization network. Key targets and pathways of ALAE involved in sow reproduction improvement were validated in sow animals and porcine endometrial epithelial cells (PEECs). ResultsA total of 62 active compounds were found in ALAE (41 in Polypodium glycyrrhiza D.C.Eaton, 5 in Astragalus mongholicus Bunge, 11 in Eucommia ulmoides Oliv., 5 in Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels) with 563 disease-related targets (e.g. caspase-3, EGFR, IL-6) involved in EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance, PI3K-AKT, and other signaling pathways. Molecular docking results indicated GC41 (glabridin), GC18 (medicarpin), EGFR and CCND1 are possible key components and target proteins related to reproductive improvement in sows. In PEECs, EGFR expression decreased at the mRNA and protein levels by three doses (160, 320, and 640 μg/mL) of ALAE. The phosphorylation of downstream pathway PI3K-AKT1 was enhanced. The expression of inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-1β), ESR1 and caspase-3 decreased through multiple pathways. Additionally, the expression levels of an anti-inflammatory factor (IL-10), angiogenesis-related factors (MMP9, PIGF, PPARγ, IgG), and placental junction-related factors (CTNNB1, occludin, and claudin1) increased. Furthermore, the total born number of piglets, the number of live and healthy litters were significantly increased. The number of stillbirths decreased by ALAE treatment in sow animals. ConclusionsDministration of ALAE significantly increased the total number of piglets born, the numbers of live and healthy litters and decreased the number of stillbirths through improving placental structure, attenuating inflammatory response, modulating placental angiogenesis and growth factor receptors in sows. The improvement of reproductive ability may be related to activation of the EGFR-PI3K-AKT1 pathway in PEECs. Moreover, ALAE maybe involved in modulation of estrogen receptors, apoptotic factors, and cell cycle proteins.

Mechanisms and Future Research Perspectives on Mitochondrial Diseases Associated with Isoleucyl-tRNA Synthetase Gene Mutations.

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are essential enzymes for the accurate translation of genetic information. IARS1 and IARS2 are isoleucyl-tRNA synthetases functioning in the cytoplasm and mitochondria, respectively, with genetic mutations in these enzymes causing diverse clinical phenotypes in specific organs and tissues. Mutations in IARS1 and IARS2 have recently been linked to mitochondrial diseases. This review aims to explore the relationship between IARS1 and IARS2 and these diseases, providing a comprehensive overview of their association with mitochondrial diseases. Mutations in IARS1 cause weak calf syndrome in cattle and mitochondrial diseases in humans, leading to growth retardation and liver dysfunction. Mutations in IARS2 are associated with Leigh syndrome, craniosynostosis and abnormal genitalia syndrome. Future research is expected to involve genetic analysis of a larger number of patients, identifying new mutations in IARS1 and IARS2, and elucidating their impact on mitochondrial function. Additionally, genetically modified mice and the corresponding phenotypic analysis will serve as powerful tools for understanding the functions of these gene products and unraveling disease mechanisms. This will likely promote the development of new therapies and preventive measures.

IL-27 Gene Therapy Ameliorates IPEX Syndrome Caused by Germline Mutation of Foxp3 Gene: A Major Role for Induction of IL-10.

Inactivating mutations of Foxp3, the master regulator of regulatory T cell development and function, lead to immune dysregulation, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, X-linked (IPEX) syndrome in mice and humans. IPEX is a fatal autoimmune disease, with allogeneic stem cell transplant being the only available therapy. In this study, we report that a single dose of adeno-associated virus (AAV)-IL-27 to young mice with naturally occurring Foxp3 mutation (Scurfy mice) substantially ameliorates clinical symptoms, including growth retardation and early fatality. Correspondingly, AAV-IL-27 gene therapy significantly prevented naive T cell activation, as manifested by downregulation of CD62L and upregulation of CD44, and immunopathology typical of IPEX. Because IL-27 is known to induce IL-10, a key effector molecule of regulatory T cells, we evaluated the contribution of IL-10 induction by crossing IL-10-null allele to Scurfy mice. Although IL-10 deficiency does not affect the survival of Scurfy mice, it largely abrogated the therapeutic effect of AAV-IL-27. Our study revealed a major role for IL-10 in AAV-IL-27 gene therapy and demonstrated that IPEX is amenable to gene therapy.

Phosphate solubilizing Aspergillus Niger PH1 ameliorates growth and alleviates lead stress in maize through improved photosynthetic and antioxidant response

Among the several threats to humanity by anthropogenic activities, contamination of the environment by heavy metals is of great concern. Upon entry into the food chain, these metals cause serious hazards to plants and other organisms including humans. Use of microbes for bioremediation of the soil and stress mitigation in plants are among the preferred strategies to provide an efficient, cost-effective, eco-friendly solution of the problem. The current investigation is an attempt in this direction where fungal strain PH1 was isolated from the rhizosphere of Parthenium hysterophorus which was identified as Aspergillus niger by sequence homology of the ITS 1 and ITS 4 regions of the rRNA. The strain was tested for its effect on growth and biochemical parameters as reflection of its potential to mitigate Pb stress in Zea mays exposed to 100, 200 and 500 µg of Pb/g of soil. In the initial screening, it was revealed that the strain has the ability to tolerate lead stress, solubilize insoluble phosphate and produce plant growth promoting hormones (IAA and SA) and other metabolites like phenolics, flavonoids, sugar, protein and lipids. Under 500 µg of Pb/g of soil, Z. mays exhibited significant growth retardation with a reduction of 31% in root length, 30.5% in shoot length, 57.5% in fresh weight and 45.2% in dry weight as compared to control plants. Inoculation of A. niger to Pb treated plants not only restored root and shoot length, rather promoted it to a level significantly higher than the control plants. Association of the strain modulated the physio-hormonal attributes of maize plants that resulted in their better growth which indicated a state of low stress. Additionally, the strain boosted the antioxidant defence system of the maize there by causing a significant reduction in the ascorbic acid peroxidase (1.5%), catalase (19%) and 1,1-diphenyl-2 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity (33.3%), indicating a lower stress condition as compared to their non-inoculated stressed plants. Based on current evidence, this strain can potentially be used as a biofertilizer for Pb-contaminated sites where it will improve overall plant health with the hope of achieving better biological and agricultural yields.

Loss of Tet hydroxymethylase activity causes mouse embryonic stem cell differentiation bias and developmental defects.

The TET family is well known for active DNA demethylation and plays important roles in regulating transcription, the epigenome and development. Nevertheless, previous studies using knockdown (KD) or knockout (KO) models to investigate the function of TET have faced challenges in distinguishing its enzymatic and nonenzymatic roles, as well as compensatory effects among TET family members, which has made the understanding of the enzymatic role of TET not accurate enough. To solve this problem, we successfully generated mice catalytically inactive for specific Tet members (Tetm/m). We observed that, compared with the reported KO mice, mutant mice exhibited distinct developmental defects, including growth retardation, sex imbalance, infertility, and perinatal lethality. Notably, Tetm/m mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) were successfully established but entered an impaired developmental program, demonstrating extended pluripotency and defects in ectodermal differentiation caused by abnormal DNA methylation. Intriguingly, Tet3, traditionally considered less critical for mESCs due to its lower expression level, had a significant impact on the global hydroxymethylation, gene expression, and differentiation potential of mESCs. Notably, there were common regulatory regions between Tet1 and Tet3 in pluripotency regulation. In summary, our study provides a more accurate reference for the functional mechanism of Tet hydroxymethylase activity in mouse development and ESC pluripotency regulation.

Exposure to polyhexamethyleneguanidine phosphate in early life dampens pulmonary damage compared to adult mice

Polyhexamethyleneguanidine phosphate (PHMG-P) is a biocide of guanidine family that can cause a fatal lung damage if exposed directly to the lungs. No reports exist regarding the toxicity of PHMG-P in neonatal animals. Therefore, this study aimed to determine PHMG-P toxicity in neonatal and 8-week-old mice after they were intranasally instilled with 1.5 mg/kg, 3 mg/kg, and 4.5 mg/kg PHMG-P. PHMG-P lung exposure resulted in more severe pulmonary toxicity in adult mice than in newborn mice. In the high-dose group of newborn mice, a minimal degree of inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrosis in the lung were detected, whereas more severe pathological lesions including granulomatous inflammation, fibrosis, and degeneration of the bronchiolar epithelium were observed in adult mice. At day 4, C–C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), a potent chemokine for monocytes, was upregulated but recovered to normal levels at day 15 in newborn mice. However, increased CCL2 and IL-6 levels were sustained at day 15 in adult mice. When comparing the differentially expressed genes of newborn and adult mice through RNA-seq analysis, there were expression changes in several genes associated with inflammation in neonates that were similar or different from those in adults. Although no significant lung damage occurred in newborns, growth inhibition was observed which was not reversed until the end of the experiment. Further research is needed to determine how growth inhibition from neonatal exposure to PHMG-P affects adolescent and young adult health.

SHP2 as a primordial epigenetic enzyme expunges histone H3 pTyr-54 to amend androgen receptor homeostasis

Mutations that decrease or increase the activity of the tyrosine phosphatase, SHP2 (encoded by PTPN11), promotes developmental disorders and several malignancies by varying phosphatase activity. We uncovered that SHP2 is a distinct class of an epigenetic enzyme; upon phosphorylation by the kinase ACK1/TNK2, pSHP2 was escorted by androgen receptor (AR) to chromatin, erasing hitherto unidentified pY54-H3 (phosphorylation of histones H3 at Tyr54) epigenetic marks to trigger a transcriptional program of AR. Noonan Syndrome with Multiple Lentigines (NSML) patients, SHP2 knock-in mice, and ACK1 knockout mice presented dramatic increase in pY54-H3, leading to loss of AR transcriptome. In contrast, prostate tumors with high pSHP2 and pACK1 activity exhibited progressive downregulation of pY54-H3 levels and higher AR expression that correlated with disease severity. Overall, pSHP2/pY54-H3 signaling acts as a sentinel of AR homeostasis, explaining not only growth retardation, genital abnormalities and infertility among NSML patients, but also significant AR upregulation in prostate cancer patients.

Inhibitory effect of Lonicera japonica flos on Streptococcus mutans biofilm and mechanism exploration through metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses.

Streptococcus mutans was the primary pathogenic organism responsible for dental caries. Lonicera japonica flos (LJF) is a traditional herb in Asia and Europe and consumed as a tea beverage for thousands of years. The inhibitory effect and mechanism of LJF on biofilm formation by S. mutans was investigated. The active extracts of LJF were validated for their inhibitory activity by examining changes in surface properties such as adherence, hydrophobicity, auto-aggregation abilities, and exopolysaccharides (EPS) production, including water-soluble glucan and water-insoluble glucan. LJF primarily inhibited biofilm formation through the reduction of EPS production, resulting in alterations in cell surface characteristics and growth retardation in biofilm formation cycles. Integrated transcriptomic and untargeted metabolomics analyses revealed that EPS production was modulated through two-component systems (TCS), quorum sensing (QS), and phosphotransferase system (PTS) pathways under LJF stress conditions. The sensing histidine kinase VicK was identified as an important target protein, as LJF caused its dysregulated expression and blocked the sensing of autoinducer II (AI-2). This led to the inhibition of response regulator transcriptional factors, down-regulated glycosyltransferase (Gtf) activity, and decreased production of water-insoluble glucans (WIG) and water-soluble glucans (WSG). This is the first exploration of the inhibitory effect and mechanism of LJF on S. mutans, providing a theoretical basis for the application of LJF in functional food, oral health care, and related areas.

Nerve enlargement in patients with Noonan syndrome: A retrospective cohort study.

Noonan syndrome (NS) is an autosomal dominant condition characterized by facial dysmorphism, congenital heart disease, development delay, growth retardation and lymphatic disease. It is caused by germline pathogenic variants in genes encoding proteins in the Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway. Nerve enlargement is not generally considered as a feature of NS, although some cases have been reported. High-resolution nerve ultrasound enables detailed anatomical assessment of peripheral nerves and can show enlarged nerves. This retrospective cohort study aims to describe the sonographic findings of patients with NS performed during a 1-year time period. Data on the degree of enlargement, the relation to increasing age, pain in extremities, genotype on the gene level and clinical features were collected. Twenty-nine of 93 patients visiting the NS Center of Expertise of the Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen underwent high-resolution ultrasound. In 24 patients (83%) nerve enlargement was found. Most of them experienced pain. We observed a weak correlation with increasing age and the degree of nerve enlargement but no association with pain, genotype at the gene level or clinical features. This study shows that patients with NS have a high predisposition for sonographic nerve enlargement and that the majority experience pain.

Prevention and correction of micronutrient deficiencies. What do we know about it?

BACKGROUND: Micronutrient deficiencies, including deficiencies of vitamins and microelements, are a major public health concern worldwide. They are highly prevalent, particularly in developing countries, and have significant health consequences, including anemia, impaired immune function, cognitive impairment, and growth retardation. Micronutrient deficiencies can also contribute to the development of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Micronutrient deficiencies can also contribute to the development of chronic diseases. AIM: To study the knowledge, interest and motivation of different population groups regarding vitamin and micronutrient intake. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The original questionnaire with 45 questions was completed by 344 respondents: 141 (41%) without medical education, 91 (25.4%) with higher medical education, 112 (32.6%) by students of medical unvesities. RESULTS: Only 100 (29.4%) respondents considered their nutrition balanced. 180 (52.3%) people did not consume vegetables and fruits on a daily basis, 82 (23.3%) respondents almost never consumed fish and seafood. Almost all respondents [335 (97.4%)] took some vitamin and mineral complex at least in one of the periods of their life, 284 (82.6%) — did it without a doctor’s prescription. Female respondents demonstrated a higher level of knowledge about the problem under study: 115 (41.9%) women and only 17 (24.2%) men had checked vitamin D levels (p = 0.006), while 187 (68.2%) women and only 33 (47.1%) men had taken vitamin D (p = 0.006). Those receiving/having higher medical education were more likely to take vitamin D (4.4 times), vitamin B6 (3.8 times), selenium (3 times), and zinc (2.8 times) than non-medical respondents. CONCLUSIONS: The nature of nutrition indicates potential risks of micronutrient imbalance in the respondents. Knowledge about the problem of micronutrient imbalances among the study participants is not systematized. Men and people without medical education have less knowledge on this topic and are less likely to take various micronutrients.

Magnetic resonance imaging in assessing the condition of the pituitary gland in children with growth retardation

Magnetic resonance imaging in assessing the condition of the pituitary gland in children with growth retardation

Preclinical study and phase II trial of adapting low-dose radiotherapy to immunotherapy in small cell lung cancer

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) provide modest but unsatisfactory benefits for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). Developing strategies for treating ES-SCLC is critical. We preliminarily explored the outcomes of salvage low-dose radiotherapy (LDRT) plus ICI on refractory SCLC patients. Next, we evaluated the combinational efficacy in murine SCLC. The tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) was analyzed for mechanistic study. Subsequently, we conducted a multicenter, prospective phase II trial that administered concurrent thoracic LDRT plus chemoimmunotherapy to treatment-naive ES-SCLC patients (MATCH trial, NCT04622228). The primary endpoint was confirmed objective response rate (ORR), and the key secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS) and safety. Fifteen refractory SCLC patients treated with LDRT plus ICI were retrospectively reviewed. The ORR was 73.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 44.9-92.2). We identified a specific dose of LDRT (15 Gy/5 fractions) that exhibited growth retardation and improved survival in murine SCLC when combined with ICIs. This combination recruited a special Tcell population, TCF1+ PD-1+ CD8+ stem-like Tcells, from tumor-draining lymph nodes into the TIME. The MATCH trial showed a confirmed ORR of 87.5% (95% CI, 75.9-94.8). The median PFS was 6.9months (95% CI, 5.4-9.3). These findings verified that LDRT plus chemoimmunotherapy was safe, feasible, and effective for ES-SCLC, warranting further investigation. This research was funded by West China Hospital (no. ZYJC21003), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 82073336), and the MATCH trial was fully funded by Roche (China) Holding Ltd. (RCHL) and Shanghai Roche Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (SRPL).

Pathogenicity of Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella typhimurium Isolated from Ducks.

Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhimurium) is one of the most common Salmonella serotypes in epidemiological surveys of poultry farms in recent years. It causes growth retardation, mortality, and significant economic losses. The extensive use of antibiotics has led to the emergence of multi-drug resistance (MDR) in Salmonella, which has become a significant global problem and long-term challenge. In this study, we investigated the prevalence and features of S. typhimurium strains in duck embryos and cloacal swabs from large-scale duck farms in Shandong, China, including drug resistance and virulence genes and the pathogenicity of an S. typhimurium strain by animal experiment. The results demonstrated that a total of 8 S. typhimurium strains were isolated from 13,621 samples. The drug resistance results showed that three of the eight S. typhimurium strains were MDR with the dominant resistance profile of CTX-DX-CTR-TE-AMX-AMP-CAZ. In particular, the virulence genes invA, hilA, pefA, rck, and sefA showed high positive rates. Based on the analysis of the biological characteristics of bacterial biofilm formation and mobility, a strain of S. typhimurium with the strongest biofilm formation ability, designated 22SD07, was selected for animal infection experiments with broiler ducklings. The results of animal experiments demonstrated that infection with 22SD07 reduced body weight and bursa index but increased heart and liver indexes compared to the control group. Histological examination revealed desquamation of the intestinal villous epithelium, the presence of large aggregates of lymphocytes, and a decrease in goblet cells following infection. Furthermore, the expression of IL-10 was significantly increased in the liver at 3 dpi, while TNF-α was significantly increased in the spleen at 7 dpi. The above results indicate that S. typhimurium may pose a potential threat to human health through the food chain. This helps us to understand the frequency and characteristics of S. typhimurium in duck farms and emphasizes the urgent need to strengthen and implement effective continuous monitoring to control its infection and transmission.