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ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of luteinizing hormone (LH) basal values and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) for rapidly progressive central precocious puberty (RP-CPP).MethodsA total of 121 girls presenting with secondary sexual characteristics were selected from the Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Lianyungang Clinical Medical College of Nanjing Medical University, from May 2021 to June 2023. The children were followed up for 6 months and were divided into three groups: RP-CPP group (n=40), slowly progressive central precocious puberty (SP-CPP) group (n=40), and premature thelarche (PT) group (n=41). The differences in LH basal values and SHBG among girls in the three groups were compared. ROC curves were drawn to analyze the value of LH basal values and SHBG in identifying RP-CPP.ResultsSignificant differences were observed in age, height, predicted adult height (PAH), weight, body mass index (BMI), bone age (BA), BA-chronological age (CA), LH basal, LH peak, FSH basal, LH peak/FSH peak, estradiol (E2), testosterone, and SHBG levels between the RP-CPP group and the SP-CPP and PT groups (P < 0.05). The LH basal value in the RP-CPP group was higher than that in the SP-CPP group and the PT group, while SHBG levels were lower than in the latter two groups, and these differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). When the LH basal value was ≥0.58 IU/L and SHBG was ≤58.79 nmol/L, the sensitivity for diagnosing RP-CPP was 77.5% and 67.5%, and the specificity was 66.7% and 74.1%.ConclusionDetection of basal LH and SHBG levels allows for early diagnosis of the progression of central precocious puberty.

Introduction: At 11:20 on 26 May 2018, a physician from Lianyungang No. 1 People’s Hospital, China, reported that six family members were being treated in the hospital with symptoms from an unknown cause. Methods: A case series for a food poisoning investigation and an environmental survey were conducted. The patients and their relatives were interviewed in person with a questionnaire contained on a digital tablet, and an investigation of the patients’ home was conducted in the presence of police officers. Probable case and confirmed case were defined to serve as a basis for identifying additional cases. Confirmed cases were defined as those probable cases in which blood, stool or vomitus specimens tested positive for paliperidone palmitate and/or its metabolites. A descriptive analysis was performed. Follow-up by telephone was conducted four months later. Results: There were six probable cases. The median age was 35 years (range: 5–76 years). The attack rate was 100% (n = 6/6) of persons who consumed a family dinner, and the hospitalization rate was also 100% (n = 6/6). The median period between exposure and symptom onset was two hours. The main symptoms included vomiting, nausea, drowsiness, dizziness and severe abdominal pain for adults, and vomiting and severe lethargy for children. An 8-year-old girl further showed changes in the ST segment of her electrocardiogram, and a 5-year-old boy showed QT prolongation. The poisoning substance was suspected to be paliperidone palmitate based on the patients’ symptoms and epidemiological findings.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the association between platelet (PLT) count and the risk and progression of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD). METHODS: In total, 122 HFMD patients and 40 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. The differences between variables among the different subgroups were compared. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the relationship between various parameters and HFMD risk/progression. Sensitivity analysis was conducted by detecting the trend of the association between PLT count quartiles and HFMD risk/progression. A generalized additive model was used to identify the nonlinear relationship between PLT count and HFMD risk/progression. The relationship between gender and PLT count as well as the risk/progression of HFMD was detected using a stratified logistic regression model. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed in terms of age, male/female ratio, white blood cell (WBC) count, and PLT count between patients with stage I-II, III-IV HFMD and healthy controls. Moreover, the alanine aminotransferase and magnesium levels between patients with stage I-II and III-IV HFMD significantly differed. Moreover, a significant difference was noted in the male/female ratio among the different PLT groups. The group with a low PLT count had a lower risk of HFMD progression than the group with a high PLT count (Q4) (p=0.039). Lower age, male gender, and WBC count were found to be associated with HFMD risk. Meanwhile, PLT count was correlated to HFMD progression. The sensitivity analysis yielded a similar result using the minimally adjusted model (p for trend=0.037), and minimal changes were observed using the crude and fully adjusted model (p for trend=0.054; 0.090). A significant nonlinear relationship was observed between PLT count and HFMD progression after adjusting for age, gender, and WBC (p=0.039). CONCLUSIONS: PLT was independently associated with HFMD progression in a nonlinear manner.