Search

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics of multiple-birth preterm infants with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and examine the effects of multiple births on clinical manifestations and outcomes of NEC infants. Methods In this retrospective study, 234 premature infants with NEC admitted to Shanghai Children's Hospital from July 2014 to June 2021 were included as research objects, among which 79 were multiple premature infants with NEC and 155 were single premature infants with NEC, According to the presence of single/multiple birth, they were divided into two groups of singleton (group A, n = 155) and multiple-birth (group B, n = 79). Twin group of vaginal delivery was divided into primary birth (group C, n = 9 and secondary birth (group D, n = 4) based upon birth order. Twin group was also assigned into two groups of higher birth weight (group E, n = 20) and lower birth weight (group F n = 45. And twin group was divided into two groups of concordant twins (CT, group G, n = 42 and discordant twins (DT, group H, n = 26). The latter group was further divided into DT with higher birth weight (group l, n = 5 and DT with lower birth weight (group J,n= 21). Demographic profiles (birth weight, gestational age & birth mode), clinical data (time of NEC onset, laboratory results & Bell stage), treatment (medical or surgical, intestinal perforation & extent of disease) and outcomes (postoperative complications & in-hospital mortality) were recorded. Results Seventy-nine cases of multiple preterm NEC infants were recruited, including 75 twins and 4 triplets. Seventy-five preterm NEC twins had a mean gestational age of 31. 60 weeks and a mean birth weight of 1 476.51 gram. Bell stage was 1 (n= 35), II (n = 21) and III n = 19 Eighteen cases (24%) underwent operation. As compared with group A, NEC infants in group B had a lower birth weight [1618.77 ± 481.30) g. (1 479.34 ±376.88) g, P = 0.016], higher rates of cesarean delivery [84(54.2%) vs. 65 (82.3%), P < 0.001 ] and assisted reproductive technology [11(7.1%) vs. 21 (26.6%) P < 0.001 ]. However, no differences existed in demographic profiles, clinical manifestations, laboratory results, Bell stage, surgery or outcomes (P > 0.05). There was no significant effect of birth order on demographic profiles, clinical manifestations, laboratory results, Bell stage, surgery or outcomes (P > 0.05) As compared with group E, group F had a lower birth weight [(1677.65 ±458.23) gus. (1382.89±300.81) g,P=0.019], lower WBC count [(12.31 ±4.22) ts. (9.13 plus/minus 4.01) * 109/L P = 0.023], greater intestinal lesion [5(45.4%) ts.0(0.0%), P = 0.002 ] and more postoperative complications [11(100%) 18. 3 (42.9%), P = 0.011 ] No difference existed in demographic profiles, clinical manifestations, other laboratory results, Bell stage, surgery or in-hospital mortality (P > 0.05). As compared with group G, group J had a greater gestational age [(30.95±2.44), (32.71 ±2.30) week, P = 0.027 ] and a higher rate of cesarean delivery [30 (71.4%) ts. 20 (95.2%) P = 0.045) rfloor. However, no differences existed in demographic profiles, clinical manifestations, laboratory results, Bell stage, surgery or outcomes (P > 0.05) Conclusions Multiple-birth NEC infants have no greater severity of Bell stage, more surgery, greater extent of intestinal lesion, more postoperative complications or higher in-hospital mortality. Twins with lower birth weight are prone to greater extent of intestinal lesion and more postoperative complications. However, birth order and discordance of twins have no significant effect on disease severity, surgery or in-hospital mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To observe the changes in invasion and apoptosis of neuroblastoma (NB) cells transfected with insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3) gene siRNA and eukaryotic expression plasmid, in order to investigate the effects of IGF2BP3 gene on invasion and apoptosis of NB cells. Methods NB cell lines IMR-32, SK-N-BE (2), BE (2)-C, and SH-SY-5Y were selected. The protein and mRNA expression levels of IGF2BP3 were detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR (qRT-qPCR) and Western blotting (WB), and Transwell assay was used to detect the invasive capacity of NB cell lines in vitro. SK-N-BE (2) cells with the highest expression level of IGF2BP3 and IMR-32 cells with the lowest expression level of IGF2BP3 were selected as the follow-up experiment cells. SK-N-BE (2) cells were transfected with siRNA targeting IGF2BP3 gene (SK-siIGF2BP3 group), and meanwhile, we set up a control group (SK- Control group, only liposomes) and a siRNA control group (SK-siNC group, transfected with the negative control sequence). IMR-32 cells were transfected with IGF2BP3 eukaryotic expression plasmid (IMR-IGF2BP3 group), and meanwhile, we set up a control group (IMR-Control group, only liposomes) and a empty vector control group (IMR-Vector group, transfected with the empty vector). After successful transfection, IGF2BP3 mRNA and protein of each group were detected by qRT-PCR, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining. The cell invasion ability of each group was observed by Transwell assay, and the apoptosis rate of NB cells in each group was measured by flow cytometry. The invasion related proteins E-cadherin, N-cadherin and vimentin were detected by Western blotting. Results Compared with the SK-Control group and SK-siNC group, the relative expression levels of IGF2BP3 mRNA and protein decreased in the SK-siIGF2BP3 group, the cells penetrating the Transwell membrane decreased, and the apoptosis rate increased (all P<0. 05). Compared with the IMR-Control group and IMR-Vector group, the relative mRNA and protein expression levels of IGF2BP3 increased, the cells penetrating the Transwell membrane increased, and the apoptosis rate decreased in the IMR-IGF2BP3 group (all P<0. 05). In the SK-N-BE (2) cells, compared with the SK-siNC group and SK-Control group, the relative expression levels of N-cadherin and Vimentin proteins decreased, while the relative expression level of E-cadherin protein increased in the SK-siIGF2BP3 group (all P<0. 05). In the IMR-32 cells, compared with the IMR-Vector group and IMR-Control group, the relative expression levels of N-cadherin and Vimentin proteins increased, while the relative expression level of E-cadherin protein decreased in the IMR-IGF2BP3 group (all P<0. 05). Conclusion The invasive ability of NB cells transfected with siRNA of IGF2BP3 gene decreased and the apoptosis rate increased, while the invasive ability of NB cells transfected with IGF2BP3 eukaryotic expression plasmid increased and the apoptosis rate decreased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]