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Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) is a rare tumor that can develop on the lining of nerves and within the network of nerve fibers in different organs, and it is commonly found in the head and neck, limbs, and trunk. These tumors can occur in patients of any age. They most commonly occur in adults aged 20 to 50 years; however, fewer cases of this tumor in children have been reported. To date, no neonatal case of MPNST in the nasal cavity has been reported. Here, we report the case of a 4-day-old female newborn who presented with a nasal mass that re-enlarged after surgery and was diagnosed as MPNST of the nasal cavity on the basis of pathological results. This is the first report of MPNST in the nasal cavity of a neonate. Differential diagnosis and treatment of nasal masses have been proposed in the related literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pleural mesothelioma (PM) with pericardial involvement is extremely rare. We now report a rare case of malignant PM with constrictive pericarditis as the first presentation. A 59‐year‐old male diagnosed with constrictive pericarditis underwent pericardiectomy and pericardial pathology revealed mesothelial hyperplasia. Eight months after surgery, the patient was admitted to the hospital with chest tightness and wheezing for 5 days. Computed tomography scan of the chest showed a left lung expansion insufficiency, limited bilateral pleural thickening, pericardial thickening with a small amount of pericardial effusion, and multiple enlarged lymph nodes in the mediastinum, bilateral supraclavicular fossa, bilateral cervical roots, and right axilla. The pleural malignancy should be possibly considered. Pathology after pleural puncture showed malignant PM. Pathology after left supraclavicular lymph node puncture biopsy showed metastatic malignant mesothelioma. The diagnosis of this patient was clear. Although malignant PM rarely involves the pericardial constriction, we cannot ignore the fact that malignant PM involves the pericardium. The patient has been diagnosed with constrictive pericarditis, accompanied by pleural thickening and pleural effusion. Without other pathogenic factors, pleural biopsy should be aggressively performed in patients with constrictive pericarditis to determine the cause. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes mellitus in pregnancy has been known to affect the embryonic development of various systems, including cardiovascular and nervous systems. However, whether this disease could have a negative impact on embryonic respiratory system remains controversial. In this study, we demonstrated that pregestational diabetes mellitus (PGDM)-induced defects in lung development in mice are mainly characterized by the changes in the morphological structure of the lung. Immunostaining and Western blotting showed that proliferation increased and apoptosis decreased in PGDM. Hyperglycaemia caused pulmonary tissue fibrationas manifested by an increase in Masson staining and decorin expression in PGDM lungs, and the immunofluorescent pro-SPC+ type II pulmonary epithelial cell number was decreased. The alteration of pulmonary epithelial cell differentiation might be due to hyperglycaemiaactivated Wnt signalling and suppressed GATA6 expression in PGDM mouse lung tissues and MLE-12 cells. The treatment of MLE-12 cells with high glucose in the presence/absence of XAV939 or su5402 further proved that hyperglycaemia suppressed the expression of GATA6 and pro-SPC by activating Wnt signalling and induced the expression of decorin, α-SMA and TGF-β by activating Fgf signalling. Therefore, in this study, we revealed that hyperglycemia induced dysfunctional pulmonary cell apoptosis and proliferation, as well as pulmonary myofibroblast hyperplasia, which contributed to the formation of aberrant structure of alveolar walls. Furthermore, the hyperglycaemia also inhibited the differentiation of pulmonary epithelial cells through the canonical Wnt and Fgf signalling, and the alteration of Fgf and Wnt signalling activated TGF-β, which would promote the AECII EMT process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) is a rare tumor that can develop on the lining of nerves and within the network of nerve fibers in different organs, and it is commonly found in the head and neck, limbs, and trunk. These tumors can occur in patients of any age. They most commonly occur in adults aged 20 to 50 years; however, fewer cases of this tumor in children have been reported. To date, no neonatal case of MPNST in the nasal cavity has been reported. Here, we report the case of a 4-day-old female newborn who presented with a nasal mass that re-enlarged after surgery and was diagnosed as MPNST of the nasal cavity on the basis of pathological results. This is the first report of MPNST in the nasal cavity of a neonate. Differential diagnosis and treatment of nasal masses have been proposed in the related literature.

Objectives: To establish a system for regulating the gene expression of embryonic mouse cerebral cortex neural stem cells (NSCs) using in utero electroporation (IUE)., Methods: At embryonic day 14.5, the mouse cerebral cortex NSCs were electro-transfected with the pCIG plasmid injected into the ventricle of the mouse embryo. At embryonic day 16.5 or day 17.5, embryonic mouse brain tissues were collected to prepare frozen sections. Immunofluorescence staining was used to observe the proliferation, apoptosis, division, directional differentiation, migration, and maturation of NSCs., Results: The differentiation of NSCs into intermediate progenitors, the proliferation and apoptosis of NSCs, and the morphological development of radial axis of radial glial cells were observed at embryonic day 16.5. The differentiation of NSCs into neurons in layers V-VI of the cerebral cortex, the migration of NSCs to the lateral cerebral cortex, the development of dendrites of migrating neurons, and the maturation of neurons were observed at embryonic day 17.5., Conclusions: The system for regulating the gene expression of embryonic mouse cerebral cortex NSCs can be established using IUE, which is useful for the study of neural development related to the proliferation, apoptosis, division, directional differentiation, migration and maturation of NSCs in the cerebral cortex.

Objectives: To investigate the clinical treatment outcomes and the changes of the outcomes over time in extremely preterm twins in Guangdong Province, China., Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed for 269 pairs of extremely preterm twins with a gestational age of <28 weeks who were admitted to the department of neonatology in 26 grade A tertiary hospitals in Guangdong Province from January 2008 to December 2017. According to the admission time, they were divided into two groups: 2008-2012 and 2013-2017. Besides, each pair of twins was divided into the heavier infant and the lighter infant subgroups according to birth weight. The perinatal data of mothers and hospitalization data of neonates were collected. The survival rate of twins and the incidence rate of complications were compared between the 2008-2012 and 2013-2017 groups., Results: Compared with the 2008-2012 group, the 2013-2017 group (both the heavier infant and lighter infant subgroups) had lower incidence rates of severe asphyxia and smaller head circumference at birth ( P <0.05). The mortality rates of both of the twins, the heavier infant of the twins, and the lighter infant of the twins were lower in the 2013-2017 group compared with the 2008-2012 group ( P <0.05). Compared with the 2008-2012 group, the 2013-2017 group (both the heavier infant and lighter infant subgroups) had lower incidence rates of pulmonary hemorrhage, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage (P-IVH), and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) and a higher incidence rate of bronchopulmonary dysplasia ( P <0.05)., Conclusions: There is a significant increase in the survival rate over time in extremely preterm twins with a gestational age of <28 weeks in the 26 grade A tertiary hospitals in Guangdong Province. The incidences of severe asphyxia, pulmonary hemorrhage, PDA, P-IVH, and NRDS decrease in both the heavier and lighter infants of the twins, but the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia increases. With the improvement of diagnosis and treatment, the multidisciplinary collaboration between different fields of fetal medicine including prenatal diagnosis, obstetrics, and neonatology is needed in the future to jointly develop management strategies for twin pregnancy.

Xanthoceras sorbifolia, an excellent oil-rich woody species, has high comprehensive economic value in edible, medicinal, and ornamental fields. The chemical composition, pharmacological effect, and quality control of X. sorbifolia were introduced, and its development and application were reviewed in this study. As revealed by the previous research, the main chemical constituents of X. sorbifolia were triterpenoids, flavonoids, fatty acids, phenylpropanoids, steroids, phenolic acids, organic acids, etc. It possesses pharmacological effects, such as neuroprotection, bacteriostasis, anti-oxidation, anti-tumor, anti-inflammation, analgesia, anti-HIV, and anti-coagulation. X. sorbifolia is widely applied in medical, food, chemical industry, and other fields, and deserves in-depth research and development.

Considering the instability and low photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of blue-emitting perovskites, it is still challenging and attractive to construct single crystalline hybrid lead halides with highly stable and efficient blue light emission. Herein, by rationally introducing d 10 transition metal into single lead halide as new structural building unit and optical emitting center, we prepared a bimetallic halide of [(NH 4 ) 2 ]CuPbBr 5 with new type of three-dimensional (3D) anionic framework. [(NH 4 ) 2 ]CuPbBr 5 exhibits strong band-edge blue emission (441 nm) with a high PLQY of 32 % upon excitation with UV light. Detailed photophysical studies indicate [(NH 4 ) 2 ]CuPbBr 5 also displays broadband red light emissions derived from self-trapped states. Furthermore, the 3D framework features high structural and optical stabilities at extreme environments during at least three years. To our best knowledge, this work represents the first 3D non-perovskite bimetallic halide with highly efficient and stable blue light emission., (© 2020 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Corneal diseases are currently the second main cause of blindness in China. Although most of the corneal blindness could be treated by corneal transplantation, only about 10 000 operations were carried out each year owing to the severe shortage of corneal donors and limited eye bank programs. A feasible cornea donation program was established through the organization of the Red Cross, and in situ corneal removal techniques were developed to avoid conflicts with Chinese traditions of keeping the deceased intact. The number of donated corneas, which had a safe and secure quality, increased significantly year by year.

Objective: To observe the clinical effects of 10%, 30% lactate clearance rate and early goal-directed therapy (EGDT) as 6-hour resuscitation goals directing treatment in septic shock patients with severe pneumonia., Methods: In this randomized, perspective study, septic shock patients with severe pneumonia were divided into control group and experimental group, which included 10% lactate clearance rate group and 30% lactate clearance rate group, adopting random number method. The control group was treated with 6-hour EGDT strategy, and the experimental groups were treated with 10% lactate clearance rate protocol and 30% lactate clearance rate protocol respectively, beside the EGDT., Results: There were 19 patients in control group, and 43 patients in experimental group, which included 22 patients in 10% lactate clearance rate group and 21 patients in 30% lactate clearance rate group. Patients were well matched by basic features. After 48 hours, the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II ) score of both 10% lactate clearance rate group (13.76 ± 6.00, P < 0.05) and 30% lactate clearance rate group (13.60 ± 6.18, P < 0.05) were lower than that of control group (18.15 ± 6.62). There were no differences in time of mechanical ventilation (hours) between control group and experimental group (10% group 136.90 ± 100.02, 30% group 97.00 ± 75.20, control group 152.32 ± 96.51, P > 0.05). The length in intensive care unit (ICU, days) of 10% and 30% lactate clearance rate groups were significantly shorter than control group (10% group 7.94 ± 6.00, 30% group 7.51 ± 3.99, control group 11.31 ± 5.97, both P < 0.05). The three groups had no differences in 7-day mortality rate (10% group 18.18%, 30% group 14.29%, control group 21.05%, all P > 0.05), but the 28-day mortality of 10% and 30% lactate clearance rate groups were significantly lower than control group (10% group 36.36%, 30% group 28.57%, control group 63.16%), especially in 30% lactate clearance rate group (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: For the septic shock patients with severe pneumonia, prompt archiving EGDT strategy and 6-hour lactate clearance more than 30% were associated with an optimal outcome.

Objective: To investigate the effect of continuous blood purification (CBP) in patients with severe sepsis, and to evaluate the change in endothelial cell function in patients with severe sepsis during CBP therapy., Methods: According to random principle, 45 patients were divided into control group (n=22) and CBP group (n=23). All patients of both groups received routine treatment according to international guidelines 2008 for management of severe sepsis, but the patients in the CBP group also received continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH) for 72 hours, the ultrafiltrate volume was 40 ml×kg(-1)×h(-1). Blood gas analysis was done before and 24 hours and 72 hours after CVVH therapy. The activated protein C (APC), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and von Willebrand factor (vWF) were measured. Also the length of stay in intensive care unit (ICU), time of mechanical ventilation, and death rate of patients in 28 days were observed., Results: Compared with control group, the length of stay in ICU (days) and length of use of ventilator (days) in CBP group were shorter (9.12±3.07 vs. 11.64±4.82, 5.52±3.48 vs. 8.02±5.25, both P<0.05), and the death rate in 28 days was lower [13.0% (3/23) vs. 40.9% (9/22), P<0.05]. After therapy, patients in CBP group showed more reduction in the APACHEII score compared with control group (3.96±4.07 vs. 1.68±2.43, P<0.05). Patients in control group showed less change in APC, sICAM-1 and vWF. APC in CBP group increased at 72 hours, and sICAM-1 and vWF of CBP group respectively decreased at 24 hours or 72 hours, while the APC (μg/L) and vWF (mg/L) at 72 hours showed significant change compared with that of the control group (15.12±7.57 vs. 10.01±5.83, 1.58±0.73 vs. 2.64±1.34, P<0.05 and P<0.01). In patients who died in 28 days (12 patients) there were little changes in APC, sICAM-1 and vWF, while patients who lived for 28 days (33 patients), showed significantly more reduction in sICAM-1 (μg/L) and vWF (mg/L, 61.03±45.58 vs. 104.64±71.08, 1.88±1.21 vs. 2.70±0.95,both P<0.05). The APC value (μg/L) was increased after treatment in patients who survived for 28 days (13.55±7.11 vs. 10.37±7.60, P<0.01)., Conclusion: CBP therapy can protect endothelial cell function and ameliorate dysfunction, and it reduces the severity of the severe sepsis as well as improves the outcome of patients with severe sepsis.