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Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have reported an inconsistent relationship about the auditory integration training (AIT) in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) among Chinese. The current study was to investigate the efficacy of AIT for childrenwith ASD compared with those in control group by using meta-analysis. Relevant trials published were identified by an electronic search of PubMed, CENTRAL, EMBASE, WanFang, CNKI, and SinoMed databases up to December 31, 2017. Outcome of interest included childhood autism rating scale (CARS), autism behavior checklist (ABC), intelligence quotient (IQ), and autism treatment evaluation checklist (ATEC). Standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) was calculated using a random-effect model. Thirteen RCTs with 976 children with ASD were included for analysis. The pooled SMD showed that children with ASD had significantly lower ABC scores [summary SMD=−0.58, 95%CI=−0.79 to −0.38] and ATEC scores [summary SMD=−0.75, 95%CI=−1.05 to −0.45] in AIT group compared with that in control group. The analysis of pooled statistics put forward AIT could increase the IQ score when compared with that in control group [summary SMD = 0.59, 95%CI = 0.41–0.77]. A negative association was found about CARS scores between AIT group and control group. No publication bias was found and no single study had essential effect on the pooled results. In conclusions, AIT can reduce the score of ABC and ATEC and can increase the IQ score among children with ASD in Chinese. Therefore, it is recommended for Chinese children with ASD to receive AIT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bp7 is a T-even phage with a broad host range specific to Escherichia coli, including E. coli K-12. The receptor binding protein (RBP) of bacteriophages plays an important role in the phage adsorption process and determines phage host range, but the molecular mechanism involved in host recognition of phage Bp7 remains unknown. In this study, the interaction between phage Bp7 and E. coli K-12 was investigated. Based on homology alignment, amino acid sequence analysis, and a competitive assay, gp38, located at the tip of the long tail fiber, was identified as the RBP of phage Bp7. Using a combination of in vivo and in vitro approaches, including affinity chromatography, gene knockout mutagenesis, a phage plaque assay, and phage adsorption kinetics analysis, we identified the LamB and OmpC proteins on the surface of E. coli K-12 as specific receptors involved in the first step of reversible phage adsorption. Genomic analysis of the phage-resistant mutant strain E. coli K-12-R and complementation tests indicated that HepI of the inner core of polysaccharide acts as the second receptor recognized by phage Bp7 and is essential for successful phage infection. This observation provides an explanation of the broad host range of phage Bp7 and provides insight into phage-host interactions. IMPORTANCE The RBPs of T4-like phages are gp37 and gp38. The interaction between phage T4 RBP gp37 and its receptors has been clarified by many reports. However, the interaction between gp38 and its receptors during phage adsorption is still not completely understood. Here, we identified phage Bp7, which uses gp38 as an RBP, and provided a good model to study the phage-host interaction mechanisms in an enterobacteriophage. Our study revealed that gp38 of phage Bp7 recognizes the outer membrane proteins (OMPs) LamB and OmpC of E. coli K-12 as specific receptors and binds with them reversibly. HepI of the inner-core oligosaccharide is the second receptor and binds with phage Bp7 irreversibly to begin the infection process. Determining the interaction between the phage and its receptors will help elucidate the mechanisms of phage with a broad host range and help increase understanding of the phage infection mechanism based on gp38. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS; OMIM 300068) is the most frequent cause of 46, XY disorders of sex development (DSD). However, the correlation between genotype and phenotype has not been determined. We conducted a systematic analysis of the clinical characteristics, hormone levels, ultrasonography data and histopathology of a 46, XY Chinese patient with AIS. The family was followed up for nearly 8 years. We applied whole-exome sequencing (WES) for genetic analysis of the pedigree and performed bioinformatic analysis of the identified variants. Human embryonic kidney 293T/17 (HEK293T/17) cells were transiently transfected with wild-type or mutant AR and MAP3K1 plasmid. Cell lysates were used to analyze androgen receptor (AR) production. A novel hemizygous AR variant (c.2070C>A, p. His690Glu) and a rare heterozygous MAP3K1 variant (c.778C>T, p. Arg260Cys) were identified by WES in the proband and her mother. Bioinformatic analysis predicted these two variants to be pathogenic. Multiple amino acid sequence alignments showed that p. His690 and p. Arg260 are conserved among various species. His690Glu is a mutation that decreased the AR production, whereas the Arg260Cys mutation increased the AR production. The novel compound variants of the AR and MAP3K1 genes also increased the production of AR protein. Thus, the phenotype of the patient may be caused by defects in both the AR and MAP3K1 signaling pathways. Compound variants of the AR and MAP3K1 genes resulted in a specific phenotype in this patient with AIS. WES might reveal genetic variants that explain the heterogeneity of AIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim was to assess growth velocity (GV) during human recombinant growth hormone (hGH) treatment of children with multiple pituitary hormone deficiency (MPHD) caused by pituitary stalk interruption syndrome (PSIS) and to analyze the characteristics of patients that attained normal adult heights. Methods: Data from 74 (16 female) children with MPHD caused by PSIS with GH, thyroid stimulating hormone, gonadotropin and adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiencies were collected. Subjects were divided into groups: 12 pre-pubescent females (Female-Group) and 36 pre-pubescent males (Male-Group 1). The remaining 22 males were further sub-divided into two groups (Male-Group 2 and Male-Group 3) according to the initiation of gonadotropin replacement treatment, based on bone age and height. Results: No differences in change in height standard deviation score (ΔHtSDS) and GV were observed at different time points of hGH treatment between the Female-Group and Male-Group 1 (p>0.05). GV was significantly greater in the first year of hGH therapy than in subsequent years: Female-Group p=0.011; Male-Group 1 p<0.001; Male-Group 2 p=0.005; and Male-Group 3 p=0.046. Adult height was achieved by 23 (19 males and 4 females) patients. The total gain in height positively correlated with the GV during the first year (r=0.626, p<0.001). Conclusion: GV during hGH treatment were similar amongst pre-pubescent males and females with MPHD caused by PSIS. GV during the first year of hGH treatment appears to be an effective predictor of final height in patients with MPHD caused by PSIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to find out the maternal risk factors and perinatal complications in small for gestational age (SGA) newborns. Methods: A total of 181 SGA cases and 1299 cases of appropriate for gestational age (AGA) with the same gestational age between January 2015 and December 2016 were enrolled in Linyi People's Hospital, China. The risk factors were analyzed and the frequencies of perinatal complications were compared between the two groups. Results: The frequencies of maternal risk factors such as pregnancy-induced hypertension, abnormal placenta and twins in the SGA group were significantly higher than that in the AGA group (P<0.05). The incidence of hyperbilirubinemia and hypoglycemia in the perinatal period was also higher in the SGA newborns group (P<0.05), while there were no significant differences in the incidence of pneumonia, apnea, septicemia, intracranial hemorrhage, neonatal asphyxia, congenital malformations, hypoxicischemic encephalopathy, respiratory distress syndrome and necrotizing enterocolitis between the two groups. Conclusions: SGA can cause perinatal complications including neonatal hypoglycemia and hyperbilirubinemia. It is necessary to strengthen the perinatal monitoring and antenatal care to reduce SGA and the perinatal complications of SGA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Low serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is an independent risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease. Insulin-like growth factor 1(IGF-1) levels have been proven to be positively associated with HDL-C, but few studies were based on the dataset of children or adolescents. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship among IGF-1, HDL-C and the metabolic syndrome in Chinese nondiabetic obese children and adolescents. Methods: As a cross-sectional study, this study includes 120 obese Chinese children and adolescents and 120 healthy ones. The obese subjects were divided into two groups based on using 1.03 mmol/L as a threshold value for HDL-C. Clinical examination and laboratory examinations were assessed for all participants. Results: Obese subjects had significantly lower IGF-1SDS and higher Height SDS than those in the control group. Among 120 obese children and adolescents, 22 (18.3 %) subjects had an HDL-C level <1.03 mmol/L. IGF-1SDS was significantly lower (P = 0.001) in obese subjects with low HDL-C. According to the results of multivariate logistic regression analysis, IGF-1 SDS is significantly associated with low HDL-C(OR 0.518, 95 % CI 0.292-0.916; P = 0.024), after being adjusted for age, gender, pubertal status, BMI SDS, SBP, DBP, HOMR-IR, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triglycerides, ALT and uric acid. In addition, IGF-1 SDS is significantly correlated with the level of serum HDL-C in study population (r = 0.19, P = 0.003). Based on logistic regression analysis with adjustment for age, gender and pubertal status, the increased IGF-1 SDS was associated with a decreased probability of metabolic syndrome (OR 0.555, 95 % CI 0.385-0.801; P = 0.002) and hypertriglyceridemia (OR 0.582, 95 % CI 0.395-0. 856; P = 0.006), but no significant correlation with hypertension. Conclusion: Obese children had lower IGF-1SDS and taller stature compared with the control group. Low levels of IGF-1 SDS were associated with low levels of HDL-C in chinese nondiabetic obese children and adolescents, independent of insulin resistance, as well as other traditional cardiovascular disease risk markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both increased adrenal and peripheral cortisol production, the latter governed by 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1), contribute to the maintenance of fasting blood glucose. In the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), the pyridine nucleotide redox state (NADP/NADPH) is dictated by the concentration of glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) and the coordinated activities of two enzymes, hexose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (H6PDH) and 11β-HSD1. However, luminal G6P may similarly serve as a substrate for hepatic glucose-6-phophatase (G6Pase). A tacit belief is that the G6P pool in the ER is equally accessible to both H6PDH and G6Pase. Based on our inhibition studies and kinetic analysis in isolated rat liver microsomes, these two aforesaid luminal enzymes do share the G6P pool in the ER, but not equally. Based on the kinetic modeling of G6P flux, the ER transporter for G6P (T1) preferentially delivers this substrate to G6Pase; hence, the luminal enzymes do not share G6P equally. Moreover, cortisol, acting through 11β-HSD1, begets a more reduced pyridine redox ratio. By altering this luminal redox ratio, G6P flux through H6PDH is restrained, allowing more G6P for the competing enzyme G6Pase. And, at low G6P concentrations in the ER lumen, which occur during fasting, this acute cortisol-induced redox adjustment promotes glucose production. This reproducible cortisol-driven mechanism has been heretofore unrecognized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of avian H9N2 viruses throughout Asia, along with their demonstrated ability to infect mammals, puts them high on the list of influenza viruses with pandemic potential for humans. In this study, we investigated whether H9N2 viruses could infect farmed minks. Methods: First, we conducted a serological survey for avian influenza virus antibodies on a random sample of the field-trial population of farmed minks. Then we inoculated farmed minks with A/Chicken/Hebei/4/2008 H9N2 viruses and observed the potential pathogenicity of H9N2 virus and virus shedding in infected minks. Results: H9 influenza antibodies could be detected in most farmed minks with a higher seropositivity, which indicated that farmed minks had the high prevalence of exposure to H9 viruses. After infection, the minks displayed the slight clinical signs including lethargy and initial weight loss. The infected lungs showed the mild diffuse pneumonia with thickened alveolar walls and inflammatory cellular infiltration. Influenza virus detection showed that viruses were detected in the allantoic fluids inoculated supernatant of lung tissues at 3 and 7 days post-infection (dpi), and found in the nasal swabs of H9N2-infected minks at 3-11 dpi, suggesting that H9N2 viruses replicated in the respiratory organ, were then shed outwards. HI antibody test showed that antibody levels began to rise at 7 dpi. Conclusions: Our data provided the serological and experimental evidences that strongly suggested farmed minks under the natural state were susceptible to H9N2 viral infection and might be the H9N2 virus carriers. It is imperative to strengthen the H9N2 viral monitoring in farmed minks and pay urgent attention to prevent and control new influenza viruses pandemic prevalence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]