Longitudinal Impact on Quality of Life for School-aged Children with Amblyopia Treatment: Perspective from Children

<p><i>Background</i>: To evaluate the longitudinal impact on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) during amblyopia treatment for school-aged children from children’s perspective.</p> <p><i>Methods</i>: School-aged children prescribed amblyopia treatment for the first time were recruited into the current study. Using a questionnaire, subjects’ HRQOL was assessed before patching treatment, and at 8 weeks and 16 weeks after the commencement of patching treatment. Evaluation of visual function and psychosocial aspect was included in the questionnaire. Visual acuity and demographic data of the subjects were recorded.</p> <p><i>Results</i>: Forty-four children, aged 7–12 years, with anisometropic amblyopia were included in the study. Visual acuity in the amblyopic eye improved 1.90 (0.41–3.74) and 3.98 (2.22–5.11) lines at follow-up weeks 8 and 16, respectively. Both the total score and subscales of the questionnaire were reduced at the first follow-up and recovered at the second follow-up. Scores at week 16 were higher than those before treatment in the psychosocial aspect (<i>p</i> = 0.003), and lower in the visual function aspect (<i>p</i> < 0.001), without significant difference in total score (<i>p</i> = 0.207). Visual acuity in the amblyopic eye and psychosocial expectations for treatment were the most important factors that influenced HRQOL during treatment.</p> <p><i>Conclusions</i>: From the children’s perspective, the impacts on visual function and psychosocial aspect were significant in the first two months of treatment, and could be adapted during therapy for school-aged children. More attention should be paid to negative effects of treatment on daily life and study at the stage of amblyopia treatment for school-aged children. Meanwhile, necessary precautions should be taken to help reduce the impacts.</p

Comparison of relevant information of infants with different prognoses (n = 614).

<p>Comparison of relevant information of infants with different prognoses (n = 614).</p

Report about term infants with severe hyperbilirubinemia undergoing exchange transfusion in Southwestern China during an 11-year period, from 2001 to 2011

<div><p>Objectives</p><p>This study was intended to explore the etiology and risk factors of severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and to analyze the adverse events associated with ECT (Exchange Transfusion), as well as to identify the factors related to the poor prognosis.</p><p>Methods</p><p>All of the full-term neonates who had undergone ECT for hyperbilirubinemia at Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from January 2001 to December 2011 were enrolled in this study. General demographic characteristics, comorbidities, pre- and post-exchange TSB(Total Serum Bilirubin) levels, duration and frequency of ECT, and clinical outcomes were recorded and analyzed anonymously.</p><p>Results</p><p>Of 614 total infants, 368 patients (59.9%) with ABO incompatibility were identified, of whom 197 (53.5%) developed acute bilirubin encephalopathy (ABE) and 16 (4.3%) suffered a poor prognosis. The etiology was unidentified in 103 patients (16.8%), of whom 62 (60.1%) developed ABE and 9 (8.7%) had a poor prognosis. Identified adverse events secondary to ECT included thrombocytopenia (54.6%), hyperglycemia (42.8%), apnea (3.3%) and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) (1.3%). No ECT-related mortality was documented in this study.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>The etiology, peak TSB level before ECT, and time of ECT had a significant impact on the outcome of severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. ABO incompatibility was the most common cause of extreme neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Pathological weight loss could be involved in the development of extreme hyperbilirubinemia with an unidentified cause.</p></div

Small RNA and Degradome Sequencing Reveal Complex Roles of miRNAs and Their Targets in Developing Wheat Grains

<div><p>Plant microRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to play critical roles in plant development. In this study, we employed small RNA combined with degradome sequencing to survey development-related miRNAs and their validated targets during wheat grain development. A total of 186 known miRNAs and 37 novel miRNAs were identified in four small RNA libraries. Moreover, a miRNA-like long hairpin locus was first identified to produce 21~22-nt phased siRNAs that act in <i>trans</i> to cleave target mRNAs. A comparison of the miRNAomes revealed that 55 miRNA families were differentially expressed during the grain development. Predicted and validated targets of these development-related miRNAs are involved in different cellular responses and metabolic processes including cell proliferation, auxin signaling, nutrient metabolism and gene expression. This study provides insight into the complex roles of miRNAs and their targets in regulating wheat grain development.</p></div

Validated targets of newly identified miRNAs using degradome sequencing.

<p>The target plots (t-plots) show sequence abundances (read counts) throughout the length of the indicated transcripts. The arrows in the t-plot indicate significant sequences consistent with miRNA-directed cleavage. miRNA:mRNA alignments along with the cleavage positions are shown above. Representative data origins from degradome libraries I or II are also indicated in the t-plots.</p

Newly identified 37 miRNAs in four small RNA libraries.

<p>‡ TPM: transcripts per million. miRNA abundance was scored according to the reads of defined miRNAs and their ± 2 nt variants on the precursors.</p><p>║ Y: miRNA* species (or ± 1 nt variants) for their corresponding miRNAs were sequenced in our small RNA libraries. N: miRNA* unsequenced.</p><p>Newly identified 37 miRNAs in four small RNA libraries.</p

A putative miRNA regulatory network in wheat grains.

<p>The arrows indicate positive regulation and the nail shapes indicate negative regulation. PSK1, phytosulfokine-alpha 1 precursor; GRF, growth-regulating factor; ARF, auxin response factor; TIR1, transport inhibitor response 1; BCP, blue copper protein; SPX, SPX domain-containing protein; MTERF, mitochondrial transcription termination factor.</p

General characteristics (n = 614).

<p>General characteristics (n = 614).</p

The effects of the onset time of jaundice and TSB level on the severity of ABE and prognosis.

<p>The effects of the onset time of jaundice and TSB level on the severity of ABE and prognosis.</p

Expression correlation between development-related miRNAs and their targets.

<p>(A) qRT-PCR analysis of miRNA expression in developing grains. The dots represent the relative abundances of sequence reads in four small RNA libraries. (B) qRT-PCR analysis of target expression in the developing grains. Data represent the mean values ± SD of three replicates.</p