OBJECTIVE: To study the changes of substance P (SP) content in plasma of asthmatic children and in the blood, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissues of asthmatic guinea pigs and SP mRNA expression, and to investigate the relationship between SP and asthma of children. METHODS: We determined the contents of plasma SP by the method of immunoassay at the stage of acute attack and clinical remission in 35 children with asthma. On the basis of asthma model of guinea pigs, we examined the contents of SP in the blood, BALF and lungs. The expression of SP mRNA in lungs was examined by RT PCR. RESULTS: ① At the stage of acute attack, the level of SP was higher than that of the stage of clinical remission and normal controls (P< 0.01 ). At the stage of clinical remission, the difference of SP contents was not obvious compared with that of controls (P> 0.05 ). ② The SP content of severe asthmatic children was higher than that of mild asthmatic children (P< 0.05 ). ③ In asthmatic guinea pig groups, SP contents in the blood, BALF and lungs were higher than those of normal ones (P< 0.01 ), and the expressions of SP mRNA in lungs were higher (P< 0.01 ). In repeatedly attack group, the SP content of guinea pigs was higher than that of asthma group (P< 0.05 ), and the expression of SP mRNA in lungs was also higher (P< 0.01 ).CONCLUSIONS: SP levels increased in asthmatic children and asthmatic guinea pigs, and the expression of SP mRNA was up regulated in the lungs of asthmatic guinea pigs. They were positive related to the severity of asthma. So SP has close relationship with asthma and may play a role in the mechanism of asthma.

OBJECTIVE: To study the influence of t(8;21) on the curative effect and prognosis of children with acute myelocytic leukemia M 2 (AML M 2). METHODS:The clinical characteristics, curative effects, relapse rate, mortality and event free survival (EFS) rate of 14 cases of M 2 children with t(8;21) and 21 cases of M 2 children without t(8;21) were analysed. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference in age, initial WBC count and clinical characteristics between the M 2 patients with t(8;21) and without t(8;21)(P> 0.05 ). The complete remission rate ( 92.9% ) in M 2 patients with t(8;21) was significantly higher than that ( 57.1% ) of children without t(8;21) (P< 0.05 ), while the relapse rate and mortality were of no marked difference between the two groups (P> 0.05 ). The overall EFS rate in M 2 children with t(8;21) was lower ( 69.2% ) than that ( 77.8% ) of children without t(8;21) (P< 0.05 ). CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis of the M 2 children with t(8;21) was not better than that of the M 2 children without t(8;21). The infuence of t(8;21) on the prognosis of M 2 might be different from race and region.

Objective To study the effects of moderate hypothermia on cerebral glucose and ATP contents and mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity in neonatal rats with hypoxic ischimic brain damage (HIBD). Methods Seven day old Sprague Dawley rat pups were subjected to ligation of the left carotid artery followed by exposure to hypoxia environment of 8% O 2 for 2 h, then they were randomly assigned into normothermic recovered group (IN group) and moderate hypothermic recovered group (IH group). The sham operated rats which were used as the control were assigned into the normothermic control group (NC group) and moderate hypothermic control group (HC group). The contents of glucose and ATP and activity of mitochondrial SDH were assayed at 0, 2, 6, 24, 48, 72 h after HIBD. Results The cerebal glucose contents in the IN and IH groups were significantly lower than those of the NC and HC groups 0 h after HIBD. Two hours after HIBD, the glucose content recovered to normal level. The concentration of ATP and activity of SDH in the IN group decreased first, then they recovered gradually and reached a peak 72 hours after HIBD. After 6 hours or 2 hours of HIBD, the ATP content or SDH activity of the brain in the IH group were significantly higher than those in the IN group. The ATP concentration was closely related to the SDH activity (r= 0.515 , P< 0.01 ). Conclusions Moderate hypothermia might protect brain tissue by inhibiting the decrease of SDH activity and increasing the synthesis of ATP

OBJECTIVE:To study the effect of early nutrition on the development of physique and small intestine in rats with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). METHODS: Eight normal pubs fed with normal protein diet (20%) were used as normal controls. The IUGR pups were assigned into normal protein diet group (IC group), low protein diet group (IL group) and high protein diet group (IH group). On the 1st, 21st and 28th day after birth respectively, the weight and length of small intestine (SI), the body weight and length, and the activities of disaccharidase were measured. RESULTS: The body weight and length, weight and length of SI in rats with IUGR at birth were all significantly lower than those in normal rats (P< 0.05 ). Body length, body weight, length and weight of SI in IL group were all lower than those in IC, IH and normal control groups in the first 4 weeks after birth. The physique and small intestine in IH group caught up growth quickly, the body weight in the 4th week reached the normal value. In the third week, the lactase activity in IL and IH groups were higher than that in normal control group (P< 0.05 ). In the 4th week, the sucrase activity in IL group was lower than that in normal control (P< 0.05 ). CONCLUSIONS: Early nutrition after birth has an important effect on the development of physique and SI in rats with IUGR.

OBJECTIVE: To study the Hoxd 13 gene expression in the children with anorectal malformation (CAM) and normal children, and to explore the relationship between Hoxd 13 gene and CAM. METHODS: Hoxd 13 gene mRNA expression was detected by RT-PCR in the rectal pouch in both 16 cases of anorectal malformations and 5 normal children. RESULTS: The expression level of Hoxd 13 gene mRNA was significantly higher in normal children than that in children with CAM ( 0.32 ± 0.26 vs 0.73 ± 0.10 ), (P< 0.01 ). CONCLUSIONS: Hoxd 13 gene expression may be involved in the pathogenesis of anorectal malformation.

OBJECTIVE: To study the protective effect of estradiol on immature myocardium of rabbits with ischemia reperfusion injury. METHODS: The isolated perfused heart model was developed in thirty two 3 to 4 week old female Japanese rabbits. The rabbits were randomly assigned into four groups according to the perfusion solutions for cardiac arrest (n=8): the control group, estradiol group, blocker group and estradiol+blocker group. In the control group, only St Thomasll solution was used; 10 -6 mol/L of 17 β estradiol was added in the St ThomasII solution in the estradiol group; the blocker group was perfused the St Thomasll solution containing 10 -6 mol/L of 4 Hydroxy Tamoxifen (the blocker of estradiol); and the last group, both 10 -6 mol/L of estradiol and 4 Hydroxy Tamoxifen were added in St Thomas II solution. Sixty minutes after cardiac arrested, reperfusion began. The coronary flow (CF), left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP), ±dp/dt max , mycocardial water content, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents of myocardium, creatine phosphokinase (CK) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (GOT) leakage of coronary effluent and the pathologic changes of ultrastructure of myocardium in the four groups were measured at 10, 20, 40, 60 and 90 min after reperfusion. RESULTS: The recovery rate of CF and the recovery rate of LVDP and ±dp/dt max in the estradiol group from 60 min and 40 min respectively after reperfusion were higher than those of the other three groups (P< 0.01 or 0.05 ). The contents of water, MDA, and CK, LDH, GOT leakage of coronary effluent in myocardium of the estradiol group were lower compared with those of the other three groups. The ATP content of myocardium in the estradiol group was higher than that of the control group and blocker group. The ultrastructural pathologic changes of myocardium in the estradiol group were slightest in the four groups. CONCLUSIONS: Estradiol has the protective effect on the immature myocardium of rabbits and the mediator is the estrogen receptor.

OBJECTIVE: To study the role of the changes of second messenger protein kinase C (PKC), inositol 1,4,5 trisphosphate (IP 3) and expression of immediately early gene c fos protein (c fos) in the pathogenesis of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) of neonatal rats. METHODS: Fifty seven 7 day old Wistar rats were put into a an air tight container with 5% O 2 and 95% nitrogen for 20 minutes after their right common carotid arteries were occluded, and then they were sacrificed at 0, 4, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h, and 7, 14 and 21 d after hypoxic ischemic (HI) insult. The rats experienced only pseudo operation were used as the controls. PKC activity was measured by the incorporation of [γ- 32 P] into a specific substrate peptide in the cytosolic and particulate fraction respectively. IP 3 was determined by the radioreceptor binding assay. C fos expression was detected by immunohistochemical method. RESULTS: Compared with the non HI controls, PKC activities in particulate fractions in both cerebral cortex and hippocampus decreased, whereas increased in cytosol in cerebral cortex and remained within the normal range in cytosol in hippocampus at 0, 4, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h, and 7 d after HI. The changes of PKC activities were obvious within 72 hs and lasted to 14 d after HI. A decrease of the IP 3 level in cerebral cortex and hippocampus and an increase of the IP 3 level in thalamus were noted after HI. The changes of the IP 3 level restored to normal on 14 d after HI. The expression of c fos was found in different parts of brain immediately after HI and peaked at 4 h, and thereafter, its density gradually decreased and lasted to 72 h. The expression of c fos was obvious in Ⅱ-Ⅴ layers of cortex, CA1 and DG of hippocampus respectively, and slightly increased in thalamus.CONCLUSIONS: HI could induced the changes of the second messengers PKC and IP 3. The continuous PKC down regulation and c fos gene expression may take part in neuron injuries during hypoxic ischemic brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of nimodipin and ketamine on cerebral blood flow and metabolism in rabbits with global ischemic reperfusion. METHODS: The model of global cerebral ischemic reperfusion was established in rabbits. The ischemic rabbits were randomly assigned into an ischemic group, a nimodipin treatment group and a ketamine treatment group (n=8 each). Eight sham operated rabbits were served as the non ischemic controls. RESULTS: ①The mean flow velocities (Vm) [( 14.50 ± 3.25 ), ( 14.13 ± 2.96 ) and ( 14.31 ± 2.96 ) cm/s] of right middle cerebral artery (MCA) in the ischemic group at 2 h, 6 h and 24 h of reperfusion were significantly decreased compared with that of pre ischemia [( 23.44 ± 3.13 ) cm/s] and those of the control group, nimodipin treatment group and ketamine treatment group (P< 0.05 ). There was no significant difference in the Vm between before and after operation in the control group, nimodipin treatment group and ketamine treatment group; no significant difference was noted among the three groups. ②Compared with the indexes before operation, the plasma lactic acids in all four groups at 2 h, 6 h and 24 h after ischemic reperfusion were significantly increased (P< 0.05 ). The plasma lactic acid level and arteriovenous oxygen differences (AVDO 2) were higher in both the ischemic and nimodipin treatment groups than those in the non ischemic control and ketamine treatment groups after reperfusion (P< 0.05 ). ③ The mean blood pressure and heart rate decreased in the nimodipin group at 2 h and 6 h after reperfusion compared with those of before administrating nimodipin and those of the other three groups (P< 0.05 ). CONCLUSIONS: Both nimodipin and ketamine could improve cerebral blood flow velocity of rabbits. Ketamine could decrease plasma lactic acid level and AVDO 2, indicating ketamine may have protective effects on brain of rabbits with ischemic reperfusion. Nimodipin failed to improve the cerebral metabolism might be the consquence of its effects of restraining the function of cardiovascular system.

OBJECTIVE: To study the incidence of transfusion transmitted virus (TTV) infection in pregnant women and the route of TTV infection. METHODS: TTV DNA was detected by nested polymerase chain reaction (n PCR) technique in serum of 490 pregnant women and in umbilical blood of their infants in Guangzhou City. PCR products from the 8 women and their infants with positive TTV DNA were cloned and sequenced. RESULTS: The positive TTV DNA occurred in 87 mothers ( 17.8% ) and 12 babies born to them, with 13.8% of incidence of mother to infant transmission. The homology of nucleotide sequence of TTV isolates from Guangzhou of China and from Japan was 85.3% - 98.2% . CONCLUSIONS: There is a high incidence of TTV infection in pregant women. TTV can be transmitted via placenta (vertical transmission).

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of bupleurum root, scutellaria root and baked licorice respectively, on viral myocarditis caused by coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) in mice. METHODS: The viral myocarditis model was established by injecting CVB3 in 100 Balb/C mice. Normal saline (served as the control group), bupleurum root, scutellaria root and baked licorice were administrated by intragastric route in 25 mice respectively, with the dosage of 0.5 ml , once daily for 2 weeks. The pathologic changes in myocardium of mice were evaluated with the routine histopathological method. RESULTS: The pathology scores of myocardium on the 5th, 7th and 10th days after treatment in the bupleurum root group ( 1.33 ± 0.82 , 1.60 ± 0.63 and 1.87 ± 0.74 , respectively) were significantly lower than those of the controls ( 2.22 ± 1.37 , 3.27 ± 0.96 and 2.60 ± 1.06 , respectively) (P< 0.05 or 0.01 ). On the 5th and 7th days after the treatment with baked licorice, there were significant differences in the pathology scores of mycocardium between the baked licorice group (1.26±0.88 and 1.80±0.68) and the control group (P< 0.05 or 0.01 ). Scutellaria root took effects later. The pathology scores of myocardium in the scutellaria root group significantly decreased on day 14 and day 21 after treatment compared with those of the control group ( 1.53 ± 0.74 vs 2.33 ± 0.98 and 0.80 ± 0.56 vs 1.40 ± 0.83 , respectively; P< 0.05 ). CONCLUSIONS: Bupleurum root, scutellaria and baked licorice may have protective effects on the myocardium at different time after medication.

OBJECTIVE: To understand if human parvovirus B19 (HPV B19) is one of causes of respiratory infection in children. METHODS: HPV B19 DNA was detected by the nested PCR technique in serum and pharyngeal secretions of 256 children with respiratory infection between September, 2000 and August, 2001. One hundred and four normal children without respiratory infection within 2-4 months were served as the control group.RESULTS: The total positive rate of HPV B19 DNA in serum and pharyngeal secretions in the observed group was significantly higher than that of the control group ( 18.8% vs 5.8% and 20.1% vs 3.9% , respectively; both P< 0.01 ). Of the 256 cases, there were 15, 18, 7 and 8 cases of positive HPV B19 DNA in serum, and there were 17, 20, 8 and 9 cases in pharyngeal secretions in the first, second, third and fourth quarters respectively. The positive rate of HPV B19 DNA was significantly higher both in serum and pharyngeal secretions in the first and second quarters than that of the third and fourth quarters (P< 0.01 ). CONCLUSIONS: HPVB19 is one of the causative agents for respiratory infection in children. The incidence of respiratory infection with HPVB19 in the first and second quarters is higher than that of the third and fourth quarters

OBJECTIVE:To study the changes of blood nitric oxide (NO), lipid peroxide (LPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) and glutathione (GSH) levels and the effect of impulsive therapy of methylprednisolone (MP) and cyclophosphamide (CTX) on children with lupus nephritis (LN). METHODS: The blood levels of NO, LPO, SOD, GSH-px and GSH were detected by chemical analysis in 18 active patients with this disorder (the active group) before and after MP and CTX impulsive therapy. Of the 18 cases, 16 who had become to inactive after treatment were recruited in this study. Twenty three healthy children were served as the control group. RESULTS: Except the decreased GSH level, the levels of NO, LPO, SOD and GSH-px in the inactive group did not differ from those of the control group. The levels of NO and LPO in the active group were significantly higher, SOD, GSH px and GSH were significantly lower than those of the control group and the inactive group (P< 0.05 or 0.01 ). NO and LPO in the active group were positively correlated with anti-dsDNA antibody, 24-hour proteinuria, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, negatively correlated with complement C 3, complement C 4 and endogenous creatinine clearance rate. SOD, GSH-px and GSH were negatively correlated with anti-dsDNA antibody, 24-hour proteinuria, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, positively correlated with compliment C 3, compliment C 4 and endogenous creatinine clearance rate. The levels of the five parameters (NO, LOP, SOD, GSH px and GSH) in children with LN complicated by renal damage were significantly different from those in the control group and those patients without renal damage. CONCLUSIONS: The levels of NO and LPO would decrease and the levels of SOD, GSH-px GSH would elevate after treatment with MP and CTX. NO, LPO, SOD, GSH-px and GSH may take part in the pathogenesis of LN. Detecting the above five parameters may help in monitoring the progress, the extent of renal damage of LN and therapeutic effect for LN patients.

OBJECTIVE: To study the diagnostic value of head up tilt table test in childhood unexplained syncope. METHODS: Thirty children with this disorder aged from 6 to 18 years old (mean 11.74 ± 2.82 ) were taken the 70 degrees head up tilt table test. Blood pressure and electrocardiogram were recorded at 5 minute intervals by multifunctional monitor in these subjects. The result of the test was evaluated according to the symptoms of patients during the test. RESULTS: Of the 30 subjects, 10 presented positive reaction of head up tilt table test ( 33.3% ), in which 5 showed the reaction type of heart inhibition and 5 of blood vessel inhibition. The syncope episodes occurred after standing time of 10 40 min (mean 24.0 ± 12.2 ). CONCLUSIONS: The head up tilt table test may be a useful method in the diagnosis of vasovagal syncope, helping to determine the origin of unexplained syncope in children

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between blood lipid level and birth weight in preterm infants and to provide guidelines for nutritional support for pretem infants. METHODS: The blood lipid level and birth weight were measured in 50 preterm infants and 30 full term infants. RESULTS: The levels of total cholesterol (T CHO), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), apolipoprotein A 1 (APO A 1) and apolipoprotein B (Apo B) in the preterm infants were significantly lower than those in the full term infants (P< 0.05 ); the levels of T CHO, TG, LDH, ApoA 1 and ApoB in the low birth weight infants were higher than those in the very low birth weight infants (P< 0.05 ). The levels of T HCO and TG were positively correlated to birth weight in the preterm infants (r= 0.463 , P< 0.01 ; r= 0.284 , P< 0.05 ; respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The blood lipid level may be a marker of the nutritional state in preterm infants. There is a positive correlation between the blood lipid level and birth weight in preterm infants.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of gestational impaired glucose tolerance (GIGT) on the newborns. METHODS: Fifty two newborns born to women with GIGT (GIGT group) and 40 newborns (gestational age matched) born to normal women (control group) were recruited in this study. RESULTS:The incidence of macrosomia in the GIGT group was obviously higher than that of the control group ( 21.2% vs 5.0% ; P< 0.05 ). The blood glucose level in the GIGT group at 2 h of life was significantly lower than that of the control group [( 1.52 ± 0.66 ) mmol/L vs ( 2.58 ± 0.57 ) mmol/L; P< 0.01 ]. Although the incidences of hypoglycemia, hyperbilirubinemia and polycythemia were higher than those of the control group, no statistical difference was noted. CONCLUSIONS: GIGT may have adverse effects on the newborns

No abstract available