OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical and imaging features demonstrated by conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) in late preterm infants with white matter damage. METHODS: A total of 519 preterm infants (277 late stage, 242 early stage) from January 2005 to May 2008 at Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University were enrolled. They received the MRI scans with the sequences of conventional MRI and DWI. RESULTS: In the 277 late preterm infants, 118 (42.6%) showed white matter damage, accounting for 71.9% of 164 cases of brain injury. In the 242 early preterm infants, 92 (38.0%) showed white matter damage, accounting for 69.2% of 133 cases of brain injury. There were no significant differences in the incidence of white matter damage between the late and early preterm infants. There were 61.9% (73/118) of late preterm infants with white matter damage had no obvious clinical symptoms, but 75% of infants with severe white matter damage (widespread and diffusive lesions on MRI-DWI) presented obvious clinical symptoms. Within the first week of white matter damage, DWI showed high signals, T1WI showed normal or slightly high signals, with or without high signals on T2WI. In the infants with diffuse injury, DWI showed high signals, but conventional MRI did not show obvious signal changes. CONCLUSIONS: White matter damage is common in late preterm infants. The majority of infants with severe white matter damage on MRI-DWI have obvious clinical symptoms. DWI can reflect the lesions ahead of conventional MRI.［Chin J Contemp Pediatr, 2010, 12 (5):321-326］
OBJECTIVE: To study the changes of MAPK and Akt signaling pathways in hearts and placentas of aborted fetuses with congenital heart disease (CHD), and investigate their roles in the pathogenesis of CHD. METHODS: Ten aborted fetuses with severe CHD (CHD group) and 7 gestational age-matched non-cardiac malformation aborted fetuses (control group) were enrolled. Western blot analysis was undertaken to assess the expression of p38, p38α, p-p38, MEF2, ERK, p-ERK, Akt, p-AktSer473 and p-AktThr308 in left ventricles and placentas of the fetuses, while semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis was used to detect the expression of p38α isoforms mRNA in hearts. RESULTS: Compared with the heart samples of the control group, the protein expression levels of p38 and its α isoform in 4 cases, p-p38 in 6 cases, MEF2 in 2 cases, p-ERK in 8 cases, Akt in 4 cases, p-AktSer473 and p-AktThr308 in 8 cases decreased, while the protein expression levels of p-p38 in 2 cases and p-AktThr308 in 1 case increased. P-p38 protein level in 3 cases and p-ERK protein level in 2 cases decreased in placentas compared with the control group. The changes of protein expression of MAPK and Akt signaling pathway in hearts were not consistent with those in placentas in the CHD group. The expression of p38α isoform2 mRNA showed descent tendency in 4 heart samples with CHD, while the expression of other three p38α isoforms mRNA was reduced in only 1 sample compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Dysfunction of MAPK and Akt signaling pathways is tissue-specific in aborted fetuses with CHD. The perturbed two signaling pathways in hearts may contribute to the pathogenesis of human CHD.［Chin J Contemp Pediatr, 2010, 12 (5):327-332］
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the predisposing alleles of HLA-DRB1 genes in Han children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) from Guangdong Province, China. METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction-specific sequence primers (PCR-SSP) method was used to type HLA-DRB1 subregions in 94 Han children with JIA and 226 Han healthy controls. RESULTS: The frequency of HLA-DRB1*08 allele in the JIA group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P=0.0014, OR=2.26), in contrast, the frequency of HLA-DRB1*12 allele was significantly lower than that in the control group (P=0.032, OR=0.55). It was found that in children with So-JIA subset (P=0.023, OR=2.25) and polyarthritis JIA subset (P=0.034, OR=2.81), the allele HLA-DRB1*08 was expressed most commonly. The allele HLA-DRB1*15 was expressed in a lower frequency in children with So-JIA subset (P=0.049, OR=0.413) and oligoarthritis subset (P=0.045, OR=0.16) compared with that in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: HLA-DRB1*08 may be the susceptible allele of JIA, while HLA-DRB1*12 may be the protective allele of JIA in Han children from Guangdong Province. HLA-DRB1*08 is the susceptible allele of So-JIA and polyarthrits. HLA-DRB1*15 is the protective allele for systemic JIA and oligoarthritis.［Chin J Contemp Pediatr, 2010, 12 (5):333-337］
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinicalpathologic characteristics of IgM nephropathy in children. METHODS: The data of 34 children with IgM nephropathy from the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 34 cases of IgM nephropathy, nephrotic syndrome (NS) was clinically presented in 22 cases (64.7%). The renal pathological classification was as follows: minimal change disease (12 cases, 35.3%), minimal change disease with acute renal tubular injury (3 cases, 8.8%), minimal change glomerulonephritis (6 cases, 17.6%), minimal change glomerulernephritis with ischemic renal injury (1 case, 2.9%), mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (7 cases, 20.6%), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (4 cases, 11.8%), focal proliferative glomerulernephritis (1 case, 2.9 %). Glomerular injury score, renal vascular injury score and total renal injury score increased with the increasing IgM deposition. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of children with IgM nephropathy manifest clinically as nephrotic syndrome. The patterns of renal pathology may be varied in children with IgM nephropathy. IgM deposition in the mesenteric area is an important pathologic feature and is related to the degree of renal injury.［Chin J Contemp Pediatr, 2010, 12 (5):338-340］
OBJECTIVE: To study the sensory integration function in children with primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE). METHODS: The sensory integration function was assessed by the Childhood Sensory Integration Ability Development Checklist in 70 children with PNE and was compared with that in 74 normal children(control group). RESULTS: The incidence of sensory integration dysfunction (76%) in the PNE group were significantly higher than that in the control group (35%; P<0.01). Severe sensory integration dysfunction occurred in more children in the PNE group compared with the control group (39% vs 18%; P<0.01). The scores of all sensory integration indexes revealed by sensory integration function testing in the PNE group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of children with PNE have sensory integrative dysfunction which presents in various aspects. It is necessary to assess the sensory integration function in children with PNE.［Chin J Contemp Pediatr, 2010, 12 (5):341-343］
OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) combined with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) versus ICS alone in children with mild and moderate dust mite allergic asthma. METHODS: Thirty-two children with mild and moderate dust mite allergic asthma were randomly divided into two groups: SLIT+ICS (n=18) and ICS alone (n=14). A total of 30 children completed the one year clinical observation . The amount of ICS administration, the day and night symptom scores, skin-prick test and pulmonary function test results, serum specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) and G4 (sIgG4) levels and visual analog scale (VAS) scores were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: By the end of one year the SLIT+ICS group had significantly decreased amount of ICS administration than the ICS alone group. Compared with the ICS alone group, the day and night symptom scores decreased, FEF25-75% increased significantly, and serum sIgE levels and VAS scores were significantly reduced in the SLIT+ICS group. There were no statistical differences in the skin-prick test results, and FEV1 and sIgG4 levels between the two groups. No severe adverse events occurred in both groups during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: SLIT combined with ICS may produce a better efficacy than ICS alone in the improvement of day and night symptoms, pulmonary function and VAS scores in children with dust mite-allergic asthma.［Chin J Contemp Pediatr, 2010, 12 (5):344-347］
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possible differences in antimicrobial resistance of Escherichia coli isolated from different samples in children. METHODS: Six hundred and twenty-nine samples from urine, sputum, blood and secretion were collected from June 2004 to May 2009 for bacterial identification by VITEK-32 automatic system and antimicrobial susceptibility tests by Kirby-Bauer method. The drug resistance rate of Escherichia coli isolated from different samples was compared. RESULTS: Two hundred and sixty strains of Escherichia coli were isolated , and 108 of which were from urine , 64 from sputum, 54 from secretion and 23 from blood. ESBLs were detected in 96 (36.9%) of the 260 isolates, AmpC enzymes in 32 (12.3%), and ESBLs+AmpC in 8 (3.1%). The ESBLs positive rate of Escherichia coli isolates from sputum was significantly higher than that from other samples (P<0.05). The antimicrobial resistance rate of Escherichia coli strains from different samples to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, ticarcillin/clavulanic acid, piperacillin, cefotaxime, cefuroxime, cefepime, gentamicin, cotrimoxazole, and nitrofurantoin was different. The resistance rate of the strains from sputum samples was higher than that from the other samples(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Escherichia coli isolated from different samples have different antimicrobial resistance rates in children, so the selection of antibiotics for infections confirmed by bacterial cultures from different samples should based on drug sensitivity results. ［Chin J Contemp Pediatr, 2010, 12 (5):348-350］
OBJECTIVE: Atopic dermatitis affects children’s behavioral, emotional and psychological development. This study aimed to investigate the quality of life in infants with atopic dermatitis. METHODS: The quality of life in 43 children with atopic dermatitis between the age of 3-6 months was assessed by the Childhood Atopic Dermatitis Impact Scale (CADIS). The severity of atopic dermatitis was determined by the SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCOARD). RESULTS: The scores of SCORAD and CADIS in children with atopic dermatitis were 56.9±11.1 and 38.0±7.9 respectively. There was a positive correlation between the CADIS and SCORAD scores (ρ=0.934, P<0.05). The CADIS score was positively correlated with the area of skin lesions (ρ=0.581, P<0.01), erythema (ρ=0.417, P<0.01), excoriations (ρ=0.579, P<0.01), edema/exanthema papulosum (ρ=0.595, P<0.01), oozing/crusts (ρ=0.436, P<0.01), skin dryness (ρ=0.343, P<0.01), pruritus and sleeplessness (ρ=0.0.344, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Atopic dermatitis adversely affects the quality of life in children with atopic dermatitis. The worse quality of life is associated with more severe atopic dermatitis.［Chin J Contemp Pediatr, 2010, 12 (5):351-353］
OBJECTIVE: To study the anxiety state of family members of newborns admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and investigate the influencing factors of their anxiety state. METHODS: The self-designed questionnaire was used to collect the associated family information of 200 newborns who were admitted to the NICU. A self-rating anxiety scale was applied to investigate the anxiety state of the newborns' family members. Results: The anxiety score of the newborns' family members averaged 44.86±7.59, which was significantly higher than that of domestic norm of adult (37.23±0.58; P<0.05). The differences of the family members' anxiety score were related to the severity of baby's diseases, their educational level and family's economic condition as well as the locality of the family (countryside or city). The more severe the baby's illnes, the higher anxiety score of the family members had. The family members with higher educational levels or poorer economic conditions had higher anxiety scores. The anxiety score of the family members from the countryside was higher than that of the family members from city. Conclusions: The family members of NICU newborns have obvious anxiety. The degree of anxiety is associated with the severity of baby's illness, educational level of the family member, family's economic condition and the family locality (countryside or city). These results remind the medical staff working in the NICU should pay more attention to communicating with the family members in a compassionate way and help them to cope with this stressful situation.［Chin J Contemp Pediatr, 2010, 12 (5):354-356］
OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy of inductible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibitor 1400W in vivo in blocking the death pathway of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced activated-microglia to preoligodendrocytes (preOLs) in neonatal rats with infective-type periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) induced by LPS. METHODS: Two-day-old neonatal rats were randomly divided into: a sham-operated group, an untreated PVL group, and four 1400W-treated PVL groups that were subcutaneously administrated with 20 mg/kg of 1400W at 0 h, 8 hrs, 16 hrs, and 24 hrs after LPS induction, respectively. The brain specimens were obtained 5 days after LPS induction. The pathological assessment of cerebral white matter was performed under a light microscope. Concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) were measured by nitric acid-deoxidize colorimetry. Synthesis of iNOS was determined by Western blot analysis. Peroxynitrite (ONOO) level and the amount of preOLs were determined by immunocytochemistry. RETHODS: The obvious injuries of periventricular white matter, massive loss of positive O4-labelled preOLs, and increased levels of NO, ONOO and iNOS were observed in neonatal rats with PVL. Compared to the untreated PVL group, the use of 1400W at 0 h, 8 hrs and 16 hrs after LPS induction significantly improved white matter injuries, reduced the levels of NO, ONOO and iNOS, and increased the amount of O4-labelled preOLs. However, the use of 1400W at 24 hrs after LPS induction did not result in the improvements. CONCLUSIONS: iNOS inhibitor 1400W can effectively block the toxicity of LPS-activated microglia to preOLs and protect cerebral white matter through inhibiting iNOS and reducing the production of NO and ONOO. The use of 1400W within 16 hrs after LPS induction may provide cerebral protections in neonatal rats with PVL.［Chin J Contemp Pediatr, 2010, 12(5):357-362］
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of physical training on cerebral structure and spatial learning and memory in neonatal rats submitted to hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD). METHODS: Forty-eight 7-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: a group that was subjected to left carotid ligation followed by 2 hrs hypoxic stress (HIBD); a group that received physical training 2 weeks after the HIBD event; a control group that was subjected to a sham-operation without ligation and hypoxic stress. Following four weeks physical training, motor function test and water maze tasks were performed. Bilateral brain weight, cerebral morphology and left hippocampal ultrastructrue of the animals were examined. The expression levels of phosphor calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were determined by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the motor function and the spatial learning and memory ability in the non-trained HIBD group were significantly decreased, whereas there was no significant difference between the trained-HIBD and the control groups. The left hemisphere weight and neurons in the left hippocampal CA1 zone of both HIBD groups decreased and the reduction was more significant in non-trained HIBD group. The ultrastructure of the left hippocampus was remarkably abnormal in the non-trained HIBD group, while no obvious abnormality was observed in the trained HIBD and the control groups. Phosphor-CaMKII and BDNF expression in the left hippocampus in the trained HIBD group increased significantly compared with that in the non-trained HIBD group. CONCLUSIONS: Physical training can restrain brain damage and ameliorate spatial learning and memory impairments in rats with HIBD.［Chin J Contemp Pediatr, 2010, 12 (5):363-367］
OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) administered at different pressures and different exposure time on the differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) in vitro. METHODS: The cerebral cortices from newborn rats (0-3 days old) were sterilely collected, digested, and centrifuged. After removal of the supernatant, the cells were re-suspended with DMEM/F12 medium containing B27, bFGF and EGF. The NSCs of 2-3 passages were randomly divided into seven groups: a control (untreated) and 6 HBO treatment groups that NSCs were subjected to HBO treatment of different pressures (1, 2 or 3 ATA) and different exposure time (30 or 60 minutes). The differentiated NSCs were examined by neuron-specific enolase (NSE) immunocytochemistry 24 hrs later. Percentage of NSE positive cells differentiated from NSCs was assessed by fluorescent microscopy. RESULTS: The percentage of NSE positive cells differentiated from NSCs was the highest in the HBO 2ATA-60min group (9.17±0.50%) (P<0.01), followed by the HBO 3ATA-60min (7.89±0.62%), HBO 2ATA-30min (6.72±0.76%), HBO 3ATA-30min (6.08±0.57%), HBO 1ATA-60min (5.45±0.52%), HBO 1ATA30min (3.85±0.44%) and control groups (3.72±0.88%). In addition to the HBO 1ATA-30min group, the other HBO treatment groups had increased significantly percentage of NSE positive cells compared with the control group (P<0.01). Under the same pressure, the 60 min treatment groups had increased significantly percentage of NSE positive cells compared with the 30 min treatment groups (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: HBO treatment (2 ATA, 60 minutes) produces a best effect in the differentiation of NSCs into neurons.［Chin J Contemp Pediatr, 2010, 12 (5):368-372］
OBJECTIVE: To study the changes of microRNA expression in cortex tissues in neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage（HIBD）and the possible roles of microRNA in the pathogenesis of HIBD.MethodsRat HIBD model was prepared. The cortex tissues were obtained 14 days after the HIBD event. The microRNA expression profiles were measured using microRNA microarray. Expression of 9 microRNAs (miR-126,-26a,-674-5p,-21,-25,-290, miR-124,-125b-5p and microRNA-9a) was determined by quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS: he results of microRNA expression profiles indicated that 27 pieces of microRNA were up-regulated more than 2 folds and 60 pieces were down-regulated more than 2 folds compared with the normal control group. The results of the 9 microRNAs detected by quantitative real-time PCR were consistent with those detected by microRNA microarray. CONCLUSIONS: HIBD rats have significant changes in microRNA expression, suggesting that microRNA expression may play important roles in the pathogenesis of HIBD.［Chin J Contemp Pediatr, 2010, 12 (5):373-376］
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the dynamic changes of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) expression in the hippocampus of epileptic rats and to study its effect on vitamin E levels in rats following status epilepticus (SE). METHODS: Rat model of SE was induced by intraperitoneal injection of pilocarpine. The rats receiving an injection of normal saline were used as a control group. The expression of LPL in the hippocampal tissue was determined using immunofluorescent methods and the level of vitamin E was examined by the colormeric method 12 hrs, 24 hrs, 3 days, 7 days and 14 days after SE. RESULTS: LPL was expressed in the control and SE groups. In the SE group, the LPL expression began to increase 24 hr after SE (P<0.05), reached a peak 3 days after SE (P<0.01), and kept at a high level 7 days after SE (P<0.01). By 14 days, the LPL expression was reduced to the level similar to the control group. The level of vitamin E began to decline 12 hrs after SE (P＜0.01), and decreased to a nadir 24 hrs after SE (P<0.01). At 3 and 7 days after SE, the levels of vitamin E were still significantly lower than the controls (P<0.05). By 14 days, the vitamin E level increased to the level similar to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The over-expression of LPL in the hippocampus may play an important role in the oxidative stress mechanisms following SE by regulating the uptake of vitamin E.［Chin J Contemp Pediatr, 2010, 12 (5):377-381］
OBJECTIVE: To study the changes of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) following repeated febrile seizures in rats and its possible correlation with neurocyte apoptosis. METHODS: Fifty-one male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly assigned to three groups: normal control (n=14), febrile seizure (FS, n=18), hyperthermia alone (n=19). Febrile seizures were induced by hot water bath. The level of BDNF in the hippocampal homogenate was measured using ELISA and the expression of BDNF in various brain regions was measured by immunohistochemistry. The neurocyte apoptosis of the brain was determined by TdT-mediated biotinylated-dUTP nick end labling (TUNEL). RESULTS: The level of BDNF in the hippocampus in the FS group（89.9±12.5 ng/g）was higher than that in the normal control group（54.4±18.9 ng/g）and in the hyperthermia alone group （64.1±15.0 ng/g） (P<0.01). The OD value of BDNF positive neurons in various brain regions of the FS group was significantly higher than that of the normal control group (P<0.01) and the hyperthermia alone group (P<0.01). The FS group had significantly higher apoptotic index in various brain regions than the normal control and the hyperthermia alone groups (P<0.01). There was a positive correlation between the expression of BDNF and the apoptotic index in various brain regions (r=0.332, P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS: BDNF expression in the brain increases following repeated febrile seizures in rats, and the increased BDNF expression is correlated with neurocyte apoptosis.［Chin J Contemp Pediatr, 2010, 12 (5):382-385］
OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether neuroblastoma cells LA-N-6 express Foxp3 and whether the expression of Foxp3 is sensitive to chemotherapy by cyclophosvnamide（CTX）and pirarubicin（THP）. METHODS: Expression of Foxp3 on LA-N-6 cells was examined by flow cytometry analysis. The dose-effects of chemotherapy drugs including CTX and THP on LA-N-6 cells were investigated by MTT assay. The effects of CTX and THP on Foxp3 expression were examined by flow cytometry and real-time PCR assays. RESULTS: Flow cytometry analysis showed that LA-N-6 cells expressed Foxp3 at a high level. At sub-optimal concentration, chemotherapy drugs CTX and THP significantly down-regulated expression of Foxp3 on LA-N-6 cells at protein level (P<0.05). CTX also decreased the expression of Foxp3 at mRNA level (P<0.05). CONCLSUSIONS: Neuroblastoma cells LA-N-6 express Foxp3 at a high level, which can be suppressed by chemotherapy drugs CTX and THP. These data suggest that chemotherapy might suppress the growth and metastasis of tumor cells partially through inhibiting the expression of Foxp3.［Chin J Contemp Pediatr, 2010, 12 (5):386-389］
No abstract available
No abstvact available
