Objective To investigate the clinical features and surgical strategy for pediatric intractable epilepsy due to posterior quadrantic cortical dysplasia and to assess the surgical outcomes. Methods The clinical features and preoperative evaluation results of 14 children with intractable epilepsy due to posterior quadrantic cortical dysplasia were retrospectively analyzed. The localization values of video-electroencephalography and intraoperative monitoring and the indications, advantages and disadvantages of temporoparietooccipital disconnection were evaluated. Results The 14 children had different seizure types, of which spasm was the most common one. The lesions of cortical dysplasia involved the central cerebral region in 2 cases. After temporoparietooccipital disconnection in 14 patients, 13 cases were seizure-free; only one case still had seizures, but the frequency dropped by more than 50%. Conclusions Temporoparietooccipital disconnection is a safe and effective surgical procedure for children with intractable epilepsy due to posterior quadrantic cortical dysplasia.

No abstract available

Nonketotic hyperglycinemia (NKH) is a rare, inborn error of metabolism. In this case report, a Chinese male infant was diagnosed with NKH caused by GLDC gene mutation. The clinical characteristics and genetic diagnosis were reported. The infant presented with an onset of early metabolic encephalopathy and Ohtahara syndrome. Both blood and urinary levels of metabolites were in the normal range. Brain MRI images indicated a poor development of corpus callosum, and a burst suppression pattern was found in the EEG. Results of target gene sequencing technology combined with multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) indicated a heterozygous missense mutation of c.1786 C > T (p.R596X) in maternal exon 15 and a loss of heterozygosity of 4-15 exon gross deletions in paternal GLDC gene. These definite pathogenic mutations confirmed the diagnosis of NKH. The infant's clinical condition was not improved after treatment with adreno-cortico-tropic-hormone, topiramate and dextromethorphan, and he finally died at 4 months of age. Patients with NKH often exhibit complicated clinical phenotypes and are lack of specific symptoms. NKH could be diagnosed by metabolic screening and molecular genetic analysis.

No abstract available

Objective To investigate the features of intelligence development, facial expression recognition ability, and the association between them in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods A total of 27 ASD children aged 6-16 years (ASD group, full intelligence quotient > 70) and age- and gender-matched normally developed children (control group) were enrolled. Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children Fourth Edition and Chinese Static Facial Expression Photos were used for intelligence evaluation and facial expression recognition test. Results Compared with the control group, the ASD group had significantly lower scores of full intelligence quotient, verbal comprehension index, perceptual reasoning index (PRI), processing speed index (PSI), and working memory index (WMI) (P < 0.05). The ASD group also had a significantly lower overall accuracy rate of facial expression recognition and significantly lower accuracy rates of the recognition of happy, angry, sad, and frightened expressions than the control group (P < 0.05). In the ASD group, the overall accuracy rate of facial expression recognition and the accuracy rates of the recognition of happy and frightened expressions were positively correlated with PRI (r=0.415, 0.455, and 0.393 respectively; P < 0.05). The accuracy rate of the recognition of angry expression was positively correlated with WMI (r=0.397; P < 0.05). Conclusions ASD children have delayed intelligence development compared with normally developed children and impaired expression recognition ability. Perceptual reasoning and working memory abilities are positively correlated with expression recognition ability, which suggests that insufficient perceptual reasoning and working memory abilities may be important factors affecting facial expression recognition ability in ASD children.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of working memory ability on emotional faces and related event-related potential (ERP) in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods The Chinese Facial Affective Picture System was used as test material, and the event-related potential system was used to record the electroencephalographic data when 16 ASD children aged 6-12 years (ASD group) and 14 normal children matched for age (control group) were completing the facial emotion delayed match-to-sample task. The characteristics of P3b component were analyzed for both groups. Results Compared with the control group, the ASD group had a significantly longer reaction time (1 527 ms vs 1 060 ms; P < 0.05) and a significantly lower accuracy rate (76% vs 88%; P < 0.01) in the facial emotion delayed match-to-sample task. There was a difference in the amplitude of P3b component during the encoding stage between the two groups. In the ASD group, the P3b component on the left side electrode had a higher amplitude than that on the right side electrode (P < 0.05), while the control group had no such characteristics. Conclusions There is a difference in P3b component during the encoding stage between school-aged ASD children and normal children. In ASD children, working memory on emotional faces may depend more on the related neural pathway in the left hemisphere.

Objective To quantitatively and comprehensively investigate the association between maternal folate supplementation during pregnancy and the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the offspring. Methods PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Library, EBSCO, CNKI, Wanfang Data, VIP Database, and Chinese Biomedical Database were searched to collect the articles on maternal folate supplementation during pregnancy and the risk of ASD in children. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to determine the effect size. Stata 12.0 software was used for the Meta analysis. Publication bias evaluation and sensitivity analysis were also performed. Results A total of 10 articles were included according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, including 15 studies which involved 4 459 cases and 1 225 835 controls. The Meta analysis showed that maternal folate supplementation during pregnancy significantly reduced the risk of ASD in the offspring in the total population (OR=0.798, 95%CI:0.669-0.952, P=0.012). The subgroup analysis revealed that maternal folate supplementation during pregnancy was associated with a reduced risk of ASD in the offspring in both the Asian population (OR=0.664, 95%CI:0.428-1.032, P=0.069) and the Western population (OR=0.817, 95%CI:0.671-0.996, P=0.045). Conclusions Maternal folate supplementation during pregnancy may reduce the risk of ASD in the offspring, especially in the Western population.

Objective To examine the changes in 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃[25- (OH)D₃] level in children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) and its clinical significance. Methods A total of 92 HSP children were included in this study, and were divided into HSP nephritis (HSPN) group (31 cases) and HSP group (61 cases) based on the presence or absence of HSPN. Alternatively, the patients were divided into purpura alone group (22 cases), purpura with joint symptoms group (joint symptom group, 24 cases), purpura with gastrointestinal symptoms group (gastrointestinal symptom group, 20 cases), and purpura with joint and gastrointestinal symptoms (mixed group, 26 cases) based on their clinical symptoms. In addition, 42 healthy children were selected as healthy control group. The level of 25- (OH)D₃ in each group was measured using enzyme-linked immunoassay. Results The 25- (OH)D₃ level in the HSP and HSPN groups was significantly lower than that in the healthy control group (P < 0.05), and the 25- (OH)D₃ level in the HSPN group was significantly lower than that in the HSP group (P < 0.05). Although there was no significant difference in the 25- (OH) D₃ level between the joint symptom, gastrointestinal symptom, and mixed groups (P=0.22), the 25- (OH) D₃ level in the three groups was all significantly lower than that in the purpura alone group (P < 0.05). Conclusions The level of 25- (OH)D₃ is reduced in children with HSP, particularly those with HSPN or with joint and gastrointestinal symptoms. Therefore, the reduction in 25- (OH)D₃ level may serve as a predictor of whether HSP is associated with other impairments.

Objective To investigate the association between CTLA-4 gene polymorphism and Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) in children. Methods Sixty children who were diagnosed with HSP were enrolled as the case group, consisting of 33 males and 27 females. Thirty healthy children were enrolled as the control group. The patients were further divided into HSP nephritis (HSPN) and non-HSPN groups (n=30 each) according to the presence or absence of nephritis. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism was used to analyze the genotype and allele frequencies at +49 and -1722 loci. Results AA, AG, and GG genotypes were detected at +49; neither genotype nor allele frequencies showed significant differences between the case and control groups, between the HSPN and non-HSPN groups, and between male and female patients (P > 0.05). TT, TC, and CC genotypes were detected at -1722; neither genotype nor allele frequencies showed significant differences between the case and control groups and between male and female patients (P > 0.05). There were significant differences in CC genotype frequency and T and C allele frequencies between the HSPN and non-HSPN groups (P < 0.05). Combinational analysis of +49 A/G and -1722 T/C showed no significant differences in the genotype frequency between the case and control groups and between male and female patients (P > 0.05). GG-CC combination showed a significant difference between the HSPN and non-HSPN groups (P < 0.05). Conclusions CTLA-4 +49 A/G polymorphism is not associated with HSP. CC genotype and C allele of CTLA-4-1722 and the combination of GG at +49 A/G and CC at -1722 T/C may be risk factors for HSPN.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of allergic diseases in children aged 0-24 months in the Wuhu urban area of Anhui Province and risk factors for allergic diseases. Methods Cluster random sampling was performed to select 600 children aged 0-24 months and their mothers from the Wuhu urban area, and a questionnaire survey was conducted to collect the data of disease history, family history, mothers' conditions during pregnancy, and child-rearing situation. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed for such data. Results Among the 597 children included in the analysis, 56 (9.4%) were diagnosed with allergic diseases in the past. The univariate analysis showed that the age, use of antipyretic and analgesic drugs, a history of allergy in the father or grandparents, and the consumption of fish, shrimps, crabs, and shellfish during pregnancy were significantly associated with past allergic diseases (P < 0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the age and a history of allergy in the father or grandparents were positively associated with past allergic diseases (OR=4.0-4.9, 2.7, and 2.4 respectively; P < 0.05), while frequent consumption of fish, shrimps, crabs, and shellfish during pregnancy was negatively associated with past allergic diseases (OR=0.3; P < 0.05). Conclusions A family history of allergy is an independent risk factor for allergic diseases in children aged 0-24 months in the Wuhu urban area of Anhui Province, while frequent consumption of fish, shrimps, crabs, and shellfish during pregnancy is a protective factor.

High-throughput sequencing was performed for the peripheral blood DNA from two probands in the family with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) to determine the sequences of TSC-related genes TSC1 and TSC2 and their splicing regions and identify mutation sites. Amplification primers were designed for the mutation sites and polymerase chain reaction and Sanger sequencing were used to verify the sequences of peripheral blood DNA from the probands and their parents. The two probands had c.3981-3982 insA (p.Asp1327AspfsX87) and c.4013-4014 delCA (p.Ser1338Cysfs) heterozygous mutations, respectively, in the TSC2 gene. The parents of proband 1 had no abnormalities at these two loci; the mother of proband 2 had c.4013-4014 delCA heterozygous mutation in the TSC2 gene, while the father and the grandparents of proband 2 had no abnormalities. c.3981-3982 insA mutation may cause early coding termination of amino acid sequence at the 1413th site, and c.4013-4014 delCA mutation may cause early coding termination of amino acid sequence at the 1412th site. These two mutations are the pathogenic mutations for families 1 and 2, respectively, and both of them are novel frameshift mutations, but their association with the disease needs to be further verified by mutant protein function cell model and animal model.

Objective To examine the changes in serum chromogranin A (CgA) and urotensin II (U II) levels in children with chronic heart failure (CHF) and their clinical significance. Methods A total of 58 children with CHF, among whom 17 had endocardial fibroelastosis (EFE) and 41 had dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), were selected as CHF group, and 20 healthy children were selected as control group. Serum levels of CgA and U II were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the level of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) was determined by bi-directional lateral flow immunoassay. Ventricular remodeling indices were measured using echocardiography. The correlation between serum CgA and U II levels and ventricular remodeling was evaluated by Pearson correlation or Spearman's rank correlation analysis. Results There were no significant differences in serum CgA and NT-proBNP levels between children with grade II heart function and the control group (P > 0.05). However, the serum CgA and NT-proBNP levels gradually increased as the heart function grade increased, and were significantly higher in grade III and IV children compared to those in the control group (P < 0.05). U II levels were lower in children with grade II, III, or IV heart function than those in the control group (P < 0.05), and significantly decreased with the aggravation of CHF (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in CgA and U II levels between patients with EFE and DCM (P > 0.05). Serum CgA concentration was positively correlated with left ventricular mass index (LVMI), NT-proBNP, and cardiac function classification (r=0.279, 0.649, and 0.778 respectively; P < 0.05), but was negatively correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS), and U II (r=-0.369, -0.322, and -0.718 respectively; P < 0.05). Serum U II concentration was negatively correlated with NT-proBNP and cardiac function classification (r=-0.472 and -0.591 respectively; P < 0.05), but was not correlated with LVMI, LVEF, and LVFS (P > 0.05). Conclusions CgA may play a role in ventricular remodeling in children with CHF. Serum CgA and U II may serve as a reference for the diagnosis and functional classification of heart failure.

Objective To screen out retinoblastoma (RB)-related serum tumor markers by measuring the levels of serum alpha fetoprotein (AFP), carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125), carbohydrate antigen 153 (CA153), carbohydrate antigen 199 (CA199), and carbohydrate antigen 724 (CA724) in children with RB. Methods The levels of seven serum tumor markers (AFP, CEA, NSE, CA125, CA153, CA199, and CA724) were determined in 20 children with RB and 20 healthy children (control) using a chemiluminescent immunoassay. Results The serum levels and positive rates of NSE, CA153, and CA199 in the RB group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in the levels of AFP, CEA, CA125, and CA724 between the two groups (P > 0.05). NSE had the highest sensitivity, but a relatively low specificity for the diagnosis of RB. CA153 and CA199 had a relatively high specificity, but a relatively low sensitivity for the diagnosis of RB. Conclusions The serum levels and positive rates of NSE, CA153, and CA199 are high in children with RB. Combined measurement of these three serum tumor markers may have an important diagnostic value for RB.

Objective To investigate the nutritional risk in children with severe pneumonia using the Screening Tool for the Assessment of Malnutrition in Paediatrics (STAMP) and the association between nutritional risk and adverse clinical outcomes. Methods According to the STAMP score, 216 children with severe pneumonia were classified into high nutritional risk group (HR group; n=98), moderate nutritional risk group (MR group; n=65), and low nutritional risk group (LR group; n=53). Fasting blood samples were collected to measure the levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), adiponectin, leptin, non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), albumin, transferrin, prealbumin, and retinol binding protein (RBP). The adverse clinical outcomes were recorded. Results Compared with the MR and LR groups, the HR group had significantly lower serum levels of IGF-1, leptin, adiponectin, prealbumin, and RBP, as well as a significantly higher serum level of NEFA (P < 0.05). Compared with the MR and LR groups, the HR group had a significantly higher proportion of children admitted to the intensive care unit and a significantly longer duration of mechanical ventilation (P < 0.05). The HR group had a significantly longer mean hospital stay and a significantly higher incidence rate of complications compared with the LR and MR groups (P < 0.05). Conclusions Nutritional risk screening has an important value in evaluating the clinical outcome of children with severe pneumonia, and children at a higher nutritional risk tend to have more adverse clinical outcomes.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of human bocavirus (HBoV) in children with acute lower respiratory tract infection and to explore the relationship between the viral load of HBoV and the clinical characteristics of acute lower respiratory tract infection in children. Methods A total of 1 554 nasopharyngeal aspirates from children who were hospitalized due to acute lower respiratory tract infection between March 2011 and March 2014 were collected. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect 12 RNA and 2 DNA viruses, adenovirus (ADV) and HBoV, and to measure the viral load of HBoV in HBoV-positive children. A comprehensive analysis was performed with reference to clinical symptoms and indicators. Results In the 1 554 specimens, 1 212 (77.99%) were positive for viruses, and 275 (17.70%) were HBoV-positive. In HBoV-positive cases, 94.9% were aged < 3 years, and there were more males than females. In the 275 HBoV-positive cases, 45 (16.36%) had single infection, and 230 (83.64%) had mixed infection. There was no significant difference in viral load between children with single infection and mixed infection (P > 0.05). The patients with fever had a significantly higher viral load than those without fever (P < 0.05). The children with wheezing had a significantly higher viral load than those without wheezing (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in viral load between children with mild, moderate, and severe acute lower respiratory tract infection (P > 0.05). Conclusions HBoV is one of the important pathogens of acute lower respiratory tract infection in children. Children with a higher viral load of HBoV are more likely to experience symptoms such as fever and wheezing. However, the severity of disease and mixed infection are not significantly related to viral load.

Objective To investigate the composition of bacteria in the stools of infants and the colonization of intestinal microbiota during infancy. Methods Fresh stools were collected from 15 healthy infants at 0, 2, 4, 7, 10, 14, and 28 days and 3, 6, and 12 months after birth. Polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) was used to analyze the composition of intestinal microbiota, perform sequencing of dominant bacteria, and to analyze the changes in the composition of intestinal microbiota during infancy. Results DGGE fingerprint showed that the composition of intestinal microbiota during infancy changed significantly over time after birth. The cloning and sequencing results indicated that Proteobacteria colonized the earliest, mainly the obligate aerobes Enterobacter and Pseudomonas, followed by the obligate anaerobes (Clostridium hathewayi and Veillonella parvula) and the facultative anaerobe Clostridium ramosum in Firmicutes, and Verrucomicrobia. Actinobacteria colonized the latest, mainly Bifidobacterium, and gradually became dominant bacteria. Conclusions During infancy, obligate aerobes colonize the intestinal tract the earliest, followed by obligate anaerobes and facultative anaerobes. Proteobacteria colonizes the earliest, followed by Firmicutes and Verrucomicrobia, and Actinobacteria, mainly Bifidobacterium, colonizes the latest.

Objective To investigate the diagnostic values of prealbumin (PAB) and retinol-binding protein (RBP) for liver damage caused by mild or severe asphyxia. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 185 neonates (including 84 premature infants and 101 full-term infants) with asphyxia. Based on the Apgar score, they were divided into two groups:mild asphyxia group (n=150) and severe asphyxia group (n=35). The levels of PAB, RBP, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured and compared. Their diagnostic values for liver damage were evaluated by ROC curve analysis. Results The premature infants in the severe asphyxia group had significantly higher AST level and significantly lower levels of PAB and RBP than those in the mild asphyxia group (P < 0.05). The full-term infants in the severe asphyxia group had a significantly lower PAB level than those in the mild asphyxia group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the PAB level was significantly improved in the premature infants in the severe asphyxia group and in the full-term infants in both mild and severe asphyxia group (P < 0.05). The full-term infants in the mild asphyxia groups also showed a significant improvement in AST level (P < 0.05). The ROC curve analysis showed that PAB had a good sensitivity and specificity for identifying liver damage caused by mild or severe asphyxia in full-term and preterm infants. Conclusions PAB can be used as an indicator of liver damage caused by asphyxia in neonates, and can be used to assess the degree of asphyxia.

Objective To investigate the accuracy and clinical utility of neonatal critical illness score (NCIS) and score for neonatal acute physiology, perinatal extension, version II (SNAPPE-II) in predicting the "dead and abandoned" risk in critically ill neonates. Methods A total of 269 critically ill neonates were divided into two groups according to their prognosis:dead/abandoned and improved/cured. The accuracy of these two scoring systems, NCIS and SNAPPE-II, in predicting the "dead and abandoned" risk was compared. Results The dead/abandoned group had a significantly higher SNAPPE-II score than the improved/cured group (P < 0.001), while there was no significant difference in the NCIS score between the two groups (P=0.091). The children who were in line with the individual indicator in the NCIS results had a significantly higher "dead and abandoned" risk than those who were not (P=0.005). Conclusions SNAPPE-II is more accurate in early prediction of the "dead and abandoned" risk in critically ill neonates compared with NCIS. NCIS has the ability to predict the "dead and abandoned" risk in children in line with the individual indicator.

Objective To investigate the risk factors for neonatal pulmonary hemorrhage (NPH) in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a municipal hospital, and to provide a basis for the early identification and treatment of NPH. Methods A total of 112 neonates who were admitted to the NICU of Shaoyang Central Hospital of Hunan Province and diagnosed with NPH were enrolled as the case group. A nested case-control method was used to select, as a control group (n=224), the neonates who underwent the treatment with an assisted mechanical ventilator and did not experience pulmonary hemorrhage. Univariate analysis and unconditional logistic regression analysis were used to identify the high risk factors for NPH. Results The univariate analysis showed that compared with the control group, the case group had significantly higher incidence rates of gestational diabetes and cholestasis in mothers, cesarean delivery, gestational age < 34 weeks, 5-minute Apgar score ≤ 5, birth weight < 2 500 g, heart failure and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) before the development of NPH, partial pressure of oxygen/fraction of inspired oxygen (oxygenation index, OI) ≤ 100, and a reduction in mean platelet volume. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that DIC, heart failure, and OI ≤ 100 were independent risk factors for NPH (OR=33.975, 3.975, 1.818 respectively; P < 0.05). Conclusions Heart failure, OI ≤ 100, and DIC are risk factors for the development of NPH in the NICU of the municipal hospital.

Sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) deficiency is caused by SLC10A1 mutations impairing the NTCP function to uptake plasma bile salts into the hepatocyte. Thus far, patients with NTCP deficiency were rarely reported. The patient in this paper was a 5-month-19-day male infant with the complaint of jaundiced skin and sclera for 5.5 months as well as abnormal liver function revealed over 4 months. His jaundice was noticed on the second day after birth, and remained visible till his age of 1 month and 13 days, when a liver function test unveiled markedly elevated total, direct and indirect bilirubin as well as total bile acids (TBA). Cholestatic liver disease was thus diagnosed. Due to unsatisfactory response to medical treatment, the patient underwent exploratory laparotomy, cholecystostomy and cholangiography when aged 2 months. This revealed inspissated bile but unobstructed bile ducts. Thereafter, his jaundice subsided, but the aminotransferases and TBA levels gradually rose. Of note, his mother also had mildly elevated plasma TBA. Since the etiology was unclear, no specific medication was introduced. The infant has been followed up over 2 years. The aminotransferases recovered gradually, but TBA levels fluctuated within 23.3-277.7 μmol/L (reference range:0-10 μmol/L). On SLC10A1 genetic analysis at 2 years and 9 months, both the infant and his mother proved to be homozygous for a pathogenic variant c.800C > T (p.S267F), and NTCP deficiency was thus definitely diagnosed. The findings suggest that, although only mildly increased plasma TBA is presented in adults with NTCP deficiency, pediatric patients with this disorder exhibit persistent and remarkable hypercholanemia, and some patients might manifest as cholestatic jaundice in early infancy.

Objective To investigate the effects of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) on the apoptosis of thymic and splenic lymphocytes in rats with sepsis. Methods A total of 80 female Sprague-Dawley rats aged 7-8 weeks were randomly divided into model group, conventional lipid emulsion group (0.1 g/kg daily), low-dose ω-3 PUFAs group (0.1 g/kg daily), middle-dose ω-3 PUFAs group (0.2 g/kg daily), and high-dose ω-3 PUFAs group (0.3 g/kg daily). Cecal ligation and puncture were used to establish a rat model of sepsis. The treatment groups were then given tail vein injection of lipid emulsion or glucose diluents of ω-3 PUFAs at different doses, and the model group was given glucose injection via the tail vein at the same dose. According to the time of sacrifice, each group was further divided into 24-hour and 72-hour subgroups, with 8 rats in each subgroup. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to observe the pathological changes in the thymus and spleen. TUNEL was used to measure the apoptosis rates of thymic and splenic lymphocytes. Results In the three ω-3 PUFAs groups, the rats had a complete thymic lobular structure and clear structures of the cortex and medulla. In the model and the conventional lipid emulsion groups, the boundaries of the cortex and medulla were unclear and the number of lymphocytes was significantly reduced. In the ω-3 PUFAs groups, the structure of the red and white pulp of the spleen was maintained with the presence of splenic follicles, while in the model and the conventional lipid emulsion groups, the structure of the red and white pulp of the spleen was disordered and splenic follicles were significantly reduced or disappeared. Compared with the model and the conventional lipid emulsion groups, the ω-3 PUFAs groups showed significant reductions in the apoptosis rates of thymic and splenic lymphocytes at 24 and 72 hours (P < 0.01). Compared with the low-dose ω-3 PUFAs group, the high-dose ω-3 PUFAs group had significantly reduced apoptosis rates of splenic lymphocytes at 24 and 72 hours (P < 0.05). Conclusions ω-3 PUFAs can reduce the apoptosis of thymic and splenic lymphocytes in rats with sepsis in a dose-dependent manner.

Objective To explore the effects of embryonic lead exposure on motor function and balance ability in offspring rats and the possible mechanisms. Methods An animal model of embryonic lead exposure was prepared with the use of pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats freely drinking 0.1% (low-dose group, LG) or 0.2% (high-dose group, HG) lead acetate solution. A normal control group (NG) was also set. The male offspring rats of these pregnant rats were included in the study, consisting of 12 rats in the NG group, 10 rats in the LG group, and 9 rats in the HG group. The offspring rats' motor function and balance ability were evaluated using body turning test and coat hanger test. Eight rats were randomly selected from each group, and immunohistochemistry and Timm's staining were employed to measure the expression of c-Fos and mossy fiber sprouting (MFS) in the hippocampus. Results The HG group had a significantly longer body turning time than the NG and LG groups (P < 0.05), and the LG group had a significantly longer body turning time than the NG group (P < 0.05). The HG group had a significantly lower score of balance ability than the NG and LG groups (P < 0.05), and the LG group had a significantly lower score of balance ability than the NG group (P < 0.05). The area percentage of c-Fos-positive neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region was significantly higher in the HG group than in the other two groups (P < 0.05), and it was significantly higher in the LG group than in the NG group (P < 0.05). The semi-quantitative scores of MFS in the hippocampal CA3 region and dentate gyrus were significantly higher in the HG group than in the other two groups (P < 0.05), and they were significantly higher in the LG group than in the NG group (P < 0.05). Conclusions Embryonic lead exposure could impair the offspring rats' motor function and balance ability. These changes may be related to increased c-Fos expression in the hippocampal CA3 region and abnormal MFS in the hippocampal CA3 region and dentate gyrus.