Abstract:Objective The changes of nuclear factor-kappaB(NF-κB) activity in brain tissue of rats with infection brain edema were observed, and the effects of heat shock response (HSR) on the brain injury in this model were also evaluate. Methods Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: injection with pertussis bacilli (PB) suspension via the left internal carotid artery (PB), PB plus HSR pretreatment (HSR), and injection of normal saline instead of PB as normal control(NS). Water content(WC), sodium (Na +) and potassium (K +) concentrations in the brain tissue were measured. NF-κB complexes activity was detected using electrophoretic mobility shift assay(EMSA) in nuclear extracts of neurocytes. Results WC and Na + were significantly lower in HSR than in PB (P<0.01), while K + was higher in HSR than in PB (P<0.01) except at 24 hour. NF-κB was activated at 2,4,8 hours with a peak activity seen at 24 hour in NS. PB injection raised NF-κB activity, but the increase was markedly attenuated with HSR pretreatment. Conclusions The results suggest that HSR have some protective effects against PB-induced brain edema and that the protection seemed to be related to inhibiting augmentation of NK-κB activity.

Abstract:Objective To analyze chaotic characteristics of heart period signals (HPS) in normal neonates. Methods 512 HPS from 73 normal neonates were collected to analyze their chaotic characteristics using a computerized system. Results Four parameters of chaotic characteristics were calculated: HPS relative dispersion (6.33±1.87), HPS lyapunov exponent (3.17±0.71), HPS fractal dimension (1.83±0.04), and heart cycle chaosness (19.99±12.40). The power value and power rate of HPS in very low (626.89±496.42 MS 2 and 57.54%±15.68%), low (251.35±170.31 MS 2 and 26.68%±10.15%), and high frequency bands (148.97±128.57 MS 2 and 15.15%±7.37%) were analyzed respectively, with a total frequency band power of 1062.17±696.60 MS 2. The power value ratios of very low/high (5.53±4.48) and low/high frequency bands (1.99±0.93) were also calculated. Conclusions Comparing the data with those of adults, we found lower chaotic characteristics of HPS in neonates with a higher power rate in the very low frequency band. The results suggest that the complexity of the heart state and the controlling ability of the autonomic nervous system to the heart are lower and that the interaction component is predominant comparatively in normal neonates.

Abstract:Objective To test intrinsic nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin (ET) activities in newborns with respiratory failure. Methods NO oxidation products (NO 2 -+NO 3 =NOx) and creatinine (Cr) were measured daily in the urine of 38 newborns with mechanical ventilation due to respiratory failure. NOx excretion was expressed by urine Cr excretion. Plasma ET was also tested in the patients. Lung compliance was monitored and oxygenation index (OI) was calculated in series. Results Five of the 38 patients developed respiratory distress syndrome. In these patients, urinary NOx (208.64±88.53 μmol/mg Cr) was extremely low while plasma ET was markedly high (82.36±17.83 ng/L). The average value of NOx (264.98±218.32 μmol/mg Cr) was significantly lower while plasma ET (73.01±10.06 ng/L) was higher in all the patients than those seen in the control newborns without pulmonary disease (397.26±206.61 μmol/mg Cr and 40.66±16.86 ng/L). Urinary NOx and plasma ET returned to the normal levels when the patients recovered from respiratory failure. In addition, the lower urinary NOx with the elevated plasma ET was related to the increased OI and to the reduced Lung Compliance. Conclusions Newborn patients with more severe respiratory failure have a lower level of urinary NO oxidation products and a higher level of plasma ET. The results suggest that the decrease of intrinsic NO production and the increase of ET induced by severe hypoxemia may play an important role in the pathogenesis of respiratory failure.

Abstract:Objective To investigate the changes of interleukin-13(IL-13) in Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis(HSPN). Methods The production of IL-13 protein was determined by ELISA and the expression of IL-13 mRNA was measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in 30 healthy children and 20 children with HSPN during their acute phase and remission stage, respectively. Results The levels of IL-13 mRNA and protein were significantly increased in the patients in their acute phase compared with the controls (0.48±0.11 vs 0.36±0.16 and 47.89±11.67 pg/ml vs 35.22±4.42 pg/ml, P<0.01 for both), while in the remission stage the amount of IL-13 decreased to normal levels (0.38±0.12 vs 0.36±0.16 and 35.94±5.60 pg/ml vs 35.22±4.42 pg/ml, P>0.05 for both). The production of IL-13 mRNA and protein in the acute phase of the HSPN patients clinically with proteinuria, nephrotic syndrome or acute glomerulonephritis syndrome was significantly higher than that in the controls. There was no significant difference between the HSPN patients in the acute phase clinically with only isolated hematuria and the controls. Conclusions The expression of IL-13 is abnormal and correlates with the clinical types in children with HSPN.

Abstract:Objective To evaluate the effects of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) in the short-course supplementary treatment of acute leukemia on the inhibitory period of bone marrow induced by intense chemotherapy. Methods Forty-five cases of acute leukemia were divided randomly into two groups.Routine treatment was conducted in the routine group , while the patients in the supplementary therapy group received rhG-CSF on the first three days as a supplementary therapy besides routine treatment. Results The inhibitory period of bone marrow and controlled period of infection were significantly shortened in the supplementary therapy group than in the routine group. The required volume of blood transfusion was significantly smaller in the supplementary therapy group (340 ml) than in Group R (540 ml). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the secondary infection occurrence rate, remission rate, and disease-free survival. Conclusions The short-course administration of rhG-CSF as a supplementary therapy seems to reduce the inhibition of bone marrow induced by intense chemotherapy in acute leukemia and thus may be helpful to accomplish the intense chemotherapy. Due to the beneficial effects and low costs of rhG-CSF, it may be worthwhile to popularize its application as a supplementary therapy in acute leukemia.

Abstract:Objective To evaluate the effects of prepuside on hyperbilirubinemia in newborns. Methods 89 neonatal infants with hyperbilirubinemia were divided randomly into the conventional and prepulside therapy groups. All the patients were administrated the same conventional treatment and only the patients in the prepulside group received prepulside at a dose of 0.2 mg/kg, 3 times per day for 7 days. Serum bilirubin levels were determined before and on the 7 th day after the start of treatment.Results Bilirubin levels decreased by an average of 53.18±22.36 μmol/L per day in the prepulside group and of 35.86±22.36 μmol/L per day in the conventional group (P<0.01).Conclusions Prepulside as a supplementary therapy in the treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia promotes the decrease of serum bilirubin levels and shortens the course of treatment.

Abstract:Objective To evaluate the changes in the pulmonary artery pressure and the right ventricular diastolic function in children with bronchial asthma. Methods The acceleration time corrected for heart rate (ATc) and the right ventricular diastolic function were measured to estimate the pulmonary artery pressure by Doppler echocardiography in 20 controls and 31 cases with asthma (14 mild-moderate and 17 severe cases). The blood gas analysis was also surveyed. Results ① The pulmonary artery pressure increased in all the asthmatic patients, and the pressure was much higher in the severe group (RPEP/AT 1.26±0.19) compare to the mild-moderate group (1.12±0.15, P<0.01 ) and control group (0.85±0.14, P<0.01). ②A significant difference in the right ventricular diastolic function was found between the two groups. The right ventricular diastolic function of the severe patients was markedly decreased compared to that of the mild-moderate patients (E/A 0.98±0.34 vs. 1.11±0.29, P<0.01)and controls (E/A 1.41±0.29, P<0.01). The severe asthmatic children always had hypoxemia (PaO 2 7.02±0.80 kPa). Conclusions Pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular diastolic dysfunction are common in bronchial asthmatic children and they are correlated with disease severity.

Abstract:Objective To evaluate the clinical characteristics of subcortical infarction (SCI)and diagnostic values of computerized tomography (CT)and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods We reviewed the clinical data of 39 cases of SCI. Results The causes of SCI included minor head injury (19 cases), upper respiratory infection (7 cases), others (4 cases) and unknown causes (8 cases). The clinical manifestations included hemiparalysis (28 cases), aphasia (4 cases), and epilepsy (9 cases). A total of 49 focal ischemic lesions were found with CT in 37 patients, and 9 focal ischemic lesions were found with MRI in 7 patients. The clinical symptoms in 38 cases disappeared within 12 weeks after therapy. Conclusions The review indicates that children with SCI have a favorable prognosis, which is probably a result of the difference in SCI etiology between children and adults.

Abstract:Objective To study the relationship between the cardiac function and nonlinear dynamics analysis of the heart rate variability (HRV) signal. Methods A rabbit model of myocardial ischemia and reperfusion was established by ligating the anterior descending coronary artery. HRV nonlinear dynamics indices were obtained by the chaos data analyzer and compared with the cardiac output. Results Except correlation dimension, the indices of HRV nonlinear dynamics, including complexity, entropy and lyapunov exponent, significantly decreased from 0.66±0.11, 0.50±0.08, and 0.16±0.03 pre-occlusion to 0.41±0.11, 0.44±0.05, and 0.12±0.04 post-occlusion, respectively. The change of these indices linearly correlated with the decline of the cardiac output induced by ischemia (r=0.71, 0.59, and 0.58, P<0.01). Conclusions The HRV nonlinear dynamics method may be a useful tool for evaluating the cardiac function during myocardial ischemia.

Abstract:Objective To assess the effects of ventricle-peritoneal shunt (VPS) for aqueduct-obstructive hydrocephalus in children . Methods The clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment and outcome of 32 children with aqueduct-obstructive hydrocephalus were retrospectively reviewed. Results Of the 32 cases,14 patients (44%) achieved good recovery ,12 (37%) had improvement of their symptoms and 6 (19%) showed partial improvement of symptoms; none died from VPS.Conclusions VPS is a generally effective and safe therapy for aqueduct-obstructive hydrocephalus.

Abstract:Objective To screen auditive obstacles in neonates. Methods The distortion product oto-acoustic emission (DPOAE) test was performed in 2 367 neonates. If infants failed DPOAE test, the tests were repeated up to four times for two months, and then followed by the auditory brain stem response audiometry (ABR) test. The failures in the ABR test were considered to have auditive obstacles. Results Five infants failed the DPOAE and ABR tests (single ear in two cases and two ears in three). Two cases were suspected to have moderate auditive obstacles and three to have serious ones. Conclusions The DPOAE test is a reliable, effective and convenient method for an early screening of auditive obstacles in neonates to prevent the failures from developing into subsequent alalia.