Abstract:

The main aim of the Surveillance of Cerebral Palsy in Europe (SCPE) network was to develop a central database of cerebral palsy (CP) cases across Europe. Monitoring trends in prevalence rates of CP should contribute to collaborative studies on risk factors or quality of life for children living with CP. A multi-centre collaboration of CP registries used a clear definition of CP to accurately and consistently identify cases of CP. The rate of CP within the collaboration varied from 1.5 to 3 per 1 000 live births. For the birth cohort 1980 to 1996 (n=9 128), 53.9% of the CP children had a bilateral spastic cerebral palsy, 31.0% had unilateral spastic CP, 6.6% were dyskinetic and 4.1% ataxic. Among CP children, 20.4% had a birth weight less than 1 500g and 25.5% were born before 32 weeks gestational age. Intellectual impairment corresponding to an IQ<50 was found in 29.5% of CP children. The proportion of CP children unable to walk, even with aids, was 30.3%. Twelve and a half percent of CP children were known to have a severe visual impairment. It was concluded that registers are the best means to implement epidemiological research into CP.

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: It has been reported that neuronal apoptosis plays a critical role in pathology of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Cytochrome C (CytC) is an important apoptotic protease activating factor. Inosine might have a neuroprotective effect against cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury by inhibiting the neuronal apoptosis and the expression of CytC mRNA in adult rats. This study examined the effects of inosine on neuronal apoptosis and CytC mRNA expression following hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) in order to investigate the neuroprotectivity of inosine against cerebral ischemia injury in neonatal rats and the possible mechanism. METHODS: A total of 140 healthy 7-day-old Sprague-Dawley rat pups were randomly assigned into Control (n=40), HIBD (n=50) and Inosine treatment groups (n=50). HIBD rat models were established by ligating the left common carotid artery, followed by 8%O_2 hypoxia exposure for 2 hrs in the HIBD and Inosine treatment groups. The Control group was not subjected to hypoxia-ischemia (HI). The Inosine treatment and the HIBD groups were randomly divided into 5 sub-groups sacrificed at 6 and 12 hrs, and 1, 3 and 7 days post- HI (n=10 each). The Control group rats were sacrificed at the corresponding time points (n=8 each). Inosine was administered to the Inosine treatment group by intraperitoneal injection immediately after HIBD at the dosage of 100 mg/kg twice daily for 7 days. TUNEL staining and in situ hybridization method was used to detect neuronal apoptosis and CytC mRNA expression respectively. RESULTS: Few apoptotic cells and CytC mRNA positive cells were found in brain tissues of the Control group. In the HIBD group, the number of apoptotic cells and the CytC mRNA expression in the cortical and hippocampal gyrum CA1 areas increased 6 hrs after HI, peaking at 1 day after HI and then decreased gradually. Until the 7th day, the number of apoptotic cells and the CytC mRNA expression in the cortical and hippocampal gyrum CA1 areas in the HIBD group remained significantly higher than in the Control group. Inosine treatment decreased the apoptotic cells and the CytC mRNA expression in both areas from 6 hrs to 7 days after HI compared with the HIBD group. The linear correlation analysis demonstrated that the number of apoptotic cells was positively correlated to the CytC mRNA expression in neonatal rats with HIBD (r=0.88, P﹤0.01) . CONCLUSIONS: Inosine can reduce the number of apoptotic cells and down-regulate the expression of CytC mRNA following HIBD in neonatal rats. The decreased number of apoptotic cells was positively correlated to the decreased CytC mRNA expression after inosine treatment, suggesting that inosine offered neuroprotectivity against HIBD possibly through inhibiting the CytC mRNA expression and resulting in a decrease of cell apoptosis.

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To study the cellular activity of asparagine synthetase in different types of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). METHODS: The cellular activity of asparagine synthetase was detected by HPLC-FLD and Protein measurement in 28 ALL children (7 cases of T-ALL and 21 cases of B-lymphoid lineage ALL) before chemotherapy. RESULTS: The asparagines synthetase activity levels in T-ALL children were significantly higher than those of the B-lymphoid lineage ALL patients, with the median activity level of 9.3 nM Asn/mg protein/hr vs 5.2 nM Asn/mg protein/hr (P<0.05). The distribution of the asparagine synthetase activity demonstrated a polymorphism in either T-ALL or B-lymphoid lineage ALL patients. CONCLUSIONS: The cellular activity of asparagines synthetase in ALL patients is presented with a polymorphism distribution. The asparagines synthetase activity levels in T-ALL are significantly higher than in B-lymphoid lineage ALL.

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the pathological changes of liver in children with hepatitis B virus associated glomerulonephritis (HBV-GN). METHODS: Thirteen children with HBV-GN (aged from 2-14 years) underwent renal and liver biopsy. The biopsy findings were analyzed. RESULTS: Different degrees of hepatic lesions were seen in all of the 13 patients, mild lesions accounting for 69.2% (9/13). HBSAg positive was the most common in the liver tissue [76.9% (10/13)]. Among the renal lesions, membranous glomerulopathy accounted for 69.2%( 9/13), followed by membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis 30.8% (4/13). HBsAg and HBcAg positive were presented in all patients' kidney tissues. HBV antigens were detected in stroma between nephric tubule in all samples. Four patients presented with HBcAg positive in both live and kidneys. CONCLUSIONS: The children with HBV-GN couple with liver lesions. The severity of the renal lesions is not always accord with that of the liver lesions. The appearance of HBcAg in both kidneys and liver indicates severe lesions of the two organs. It is suggested that a liver-kidney holistic treatment is necessary for children with HBV-GN.

Abstract:

The occurrence of eating disorders in Chinese adolescents is increasing. However the cause, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of this disorder are rarely reported by pediatricians. This paper investigated the cause and treatment of six cases of eating disorders in adolescent patients. The medical data of six cases of eating disorders in the Shanghai Children's Medical Center from January 2003 to September 2005 were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were 5 girls and 1 boy, whose onset ages ranged from 12.4 to 15.8 years. They were initially referred to the clinic between 12.9 to 16.7 years, with a course of disease varying from three to twelve months. The patients' body mass index (BMI) varied from 9.07 to 17.0. Four out of the six patients were hospitalized because of low temperature, low blood pressure, bradycardia, dehydration and multiple systems damages. The other two were treated in the out-patient clinic. Based on the medical history and physical examination as well as laboratory findings, five of them were diagnosed with anorexia nervosa and the other one were bulimia nervosa. All of the patients were under the care of a team consisting of pediatricians, dietitians, psychiatrists and nurses. When the patients whose vital signs were unstable, medical treatment focused on life sustention and they were kept on beds compulsively and given nutrition transfusion. Meanwhile cognition and behavior therapy was administered to help the patients find out the internal and environmental factors related to the development of this disorder, establish a new conception of healthy weight, and correct their abnormal eating behaviors. The patients who had a severe distortion of body image and a big resistance to the treatment were additionally administered with psychiatry drugs. After treatment, three patients set up a healthy eating behavior, their body weights gradually recovered and they had no relapse during a 1-year follow-up. The other three patients retained some abnormal eating behaviors and their body weights were always below normal. It was found that eating disorders in adolescents may be triggered by some environmental factors, such as comments on body shape from their peers, fashion influence, academic pressures, and problems in communication. Since the patients' abnormal eating behaviors were masked or neglected by parents at the early stage of the disease and the clinical presentations were related to multiple systems, it is difficult to make an early diagnosis and treatment. It is important to improve the pediatricians' knowledge of eating disorders of adolescents and perform cooperation between a multidisciplinary team for the early diagnosis and treatment of this disorder.

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the expressions of plasma stromal cell derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and CXCR4 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of children with Kawasaki disease (KD) and aimed to explore the significance of SDF-1 and CXCR4 mRNA in KD. METHODS: Fifty-six children with KD (12 cases complicated by coronary artery lesions) and 60 age and gender-matched healthy children (normal controls) were enrolled in this study. Plasma SDF-1 levels and CXCR4 mRNA expression in PBMC were measured using ELISA and real-time quantitative PCR at the acute and convalescence stages of KD. RESULTS: Plasma SDF-1 levels (1 833±395 ng/L vs 1 126±408 ng/L; P<0.05) and the CXCR4 mRNA expression in PBMC (6.57±2.81 vs 2.58±1.01; P<0.01)in KD patients were significantly higher than those in normal controls at the acute stage. Both plasma SDF-1 levels and CXCR4 mRNA expression in KD patients decreased significantly at the convalescence stage, but nevertheless remained higher than those in the normal controls. The patients with concomitant coronary artery lesions showed higher CXCR4 mRNA levels than without at the acute stage (8.19±2.39 vs 6.13±2.77; P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Plasma SDF-1 concentration and CXCR4 mRNA expression in PBMC increased in KD patients. CXCR4 mRNA might be involved in the development of coronary artery lesions in KD.

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To explore the incidence of acid and bile reflux in children with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and to study the roles of bile and gastrin in the pathogenesis of childhood GERD. METHODS: Forty-two cases of GERD were divided into two groups according to endoscopic findings: reflux esophagitis (RE) and non-erosive reflux disease (NERD). The patients underwent 24-hr ambulatory esophageal pH and bilirubin monitoring. The serum concentration of gastrin was detected by radioimmunoassay. Thirteen children without gastroesophageal reflux symptoms, digestive tract disease and severe systemic organic disease served as the Control group. RESULTS: Of the 42 cases of GERD, 24 cases were confirmed with RE, with esophageal mucosal lesions, and 18 were NERD without esophageal mucosal lesions by endoscopy. Both acid and bile reflux parameters, including the percentage of total time with pH<4 and bilirubin absorbance ≥0.14, the total number of reflux episodes and the number of bile reflux episodes lasting longer than 5 minutes, were significantly higher in the GERD patients than those in the Control group (P<0.05). The time of esophageal acid exposure (pH<4) and the percentage of total time with bilirubin absorbance ≥0.14 increased significantly in the RE group compared with in the NERD group (P<0.05). Sixteen RE patients had a mixed reflux of bile and acid (66.7%) but only 6 NERD patients (33.3%) had (P<0.01). The serum concentration of gastrin in the RE group (125.12±45.06 pg/mL) and the NERD group (98.22±27.92 pg/mL) was significantly higher than that of the Control group (74.22±20.34 pg/mL) (P<0.01, P<0.05 respectively). A significant difference was noted in the serum concentration of gastrin between the RE and the NERD groups (P< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Mixed reflux of bile and acid are common in children with GERD. Bile reflux may play a role in the development of GERD. Gastrin parasecretion may participate in the development of GERD. Gastrin and bile reflux may have synergistic effects on the development of childhood GERD.

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To study the value of carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) in the diagnosis of neonatal jaundice. METHODS: This study consisted of 189 patients with neonatal jaundice due to hemolytic disease (n=75), infectious disease (n=52), intracranial hemorrhage (n=32) and breast-milk feeding (n=30) . One hundred and forty-two neonates without pathological jaundice that were gestational age-, postnatal age- and birth weight-matched were used as the Control group. The level of arterial capillary blood COHb was detected by a 270 CO-oximeter connected to an 800 series system. Total serum bilirubin (STB) content was measured using an Abbott Spectrum CCX chemistry analyzer. The levels of COHb and STB were measured at baseline, and again in patients with jaundice due to hemolytic disease after intravenous gammaglobulin treatment for 2 days. RESULTS: The levels of COHb [(3.64±0.83)%] and STB (330.84±77.15 μmol/L) in patients with jaundice due to hemolytic disease were significantly higher than those measured in the Control group [COHb (2.38±0.35) %; STB 130.18±32.86 μmol/L ] (P< 0.01). The levels in patients with jaundice due to intracranial hemorrhage were also significantly higher than those in the Control group [COHb (2.48±0.53) % vs (2.24±0.32) %; STB 184.15±29.35 μmol/L vs 112.11±17.45 μmol/L; P<0.05). The patients with jaundice due to infectious disease or breast-milk feeding only demonstrated higher levels of serum STB (P<0.01) while COHb levels were not different compared with the Control group. The patients with jaundice due to hemolytic disease or intracranial hemorrhage presented with hemolytic unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia and had significantly higher COHb levels and lower STB levels than those patients with nonhemolytic unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia (caused by breast jaundice) (P<0.01). The levels of COHb [(2.68±0.51) %] and STB (230.18±42.96 μmol/L) in patients with jaundice due to hemolytic disease decreased markedly after intravenous gammaglobulin treatment (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The COHb level can be used as a supplementary indicator of increased bilirubin production. The elevation of COHb can be useful in the diagnosis of neonatal jaundice since COHb is elevated in hemolytic disease and intracranial hemorrhage.

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: The efficacy of bronchodilator in asthmatoid bronchitis remains controversial. This study was designed to investigate the effects of bronchodilators, salbutamo and ipraopium bromide, on the pulmonary function in young children with this disease. METHODS: Pulmonary function tests were performed in 20 children with asthmatoid bronchitis (2 months-2.5 years of age) before and 30, 60, and 120 minutes after salbutamo and ipratropium bromide inhalation. The indexes of pulmonary function measured included tidal breathing flow volume (TBFV) loop, percent of tidal volume to peak tidal expiratory flow (%V-PF), terminal flows per peak expiratory flow (25/PF), peak tidal expiratory flow (PTEF), rate of mid-expiratory to mid-inspiratory flow (ME/MI), respiratory rate (RR) and tidal volume per kilogram (TV/kg). RESULTS: Before drug inhalation, the descending branch of the TBFV loop was depressed. The PTEF shifted forward and %V-PF (0.19±0.04) and 25/PF (0.42±0.11) decreased. These changes did not improve and the remaining indexes, RR, ME/MI and TV/kg, 30, 60, and 120 minutes after drug inhalation also remained similar to before inhalation. CONCLUSIONS: Salbutamo and ipratropium bromide inhalation did not improve the airway resistance and ventilation function in children with asthmatoid bronchitis. This suggests that the efficacy of bronchodilator in the treatment of this disease is doubtful.

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and drug resistant patterns of community-acquired Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in children. METHODS: Samples of sputum, blood, liquor puris/secretion of skin or stool in Beijing Children's Hospital between January, 2002 and March, 2005 were cultured. The characteristics of community-acquired MRSA infection were analyzed and compared with hospital-acquired MRSA infection. RESULTS: A total of 25 strains of MRSA were found during the study period and they accounted for 4.7% in 512 strains of Staphylococcus aureus. Of the 25 strains of MRSA, 20 strains were community-acquired but only 5 were hospital-acquired. The prevalence of MRSA infection in Staphyloccus aureus has kept rising over last two years, 3.1% in 2003, 5.4% in 2004 and 7.2% in the first season of 2005. There were no statistical differences in the results of antimicrobial susceptibility testing and multi-resistance testing between the groups of community-acquired and hospital-acquired MRSA. In both groups, all isolates were susceptible to vancomycin. The percentage of the patients with underlying disease in the hospital-acquired infection group was significantly higher than in community-acquired infection group (P<0.05), but the onset age was not different. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of community-acquired MRSA infection tends to increase in children. The drug resistant patterns of community-acquired MRSA were not significantly different from the hospital-acquired MRSA in children.

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: Ambroxol induces the synthesis of surfactant in lung alveolar type II cells. Some studies have shown its effectiveness for the prevention of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in preterm infants. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of two different ways of ambroxol administration, ie, intravenous injection and atomizing inhalation, for the prevention of RDS in preterm infants. METHODS: A total of 125 preterm infants born between 28-37 weeks of gestation were randomly assigned into three groups: Intravenous and Atomizing ambroxol treatment groups (n=40 each) or Control group (n=45). The Intravenous group was injected with 15 mg/kg of ambroxol through the umbilical vein immediately after birth and then received 30 mg/kg of ambroxol daily for 2 days by intravenous drip. The Atomizing group was administered with 30 mg/kg of ambroxol daily for 2 days by atomizing inhalation immediately after birth. The Control group received no ambroxol treatment. The incidences of RDS and complications as well as the blood gas results 6 hrs after birth were compared among the three groups. RESULTS: The incidence of RDS was 7.5%, 5.0% and 24.4% in the Intravenous, Atomizing and Control groups respectively. There were no significant differences in the incidence of RDS between the two ambroxol treatment groups. However, the incidence of RDS in the two treatment groups were noticeably lower than in the Control group (P<0.05). The blood gas results did not show significant differences between the two ambroxol treatment groups but both groups demonstrated improved blood gas results compared with the Control group at 6 hrs after birth (P<0.05). The incidence of complications, such as pulmonary hemorrhage, respiratory failure, intraranial hemorrhage, in the two ambroxol treatment groups was reduced compared with the Control group (P<0.05), but there were no differences between the two ambroxol groups. CONCLUSIONS: Early administration of either intravenous or atomizing ambroxol can produce a positive efficacy for the prevention of RDS in preterm infants. The two different ways of administration seem to result in a similar efficacy in the prevention of RDS.

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To study the variation and significance of serum and stool IL-18 and IFN-γ levels in children with rotavirus enteritis. METHODS: Serum and stool specimens from 50 children with acute rotavirus enteritis were collected before treatment. Serum and stool levels of IL-18 and IFN-γ were measured using ELISA. Serum and stool specimens from 21 age and gender-matched healthy children were used as the Control group. RESULTS: Serum and stool levels of IL-18 and IFN-γ in patients with rotavirus enteritis were significantly higher than those in the Control group. There was a negative correlation between the serum IFN-γ level and the frequency of vomiting (r=-0.368, P<0.05). The stool IL-18 level negatively correlated to the frequency of diarrhea (r=-0.414, P<0.05). A positive correlation was found between the serum levels of IL-18 and IFN-γ (r=0.416, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Serum and stool levels of IL-18 and IFN-γ were increased and associated with the severity in children with rotavirus enteritis. IL-18 and IFN-γ might have protective effects against acute rotavirus infection at the early stage.

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To study the changes of IL-12 produced by dendritic cells in peripheral blood in children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP), and to explore its influence on TH1/TH2 balance in order to elucidate its significance in the pathogenesis of HSP. METHODS: The levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-12 (IL-12) in plasma were determined by ELISA in 60 HSP children (HSP group) and 21 healthy children (Control group). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of 22 HSP patients and 21 healthy children were cultured in vitro and then were transformed into dendritic cells. The levels of IL-12 in the supernatant were detected by ELISA and the positive expression rate of CD1a+ was detected by indirect immunofluorescence procedure. RESULTS: ①The levels of IFN-γ and the ratio of IFN-γ/IL-4 in plasma of the HSP group were lower than those of the Control group (IFN-γ 30.59± 11.27 pg/mL vs 43.38±19.19 pg/mL; IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio 0.70±0.28 vs 1.33±0.57) (P<0.01). The levels of IL-12 in the HSP group were also lower than those of the Control group (153.95±91.88 pg/mL vs 323.06±162.34 pg/mL; P<0.01). In contrast, the levels of IL-4 were higher than those of the Control group (45.08±9.19 pg/mL vs 32.95±7.10 pg/mL; P<0.01). The plasma levels of IL-12 positively correlated with the IFN-γ levels (r=0.52, P<0.01) and the ratio of IFN-γ/IL-4 (r=0.43, P<0.01) in the HSP group. ②The IL-12 levels in the supernatant of the HSP group were lower than those of the Control group (357.06±153.56 pg/mL vs 489.80±213.45 pg/mL; P<0.05), and had a positive correlation with the plasma IL-12 levels (r=0.74, P<0.01). ③The positive expression rate of CD1a+ of the HSP group was lower than that of the Control group [(27.42±10.75)% vs (35.68±12.18)%; P<0.05], and positively correlated with the IL-12 levels in the supernatants (r=0.57, P<0.01) and in plasma (r=0.68, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: There was an imbalance of TH1/TH2 in HSP children. The decrease of TH1 function had a positive correlation with the low levels of IL-12 in plasma, while the latter correlated closely with decreased number and / or function of dendritic cells, suggesting that the decreased number and / or function of dendritic cells in peripheral blood resulted in the imbalance of TH1/TH2 indirectly.

Abstract:

McCune-Albright syndrome is a rare G proteins α disorder. The disorder is characterized by polyostotic fibrous dysplasia, sexual precocity and hyperpigmented macules. It is caused due to mutations in the gene Gsα that incodes the α subunit of the trimeric guanosine triphate-binding protein. There is no specific treatment for this syndrome. Treatment is generally symptomatic. This paper reported three cases of McCune-Albright syndrome and reviewed the relevant literatures regarding to the pathogenesis, pathological features, diagnosis and treatment. All three cases presented with a characteristic triad: polyostotic fibrous dysplasia, sexual precocity and hyperpigmented macules and were thus definitely diagnosed with McCune-Albright syndrome.

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: The study was to investigate the effect of different temperatures during hypoxia on brain injury in mice of different ages. METHODS: Newborn C57/BL6 mice at 7 days or 21 days of life were subjected to left carotid artery ligation followed by exposure with 10% oxygen. The mice were kept in a incubator with a predetermined, constant temperature, either 34℃ (Hypothermia group) or 36℃ (Normothermia group). Brain injury was evaluated 7 days after hypoxia-ischemia (HI). Active caspase-3 and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) expressions in the brain tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western Blot was used to evaluate the phosphor-Akt (P-Akt) expression in the brain tissue at 24 hrs post-HI. RESULTS: Brain injuries, including the cortex, hippocampus, striatum and thalamus injuries, occurred in the Normothermia group at 7 days post-HI. The brain cortex showed cystic cavitation in the postnatal day (P)7 pups mice and laminar infarct of the brain cortex was observed in P21 mice. In the Hypothermia group, the P7 mice did not present with laminar infarct of the cortex and had lower scores of neuropathological lesions in cortex, hippocampus, striatum and thalamus than P7 mice from the Normothermia group (P<0.01); the cortex injuries were significantly relieved but the injuries of hippocampus, striatum and thalamus in P21 mice were similar to those from the Normothermia group. Active caspase-3 (7.0±5.6)and AIF positive cells (3.7±6.2) in the cortex of P7 mice from the Hypothermia group were significantly lower than those of the Normothermia group (51.5±23.2 and 31.8±22.4) at 24 hrs post-HI (P<0.01). Wetstern Blot showed the P-Akt expression was obviously decreased in the ipsilateral hemisphere to the occlusion compared with that of the contralateral hemisphere after HI in the Normothermia group (P<0.05), while in the Hypothermia group the P-Akt expression was not significantly different between the two hemispheres. CONCLUSIONS: Hypothermia has protective effects against HI insults. The protection was more pronounced for the immature brain than the mature brain.

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) may contribute to the disorder of development of fetal brains. L-arginine has been known to be effective in blood vessel distension and improving the blood circulation of placentas. Recent studies have shown that L-arginine can ameliorate the placental hypoxia and improve the development of fetus. This study aimed to explore the effects of L-arginine on the expression of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, IGF-II,IGF binding protein-3(IGFBP3)and IGF-I mRNA in brains of IUGR rats and the possible mechanisms of L-arginine. METHODS: Thirty-six pregnant rats were randomly assigned into four groups: Control, Model, Low dose L-arginine (100 mg/kg) and High-dose L-arginine (200 mg/kg L-arginine) groups (n=9 each). IUGR was induced by passive smoking in rats from the last three groups. L-arginine was administered for the last two groups between days 8 and 20 of gestation. On day 21 of gestation, the pup rats were delivered by cesarean section. The levels of IGF-I, IGF-II and IGFBP3 in the brains of pup rats were measured by enzyme-linked immunoadsordent assay (ELISA) and the expression of IGF-I mRNA was detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR (FQ-PCR). RESULTS: The levels of IGF-I, IGF-II and IGF-I mRNA expression in the Model group were significantly lower than in the Control group, with the IGF-I levels of 0.789± 0.062 ng/mg vs 0.947±0.042 ng/mg, the IGF-II levels of 0.270±0.020 ng/mg vs 0.374±0.015 ng/mg and the IGF-I mRNA expression of (13.12±1.39)×104 cps/μg RNA vs (21.28±3.54) ×104 cps/μg RNA(P<0.01). In contrast, the IGFBP3 levels in the Model group were significantly higher than in the Control group (0.253±0.011 ng/mg vs 0.089± 0.015 ng/mg; P<0.01). Low or high dose L-arginine treatment increased significantly the IGF-I levels from 0.789± 0.062 ng/mg (Model group) to 0.937±0.067 ng/mg (low dose group) or 0.858±0.077 ng/mg (high dose group), the IGF-II levels from 0.270±0.020 ng/mg (Model group) to 0.318±0.018 ng/mg (low dose group) or 0.354±0.021 ng/mg (high dose group) and the IGF-I mRNA expression from (13.12±1.39) ×104 cps/μg RNA (Model group) to (19.24±2.48)×104 cps/μg RNA (low dose group) or (17.35±2.30)×104 cps/μg RNA (high dose group) (P< 0.01). The IGFBP3 levels were significantly reduced after low or high dose L-arginine treatment (0.132±0.006 ng/mg or 0.146±0.009 ng/mg) compared with those of the Model group (0.253±0.011 ng/mg) ( P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: L-arginine can increase the levels of IGF-I and IGF-II and the IGF-I mRNA expression, and decrease the IGFBP3 level in the brain of rats with IUGR induced by passive smoking, thereby offering protective effects against IUGR.

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of NADPH oxidase on hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α and endothelin (ET)-1 expression in human umbilical endothelia cells (HUVECs) and its possible mechanism. METHODS: Twenty-five bottles of HUVECs culture fluid were randomly assigned into five groups: group A (normoxic control), group B (hypoxic), group C (NADPH oxidase inhibitor apocynin+normoxic), group D (H_2O_2 which can degrade HIF-1α rapidly+hypoxic) and group E (H_2O_2+apocynin+normoxic), with five bottles in each group. The culture supernates were collected and the total protein was extracted 3 hrs after treatment. Western Blot and ELISA were used to detect the HIF-1α protein expression in HUVECs and the ET-1 level in the culture supernates respectively. RESULTS: There was a lower expression of HIF-1α protein (0.336±0.012) and lower ET-1 levels (5.87±2.22 pg/mL) in group A. The HIF-1α protein expression in groups B and C (0.773± 0.018 and 0.888±0.022) and ET-1 levels (95.38±8.06 and 33.67± 4.21 pg/mL) were noticeably higher than in group A (P< 0.05). The groups D and E had the HIF-1α protein expression levels similar to group A, but the ET-1 levels in group D (108.43±8.38 pg/mL) and group E (109.66±5.80 pg/mL) were significantly higher than in group A (P< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Hypoxia or apocynin can increase the HIF-1α and ET-1 expression in HUVECs. H_2O_2 can inhibit the HIF-1α expression but increase the ET-1levels. It is speculated that NADPH oxidase as an oxygen sensor regulates the HIF-1α expression by changing the intracellular redox reaction and that except HIF-1, H_2O_2 might contribute to ET-1 synthesis and release.

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: Tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) induces cell death in a variety of tumors but not in normal cells. TRAIL- resistance of most neuroblastoma (NB) cell lines is related to the loss of caspase-8 expression and the expression and distribution of membrane TRAIL-receptors. This study investigated the role of caspase-8 and DR5 in TRAIL-induced apoptosis of NB cell line SKNDZ. METHODS: The expression of caspase-8 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR. The expression of DR5 protein was detected by Western Blot analysis. The effects of TRAIL, IFNγ+TRAIL, chemotherapeutic agent (adriamycin or etoposide) + TRAIL, and chemotherapeutic agent +TRAIL+ IFNγ on the growth and apoptosis of SKNDZ cells were detected by MTT assay and flow cytometry. RESULTS: caspase-8 was not expressed in SKNDZ cells but IFNγ treatment resulted in an increase of caspase-8 expression. Expression of DR5 protein was not detected in SKNDZ cells but an increased DR5 protein expression was found after treatment with adriamycin or etoposide. The SKNDZ cells expressing caspase-8 were not sensitive to TRAIL but those SKNDZ cells expressing both caspase-8 and DR5 were sensitive. The early apoptosis rates of the adriamycin /etoposide + IFNγ+TRAIL groups [( 17.9±3.6)%, (14.8±3.3)%] were higher than that of the IFNγ+TRAIL group [(3.9± 1.2)% ](F=26.233, P< 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: SKNDZ cells expressing both caspase-8 and DR5 restored the TRAIL sensitivity. caspase-8 and DR5 play a key role in TRAIL-induced apoptosis of NB cells.

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: Accidents are an important cause of childhood injury. It is hypothesized that safety education programs can reduce accidents in primary school-aged children. This study aimed to determine whether child and parent safety education programs can decrease the incidence of accidental injury in children when compared with controls. METHODS: The study population (aged 7-13 years) were recruited from four local primary schools, and randomly assigned into an Intervention or a Control group. The Intervention group received child and parent safety education and was taught injury prevention strategies. The Control group received no injury prevention education or intervention. The incidence of accidental injury was compared between the two groups. RESULTS: In the first year after intervention the incidence of accidental injury was 262 cases in the Intervention group (8.26℅) and 234 cases (8.67℅) in the Control group (P>0.05). In the second year after intervention, however, the incidence of accidental injury was significantly less in the Intervention group (211 cases, 6.54℅) compared with the Control group (229 cases, 8.63℅) (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Injury prevention strategies and child and parent safety education can reduce risks of accidental injury in children.

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OBJECTIVE: Childhood behavioral problems can predict future psychiatric disorders. Temperament development is important for a healthy personality in adulthood. This study investigated whether breastfeeding is associated with the occurrence of behavioral problems and the temperament development in preschool children. METHODS: A total of 737 children (399 boys and 338 girls) aged 4-5 years in Zibo City were recruited by stratified random cluster sampling. They were born at term with a birth weight of ≥ 2.5 kg. The feeding patterns and the breastfeeding duration in infancy were collected. Behavioral and temperament developments were investigated by the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), temperament questionnaire for 3-7-year-old children and a self-designed inventory questionnaire. The association of feeding patterns and the breastfeeding duration with behavioral problem occurrence and the temperament development in children were analyzed by a multivariate non-conditional logistic regression analysis and a multivariate stepwise regression analysis. RESULTS: After controlling for confounding variables, such as family income and parental education levels, it was found that a breastfeeding duration of ≥ 9 months was a protective factor against behavioral problem occurrence in boys (OR=0.184). In girls, a breastfeeding duration of ≥ 9 months was also a protective factor against behavioral problem occurrence (OR=0.165), while a mixed feeding with more breast milk and less formula milk was a risk factor (OR= 2.203). The factors influencing temperament development consisted of exclusive formula feeding and the duration of breastfeeding (lasting for 4-6 months or 7-9 months) as well as a mixed feeding (with more formula milk and less breast milk, more breast milk and less formula milk, or equal amount of both). CONCLUSIONS: The fewer amounts and the shorter duration of breastfeeding are risk factors for behavioral problems occurrence in children aged 4-5 years. Children's temperament development is correlated with the feeding patterns and the breastfeeding duration.

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