Comparison of the diagnostic value of virtual touch tissue quantification and virtual touch tissue imaging quantification in infants with biliary atresia.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of vital touch tissue quantification (VTQ) and virtual touch tissue imaging quantification (VTIQ) in diagnosing infants with biliary atresia (BA) from jaundiced infants. METHODS: In this study, 26 jaundiced infants with BA, 33 jaundiced infants without BA, and 40 normal infants were enrolled. The hepatic shear wave velocity (SWV) of each infant was determined by VTQ and VTIQ examinations, respectively. Then, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn and the area under the curve (AUC) and optimal cut-off values were calculated to evaluate the sensitivities and specificities of VTIQ and VTQ for BA. RESULTS: The mean values of SWV of the control group measured by VTQ and VTIQ were (1.09 ± 0.18) m/s and (1.36 ± 0.21) m/s, respectively. The mean values of SWV of the non-BA group measured by VTQ and VTIQ were (1.30 ± 0.28) m/s and (1.52 ± 0.29) m/s, respectively. The mean values of SWV of the BA group measured by VTQ and VTIQ were (2.36 ± 0.36) m/s and (2.43 ± 0.29) m/s, respectively. The diagnostic threshold of VTQ and VTIQ to diagnose BA was 1.77 and 1.92 m/s. The sensitivities of VTQ and VTIQ to diagnose BA were 90.9% and 95.5%. The specificities of VTQ and VTIQ to diagnose BA were 68.4% and 78.9%. CONCLUSION: Vital touch tissue quantification and VTIQ could help distinguish infants with BA from jaundiced infants by measuring the liver SWV values. VTIQ has higher sensitivity and specificity than VTQ.

[Effect of Paidu Baoshen Pill on renal fibrosis in 5/6 nephrectomized rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the anti-renal fibrosis effect of Paidu Baoshen Pill (PBP) on 5/6 nephrectomized rats and to explore its mechanism. METHODS: Totally 50 SD male healthy rats were randomly divided into the normal control group (n = 10), the sham-operation group (n = 10), and the nephrectomy model group (n = 30) according to the proportion of 1:1:3. Rats in the sham-operation group had their renal capsule isolated without nephrectomy. Rats in the nephrectomy model group had their kidneys 5/6 nephrectomized. Then 24 h urine was collected and 24 h urinary protein (24 h UP) detected. Serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatitine (SCr) were also tested. According to the SCr level 30 rats of the model group were further randomly divided into the model group, the PBP group, and the Niaoduqing Granule (NG) group, 10 in each group. Rats in the PBP group and the NG group were respectively administered with PBP (at the daily dose of 1.0 g/kg) and NG (at the daily dose of 3.33 g/kg) by gastrogavage (they were dissolved in distilled water). At the same time, 2 mL distilled water was administered by gastrogavage to rats in the normal control group, the sham-operation group, and the nephrectomy model group, once daily for 4 successive weeks. Mental conditions, activities, hair color, shape of stool, and the body weight were observed during administration. After 4 weeks, urine was collected to detect 24 h UP. Blood was sampled to detect SCr, BUN, transforming growth factor ß1 (TGF-ß1), type III procollagen (PC III), collagen type IV (Col IV), laminin (LN), and fibronectin (FN). After rats were killed, their left remnant renal tissues were collected for pathological examinations. The protein expression quantity of TGF-ß1 and FN was detected by immunohistochemical method. mRNA expression levels of TGF-ß1 and FN were detected using real time fluorescent quantitative PCR. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference in the above indices between the normal control group and the sham-operation group (P > 0.05). Compared with the sham-operation group, rats' general condition was poorer in the model group, their body weight grew slower, and 24 h UP increased; serum levels of BUN, SCr, TGF-ß1, PC III, Col IV, LN, and FN increased; the residual renal pathological lesion was serious; expression levels of TGF-ß1, TGF-ß1, mRNA, FN, and FN mRNA increased in the renal tissue (all P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, rats' general condition was better, their body weight grew faster, 24 h UP reduced (P < 0.05), blood levels of BUN and SCr decreased significantly (P < 0.01), serum levels of TGF-ß1, PC III, CoL IV, LN, and FN decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); the residual renal pathological lesion was attenuated in the PBP group and the NG group; expression levels of TGF-ß1, TGF-ß1, mRNA, FN, and FN mRNA decreased (P < 0.01). Compared with the NG group, blood levels of SCr and FN, and expression levels of FN and FN mRNA decreased more in the PBP group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: PBP had the effect of anti-renal fibro- sis in 5/6 nephrectomized rats. Down-regulating expression levels of TGF-ß1, and FN from gene transcription and protein translation levels might be one of its mechanisms.

Improvement of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion on patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus by 3-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography.

Three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (3D-STE) was used to evaluate the improvement of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion on the left ventricular (LV) systolic function of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitu (T2DM). We recruited T2DM patients (38 cases, diabetic group) and healthy volunteers (35 cases, control group) to collect LV full volume imaging. TomTec software was used for calculating LV global longitudinal strain (LVGLS), global circumferential strain (LVGCS), peak twist (LVTW), peak apical rotation (LVPAR), ejection fraction (LVEF), and torsion (LVT). All indices were re-tested 2 weeks later after intensive treatment of insulin pump. LVGLS, LVGCS, LVTW and LVPAR in diabetic group were significantly decreased than control group. LVGLS and LVGCS in pre-treatment diabetic group were significantly increased than post-treatment. LVGLS, LVGCS, LVTW and LVPAR had correlations among control, pre-treatment and post-treatment diabetic groups. There were no significant differences in LVEDV, LVESV, LVEF, LVT and R-R. LV systolic function of patients with T2DM complicated with microangiopathy was improved after treatment of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion. In addition, therapeutic effect could be accurately evaluated by 3D-STE which had vital clinical application.

Attitudes toward Physician-Nurse Collaboration in Pediatric Workers and Undergraduate Medical/Nursing Students.

The purpose of this study was to compare the attitudes of pediatric workers and undergraduate medical/nursing students toward collaboration. Attitude toward collaboration was measured using an adaptation of the Jefferson Scale of Attitude toward Physician-Nurse Collaboration. The 656 questionnaires were gathered from pediatrician, pediatric interns, and medical students (PIS) and pediatric nurses, nursing interns, and nursing students (NIS). Results showed a statistically significant difference in the total mean scores in attitudes towards collaboration with NIS scoring higher. Among the participants of PIS, the pediatricians obtained the highest mean scores, while, among the participants of NIS, the pediatric nurses got higher mean scores than nursing interns. It is desirable that medical and nurse schools should include interprofessional education in their curriculum to increase the understanding of the complementary roles of physicians and nurses and to encourage establishment of an interdependent relationship between them.

IgG4-related autoimmune pancreatitis overlapping with Mikulicz's disease and lymphadenitis: a case report.

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is a form of chronic pancreatitis that is categorized as type 1 or type 2 according to the clinical profile. Type 1 AIP, which predominantly presents in a few Asian countries, is a hyper-IgG4-related disease. We report a case of IgG4-related AIP overlapping with Mikulicz's disease and lymphadenitis, which is rare and seldom reported in literature. A 63-year male from Northeast China was admitted for abdominal distension lasting for one year. He presented symmetric swelling of the parotid and submandibular glands with slight dysfunction of salivary secretion for 6 mo. He had a 2-year history of bilateral submandibular lymphadenopathy without pain. He underwent surgical excision of the right submandibular lymph node one year prior to admission. He denied any history of alcohol, tobacco, or illicit drug use. Serological examination revealed high fasting blood sugar level (8.8 mmol/L) and high level of IgG4 (15.2 g/L). Anti-SSA or anti-SSB were negative. Computed tomography of the abdomen showed a diffusely enlarged pancreas with loss of lobulation. Immunohistochemical stain for IgG4 demonstrated diffuse infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells in labial salivary gland and lymph node biopsy specimens. The patient received a dose of 30 mg/d of prednisone for three weeks. At this three-week follow-up, the patient reported no discomfort and his swollen salivary glands, neck lymph node and pancreas had returned to normal size. The patient received a maintenance dose of 10 mg/d of prednisone for 6 mo, after which his illness had not recurred.

Effects of vitamin A, vitamin A plus zinc, and multiple micronutrients on anemia in preschool children in Chongqing, China.

This study is to clarify the impact of vitamin A or vitamin A combined with other micronutrients supplementation on anemia and growth in preschoolers. In the present study, a total of 290 preschoolers, aged 36-72 months old were randomly assigned to 3 treatment groups: vitamin A (A group), vitamin A plus zinc (AZ group), and vitamin A combined with additional multiple-micronutrient (AMM group). After 6-month supplementation, the height and height-for-age z-score gains of the AZ group were significantly higher than the other groups; the weight gain of the AMM group was greater than the other groups. Compared with baseline values, the concentrations of hemoglobin, and zinc at the end significantly increased in all 3 groups. The incremental concentrations of hemoglobin in the AMM group were significant higher than in the other two groups. Furthermore, the incremental concentrations of serum retinol in the AMM group, and the increase in serum zinc concentrations in the AZ group were significantly higher, respectively, than in the other groups. These 3 kinds of supplements in the present study are effective in enhancing height gains and are effective in reducing the prevalence of anemia. Supplementation of zinc plus vitamin A is a better way for improving children's height and height-for-age z-score. Vitamin A combined with multiple-micronutrient is more effective in improving the hemoglobin concentrations in preschool children.

[Impact of antioxidant vitamins and heavy metal levels at birth on neurodevelopment of children assessed at two years of age].

OBJECTIVE: Epidemiologic study on the perinatal interaction of antioxidant vitamins and heavy metals on offspring's intellectual development is extremely limited. The aim of this prospective cohort study was to investigate the status of maternal and cord blood antioxidant vitamins (Vitamin A, E and C) and heavy metals (lead, cadmium and mercury) at delivery and correlations between these antioxidant vitamins or metals and neurodevelopment of early childhood, and to explore the protective effect of antioxidant vitamins against the injure of heavy metals to intellectual development in children in Tongliang, Chongqing, China. METHOD: A total of 150 pairs of mothers-neonates were recruited. Serum concentrations of vitamin(V) A, vitamin E, vitamin C, lead, cadmium and mercury in maternal and cord blood after delivery were determined and intellectual development was evaluated by Gesell Development Schedule (GDS) at two years of age. RESULT: A total of 111 pairs of maternal-neonatal subjects with completed data were included into statistical analysis. After adjusting for potential confounders, cord blood mercury level was found negatively associated with all the development quotients (DQs) (ß = -0.486, ß = -0.716, ß = -0.846, ß = -0.935, ß = -0.702, P < 0.05). Cord VE level was positively correlated with motor, adaptation, language and average DQ (ß = 0.475, ß = 0.458, ß = 0.403, ß = 0.395, P < 0.05). When antioxidant vitamins and heavy metals levels were all included into the multiple regression model, cord vitamin E level was statistically positively related with motor, adaptation and average DQs (ß = 0.449, ß = 0.412, ß = 0.349, P < 0.05). While cord blood mercury level was negatively correlated with adaptation, language, social and average DQ (ß = -0.397, ß = -0.727, ß = -0.935, ß = -0.628, P < 0.05), the relationship between cord mercury level and motor DQ was not statistically significant (P = 0.0890). The motor, adaptation, language and average DQs in high cord VE group were higher than those in low VE group (t = 2.93, t = 2.06, t = 2.13, t = 2.27, P < 0.05). Social DQ in high cord lead group was significantly lower than that in low lead group (χ(2) = 5.56, P = 0.015). Cord VC level in high cadmium group was significantly lower than that in low cadmium group (χ(2) = 7.62, P = 0.006). VA placental transport ratio in high mercury group was significantly lower than those in low mercury group (χ(2) = 8.02, P = 0.005). CONCLUSION: Our data suggested that there may be certain interaction between antioxidant vitamin A, E, C and heavy metals lead, cadmium, mercury. Antioxidant vitamins at delivery may have protective effect on the early neurodevelopment via interaction with the heavy metals.

[Effects of vitamin A, vitamin A plus iron and multiple micronutrient-fortified seasoning powder on iron metabolic homeostasis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of vitamin A, vitamin A plus iron and "7 + 1" multiple micronutrient-fortified seasoning powder on iron metabolic homeostasis in preschool children. METHODS: This was a randomized, controlled and blinded interventional field trial. A total of 226 2 - 7 years old preschool children were recruited from three nurseries in the area, and they were randomly assigned into three different fortified diet groups for 6 months. The subjects in Group I were fortified with vitamin A; those in Group II and III were fortified with vitamin A plus iron and vitamin A plus iron, thiamine, riboflavin, folic acid, niacinamide, zinc and calcium (7 + 1), respectively. The concentration of serum vitamin A was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), serum ferritin (SF) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) was measured by microparticle-enhanced, and hemoglobin (HB) by hemiglobincyanide, the sTfR-SF index (TFR-F index) and total body iron content were computed respectively before and after intervention. Simultaneously, children's demographic data, socio-economic status and eating habits, etc. were investigated by questionnaires. RESULTS: A total of 226 preschool children were included in the study with age ranged from 2 to 7 years with average age (4.0 ± 0.85) (means ± standard deviation). The prevalence of anemia, deficient iron storage, vitamin A deficiency (VAD) and suspect sub-clinical vitamin A deficiency (SSVAD) were 23.5%, 15.0%, 6.3% and 25.9%, respectively. The levels of SF and sTfR significantly decreased after intervention in all groups (χ(2) = 8.3298, χ(2) = 16.1471, χ(2) = 15.1371, χ(2) = 15.1171, χ(2) = 5.2617, χ(2) = 4.8844, P < 0.05) especially in group II and group III for SF (χ(2) = 16.1471, χ(2) = 15.1371, P < 0.05) and group I for sTfR (χ(2) = 15.1171, P < 0.05). No marked change of TFR-F index and total body iron contents was observed in group I (t = 0.1817, t = 1.7736, P > 0.05), while TFR-F index decreased and total body iron contents increased in group II and group III (t = 5.3561, t = 6.5979, t = 11.1663, t = 8.7306, P < 0.05) after intervention. CONCLUSION: Vitamin A intervention has significant effect on iron storage and mobilization but seldom effect on iron absorption in small intestine. The combination of vitamin A and other micronutrients might be a better intervention for the improvement of iron deficiency for preschool-children.

The pattern of retinoic acid receptor expression and subcellular, anatomic and functional area translocation during the postnatal development of the rat cerebral cortex and white matter.

Retinoic acid (RA), which is an important modulator of brain development, neural cell proliferation, neurite outgrowth, and synaptic plasticity, is regulated via changes in RA receptors. The pattern of RA receptor changes in the rat cerebral cortex and white matter during postnatal development has not been extensively studied. Therefore, we studied the mRNA expression patterns of 6 RA receptors in the postnatal rat cerebral cortex and white matter at 1, 3, 7, 10, 14, 21, 28, and 35days. We found that RARß, RXRα and RXRß mRNA levels gradually increased during postnatal development. RARα presented a nearly unimodal trend, but RARγ and RXRγ were generally bimodal. RARα, RARγ, and RXRγ mRNA levels peaked at postnatal day 21 (P21). The pattern of RARα expression was consistent with that of its mRNA levels. RARα and RXRγ mRNA levels were the highest among those of all RA receptors during postnatal development. Interestingly, RARα expression was mainly located in the cytoplasm in the postnatal development apart from P3d. We further showed that RARα is expressed mainly in layers 2 and 3, partly in layers 1 and 4, and in a limited manner in layers 5 and 6 in the parietal cortex. Most RARα expression occurs in layers 2, 3, and 4 in the temporal lobe cortex. We realized that the M1 S2 region of RARα is highly expressed and that the position of RARα changes dynamically to meet the needs of different regions during development. These results support the idea that the RA receptor plays an important role in the cerebrum during postnatal development and implementation of these functions may be mainly dependent on the non-transcriptional or post- transcriptional regulation.