Change of serum levels of pentraxin-3 and syndecan-4 in children with chronic heart failure / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the change and significance of serum pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) and syndecan-4 in children with chronic heart failure (CHF).@*METHODS@#A total of 40 children with CHF who were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were enrolled as the heart failure group, and 30 children who underwent physical examination in the outpatient service during the same period of time were enrolled as the control group. The serum levels of PTX-3, syndecan-4, and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) were compared between the two groups.@*RESULTS@#The children with CHF had significant reductions in the serum levels of PTX-3, syndecan-4, and NT-proBNP after treatment. The levels of these markers in children with CHF were significantly higher than the control group before and after treatment (@*CONCLUSIONS@#Serum PTX-3 and syndecan-4 may be involved in the development and progression of ventricular remodeling in children with CHF and may be used as markers for the diagnosis, cardiac function grading, and treatment outcome evaluation of children with heart failure.

Clinical manifestations and gene mutation analysis of children with noncompaction of the ventricular myocardium: an analysis of 6 cases / 中国当代儿科杂志

This article summarizes and analyzes the clinical features and gene mutation characteristics of children with noncompaction of the ventricular myocardium (NVM). For the 6 children with NVM (4 boys and 2 girls), the age of onset ranged from 3 months to 12 years. Of the 6 children, 5 had arrhythmia, 3 had cardiac insufficiency, 1 had poor mental state, and 1 had chest distress and sighing. NVM-related gene mutations were detected in 4 children, among whom 2 had

Association of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons during pregnancy with autism spectrum disorder-related behaviors in toddlers: a birth cohort study / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the association of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) during pregnancy and autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-related behaviors in toddlers.@*METHODS@#A total of 348 toddlers who had accepted the measurement of PAH-DNA adduct in umbilical cord blood and evaluation of behavior problems at the age of 36 months were enrolled in this birth cohort study. Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC) were used to evaluate behavior problems at the age of 36 months. The correlation of the concentration of PAH-DNA adduct in umbilical cord blood with CBCL and ABC scores at the age of 36 months were analyzed.@*RESULTS@#The detection rate of PAH-DNA adduct in umbilical cord blood was 52.3%, and the median concentration was 0.68 ng/mL. The median total scores of CBCL and ABC scales were 23 and 8 respectively. In children aged 36 months, the concentration of PAH-DNA adduct was positively correlated with the score of social withdrawal in the CBCL scale (r=0.205, P<0.05), the total score of the ABC scale (r=0.412, P<0.05), and the self-care score of the ABC scale (r=0.355, P<0.05). The concentration of PAH-DNA adduct was closely associated with the total score of the ABC scale in children aged 36 months (β=0.122, P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#PAH exposure during pregnancy may be a risk factor for ASD-related behaviors in toddlers. Effective reduction of PAH exposure during pregnancy and detection of PAH-DNA adduct in neonatal umbilical cord blood are of vital importance for early prevention, screening and intervention of ASD.

Direct measurement of blood nickel using compound matrix modifier-graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry / 中国职业医学

OBJECTIVE: To establish a methodology to dilute blood sample with compound matrix modifier,and to determine the blood level of nickel using improved graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry( GFAAS). METHODS: The blood samples( 100. 00 μL) were diluted 5 times in 0. 12 g / L mass concentration of palladium chloride combined with 1. 00 %(V /V) Triton X-100 and 0. 10%(V /V) nitric acid,and the blood level of nickel was detected by GFAAS. RESULTS: The good linearity range of nickel mass concentration in blood was 0. 30-25. 00 μg / L,the correlation coefficient was 0. 999 7,the detection limit was 0. 30 μg / L,the minimum detectable mass concentration was 1. 50 μg / L,the recovery rate was99. 00 %-102. 75 %. The within-run and between-run relative standard deviations were 1. 43 %-3. 70 % and 2. 20 %-5. 03 %,respectively. Blood samples can be stored for at least 7 days at 4 ℃. CONCLUSION: This method is simple for operation,with high accuracy and precision,which is suitable for determination of nickel in blood in normal individuals and workers with occupational exposed to nickel.

Isolation and identification of berberine from endophytic fungi HL-Y-3 / 中国中药杂志

The endophytic fungi HL-Y-3, which was isolated from the healthy leaves of Coptis chinensis, produced berberine when grown in the PDA culture medium. The presence of berberine was confirmed by the chromatographic and spectroscopic analyses. The yield of berberine was recorded as 9.313 μg•g⁻¹ by HPLC. The strain HL-Y-3 was identified as Alternaria sp.by morphological observation and 5.8S rDNA-ITS sequence analysis.The separation and purification of constituents were performed by PTLC. The mass spectrometry (MS) of the analyte was shown to be identical with authentic berberine.Further analysis with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to showed that the chemical structure of the fungal berberine was identical with authentic berberine. The research provided new resources for the utilization of berberine.

Observation on the efficacy of acupuncture and fire needle therapy for hand osteoarthritis / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To verify the clinical efficacy of shu-stream point acupuncture combined with fire needle therapy in the treatment of hand osteoarthritis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty cases were randomized into an acupuncture group (shu-stream point acupuncture combined with fire needle therapy) and a medication group(votalin emulgel). For the 42 cases in the acupuncture group, acupuncture at shu-stream points on the three yang meridians of the hand including Sanjian (LI 3), Zhongzhu (TE 3), Houxi (SI 3) and fire needle at Ashi points were applied, the treatments were given once every other day, 15 times as a treatment course. For the 38 cases in the medication group, votalin emulgel was prescribed for local embrocation, twice a day, 30 days as a treatment course. The visual analogue scale (VAS) of arthralgia, joint function score and the duration of morning stiffness, joint tenderness, swelling were observed before and after treatment in both groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After two courses of clinical treatment, the VAS score of arthralgia, joint function score and the duration of morning stiffness, joint tenderness, swelling were statistically significant differences as compared with before treatment (all P < 0.01 ), the efficacy in the acupuncture group was superior to that in the medication group (all P < 0.01 ). The cured-markedly effective rate and total effective rate were 61.9% (26/42) and 95.2% (40/42) in the acupuncture group, and 36.8% (14/38) and 76.3% (29/38) in the medication group respectively, with statistically significant differences between the two groups (both P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Shu-stream point acupuncture combined with fire needle therapy achieves a significant efficacy in the treatment of hand osteoarthritis.</p>

Lab diagnostics and concepts of integrative medicine / 中国中西医结合杂志

The integrative medicine concepts were analyzed from a brand-new view angle of lab diagnostics. The microcosmic, objective, early diagnostic, dynamic, and multi-point features of lab diagnostics can be integrated respectively with the macroscopic concept, experience, prevention ahead of disease attack, constant changing concept, and the wholism in Chinese medicine. The concept of integrative medicine in the lab diagnostics is of far-reaching significance in the clinics, research, and teaching of Chinese medicine, as well as the discipline construction of integrative medicine diagnostics. In addition, the complementarity and compatibility of Chinese medicine and lab diagnostics are studied.

Inhibitory effects of enhanced expression of CD40L in ovarian cancer OVHM cells on the liver metastases in mice / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To examine the in vivo anti-metastatic effect of enhanced expression of CD40L cDNA in murine ovarian cancer OVHM cells (CD40L-OVHM) injected into the spleen on liver metastasis in mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>OVHM cells were inoculated into the spleen of 6 to 8 week-old female B6C3F1 (C57BL/6N x C3H/He) mice. The established liver metastasis was identified by histopathology (HE staining). OVHM cells, DNA-pMKITneo-OVHM cells or CD40L-OVHM cells were inoculated into the spleen of female B6C3F1 mice and the expressions of CD11c in splenic cells were detected by flow cytometry. The specific cytotoxicity of splenic cells was detected by MTT assay, and the serum cytokines of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-12, IL-4 and IL-10 of the mice were measured by enzyme linked immunoabsorbent assay. The liver metastases and the survival time of the mice were also recorded.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mouse models with liver metastasis by injecting tumor cells into the spleen of mice were established. The expression of CD11c and the specific killing rate in CD40L-OVHM cells group was significantly higher than that in the OVHM cells group and DNA-pMKITneo-OVHM cells group. The expressions of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and IL-12 in the CD40L-OVHM cells group were much more increased than OVHM cells group and DNA-pMKITneo-OVHM cells group, but the expressions of IL-4 and IL-10 in the CD40L-OVHM cells group were decreased significantly (p < 0.05). The average weights of livers and spleens of mice in CD40L-OVHM cells group were significantly lower than those of DNA-pMKITneo-OVHM cells group and OVHM cells group. The survival time of mice in CD40L-OVHM cells group was also significantly longer than that in the OVHM cells group and DNA-pMKITneo-OVHM cells group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The data directly demonstrate that the expression of CD40L in ovarian cancer cells (CD40L-OVHM) can enhance the proliferation and differentiation of dendritic cells in the spleen and induce specific cytotoxic effect of T cells in the spleen, and may regulate the immune function of peripheral blood cells and the immune balance between Th1 cells and Th2 cells, which maybe the possible mechanism induced by CD40L in mice inhibiting the development of liver metastasis.</p>

Enhanced expression of CD40L cDNA on ovarian cancer cell line OVHM induces the secretion of Th1 cytokines from dendritic cells / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To examine whether the enhanced expression of CD40L cDNA on murine ovarian cancer (OVHM) cells could induce the secretion of Th1 cytokines from dendritic cells (DC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>OVHM cells were transfected with the full-length mouse CD40L cDNA by lipofectamine 2000 and then G418 resistant cells as positive cells were selected. They were examined for their expression of CD40L with flow cytometry. Bone marrow cells were firstly depleted of erythrocytes, macrophages, T and B cells with PE-conjugated magnetic beads, and then cultured in 10% FCS RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with recombinant mouse GM-CSF and IL-4 for 10 days. PKH67-labeled tumor cells were cultured with DC, and then the stained cells were analyzed for the expression of MHC-I, MHC-II, CD80, CD86, CCR7 in DC with flow cytometry. The expression of p40, p19, p35, p28, EBI3 subunits, IL-18, IFN-gamma, Mig gene in cocultured DC-tumor cells were detected by RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The CD40L cDNA was successfully transfected into OVHM cells. Bone marrow-derived DCs, when cultured with CD40L/OVHM, formed clusters with the tumors and showed an upregulated expression of MHC- I, MHC-II, CD80, CD86, CCR7. Expression of the IL-12, IL-23, IL-27, IL-18, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and Mig (monokine induced by IFN-gamma) genes was induced in the DCs that were cultured with CD40L/OVHM but not with OVHM cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>These data directly showed that the expression of CD40L on ovarian cancer cells facilitates the interaction between DCs and tumors, enhances the maturation of DCs, induces secretion of Th1 cytokines, especially for IL-12, IL-23 and IL-27, which maybe one of the possible antitumor mechanism for CD40L-transfected ovarian cancer cell line.</p>

Clinical characteristics and speech therapy of lingua-apical articulation disorder / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the clinical characteristics and speech therapy of 62 children with lingua-apical articulation disorder.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT), Gesell development scales (Gesell), Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Preschool Children (WPPSI) and speech test were performed for 62 children at the ages of 3 to 8 years with lingua-apical articulation disorder. PPVT was used to measure receptive vocabulary skills. GESELL and WPPSI were utilized to represent cognitive and non-verbal ability. The speech test was adopted to assess the speech development. The children received speech therapy and auxiliary oral-motor functional training once or twice a week. Firstly the target sound was identified according to the speech development milestone, then the method of speech localization was used to clarify the correct articulation placement and manner. It was needed to change food character and administer oral-motor functional training for children with oral motor dysfunction.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The 62 cases with the apical articulation disorder were classified into four groups. The combined pattern of the articulation disorder was the most common (40 cases, 64.5%), the next was apico-dental disorder (15 cases, 24.2%). The third was palatal disorder (4 cases, 6.5%) and the last one was the linguo-alveolar disorder (3 cases, 4.8%). The substitution errors of velar were the most common (95.2%), the next was omission errors (30.6%) and the last was absence of aspiration (12.9%). Oral motor dysfunction was found in some children with problems such as disordered joint movement of tongue and head, unstable jaw, weak tongue strength and poor coordination of tongue movement. Some children had feeding problems such as preference of eating soft food, keeping food in mouths, eating slowly, and poor chewing. After 5 to 18 times of therapy, the effective rate of speech therapy reached 82.3%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The lingua-apical articulation disorders can be classified into four groups. The combined pattern of the articulation errors is the most common one. Most of the apical sounds are replaced by velar sounds. The speech localization method is very useful in the therapy of apical articulation disorder. For children with feeding problems and oral motor dysfunction, it is needed to improve food texture and administer oral motor skill training.</p>