[Intellectual characteristics of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and developmental dyslexia].

OBJECTIVE: To study the intellectual characteristics of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and developmental dyslexia (DD). METHODS: A total of 55 children with ADHD and DD (ADHD+DD group), 150 children with ADHD alone (ADHD group), and 22 children with DD alone (DD group) were enrolled as subjects. Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) was used to evaluate and compare intellectual characteristics among the three groups. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the scores of full-scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ), verbal comprehension index, perceptual reasoning index, and working memory index among the three groups (P < 0.05):the ADHD+DD group had significantly lower scores of FSIQ, verbal comprehension index, perceptual reasoning index, and working memory index than the ADHD group, as well as a significantly lower FSIQ score than the DD group. A comparison of the 10 core subtests in WISC-IV showed that compared with the ADHD group, the ADHD+DD group had significantly lower scores of similarities, vocabulary, comprehension, recitation, picture concepts, matrix reasoning, and letter-number sequencing (P < 0.05). Compared with the DD group, the ADHD+DD group had significantly lower scores of vocabulary, similarities, picture concepts, matrix reasoning, and recitation (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the children with ADHD alone, the children with ADHD and DD have more severe impairment of FSIQ, verbal comprehension, perceptual reasoning, and working memory, and therefore, it is suggested to enhance the training on similarities, vocabulary, matrix reasoning, picture concepts, and recitation for children with ADHD and DD in clinical practice.

[Correlation between end-tidal carbon dioxide and partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide in ventilated newborns].

OBJECTIVE: To study the correlation between end-tidal carbon dioxide (PetCO2) and partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) in ventilated newborns. METHODS: Thirty-one ventilated newborn underwent mainstream PetCO2 monitoring; meanwhile, arterial blood gas analysis was performed. The correlation and consistency between PetCO2 and PaCO2 were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 85 end-tidal and arterial CO2 pairs were obtained from 31 ventilated newborns. The mean PetCO2 (41±10 mm Hg) was significantly lower than the corresponding mean PaCO2 (46±11 mm Hg) (P<0.01). There was a significant positive correlation between PetCO2 and PaCO2 (r=0.92, P<0.01). The overall PetCO2 bias was 5.1±4.3 mm Hg (95% limits of consistency, -3.3 to 13.6 mmHg), and 5% (4/85) of the points were beyond the 95%CI. When the oxygenation index (OI) was less than 300 mm Hg (n=48), there was a significant positive correlation between PetCO2 and PaCO2 (r=0.85, P<0.01); the PetCO2 bias was 5.9±4.3 mm Hg (95% limits of consistency, -2.6 to 14.5 mm Hg), and 4.2% (2/48) of the points were beyond the 95%CI. When the OI was more than 300 mm Hg (n=37), there was also a significant positive correlation between PetCO2 and PaCO2 (r=0.91, P<0.01); the PetCO2 bias was 4.1±4.1 mm Hg (95% limits of consistency, -3.9 to 12.1 mm Hg), and 5% (2/37) of the points were beyond the 95%CI. CONCLUSIONS: There is a good correlation and consistency between PetCO2 and PaCO2 in ventilated newborns.

[Genetic factors in the occurrence of neonatal unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia].

OBJECTIVE: To study association of uridine-diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase1A1 (UGT1A1) Gly71Arg, UGT1A1 promoter TATA-box and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) gene mutations with the occurrence of neonatal unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia. METHODS: The TATA-box, exon 1 and exon 5 of the UGT1A1 gene and the exon 12 of G6PD gene were amplified by PCR. The products of PCR were analyzed by direct DNA sequencing. Clones for the mutations of the UGT1A1 gene and the G6PD gene were constructed in order to identify the results of the products of PCR. Seventy-two neonates with unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia (case group) and 65 healthy neonates (control group) were enrolled. The genotypes and allele frequencies of the polymorphisms of UGT1A1 Gly71Arg and UGT1A1 TATA-box were compared between the two groups. The effects of UGT1A1 Gly71Arg, UGT1A1 promoter TATA-box and G6PD gene mutations on the development of neonatal unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia were estimated using logistic regression models. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the genotype distribution of Gly71Arg polymorphism of UGT1A1 gene between the case and control groups (P<0.01). The Arg allele frequency of the polymorphisms of UGT1A1 gene in the case group was significantly higher than in the control group (P<0.01). There were no significant differences in the genotype distribution of the UGT1A1 promoter TATA-box between the two groups (P>0.05). The OR and 95%CI values of UGT1A1 Gly71Arg, UGT1A1 TATA-box and G6PD gene mutations associated with the development of neonatal unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia were 5.468 (2.274, 12.818), 0.688 (0.266, 1.778) and 5.081 (1.070, 24.133) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: UGT1A1 Gly71Arg and G6PD gene mutations may be involved in the development of neonatal unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia.

Effect of Shaoyao Tang on ulcerative colitis in rats via regulation of TLR4/NF-κB signal pathway / 中国中药杂志

The aim of this paper was to investigate the effect of Shaoyao Tang on ulcerative colitis(UC) in rats via regulation of TLR4/NF-κB signal pathway. A total of 56 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: normal control group(double distilled water), model group(double distilled water), mesalazine group(10 mL·kg~(-1)), high dose, middle dose and low dose Shaoyao Tang groups(2.4, 1.2, and 0.6 g·mL~(-1)). After UC rat models were established by 2, 4-dinitrochlorobenzene(DNCB)/ethanol enema, the rats received double distilled water or corresponding drugs twice a day for 7 days. After the treatment cycle, the general performance and disease activity index(DAI) of rats were observed on the next day. Then the rats were sacrificed. The length of colon was measured. Macroscopic and histological score of colon were evaluated. Histopathological changes of colon were observed by HE staining. Ultraviolet spectrophotometry detection was used to detect the content of myeloperoxidase(MPO) in blood and colon tissues. The levels of P-selectin, macrophage migration inhibitory factor(MIF) and thromboxane B_2(TXB_2) in blood and colon tissues were determined by ELISA. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis were performed to detect the protein expressions of TLR4 and NF-κB in colon tissues. The results showed that as compared with the model group, Shaoyao Tang of different doses improved the general performance of UC rats. Moreover, high-dose Shaoyao Tang group showed the most obvious effect in scoring of disease activity index(P<0.001); both medium and high doses of Shaoyao Tang significantly inhibited the colon shortening and pathological injury, with significantly decreased expression levels of MPO, P-selectin, MIF and TXB_(2 )in serum and colon tissues of UC rats(P<0.001). Immunohistochemistry and Western blot assay showed that the levels of TLR4 and NF-κB protein expression in the colon tissues of Shaoyao Tang high-dose group were remarkably lower than that in the model group(P<0.001). This study shows that Shaoyao Tang has protective and repairing effects on UC, and its possible mechanism is achieved probably by regulating the TLR4/NF-κB pathway and inhibiting the expressions of MPO, P-selectin, MIF and TXB_2.

Efficacy and Immune Mechanism of Baitouweng Tang on Ulcerative Colitis in Rats / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effect and immune mechanism of Baitouweng Tang on ulcerative colitis(UC) rats. Method: The mode of UC rats was made of 2, 4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)/ethanol enema. Rats were randomly divided into control group, model group, mesalazine group, and high-dose, middle-dose and low-dose Baitouweng Tang groups. The mesalazine group were administered with mesalazine (0.5 g·kg-1). Baitouweng Tang groups were given Baitouweng Tang (10, 5, 2.5 g·kg-1), while the other groups were given double steaming water. After 7 days of continuous administration, the general condition and disease activity index of rats in each group were observed. After anesthesia in rats, blood was taken from the abdominal aorta. Then the rats were put to death, and the length and morphological observation of the colon were measured. Ultraviolet spectrophotometry detection was used to detect the activities of myeloperoxidase (MPO) in blood and colon tissue. The levels of P-selectin, macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and thromboxane B2 (TXB2) in blood and colon tissues were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Immunohistochemistry and Western blot methods were undertaken to determine the expressions of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB) proteins in colon tissue. Result: Compared with the model group, the rats in model group showed severe symptoms, such as loose stools, diarrhea and bloody stools, while Baitouweng Tang obviously ameliorated them. Moreover, Baitouweng Tang significantly reduced DAI, colon general and pathological scores, which were high in model group(P2 in the serum and colon tissues of the model group were obviously increased(PκB in colons of model group were markedly higher than those in control group(PPConclusion: Baitouweng Tang could inhibit TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway in treatment of ulcerative colitis, and reduce the expressions of P-selectin, MPO, MIF and TXB2, and thus promoting intestinal mucosal repair and improving intestinal function.

Variations of sodium chloride concentration affect conformational dynamics of human neuronal calcium sensor-1 protein: a molecular dynamics simulation study / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: Human neuronal calcium sensor-1 (NCS-1) protein with a high charge is extremely sensitive to solution temperature, but whether the change of ion concentration in the solution can change the protein structure and affect the physiological function has not been reported. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the molecular mechanism of variations of sodium chloride concentration altering conformational dynamics of human NCS-1. METHODS: Through molecular dynamics simulation, the first two minimum energy models (PDB id: 2LCP) were utilized as the starting states of each independent molecular dynamics simulation of the human NCS-1 protein. After energy minimization, two different initial structures were used to conduct three independent 500 ns molecular dynamics simulations with explicit solvent for human NCS-1 protein at 0.1, 0.3 and 1 mol/L sodium chloride concentration. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The slightly high concentration of sodium chloride increased the flexibility of loop L2, simultaneously expanded the global and local structure of NCS-1 protein. Increase in sodium chloride concentration induced loop L3 to adopt a collapsed state and reduced the connectivity between the starting and ending residues of loop L3. N-domain and C-domain interdomain correlation was weakened and the intradomain coupling strengthened. Formation number and the probability of the salt bridges were reduced dramatically, especially at 0.3 mol/L sodium chloride. These findings manifest that human NCS-1 protein is sensitive to the small variation of sodium chloride concentration, which may alter the key factors on protein conformation. Our study may provide the theoretical reference at the atomic structural insights for probing the conformational variations of human NCS-1 protein at the different aqueous solutions.

Study of isobutyrylshikonin inhibiting proliferation of colon carcinoma cells through PI3K/Akt/m-TOR pathway / 中国中药杂志

To investigate the inhibitory effect of isobutyrylshikonin on the growth of human colon carcinoma cells and its effect on the PI3K/Akt/m-TOR pathway. MTT assay was used to detect the inhibitory effect of different concentrations (0, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, 100 mg·L⁻¹) of isobutyrylshikonin on the proliferation of human colon carcinoma cell HT29 at 24, 48 h. CCK-8 method was used to detect the inhibitory effect of isobutyrylshikonin on HT29, HCT116, DLD-1 and Caco-2 at 48 h. AnnexinV/propidium iodide staining was applied in detecting the apoptoticrate of HT29 cells treated with different concentrations of isobutyrylshikonin at 24 h and 48 h. Cycletest plus DNA was employed to analyze HT29 apoptosis and cell cycle after 48 h treatment with isobutyrylshikonin at different concentrations. Western blot and RT-PCR assay were used to examine the protein and mRNA expressions of PI3K, p-PI3K, Akt, p-Akt and m-TOR. The results showed that isobutyrylshikonin inhibited the proliferation of different human colon carcinoma cells, and the inhibition rate was in a dose-dependent manner. Isobutyrylshikonin induced apoptosis mainly in the early stage and blocked cells in the G₀/G₁ or G₂/M phase. Isobutyrylshikonin reduced the protein expressions of PI3K, p-PI3K, Akt, p-Akt, m-TOR and the mRNA expressions of PI3K, Akt, m-TOR in a dose-dependent manner. Isobutyrylshikonin can significantly inhibit the proliferation, induce the early apoptosis and change the cycle distribution in colon carcinoma cells.This biological effect may be correlated with the inhibition of PI3K/AKT/m-TOR pathway.

[Characteristics of severely and critically ill children with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus infection].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical characteristics of severely and critically ill children with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) infection. METHOD: Clinical data of 150 cases with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus infection confirmed with the use of a real-time polymerase-chain-reaction assay on nasopharyngeal swab specimens were analyzed. RESULT: Among 150 severely and critically ill children with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus infection, 103 were male, 47 were female; the median age was 5 years, 81(55%) were 5 years of age or older; 21 (14%) had underlying chronic diseases. The most common presenting symptoms were fever (95%), cough (89%), vomiting (23%), wheezing (19%), abdominal pain (16%), lethargy (7%), seizures (6%), myalgia (6%), and diarrhea (6%). The common laboratory abnormalities were increased or decreased white blood cells counts (40%), elevated of CRP (33%), LDH (29%), CK (25%) and AST (19%). Clinical complications included pneumonia (65%), encephalopathy (12%), myocarditis (5%), encephalitis (1%) and myositis (1%). All patients had received antibiotics before admission or on admission; 73% of patients had received oseltamivir treatment, 23% of patients had received corticosteroids; 32 (21%) were admitted to an ICU, 13 patients were intubated and mechanically ventilated. Fourteen patients with dyspnea who were irresponsive to the treatment experienced bronchoalveolar lavage with flexible bronchoscopy, and the branching bronchial casts were removed in 5 patients. Totally 145 (97%) patients were discharged, five (3%) died, three previously healthy patients died from severe encephalopathy, one patient died from ARDS, one previously healthy patient died from secondary fungal meningitis. CONCLUSION: Severely and critically ill children with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus infection may occur mainly in older children without underlying chronic disease. The clinical spectrum and laboratory abnormality of the patients can have a wide range. Neurologic complications may be common and severe encephalopathy can lead to death in previously healthy children. Early use of bronchoalveolar lavage with flexible bronchoscopy may reduce death associated with pulmonary complications.

Protective effect of baicalin against LPS-induced intestinal injury / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the protective effect of baicalin on the intestinal mucosal injury caused by endotoxin-lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the anti-oxidative injury in colonic and ileal mucosa of rats with septicopyemia.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Fifty healthy male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 5 groups: the normal control group, the model group, and baicalin high-dose, medium-dose and low-dose groups. They were orally administered with double distilled water, 100 mg x kg(-1) of baicalin, 50 mg x kg(-1) of baicalin, and 25 mg x kg(-1) of baicalin respectively for three days, once a day. 1 h after the oral administration on 3 d, they were intraperitoneally injected with normal saline or LPS (17 mg x kg(-1)). At 20 h after the injection of LPS, all of the mice were sacrificed, and their colonic and ileal tissues were collected. The mental status, life state and death rate of mice in each group were observed, and the lengths of colonic were measured. Chiu's scoring method was used to assess the intestinal mucosal injury. Histopathological changes of intestinal tissues were tested by HE staining. The ultraviolet spectrophotometry was used to detect total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) of intestinal homogenate. The immunohistochemical method was used to analyze the expression of PCNA in intestinal tissues of each group.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The death of mice was observed after the intraperitoneal injection of LPS. The death rates of baicalin groups were remarkably lower than the death rate of the model group. The colons in the medium-dose baicalin group were much longer than that in the model group (P < 0.05), with a much lower intestinal mucosa injury degree than the model group. Colonic and ileal injuries in the high-dose baicalin group significantly (P < 0.05). Colonic and ileal injuries in the medium-dose baicalin group and the low-dose baicalin group significantly reduced compare with the model group (P < 0.000 1). The medium-dose baicalin group showed no significant increase in homogenate's T-AOC, T-SOD and GSH-PX compare with the model group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between baicalin groups and the model group in PCNA.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Baicalin can protect intestinal epithelial cells suffering from injury from oxygen radicals, and relieve the intestinal injury caused by LPS by improving the intestinal mucosa structure and functions.</p>

[Protective effects and mechanisms of recombinant human superoxide dismutase in acute lung injury of rats following meconium aspiration].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the protective effects of recombinant human superoxide dismutase (rhSOD) in acute lung injury (ALI) following meconium aspiration. METHODS: Thirty-two healthy male Sprage-Dawley rats were divided into two groups, 8 were used as control (saline group) by infusing 1 ml/kg saline through endotracheal tube; the other 24 rats were used to establish model of ALI by infusing 1 ml/kg of 20% human newborn meconium suspension through endotracheal tube, and then were randomized to 3 groups (8 each): meconium group with no administration of saline or rhSOD; meconium + saline group by infusing 1 ml/kg saline through endotracheal tube; meconium + rhSOD group by infusing 20 mg/kg rhSOD dissolved in 1 ml/kg saline through endotracheal tube. The rats were killed 24 h after treatment. The measurements included bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cell counts, protein, BALF protein/plasma protein (pulmonary permibility index, PPI), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), pulmonary myeloperoxidase (MPO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, malonyldialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) level. Lung injury score was also evaluated. RESULTS: Compared with the saline group, the rats in the meconium group had significantly increased BALF cell counts (4.04 +/- 1.01 vs. 0.53 +/- 0.19), protein (2.54 +/- 0.74 vs. 0.67 +/- 0.26), PPI (0.50 +/- 0.18 vs. 0.12 +/- 0.05), LDH (263.50 +/- 97.84 vs. 17.38 +/- 3.58), pulmonary MPO (1.49 +/- 0.22 vs. 0.62 +/- 0.16), MDA (3.30 +/- 0.85 vs. 1.40 +/- 0.35), NO (12.77 +/- 5.00 vs. 4.89 +/- 1.32) and lung injury score (9.88 +/- 2.10 vs. 2.25 +/- 1.04), P < 0.01 for all, whereas pulmonary SOD activity had no statistically significant differences (103.28 +/- 24.53 vs. 94.49 +/- 12.93, P > 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between meconium + saline group and meconium group (all P > 0.05). Compared with the meconium + saline group, meconium + rhSOD group had decreased BALF cell counts (3.13 +/- 0.77 vs. 4.68 +/- 1.40, P < 0.01), LDH (162.63 +/- 76.90 vs. 273.75 +/- 111.83, P < 0.05), pulmonary MPO activity (1.23 +/- 0.28 vs. 1.54 +/- 0.24, P < 0.05), MDA (2.46 +/- 0.42 vs. 3.50 +/- 0.82, P < 0.01), NO level (9.17 +/- 2.34 vs. 13.04 +/- 4.38, P < 0.05), lung injury score (8.63 +/- 1.30 vs. 10.00 +/- 1.07, P < 0.05) and increased pulmonary SOD activity (134.45 +/- 23.30 vs. 106.79 +/- 17.77, P < 0.05), but there were no statistically significant differences in BALF protein and PPI between these two groups. CONCLUSION: Inflammation and lipid peroxidation might play important roles in the pathogenesis of ALI with meconium aspiration, a single early administration of 20 mg/kg rhSOD intratracheally can reduce lung damage in rats following meconium aspiration.