Pelvic Ultrasound Parameters of Long-Acting Depot Formulation of Leuprorelin in the Treatment of Idiopathic Central Precocious Puberty in Girls.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was designed to compare the changes in ovarian and uterine parameters in girls with idiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP) before and after gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues (GnRHa) treatment to determine which sensitive indexes effectively reflect the therapeutic effect. METHODS: Sixty girls diagnosed with ICPP were enrolled in the present study. Relevant data were recorded before treatment. Leuprorelin acetate microspheres were injected at a dose of 30-180 µg/(kg four weeks). Relevant parameters were measured and recorded every three months. Changes in each parameter were analyzed to evaluate the clinical effect of leuprorelin in the treatment of girls with ICPP. RESULTS: 1) The height grew at a constant rate. 2) The breasts retracted. 3) Changes in pelvic parameters: the volume of the ovary and uterus and major axes of the ovary, uterus, and cervix were reduced; there were no significant changes in vaginal thickness or the uterine fundal-cervical ratio (FCR). 4) Body mass index (BMI) increased. CONCLUSION: Pelvic ultrasound is helpful in evaluating the efficacy of GnRHA treatment. The changes of ovarian volume and the major axes of the ovary, uterus, cervix can be used as sensitive observation indexes.

Significance of Serum NT-proBNP and Endogenous H2S for Predicting Coronary Artery Lesions in Pediatric Kawasaki Disease.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the expression levels and clinical significance of serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in children with Kawasaki disease (KD). STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive comparative study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of Pediatric Medicine, Baoding Children's Hospital, from July 2017 to July 2018. METHODOLOGY: Ninety-five KD children were chosen as the case group, and were classified into CAL group (23 patients) and NCAL group (72 patients, according to the presence of a coronary artery lesion (CAL). Forty-six non-KD children with an upper respiratory infection in the same time period were chosen as the control group. Electrochemiluminescence method was used to detect serum NT-proBNP levels. The spectrophotometer method was used to test H2S levels, and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to test serum IL-6 levels and to analyse the correlation. RESULTS: In the acute phase and recovery phase, serum NT-proBNP and IL-6 levels were higher in the case group than the control group, while H2S levels were lower than those in the control group (p<0.001). In both the acute and recovery phases, serum NT-proBNP and IL-6 levels were higher in the CAL group than in the NCAL group, while H2S levels were lower than those in the NCAL group (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: NT-proBNP and IL-6 levels rise and the H2S level decreases in the blood of KD children, indicating that these indicators may participate in the pathogenesis of KD and that their levels are related to CAL occurrence and the vascular inflammatory response.