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

A clinical analysis of bacterial meningitis in full-term and preterm infants / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the clinical features and prognosis of bacterial meningitis in full-term and preterm infants.@*METHODS@#A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 102 neonates with bacterial meningitis. According to the gestational age, they were divided into a preterm group (n=46) and a full-term group (n=56). The two groups were compared in terms of clinical manifestations, laboratory markers, imaging findings, and clinical outcomes.@*RESULTS@#Poor response and apnea were the major clinical manifestations in the preterm group (P0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#There are certain differences in the clinical manifestations between full-term and preterm infants with bacterial meningitis. Preterm infants tend to have a higher incidence rate of poor prognosis.

Exercise training attenuates hypertension progression via activation of central ACE2-Ang(1-7)-Mas axis in prehypertensive rats / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM:To investigate the effects of exercise training on the progression from prehypertension to hy -pertension,blood pressure regulation and the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2(ACE2)-angiotensin(Ang)(1-7)-MAS axis activation in cardiovascular centers ,and to elucidate the central mechanisms of exercise training postponing hyperten -sion progression.METHODS:The male spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHR;n=20,5 weeks old)and normotensive Wistar Kyoto(WKY)rats(n=20)were randomly assigned to sedentary(Sed)group and exercise training(ExT)group. The trained rats run on a treadmill in moderate-intensity for 20 weeks.Systolic blood pressure(SBP)was measured by tail-cuff method.The baroreflex sensitivity(BRS)was assessed by intravenous injection of phenylephrine.The expression of ACE2 and MAS receptor at mRNA and protein levels in baroreflex centers were determined by real-time PCR and Western blot,respectively.Alterations of BRS were evaluated before and after intracerebroventricular injection of MAS receptor ago -nist Ang(1-7)and its antagonist A779,respectively.RESULTS:Compared with SHR +Sed group,exercise training since prehypertension significantly postponed the development of hypertension ,delayed the hypertension progression ,and decreased SBP in both SHR and WKY rats(P<0.05).Exercise training enhanced blood pressure regulation and improved the BRS in SHR(P<0.01).The expression of ACE2 and MAS receptor at mRNA and protein levels in the baroreflex cen-ters(rostral ventrolateral medulla ,nucleus tract solitarius and paraventricular nucleus )were up-regulated in SHR +ExT group(P<0.05).Central administration of A779 abolished the benefits of exercise-induced improvement of BRS in SHR +ExT group(P<0.01).In contrast,Ang(1-7)improved the BRS in both SHR +Sed group and SHR +ExT group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Exercise training postpones hypertension progression and improves blood pressure regula -tion,which may be associated with the activation of central ACE 2-Ang(1-7)-Mas axis.

Six new species of the genus Laena Dejean from China (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae, Lagriinae).

Six new species of Laena Dejean, Laena quadratasp. n. and Laena motoganasp. n.(China: Xizang), Laena chiloriluxasp. n., Laena dentatasp. n. and Laena liangisp. n. (China: Yunnan), Laena dentatocrassasp. n. (China: Hainan Island, representing new province record of the genus) are described, complemented with photos of habitus, illustrations of legs, antenna, aedeagus and last abdominal ventrite of male and female. Type specimens are deposited in both the Museum of Hebei University, Baoding, China and the Natural History Museum of Stuttgart, Germany.A key to the 102 Chinese species of genus Laena is provided.

Evaluation on the risk management effect of cluster infectious disease in schools of Jingzhou / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To evaluate the effect of risk management on cluster infectious disease prevention and control in schools, and to provide a scientific basis for the further development of its methods and strategies.@*Methods@#A two year risk management program of cluster infectious disease control and prevention in 92 schools was carried out in urban area of Jingzhou. In the process of intervention, comprehensive measures were implemented, such as improving organizational management and rules, strengthening routine hygiene management, supervising the implementation of epidemic prevention and control measures, increasing training and guidance. On site investigation was conducted to evaluate the risk management effects before and after the risk management, with the other 7 counties of Jingzhou having got no risk management chosen as the control group.@*Results@#Through two-year risk management, the implementation rate covering all aspects regarding cluster infectious disease prevention and control were 6.5-45.7 percentage point higher than that before. The proportion of low and medium risk school increased by 19.6 and 5.4 percentage point, respectively, while the proportion of high risk schools decreased by 25.0 percentage point(Z=7.41, P<0.01). The annual incidence of clustered infectious diseases in 92 schools decreased by 23.9 percentage point. Compared with other counties in Jingzhou City, the trend of decline was significant(χ 2=18.17, P<0.01).@*Conclusion@#Risk management can effectively improve the implementation rate of prevention and control measures regarding epidemic disease in schools, reduce risk severity, and decrease the incidence of cluster infectious diseases.

Impact of premature rupture of membranes on neonatal complications in preterm infants with gestational age <37 weeks / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of premature rupture of the membrane (PROM) on neonatal complications in premature infants.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The registration information of 7684 preterm infants with gestational age <37 weeks were collected from the cooperative units in the task group between January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014. Specially trained personnel from each cooperative units filled in the unified form in a standardized format to record the gender, gestational age, birth weight, PROM, placental abruption, antenatal corticosteroid, Apgar score, amniotic fluid pollution, and complications of the infants. The data were analyzed comparatively between the cases with PROM and those without (control).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The preterm mortality rate was significantly lower but the incidences of ICH, NEC, ROP and BPD were significantly higher in PROM group than in the control group (P<0.05). The 95% confidence interval of the OR value was <1 for mortality, and was >1 for ICH, NEC, ROP and BPD. After adjustment for gestational age, birth weight, gender, mode of delivery, placental abruption, placenta previa, prenatal hormones, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), gestational period hypertension and 5-min Apgar score <7, the incidences of NEC, ROP and BPD were significantly different between the two groups (P<0.05) with 95% confidence interval of OR value >1, but the mortality rate and incidence of ICH were not significantly different between the two groups (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PROM is a risk factor for NEC, ROP and BPD in preterm infants, and adequate intervention of PROM can reduce the incidences of such complications as NEC, ROP and BPD in the infants.</p>

Glutaminergic neurons expressing c-Fos in the brainstem and amygdala participate in signal transmission and integration of sweet taste / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To examine the role of glutaminergic neurons in the transmission and integration of the sweat taste information in the brain stem and the amygdala.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Conscious Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to oral sweet taste or water (control) stimulations. The activated neurons were identified by detecting c-Fos expression in taste-related brain areas, and the glutaminergic neurons by detecting vesicular glutamate transpoter-3 (VGLUT3).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with control group, the rats with oral sucrose solution stimulation exhibited significantly increased c-Fos-expressing and double-labeled neurons in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NST), the parabrachial nucleus (PBN) and the amygdala.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Neurons in the NST, PBN and amygdala are activated after oral sweet taste stimulation. The sweet taste perception at different levels in the CNS is partly mediated by glutamate.</p>

Coma criterion and classification standard of mild and moderate traumatic brain injury in rats / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To set up a classification standard of mild and moderate traumatic brain injury, for the purpose of reliable data comparison derived from different laboratories.@*METHODS@#Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats was prepared by using a metallic pendulum-striker device. After injury, five variable parameters including the time of apnea and the areflexia, time of corneal reflex, external auditory canal stung reaction, body-righting reflex and needling reaction were determined and scored by using rat coma criterion. These data were judged and classified into mild and moderate head injury by brain patho-anatomy changes. Then the data were used to set up a multivariate discriminate equation.@*RESULTS@#The distinguished probability of mild and moderate TBI according to actual direct measured value and the criterion were 88.9% and 91.9%, respectively.@*CONCLUSION@#This method is able to classify mild and moderate TBI in rats.

Effects of jing'an capsule on rat sperm quality / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The effects of Jing'an capsule on the quality of rat sperm were studied to supply data for its safe clinical use.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty SD male rats were evenly and randomly divided into three test groups and one control group. Then the test groups were continuously given Jing'an capsule at different dosages: 557.1 mg/kg, 5,571 mg/kg or 11,420 mg/kg and the control group was given starch (20 g/L). Sixty days later, one of the epididymides, the sperm density was made and the sperm motility and morphology were investigated. The data obtained were analyzed by ANOVA, chi 2 test and Kruskal-Wallis test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The sperm density, motility and morphology were variable at different dosages. Compared with the control, the sperm density increased significantly at the dosage of 557.1 mg/kg(P < 0.05), and a significant decrease was observed in the sperm density and motility (P < 0.05) at the dosage of 11,420 mg/kg. Although the rate of abnormal sperm morphology decreased at the dosage of 557.1 mg/kg and increased at the dosage of 5,571 mg/kg or 11,420 mg/kg compared with the control, there was no statistic significance(P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>A low dosage of Jing'an capsule might ameliorate the quality of sperm, while a high dosage could do damage to sperm.</p>

The relation between the spatial cognitive deficit in MWM and the changes of cholinergic neuron after brain concussion in rats / 中华创伤杂志

Objective To study the correlation between cognitive dysfunction and cholinergic neuron changes in basal forebrain(BFB)and brainstem reticular formation(BSRF)areas after brain con- cussion(BC)in rats.Methods Eighty-four Spragne-Dawley rats weighing 250-310g were used.The BC rat models were reproduced by a self-made simple pendulum impact device,then the rats were ran- domized into one control group and six experimental groups(1 day,2 day,4 day,8 day,16 day,and 24 day groups;n=12 in each group).A Morris Water Maze(MWM)test was used to assess learning and memory function of the rats.Cholinergic neurons in the BFB and BSRF were identified with choline acetyltransferase(CHAT)antibody and quantitated.Results Compared with the control group,the la- tency to find the platform in MWM was much longer on days 1-3 after BC,but there was no statistical difference on days 4-21 after BC.The cell number and the ChAT expression activity of cholinergic neu- rons in the BFB were obviously decreased after BC,and reached the lowest level at 8 days after BC,then increased gradually and nearly reached the normal level at 24 days.The ChAT expression activity in BSRF declined on the first 2 days after BC,then went up gradually,and reached the peak at the 24th day.Conclusion The spatial cognition deficit of BC rats can be detected by MWM in the early period (1-3 days after BC).There are significant changes in the number and ChAT expression activity in BFB and BSRF after BC.The change of cholinergic neurons may be correlated with cognitive deficits in BC rats.