Association between left ventricular remodeling and lipid profiles in obese children: an observational study.

Objective: Childhood obesity has become a prominent issue in the society, which can lead to left ventricular remodeling and severe cardiovascular complications in adulthood. It is beneficial to identify the causes of left ventricular remodeling so that targeted measures can be taken to prevent the cardiovascular disease. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the relationship between left ventricular remodeling and changes in blood lipid indexes in obese children. Methods: This study was conducted on 40 healthy non-obese children and 140 obese children diagnosed in the pediatric health department of our hospital. Clinical data collected from the two groups were compared. Echocardiography was performed to examine left ventricular configuration and cardiac function. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to assess the independent effects of blood lipid levels on echocardiographic parameters. Blood lipid indicators among different left ventricular structural patterns which were classified according to left ventricular mass indexes and relative wall thickness were compared. Results: Obese children exhibited significantly increased height, weight, body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (BFP), blood pressure, triglycerides, total cholesterol, left ventricular internal diameter (LVIDd), interventricular septum (IVSd), left ventricular posterior wall diastolic thickness (LVPWd), myocardial mass (LVM) and relative wall thickness (RWT), as well as lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) compared to the non-obese children (P < 0.05). Multiple linear correlation analysis showed LVM had a significantly positive correlation with BMI (r = 3.21, P = 0.002) and SBP (r = 2.61, P = 0.01); LVMI had a significantly negative correlation with HDL-C (r = -2.45, P = 0.015); RWT had a significantly positive correlation with SBP (r = 2.50, P = 0.013) but a significantly negative correlation with HDL-C (r = -2.35, P = 0.02). Furthermore, there were significant differences in HDL-C values among children with different ventricular configurations (P < 0.05), with the lowest HDL-C value recorded in the concentric hypertrophy group. Conclusion: Obese children will develop left ventricular remodeling. The left ventricular configuration indexes are most significantly associated with serum HDL-C. Lower HDL-C level contributes to severer left ventricular hypertrophy, indicating a concentric hypertrophy pattern.

[Efficacy and adverse effects of film coated praziquantel for treatment of schistosomiasis japonica].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the adverse and curative effects of film coated praziquantel for treatment of schistosomiasis japonica. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted among 6 to 65 years old inhabitants from epidemic areas of schistosomiasis japonica in Jiangxi, Anhui and Hubei provinces, while indirect haemagglutination assay (IHA) was also administrated. The Serological positives were tested by Kato-Katz technique. A total of 509 habitats of serological positives and healthy persons were given praziquantel. 460 targets with no relative symptoms were followed up for adverse effect of drugs in one month and efficacy evaluation of praziquantel was carried out in 104 parasitological positives 3 months post-treatment. RESULTS: The 84.7% (144/170) individuals thought film coated tablets were no smell or only with little smell while 92.9%(315/339) targets in control group fell that tablets smelled bad. The total side effect rates of film coated praziquantel group and control group in 1-2 hours post-treatment were 20.30% (27/133) and 83.18% (272/327) respectively. There was significantly different between two groups (chi(2) = 164.316, P < 0.05). The adverse effect rates of film coated praziquantel group in neuromuscular system, digestive system and cardiovascular system were 15.79% (21/133), 9.77% (13/133), 2.26% (3/133) individually which were significantly lower than those of control groups with 81.65% (267/327), 49.24% (161/327), 12.84% (42/327) in corresponding systems (chi(2)(neuromuscular system) = 175.188, chi(2)(digestive system) = 62.601, chi(2)(cardiovascular system) = 12.010, P < 0.05). And the adverse effect rate of allergic reaction of film coated group was no significant difference with control group (2.26%(3/133) versus 0.92% (3/327), chi(2) = 1.315, P = 0.235). One day after treatment, the adverse effect rate of film coated tablets of praziquantel decreased to 3.01% (4/133), significantly lower than that of control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference after 2 weeks treatment while the adverse effect rates decreased to 0.75%(1/133), 0.61% (2/327) in film coated praziquantel group and control group respectively (chi(2) = 0.029, P = 0.642). The curative rates 3 months post treatment were 84.91% (45/51) in film coated tablets of praziquantel group and 82.35% (42/53) in control group without significant difference (chi(2) = 1.536, P = 0.215). CONCLUSION: The smell and adverse effects of film coated tablets of praziquantel were decreased significantly and its efficacy for treatment of schistosomiasis japonica was equal to the control tablets. The film coated tablets of praziquantel might be applied in field widely after a further verification.

[THz absorption spectra of several carbohydrate derivatives].

Intermolecular hydrogen bond vibrations may be observed in the THz range. Carbohydrates are important bio-molecules, and are the typical systems for the study of hydrogen bonds. Carbohydrate derivatives have critical biological functions, and there are extensive hydrogen bond networks in molecular system, therefore, they would have various bands in the THz region. The THz absorption spectra of several carbohydrate derivatives were measured using a THz apparatus at room temperature. The THz bands are as follows: 1.17, 1.35, 1.93 and 2.23 THz for isopropyl-beta-D-thioglucopyranoside; 1.93 THz for isopropyl-beta-D- thiogalactopyranoside; 1.87 THz for methyl-(tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside); 1.23, 1.70, 1.84 and 2. 23 THz for O-(2, 3, 4, 6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-glucopyranosyl)-N-hydroxysuccinimide. The results indicate that different samples have various bands that originated from collective modes of the whole molecules and especially isomers can be distinguished, showing that THz method is sensitive to the molecular structures and spatial configurations and is a helpful complement of IR spectroscopy.

[Effects of paeoniflorin on expressions of CTGF, PDGF and TNF-alpha in mice with hepatic fibrosis due to Schistosoma japonicum infection].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of paeoniflorin on the expressions of CTGF and PDGF in liver tissue of fibrosis and the serum level of TNF-alpha in mice infected with Schistosoma japonicum, and to explore the protective effect and its mechanisms of paeoniflorin on liver fibrosis. METHODS: Kunming mice were divided randomly into 5 groups, namely normal control group (Group A), paeoniflorin groups (Group B, C, D) and infected control group (Group E). The mice in Group B-E were infected with cercariae of Schistosoma japonicum, and then they were treated with praziquantel (400 mg/kg per day) for 2 days after 6 weeks. After that, the mice in Group B, C, D were given paeoniflorin with a dose of 30, 60, 120 mg/(kg x d), respectively. After 8 weeks of paeoniflorin treatment, all the mice were killed, and their livers and serum were obtained. Hematoxylin and eosin stain and Masson stain were used to observe the degree of hepatic fibrosis. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to detect the expressions of CTGF and PDGF in liver tissue. The serum level of TNF-alpha was detected by ELISA. RESULTS: The expression levels of CTGF and PDGF proteins in liver tissue and the serum level of TNF-alpha of the mice in the high dosage paeoniflorin treatment group (Group D) were significantly lower than those in the infected control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The effects of paeoniflorin on hepatic fibrosis induced by Schistosoma japonicum infection depends on its dosage. Paeoniflorin may exert its effects by inhibiting the serum level of TNF-alpha and down regulating the expression of CTGF and PDGF proteins.

[Evaluation for schistosomiasis transmission control in Hongshan District of Wuhan City].

The status of schistosomiasis transmission control in Hongshan District of Wuhan City was evaluated. The schistosome infection rates of human and cattle were both below 1%, no local acute schistosomiasis patient occurred, and infected snails were not found during the period of 2008 to 2010. The files and data were well-documented. Therefore, Hongshan District reached the national criteria for schistosomiasis transmission control.