Aim To observe the influences of ginsenoside Rg1 on the spontaneous contraction of small intestine smooth muscle of rabbits in vitro and explore the mechanism.Methods With the isothermal perfusion of small intestine in vitro,the influences of ginsenoside Rg1 on the spontaneous contraction of small intestine was observed and the mechanism of ginsenoside Rg1 was studied.Results Ginsenoside Rg1 reduced the amplitude of contraction of small intestine smooth muscle in rabbits in a dose-depended manner.Bay K8644 and nitro-L-arginine methylester(L-NAME)could completely block the inhibition of ginsenoside Rg1 on the contraction of small intestine smooth muscle.Ginsenoside Rg1 inhibited the intracellular calcium-depended contraction induced by rynodine in the Ca2+ free Tyrode's solution.Conclusions Ginsenoside Rg1 inhibits the contraction of small intestine smooth muscle of rabbits in vitro.The mechanism may be related to increase NO concentration in small intestine smooth muscle so that it inhibits extracellular Ca2+ inflowing via cell membrane and intracellular Ca2+ releasing via sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Objectives To analysis clinical pathology of organ speciifc IgA vasculitis (IgA nephropathy) and systemic IgA vasculitis (allergic purpura) of purpura nephritis in children. Methods Clinical and pathological data of hospitalized pediatric patients of IgA nephropathy and purpura nephritis were retrospectively analyzed from June 1993 to November 2014. Results There were 405 patients of IgA nephropathy (256 males and 149 females). The ratio of male to female was 1.7:1. The average age was 10.2±2.8 years. The nephrotic syndrome (31.6%) was the most common clinical type, followed by hematuria and proteinuria (27.9%). There were 548 patients of purpura nephritis, 329 males and 219 females. The ratio of male to female was 1.5:1. The average age was 10.2±3.1 years. The hematuria and proteinuria (61.6%) was the most common clinical type, followed by nephrotic syndrome (21.4%). None of the IgA nephropathy progressed to systemic vasculitis (allergic purpura). Conclusions The causes, onset ages and clinical manifestations of IgA nephropathy and allergic purpura may be consistent or overlap, but none of IgA nephropathy (organ speciifcity IgA vasculitis) progressed to allergic purpura (systemic IgA vasculi-tis). IgA nephropathy might have more renal immune disorder mechanisms involved in its pathogenesis.

Aim To investigate the effect of ginsenoside Rg1 on gut injury following intestinal ischemia reperfusion in rats and the possible mechanism.Methods By using rat model of intestinal I/R injury, 30 male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups(n =10 in each group):sham-operation group, I/R group(control group)and ginsenoside Rg1 group(treatment group).The contents of tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α), interleukin-6(IL-6), malondialdehyde(MDA), the activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD)in intestinal mucosa were measured respectively.Chiu's count was used to assess the changes in intestinal pathological morphology.Results TNF-α, IL-6, MDA contents and the intestinal injury score in control group were significantly increased compared to those in sham-operation group, while SOD contents in control group were significantly decreased compared to sham-operation group.Inversely, TNF-α, IL-6, MDA contents and the intestinal injury score in treatment group were significantly decreased compared to those in control group, while SOD contents in treatment group were significantly increased compared to control group.Conclusion Pretreatment with ginsenoside Rg1 has protective effect on intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats, which may be attributed to decreased contents of TNF-α, IL-6, MDA and increased levels of SOD.

Objective To probe into the psychological resilience and its influencing factor among parents of children with cancer.Methods A total of 125 parents were investigated by self-designed general information questionnaire,Connor-Davidson psychological resilience scale (CD-RISC),Chinese version of Parents' Perception Uncertainty in Illness Scale (PPUS),Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS),self-rating depression scale (SDS) and self-rating anxiety scale (SAS).Results The total score of psychological resilience was (54.86±12.88) and the illness uncertainty score was (91.52±14.66).The social support score was moderate with a total score of (39.86±7.99).The anxiety and depression among parents got a total score of (40.08±7.19) and (44.61±7.38) respectively.Psychological resilience was negatively correlated with illness uncertainty and depression,and was positively correlated with the social support.The depression,illness uncertainty,residence,children's age,clinical diagnosis entered into the multiple linear regression equation of psychological resilience,predicting 30.1％ of total variation in psychological resilience.Conclusions Social support,illness uncertainty and depression are the important factors which affect psychological resilience among parents of children with cancer.Nurses should assess the social support that parents receive,the level of depression and the disease feeling of the parents,and provide targeted interventions to relieve it,help to establish effective coping style and improve their psychological state.

Objective To investigate the levels and significance of Th17 cells and regulatory T cells (Treg) in peripheral blood of children with allergic rhinitis during pollen and non-pollen seasons.Methods Thirteen children with hay fever, 10 children with house dust mite(HDM)-allergic asthma and 10 healthy children were recruited into this study.Percentages of Th17 and Treg cells were detected by flow cytometry.Levels of IL-17, IL-10 and TGF-β in cell culture supernatants were measured by ELISA.Results (1) The percentages of Th17 cells in children with allergic rhinitis [(3.4±2.4)%] were significantly higher than those in HDM-allergic asthmatics [(2.1±1.6)%] and those in healthy children [(0.5±0.3)%] during pollen season (both P<0.05).The levels of Treg cells in allergic rhinitis group [(2.1±1.3)%] and in HDM-allergic asthma group [(3.6±1.9)%] were significantly lower than those in healthy control group [(5.5±2.8)%] (both P<0.05).The levels of Th17 cells [(3.0±1.9)% vs (3.4±2.4)%, P<0.05] and ratios of Th17/Treg cells [(1.4±1.0)% vs (1.7±1.5)%, P<0.05] in children with allergic rhinitis were significantly decreased during non-pollen season as compared with those during pollen season, but the levels of Treg cells were up-regulated [(2.4±1.6)% vs (2.1±1.3)%, P<0.05].(2) Correlation analysis revealed that the ratios of Th17/Treg cells were positively correlated with the concentrations of FeNO (fractional concentration of exhaled NO) (r=0.321, P<0.05) and the counts of circulating eosinophils (r=0.198, P<0.05) in children with allergic rhinitis during pollen season.Conclusion The imbalanced Th17 and Treg cells in children with allergic rhinitis during pollen season might play a vital role in the regulation of allergic airway inflammation.

Objective To investigate the role of vitamin D in the synthesis and degradation of aggrecan in rat articular chondrocytes at cellular level. Methods Rat articular chondrocytes were stimulated by IL-1α, IL-1β and TNF-α, respectively. Normal and inflammatory chondrocytes were treated with different doses of vitamin D, respectively. CCK8, Flow cytometry, real time-PCR and western blot analysis were used to examine the proliferation activity and apoptosis level of chondrocytes, and the expression of aggrecan, ADAMTS-4 and ADAMTS-5 at both mRNA and protein levels. Results IL-1α,IL-1β and TNF-α significantly decreased the proliferation activity and increased the apoptosis level of the chondrocytes. Furthermore, IL-1α, IL-1β and TNF-α significantly decreased the expression of aggrecan, and increased the expressions of ADAMTS-4 and ADAMTS-5 at both mRNA and protein levels in the chondrocytes. 1α,25 (OH)2D3supplementation significantly increased the proliferation activity and decreased the apoptosis level of chondrocytes stimulated by IL-1α, IL-1β and TNF-α in a dose-dependent manner, but not affected the normal chondrocytes. Meanwhile, 1α,25(OH)2D3also significantly increased the expression of aggrecan, and decreased the expressions of ADAMTS-4 and ADAMTS-5 at both mRNA and protein levels in the chondrocytes under inflammatory conditions. Conclusions Vitamin D may promote the anabolism of aggrecan and inhibit aggrecanase activity in chondrocytes under inflammatory conditions, which may impact overall protection for articular cartilage.

Objective To investigate the etiology composition of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in children,in order to provide reference for the prevention and treatment.Methods The children with ESRD who were diagnosed in Peking University First Hospital from January 2005 to October 2013 were selected,and the etiology composition and incidence of the children with ESRD were retrospectively analyzed.Diagnostic criteria for children with ESRD refer to the clinical practice guidelines for chronic renal disease (NKF/KDOQI),developed by the American kidney foundation in 2002.Results Eighty-six children with ERSD were enrolled including 53 cases of males,33 cases of females,with the male to female ratio of 1.61 ∶ 1.00 and the mean onset age was (7.08 ± 4.23) years old,and their average diagnosis age was(9.25 ±4.17) years old.The median duration of ERSD before diagnosis was 0.84(0.01-13.67)years.The main cause of ESRD was acquired renal disease,accounting for 43.02％ (37/86 cases),mainly the chronic glomerulonephritis (18/86 cases,20.93％) and nephrotic syndrome (16/86 cases,18.60％);followed by urinary congenital abnormity,accounting for 40.70％ (35/86 cases),in which the most common were renal dysplasia (18/86 cases,20.93％) and cystic renal disease (11/86 cases,12.79％).Children under 3 years old mainly showed congenital urinary tract abnormalities(6/10 cases,60.00％).But children over 3 years old mainly showed acquired renal diseases (37/76 cases,48.7％),and pathologic classification of glomerular disease were proliferative mesangial glomerulonephritis (6/23 cases,26.09％),focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (5/23 cases,21.74％) and interstitial nephritis(3/23 cases,13.04％).Conclusions The main etiology of ESRD is glomerular disease and congenital abnormal development of urinary system,therefore,more attention should be paid on the ultrasound screening of the urinary tract in the perinatal period and urine screening in children.There are great significances in reducing the incidence of ESRD and intervening actively the progression to chronic kidney disease.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical and genetic features of X-linked Alport syndrome (XLAS) in men positive for the collagen α5(Ⅳ) chain in epidermal basement membrane.

METHODThis was a retrospective study. Totally 725 families were diagnosed as Alport syndrome in Department of Pediatrics of Peking University First Hospital during January 1998 to December 2014, among them 450 patients were males with XLAS. Patients who met both of the following two criteria were included in this study. (1)Patients underwent α5(Ⅳ) chain staining in the epidermal basement membrane. (2)Mutations in COL4A5 gene were detected.Mann-Whitney test and χ(2) test were used.

RESULTTotally 140 males with XLAS were included in this study, 18 cases were α5 (Ⅳ)-positive and 122 cases were α5 (Ⅳ)-negative. The two groups of patients were compared, the median age at analysis was 11.0 vs. 7.2 years (Z = -1.839, P = 0.066), the 24-hour urine protein was 1.50 vs. 0.57 g/d (Z = -1.212, P = 0.226), the rate of hearing loss was 28% vs. 53% (χ(2) = 3.619, P = 0.067), the number of patients progressed to end stage renal disease (ESRD) was 4 vs. 12 (χ(2) =2.377, P = 0.128), the median age of ESRD was 31.0 vs. 16.6 years (Z = -2.554, P = 0.011), the rate of missense mutations in COL4A5 gene was 67% vs. 52% (χ(2) = 1.424, P = 0.313).

CONCLUSIONCompared the two groups of patients with positive and negative staining for the collagen Ⅳ α5 chain in epidermal basement membrane, there was no significant difference in the proteinuria level, the rate of hearing loss and genotype of COL4A5 gene. But the patients with positive staining progressed to ESRD significantly later than the patients with negative staining.

Basement Membrane ; pathology ; Child ; Collagen Type IV ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Deafness ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Male ; Mutation, Missense ; Nephritis, Hereditary ; genetics ; pathology ; Proteinuria ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical characteristics, renal pathology, treatment and prognosis of children with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome associated with H factor antibody.

METHODFour children less than 18 yr of age admitted from Nov. 2010 to May 2011 in Peking University First Hospital were included. They all met the criteria for atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome and with positive serum anti factor H antibody. They aged from 5 to 11 yr. Data on clinical manifestations, renal pathology, treatment and prognosis were analyzed.

RESULTAll of the 4 cases had gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal pain, or abdominal distension. None of them had diarrhea. Two children had hypertension. One child had episodes of convulsion. One child had history of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome. All of them had low serum complement C3. Three of them had low serum factor H (38.0, 88.4, 209.4 mg/L). All of them had serum antibody to factor H (1: 7 068, 1: 1 110, 1: 174, and 1: 869). Three of them received renal biopsy, all of them showed thrombotic microangiopathy. All of them were treated with steroid combined with mycophenolate mofetil. Two children received plasma exchange. They were followed up for 8 to 29 months. The renal function became normal and proteinuria relieved in all of them. The serum factor H concentration increased to 405.8, 155.8 and 438.4 mg/L, respectively. The titer of anti factor H antibody decreased to 1: 119, 1: 170, 1: 123, and 1: 674, respectively.

CONCLUSIONGastrointestinal symptom is common in children with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome associated with H factor antibody. Hypocomplementemia was observed in all of them. Steroid combined with mycophenolate mofetil seemed to be effective for them. The monitoring of serum factor H and antibody to factor H may help diagnosis and treatment.

Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome ; Autoantibodies ; blood ; immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Complement Factor H ; immunology ; Creatinine ; blood ; Female ; Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome ; drug therapy ; immunology ; pathology ; Humans ; Kidney ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Kidney Function Tests ; Male ; Mycophenolic Acid ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Plasma Exchange ; Prednisolone ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To investigate the changes in percentage and function of CD4+CD25+regu-latory T cells ( Tregs) in peripheral blood of patients with hay fever. Methods A total of 20 patients with hay fever, 20 patients with house dust mite-induced allergic asthma and 20 healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. Peripheral blood samples were collected from all subjects to isolate PBMCs. Percentages of Tregs in PBMCs were measured by flow cytometry. CD4+CD25+ Tregs and CD4+CD25-T cells ( Teffs) were isola-ted by immunomagnetic cell sorting. Effects of CD4+CD25+Tregs on the proliferation of Teffs were evaluated by MTT assay. Expression of Foxp3 and TGF-β1 at mRNA level was analyzed by RT-PCR. Results During the pollen season, the percentage of circulating Tregs in patients with hay fever [(1. 82+0. 82)％] was sig-nificantly lower than that in patients with house dust mite-induced allergic asthma [(2. 96±1. 34)％] and health subjects [(5. 78±2. 29)％] (both P<0. 05). Expression of Foxp3 at mRNA level was significantly reduced in patients with hay fever (0. 46±0. 25) as compared with that of the house dust mite-induced aller-gic asthma (0. 64±0. 31) and healthy control (1. 04±0. 21) groups (both P<0. 05). Expression of TGF-β1 at mRNA level in both hay fever (0. 34±0. 27) and house dust mite-induced allergic asthma (0. 43±0. 31) groups was lower than that of the healthy control group (0. 99±0. 34). Treg-mediated suppression of Teff proliferation was significantly decreased in patients with hay fever [(17. 1±8. 4)％] as compared with that in patients with house dust mite-induced allergic asthma [(21. 4±9. 1)％]) and healthy subjects [(36. 0± 13. 9)％] (P<0. 05). Conclusion Decreased percentage and defective function of Tregs might be one of the major causes for the occurrence and development of hay fever in children during the pollen season.