Malnutrition and high nutrition risk exist in children with chronic diseases due to the prolonged course.Malnutrition can not only affect children's growth,but also can increase the risk of nutritionrelated complications,infection,time of hospitalization,hospital costs.Children with chronic diseases have inadequate intake and malabsorption,as well as the increased consumption caused by infection and inflammation.Different diseases need to be given special nutritional support and management,which help improve the clinical outcome and get well for children with chronic diseases.This review summarizes the progresses of nutritional status,nutrition risk assessment and nutritional management of children with chronic diseases.

Objective:To establish a HPLC fingerprint determination which could separate the main principles of alkaloids, flavonoids and iridoids in Huanglianjiedu Decoction. Methods: The HPLC method was used and chromatography conditions were C 18V column, binary or ternary solvent-delivery gradient elution and diode-array detector. Results: A HPLC fingerprint determination method was established, which could separate main principles of the three effective groups of Huanglianjiedu Decoction. Conclusion: The ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine consist of several effective groups with different chemicals and physical properties, compared with the plant standard extracts, further studies are required for establishing HPLC fingerprint.

Objective: To investigate the methylation level of NPTX2 gene in pancreatic cancer and assess its clinical value in diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Methods: We detected the mRNA expression and methylation levels of NPTX2 gene by qRT-PCR and quantitative methylation with SYBR Green in 10 primary pancreatic carcinoma tissues and the matched adjacent normal tissues. The methylation levels of NPTX2 gene were then detected and compared using the above-mentioned method in the whole blood of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and healthy volunteers. Results: The relative quantification (RQ) of NPTX2 expression in pancreatic carcinoma tissues was significantly lower than that in the adjacent tissues (0.276±0.263 vs 3.526±3.037, P = 0.001). The result of quantitive methylation indicated that the methylation index (MI) of the carcinoma tissues was significantly higher than that of the adjacent tissues ([9.02±7.52]% vs [1.28±0.98]%, P = 0.003). MI of NPTX2 gene was negatively correlated with RQ value (R= -0.552, P = 0.012). We also found that the MI of the whole blood DNA methylation of patients with pancreatic cancer was significantly higher than that of healthy volunteers ([1.80±1.76]% vs [0.84±0.45]%, P < 0.05). Conclusion: Our findings strongly suggest that NPTX2 gene is aberrantly hypermethyated in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Detection of MI of NPTX2 gene might be of great value for diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

Objective: To observe the protection of Testudinis Carapax et Plastrum extracts (TCPE) on serum starvation-induced PC12 cell apoptosis and explore its mechanism. Methods: The PC12 apoptosis model was established by serum starvation for 3 d. The cells were randomly divided into four groups: control group, model group, low-dose and high-dose (3 and 30 μg/mL) TCPE groups. In the three days of the treatment, cell absorbance was determined by MTT, ratio of cell apoptosis was examined by Annexin V/PI double stain flow cytometry (FCM), Caspase-3, BMP4, BMPR-IA, and p-Smad1/5/8 signaling molecular expression were detected by Western blotting, and the anti-apoptotic effect of TCPE was observed after blocking BMPs signal pathway. Semi-quantitative analysis of bands was carried out by Bio-Rad Quantity One gel analysis system. Results: MTT and FCM analyses demonstrated that TCPE could increase PC12 cell viability and decrease their apoptotic ratios in a dose dependent manner. Western blotting results showed that TCPE could decrease Caspase-3 expression, promote the expression of BMP4, BMPR-IA, and p-Smad1/5/8. There was statistically significant difference between TCPE (3 and 30 μg/mL) groups and model group (P<0.05, P<0.01) in all above results. While TCPE had no effect on the expression of BMP2, BMP7, and BMPR-II. BMPR-IB hadn't been detected. The anti-apoptotic activity was partially mitigated by neutralizing BMP4 antibody. Conclusion: TCPE has the capacity to inhibit the apoptosis of PC12 induced by serum starvation in a dose dependent manner and its mechanism may be associated with partially activating and up-regulating the expression of BMP4 signaling pathway.

Cyclic peptide drugs have gradually become an emerging research direction due to their some favorable properties such as high-efficiency binding affinity, high selectivity, lower toxicity, and stable metabolism. In recent years, the number of cyclic peptide drugs under clinical research has continued to increase. Unlike the previous cyclic peptide drugs, which were mostly derived from natural products and their derivatives, these cyclic peptide drugs are designed by genetically encoded display technologies which are based on rational design and in vitro evolution (such as BT1718, PTG-300, POL6326, etc). Among them, phage display technology has some advantages such as mature research system, low cost, and simpler operation that make it well recognized and praised by the majority of researchers in this field. Here, we reviewed the recent progress of applying phage display technology to explore diverse cyclic peptide libraries, which, we believe, will contribute more valuable candidate cyclic peptide drugs in clinical research.

Age-related white matter changes are considered as a manifestation of arteriolosclerotic small vessel disease and are associated with advanced age and vascular risk factors.White matter changes have been recognized as one of the manifestations of cerebral small vessel disease.They are the pathological basis of cognitive impairment and functional loss in the elderly.Studies have shown that when white matter changes develop to a certain extent,there will be many clinical symptoms,including cognitive impairment,dementia,depression,gait disturbances,and urinary incontinence,and they are associated with the increased risks of stroke and death.

Objective　To study the toxicity of Tripterygium Hypolaucun (Level) Hutch (THH). Methods　The flow cytometry technique was used to measure the micronucleus (MN) formation and cell apoptosis of Jurkat, CHE and NIH3T3 cell lines induced by THH. Results　THH could induce micronucleus formation and cell apoptosis of Jurkat, CHE and NIH3T3 cell lines. Quite similar changes were observed in three cell lines, but the Jurkat cells showed more sensitive than others. It was only 25 μl/plate THH that induced the high peak of MN formation at various time points, and only 50 μl/plate that induced the high peak of cell apoptosis. Conclusion　The result indicates that THH has stronger toxicity to Jurkat cells than to CHE and NIH3T3 cells.

Objective To characterize the localization and expression of cyclooxygenase (COX) in thoracic spinal cord before and after acute contusion. Methods 48 Sprague Dawley rats, 250 to 300 g in weight, were used for the study. The injuries of spinal cord were induced at the T8,9 level by dropping a weight of 10.24 g form a height of 50 mm (Allen’ s model). All the animals with spinal cord injury were sacrificed at time points ranging from 2 to 48 hours (2, 4, 8, 16, 24, and 48 hours) after management. Expressions of COX- 1 and COX- 2 in the thoracic spinal cords, normal and injured, were studied with immunohistochemistry. Results COX- 1 immunoreactivity was found to constitutively express in cytoplasmof glial cells and neuropils in white matter. Tiny COX- 1 immunoreactivity was found in glial cells, neuropils and neurons in the gray substance. It was found that COX- 2 immuno- labeling expressed constitutively in cytoplasm and closely surrounding the nucleus of neurons in both ventral and dorsal horns. Contusion to the spinal cord did not result in changes of COX- 1 protein localization and expression according to evaluation of immunohistochemistry. COX- 2 immunoreactivity improved only in neurons 4 hours following contusion. The positive COX- 2 protein reactivity reached the peak 24 hours after contusion. Conclusions In contrast to their expression in the majority of peripheral tissues, both COX isoforms express constitutively in the normal rat thoracic spinal cord. The major isoform of COX involved in the secondary spinal cord injury is COX- 2 after the spinal cord is mechanically injured.

Objective To observe the behavior changes and connexin 32(CX32),connexin 43(CX43)expressions in hippocampus and the effect of carbenoxolone on their expression in epileptic immature rats induced by lithium-pilocarpine.Methods Seventy-two SD immature rats of 21 d were randomly divided into control group(n=24),lithium-pilocarpine kindled group(n=24)and carbenoxolone treated group(n=24),each group by 24 h,3 d,7 d and 30 d were subdivided into 4 groups(n=6).Immuno-histochemisty was used to observe the expressions of CX32 and CX43 in hippocampus areas of immature rats,and to observe their behavior changes.Results The scores of the severe elileptiform seizures(Racine Ⅳ/Ⅴlevel)in lithium-pilocarpine group were significantly higher than those in carbenoxolone treated group;The latency in carbenoxolone treated group was prolonged significantly(P

Objective To determine the mechanism of nitric oxide synthase(NOS) and prostacyclin(PGI2) acting on splanchnic hyperdynamic circulation of portal hypertention(PHT). Methods Ninety-six Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups, namely, intrahepatic portal hypertension(IHPH, n=31), prehepatic portal hypertension(PHPH, n=33) and sham-operated controls(SO, n=32). Animals of each group were received indomethacin(INDO) either on a short term or long term with saline as control. Portal venous pressure, together with the concentration of nitric oxide (NO) and PGI2 in serum was measured. The constitutive nitric oxide synthase(cNOS)and inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS)activity in the abdominal aorta and small intestine of these rats were detrmined by spectrophotometry method. RT-PCR was performed to measure the levels of iNOS and cNOS mRNA in the arteries and guts mentioned above. Results Although INDO decreased the concentration of PGI2 in serum, the long-term INDO-treated group restored splanchnic hyperdynamic circulation in both IHPH and PHPH rats, concomitant with enhanced expression of iNOS and concentration of NO(P0.05). Conclusion Overproduction of NO inducing hemodynamic abnormalities of PHT is synthesized principally by increase of iNOS. There may be a possible interaction between PGI2 and NO in hyperhemodynamics of PHT, while PGI2 may not be a mediator in the formation and development of hyperdynamic circulatory state.