Objective To explore the effect of calcium gene-related peptide (CGRP) on free calcium concentration in the brain cells of hypoxic-ischemic neonatal SD rats. Methods Animal model of hypoxic-ischemic cerebral injury was set up using SD rats of 7 days old. Then the rats were randomly divided into treatment group given 3?g/kg/d CGRP intraperitoneally for 3 days immediately after the model was made, and salt solution group given 0.9% NaCl solution intraperitoneally for 3 days. Normal control group received sham operation. All the rats were decapitated after 3 days and the concentration of free calcium in brain cells was measured with calcium fluorescence indicator in Fura-2Am. Results The free calcium concentration in brain cells in salt solution group was significantly higher than that in the other two groups (P

Objective To investigate the effects of keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) and KGF receptor (KGFR) antisense oligonucleotide (ASODN) on cell cycle and apoptosis of HaCat cells. Methods HaCaT cell, an immortalized keratinocyte cell strain, was cultured in vitro. Flow cytometry was used to measure the cell cycle and apoptosis mediated by KGF and ASODN. Results The rates of S phase and apoptosis in the group treated with KGF increased significantly than those in the control group (both P

Objective To investigate the clinical features and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)therapy of postinfectious bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) in children. Method Ten children, who had post-infectious BO from February 2009 to February 2010, received BAL therapy, and were retrospectively analyzed. The data included pathology,chnical feature,chest HRCT scan, BALF cellular, levels of blood T cell subtypes and outcome of BAL therapy. Results Adenoviruses or mycoplasma pneumoniae were the most common etiologic agents (4/10, respectively). All patients presented persistent or recurrent dyspneic respirations and wheezing since the initial lung infection. The findings of HRCT included mosaic pattern of perfusion (6/10), accompanied by gas retention,bronchiectasis, atelectasis and bronchial wall thickening. The percentage of neutrophils in BALF was significantly increased in all cases (10/10). There were predominance of CD8+ T cell subtype (9/10) and lower ratio of CD4 +/CD8+ ( 10/10)in blood. Reduced symptoms and shortened hospital stay of BO in 9 of all 10 cases were observed after BAL therapy. Conclusions Severe adenovirus or mycoplasma pneunoniae bronchiolitis and/or pneumonia has higher risk for developing BO in children. Increased percentage of neutrophils in BALF and predominance of CD8 +T cell subtype may play an important role in the mechanism of BO. BAL therepy can reduce the respiratory symptoms of BO in children.

OBJECTIVETo determine whether lead affects brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) in low-to-moderate lead exposed children.

METHODSBAEPs were recorded from 114 asymptomatic children aged 1 - 6 years. Average values were calculated for peak latency (PL) and amplitude (Amp). Whole blood lead (PbB) levels were assessed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy. Based on their PbB levels, subjects were divided into low lead (PbB < 100 micro g/L) and high lead subgroups (PbB > or = 100 micro g/L).

RESULTSThe PbB levels of the 114 subjects ranged from 32.0 to 380.0 micro g/L in a positively skewed distribution. The median of PbB levels was 90.0 micro g/L while the arithmetic average was 88.0 micro g/L. Of the subjects, 43.0% (49/114) had levels equal to or greater than 100 micro g/L. Bilateral PLs I, V, and III of the left ear in the high lead subgroup were significantly longer than those in the low lead subgroup (P < 0.05). A positive correlation was found between PbB levels and bilateral PLs I, V and III of the left ear (P < 0.05), after controlling for age and gender as confounding factors. A significant and positive correlation between PbB levels and PL I of the left ear, even when PbB levels were lower than 100 micro g/L, in the low subgroup (r = 0.295, P = 0.019) was also found.

CONCLUSIONSLead poisoning in children younger than 6 years old is a very serious problem to which close attention should be paid. The indications that lead prolongs partial PLs may imply that lead, even at PbB levels lower than 100 micro g/L, impairs both the peripheral and the central portions of the auditory system. BAEPs may be a sensitive detector of subclinical lead exposure effects on the nervous system in children.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; drug effects ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Lead ; blood ; toxicity ; Lead Poisoning ; physiopathology ; Male

Respiratory tract infection is the most common disease in children, and it is also the most common disease of irrational use of antibiotics.The rational application of antibiotics is to reduce the rate of bacterial resistance and its adverse events.The emergence of drug-resistant strains is closely related to the wide application of antibiotics.In order to reduce the irrational use of antibiotics in children′s respiratory tract infection, pediatricians need to know the timing of application of antibiotics.The respiratory tract infection can be divided into upper respiratory tract infection and lower respiratory tract infection, including common cold, pharyngitis, sinusitis, otitis media, bronchitis and bronchitis, and pneumonia.This article reviews the application timing of antibiotics in the common respiratory tract infection of these children.

Objective: To compare the characteristics of Mycoplasma pneumoniae necrotizing pneumonia (MPNP) and bacterial necrotizing pneumonia (BNP), and explore the biomarkers for differentiation of MPNP from BNP. Methods: A retrospective, observational study of 52 necrotizing pneumonia (NP) cases who were hospitalized in our hospital from January 2008 to December 2017 was conducted. According to the pathogen causing NP, patients were divided into two groups, BNP and MPNP, and the clinical manifestations, laboratory data, imaging findings, hospital course and prognosis between these groups were analyzed. Results: This study enrolled 19 boys and 33 girls, and the median ages of patients were 4.4 (0.1-13.8) years old. Of the totally of 52 NP patients, 19 were in the BNP group (9 boys and 10 girls), 33 were in the MPNP group (10 boys and 23 girls). The mean age of MPNP patients was much older than that of BNP patients (5.2 (2.3-13.2) years vs. 1.8 (0.1-13.8) years, Z=-0.128, P<0.01). The number of patients with tachypnea and pleural effusion septation were significantly higher in BNP patients than those in MPNP patients (15 cases vs. 4 cases, χ²=23.222, P<0.01; 14 cases vs. 1 case, χ²=29.326, P<0.01), which more needed to oxygentherapy (18 cases vs. 12 cases, χ²=16.833, P<0.01) and undergo chest drainage (9 cases vs. 4 cases, χ²=5.829, P=0.022); while the number of patients required bronchoalveolar lavage was higher in MPNP patients than that in BNP patients (5 cases vs. 32 cases, χ²=29.326, P<0.01). The values of white blood cell (WBC) (23.2 (5.2-67.1)×10⁹/L vs. 9.7 (6.3-18.7)×10⁹/L, Z=-4.855, P<0.01), procalcitonin (PCT) (3.69 (0.23-90.15) mg/L vs. 0.28 (0.02-1.44) mg/L, Z=-3.207, P=0.001), C reactive protein (CRP) (160 (94-220) mg/L vs. 90 (5-134) mg/L, Z=-4.337, P<0.01), interleukin (IL)-10 (11.7 (4.2-401.5) ng/L vs. 4.8 (2.0-23.4) ng/L, Z=-2.278, P=0.023), pleural fluid cell count (5 200 (120-50 000)×10⁶/L vs. 790 (68-6 920)×10⁶/L, Z=-3.125, P=0.002), pleural fluid lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) (3 990 (589-29 382) U/L vs. 2 211 (673-3 993) U/L, Z=-2.488, P=0.013) in BNP group were significantly higher than those in MPNP group; while the values of pleural fluid glucose(0.43 (0.03-18.00) mmol/L vs. 5.95 (4.27-7.87) mmol/L, Z=-2.795, P=0.005), serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α (2.3 (1.0-2.8) ng/L vs. 2.6 (1.3-109.2) ng/L, Z=-2.113, P=0.035) and interferon (IFN)-γ (4.8 (2.6-7.7) ng/L vs. 11.9 (2.9-154.6) ng/L, Z=-2.455, P=0.014) were lower in BNP group than those in MPNP group. Meanwhile, the mean time from the onset of symptoms to the discovery of necrotic lesions was longer in MPNP group than that in BNP group ((20.6±6.4) days vs. (14.6±6.2) days, t=3.029, P=0.004). After treatments, all patients were discharged without death, WBC and PCT recovered more quickly in MPNP group than those in BNP group (12 (0-24) days vs. 0 (0-23) days, Z=-4.484, P<0.01; 10 (5-15) days vs. 0 (0-23) days, Z=-3.244, P=0.001). As to prognosis, 34 cases were followed up, and the results showed that patients recovered without surgical intervention, and chest lesions were resolved within 3.0 (1.0-8.0) months, and the time to necrosis disappearance was similar in the BNP group and MPNP greup (3.0 (1.0-8.0) months vs. 3.0 (1.0-8.0) months, Z=-0.128, P=0.001). In receiver operator characteristic curve analysis, the cut-off values for the age, WBC, CRP, PCT, pleural fluid cell count and pleural fluid glucose were set at 2.4 years of age, 17.2×10⁹/L, 157 mg/L, 1.505 mg/L, 2 630×10⁶/L and 3.73 mmol/L, respectively. Conclusions NP is found to be severe and prolonged, yet, reversible through proper therapy, such as rational antibiotics application. The age, WBC, CRP, PCT, pleural fluid cell count and pleural fluid glucose could be used as biomarkers to differentiate MPNP from BNP in children.

Objective: To improve the diagnosis and therapy of childhood pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) by analyzing the clinical features of this rare condition. Methods: A total of 8 pediatric patients (4 males, 4 females) with PTE diagnosed in the Children′s Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine from March, 2014 to March, 2019 were enrolled. The clinical manifestation, laboratory results, imaging findings, diagnosis and treatment were summarized. Results: Among these 8 cases, aged from 9 hours to 14 years and 10 months. Fever was found in 4 cases, cough aggravation in 4, short of breath in 3, chest pain in 2, abdominal and back pain in one, hemoptysis in 2, cyanosis in 1, and edema of lower extremities in 2. Physical examination found decreased breath sound in 2 cases, phlegm rale in 3, and pleural friction rub in one. Pleural effusion was found in 5 cases by ultrasound. Plasma D-dimer increased in 6 cases (0.66-9.96 mg/L) and hypersensitive C-reactive protein elevated in 5 cases (10.78-78.00 mg/L). Chest enhanced CT showed pulmonary artery or venous filling defects, including pulmonary artery embolism in 7 cases and pulmonary vein embolism in one. The primary disease of these patients included Mycoplasma Pneumoniae pneumonia in 4 cases, nephritis in 2 and postoperative congenital heart disease in 2. Apart from one case who withdrew the treatment and was discharged, the other 7 patients received anticoagulant treatment had good outcome. Conclusions For children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia, immune disorders, long-term hormone therapy, cardiovascular invasive operation or other high-risk factors, PTE should be considered when fever, cough aggravation, short of breath, chest and back pain with pleural effusion are present. Chest enhanced CT scan should be performed as soon as possible, and anticoagulation should be started once the diagnosis is confirmed.

Objective: To understand the clinical manifestation, imaging characteristics and outcomes of pulmonary malignant tumors in children. Method: We retrospectively collected information about seven cases of pulmonary malignant tumors in children in our hospital from Jan 2010 to Dec 2016. The information included clinical manifestation, imaging characteristics, pathologic results, and treatment. Result: (1) All the seven patients firstly visited pediatric internal medicine departments. Symptoms included cough (n=6), dyspnea (n=4), fever (n=2), anorexia (n=2), chest tightness (n=1), chest pain (n=1), lameness (n=1), abdominal distension and constipation (n=1). We did not find hemoptysis, wheezing or weight loss in those patients. Physical examinations revealed unilateral reduced breath sounds (n=5), moist rales and wheezes (n=1), and normal (n=1). Extrapulmonary signs included abdominal distension (n=2), left hip tenderness (n=1), and mass in left scrotum. We did not identify clubbing finger, anemic appearance, lymph node enlargement, or hepatosplenomegaly etc. (2) Laboratory examination results: complete blood count showed white blood cells in normal range except one case (17.44×10⁹/L). Neutrophil percentage ranged from 0.348 to 0.767. C reactive protein ranged between<1 and 162 mg/L. Hemoglobin was normal. Three out of four cases had abnormal blood tumor markers.(3) Imaging results showed multiple nodes (n=3), multiple cystic lesions in lungs (n=2) (both with pleuropulmonary blastoma), endobronchial soft tissue mass (n=1), pulmonary round-shaped mass (n=1), and mediastinal mass (n=1). Imaging results also found atelectasis (n=3), pneumonia (n=2), pneumothorax (n=2), longitudinal diaphragmatic hernia (n=2), pleural effusion (n=1), subcutaneous emphysema (n=1). (4) All the patients underwent tumor puncture biopsy or tumor resection. Pathology revealed the final diagnosis of pleuropulmonary blastoma (n=3), endodermal sinus tumors (n=2), squamous cell carcinoma of lung (n=1), and thyroid papillary carcinoma (n=1). All of them were malignant tumors. We followed up them. Two patients died (both with pleuropulmonary blastoma) after their parents refused any medical help. Two cases were lost to follow-up. Three patients survived (followed up for 19 months, 11 months and tow months, respectively). One case with thyroid papillary carcinoma pulmonary metastasis underwent right thyroid cancer radical plus left thyroid lobe resection plus modified selective central lymph node dissection, then iodine ¹³¹ treatment. One case with endodermal sinus tumor pulmonary metastasis underwent three times of chemotherapies, resection of left retroperitoneal tumor and left testicular tumor, and six additional chemotherapies. Another one case of endodermal sinus tumor pulmonary metastasis underwent three times of chemotherapies and was discharged. Conclusion Pulmonary malignant tumors are rare diseases in children. Clinical signs are often non-specific. For those with chest CT showing multiple cystic lesions, endobronchial soft tissue mass or multiple nodes, but no significant infection manifestation or no response to anti-infection therapy, pulmonary malignant tumors should be considered. Biopsy may be needed to confirm the final diagnosis.

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics and diagnosis of multisystemic smooth muscle dysfunction syndrome(MSMDS). Method: Clinical data of a case diagnosed as MSMDS and hospitalized in our hospital in July 2016 was retrospectively analyzed. Literature search was performed at databases of PubMed, Wanfang, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and VIP with the key words "multisystemic smooth muscle dysfunction syndrome" "ACTA2" . The literature retrieval was confined from January 1980 to November 2016.The characteristics of MSMDS were summarized through review of literature. Result: A girl aged 1.6 years had recurrent cough and wheeze for more than 1 year, complicated with congenital fixed dilated pupils, patent ductus arteriosus, pulmonary hypertension, chronic lung disease, and cerebrovascular abnormalities. We had done gene analysis for the patient and found ACTA2 c. 536C>T(p.R179H) heterozygous mutations, but her parents were normal. Totally 11 reports were retrieved from foreign language literature and no report from Chinese literature could be found; the retrieved articles reported a total of 25 cases of multiple system smooth muscle dysfunction syndrome. The minimum age was 11 months, 17 cases were female, 8 were male. The clinical common characteristic is congenital fixed dilated pupils, patent ductus arteriosus, cerebrovascular disease, pulmonary hypertension, chronic lung disease, and so on. Conclusion Genetic testing for ACTA2 gene mutations should be considered in infants presenting with congenital fixed dilated pupils and patent ductus arteriosus.

Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation(CCAM) is a rare cystic lung disease with an incidence rate ranging from 1/35 000 to 1/25 000 births.The mechanism is still unclear and is regarded a nonhereditary anomaly caused by arrest of lung.In some countries, over 99% of CCAMs were diagnosed by fetal sonography at gestational age of 18~20 weeks.Chest X-ray and CT are common methods to detect the CCAMs after birth.Newborns with CCAM may present with respiratory distress, but most patients are asymptomatic in life.Although many methods for diagnosis and treatment were suggested, no unified guideline is provided yet.Herein, we reviewed the advances in the mechanism, diagnosis and treatment of CCAM to highlight this rare event.