Objective To determine the normal ranges of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP) in normal children and children with symptoms of heart failure(HF),and to study their clinical implications.Methods Concentrations of serum NT-proBNP were determined in 80 normal children and 70 children with clinical symptoms of HF.Venous blood was taken in each subject,and plasma NT-proBNP was determined by ELISA method.Eighty normal children included 40 boys and 40 girls.Their ages ranged from 1 to 16 years old.Seventy children with HF were divided into two groups.The first group(n=45,21 males,24 females) included children with symptoms of HF caused by dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM).Their ages ranged from 1 to 16 years,and they had a left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) of less than 50%.The second group(n=25,11 male,14 female) consisted of children with symptoms of HF due to ventricular septal defect(VSD).Their ages ranged from 1 to 16 years,and they had an LVEF of 51%-78%.The serum NT-pro BNP levels were determined by ELISA method and LVEF was measured by echocardiography and clinical symptom score of heart failure was defined by using Ross Score.Results Serum concentration of NT-proBNP was 223.05 fmol/mL in normal children from 1 to 16 years old.NT-proBNP levels did not show a significant age-related or sex-related differences.In children with HF,the plasma NT-proBNP levels were significantly elevated(mean:1353.3 fmol/mL) compared to normal children(t=8.964 P

Objective:To improve the teaching quality of in-service clinical pharmacist training. Methods:According to the traits of in-service pharmacists and teaching methods, combined with problem-based learning ( PBL), peer-led team learning(PLTL) and lecture-based learning ( LBL) , a standard teaching mode for in-service clinical pharmacists was explored and established. Results:The teaching mode could not only improve the study enthusiasm of students, but also let them master the study methods, and team co-operation consciousness was strengthened. Conclusion:An integrated teaching mode of LBL, PBL and PLTL has a good teaching effect on clinical pharmacist training.

AIM: To develop a method to determine the content of emodin and chrysophanol in Fuyanling Effervescent Tablets(Radix et Rhizoma Rhei, Flos Lonicerae, Radix Sophorae Tonkinensis, etc.). METHODS: HPLC was used to determine the content of emodin and chrysophanol in Fuyanling Effervescent Tablets. The separation was performed on YWG ODS column with methanol (0.1%) phosphoric acid(85∶15) mixture as a mobile phase and the wavelength of UV detector was at 254nm. RESULTS: The resolution and the linearity of this method was good. in the range of emodin was 50.2～401.6ng( r =0.9999); chrysophanol was 49.9～ 399.2 ng( r =0.9994); and with the average recovery of emodin: 99.4%( RSD =2.2%); chrysophanol:100%( RSD =1.1%). CONCLUSION: The method is simple, rapid and satisfactory and suitable for quality control of Fuyanling Effervescent Tablets.

Objective To investigate the effects of glycyrrhizin on gene expression of transforming growth factor(TGF)-?signaling pathway of hepatic stellate cell(HSC)in mice by gene microarray tech- nique.Methods The HSCs were isolated from mice and cultured in vitro.Then the mice were divided into control group,TGF-?_1 group(5 ng/ml) or TGF-?_1(5 ng/ml)combined with glycyrrhizin(100?mol/L) group.The cells were collected after 10 hours to extract RNA.A cDNA microarray(GEArray~(TM) Q) targeting TGF-?/BMP signal transduction was used to screen the genes which showed significant changes in expression of TGF-?pathway of HSC by glycyrrhizin.Results The microarray analysis showed that 16 genes(16.7%),such as Smad2,Smad3,Smad7,CoL3A1,CoL1A2,and PAI-1,were upregulated by TGF-?_1 and then down-regulated by glycyrrhizin.Five genes(5.2%)(including BMP7,IGFbp3 and etc.)downregulated by TGF-?_1,were then up-regulated by glycyrrhizin.Finally,2 genes upregulated by TGF-?_1 were then up-regulated predominantly by glycyrrhizin in HSC(T?R2,betaglycan).Changes in some genes,such as Smad2 Smad3,Smad7,were further confirmed to be coincided with cDNA microarray by semi-quantitative RT-PCR.Conclusions The anti-fibrosis mechanisms of glycyrrhizin may be through to interference of TGF-?signaling pathway,decrease the synthesis and increase the degradation of collagen.

0.05);2)After 12,24,36 months' treatment,BP was decreased significantly in each group (P0.05).Conclusion Both combined spirono- lactone/HCTZ and captopril/HCTZ significantly reduced BP and LVMI or LVMI and the maguitude of reduction was further enhanced after prolonged treatment.

BACKGROUNDCoronary artery lesions (CALs) are known to be the main complication in children with Kawasaki disease (KD). Instead of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), corticosteroid therapy has been accepted to be used for children with KD who are unresponsive to IVIG. This study aimed to evaluate risk factors for CALs in children with KD.

METHODSWe retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 2331 children with KD from January 2005 to December 2014. To identify the independent risk factors for CALs, multivariable logistic regression models were constructed using significant variables identified from univariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTSThe incidence of CALs was 36.0% (840 of 2331), including 625 (26.8%) coronary artery dilations and 215 (9.2%) coronary artery aneurysms (CAAs). Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified that male, incomplete KD, longer fever duration, and C-reactive protein (CRP) >100 mg/L were independent risk factors for coronary artery dilatations. On the other hand, male, incomplete KD, longer fever duration, prolonged days of illness at the initial treatment, corticosteroid therapy, sodium ≤133 mmol/L, and albumin <35 g/L were the independent risk factors for CAAs. In addition, corticosteroid therapy, prolonged days of illness at the initial treatment, and albumin <35 g/L were the independent risk factors for giant CAAs.

CONCLUSIONSCALs might be associated with male sex, incomplete KD, longer fever duration, prolonged days of illness at the initial treatment, albumin <35 g/L, sodium ≤133 mmol/L, CRP >100 mg/L, and corticosteroid therapy. Corticosteroid therapy was an independent risk factor for CAAs and giant CAAs. Thus, corticosteroids should be used with caution in the treatment of KD with the risk for CALs.

Adolescent ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; adverse effects ; Child, Preschool ; Coronary Aneurysm ; chemically induced ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; drug therapy ; Retrospective Studies

Cardiac Surgical Procedures ; instrumentation ; methods ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; surgery ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the effect of microsurgical inguinal varicocelectomy with delivery of testis.

METHODSWe use microsurgical inguinal varicocelectomy with delivery of testis to treat 48 patients with varicocele.

RESULTSAfter six months the 30 patients' sperm concentration and motility were significantly improved. 6 infertile patient's wives were pregnant. All patients did not have the complications such as recurrence, testis trophy and hydrocele.

CONCLUSIONSThis method has advantages such as less recurrence, less complication and more effective.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Humans ; Male ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Testis ; blood supply ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male ; methods ; Varicocele ; surgery

Aged ; Cell Dedifferentiation ; Chondrosarcoma ; pathology ; Humans ; Ribs ; pathology

Currently, the herbal prescription therapy for corresponding constitutional diseases is a common constitution regulating method. This method has an obvious effect in treating and regulating constitution-related diseases. However, for people who do not have disease, they prefer to regulate constitution with dietary therapy. In this paper, the researchers came up with a design method of constitution regulating and healthcare foods based on medicinal property combination mode of clinical empirical formulas. With "Yupinfeng San", a common formula for Qi-insufficiency constitution and specific endowment constitution, as the example for constitution regulating and healthcare foods, the researchers proved the effectiveness and rationality of healthcare food schemes in terms of the efficacy of single herb and the modern pharmacological study.
Diet ; Diet Therapy ; Humans ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Prescriptions