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 explore the relationship between serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations and the risk of Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP).Methods A case control study was designed.Serum 25 (OH)D concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay in 214 participants,including 53 H SP patients and 161 status-matched healthy controls.Information concerning demographic data,genetic,background,and environmental exposures was collected using questionnaire.The study participants were divided into four groups according to quartile range of 25(OH)D concentration and logistic regression modeling was used to evaluate the relation with HSP risk by estimating odds ratios(OR)and 95％confidence intervals(CI).Results The HSP group had a significantly lower concentration of 25(OH)D than the control group (the median in the HSP group was 11.4 ng/mL;controls:15.36 ng/mL,P＜0.05).When the first interval was set as the reference level,the OR (95 ％ CI) of the second,third,and fourth intervals were:0.468(0.341-0.771),0.442(0.302-0.627),0.339 (0.199-0.501).After adjusting the analysis for the presence of pathogenic related confounding fact OR,the OR(95％CI)of the second,third,and fourth intervals were:0.459(0.333-0.741),0.408(0.317-0.611),0.387 (0.221-0.517).The 25 (OH) D level was inversely correlated with the risk of HSP(P＜ 0.05).Conclusion The risk of HSP was decreased with the increase of serum 25 (OH) D concentration,25 (OH) D may be a protection factor in the pathogenesis of HSP.

Objective To investigate the expression and significance of death receptor 4(DR4) and DR5 in human craniopharyngioma.Methods The expression of DR4 and DR5 was determined by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization in 28 samples of craniopharyngioma and 25 samples of normal brain tissue.Results With low expression in partial normal brain tissue,DR was expressed highly in all of the craniopharyngioma samples.High DR expression in craniopharyngioma tissue differed from low DR expression in normal brain tissue(P0.05).Conclusions High DR expression is prevalent in craniopharyngioma tissue.This may contribute to the apoptosis-induced therapy of craniopharyngioma.The control of DR expression lays in protein level.This may contribute to the selective induced-apoptosis of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-induced ligand.

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

Objective To probe into the impact on sperm motility in male rat induced by fluorine poisoning, and provide experimental basis to further research for reproductive toxicity of fluoride. Methods According to bodyweight, 32 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group, the low-dose, medium-dose and high-dose group( 100,200,300 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1) NaF), and were treated by intragastric administration for 90 days, and the weight of the rats was observed each day. After the last intragastric administration, all rats were killed. The relative weight of liver, kidney and testis was calculated. Rat epididymides were plucked off and spermatozoa released from it. Sperm motility parameters were measured by WLJY-9000 color-detection system of sperm quality. Results Compared with high-dose group[(206.00 ± 18.16)g], the weight of low-dose and medium-dose group [ (235.00 ± 14.56), (235.44 ± 24.99)g] in 30 days were statistically significant increased(all P < 0.05) ; there were no significant differences between the groups in 60 days and in 90 days(F = 0.578,1.893, all P > 0.05). Comparison of organ coefficient of liver, kidney and testis among three groups showed no significant difference(F = 2.148,0.907, 1.801, all P > 0.05). The average path velocity(VAP) of the high-dose group[ (25.04 ± 4.59)μm/s] showed significant increase compared with control group[ (20.22 ± 3.29)μm/s] ; the straight line velocity(VSL) of the low- dose, medium-dose and high-dose group[ (18.82± 3.19), (17.84 ± 4.54), (16.46 ± 2.63)μm/s] showed significant increase compared with control group[ ( 12.48 ± 1.73 ) μm/s ] ; linearity (LIN) of the low-dese, medium-dose and high.dose group[(23.84±1.58)%,(24.99±3.37)%,(26.75±5.07)%]showed significant decrease compared with control group[(33.29±4.00)%];wobble(WOB)of the medium-dose and high-dose group[(47.03±3.98)%,(4921±723)%]showed significant increase compared with control group[(38.09±0.48)%];mean angular deviation (MAD)of the low-dose group[(68.29±5.71)radian/s]showed significant decrease compared with control group [(81.57±8.44)radian/s];beat cross frequency(BCF)ofthe high-dose group[(117±0.61)/s]showed significant increase compared with control group[(9.49±0.34)/s];sperm density(p)of the low-dose and medium-dose group [(1.26±0.24)×10~9/L,(1.84±0.50)×10~9/L]showed significant decrease compared with control group [(3.94±1.10)×10~9/L,all P<0.05].Comparison of the eurvilinearvelocity(VCL),straightness(STR),amplitude of lateral head displacement(ALH)among three groups showed no significant difference(F=0.264,2.209,1.667, all P>0.05).Conclusion Fluorine poisoning could change sperm motility parameters of the rat,reduce the sperm density and cau8e damage to the reproductive system.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect and safety of L-carnitine in the treatment of idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia based on current clinical evidence.

METHODSWe searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CNKI, VIP, CBM and Wanfang Database from the establishment to April 2014 for the published literature on the treatment of idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia with L-carnitine. We conducted literature screening, data extraction, and assessment of the methodological quality of the included trials according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, followed by statistical analysis with the RevMan 5. 2 software.

RESULTSSeven randomized controlled trials involving 751 patients with idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia met the inclusion criteria, and 678 of them were included in the meta-analysis. L-carnitine treatment achieved a significantly increased rate of spontaneous pregnancy as compared with the control group (RR = 3.2, 95% CI 1.74 to 5.87, P = 0.0002). After 12-16 and 24-26 weeks of medication, total sperm motility (WMD = 5.21, 95% CI 2.78 to 7.64, P < 0.0001 and WMD = 9.29, 95% CI 1.28 to 17.29, P = 0.02) and the percentage of progressively motile sperm (WMD = 12.44, 95% CI 4.58 to 20.31, P = 0.002 and WMD = 9.76, 95% CI 3.56 to 15.97, P = 0.002) were remarkably higher than those in the control group, but no statistically significant differences were observed in sperm concentration between the two groups (WMD = 4.91, 95% CI -2.63 to 12.45, P = 0.2 and WMD = 0.93, 95% CI -3.48 to 5.34, P = 0.68). After 12-16 weeks of treatment, the percentage of morphologically abnormal sperm was markedly decreased in the L-carnitine group as compared with the control (WMD = -2.48, 95% CI -4.35 to -0.61, P = 0.009), but showed no significant difference from the latter group after 24-26 weeks (WMD = -4.38, 95% CI -9.66 to 0.89, P = 0.1). No statistically significant difference was found in the semen volume between the two groups after 12-16 or 24-26 weeks of medication (WMD = -0.13, 95% CI -0.43 to 0.18, P = 0.42 and WMD = 0.28, 95% CI -0.02 to 0.58, P = 0.07). No serious L-carnitine-related adverse events were reported in 4 of the randomniized controlled trials.

CONCLUSIONThe current evidence indicates that L-carnitine can improve spontaneous pregnancy and semen parameters in the treatment of idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia, with no serious adverse reactions.

Asthenozoospermia ; drug therapy ; Carnitine ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility

Aristolochic Acids ; adverse effects ; Child ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Nephrosis ; chemically induced

Animals ; Codonopsis ; chemistry ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fatigue ; drug therapy ; Female ; Hypoxia ; drug therapy ; Male ; Mice ; Selenium ; pharmacology

Objective To investigate the effects of enteral nutrition with galactooligosaccharides (GOS) on serum inflammatory cytokines in rats with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Methods SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation control group, SAP with enteral nutrition (EN) group and SAP with EN supplemented with GOS (GOS-EN) group, and each group was divided into 4 d and 7 d subgroups according to the time that animals were sacrificed (n=8 in each subgroup). Rat SAP models were established by injection of 38 g/L sodium taurocholate beneath the pancreatic capsule. The serum amylase, inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-2 and IL-10 were detected. Results At each time point, the levels of serum amylase in all SAP groups were significantly higher than those in sham operation control group (P < 0.01), and the levels in GOS-EN group were significantly lower than those in EN group (P < 0.01). The levels of serum TNF-α and IL-10 in all SAP groups were significantly higher than those in sham operation control group (P < 0.01), while the levels of IL-2 in all SAP groups were significantly lower than those in sham operation control group. The levels of TNF-α in GOS-EN group were significantly lower than those in EN group (P <0.05), while the levels of IL-2 and IL-10 and the ratio of IL-10/TNF-α were significantly higher than those in GOS-EN group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Early EN supplemented with GOS could modulate the balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory response.

Objective To investigate the expression and significance of tumor necorisis factor related apoptosis induled ligand receptor(TRAILR) in human craniopharyngioma.Methods The expression of TRAILR was determined by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization in 24 samples of craniopharyngioma and 16 samples of normal brain tissue.Results With low decoy receptor(DcR) expression in partial craniopharyngioma cells and low death receptor(DR) expression in partial normal brain cells,DR was expressed highly in all craniopharyngioma samples while DcR in most normal brain tissue. High DR expression and low DcR expression in craniopharyngioma tissue differed from low DR expression and high DcR expression in normal brain tissue(P