ObjectivePolyamidoamine(PAMAM) dendrimers enhance the solubility of nicotinic acid. MethodsPAMAM dendrimers of generation 1 to 6 were prepared and the effect of pH and concentration of the dendrimers on the solubility enhancement of nicotinic acid was investigated. ResultsThe pH and concentration of the dendrimers influence the solubility enhancement of nicotinic acid. Conclusions Electrostatic interaction between the carboxyl group of the nicotinic acid and the amine groups of the dendrimers is involved.

A female infant was admitted to the hospital due to perioral cyanosis two hours after birth. The infant was born at the gestational age of 35 weeks by cesarean section with a birth weight of 2 400 g. Physical examination revealed wry mouth to the left side while crying, small auricles, and high palatal arch; fibrolaryngoscopy suggested bilateral vocal cord paralysis; echocardiography suggested ventricular septal defect; single nucleotide polymorphism testing showed 22q11.21 microdeletion. Therefore, the infant was given a definite diagnosis of asymmetric crying facies syndrome accompanied by 22q11.21 microdeletion. After 8-month follow-up, the infant still had asymmetric crying facies with presence of growth retardation.
Cesarean Section ; Crying ; Facial Paralysis ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Humans ; Infant ; Pregnancy ; Vocal Cord Paralysis

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between the degree of white matter damage and changes in brain function in premature infants early after birth according to amplitude-integrated electroencephalogram (aEEG) and raw EEG (with burst-suppression patterns).

METHODSThirty-eight premature infants of less than 32 weeks' gestational age and with white matter damage, including 20 cases of mild white matter damage and 18 cases of severe white matter damage, were included in the study. Forty-two premature infants without white matter damage were selected as a control group. After birth, they were examined using aEEG and brain ultrasound once a week until four weeks after birth or a corrected gestational age of 32 weeks. The white matter damage and control groups were compared in terms of aEEG patterns and amplitudes and burst suppression ratio (BSR) on EEG.

RESULTSThe white matter damage and control groups had highly discontinuous patterns and had no complete sleep cycles. The lower amplitude was significantly smaller in the severe white matter damage subgroup than in the mild white matter damage subgroup and control group. There was alternating burst-suppression activity on the raw EEG in the white matter damage and control groups; and the severe white matter damage subgroup had a significantly longer suppression time and a significantly higher BSR on EEG compared with the mild white matter damage subgroup and control group.

CONCLUSIONSBrain function monitoring should be performed in premature infants with white matter damage early after birth so as to detect cases of severe white matter damage in time.

Brain ; pathology ; Electroencephalography ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; physiology ; Leukomalacia, Periventricular ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism and left ventricular mass (LVM) in newborns admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

METHODSSeventy-two newborns admitted to the NICU were enrolled. ACE genotypes were determined by genomic DNA which was isolated from heel-prick blood. Disease status of the newborns was evaluated by the Neonatal Critical Score (draft) on postnatal day 1. LVM and LVM index (LVMI) were evaluated by echocardiography on postnatal days 1-3.

RESULTSDD genotype was identified in 11 cases, ID genotype in 31 cases, and II genotype in 30 cases. There were no significant differences in clinical characteristics, critical score and body measurements in newborns with different genotypes. The DD genotype group showed significantly lower LVMI than the group with ID+II genotypes (29±4 g/m2 vs 35±8 g/m2; P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSACE gene polymorphism is associated with the LVMI in newborns admitted to the NICU. The LVMI of DD genotype carriers is significantly lower than that of ID+II genotypes carriers, which suggests that D allele may be associated with the growth and development of left ventricular.

Echocardiography ; Female ; Gene Deletion ; Genotype ; Heart Ventricles ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; Male ; Mutagenesis, Insertional ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic

OBJECTIVEDoubly labeled water (DLW) method is the gold standard for measuring total energy expenditure (TEE). We used this method to measure TEE in Chinese young men.

METHODSSixteen healthy young men age 23±1 years with body mass index 22.0±1.4 kg/m2 were recruited. TEE was measured by the DLW method, and basal energy expenditure (BEE) was determined by indirect calorimetry. We also conducted 24-h activity, energy balance and factorial approach to estimate energy requirements of the subjects.

RESULTSTEE of subjects by DLW method was 9.45±0.57 MJ/day (2258±180 kcal/day). The 24-h activity was 10.80±0.33 MJ/day (2582±136 kcal/day). The energy requirement, derived from energy balance observations, was 9.93±1.32 MJ/day (2373±315 kcal/day). The BEE of 6.65±0.28 MJ/day (1589±67 kcal/day), calculated by the adjusted Schofield equation, was significantly higher (P<0.001) than that measured by indirect calorimetry, 5.99±0.66 MJ/day (1433±158 kcal/day). The TEE derived from the factorial approach was 10.31±0.43 MJ/day (2463±104 kcal/day).

CONCLUSIONThe TEE of Chinese young men measured by the DLW method was about 10% lower than the current recommended nutrient intake (RNI), suggesting that the RNI for Chinese men maybe overestimated. Further studies are warranted to determine the value of the estimated energy requirement.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Energy Metabolism ; physiology ; Humans ; Isotope Labeling ; Male ; Motor Activity ; physiology ; Water ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo measure the energy expenditure of reading and watching TV for young women.

METHODSAll 30 girls in the college were selected according to questionnaire, medical examination, blood test, liver function and thyroid gland level. Energy expenditure of reading and watching TV was measured respectively by the Cosmid K4b2 portable gas analysis system from Italy. Basic metabolic rate (BMR) and resting metabolic rate (RMR) were measured as to analyzing results conveniently.

RESULTSThe energy expenditure in reading was (226.35 +/- 56.07) kJ/h and the heart rate was (69 +/- 5) bmp. For watching TV it was (220.79 +/- 65.69) kJ/h and the heart rate was (68 +/- 5) bmp. BMR was (178.53 +/- 53.51) kJ/h and the heart rate was (62 +/- 6) bmp. RMR was (214.76 +/- 44.56) kJ/h and the heart rate was (65 +/- 6) bpm.

CONCLUSIONSThe energy expenditure in reading should be higher than that of watching TV, however, the difference was not obvious. The expenditure rates might get closer to those of RMR. It might be regarded as an expenditure of very light physical active in Chinese.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Basal Metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Reading ; Rest ; physiology ; Television

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the physical development, incidence of common respiratory diseases, and motor development during infancy in preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical features and infantile outcomes of preterm infants with BPD who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit between January 2012 and December 2015. Preterm infants without BPD were used as controls who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit during the same period and had similar gestational age and birth weight. Physical development, number of hospital stays, the incidences of pneumonia and wheezing, and motor development during infancy were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, BPD infants had a significantly higher incidence of extrauterine growth retardation at discharge (48% vs 41%; P<0.05); BPD infants were more susceptible to pneumonia, wheezing, eczema and rhinitis; BDP infants also had a significantly higher number of readmissions due to respiratory tract infection (P<0.05). BPD infants had a significantly smaller head circumference than the control group at corrected ages of 3, 6, and 12 months (P<0.05). BPD infants had significantly delayed gross, fine, and overall motor development than the control group at corrected ages of 6 and 9 months (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Infants with BPD are susceptible to extrauterine growth retardation at discharge. Their head circumference growth is relatively slow. They are susceptible to pneumonia and wheezing during infancy. Moreover, they have delayed motor development when compared with those without BPD at corrected ages of 6 and 9 months.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; Child ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To investigate the epidemiological characteristics and clinical prognosis of Kawasaki disease(KD) in Jilin pro-vince for recent 10 years.Methods The survey forms unified of standard KD epidemiology were used and sent to the province′s 32 hospitals above the county and city level with pediatric in-patients,in order to conduct a survey on the KD children during 10 years period from Jan.1,1999 to Dec.31,2008.SPSS 15.0 software was used to analyze the data.Results There were 93.75% of the survey forms came back.Five hundred and seventy-seven KD cases were reported from the 32 hospitals of 8 districts.The incidence of KD was of an increasing trend.It was 18 cases in 1999,while it was up to 122 cases in 2008.Male patients were 382 cases(66.2%),female patients were 195 cases(33.8%).The ratio of male and female was 1.96 to 1.The age of patients varied from 58 days to 14 years,those under 5 years of age accounted of 88.73%.Fourteen(2.4%) cases were found to have the sequelae of coronary artery disease.The ratio of male and female was 3.671.The younger the age,the higher the incidence of cardiac sequelae.The mainest cardiac sequelae was coronary artery ectasia.The time of visiting was(7.58?4.63) days after the onset.The KD children from 4 minority peoples including 50 cases accounted for 8.7%.The disease occurred all over the year,and had obvious season peak.Coronary artery lesions accounted for 63.26%.There was no death during acute pe-riod.The recurrence rate was 0.5%.Conclusions The incidence of KD in Jilin is in an increasing trend.The age and gender distribution are not exactly the same to pre-vious reports.There are two seasonal peaks including summer and winter,which is different to previous reports of domestic,United State,Japan.

OBJECTIVETo accurately calculate the protein requirements in Chinese young adults using the indicator amino acid oxidation technique.

METHODSNine women and ten men received a restricted daily level of protein intake (0.75, 0.82, 0.89, 0.97, and 1.05 g/kg), along with L-[1-13C]-leucine. Subjects' protein requirement was determined by a biphasic linear regression crossover analysis of F13CO2 data. In doing so, a breakpoint at the minimal rate of appearance of 13CO2 expiration specific to each level of dietary protein was identified. This trial was registered with the Chinese clinical trial registry as ChiCTR-ONC-11001407.

RESULTSThe Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) and the Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) of protein for healthy Chinese young adults were determined to be 0.87 and 0.98 g/(kg•d), respectively, based on the indicator amino acid oxidation technique.

CONCLUSIONThe EAR and RNI of mixed protein are 5% and 16% that are lower than the current proposed EAR and RNI (0.92 and 1.16 g/(kg•d), respectively), as determined by the nitrogen balance method. The respective EAR and RNI recommendations of 0.87 and 0.98 g/(kg•d) of mixed protein are estimated to be reasonable and suitable for Chinese young adults.

Adult ; Amino Acids ; metabolism ; Body Composition ; Body Weight ; Breath Tests ; Carbon Dioxide ; analysis ; Dietary Proteins ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Nutritional Requirements ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It has been known that various vasoactive agents are involved in the regulation of cardiac function through the modification of the K+ channel activities, including the ATP-sensitive K+ channel (KATP). We examined the effects of several vasoactive agents on the cardiac KATP currents in isolated cardiac myocytes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ventricular myocytes were isolated from the hearts of ICR mice by enzymatic digestion. The channel currents were recorded by the excised inside-out and cell-attached patch clamp configurations. RESULTS: In the excised inside-out patches, bradykinin (BRK; 1-10 micrometer) and prostaglandin I2 (PGI; 10-50 micrometer) did not affect the channel activities, whereas the vasodilators increased the attenuated channel activities in the presence of 100 micrometer ATP. BRK and PGI in parallel shifted the dose-response curves of ATP (1-1,000 micrometer), and this inhibited the KATP currents to the right. Endothelin (ET-1; 0.1-1 nM) and leukotriene D4 (LTD; 3-10 micrometer) decreased the channel activities immediately after making the inside-out patches. However, the vasoconstrictors did not affect the attenuated channel activities by ATP. In the cell-attached patches, both BRK and PGI increased the channel activities and these effects were markedly attenuated by glibenclamide (50 micrometer). ET-1 and LTD did not affect the baseline channel activities in the cell-attached patches, but they markedly attenuated the dinitrophenol-induced activities. CONCLUSION: It was inferred that certain vasoactive substances are involved in the regulation of cardiac KATP channel activities, and that bradykinin and PGI2 enhance the channel activities, and ET-1 and LTD4 inhibit the channel activities.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Animals ; Bradykinin ; Digestion ; Endothelins ; Epoprostenol ; Glyburide ; Heart ; Leukotriene D4 ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Muscle Cells ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; Potassium Channels* ; Potassium* ; Vasoconstrictor Agents ; Vasodilator Agents