Objective To study the expression and clinical significance of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1(sVCAM-1)in children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura(HSP).Methods The levels of plasma VEGF and sVCAM-1 were measured in 58 children with HSP and 23 normal children by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),respectively.Results The plasma levels of VEGF and sVCAM-1 of HSP children at acute stage were significantely higher than those of HSP children at the remission stage and those of the controls(Pa

Objective To study the variation of serum IL-18 and TNF-? in infants with cytomegalovirus (CMV) hepatitis before and after treatment. Methods The levels of serum IL-18 and TNF-? in 36 infants with CMV-hepatitis before and after treatment and in 21 normal infants were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results Serum levels of IL-18 and TNF-? in infants with CMV-heptitis were obviously higher than those in normal infants (P

Objective To investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor/vcascular endothelial growth factor receptor(VEGF/VEGFR) in bone marrow of children with acute leukemia(AL),and explore their relationship of the clinical features,and observe changes before and after chemotheropy.Methods The bone marrows of 53 children with AL were assayed to study the expression of VEGF/VEGFR(KDR,Flt-1)before and after chemtheropy with S-P immhistochemical staining.Their relations to the clinical features were evaluated.Results The expressions of VEGF,Flt-1,KDR were significantly higher in newly diagnosed children with AL than those of control group.They were significantly higher in children with acute myeloid leukemia(AML) than in children with ALL.The expressions of VEGF,Flt-1,KDR in remission chidren after chemotheropy were significantly lower than before chemotheropy.There was a positive correlation of the percentage of bone marrow blasts with VEGF expression in children with AL.There was also a positive correlation of the percentage of leukemic cell in blood rountine with VEGF expression.For the untreated group of children,no correlation was found between expressions of VEGF,Flt-1,KDR and age,sex,extramedullary infiltration.Conclusions Expression levels of VEGF,Flt-1,KDR in bone marrow of children with AL increases.VEGF/VEGFR may play an important role in process of chidhood AL.

Cerebral Palsy ; classification ; complications ; epidemiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Developmental Disabilities ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Language Disorders ; complications ; Male ; Seizures ; complications ; Sex Factors ; Vision Disorders ; complications

ObjectiveTo explore the detection significance of insulin-like growth factor-I(IGF-I),IGF-binding protein-3(IGFBP-3) in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL).MethodsSerum samples were obtained from 30 ALL children without any medication;serum control samples were obtained from 30 cases of healthy children.There were no significant differences of body weight,age and sex between 2 groups.All children had no case history of liver,kidney,malnutrition and endocrine system disease.IGF-Ⅰ was determined by radioimmunoassay kit.IGFBP-3 was determined by immunoradiometric kit.The data were analyzed with SPSS 11.0 software.ResultsThe level of IGF-Ⅰ in ALL group [(18.95?4.02)?106 g/L] was significantly lower than that in control group [(34.12?7.86)?106 g/L](t =9.412P

Chinese traditional patent medicine for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis(PBCRBS) originated from traditional Chinese medicine theory and had approved efficacy and safety standards. However, its compatibility regularity and anti-thrombotic mechanism is not clear. To analyze the compatibility regularity and anti-thrombotic mechanism of Chinese traditional patent medicine for PBCRBS, a statistical and bioinformatics analysis was carried out using traditional Chinese medicine inheritance support system (TICMISS, V2.0) and ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA). The compatibility regularity analysis shows that the most commonly used herb combinations are Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge.), Chuanxiong (Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort.) and Honghua (Carthamustinctorius L.). The anti-thrombotic mechanism analysis reveals that 25 ingredients have an effect on 29 thrombosis related molecules which 23 molecules are related to inflammation response. Furthermore, there are 5 inflammation molecules (NOS2, PTGS2, IL6, TNF, IL1β) served as major targets. At the same time, Danshen, Chuangxiong and Honghua mainly used as sovereign herb or minister herb in the application of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Therefore, Chinese traditional patent medicine for PBCRBS probably has an effect on anti-thrombotic activity through inhibiting the inflammatory response. In summary, the most commonly used herb combinations of Chinese traditional patent medicine for PBCRBS are Danshen, Chuanxiong and Honghua. Inhibiting inflammatory response, especially inflammation related molecules (NOS2, PTGS2, IL6, TNF and IL1β), is probably a new starting point to clarify the anti-thrombotic mechanism of Chinese patent medicine for PBCRBS.
Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Carthamus tinctorius ; Computational Biology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fibrinolytic Agents ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Inflammation ; drug therapy ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

OBJECTIVETo study the anti-tumor effects of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and mechanisms of its action.

METHODSHuman esophageal carcinoma cell line EC9706 cells were treated with ATRA at different concentration. The proliferation inhibition was examined by MTT assay. Morphological examination, TUNEL method and flow cytometry were used to detect the apoptosis and changes of cell cycle. Immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of apoptosis-related genes caspase-3 and bcl-2. The semi-quantification of protein expression was analyzed by pathological image analysis.

RESULTSATRA inhibited the proliferation of EC9706 cells moderately. Apoptosis in EC9706 cells was induced by ATRA treatment. The morphology of EC9706 cells showed changes such as nuclear chromatin condensation and fragmentation. Sub-G1 peak was found by flow cytometry. The maximal apoptosis rate was 32.6%. The expression of caspase-3 gene was enhanced. The expression of bcl-2 gene was decreased. All these effects were presented in a dose-dependent and time-depend manner.

CONCLUSIONApoptosis is one of the key mechanisms of ATRA action on EC9706 cells.

Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Tretinoin ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology

Central Nervous System Infections ; cerebrospinal fluid ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Infant ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; cerebrospinal fluid ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor II ; cerebrospinal fluid ; Male

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between perinatal risk factors such as premature, low birth weight, small for gestational age and childhood cerebral palsy (CP).

METHODSA cross sectional survey was carried out among 305,263 children aged 1 - 6 years old in seven cities of Jiangsu Province, China from May to July 1997. The perinatal risk factors were analysed.

RESULTSFour hundred and eighty-four cases of CP were found among this population. The prevalence of CP for children aged 1 - 6 years old was 1.59 per thousand. The prevalence of CP were strongly correlated to prematurity (RR = 25.16), low birth weight (RR = 19.63), and also highly correlated to small for gestational age (RR = 4.34). For smaller groups divided by small for gestational age (SGA), appropriate for gestational age (AGA), large for gestational age (LGA) and then by gestational age, prematurity was found to be at high risk in SGA (RR = 9.29), AGA (RR = 28.34) and LGA (RR = 21.41) groups. For groups divided by gestational age and then by SGA, AGA and LGA, SGA was found to have significantly high risk in premature (RR = 1.45), mature (RR = 4.41) and postmature (RR = 3.19) groups. Nine groups were divided by the gestational age along with SGA, AGA and LGA, rates of CP were found to be significantly higher in most groups than in the term AGA group. Compared with the rate of CP in the term AGA group, the RR were calculated and showed as followings (from higher to lower), premature SGA (RR = 40.99), premature AGA (RR = 28.34), premature LGA (RR = 21.08), postmature SGA (RR = 8.39), mature SGA (RR = 4.41) and postmature AGA (RR = 2.63).

CONCLUSIONPrematurity and small for gestational age are both independent risk factors for cerebral palsy. Postmaturity and large for gestational age are not risk factors.

Cerebral Palsy ; epidemiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Male ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo study serum levels and clinical significance of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) in children with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL).

METHODSSerum samples were obtained from 36 children with ALL before treatment and 6 months after complete remission. Thirty children with surgical diseases severed as the control group. Serum IGF-1 levels were measured using radioimmunoassay (RIA). Serum IGFBP-3 levels were measured using immunoradioassays (IRMA).

RESULTSSerum levels of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 in the ALL group were 19±4 ng/mL and 1216±132 ng/mL, respectively before treatment, which were lower than those in the control group (32±3 ng/mL and 2104±191 ng/mL respectively) (P<0.01). Serum levels of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 in the ALL group increased to 30±3 ng/mL and 1941±164 ng/mL respectively 6 months after complete remission, which were significantly higher than those before treatment (P<0.01) and were similar to the levels of the control group.

CONCLUSIONSSerum levels of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 are reduced in children with ALL, but increase significantly after complete remission, suggesting that IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 might serve as useful markers for the diagnosis and evaluation of therapeutic effects of childhood ALL.

Adolescent ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins ; blood ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; analysis ; Male ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; blood ; diagnosis