Objective To investigate the effect of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and methylprednisolone (MP) on Toll-like receptor (TLR)2/4 mRNA expression in endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide,LPS) induced shock.Methods Ninety Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into LPS group (n =20),LPS + VIP group (n =20),LPS + MP group (n =20),LPS + VIP + MP group (n =20) and control group (n =10).LPS group injected intravenously LPS (E Coli O55B5) 10 mg/kg.LPS + VIP group,LPS + MP group and LPS + VIP + MP group were injected intravenously VIP 5 nmol/kg,MP 3 mg/kg and VIP 5 nmoL/kg + MP 3 mg/kg after LPS 10 mg/kg injection.The control group injected normal saline intravenously instead of LPS.The rats were sacrificed at 6 h and 24 h after injection and the intestine samples were collected.Pathological changes of the intestine were observed by microscopy.RT-PCR was used to detect the intestinal TLR2 mRNA and TLR4 mRNA expressions.Results Intestinal mucosa showed edema or necrotic change with structure of the microvilli disappeared after LPS injection.The inestinal lesions in VIP,MP and VIP + MP groups were milder than LPS group.At 6 h after LPS injection,TLR2 mRNA and TLR4 mRNA expressions were significantly up-regulated in LPS group,LPS + VIP group,LPS + MP group and LPS + VIP + MP group (TLR2 mRNA:1.14 ±0.38,1.17 ±0.42,1.16 ±0.41,0.92 ± 0.29;TLR4 mRNA 1.21 ±0.18,1.04 ± 0.38,1.11 ± 0.34,1.01 ± 0.20) compared with the control group (0.32 ± 0.20,0.24 ± 0.17) (P ＜ 0.01).But there was no significant difference between LPS group,LPS + VIP group,LPS + MP group and LPS + VIP + MP group (P ＞ 0.05).At 24 h after LPS injection,TLR2 mRNA and TLR4 mRNA expressions in LPS + VIP group,LPS + MP group and LPS + VIP + MP group (TLR2 mRNA:0.63 ± 0.12,0.59 ± 0.13,0.52 ±0.19;TLR4 mRNA 0.67 ±0.09,0.64 ±0.09,0.51 ±0.13) were significantly lower than LPS group (1.04 ± 0.38,0.82 ±0.18) (P ＜0.01) (P ＜0.05).Conclusion VIP and/or MP can mitigate intestinal injury induced by LPS shock.The gastrointestinal protection of VIP and glucocorticoids were related to downregulation signaling TLR2 mRNA and TLR4 mRNA expression.But VIP/MP and VIP + MP have no significant effect on expression of intestinal TLR2/4 mRNA until 24 h after LPS shock.

Animals ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 ; metabolism ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 ; metabolism ; Carrier Proteins ; pharmacology ; Liver ; metabolism ; Liver Regeneration ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Objective To study critical hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) or macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) presented with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU),including clinical features and outcomes In order to explore the effect of bedside continuous hemodialysis/hemofiltration (CBP) as adjuvant treatment for severe HPS/MAS.Methods A total of 19 children with HPS/MAS were hospitalized met the diagnostic criteria for HPS from January,2009 to December,2012.Twelve cases were treated with CBP by continuous venin-venin hemodialysis/hemofiltration (CVVHDF) or high-volume hemofiltration (HVHF) following conventional anti-inflammatory therapy.The replacement liquid dose was 50-75 ml/ (kg · h).The organs function were evaluated and laboratory biomarkers including blood 、electrolytes,ferritin changes were measured before and after CBP treatment.Results Ninteen cases of HPS were acute onset and developed to MODS rapidiy after admission to PICU.The main clinical features were the irregular fever or high fever,hepatosplenomegaly and significant liver damage,nervous system dysfunction and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).Eight cases were death and mortality rate was 42.1％,and all death occurred in those aged less than 3 years old.The mortality rate were 25％ (3/12) and 71.4％ (5/7) in CBP group and non-CBP group respectively.After CBP for 6-24 hours,the fever returned to normal range and blood electrolytes improved.The serum ferritin,serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) reduced significantly.Serum creatinine (sCr),blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level improved.Four cases with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) improved and the ventilator parameters were downregulated.Conclusions Our findings indicate that HPS/MAS complicated with MODS is life threatening with high mortality rate.CBP therapy can lower the fever within a short time,correct electrolyte imbalance,stable circulatory function,improve the lung,liver,and brain function.It is suggested that CBP may be the potential effective therapy in severe HPS/MAS with MODS in children.

Objective To evaluate the validity of original plasma cortisol level and responses to lowdose ACTH stimulation test in assessing the severity of critical illness.Method Original level of cortisol and cortisol concentrations 30 min after administration of a low dose ( 1 μg/1.73m2 ) of cosyntropin were determined within 24 hours after admission to our PICU.Critical illness related cortisol insufficiency was defined by initial level of cortisol ＜ 10 μg/dL or an increment cortisol [ Δmax =Stimulated plasma cortisol level (T1) -initial cortisol level (T0)]≤ 9 μg/dL.Results Ninety-five consecutive patients were admitted to PICU from May 2010 to April 2011.The patients were assigned to severe sepsis group (35/95),major operation group (30/95),and other critical illness group (30/95).Overall mortality was 12.6％ (12/95).The initial and stimulated plasma cortisol levels in three groups were (37.17 ± 47.35 ) μg/dL,(31.52±52.78) μg/dL,(28.61 ±17.45) μg/dL,vs.(50.26±48.21) μg/dL,(58.56±73.21)μg/dL, (42.41 ± 13.56) μg/dL,respectively.There were no significantly differences between above groups ( P ＞ 0.05 ).The incidence of critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency (CIRCI) in this study was 55.8％.The incidences of CIRCI were 60％,53.3％,and 53.3％ in severe sepsis,other critical illness and major surgery illness,respectively ( P ＞ 0.05 ).The morbidity of CIRCI and normal response group were 7.5％ and 19％ (P ＞0.05).The levels of T0 and T1 were related to the PCIS (P ＜0.05). Conclusions CIRCI is often seen in children with critical illness. And a low-dose ACTH stimulation test can be used to evaluate the adrenal function in critical illness.However,there is no significant correlation between CIRCI and mortality of critically ill children in this study.

Objective To evaluate the application value of virtual touch tissue quantification (VTQ)for evaluating small focal liver lesions.Methods Seventy-seven patients with 89 small focal liver lesions,whose largest diameter were less than or equal to 3 cm were evaluated with VTQ.The shcar wave velocity (SWV) of the tumor and background liver parenchyma were calculated,and their results were compared with those of 40 healthy subjects.Statistical analysis was performed on the SWV for the differentiation of normal liver,background liver parenchyma and lesions.The cut-off point for SWV was obtained by using ROC curve analysis which was used to predict malignancy lesions.Results The SWV of malignant lesions was significantly higher than that of benign ones [(2.56-± 0.67) m/s vs (1.70 ± 0.55) m/s,P =0.000].The SWV of metastatic liver carcinoma which came from lung cancer and breast cancer were higher than that of gastrointestinal tract cancer transfers (P =0.000).Based on 1.93 m/s as the cut-off point of SWV value,the sensitivity,specificity,accuracy,positive predictive value and negative predictive value for diagnosing malignancies were 82.0 ％,84.6％,83.15 ％,87.23 ％ and 78.57 ％ respectively.Conclusions VTQ technique can help the differential diagnosis of small focal liver lesions.

Objective To investigate the changes of epithelial neutrophil activating peptide-78 (ENA-78) in the serum of patients with critical illness,and to analyze the relationship between the severity and prognosis.Methods Prospective case-control study was performed,and 42 cases of critically ill patients admitted to Pediatric Intensive Care Unit,Children's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University from Sep.to Nov.2013 were selected as critically ill group,blood specimens were collected within 24 hours and 7 days after their admission.Another 42 cases of blood samples were collected during physical examinations in this hospital as control group.The severity of critically ill patients were graded by Pediatric Critical Illness Score (PICS) and Pediatric Risk of Score Mortality (PRISM) Ⅲ,and the serum ENA-78 was measured by double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunoassay.Results 1.The level of ENA-78 in the control group was (0.44 ± 0.28) ng/L; ENA-78 in acute phase and recovery phase of critically ill group were (2.85 ± 0.89)ng/L and (1.00 ± 0.64)ng/L,respectively,there were statistical differences between control group and critically ill group,acute phase group and recovery phase group (all P =0.000).2.The negative correlation was observed between ENA-78 concentration and PCIS score(r =-0.724,P =0.000).ENA-78 in PRISM Ⅲ ≥ 10 group was significantly higher than that in PRISM Ⅲ＜ 10 group(P =0.000).The ENA-78 between death group and the survival group was significantly different(P =0.000).3.ENA-78 in patients with severe infection was higher than that in the non-infectious cases(P =0.000).4.With the organ dysfunction expanded ENA-78 rose accordingly,and the difference was statistically significant (P =0.000).Conclusions The level of ENA-78 is different in critically ill patients in children.It can provide reference of assessing the severity of disease and predicting prognosis by determing the ENA-78 level.

Objective To evaluate the value of urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) to early diagnose acute kidney injury(AKI) of critically ill children in PICU.Methods Eighty critically ill children at PICU of Children's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University were enrolled in this study from April to June 2013.They were continuously observed for 72 hours.According to pediatric RIFLE criteria for diagnosis of AKI,patients were divided into AKI group (15 cases) or non-AKI group (65 cases).Additionally,according to sepsis diagnostic criteria,patients were divided into sepsis group (31 cases) or non-sepsis group (49 cases).The levels of serum creatinine and uNGAL were measured within 6th hour,24th hour,48th hour,72th hour after admitted to PICU.The differences of uNGAL levels between AKI and non-AKI groups,sepsis without AKI and non-sepsis non-AKI groups,sepsis merged AKI and sepsis without AKI groups were analysed.The sensitivity and specificity of uNGAL and serum creatinine for diagnosis of AKI at 48th hour were evaluated by ROC curve.Results Thirteen cases of eighty children developed to AKI after admitted to PICU.(1)The uNGAL levels [M(QR),ng/ml] in AKI group within 6th hour,at 24th hour,48th hour,72th hour were 863.00 (696.00),700.50 (580.00),365.50 (285.00),289.50 (319.30),respectively,which were significantly higher than those in non-AKI group [20.00 (106.00),20.00 (85.30),20.00(101.00),20.00(36.00)] (P ＜0.01).(2)The uNGAL levels in new developed group were much higher than those in non-AKI group at each time point.The comparision of serum creatinine at 48th hour was statistic difference.(3)The uNGAL levels rised at early stage in sepsis without AKI group and down to normal gradually after 48th hour.(4)The uNGAL levels continued increasing in sepsis merged AKI group,and had significant differences comparing with sepsis without AKI group(P ＜ 0.01).(5) The areas under ROC curve of uNGAL and serum creatinine at 48th hour were 0.902(95％ CI:0.801 ～ 1.004) and 0.801 (95％ CI:0.768 ～ 0.981),respectively.Conclusion The level of uNGAL has earlier increase for 24 to 48 hours than that of serum creatinine in critically ill children,and it can also reflect the severity of AKI.Therefore it can be used as an early diagnostic biomarker for AKI in PICU.

Objective To study the changes of P-selectin and E-selectin in pediatric patients with critical illness ,and analyze their relationship with the severity and prognosis of diseases.Methods Forprospective study,42 critically ill patients admitted in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU ) from September,2012 to March,2013 as critically ill group were enrolled,and blood specimens were collected with 24 hours after admission.Another 42 cases blood samples were collected from children's physical examination as control group.The severity of the critically ill patients were evaluated by Pediatric Critical illness Score (PICS)and Pediatric risk of score mortality (PRISM)-III.The levels of serum P-selectin and serum E-selectin were measured by double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunoassay (ABC-ELISA). Results P-selectin and E-selectin in control group children and critically ill patients group were (37.23 ± 8.99)ng/mL,(36.24 ±17.82)ng/mL,and (107.24 ±35.53)ng/mL,(114.93 ±40.17)ng/mL, respectively.There were statistical differences between two groups (P=0.000).The levels of P-selectin and E-selectin in acute phase were higher than that of levels in recovery phase in critically ill group (P =0.000).Negative correlation was observed between P-selectin concentration and the PCIS score (r =-0.673,P=0.000),as well as E-selectin (r=-0.548,P=0.000).P-selectin level and E-selectin level based upon PRISMⅢ≥10 group were significantly higher than they in PRISMⅢ <10 group (P=0.003,P=0.014).In critically ill children,the differences in P-selectin,E-selectin were significant higher in death patients (P=0.003;P =0.000).Compared with the non-sepsis illness group,the level of P-selectin and E-selectin in the severe sepsis patients were significantly higher (P =0.04,P =0.025 ). Conclusions The levels of P-selectin and E-selectin are closely related to the severity and prognosis in critically ill children.Measuring the level of P-selectin and E-selectin could be used as a judegment the severity and to understand pathological physiological process.

Objective To explore the clinical features and diagnostic methods of tuberculosis infection in PICU,and improve the understanding of tuberculosis.Methods We analysed the clinical features and diagnostic methods of severe tubercle bacillus infectious diseases in PICU from Jan 2009 to Dec 2012.Severity of disease was graded by pediatric critical illness score.The diagnosis of the pulmonary tuberculosis was in accord with the diagnostic criteria of paediatric pulmonary tuberculosis established by Chinese Medical Association paediatrics branch.And the diagnosis of tuberculosis meningitis and tuberculosis peritonitis based on the clinical physical examination,laboratory examination and pathologic finding.Results Among 22 cases enrolled in this study,totally 16 cases were pulmonary tuberculosis,6 cases were extrapulmonary tuberculosis,and 3 cases were tuberculosis meningitis.The clinical feature of severe tuberculosis infection in PICU was accompanying with one or multiple organ dysfunction besides tuberculosis infection symptom,among them,respiratory dysfunction occurred in 16 cases,cardiovascular dysfunction was observed in 2 cases,and central nervous system dysfunction was found in 3 cases,even 1 patient experienced cardiovascular system dysfunction,respiratory disorder as well as gastrointestinal system dysfunction simultaneously.Sixteen cases of pulmonary tubercle bacillus infection manifested respiratory failure besides fever,cough,shortness of breath and tuberculosis toxicosis symptom,2 cases of them developed into acute respiratory distress syndrome,8 cases needed mechanical ventilation.Two cases of pericardial effusion presented cardiac tamponade.The level of adenosine deaminase elevated in 12 cases,and the positive result of enzyme-linked immunospot assay for tubercle bacillius was observed in 14 cases.Conclusion It is very important to be aware of that severe tubercle bacillus infection exist in critically ill patients admitted in PICU,measuring the level of adenosine deaminase and taking enzyme-linked immunospot assay for tubercle bacillius test are important accessory examination for tuberculosis diagnosis in children.

Objective To analyze the correlation between septal branch characteristics and the prognosis of alcohol septal ablation ( ASA ) in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy . Methods The clinical , echocardiographic , angiographic and procedural characteristics were analyzed retrospectively in 55 patients.Good prognosis was defined as left ventricular outflow tract gradient decreased by 50%at long term follow-up.The characteristics of septal branch were analyzed in terms of QCA .Results There were no differences in the length of the ablated septal branch , sizes of the adjacent branches , distances between the septal branch and the ostia of the coronary arteries and the volume of alcoholo consumed ( all P>0.05).Compared with poor prognosis group (n =27), the diameter of the ablated septal branches were significantly larger in the good prognosis group ( n=28 ) [ ( 1.75 ±0.36 ) mm vs.( 1.48 ±0.41 ) mm, P=0.012].The distance between the ablated branch and its adjacent branch was farer in the good prognosis group [(18.80 ±10.20)mm vs.(13.04 ±6.65)mm, P=0.020].In multivariate analysis, the diameter of the ablated branch (OR 9.258,95%CI 1.427-60.069, P=0.020)and the distance between the ablated septal branch and its adjacent septal branch (OR 1.102,95% CI 1.002-1.213, P =0.046) were found to be independent risk factors for good prognosis of ASA .Conclusions The diameter of the ablated septal branch and the distance between its adjacent septal branch are associated with better prognosis of ASA .