A preliminary study on the disappearance time of influenza virus antigen / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the antigen clearance time, time to symptom disappearance, and the association between them using immunofluorescence assay for dynamic monitoring of influenza virus antigen in children with influenza.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 1 063 children suspected of influenza who visited the Hunan People's Hospital from March to April, 2016 were enrolled. The influenza A/B virus antigen detection kit (immunofluorescence assay) was used for influenza virus antigen detection. The children with positive results were given oseltamivir as the antiviral therapy and were asked to re-examine influenza virus antigen at 5, 5-7, and 7 days after onset.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of all children suspected of influenza, 560 (52.68%) had an influenza virus infection. A total of 215 children with influenza virus infection were followed up. The clearance rate of influenza virus antigen was 9.8% (21 cases) within 5 days after onset. The cumulative clearance rate of influenza virus antigen was 32.1% (69 cases) within 5-7 days, and 98.1% (211 cases) within 7-10 days after onset. Among these children, 6 children (2.8%) achieved the improvement in clinical symptoms within 3 days after onset. The cumulative rate of symptom improvement was 84.7% (182 cases) within 3-5 days after onset, and 100% achieved the improvement after 5 days of onset.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The time to improvement in symptoms after treatment is earlier than antigen clearance time. Almost all of the children achieve influenza virus antigen clearance 7-10 days after onset. Therefore, it is relatively safe for children to go back to school within 7-10 days after onset when symptoms disappear.</p>

Roles of platelet and its regulating factors in immune vasculitis in young rabbits / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the roles of platelet (PLT) and its regulating factors, megakaryocyte, thrombopoietin (TPO) and transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1), in immune vasculitis in young rabbits.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>An experimental model of Kawasaki disease (KD) of weanling rabbits was reproduced by bovine serum. PLT count, total number and differentiating count of megakaryocyte, and serum TPO and TGF-beta1 levels were measured 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 and 28 days after KD induction. Pathological analysis of coronary artery, liver, spleen, kidney and brain was performed 17 and 28 days after KD induction.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the KD group, PLT count, the total number of megakaryocyte, and the middle board megakaryocyte percentage increased 12, 16, 20, 24 and 28 days; serum TPO level increased 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 and 28 days; serum TGF-beta1 level increased 16, 20, 24 and 28 days after KD induction compared with those in the normal control group (p<0.05). The pathological examinations of coronary artery, liver, spleen, kidney and brain showed severe inflammatory injuries of tiny arteries and small/medium-sized arteries 17 and 28 days after KD induction, respectively in the KD group. The aortas were showed as mild inflammatory injuries.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>PLT, megakaryocyte, TPO and TGF-beta1 participate in the pathogenesis of KD, and they may play an important role in the injuries of immune vasculitis. This suggests that they may serve as markers for the assessment of severity in KD.</p>