Effects of intrauterine growth restriction and high-fat diet on serum lipid and transcriptional levels of related hepatic genes in rats / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and high-fat diet on the growth, lipid metabolism, and related hepatic genes in rat offspring.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The rat model of IUGR was established by food restriction during the entire pregnancy. After weaning, 32 normal rats and 24 offspring rats with IUGR were randomly allocated to standard diet group or high-fat diet group. At the age of 10 weeks, fasting plasma glucose and blood lipid were examined. Additionally, pathological sections for hepatic tissues were observed, and the transcriptional levels of related hepatic genes were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At the age of 10 weeks, there was a significant difference in body weight between IUGR rats and normal rats on standard diets, but no significant difference in body weight was observed between the two groups on high-fat diets. Compared with the normal rats, IUGR rats showed increased energy intake and increased levels of fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, and triglyceride on both standard and high-fat diets. High-fat diets reduced the concentration of serum triglyceride in both normal rats and IUGR rats. IUGR and high-fat diets aggravated the fat accumulation in the liver. Two-factor analysis of variance showed that at the age of 10 weeks, the expression of genes related to lipid metabolism in the liver, PGC-1α, CPT-1, SREBF-2, HMGR, LDLR and SREBF-1, differed significantly between IUGR and normal rats. Compared with standard diets, high-fat diets increased the expression of PPARα, SREBF-1, SREBF-2, ABCG5, and CYP7A1 in both normal rats and IUGR rats. IUGR and high-fat diets had an interactive effect on LDLR expression.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Hyperlipidemia and fat accumulation in the liver observed in IUGR rats may be related to increased appetite and regulation disorder in genes related to fatty acid oxidation at the transcriptional level. High-fat diets may aggravate fat accumulation in the liver in rats, which may be related to increased expression of genes related to regulation of fatty acid synthesis at the transcriptional level and reduction in secretion of triglyceride.</p>

A clinical follow-up study of premature thelarche in infants under two years of age / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical status and natural course of premature thelarche (PT) in infants under 2 years of age and to analyze the predictive factors for regression of thelarche.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical and laboratory data of 863 infants under 2 years of age, who visited the department of endocrinology in our hospital due to PT between October 2009 and September 2010, were analyzed. A a longitudinal follow-up study was performed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the infants under 2 years of age with isolated PT, 89.3% showed a regression before the age of 3 years (mean 17±5.6 months), 10.7% had recurrent or persistent thelarche, with no regression after the age of 3 years, and some even developed into central precocious puberty. The independent predictive factors for regression of thelarche were Tanner stage at the first visit and whether baseline estradiol level had increased.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>PT in infants under 2 years of age is not rare in the clinical setting, and it usually runs a self-limited course, subsiding before the age of 3 years. However, regular follow-ups should be performed for infants aged over 2 years with persistent thelarche.</p>

Mid-term effects of lung volume reduction surgery on pulmonary function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Now lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) has become one of the most effective methods for the management of some cases of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We evaluated the mid-term effects of LVRS on pulmonary function in patients with severe COPD.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ten male patients with severe COPD aged 38 - 70 years underwent LVRS and their pulmonary function was assessed before, 3 months and 3 years after surgery. The spirometric and gas exchange parameters included residual volume, total lung capacity, inspiratory capacity, forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second, diffusion capacity for CO, and arterial blood gas. A 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) test was performed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>As to preoperative assessment, most spirometric parameters and 6MWD were significantly improved after 3 months and slightly 3 years after LVRS. Gas exchange parameters were significantly improved 3 months after surgery, but returned to the preoperative levels after 3 years.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>LVRS may significantly improve pulmonary function in patients with severe COPD indicating for LVRS. Mid-term pulmonary function 3 years after surgery can be decreased to the level at 3 months after surgery. Three years after LVRS, lung volume and pulmonary ventilation function can be significantly improved, but the improvement in gas exchange function was not significant.</p>

Pulmonary membrane diffusing capacity and pulmonary capillary blood volume in patients with stable COPD / 上海第二医科大学学报

Objective To study the clinical significance of pulmonary membrane diffusing capacity(Dm) and pulmonary capillary blood volume(Vc) in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD). Methods Spirometry was performed in 38 patients with stable COPD and 35 healthy individuals in resting condition.The changes of pulmonary parameters were obtained and compared between groups. Results Spirometry test revealed that the percent predicted forced expired volume in one second(FEV1),FEV1/forced volume capacity(FVC)and the percent predicted maximal ventilatory volume(MVV) were declined from stage Ⅰin patients with COPD in comparison with healthy individuals,while diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide of lung(DLCO),carbon monoxide diffusing capacity per liter of alveolar(DLCO/VA),Dm and Vc were declined from stage Ⅱ.Dm in patients with COPD of stageⅠwas sig-nificantly decreased compared with the controls,while Vc was increased compared with the controls(both P