Serum metabolomics of preterm and full-term infants based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the features of serum metabolites in preterm infants based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and to find differentially expressed metabolites in the serum of preterm infants.@*METHODS@#Serum samples were collected from 19 preterm infants and 20 full-term infants before feeding. GC-MS was used to measure metabolic profiles, and the metabolic features of 397 serum metabolites in preterm infants were analyzed.@*RESULTS@#There was a significant difference in serum metabolic features between the preterm and full-term infants before feeding. There were significant differences between the full-term and preterm infants in the levels of metabolites such as O-phosphonothreonine, digicitrin, tannic acid, and fructose-1,6-diphosphate (P<0.01), suggesting that the above differentially expressed metabolites were highly differentiated between the preterm and full-term infants. Most differentially expressed metabolites were involved in the metabolic pathways such as ABC transporters, β-alanine and pyrimidines and were correlated with some clinical parameters (albumin and total bilirubin) (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#There is a significant difference in serum metabolites between preterm and full-term infants before feeding. Metabolomics plays an important role in improving metabolic disorders and exploring metabolism-related diseases in preterm infants.

Iron and ferritin changes in multiple organs failure after trauma / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the changes of iron content in serum and liver, ferritin content in serum, percentage of myeloperoxidase (MPO) positive granulocyte in rabbits after different serious trauma and to explore the relationship between these changes and multiple organ failure (MOF).@*METHODS@#Rabbit trauma models were established. Iron content in serum and liver, ferritin content in serum and the percentage of MPO positive granulocyte were measured at different time after trauma.@*RESULTS@#After trauma, iron content in serum decreased sharply in early period (12-36h) and increased gradually to normal level in mild traumatic group after 60 h. Iron content in serum remained lower level in severe traumatic and death group 60 h after trauma. Iron content in liver obviously increased in death group. The changes of ferritin content in serum in mild traumatic were not obvious. Ferritin contents in serum in severe injury group and death group were slightly higher in early period and decreased in later period. The percentage of MPO positive granulocyte increased in early period after trauma. The percentage began to decrease 6 d after trauma and returned to normal level in mild traumatic group. The percentage obviously was significantly lower than normal levels in severe traumatic group and death group 6 d after trauma. Some rabbits died 60 h-6 d after severe trauma, and the pathological changes in the other organs were consistent with MOF.@*CONCLUSION@#Trauma can cause the serum iron, ferritin levels and percentage of MPO positive granulocyte changes. Severe trauma can cause uncompensated changes of these indicators, which could be the main mechanisms of MOF and death.

A morphological study with serial histological slices on the normal and abnormal gubernacula in newborn male mice / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the feasibility of serial slices microscopic histological investigation for the elaborate evaluation of reproductive system malformations.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Newborn male mice prenatally exposed to different doses of subcutaneously given diethylstilbestrol (DES) from gestational day 9 to 17 were treated by fixing parts of the abdomen in situ and setting them to transected serial slices. All the slices were stained, studied under the microscope and serially recorded by software. The gubernaculum was morphologically analyzed and its location and size were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Morphologically, the gubernaculum could be identified clearly, its structure inhomogeneous from proximal to distal and dissymmetric from right to left. The environmental estrogen produced different effects on the morphology of the gubernaculum in different parts and most obviously affected its length.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Prenatal exposure to environmental estrogen has evident and general effects on the gubernacular development of newborn male mice. The morphological study with serial histological slices gives a precise and systematic evaluation of genital malformations.</p>

Expression of glucocorticoid receptor isoforms in cutaneous hemangiomas and vascular malformations / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Hemangiomas are the most common tumors in children. Some hemangiomas may require intervention because of their location, size, behavior, or potential for important complications. Pharmacological therapy with glucocorticoids is the mainstay treatment, but there is no consensus on therapeutic regimens or candidate selection, therapeutic efficacy varies, and the mechanism mediating the beneficial effects of glucocorticoids remains unclear. This study was performed to investigate the expression patterns of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and its alpha isoform (GRalpha) in cutaneous hemangiomas and vascular malformations.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>SP immunohistochemical technique was used to examine the expression of GR(e-20) (GR) and GR(p-20) (GRalpha) on vascular endothelial cells in 80 specimens that included 33 proliferating hemangiomas, 32 involuting hemangiomas, 7 vascular malformations as well as 8 normal skin tissues, all obtained from infants and children. GR and GRalpha expression in prepared tissue slides were examined using automated computer-assisted microscopic analysis. Mean gray scale values were compared among the various tumor types.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean gray scale values of GR were 127.0 +/- 6.4 and 121.4 +/- 6.6 in hemangiomas and vascular malformations respectively, but this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.104). However, these values were all markedly higher than that of normal skin, which was only 108.6 +/- 6.8 (P = 0.001 and P = 0.000 for comparison with hemangiomas and vascular malformations respectively). The gray scale of GR in proliferation and involuting hemangiomas were 127.9 +/- 4.8 and 126.0 +/- 5.8 respectively, but this difference was not significant (P = 0.146). However, GRalpha expression in hemangiomas, vascular malformations and normal skin declined gradually in stepwise fashion (127.3 +/- 5.4, 120.4 +/- 6.1 and 109.9 +/- 5.3 respectively; P < 0.001). GRalpha expression was higher in proliferating hemangiomas than in involuting hemangiomas (127.2 +/- 6.3 and 122.5 +/- 6.3; P = 0.004).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>GR and GRalpha are strongly expressed in hemangiomas and vascular malformations. The expression of GRalpha is closely related to the phase of the hemangioma. Determination of GR and GRalpha may be a positive significance to understand the information of hemangiomas and vascular malformations and may further help determining proper strategies of steroid therapy for hemangiomas and vascular malformations.</p>

Diagnosis,Treatment and Prognosis of Neonatal Intestinal Atresia / 实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To explore diagnosis,treatment and prognosis of intestinal atresia(IA) in neonates,so as to increase the healing rate.Methods Surgical treatment was given to 29 cases of congenital IA from Apr.2004 to Nov.2008.Comprehensive analysis was carried out on clinical manifestations and flat X-ray.All cases were with vomiting,15 cases were with normal fetal faeces.Stomach and intestinal atresia were observed in the upper abdomen in 19 cases,fluid levels in generous stomach and expended intestines were seen in 21 cases by X-ray.All children underwent operation,including ileum atresia(16 cases),duodenal atresia(7 cases),and jejunal atresia(6 cases).The types of atresia were type Ⅰ(9 cases),type Ⅱ(9 cases),type Ⅲa(9 cases),type Ⅲb(1 case) and type Ⅳ(1 case).Nine cases were treated with septum resection and then anastomosed longitudinally,3 cases underwent end-to-end anastomose and 17 underwent end-to-back anastomose.All cases were served in intravenous hyperalimentation.Results All cases lived postoperatively,and 1 child gave up for postoperatively treatment.Twenty-eight cases were cured.There was 1 case of obstruction of anastomatic,and was cured by non-operatively treatment.There was no anastomatic leakage and wound disruption.Twenty-six cases were followed up for 3 months and up to 4 years.These symptoms had no relapse.Conclusion Early diagnosis,appropriate surgical procedure and surrounding operation management are crucial for improving the cure rate.