Impact of CSF3R Mutation on Treatment Response and Survival of Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the expression of CSF3R mutation in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and analyze its clinical characteristics and prognosis.@*METHODS@#A retrospective study was conducted in 212 patients with AML who were newly diagnosed in the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from January 1th 2018 to June 30th 2021, including 22 patients with CSF3R mutations as mutation group and 190 patients with CSF3R wild type ［66 cases of them were screened by propensity score matching (PSM), as control group］. The early efficacy and survival between the two groups were compared.@*RESULTS@#The median age of patients in the mutation group was 50(17-73) years old, and the ratio of male to female was 1.2:1 The main types were AML with maturation (11 cases) and acute myelomonocytic leukemia (9 cases). Prognostic stratification was carried out according to the risk stratification system of the European leukemia network in 2017, with 16 cases (72.73%) in the middle and high-risk group. At the initial diagnosis, the median count of white blood cell (WBC) was 44.75(1.30-368.71)×109/L, among which 15 cases (68.18%) were >10×109/L, and the median count of platelet (PLT) was 24(4-55)×109/L. CSF3R T618I (68.18%) was a common mutation site, which had concomitant gene mutations, in which CEBPA mutation was the most common (10 cases, 45.45%), but only existed in CSF3R T618I mutation. The CR/CRi rate was 68.18% and 71.21% in the mutant group and the control group (P >0.05), the median over all survival time was 15 months and 9 months (P >0.05), and the median disease-free survival time was 8 months and 4 months (P >0.05), respectively.@*CONCLUSION@#Most AML patients with CSF3R mutation are middle-aged patients, the main types are AML with maturation and acute myelomonocytic leukemia, and most of them have middle and high-risk prognosis. CSF3R mutation may not be an independent prognostic marker for newly diagnosed AML patients.

Incidence of extrauterine growth retardation and its risk factors in very preterm infants during hospitalization: a multicenter prospective study / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To investigate the incidence of extrauterine growth retardation (EUGR) and its risk factors in very preterm infants (VPIs) during hospitalization in China.@*METHODS@#A prospective multicenter study was performed on the medical data of 2 514 VPIs who were hospitalized in the department of neonatology in 28 hospitals from 7 areas of China between September 2019 and December 2020. According to the presence or absence of EUGR based on the evaluation of body weight at the corrected gestational age of 36 weeks or at discharge, the VPIs were classified to two groups: EUGR group (n=1 189) and non-EUGR (n=1 325). The clinical features were compared between the two groups, and the incidence of EUGR and risk factors for EUGR were examined.@*RESULTS@#The incidence of EUGR was 47.30% (1 189/2 514) evaluated by weight. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that higher weight growth velocity after regaining birth weight and higher cumulative calorie intake during the first week of hospitalization were protective factors against EUGR (P<0.05), while small-for-gestational-age birth, prolonged time to the initiation of total enteral feeding, prolonged cumulative fasting time, lower breast milk intake before starting human milk fortifiers, prolonged time to the initiation of full fortified feeding, and moderate-to-severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia were risk factors for EUGR (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#It is crucial to reduce the incidence of EUGR by achieving total enteral feeding as early as possible, strengthening breastfeeding, increasing calorie intake in the first week after birth, improving the velocity of weight gain, and preventing moderate-severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia in VPIs.

Quantitative Analysis on Immunophenotype of CD34 / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the quantitative expression of immunophenotype of CD34@*METHODS@#Multi-parameter flow cytometry (FCM) was used to detect the proportion and mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of each antigen of bone marrow CD34@*RESULTS@#Bone marrow blast cell proportion (P<0.01), RBC level (P<0.01), and Hb level (P<0.05) of high-risk MDS patients were higher, while EPO level (P<0.05) was lower than those of low-risk patients. The proportion of CD34@*CONCLUSION@#The immunophenotype of CD34

Expression of Ki-67, Cyclin D1, P53, and P16 in patients with oral leukoplakia and leukoplakia cancerization with spicy diet in Chengdu / 华西口腔医学杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To investigate the expression of Ki-67, Cyclin D1, P53, and P16 in patients with oral leukoplakia (OLK) and OLK cancerization who have aspicy diet in Chengdu.@*METHODS@#Thirtypatients with OLK andspicy diet and 15 patients with OLK without spicy diet in Chengdu were divided into three groups: hyperplastic OLK (OLK-), OLK with mild to moderate dysplasia (OLK+), and severe dysplastic  OLK or oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) transforming from OLK (OLK++/OSCC). The expression of Ki-67, Cyclin D1, P53, and P16 were detected by immunohistochemistry and statistically analyzed.@*RESULTS@#The expression of Ki-67 and P53 in patients with or without spicy diet in the OLK+and OLK++/OSCC groups were stronger than that of the OLK- group (@*CONCLUSIONS@#Spicy diet did not have an influence on the expression of Ki-67, Cyclin D1, P53, and P16 in patients with OLK and OSCC. The expression of Ki-67, Cyclin D1, and P53 increased with the development of OLK, whereas P16 showed opposite expression trend.

Risk factors for metabolic bone disease of prematurity in very/extremely low birth weight infants: a multicenter investigation in China / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the incidence rate and risk factors for metabolic bone disease of prematurity (MBDP) in very low birth weight/extremely low birth weight (VLBW/ELBW) infants.@*METHODS@#The medical data of 61 786 neonates from multiple centers of China between September 1, 2013 and August 31, 2016 were retrospectively investigated, including 504 VLBW/ELBW preterm infants who met the inclusion criteria. Among the 504 infants, 108 infants diagnosed with MBDP were enrolled as the MBDP group and the remaining 396 infants were enrolled as the non-MBDP group. The two groups were compared in terms of general information of mothers and preterm infants, major diseases during hospitalization, nutritional support strategies, and other treatment conditions. The multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the risk factors for MBDP.@*RESULTS@#The incidence rate of MBDP was 19.4% (88/452) in VLBW preterm infants and 38.5% (20/52) in ELBW preterm infants. The incidence rate of MBDP was 21.7% in preterm infants with a gestational age of < 32 weeks and 45.5% in those with a gestational age of < 28 weeks. The univariate analysis showed that compared with the non-MBDP group, the MBDP group had significantly lower gestational age and birth weight, a significantly longer length of hospital stay, and a significantly higher incidence rate of extrauterine growth retardation (@*CONCLUSIONS@#A lower gestational age, hypocalcemia, extrauterine growth retardation at discharge, and neonatal sepsis may be associated an increased risk of MBDP in VLBW/ELBW preterm infants. It is necessary to strengthen perinatal healthcare, avoid premature delivery, improve the awareness of the prevention and treatment of MBDP among neonatal pediatricians, and adopt positive and reasonable nutrition strategies and comprehensive management measures for preterm infants.

Improvement program on pretreatment of acid decalcified tissue in hematoxylin-eosin staining / 华西口腔医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the treatment conditions of acid decalcified specimens and improve the poor quality of sections and unclear structure of hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining caused by the change in pH in tooth and hard tissue after acid decalcification.@*METHODS@#A total of 20 cases of oral pathological specimens that contain hard tissues were decalcified and treated with routine treatment, concentrated ammonia water immersion treatment, and saturated lithium carbonate solution immersion treatment. The quality and HE staining effects of hard tissue sections treated with different methods were compared.@*RESULTS@#Compared with routine treatment, lithium carbonate saturated solution treatment showed complete sections. Hematoxylin is strongly stained, the nucleus is clear, and the cytoplasm is bright.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Soaking acid decalcified specimens in lithium carbonate saturated solution before embedding in dehydration can neutralize the acidic environment of the tissue. The quality of sections and HE staining effect are improved and are suitable for the pretreatment of acid decalcified tissue samples of oral pathology.

Expert consensus on nutritional management of preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia / 中国当代儿科杂志

Inadequate nutrition supply in the early stage after birth is a risk factor for the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants, and it is also closely associated with the progression and clinical outcome of BPD. Optimized nutritional support is of great importance to reduce the incidence and severity of BPD and promote lung development and neurological prognosis. Based on the relevant studies in China and overseas, the expert consensus on BPD nutrition management is developed by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) method. The consensus includes the following seven aspects: the importance of nutrition in BPD, fluid intake, energy intake, enteral nutrition, parenteral nutrition, post-discharge nutrition, and nutrition monitoring and evaluation.

Persistent chest pain for 4 months and progressive lower limb weakness for 2 months in a boy / 中国当代儿科杂志

A boy, aged 5 years, was admitted due to chest pain for 4 months, right lower limb weakness for 2 months, and weakness of both lower limbs for 10 days. There were no symptoms of defecation/urination disorders or disturbance of consciousness, and the boy had upper motor neuron paralysis in both lower limbs, without cranial nerve involvement or sensory disorder. Spine magnetic resonance imaging revealed tumor in the spinal canal between cervical vertebra 6 and thoracic vertebra 2, which put pressure on the spinal cord. He was transferred to the department of neurosurgery for surgical treatment and fully recovered after tumor resection, and no recurrence was observed after 6 years of follow-up. The pathological diagnosis was clear cell meningioma (WHO grade II). For children with chest pain and dyskinesia, spinal meningioma should be considered.

Asymmetric crying facies and vocal cord paralysis accompanied by congenital heart disease in an infant / 中国当代儿科杂志

A female infant was admitted to the hospital due to perioral cyanosis two hours after birth. The infant was born at the gestational age of 35 weeks by cesarean section with a birth weight of 2 400 g. Physical examination revealed wry mouth to the left side while crying, small auricles, and high palatal arch; fibrolaryngoscopy suggested bilateral vocal cord paralysis; echocardiography suggested ventricular septal defect; single nucleotide polymorphism testing showed 22q11.21 microdeletion. Therefore, the infant was given a definite diagnosis of asymmetric crying facies syndrome accompanied by 22q11.21 microdeletion. After 8-month follow-up, the infant still had asymmetric crying facies with presence of growth retardation.

Echinacoside and Cistanche tubulosa(Schenk)R.wight have male reproductiveprotection effect by targeting hypothalamic and rogen receptor / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

OBJECTIVE Cistanche deserticola Y. C. Ma is an official plant that grows in arid or semi-arid areas.Our early work demonstrated that Cistanche extracts protect against sperm damage in mice under bisphenol A induced reproductive damage. Echinacoside (ECH)is one of the major active components. The present study investigated the mechanisms behind the possible protective effects of ECH against oligoasthenospermia in rat and identified the interaction between ECH and AR. METH-ODS The distribution of ECH was assayed by HPLC,the quantity and quality of sperm was evaluated and hormone levels were determined by radioimmunosorbent assay. The levels of androgen receptor (AR)and key steroidogenic-related genes were reduced as determined by Western blotting and qPCR analysis.The interaction between ECH and AR were evaluated by fluorescence localization assay,indi-rect ELISA and molecular docking. RESULTS ECH significantly increased the quantity of sperm and secretions of luteinizing hormone and testosterone.ECH was distributed to the hypothalamus but not in the testes.ECH combined with hypothalamic AR in the pocket of Met-894 and Val-713 to inhibit transfer of AR from the cytoplasm to nuclei in the hypothalamus.While negative feedback of sex hormone regula-tion was inhibited, positive feedback was stimulated to increase the secretion of luteinizing hormone and testosterone subsequently enhancing the quantity of sperm. C. militaris significantly alleviated the BPA-induced reproductive damage by increasing testicular superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and glutathione (GSH); as well as by reducing serum malondialdehyde (MDA). C. militaris not only obviously enhanced the levels of serum LH and T, but it also improved the sperm count and motility compared to the BPA-treated group.CONCLUSION C.militaris and ECH protect the BPA induced reproductive damage.ECH blocks AR activity in the hypothalamus to increase the quantity of sperm and protect against oligoasthenospermia in rats.

Human Leukocyte Antigen-A Allele Distribution in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients Showing Anti-Melanoma-Associated Antigen A or Synovial Sarcoma X-2 T Cell Response in Blood / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>Background</b>Development of innovative immunotherapy is imperative to improve the poor survival of the nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients. In this study, we evaluated the T cell response to melanoma-associated antigen (MAGE)-A1, MAGE-A3, or synovial sarcoma X-2 (SSX-2) in the peripheral blood of treatment-naive NPC patients. The relationship of responses among the three proteins and the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A types were analyzed to provide evidence of designing novel therapy.</p><p><b>Methods</b>Sixty-one NPC patients admitted into the Tumor Hospital affiliated to the Xinjiang Medical University between March 2015 and July 2016 were enrolled. Mononuclear cells were isolated from the peripheral blood before any treatment. HLA-A alleles were typed with Sanger sequence-based typing technique. The T cell response to the MAGE-A1, MAGE-A3, or SSX-2 was evaluated with the Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSpot assay. Mann-Whitney U-test was used to compare the T cell responses from different groups. Spearman's rank correlation was used to analyze the relationship of T cell responses.</p><p><b>Results</b>HLA-A*02:01, A*02:07, and A*24:02 were the three most frequent alleles (18.9%, 12.3%, and 11.5%, respectively) among the 22 detected alleles. 31.1%, 19.7%, and 16.4% of the patients displayed MAGE-A1, MAGE-A3, or SSX-2-specific T cell response, respectively. The magnitudes of response to the three proteins were 32.5, 38.0, and 28.7 SFC/10 peripheral blood mononuclear cells, respectively. The T cell response against the three proteins correlated with each other to different extent. The percentage of A*02:01 and A*24:02 carriers were significantly higher in patients responding to any of the three proteins compared to the nonresponders.</p><p><b>Conclusion</b>MAGE-A1, MAGE-A3, or SSX-2-specific T cell responses were detectable in a subgroup of NPC patients, the frequency and magnitude of which were correlated.</p>

Distribution and antimicrobial resistance profile of the clinical bacterial strains isolated from Beijing Children's Hospital from 2009 to 2015 / 中国感染与化疗杂志

Objective To investigate the distribution and antimicrobial resistance profile of the common pathogens isolated during the period from 2009 to 2015.Methods All the bacterial strains isolated from pediatric inpatients in Beijing Children's Hospital during the period from 2009 to 2015 were analyzed. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by disk diffusion method and Phoenix 100 Automated Microbiology System. Results were analyzed according to the guidelines of CLSI (2014) using WHONET 5.6 software.Results The total strains were 26630. The most common gram-positive isolates were Streptococcus pneumoniae,Staphylococcusaureusand coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CNS), while the most frequently isolated gram-negative microorganisms were Klebsiella spp.,Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. The prevalence of S. pneumoniae was up to 25.7 % (4101/15973) in all respiratory tract specimens. About 50.2 % of the S. pneumoniae isolates were not susceptible to penicillin. The prevalence of methicillin-resistant strains was 20.6 % in S. aureus (MRSA) and 87.8 % in coagulase negative Staphylococcus (MRCNS) on average. The prevalence of MRSA increased from 11.1 % in 2009 to 29.8 % in 2015. No S. pneumoniae or staphylococcal strains were found resistant to vancomycin or linezolid. The Enterococcus strains were still highly susceptible to vancomycin and linezolid. Overall 0.3 % of the Enterococcus faecium isolates were resistant to vancomycin. The extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) producing strains accounted for 71.4 % -78.1 % of E. coli and 65.1 % - 76.9 % of K. pneumoniae isolates. The carbapenem-resistant E. coli and K. pneumoniae were reported for the first time in 2010, but in 2014, the strains resistant to carbapenems had increased to more than 7 % in E. coli, and higher than 20 % in K. pneumoniae. In 2015, up to 27.7 % and 25.7 % of P. aeruginosa isolates were resistant to imipenem and meropenem, respectively, and 59.9 % of the A. baumannii isolates were resistant to imipenem and meropenem. Beta-lactamase was positive in 46.3 % of the H. influenzae isolates. Conclusions MRSA and the carbapenem-resistant strains of E. coli,K. pneumoniae and A. baumannii are still on the rise in pediatric inpatients, which poses a serious threat to clinical practice and implies the importance of strengthening infection control.

Anti-diabetic medication reduces risk of pulmonary tuberculosis in diabetic patients: a population-based cohort study in Taiwan

Objective: The increased risk of pulmonary tuberculosis [PTB] in patients with diabetes mellitus [DM] remains to be clarified with cohort study. The present study further examined whether the anti-diabetic drug treatment associates with developing PTB. Design: Nation wide cohort study Setting: China Medical University Hospital

Subjects: From the Taiwan National Health Insurance database, we identified 22,256 adult patients newly diagnosed with DM in 2000-2006 as DM cohort and 89,024 persons without DM frequency matched with sex, age and DM diagnosed year as non-DM comparison cohort. Intervention: None Main outcome measures: Both cohorts were followed till the end of 2009 to document PTB incidence. Medications were analyzed for the DM cohort to examine the hazard of developing PTB

Results: The incidence of PTB was 1.64-fold higher in DM cohort than in comparison cohort [52.1 Vs 31.8 per 10,000 person-years] with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.53 [95% CI = 1.40 - 1.67], measured using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. Men were at higher risk than women to have PTB. The age-specific incidence rates showed that DM cohort to comparison cohort incidence rate ratio was higher in younger group. However, the Cox model measured HR increased with age. Alcoholism, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, alcoholic liver damage and chronic kidney diseases were comorbidities independently associated with PTB. In the DM cohort, anti-DM medications significantly reduced the risk of PTB with a HR of 0.52 for those who had taken metformin, followed by alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, thiazolidinediones, insulins and sulfonylureas [HR = 0.76]. The effects of all anti-diabetic drugs were statistically significant

Conclusions: These findings show patients with DM are associated with an elevated risk of developing PTB, but treatment with anti-diabetic drugs may mediate the risk significantly

DSSylation, a novel protein modification targets proteins induced by oxidative stress, and facilitates their degradation in cells

Timely removal of oxidatively damaged proteins is critical for cells exposed to oxidative stresses; however, cellular mechanism for clearing oxidized proteins is not clear. Our study reveals a novel type of protein modification that may play a role in targeting oxidized proteins and remove them. In this process, DSS1 (deleted in split hand/split foot 1), an evolutionally conserved small protein, is conjugated to proteins induced by oxidative stresses in vitro and in vivo, implying oxidized proteins are DSS1 clients. A subsequent ubiquitination targeting DSS1-protein adducts has been observed, suggesting the client proteins are degraded through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. The DSS1 attachment to its clients is evidenced to be an enzymatic process modulated by an unidentified ATPase. We name this novel protein modification as DSSylation, in which DSS1 plays as a modifier, whose attachment may render target proteins a signature leading to their subsequent ubiquitination, thereby recruits proteasome to degrade them.

Interaction between maternal 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T and methionine synthase A2756G gene variants to increase the risk of fetal neural tube defects in a Shanxi Han population / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and methionine synthase (MS) are attractive candidates for screening for risk of neural tube defects (NTDs). The aim of the current study was to investigate maternal MTHFR and MS polymorphisms and the interaction between them and their influence on children with NTDs in the Shanxi Province of northern China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-one mothers who previously had children with NTDs constituted the case group and 51 age-matched mothers with children that were unaffected by any birth defects constituted the control group. All subjects were genotyped for MTHFR C677T and MS A2756G polymorphisms. SPSS 11.5 software package was used for all analyses.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was a significant difference for MTHFR genotype distribution for one site (C677T) between the case and control groups. The T allele frequencies were significantly higher in the case group than in the control group (55.9% vs. 35.3%, P < 0.05). A lack of association was observed for the MS A2756G polymorphism. There was an interaction between the maternal MTHFR C677T genotype and MS A2756G genotype.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Genetic interaction between MTHFR and MS genes raises the probability of neural tube defects.</p>

Clinical study of sequential therapy by synchronized nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation for preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome after extubation / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To assess the efficiency of synchronized nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (SNIPPV) as a transitional mode in treatment of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) after extubation.Methods In this single-center and randomized controlled trial,preterm infants (gestational age less than 35 weeks)with RDS who received mechanical ventilation were randomly assigned to receive SNIPPV(33 cases) or NCPAP(34 cases) after extubation.Blood gas analysis,prevalence of extubation failure and complications were compared between the 2 groups.Results The Pa (O2) in SNIPPV group was significantly higher but the pa (CO2) was significantly lower than those in the NCPAP group at 3 h and 12 h after extubation respectively(all P ＜ 0.05).Infants treated with SNIPPV had a decreased incidence of hypoxemia,hyperbicarbonatemia and extubation failure compared with those of patients treated with NCPAP (all P ＜ 0.05).SNIPPV group had a decreased incidence of apnea (P =0.000),shorter duration of mechanical ventilation and oxygen treatment duration than those of NCPAP group (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions SNIPPV is superior to NCPAP in serving as a transitional mode after extubation for preterm infants with RDS,and should be used in preference after extubation.

Characterization of antibiotic resistance and carbapenemase-producing in carbapenem no-susceptibility Enterobacteriaceae from pediatric patients / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

Objective To analyze the antibiotic resistance of the carbapenem no-susceptibility Enterobacteriaceae isolated from pediatric patients and the resistant genes of carbapenemase-producing.Methods In all,46 carbapenem no-susceptibility Enterobacteriaceae strains were isolated from patients at Beijing Children's Hospital between January 2008 and December 2010.Agar dilution method recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute was used to examine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 14 antimicrobial agents.Phenotypic testing for carbapenemase-producing was conducted using Hodge test and double-disk synergy test.PCR was used to detect the expression of the carbapenemase-related genes KPC,GES,IMI/NMC-A,SME,IMP,VIM,GIM,SPM,SIM and OXA.WHONET5.6 was used to perform resistance analysis.Results Among 46 carbapenem no-susceptibility Enterobacteriaceae strains,26 (56.5％) were Klebsiella pneumoniae strains,13(28.3％ ) were Enterobacter cloacae and 7( 15.2％ ) were Escherichia coli.The rates of imipenem and meropenem no-susceptibility Klebsiella pneumoniae were 69.2％ and 80.8％,Enterobacter cloacae were 76.9％ and 100％ and Escherichia coli were 85.7％ and 100％,respectively.40(87.0％ ) strains were positive of Hodge test.41 (89.1％) strains were positive of doubledisk synergy test.38 (82.6％) were positive for the IMP genotype.The carbapenemase-related genes were not found in other 8 strains.Conclusion The prevalence of carbapenem no-susceptibility Enterobacteriaceae strains in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates is relatively high in children.Resistance to imipenem was lower than that to meropenem from Klebsiella pneumoniae,Enterobacter cloacae and Escherichia coli strains.Many carbapenem no-susceptibility Enterobacteriaceae isolated from pediatric patients carry the blaIMP gene.No the KPC gene was found.

Follow-up study on children with urinary calculi associated with exposure to melamine-contaminated formula / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To understand the prognosis of the children with urinary calculi associated with exposure to melamine-contaminated formula.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A follow-up study was performed in 47 out-patients from the Third Hospital of Peking University who were diagnosed with urinary calculi associated with exposure to melamine-contaminated formula. Urinary tract B-ultrasound and renal function examinations were done during the 1 to 6-month follow-up.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>By the 6th month of follow-up, spontaneous stone passage was found in 36 children (77%). The follow-up failed in four children. None of the patients had any complications. Spontaneous stone passage was not associated with the volume and the period exposed to melamine in formula, but was associated with the location of calculi. The time to spontaneous stone passage in boys appeared to be longer than in girls, but there were no statistical differences.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Spontaneous stone passage can be found in most children and the prognosis of children with urinary calculi associated with exposure to melamine-contaminated formula is good.</p>

Isolation and identification of dog periodontal ligament stem cells / 华西口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To isolate, culture and identify a dog periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSC) line in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The adult dog periodontal ligament cells were isolated by limited dilution of culture cell for single cell clone. Cells originated from one of these clones were assessed through colony-forming efficiency and immunocytochemistry assay and alkaline phosphatase stain was used to identify the source of adult dog periodontal stem cells, at the same time, PDLSC were induced with mineralizatin solution and was found to have long protrude like an osteoblast. Differentiation of PDLSC were assessed. Mineralized potential was studied by Von-Kossa staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The dog PDLSC expressed STRO-1, which was the marker of mesenchymal stem cells. Also Vimentin, osteoblast-like marker alkaline phosphatase and Collagen-I expressed weakly. Cells were clonegenic, highly proliferative cells and capable of differentiating into osteoblasts/cementoblasts.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The evidence suggests that the cultured cells were stem cells from adult dog periodontal ligament.</p>

Churg-Strauss syndrome in children: a case evolving in endomyocardiopathy / 中国当代儿科杂志

A 13-year-old girl presented with a 1-month history of progressive exertional dyspnea (NYHA class IV) and exophthalmos for 6 months. She had a history of long-standing asthma and the presence of allergy. Hypereosinophilia and increased serum IgE levels (2472 IU/mL) were observed. Chest radiography and a high resolution CT scan documented a massive interstitial pulmonary infiltration. Echocardiography confirmed mild tricuspid regurgitation, apical obliteration of the right ventricle by fibrocalcific thickening of the endocardium and echogenic material suggestive of thrombosis. Churg-Strauss syndrome with cardiac involvement (endomyocardiopathy) was diagnosed. The patient received anticoagulation and corticosteroid therapy. In view of rapidly progressive severe endomyocardiopathy and stable hematology, the patient was referred for cardiac surgery. Histopathological examination of resected specimens confirmed laminated thrombus but without any trace of eosinophils embedded.