Association between S100B gene polymorphisms and hand, foot and mouth disease caused by enterovirus 71 infection / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association between rs9722 polymorphisms in the S100B gene and hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) caused by enterovirus 71.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 124 HFMD children with enterovirus 71 infection were enrolled as subjects, and 56 healthy children were enrolled as control group. The rs9722 polymorphisms in the S100B gene were detected for both groups, and the serum level of S100B protein was measured for 74 HFMD children.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The rs9722 locus of the S100B gene had three genotypes, CC, CT, and TT, and the genotype frequencies were in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Compared with the control group, the HFMD group had significant increases in the frequencies of TT genotype and T allele (P<0.01). Children with severe HFMD caused by enterovirus 71 infection had significantly higher frequencies of TT genotype and T allele than those with moderate or mild HFMD (P<0.05). Compared with the cured patients, the patients with poor prognosis had significant increases in the frequencies of TT genotype and T allele in the rs9722 locus of the S100B gene (P<0.05). Among the 74 children with HFMD, the children with TT genotype had the highest serum level of S100B protein, and those with CC genotype had the lowest level (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>T allele in the rs9722 locus of the S100B gene might be a risk factor for severe HFMD caused by enterovirus 71 infection.</p>

Clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of children with critical hand-foot-mouth disease treated with mechanical ventilation / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical characteristics of children with critical hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) who were treated with mechanical ventilation and to explore the risk factors for poor prognosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 63 children with critical HFMD who were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit between April 2012 and September 2013 and needed mechanical ventilation were retrospectively analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the 63 children, 43 were boys and 20 were girls, and their mean age was 25 ± 18 months, with 81% under 3 years old. The four death cases were all under three years old. Compared with the cured cases, the death cases had a significantly lower mean age (8 ± 3 months vs 25 ± 18 months; P<0.05). Poor peripheral circulation above the elbow or knee joint, pulmonary edema involving at least two thirds of the lung field, and pulmonary hemorrhage were all closely related to death (P<0.01). The death cases and cured cases had significantly different peripheral white blood cell counts, blood lactic acid, and blood glucose (24 ± 11× 10⁹/L vs 12 ± 5×10⁹/L; 6.6 ± 1.8 mmol/L vs 3.6 ± 1.7 mmol/L; 16.4 ± 2.5 mmol/L vs 10.0 ± 3.0 mmol/L). The cases with critical illness score <90 had a significantly higher death risk (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Children with critical HFMD are mainly under 3 years old. The children face extremely high risk of death when they suffer from poor peripheral circulation above the elbow or knee joint, pulmonary edema involving at least two thirds of the lung field, and pulmonary hemorrhage. Significant increases in peripheral white blood cell counts, blood lactic acid, and blood glucose are risk factors for poor prognosis. Critical illness score is also related to poor prognosis.</p>

Autophagy in lung tissue of rats exposed to silica dust / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the autophagy of effector cells in lung tissue at different time points when rats were exposed to free SiO2 dust.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty Wistar rats (220∼230 g) were selected and allocated to experimental group (n = 30) and control group (n = 30). In the experimental group, a rat silicosis model was established by infusing SiO2 suspension into the trachea of rats. Six rats in each group were sacrificed on days 1, 7, 14, 21, or 28 of dust exposure. Lung tissue samples were collected to prepare lung tissue sections. The pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis were observed by HE staining. The proautophagosome, autophagosome, and autophagolysosome in lung tissue sections were observed under a transmission electron microscope.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>On day 1 of dust exposure, many proautophagosomes and autophagosomes were seen in both experimental group and control group. On day 7 of dust exposure, the experimental group had more autophagosomes in lung tissue than the control group. On day 14 of dust exposure, the experimental group had fewer autophagosomes than the control group. On days 21 and 28, autophagolysosomes were seen in macrophage plasma in both experimental group and control group; the autophagolysosomes in experimental group showed cloudy swelling and expansion, and some were vacuolated, and these changes were more significant on day 28.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Free SiO2 dust can induce autophagy in the lung tissue of rats, with varying degrees at different time points of dust exposure.</p>

Macrophage apoptosis and the levels of interleukin-1 and interleukin-8 in the rats exposed to silica / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the roles of macrophage apoptosis, IL-1, and IL-8 in the pathogenesis of rat pulmonary fibrosis induced by silica.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty eight male Wistar rats were divided into the 4 control groups (24 rats) and 4 experimental groups (24 rats). Rats in the control groups were treated with 1 ml normal saline by trachea instillation, whereas the rats in experimental groups were exposed 1 ml silica suspension (100 mg/ml) by trachea instillation for 1, 7, 14 and 28 days, respectively. Six rats of each group were sacrificed, then the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lung tissues were collected, respectively. Pulmonary inflammation, fibrosis and other pathological changes were detected with H.E. staining. Morphological changes of the early stage apoptosis in macrophages were detected with transmission electron microscope (TEM). The early apoptosis rates of macrophages in BALF were also assessed using Annexin V-FITC/PI kit. The IL-1 and IL-8 levels of serum were measured with the ELISA.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The apoptotic rates (11.48% +/- 0.24%, 16.03% +/- 0.68%, 15.53% +/- 1.07%, 18.92% +/- 2.70%, respectively) of macrophage in the experimental groups increased obviously with time, as compared to the controls (5.47% +/- 2.06%, 6.39% +/- 0.215, 9.07% +/- 0.61% and 8.54% +/- 0.16%, Respectively) (P < 0.05). The IL-1 levels of serum in the experimental groups were 23.64 +/- 0.84, 23.38 +/- 1.10, 22.21 +/- 0.86 and 24.29 +/- 1.31 pg/ml, respectively, which were significantly higher than those (18.52 +/- 1.23, 18.40 +/- 1.6, 17.92 +/- 2.21 and 18.53 +/- 2.64 pg/ml, respectively) in the control groups (P < 0.05) without time-effect relationship. The serum IL-8 levels on the 1st, 7th and 14th days in the experimental groups were 21.32 +/- 1.44, 21.90 +/- 2.08 and 22.00 +/- 2.80 pg/ml, respectively, which were significantly higher than those (17.69 +/- 1.09, 16.98 +/- 2.09 and 17.54 +/- 1.62 pg/ml, respectively) in the control groups (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The early macrophage apoptosis and changes of IL-1 and IL-8 may in lungs may play an important role in the development of pulmonary fibrosis induced by silica.</p>

Serum brain natriuretic peptide in children with Kawasaki disease / 世界急诊医学杂志（英文）

BACKGROUND:Kawasaki disease (KD) is a common cause of acquired heart disease in children. Recent studies have focused on the biochemical markers of the myocardium, their high sensitivity and specificity and significance in the diagnosis of KD. This study aimed to determine the serum level of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and its relation with the heart function of children with KD and to explore its clinical value in diagnosis of KD. METHODS:Forty-three KD children, aged from 5 months to 8 years (mean 2.3±0.6 years ), were admitted to Qingdao Children's Hospital from February 2007 to April 2009. Among them 27 were male, and 16 female. The 43 patients served as a KD group. Patients with myocarditis, cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease and other primary heart diseases were excluded. Thirty healthy children, aged from 3 months to 15 years (mean 2.5±0.8 years) or 17 males and 13 females served as a control group. There were no significant differences in age and gender between the two groups (P>0.05). In the KD group, ELISA was used to measure the levels of serum BNP in acute and convalescent stages;and in the control group, the levels of serum BNP were measured once randomly. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular shorten fraction (LVSF), cardiac index (CI) and left ventricular inflow velocity through the mitral annulus (including E-velocity and A-velocity) were measured by two-dimensional echocardiography in the acute and convalescent stages in the KD group. All data were expressed as mean±SD. The methods of analysis included Student's t test and the linear regression analysis test. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS:The level of serum BNP in the acute stage (517.26±213.40) ng/ml was significantly higher than that in the convalescent stage (91.56±47.97) ng/ml in the control group (37.55±7.56) ng/ml (P<0.01). The levels of LVEF, LVSF and CI in the acute stage were significantly lower than those in the convalescent stage (P<0.05), but the E/A level was not significantly different between the acute and convalescent stages (P>0.05). Linear regression analysis showed that the BNP level was negatively correlated with the levels of LVEF, LVSF and CI(r=-0.63, -0.52, -0.53, P<0.05) , but not significantly correlated with the E/A level (r=-0.18, P>0.05). CONCLUSION:The levels of serum BNP are significantly increased in KD patients, and are negatively correlated with the levels of LVEF, LVSF, and CI. The detection of serum BNP level is of clinical significance in the diagnosis of KD.

Levels of serum brain natriuretic peptide and the correlation to heart function in children with Kawasaki disease / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study serum levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in children with Kawasaki disease (KD) and the correlation between BNP levels and the heart function.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-three children with KD and thirty healthy children were enrolled. Serum levels of BNP were measured using ELISA. KD children received an echocardiographic examination, including measurements of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular shorten fraction (LVSF), cardiac index (CI) and left ventricular inflow velocity through the mitral annulus.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Mean serum level of BNP at the acute stage in children with KD was significantly higher than that at the recovery stage as well as the control group (p<0.01). The LVEF, LVSF and CI levels at the acute stage were significantly lower than those at the recovery stage in children with KD (p<0.05). The linear regression analysis showed that the BNP level was negatively correlated with the levels of LVEF, LVSF and CI (r=-0.63, -0.52, -0.53, p<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The serum BNP levels increase significantly in KD children at the acute stage, and are negatively correlated with the levels of LVEF, LVSF and CI. Measurement of serum BNP level is useful for the early diagnosis of KD.</p>

Effect of occupational stress on menses and sex hormones of female knitting workers / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of occupational stress on menses and sex hormones.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>415 female knitting workers were investigated using the generic job stress questionnaire. Their venous blood were collected and the six sex hormones were detected by using radio-immune method. The different rate of abnormal menses and sex hormones level between different stress degree groups were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The abnormal rate of menses, menstrual blood volume, menstrual cycle, menstrual period was 36.24%, 19.80%, 14.43%, 11.41% respectively. The prevalence rate of dysmenorrheal and premenstrual syndrome was 1.01% and 29.19% respectively. The more depression, the higher menses disorders in non-intrauterine device (IUD) group. The more job demands, the higher daily stress in IUD group while the longer work time, the more abnormal menstrual period in two groups. More physical symptoms and deeper depression in non-IUD group were related to higher abnormal rate of menstrual blood volume. The level of blood E2 was lower in the group of prolonged work-time than that of in normal work-time group. The increasing FSH level and decreasing T level was associated with higher job demands. Multiple factor analysis showed that physical symptom, control of resource and negative life affairs were the risk factors of menses disorder; The physical symptom was the risk factor of menstrual blood volume; More physical symptoms, less positive feeling and shift were the risk factors of premenstrual syndrome; Less positive feeling was the risk factor of menstrual cycle; Prolonged daily work-time was the risk factor of menstrual period.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Higher stress degree can lead to higher FSH and E2 and lower T level,and induce menses disorder.</p>

Study on the determinants of Helicobacter pylori infection among coal miners / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the prevalence and determinants of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection among coal miners and to seek for competent preventive measures.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>425 coal miners from three coal mines, Tangshan, Daxing, and baodian were chosen under stratified random cluster sampling. Face to face interview was conducted to fill the unified questionnaires by trained interviewers. 306 subjects underwent gastroenduoscopy to detect the situation of the gastroenduodenal diseases, according to the Sydney System of diagnosis. Mucosa biopsies were also undertaken according to the regulated location for culture of H. pylori and for pathological examination. Blood samples were obtained to detect the anti-HpU-IgG by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). H. pylori infection was determined through culture and ELISA but confirmed under the standards set at the National Congress on Gastroduodenal Diseases in 1999.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among 425 eligible coal miners being tested, 297 (69.9%) were H. pylori positive and the rate for those working underground (74.0%) was higher than that of those working on ground (P=0.004). No difference was found among coal miners between the three mines (P >0.05). Age, living conditions in childhood, number of current family members, the amount of alcohol intake and ways of eating at home were strongly associated with the status of H. pylori infection.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Difference of H. pylori infection prevalences between the underground and the aboveground coal miners was noticed. Determinants that influencing the H. pylori infection would include socioeconomic factors, individual habits and ways of eating at home.</p>