Effect of astragaloside IV on the expression of NOD-like receptor protein 3 inflammasome in neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the effect of astragaloside IV (AS-IV) on NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD).@*METHODS@#A total of 24 Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 7 days, were randomly divided into a sham-operation group, an HIBD group, and an AS-IV treatment group, with 8 rats in each group. After 24 hours of modeling, brain tissue was collected for hematoxylin-eosin staining, yo-PRO-1 staining, and EthD-2 immunofluorescent staining in order to observe the cerebral protection effect of AS-IV in vivo. HT22 cells were used to prepare a model of oxygen-glycogen deprivation (OGD), and a concentration gradient (50-400 μmol/L) was established for AS-IV. CCK-8 assay was used to measure the viability of HT22 cells. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to observe the effect of different concentrations of AS-IV on the mRNA and protein expression of NLRP3, gasdermin D (GSDMD), caspase-1, and interleukin-1β (IL-1β).@*RESULTS@#Yo-Pro-1 and EthD-2 staining showed that compared with the sham-operation group, the HIBD group had an increase in pyroptotic cells with a small number of necrotic cells, and the AS-IV group had reductions in both pyroptotic and necrotic cells. Compared with the sham-operation group, the HIBD group had significantly higher protein expression levels of NLRP3, IL-1β, caspase-1, and GSDMD (@*CONCLUSIONS@#AS-IV may alleviate HIBD in neonatal rats by inhibiting the expression of NLRP3, GSDMD, caspase-1, and IL-1β.

Value of absolute counts of lymphocyte subsets in the early prediction of refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the value of absolute counts of lymphocyte subsets in the early prediction of refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (RMPP) in children.@*METHODS@#A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 244 children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP). Among these children, 166 had MPP, and 58 had RMPP. The two groups were compared in terms of clinical features and laboratory markers such as lymphocyte subsets, lactate dehydrogenase, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin and immunoglobulin E (IgE). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the specific indices for predicting RMMP.@*RESULTS@#There were significant differences between the two groups in the absolute counts of CD3, CD4, CD19, and CD56 lymphocytes and the serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase, C-reactive protein, and IgE (P<0.05). The ROC curve analysis showed that the absolute counts of CD3, CD4 and CD19 lymphocytes had an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.866, 0.900 and 0.842 respectively in the differential diagnosis of RMPP and MPP, with a sensitivity of 86%, 90% and 82% respectively and a specificity of 75%, 70% and 80% respectively.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The absolute counts of CD3, CD4 and CD19 lymphocytes can be used to predict RMPP in children.

Effects of Huaiqihuang granules on immune function in children with severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of Huaiqihuang granules on the immune function in children with severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Pediatric inpatients with severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia were randomly divided into Huaiqihuang granule treatment group (n=51) and conventional treatment group (n=47). The Huaiqihuang granule treatment group was orally administered Huaiqihuang granules in addition to the conventional treatment, while the conventional treatment group received conventional treatment only. Levels of serum IgA, IgG, and IgM, percentages of CD4and CD8 T lymphocyte subsets, and CD4/CD8ratio were examined in the two groups. The incidence rate of respiratory tract re-infection within three months following treatment was compared between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The levels of serum IgA, IgG, and IgM, the percentage of CD4 T lymphocytes, and the CD4/CD8ratio were significantly higher in the Huaiqihuang granule treatment group than in the conventional treatment group three months after treatment (P<0.05). In contrast, the percentage of CD8T lymphocytes was significantly lower in the Huaiqihuang granule treatment group than in the conventional treatment group (P<0.05). In addition, the incidence rate of respiratory tract re-infection within three months following treatment was significantly lower in the Huaiqihuang granule treatment group than in the conventional treatment group (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Huaiqihuang granules can regulate immune functions and reduce the incidence of short-term respiratory tract re-infection in children with severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia.</p>

Correlation between serum IGF-1 level and feeding difficulties in preterm infants / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the correlation between serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) level and feeding difficulties in preterm infants.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A retrospective analysis was performed on 200 preterm infants born between January 2013 and January 2014. Venous blood samples were obtained within 24 hours after birth to determine the serum level of IGF-1. The correlation between IGF-1 level and feeding difficulties in preterm infants was analyzed by single-factor analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The serum IGF-1 level in the feeding difficulty group was significantly lower than that in the control group (28±4 ng/mL vs 63±8 ng/mL; P<0.05). Results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that high gestational age and birth weight were protective factors for feeding difficulties in preterm infants, whereas asphyxia, delayed initiation of feeding, use of aminophylline, perinatal infection and decreased IGF-1 level were risk factors.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The level of serum IGF-1 is correlated with feeding difficulties in premature infants. A reduced IGF-1 level increases the risk of feeding difficulties.</p>