C3 glomerulonephritis in 7 children / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics of 7 pediatric patients with C3 glomerulonephritis (C3-GN).Methods The clinical manifestations,pathological features,therapies,prognosis of patients from Jun.2006 to Nov.2011 were analyzed retrospectively.Results All of the patients were presented as acute nephritic syndrome,and 4 patients with macroscopic hematuria,other 3 cases with severe proteinuria.Five patients with eyelid edema.All the patients showed decreased level of serum complement C3,while serum complement C4 was normal.Investigations showed elevation of 24 h urine protein,5 patients with elevated antistreptolysin O titers.Three patients with renal dysfunction.Isolated C3 deposition in mesangial and endothelial areas(+ +-+ + +) was confirmed by immunofluorescence.Light microscope revealed membrane proliferative glomerulonephritis and mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis.Electron microscope showed swelling and hyperplasia of endothelial cells without electron-dense deposition or podocyte foot fusion.Based on conventional treatment,administration of immunosuppressant was performed in 3 patients with severe pathological changes.After a follow-up of 2 months to 5 years,the prognosis seems to be benign.Conclusions Children with C3-GN are usually presented as acute nephritic syndrome,characterized by isolate C3 deposition in immunofluorescence.Electron microscope showed lesion of endothelial cells,while no electron-dense deposits in mesangial and endothelial areas.The mechanism may be associated with dysregulation of alternative complement pathway,and seems had a good short-term prognosis.

Predicted essential proteins of Plasmodium falciparum for potential drug targets

OBJECTIVE@#To identify novel drug targets for treatment of Plasmodium falciparum.@*METHODS@#Local BLASTP were used to find the proteins non-homologous to human essential proteins as novel drug targets. Functional domains of novel drug targets were identified by InterPro and Pfam, 3D structures of potential drug targets were predicated by the SWISS-MODEL workspace. Ligands and ligand-binding sites of the proteins were searched by Ef-seek.@*RESULTS@#Three essential proteins were identified that might be considered as potential drug targets. AAN37254.1 belonged to 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase, CAD50499.1 belonged to chorismate synthase, CAD51220.1 belonged to FAD binging 3 family, but the function of CAD51220.1 was unknown. The 3D structures, ligands and ligand-binding sites of AAN37254.1 and CAD50499.1 were successfully predicated.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Two of these potential drug targets are key enzymes in 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol 4-phosphate pathway and shikimate pathway, which are absent in humans, so these two essential proteins are good potential drug targets. The function and 3D structures of CAD50499.1 is still unknown, it still need further study.

Rapidly Progressive Glomerulonephritis Induced by Antithyroid Agents in Children / 实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To explore the clinical characteristic of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis(RPGN) induced by the antithyroid agents[propylthiouracil(PTU) and methimazole(MMI)].Methods The analysis was made according to the drug histories,clinical manifestation,serology investigations,renal biopsy in 2 children.Results Two cases presented with gross hematuria,proteinuria and renal dysfunction.One case with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody(ANCA)-positive and vasculitis lesion with cresent in the renal biopsy;another presented with mesengial proliferation and cresent.They both had been diagnosed RPGN induced by antithyroid agents for 5 years because of Graves disease.The treatment included that PTU and MMI were withdrawn and then combined prednisone with mycophenolate mofetil(MMF)were applied.One year after treatment,the urine analysis and renal function returned to normal.Conclusions The antithyroid agents may induce RPGN.A early diagnosis and immunosuppressive therapy can improve its prognosis of the disease.