Oxygen saturation targets in pediatric respiratory disease.

Background: The present study aimed to assess the appropriate oxygen saturation target in patients with pediatric respiratory diseases by lowering the oxygen saturation target from SpO 94% to 90%. No previous study has explored appropriate oxygen saturation targets in respiratory diseases other than bronchiolitis.

Methods: The present, prospective, single-arm intervention trial enrolled pediatric inpatients with bronchiolitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and asthma.

Bradycardia Associated with Prednisolone in Children with Severe Kawasaki Disease.

Objective: To identify the prevalence of bradycardia associated with use of prednisolone in patients with Kawasaki disease and analyze the association between bradycardia and responsiveness to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG).

Study Design: We performed a retrospective cohort study of 176 patients with severe Kawasaki disease admitted to the Tokyo Metropolitan Children's Medical Center between March 2010 and December 2015. The group treated with IVIG plus prednisolone therapy from February 2012 was compared with the control group who received IVIG monotherapy before this date.

Characterization of cognitive deficits in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease and effects of donepezil and memantine.

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by a progressive decline in cognitive function and involves β-amyloid (Aβ) in its pathogenesis. To characterize cognitive deficits associated with Aβ accumulation, we analyzed PS1/APP mice overexpressing mutant presenilin-1 (PS1, M146L; line 6.2) and amyloid precursor protein (APP, K670N/M671L; line Tg2576), a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease with accelerated Aβ production.

Na(x)-deficient mice show normal vasopressin response to dehydration.

In dehydrated animals, the antidiuretic hormone vasopressin (VP) is released from the nerve terminals of magnocellular neurons of the supraoptic nucleus (SON) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN) into the systemic circulation at the posterior pituitary. Increases in sodium (Na+)-level and osmolality in body fluids upon dehydration are reportedly sensed by a Na+-sensor and/or an osmosensor, respectively. However, it is still unknown whether both are involved in the regulation of production and/or release of VP.