Effects of the mTOR Pathway on the Balance of Th2/Treg Cells in Children with Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome.

Introduction: Immune dysfunction contributes to the progression of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS), but the details of the pathogenesis of progression remain unknown. This study of children with INS investigated the relationship of activation of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway (PI3K/AKT/mTOR/p70S6K) with the levels of T helper 2/regulatory T (Th2/Treg) cells.

Materials And Methods: Twenty children with active INS (before steroid treatment), 20 children with remitting INS (INS-R, after steroid treatment), and 20 healthy control children (Ctrl) were enrolled.

Function of miR-24 and miR-27 in Pediatric Patients With Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome.

We investigated the pathogenesis of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) by measuring the effects two specific miRNAs on Th2 cells in children with this disease. After informed consent, we enrolled 20 children with active INS before steroid initiation, 20 children with INS in remission after steroid therapy, and 20 age-matched healthy controls. Flow cytometry was used to measure the levels of Th2 cells and a cytometric bead array was used to measure the levels of IgE, interleukin (IL)-4, and IL-13.

A Fiber Bragg Grating-Based Dynamic Tension Detection System for Overhead Transmission Line Galloping.

Galloping of overhead transmission lines (OHTLs) may induce conductor breakage and tower collapse, and there is no effective method for long distance distribution on-line galloping monitoring. To overcome the drawbacks of the conventional galloping monitoring systems, such as sensitivity to electromagnetic interference, the need for onsite power, and short lifetimes, a novel optical remote passive measuring system is proposed in the paper. Firstly, to solve the hysteresis and eccentric load problem in tension sensing, and to extent the dynamic response range, an 'S' type elastic element structure with flanges was proposed.

Tracing Acetylene Dissolved in Transformer Oil by Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectrum.

Dissolved gas analysis (DGA) is widely used in monitoring and diagnosing of power transformer, since the insulation material in the power transformer decomposes gases under abnormal operation condition. Among the gases, acetylene, as a symbol of low energy spark discharge and high energy electrical faults (arc discharge) of power transformer, is an important monitoring parameter. The current gas detection method used by the online DGA equipment suffers from problems such as cross sensitivity, electromagnetic compatibility and reliability.

A new diterpenoid from the leaves of Platycladus orientalis.

A new diterpenoid, 17-methyl-8, 13-labdadien-15, 16-olid-19-oic acid methyl ester (1), along with two known compounds 2 and 3, were isolated from the leaves of Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco. The structures were confirmed based on the analysis of HR-MS, 1D-NMR, and 2D-NMR spectra and the configuration of 1 was confirmed by the single-crystal X-ray diffraction.

Effect of Dispersion Method on Stability and Dielectric Strength of Transformer Oil-Based TiO Nanofluids.

Dispersion stability of nanoparticles in the liquid media is of great importance to the utilization in practice. This study aims to investigate the effects of mechanical dispersion method on the dispersibility of functionalized TiO nanoparticles in the transformer oil. Dispersion methods, including stirring, ultrasonic bath, and probe processes, were systematically tested to verify their versatility for preparing stable nanofluid.

The effects of ketogenic diet on the Th17/Treg cells imbalance in patients with intractable childhood epilepsy.

Purpose: The ketogenic diet (KD) is an effective treatment for intractable epilepsy (IE), however the therapeutic mechanism is still unclear. This study was designed to investigate T helper type 17/regulatory T cell (Th17/Treg) levels in children with IE and age-matched healthy controls following KD.

Method: Circulating levels of Th17/Treg cells were analyzed by flow cytometry.

Note: Dissolved hydrogen detection in power transformer oil based on chemically etched fiber Bragg grating.

A fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor based on chemically etched cladding to detect dissolved hydrogen is proposed and studied in this paper. Low hydrogen concentration tests have been carried out in mixed gases and transformer oil to investigate the repeatability and sensitivity. Moreover, to estimate the influence of etched cladding thickness, a physical model of FBG-based hydrogen sensor is analyzed.

[Alterations of CD4+CXCR5+Tfh cells and its transcription regulatory factors in children with asthma].

Objective: To study the alterations of follicular T helper cells (CD4(+)CXCR5(+)Tfh cells, Tfh) on circulating T lymphocytes in children with asthma, and to study the expression of transcription regulatory factors BCL-6 and BLIMP-1 mRNA.

Methods: Sixty-four children with asthma and 25 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. On the basis of the disease, the children with asthma were classified into acute phase group (n=36) and remission phase group (n=28).

Cross-validation of the osmotic pressure based on Pitzer model with air humidity osmometry at high concentration of ammonium sulfate solutions.

The osmotic pressure of ammonium sulfate solutions has been measured by the well-established freezing point osmometry in dilute solutions and we recently reported air humidity osmometry in a much wider range of concentration. Air humidity osmometry cross-validated the theoretical calculations of osmotic pressure based on the Pitzer model at high concentrations by two one-sided test (TOST) of equivalence with multiple testing corrections, where no other experimental method could serve as a reference for comparison. Although more strict equivalence criteria were established between the measurements of freezing point osmometry and the calculations based on the Pitzer model at low concentration, air humidity osmometry is the only currently available osmometry applicable to high concentration, serves as an economic addition to standard osmometry.

[Clinical investigation and mutation analysis of a child with citrin deficiency complicated with purpura, convulsive seizures and methioninemia].

Objective: To analyze the clinical features and SLC25A13 gene mutations of a child with citrin deficiency complicated with purpura, convulsive seizures and methioninemia.

Methods: The patient was subjected to physical examination and routine laboratory tests. Blood amino acids and acylcarnitines, and urine organic acids and galactose were analyzed respectively with tandem mass spectrometry and gas chromatographic mass spectrometry.

[Analysis of clinical features and GCDH gene mutations in four patients with glutaric academia type I].

Objective: To review clinical features of four male patients with glutaric academia type I and screen glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase (GCDH) gene mutations.

Methods: The 4 patients underwent brain computer tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analyses. Blood acylcarnitine and urine organic acid were analyzed with tandem mass spectrometry and gas chromatographic mass spectrometry.

Investigation of the change in CD4⁺ T cell subset in children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura.

Helper T (Th) cells comprising Th1, Th2, Th17, and Treg are involved in the pathogenesis of various vascular inflammations, and information about Th cells in Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is still controversial. The aim of our study was to investigate the changes in CD4(+) T cell subsets and their roles in the pathogenesis of HSP. Thirty children with diagnosis of HSP and thirty age-matched healthy controls were enrolled in this study.

[SLC25A13 gene analysis in neonates with intrahepatic cholestasis caused by citrin deficiency].

Objective: Neonatal intrahepatic cholestasis caused by citrin deficiency (NICCD) which resulted from mutation in SLC25A13 gene can present transient intrahepatic cholestasis, low birth weight, growth retardation, hypoproteinemia and so on. This study aimed to identify the mutation type of NICCD patients by DNA sequencing.

Methods: Twenty children diagnosed as NICCD were consented to enroll in this study.

A regulatory polymorphism in promoter region of TNFR1 gene is associated with Kawasaki disease in Chinese individuals.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and the TNF receptor superfamily (TNF-TNFR) plays very important roles in the pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease (KD) by leukocyte recruitment, upregulation of matrix-degrading enzymes and proinflammatory cytokines. This study aims to investigate whether potential polymorphisms in TNF receptor superfamily member 1A gene (TNFR1) are associated with KD and its effects on transcriptions activity of TNFR1. Genetic variations of TNFR1 promoter and coding regions in 132 unrelated patients with KD and 212 age-matched healthy controls recruited from a population of Chinese individuals were screened by direct sequencing.

[Changes of immune function in patients with 2009 influenza A (H1N1)].

Objective: To investigate the alteration of immune function and possible immunopathogenesis in the children with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) infection.

Method: Sixty patients with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) infection hospitalized in Shenzhen Children's Hospital between November 1, 2009 and January 10, 2010 and 20 age-matched healthy children were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into two groups according to the severity of influenza A infection: 35 mild cases (mild pneumonia) and 25 severe cases (severe pneumonia, acute encephalopathy associated with influenza A, and 3 died from acute necrotizing encephalopathy with influenza A infection).

[Characteristics of severely and critically ill children with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus infection].

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics of severely and critically ill children with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) infection.

Method: Clinical data of 150 cases with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus infection confirmed with the use of a real-time polymerase-chain-reaction assay on nasopharyngeal swab specimens were analyzed.

Result: Among 150 severely and critically ill children with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus infection, 103 were male, 47 were female; the median age was 5 years, 81(55%) were 5 years of age or older; 21 (14%) had underlying chronic diseases.

[Analysis of clinical features and gene mutations in two Chinese pedigrees with late-onset methylmalonic acidemia, cblC type].

Objective: CblC is the most common type of methylmalonic acidemia with homocysteinemia. MMACHC is the coding gene. This study aimed at understanding clinical features and gene mutations in 2 Chinese pedigrees who had late-onset methylmalonic acidemia complicated with homocysteinemia.

Using extended Wilson model to study the relationship between critical relative humidity and solubility of electrolytes.

Based on thermodynamic principle, the critical relative humidity of electrolytes is closely related to their solubility. The authors explored the relationship theoretically and calculated critical relative humidity of 21 electrolytes from their solubility in the light of Raoult's law and extended Wilson model. The results indicate that the critical relative humidity values calculated by Raoult's law can not accord with the reported ones and there is a systematic error in the high concentration range; while these calculated by extended Wilson model are comparable to the reported ones.

[To investigate pathogen of hand, foot and mouth disease in Shenzhen in 2008].

Objective: To investigate EV71 and CA16 pathogen of HFMD in Shenzhen in 2008, and to provide the evidence for the prevention and treatment HFMD.

Method: Using RT-PCR technology to detect the EV71 and CoxA16 genes of 307 samples HFMD; sequencing the purified PCR products from 14 samples. Using ClustalW2 online analysis software for sequence and phylogenetic analysis of enterovirus 71.

[Changes of immune function in patients with enterovirus 71 infection].

Objective: To investigate the association of changes in immune function with enterovirus 71 (EV71) cases with different severity of the disease.

Method: Forty-six EV71-infected patients and 12 age-matched healthy children were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into four groups according to critical degree of enterovirus 71 infection: hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD); central nervous system disease (CNSD); autonomic nervous system dysregulation (ANSD) and pulmonary edema (PE).

[Studies on the mutation and polymorphism of the TPMT gene in Chinese children with acute leukemia].

Objective: To investigate the allelic frequencies and distribution of single-nucleotide polymorphisms within the coding region (cSNPs) of thiopurine S-methyltransferase gene (TPMT) in Chinese children with acute leukemia (AL) and healthy controls, in order to provide genetic references for individual chemotherapy for AL patients by studying the relationship between the cSNP in human TPMT and chemotherapeutic effect of thiopurine drugs.

Methods: The bone marrow samples from 53 children with AL and peripheral blood samples from 115 healthy children were obtained to prepare complementary DNAs (cDNAs). The cDNAs were analyzed for the polymorphisms in the TPMT gene by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and DNA sequencing.

[Critical care and therapy based different illness state of 80 patients with severe hand-foot-and-mouth disease seen in Shenzhen].

Objective: To discuss the treatment strategy of severe hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) cases, prevent the severe cases from progressing to fatal condition and enhance the survival rate of critically ill patients.

Methods: Eighty HFMD cases were divided into four groups, A, B, C and D, according to the severity of patients' nervous system manifestation and other system involved. Different intensive care and treatments were used and the effect and outcome were analyzed for each group.