Asthma control associated with anxiety and depression in asthmatic children following post-acute COVID-19.

Background: Poor asthma control may adversely affect mental health. Our study investigates the correlation between inadequate asthma control, exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) levels, and anxiety and depression among pediatric asthma patients with COVID-19.

Methods: This prospective case-control study enrolled 520 asthmatic children (8-15 years), including 336 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 after rapid antigen testing at home and 184 age-matched asthmatic patients without COVID-19 infection.

Pathogenesis and novel therapeutics of regulatory T cell subsets and interleukin-2 therapy in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a heterogeneous multisystem inflammatory disease with wide variability in clinical manifestations. Natural arising CD4+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a critical role in maintaining peripheral tolerance by suppressing inflammation and preventing autoimmune responses in SLE. Additionally, CD8+ regulatory T cells, type 1 regulatory T cells (Tr1), and B regulatory cells also have a less well-defined role in the pathogenesis of SLE.

Small Airway Dysfunction Measured by Impulse Oscillometry and Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide Is Associated With Asthma Control in Children.

Background: Impulse oscillometry (IOS) and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) are sensitive and non-invasive methods to measure airway resistance and inflammation, although there are limited population-based studies using IOS and FeNO to predict asthma control.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the utility of IOS and FeNO for assessing childhood asthma control in terms of small airway dysfunction and airway inflammation.

Methods: This prospective observational cohort study enrolled 5,018 school children (aged 6-12 years), including 560 asthmatic children and 140 normal participants.

Lupus nephritis with corticosteroid responsiveness: molecular changes of CD46-mediated type 1 regulatory T cells.

Background: The engagement of the complement regulatory proteins CD46 and CD3 in human CD4+ T cells induces the type 1 regulatory T cells (Tr1) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) secretion. This study aimed to elucidate the molecular changes of Tr1 cells through CD46 cytoplasmic Cyt1 tail in lupus nephritis (LN) respond to intravenous methylprednisolone (ivMP) therapy.

Methods: We enrolled 40 pediatric patients with LN and 30 healthy controls.

Risk factors of vesicoureteral reflux and urinary tract infections in children with imperforate anus: A population-based case-control study in Taiwan.

Imperforate anus (IA) is associated with several urological anomalies, including vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), a major contributor to high morbidity in patients with anorectal malformations. This retrospective study was performed to elucidate the risk factors of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) and UTI in children with IA.We used the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) to estimate the frequency of congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) in children with IA.

Angiotensin II receptor blocker irbesartan attenuates sleep apnea-induced cardiac apoptosis and enhances cardiac survival and Sirtuin 1 upregulation.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether or not angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker irbesartan (ARB) with a partial agonist of PPAR-γ could protect against chronic nocturnal intermittent hypoxia (CIH)-induced cardiac Fas/FasL-mediated to mitochondria-mediated apoptosis.

Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were in a normoxic control group (CON-G), or rats were in a chronic nocturnal intermittent hypoxia group (HP-G, from 3 to 7% oxygen versus 21% oxygen per forty seconds cycle, nocturnally 8 h per day for 1 month), or rats were in a chronic nocturnal intermittent hypoxia group pretreated with ARB (50 mg/kg/day, S.C.

Heat Shock Protein-70 Levels Are Associated With a State of Oxidative Damage in the Development of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia.

Heat shock protein-70 (Hsp-70) exhibits cytoprotective effects against oxidative stress-induced airway injury. This study aimed to examine Hsp-70 and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) from tracheal aspirates (TA) in very low-birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants to predict the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). This birth cohort study enrolled 109 VLBW preterm infants, including 32 infants who developed BPD.

Clinical characteristics, triggering etiologies, and response of plasmapheresis in thrombotic microangiopathy in Taiwan.

Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) syndromes are extraordinarily diverse in clinical presentations and etiologies. However, there are still a limited number of large cohort studies focusing on the underlying causes, outcomes, and response to plasmapheresis.A retrospective study was designed to understand trigger etiologies, organ dysfunctions, clinical outcomes, and efficacy of plasmapheresis in patients with TMA.

Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy enhances suppressive regulatory T cells and decreases innate lymphoid cells in children with immune thrombocytopenia.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between CD4 regulatory T cells (Tregs) and innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) in children with primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) undergoing high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy.

Methods: We enrolled a cohort of 30 children with newly diagnosed ITP and 30 healthy controls and collected blood samples for levels of Tregs, ILCs, relevant cytokines, and Treg suppression assay at the diagnosis, two days, four weeks, and one year (only platelet count) after high-dose IVIG treatment. IVIG partial responders was defined by a platelet count less than 100 × 10 /L at 12 months after IVIG treatment.

Nasal nitric oxide is a useful biomarker for acute unilateral maxillary sinusitis in pediatric allergic rhinitis: A prospective observational cohort study.

Background: Nasal nitric oxide (nNO) could be a biomarker for nasal passage inflammation and sinus ostial patency. We have aimed to investigate the nNO concentration and the effect of antibiotic therapy in children with perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR) children with/without acute bacterial sinusitis.

Methods: We enrolled a cohort of 90 and 31 children with PAR, without and with acute unilateral maxillary sinusitis, and 79 normal children.

Allergen-specific immunotherapy enhances CD8 CD25 CD137 regulatory T cells and decreases nasal nitric oxide.

Background: 4-1BB (CD137), a member of the inducible tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) family, is expressed on regulatory T (Treg) cells and regulates Treg cells to control allergic inflammation. Pam3CSK4, a synthetic TLR2 ligand that can expand CD8 Treg function, is a promising adjuvant for allergen immunotherapy (IT). We examined whether Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p) IT and Pam3CSK4 could enhance CD8  CD25  CD137 Treg suppressive function to decrease nasal nitric oxide (nNO) levels.

Mortality Risks among Various Primary Renal Diseases in Children and Adolescents on Chronic Dialysis.

There is little information available on the association between primary renal disease (PRD) and long-term mortality in the pediatric dialysis population. The objective of this study was to explore mortality risks in children and adolescents on chronic dialysis, specifically focused on the risk of various PRDs. The study cohort included children and adolescents with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) (aged < 20 years) who had received dialysis for at least 90 days between 2000 and 2014 and were identified from Taiwan's National Health Insurance medical claims.

Complement regulatory protein CD46 induces autophagy against oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis in normal and asthmatic airway epithelium.

Autophagy plays a major role in defending against oxidative stress in respiratory epithelial cells. The complement regulatory protein CD46 can enhance autophagy and decrease local complement activation at sites of inflammation. This study investigated the mechanism by which CD46 protects against oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis in respiratory epithelium in asthmatic patients.

Cardiac apoptosis induced under high glucose condition involves activation of IGF2R signaling in H9c2 cardiomyoblasts and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat hearts.

The insulin-like growth factor type 2 receptor (IGF2R) overexpression has been implicated in heart disease progression. Unregulated IGF2R signaling triggers cardiac hypertrophy, apoptosis, and cardiomyopathies. The present study investigated the role of IGF2R in cardiomyocyte apoptosis under high glucose (HG) levels and in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rat hearts.

Regression of Neonatal Cardiac Rhabdomyoma in Two Months Through Low-Dose Everolimus Therapy: A Report of Three Cases.

Cardiac rhabdomyoma (CR) is the most common cardiac tumor in newborns. Approximately 75% of cases are associated with tuberous sclerosis complex. Although these tumors usually spontaneously regress after 2 years of age, they can be life-threatening when they obstruct major cardiac inflow or outflow pathways.

The attenuation of renal fibrosis by histone deacetylase inhibitors is associated with the plasticity of FOXP3IL-17 T cells.

Background: The histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, which has potential effects on epigenetic modifications, had been reported to attenuate renal fibrosis. CD4 forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) T regulatory (Treg) cells may be converted to inflammation-associated T helper 17 cells (Th17) with tissue fibrosis properties. The association between FOXP3IL-17 T cells and the attenuation of renal fibrosis by the HDAC inhibitor is not clear.

IL-17 and CD40 ligand synergistically stimulate the chronicity of diabetic nephropathy.

Background: Early stages of diabetic nephropathy (DN) are characterized by an influx of inflammatory cells. Interactions between infiltrating T cells and podocytes may play an important role in the ongoing inflammatory response and remodelling. The aim of this study was to explore the role of IL-17 and CD40 ligand (CD40L) in DN.

Later Onset Fabry Disease, Cardiac Damage Progress in Silence: Experience With a Highly Prevalent Mutation.

Background: Recently, several studies revealed a much higher prevalence of later onset Fabry disease (FD) than previously expected. It suggested that later onset FD might present as an important hidden health issue in certain ethnic or demographic populations in the world. However, the natural history of its phenotype has not been systemically investigated, especially the cardiac involvement.

Correlates of Elevated Interleukin-6 and 8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine Levels in Tracheal Aspirates from Very Low Birth Weight Infants Who Develop Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia.

Background: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) remains the most common complication of very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants, and inflammatory regulation plays a role in the development of the BPD. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) has an important role in airway inflammation and therefore can be used as a marker of airway injury. The study aimed to compare the changes between IL-6 and oxidative stress marker with 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) from serum and tracheal aspiration (TA) in VLBW preterm infants following development of BPD.

Childhood Albuminuria and Chronic Kidney Disease is Associated with Mortality and End-Stage Renal Disease.

Background: We do not yet fully grasp the significance of childhood albuminuria. Based on mass urinary screening (MUS) using albumin-specific dipsticks in school children, we studied the independent association of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and albuminuria with mortality and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods: A prospective cohort of 5351 children with albuminuria detected by school MSU during the period 1992-1996, followed up to 2009.

Clinical characteristics and prevalence of complications of chronic kidney disease in children: the Taiwan Pediatric Renal Collaborative study.

Background: Little information is available regarding the clinical characteristics and prevalence of complications in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD), especially in early disease stages. The objective of this study was to determine the clinical characteristics and prevalence of complications in children with predialytic CKD.

Methods: This multicenter, cross-sectional study enrolled children at all stages of predialytic CKD.

Incidence and Risks of Congenital Anomalies of Kidney and Urinary Tract in Newborns: A Population-Based Case-Control Study in Taiwan.

Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) are 1 of the major factors in young adults needing renal replacement therapy, but there is little extensive assessment of their incidence and risk factors. This study aimed to evaluate trends in the incidence of and risk factors for CAKUT among all births in Taiwan.This population-based case-control study design was conducted using the Taiwan national births registry, which contains detailed information about maternal health and characteristics of newborns, supplied by health professionals.