Clinical and laboratory features, treatment, and outcomes of macrophage activation syndrome in 80 children: a multi-center study in China.

Background: Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in pediatric rheumatology. We aimed to further understand the clinical features, treatment, and outcome of MAS in China.

Methods: A multi-center cohort study was performed in seven hospitals in China from 2012 to 2018.

Current status and recent advances on the use of ultrasonography in pediatric rheumatic diseases.

Background: Ultrasonography has become a useful tool in the clinical rheumatology settings in the last two decades, but its use has only recently been explored by pediatric rheumatologists. The aim of this article is to review the literature on the current status and recent advances on the use of ultrasound in pediatric rheumatic diseases.

Data Sources: We have retrieved and reviewed the relevant articles from MEDLINE/PubMed databases published so far, on the applications of ultrasound in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), systemic lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, enthesitis, Sjogren's syndrome, and other rheumatic diseases.

[Clinical and laboratory features of macrophage activation syndrome].

Objective: To study the clinical and laboratory features of macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) at the early stage of diagnosis, and to explore a method for early identification of MAS.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed for the demographic data, clinical and laboratory features, and treatment outcomes of 21 MAS patients.

Results: Of the 21 MAS patients, 14 had systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis, 5 had Kawasaki disease (KD), and 2 had connective tissue disease (CTD) as primary diseases.

[Association of vitamin D concentrations with juvenile idiopathic arthritis].

Objective: 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D3] is the main product of vitamin D and can reflect the absolute concentration of active vitamin D in the body. This study examined serum 25(OH)D3 levels in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in order to explore the association of vitamin D concentrations with the pathogenesis and disease activity of JIA.

Methods: Serum samples were collected from 53 children confirmed as having JIA between January 2013 and March 2014, as well as 106 healthy children (control group) who underwent physical examination in the same period.

[Serum cytokine levels in children with newly diagnosed active systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis].

Objective: To study the changes in serum cytokines levels in children with newly diagnosed active systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA) and to explore the role of cytokines in the development and progression of SJIA.

Methods: Seventy-four pediatric patients with active SJIA between January 2010 and December 2013 were included in the study. Serum levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukine-10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) were measured by flow cytometry in these patients.

[Risk factors for pleural lung disease in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis].

Objective: To investigate the risk factors for pleural lung disease (PLD) in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and to provide a basis for the early diagnosis and timely treatment of this disease.

Methods: A total of 360 children with a confirmed diagnosis of JIA were enrolled, and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent a chest X-ray.

[Clinical features of recurrent Kawasaki disease in 20 children].

Objective: To investigate the clinical features of recurrent Kawasaki disease (KD) and the relationship of recurrent KD with coronary artery lesions.

Methods: The medical data of 20 children with recurrent KD who were admitted to the Children's Hospital from January 1998 to May 2007 were retrospectively studied. Their clinical features were compared with those of children with initial KD.

Analysis of urinary proteomic patterns for diabetic nephropathy by ProteinChip.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the main cause of mortality for diabetic patients. The objective of this work was to develop a proteomic approach to detect proteins or peptides in urine for identifying individuals in the early stage of DN. We obtained urine samples from 106 diabetic patients and 50 healthy subjects.