Serum vitamin D and vitamin-D-binding protein levels in children with chronic hepatitis B.

Background: Vitamin D is an essential fat-soluble secosteroid hydroxylated by the liver to form the intermediate metabolite calcidiol {25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D]}, which is a reliable indicator to investigate individual vitamin D status. Vitamin-D-binding protein (VDBP) is a multifunctional glycoprotein mainly synthesized in the liver and the major transport protein for vitamin D and its metabolites. Serum vitamin D and VDBP are both associated with hepatitis B.

Prognostic role of red blood cell distribution width in patients with sepsis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Outcome prediction for patients with sepsis may be conductive to early aggressive interventions. Numerous biomarkers and multiple scoring systems have been utilized in predicting outcomes, however, these tools were either expensive or inconvenient. We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the prognostic role of red blood cell distribution width (RDW) in patients with sepsis.

Nutrition, Physical Exercise, and the Prevalence of Sarcopenia in Elderly Residents in Nursing Homes in China.

BACKGROUND This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with sarcopenia in elderly residents in three nursing homes in Suzhou City, East China including the association with nutrition and physical exercise. MATERIAL AND METHODS Elderly residents (n=316) from three nursing homes included 112 men and 204 women. The appendicular skeletal muscle index (ASMI), grip strength, and movements were measured to diagnose sarcopenia.

[Dynamic change in vitamin D level in infants/toddlers with severe pneumonia and a correlation analysis].

Objective: To study the correlation of dynamic change in serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D] level with the disease severity and related laboratory markers in infants/toddlers with severe pneumonia.

Methods: A total of 132 infants/toddlers with severe pneumonia who were hospitalized between March 2017 and March 2018 were enrolled as the severe pneumonia group. According to the disease severity on admission and after one week of treatment, they were further divided into non-critical group (41 children on admission and 78 after one week of treatment), critical group (59 children on admission and 35 after one week of treatment), and extremely critical group (32 children on admission and 19 after one week of treatment).

[Predictive value of red blood cell distribution width for acute kidney injury in children with sepsis].

Objective: To study the clinical value of red blood cell distribution width (RDW) in the early prediction of acute kidney injury (AKI) in children with sepsis.

Methods: A total of 126 children with sepsis were divided into an AKI group (n=66) and a non-AKI group (n=60) according to the presence or absence of AKI. These patients were also classified into high-RDW and low-RDW groups according to the mean RDW.

[Risk factors for coronary artery lesions secondary to Kawasaki disease in children].

Objective: To explore the risk factors for coronary artery lesions (CAL) secondary to Kawasaki disease (KD) in children.

Methods: The medical data of 895 children with KD were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were classified into two groups according to the presence of CAL: CAL (n=284) and control (n=611).

[Role of procalcitonin in the diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis in children].

Objective: To study the role of procalcitonin (PCT) in the diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis (APN) in children.

Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical records of children aged under 3 years who were diagnosed with primary urinary tract infection (UTI) from September 2011 to February 2012. These children were divided into those with upper UTI (UUTI) (APN) and those with lower UTI (LUTI) (non-APN) based on 99mTc-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) renal scan results as a gold standard.