Rapid weight gain in early life is associated with severity of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis in children.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate whether rapid weight gain in early life was associated with the severity of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis in children.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 190 patients (1-24 months) hospitalized for RSV bronchiolitis. Parameters of bronchiolitis severity were compared between rapid (change in weight z-score from birth >0.

Epidemiology of Kawasaki Disease in South Korea: A Nationwide Survey 2015-2017.

Background: This study aimed to investigate recent epidemiologic features of Kawasaki disease (KD) in South Korea.

Methods: The ninth triennial nationwide questionnaire survey collected data on the demographic findings, symptoms and signs, treatment patterns and coronary artery complications of acute-phase KD occurred in 2015-2017 from 98 hospitals with pediatric residency programs and 108 community hospitals without residency programs.

Results: We received data from 93 of the 98 hospitals (response rate: 94.

Children with transient loss of consciousness: Clinical characteristics and the effectiveness of diagnostic tests.

Background: Transient loss of consciousness (TLOC) is common among children and adolescents. The aims of this study were to identify clinical differences between patients with vasovagal syncope and those with epileptic seizures, which account for a large proportion of TLOC cases, and to evaluate the effectiveness of various diagnostic tests.

Methods: The medical records of 160 children and adolescents with TLOC were analyzed retrospectively, and age, sex, clinical symptoms, and trigger factors were recorded.

High antistreptolysin O titer is associated with coronary artery lesions in patients with Kawasaki disease.

Purpose: In Kawasaki disease (KD) patients, coronary artery complications, incomplete and refractory types occur more frequently in patients with streptococcal or other bacterial/viral infections. Recently, we observed a higher incidence of coronary lesions in KD patients with high anti-streptolysin O (ASO) titer. Therefore, we hypothesized that KD patients diagnosed with concurrent streptococcal infection have poor prognosis, with respect to treatment response and development of coronary artery lesions.

An infant presenting with Kawasaki disease following immunization for influenza: A case report.

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a childhood vascular disorder of unknown etiology. Concerns have recently been raised regarding vaccinations as a potential risk factor for KD. In addition, various forms of vasculitis have been reported as adverse events following administration after various vaccines.

Multicenter, Single-Arm, Phase IV Study of Combined Aspirin and High-Dose "IVIG-SN" Therapy for Pediatric Patients with Kawasaki Disease.

Background And Objectives: Intravenous immunoglobulin-SN (IVIG-SN) is a new human immunoglobulin product. Its safety is ensured by pathogen-elimination steps comprising solvent/detergent treatment and a nanofiltration process. This multicenter clinical study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combined aspirin and high-dose IVIG-SN therapy in pediatric patients with Kawasaki disease (KD).

Mycoplasma Infection as a cause of Persistent Fever after Intravenous Immunoglobulin Treatment of Patients with Kawasaki Disease: Frequency and Clinical Impact.

Background: Mycoplasma is a common cause of respiratory infections and may require differential diagnosis from Kawasaki disease (KD). In this study, we investigated the frequency and clinical manifestations of mycoplasma infection in patients with KD.

Materials And Methods: Medical records of 375 in-patients admitted for treatment during the acute stage of KD, were collected, and reviewed retrospectively.

The Therapeutic Effect of PLAG against Oral Mucositis in Hamster and Mouse Model.

Chemotherapy-induced mucositis can limit the effectiveness of cancer therapy and increase the risk of infections. However, no specific therapy for protection against mucositis is currently available. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effect of PLAG (1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-3-acetyl-rac-glycerol, acetylated diglyceride) in 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-induced oral mucositis animal models.

Analysis of clinical characteristics and causes of chest pain in children and adolescents.

Purpose: Chest pain is common in children and adolescents and is a reason for referral to pediatric cardiologists. Although most cases of chest pain in these age groups are benign and do not require treatment, timely diagnosis is important not to miss life-threatening diseases requiring prompt treatment. We investigated certain clinical characteristics that may be useful in the diagnosis of such critical diseases.

Genetic polymorphism of SMAD5 is associated with Kawasaki disease.

Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog (SMAD) proteins are intracellular mediators of members of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily, which are activated by bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). On activation, SMAD5 forms heterometric SMAD complexes, which are translated to the nucleus where they regulate gene transcription. TGF-β induces T cell activation and cardiovascular disease, two important features of Kawasaki disease (KD), whereas BMP is associated with coronary artery disease.

N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT proBNP) as a predictive indicator of initial intravenous immunoglobulin treatment failure in children with Kawasaki disease: a retrospective study.

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) administered in the acute stage of Kawasaki disease (KD) is the standard therapy. Few reports describe nonresponders to initial treatment with IVIG in KD, which remains the most consistent risk factor for coronary artery lesions (CALs). This study aimed to investigate whether the serum level of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) can be a predictive indicator for identifying patients with KD at higher risk of IVIG treatment failure.

Transforming growth factor beta receptor II polymorphisms are associated with Kawasaki disease.

Purpose: Transforming growth factor beta receptor 2 (TGFBR2) is a tumor suppressor gene that plays a role in the differentiation of striated cells and remodeling of coronary arteries. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of this gene are associated with Marfan syndrome and sudden death in patients with coronary artery disease. Cardiovascular remodeling and T cell activation of TGFBR2 gene suggest that the TGFBR2 gene SNPs are related to the pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease (KD) and coronary artery lesion (CAL).

Adjuvant laboratory marker of Kawasaki disease; NT-pro-BNP or hs-CRP?

Background: The diagnosis of Kawasaki disease (KD) is based on clinical data and non-pathognomonic symptoms. As no specific diagnostic test for KD exists, BNP or NT-pro-BNP might be of importance in identifying KD. We compared serum hs-CRP and NT-pro-BNP level in the acute phase of 59 KD patients and evaluated the diagnostic performance of these laboratory markers in KD to estimate the cut-off level for differentiating KD from other febrile illnesses as age-matched controls.

Polymorphisms of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase are not a risk factor for Kawasaki disease in the Korean population.

Purpose: Hyperhomocysteinemia is known as a risk factor for atherosclerosis. Preclinical arteriosclerosis is noted and premature atherosclerosis is known to be accelerated in Kawasaki disease (KD) patients. Genetic polymorphisms in the 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene result in elevated plasma homocysteine concentrations and are known to be associated with the development of coronary artery disease.

Organic light-emitting devices fabricated using a premetered coating process.

We present the results of a study of flat and uniform organic electroluminescent (EL) layers produced using a simple premetered horizontal-dipping process. It is shown that this process can produce high quality organic semiconductor thin films by utilizing the downstream meniscus of the solution, which may be controlled by adjusting the gap height and the carrying speed. It is also shown that the organic light emitting devices (OLEDs) produced using this method exhibit a peak brightness in excess of 52,000 cd/m(2) and a maximum efficiency of 24 cd/A, with a large active area.

Photovoltaic characteristics of polymer solar cells fabricated by pre-metered coating process.

We present the results of a study of flat and uniform poly(3-hexylthiophene):methanofullerene bulk-heterojunction photovoltaic (PV) layers that were produced by a simple pre-metered horizontal-dipping process for the fabrication of polymer solar cells (PSCs). It is shown that this process can produce high quality and thin films by utilizing the downstream meniscus of the solution, which can be controlled by adjusting experimental parameters of the gap height and the carrying speed. It is also shown that the produced PV film exhibits high power conversion efficiency of ca.

Polarized organic light-emitting device on a flexible giant birefringent optical reflecting polarizer substrate.

We present the results of a study of highly linear polarized light emissions from an Organic Light-Emitting Device (OLED) that consisted of a flexible Giant Birefringent Optical (GBO) multilayer polymer reflecting polarizer substrate. Luminous Electroluminescent (EL) emissions over 4,500 cd/m(2) were produced from the polarized OLED with high peak efficiencies in excess of 6 cd/A and 2 lm/W at relatively low operating voltages. The direction of polarization for the emitted EL light corresponded to the passing (ordinary) axis of the GBO-reflecting polarizer.

Epigallocatechin gallate stimulates glucose uptake through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-mediated pathway in L6 rat skeletal muscle cells.

The effect of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on glucose uptake was studied in L6 rat skeletal muscle cells. Glucose uptake assay revealed that EGCG increased glucose uptake >70% compared to control. EGCG-stimulated glucose uptake was blocked by LY294002, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase, which is a major regulatory molecule in glucose uptake pathways.

Increased association of dynamin II with myosin II in ras transformed NIH3T3 cells.

Dynamin has been implicated in the formation of nascent vesicles through both endocytic and secretory pathways. However, dynamin has recently been implicated in altering the cell membrane shape during cell migration associated with cytoskeleton-related proteins. Myosin II has been implicated in maintaining cell morphology and in cellular movement.