Reference values of induced sputum cytology in healthy children in guangzhou, southern china.

Objective: To establish normal reference values of induced sputum cytology in healthy children in southern China.

Methods: During a period from January 2010 to December 2011, a total of 580 healthy children (5-16 years of age) were approached. A total of 266 children (137 boys and 129 girls) participated in the study.

[Preliminary establishment of cytological examination and the normal reference values for hypertonic saline solution-induced sputum of healthy children in Guangzhou].

Objective: To establish the method of cytological examination and the normal reference values for hypertonic saline solution-induced sputum of healthy children (age range from 5 to 15 years) with physical examination in Guangzhou.

Method: A total of 352 children, 5 to 15 years old, were enrolled from primary school and middle school in Guangzhou from January to December, 2010. All subjects completed a standardized questionnaire on the presence of respiratory, allergic symptoms and family history, the medical history and the physical examination was performed by doctors, lung function (forced expiratory volume at 1 s in predicted normal, FEV(1)%) was determined.

[Clinical characteristics of bronchiolitis obliterans in pediatric patients].

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics, image findings, laboratory examination, the therapeutic methods and clinical outcomes of bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) in pediatric patients.

Method: Twenty-six pediatric patients with BO were reported. All data were collected from cases who were hospitalized in the Department of Pediatrics, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College from June 1(st), 2009 to the April 30(th), 2011, and infectious agents, clinical manifestations, risk factors, changes in imageology, laboratory examination, therapeutic methods and treatment responses were analyzed.

[The level and clinical significance of Toll-like receptor 4 in children with severe sepsis].

Objective: To study the clinical significance of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in children with severe sepsis.

Methods: A prospective control study was performed. All cases were enrolled from pediatric department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College, and they were divided into severe sepsis group (14 patients) who were diagnosed to have severe sepsis or septic shock in intensive care unit (ICU), pneumonia group (10 cases) with diagnosis of bronchial pneumonia, and healthy control group (10 healthy children).

Folding and membrane insertion of amyloid-beta (25-35) peptide and its mutants: implications for aggregation and neurotoxicity.

The mechanisms of interfacial folding and membrane insertion of the Alzheimer's amyloid-beta fragment Abeta(25-35) and its less toxic mutant, N27A-Abeta(25-35) and more toxic mutant, M35A-Abeta(25-35), are investigated using replica-exchange molecular dynamics in an implicit water-membrane environment. This study simulates the processes of interfacial folding and membrane insertion in a spontaneous fashion to identify their general mechanisms. Abeta(25-35) and N27A-Abeta(25-35) peptides share similar mechanisms: the peptides are first located in the membrane hydrophilic region where their C-terminal residues form helical structures.