Advances in the application of induced pluripotent stem cells in pediatric diseases.

The optimal diagnosis and treatment of pediatric diseases depend on more adequate understanding of pathophysiology. The advent of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) has provided new strategies for the research and therapy of pediatric diseases. iPSCs are pluripotent stem cells induced by reprogramming of mature cells.

Role of surfactant protein C in neonatal genetic disorders of the surfactant system: A case report.

Rationale: Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) refers to the symptoms of progressive dyspnea and respiratory failure in newborns shortly after birth. The clinical and genetic characteristics of patients with neonatal RDS have not been extensively reported.

Patient Concerns: A infant was in critical condition with repeated paroxysmal blood oxygen decline.

A novel silent deletion, an insertion mutation and a nonsense mutation in the TCOF1 gene found in two Chinese cases of Treacher Collins syndrome.

Treacher Collins syndrome (TCS) is the most common and well-known craniofacial disorder caused by mutations in the genes involved in pre-rRNA transcription, which include the TCOF1 gene. This study explored the role of TCOF1 mutations in Chinese patients with TCS. Mutational analysis of the TCOF1 gene was performed in three patients using polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing.

Value of amplitude-integrated electroencephalograph in early diagnosis and prognosis prediction of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

Unlabelled: To investigate value of amplitude-integrated electroencephalograph (aEEG) in early diagnosis and prediction of long-term prognosis of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), 120 HIE Children were randomly assigned into aEEG group and control group (n = 60 per group). Children in each group were sub-divided into mild, moderate and severe HIE groups (n = 20 per group). 1, 3, 14 and 28 days after birth, aEEG was performed in aEEG group; 3, 14 and 28 days after birth, neonatal behavioral neurological assessment (NBNA) was done in both groups.

[Establishment of regional active neonatal transport network].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical function and significance of establishing a regional active neonatal transport network (ANTN) in Beijing.

Method: The authors retrospectively studied intensive care and the role of ANTN system in management of critically ill neonates and compared the outcome of newborn infants transported to our NICU before and after we established standardized NICU and ANTN system (phase 1: July 2004 to June 2006 vs phase 2: July 2006 to May 2008).

Result: The number of neonatal transport significantly increased from 587 during phase 1 to 2797 during phase 2.

[Effect of basic fibroblast growth factor on expression of protein and mRNA of bone morphogenetic protein 4 in hypoxic-ischemic brain damage in newborn rats].

Objective: To investigate the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF) on expression of protein and mRNA of bone morphogenetic protein 4 in hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) in newborn rats.

Method: One hundred and twenty 7 days old neonatal rats were randomly divided into control group, hypoxic-ischemic brain damage and interventional group of bFGF, each having forty neonatal rats. After HIBD model was established, bFGF was given to interventional group by peritoneal injection for 5 continuous days.

[Preliminary study on maturity of retinal vascularization in premature infants].

Objective: To study the extent of retinal vascular development and influencing factors at birth and the relation between retinal vascularization and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

Methods: From October, 2006 to December 2006, retinal vascularization was screened and evaluated in 84 neonates at different weeks of gestation and birth weights (BWs), had dilated fundus evaluation for zone of retinal vascularization by the 130 degrees lens of a digital fundus camera. The infants' pupils were dilated with 2.

[Relationship between reduced expression of surfactant protein B and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome in twenty Han ethnic group neonates in China].

Objective: To investigate possible relationship between expression of surfactant protein B (SP-B) gene product and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) in Han ethnic group.

Method: Unrelated 20 cases with NRDS of Han ethnic group were selected as NRDS group while unrelated 20 diseases cases of Han ethnic group with diseases were selected as control group. The cases in the control group had congenital heart disease or bronchopulmonary dysplasia or persistent pulmonary hypertension.

The role of antenatal corticosteroids for improving the maturation of choroid plexus capillaries in fetal mice.

We investigated whether the use of antenatal corticosteroids could improve the maturation of choroid plexus capillaries in fetal mice. The study was carried out in two groups of preterm mice. The study group consisted of pregnant mice that received dexamethasone at a dose of 4 mg/kg intraperitoneally.

[A multivariate analysis of prevalence and risk factors of retinopathy of prematurity].

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

Methods: This investigation involved 125 premature infants admitted in the neonate intensive unit between July 1st, 2006 and Feb 1st, 2007, who were less than 37 weeks of postconceptional age, or more than 37 weeks but with birth weight <2500 g. At the fourth postnatal week or the corrected gestational age of 32 to 34 weeks, the infants underwent ROP examination of both eyes using RetCam digital retinal camera.

[Experimental study on growth, proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cell from subventricular zone of human fetal brain at different gestational age].

Objective: To study growth characteristics of neural stem cells (NSCs) from subventricular zone (SVZ) of the different human fetal brain at different gestational age and to provide experimental and theoretical evidences for clinical application of NSCs for treatment of certain diseases.

Methods: Ninety human embryos at gestational age 16 - 36 weeks were collected and were divided into six groups according to gestational age: 16 w, 20 w, 24 w, 28 w, 32 w and 36 w. Each group had 15 embryos and brain tissues were taken from each embryo's SVZ.

[Changes of neural stem cells in neonatal rat model of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy].

Objective: To establish a neonatal rat model of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and clarify the changing features of neural stem cells (NSCs) in episodes of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) so as to provide experimental and theoretical evidences for treating HIE by applying NSCs at the appropraite time.

Methods: Totally 210 neonatal rats aged 7 d were divided randomly into three groups, normal control group, hypoxic group and hypoxic-ischemic group with 70 rats in each. According to the time of sacrefice, 70 rats of every group were further divided randomly into seven groups including third hour (3 h), the sixth hour (6 h), first day (1 d), third day (3 d), the seventh day (7 d), the fourteenth day (14 d) and the twenty-first day (21 d), with 10 rats in each subgroup.

[Effects of neonatal calf serum on differentiation of human fetal neural stem cells in the hippocampus].

Objective: To investigate the effects of neonatal calf serum on the differentiation of human neural stem cells in the hippocampus.

Methods: The effects of various concentrations of neonatal calf serum on the differentiation of human fetal neural stem cells in the hippocampus were observed in cell culture experiment and immunocytochemical staining.

Results: Neonatal calf serum efficiently induced the differentiation of human fetal neural stem cells into neurons and astrocytes, whose amount varied between serum-free cell culture and the culture with neonatal calf serum of different concentrations.

[Phenotype analysis of alpha1-antichymotrypsin in the Guangzhou Han population].

Objective: To understand the phenotype distribution profile of alpha1-antichymotrypsin (alpha1-ACT) in the Han population in Guangzhou municipality so as to decide whether geographical factors affect the distribution of alpha1-ACT phenotypes.

Methods: Polyacrylamide gel isoelectric focusing followed by immunofixation techniques was employed for examining the alpha1-ACT phenotypes in 200 unrelated individuals randomly selected from the Guangzhou Han residents.

Results: Three phenotypes of alpha1-ACT were identified in this subject cohort, which were identical to those identified in Chongqing but with different distributions of the phenotype frequencies.