Exploring the diagnostic value of CLR and CPR in differentiating Kawasaki disease from other infectious diseases based on clinical predictive modeling.

Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) is an important cause of acquired heart disease in children and adolescents worldwide. KD and infectious diseases can be easily confused when the clinical presentation is inadequate or atypical, leading to misdiagnosis or underdiagnosis of KD. In turn, misdiagnosis or underdiagnosis of KD can lead to delayed use of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), increasing the risk of drug resistance and coronary artery lesions (CAL).

[Quantitative proteomics and bioinformatics analyses of human coronary artery endothelial cell injury induced by Kawasaki disease].

Objective: To study the biomarkers for human coronary artery endothelial cell (HCAEC) injury induced by Kawasaki disease (KD) using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) proteomics.

Methods: HCAECs cultured with the serum of children with KD were used as the KD group, and those cultured with the serum of healthy children was used as the healthy control group. The iTRAQ technique was used to measure the expression of proteins in two groups.

Transthoracic Echocardiographic Evaluation of Pulmonary Valve Anomalies in Pediatric Patients.

The pulmonary valve normally consists of 3 leaflets supported in a semilunar fashion within the sinuses of the pulmonary trunk. Pulmonary leaflet malformations, such as congenital single pulmonary cusp absence, bicuspid pulmonary valve, and quadricuspid pulmonary valve anomalies, as well as pulmonary valve commissural fusion, are seldom identified preoperatively on echocardiography. In this study, we report on 5 children with different types of pulmonary valve malformations diagnosed by transthoracic echocardiography.

Identification of differentially expressed microRNAs in acute Kawasaki disease.

The present study used microarray analysis to screen the plasma expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) in patients with acute Kawasaki disease (KD) and aimed to explore the pathogenesis of KD. Plasma was collected from children with acute KD (n=6) and from healthy control children (n=6). Total RNA was extracted and differential miRNA expression between the two groups was determined.

Sets of serum exosomal microRNAs as candidate diagnostic biomarkers for Kawasaki disease.

Although Kawasaki disease is the main cause of acquired heart disease in children, no diagnostic biomarkers are available. We aimed to identify candidate biomarkers for diagnosing Kawasaki disease using serum exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs). Using frozen serum samples from a biobank, high-throughput microarray technologies, two-stage real-time quantitative PCR, and a self-referencing strategy for data normalization, we narrowed down the list of biomarker candidates to a set of 4 miRNAs.

Meta-analysis of risk factors associated with atherosclerosis in patients with Kawasaki disease.

Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) has now become the leading cause of acquired heart disease among children in developed countries. This study investigated whether patients with KD have an increased risk of atherosclerosis.

Methods: Electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase and Springer link, were searched through June 1, 2015, for eligible studies.

Diagnostic accuracy of coronary angiography using 64-slice computed tomography in coronary artery disease.

Objectives: To conduct a meta-analysis and investigate the diagnostic value of 64-slice computed tomography (CT) angiography for diagnosing coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search from March 2005 to August 2014 was performed on the following databases: Cochrane Library; Medline; EmBase; PubMed; and BioMed Central database. As a reference standard, studies that assessed 64-slice CT angiography in detecting coronary artery stenosis (CAS) with invasive coronary angiography were included.

Molecular cloning and characterization of a Spirometra erinacei casein kinase I.

The Spirometra erinacei casein kinase I (SeCKI) gene was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli, and its characteristics were investigated in this study. The recombinant SeCP protein (rSeCKI) was purified. The vaccination of mice with rSeCKI induced the Th1/Th2-mixed type of immune response with Th2 predominant (high levels of IgG1).

Solvent-modified MEKC for the enantioseparation of palonosetron hydrochloride and related enantiomeric impurities.

The effect of ten water-soluble organic solvents on MEKC separation of palonosetron hydrochloride (PALO) stereoisomers using sodium cholate (SC) as chiral selector has been studied. The first chiral CE method fit for the analysis of unwanted PALO distomers (enantiomeric impurities) of low concentrations in the presence of high concentration of the main eutomer has been developed, based on solvent-modified MEKC mode. It was found that methanol provides the best separation among the solvents tested.

Separation mechanisms for palonosetron stereoisomers at different chiral selector concentrations in MEKC.

The separation mechanisms for palonosetron (PALO) stereoisomers in MEKC using sodium cholate (SC) as surfactant and chiral selector have been studied, in a wide range of concentrations below and above the CMC. It was found that SC micelles only provide chirally selective recognition for 3a carbon chiral center in PALO molecules. The resolution of the configurations of 2 carbon chiral center is achieved by the difference of mobility in continuous phase.

Berberine protects endothelial progenitor cell from damage of TNF-α via the PI3K/AKT/eNOS signaling pathway.

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) dysfunction is closely correlated with the coronary artery injury induced by Kawasaki disease (KD). The level of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) elevated significantly in acute phase of KD which can damage the functions of EPCs. The aim of this study was to investigate whether berberine (BBR) can protect EPCs from the inhibition caused by TNF-α via the PI3K (Phosphatidyl Inositol 3-kinase) /AKT (Serine/threonine protein kinase B) /eNOS (endothelial Nitric Oxide synthase) signaling pathway.

Effect of low concentration sodium dodecyl sulfate on the electromigration of palonosetron hydrochloride stereoisomers in micellar electrokinetic chromatography.

The effect of low concentrations of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on the separation of palonosetron hydrochloride (PALO) stereoisomers by micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) has been investigated. It was found that the addition of SDS prolongs the migration time and the migration order of four stereoisomers changes regularly with the SDS concentration. Good separations for all the four stereoisomers were achieved at appropriate SDS concentration.

A new class of pluripotent stem cell cytotoxic small molecules.

A major concern in Pluripotent Stem Cell (PSC)-derived cell replacement therapy is the risk of teratoma formation from contaminating undifferentiated cells. Removal of undifferentiated cells from differentiated cultures is an essential step before PSC-based cell therapies can be safely deployed in a clinical setting. We report a group of novel small molecules that are cytotoxic to PSCs.

The circulating level of endothelial progenitor cells after transcatheter closure of congenital heart disease in children.

Data have shown that circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) closely correlate with the vascular endothelial layer state. The present study was designed to describe the evolution of EPCs in children before and 24 h after transcatheter closure surgery for occluding congenital heart disease. Three groups of patients were studied: the transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) group (group 1), the transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) group (group 2), and the transcatheter closure of ventricular septal defect (VSD) group (group 3).

[Effects of intravenous immunoglobulin and aspirin treatment on the functions of circulating endothelial progenitor cells in children with Kawasaki disease].

Objective: To study the effects of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and aspirin treatment on the functions of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in children with Kawasaki disease (KD) and possible mechanisms.

Methods: Blood samples were obtained in 10 children with KD before and 7 days after the treatment by IVIG and aspirin. MTT method, modified Boyden chamber method and cell culture plate adhesion method were used to assess the functions of EPCs, including proliferation, adhension and migration activities.

The functions of endothelial progenitor cells were significantly improved after treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin and aspirin in children with Kawasaki disease.

We sought to determine the effects of treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and aspirin on the functions of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) as well as its relationship with concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). Ten KD patients in the acute phase of their disease were recruited. We investigated EPC functions in children with KD before and after treatment with IVIG and aspirin.

[Decreased circulating endothelial progenitor cell function: relationship with serum concentrations of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in children with Kawasaki disease].

Objective: To study the function of circulating endothelial progenitor cells and its relationship with serum concentrations of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP) in children with Kawasaki disease.

Methods: Ten children with Kawasaki disease and ten healthy children as a control group were enrolled. The peripheral mononuclear cells were induced into endothelial progenitor cells using Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium containing vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor.

The number and function of circulating endothelial progenitor cells in patients with Kawasaki disease.

Kawasaki disease (KD) is associated with coronary artery injury. Studies have shown that the endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) participates in the process of arterial repair. Data have been reported that the number of EPC increased significantly in the subacute phase of KD.

Berberine-induced decline in circulating CD31+/CD42- microparticles is associated with improvement of endothelial function in humans.

Elevated circulating endothelial microparticles (EMPs) are associated with endothelial dysfunction. This study is to investigate whether berberine-induced fall in circulating EMPs facilitates improvement of endothelial function in healthy subjects. Fourteen healthy subjects received 1-month berberine therapy (1.

Berberine-induced upregulation of circulating endothelial progenitor cells is related to nitric oxide production in healthy subjects.

Objectives: Berberine (BR) has a beneficial effect on endothelial function by increasing nitric oxide (NO), as NO plays a pivotal role in the regulation of endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) mobilization and function. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether BR-induced upregulation of circulating EPCs is related to NO production in healthy subjects.

Methods: Twenty volunteers were recruited and received 400 mg of BR 3 times a day for 30 days.

Increased circulating CD31+/CD42- microparticles are associated with impaired systemic artery elasticity in healthy subjects.

Background: Impaired artery elasticity has been found in various pathological conditions related to endothelial dysfunction. Recently, CD31+/CD42- microparticles (MPs) emerged as a marker of endothelial injury. Whether CD31+/CD42- MPs, generated under physiological conditions, are correlated with artery properties has not been reported.

[Fluid shear stress upregulated endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene expression and nitric oxide formation in human endothelial progenitor cells].

Objective: To observe the effect of fluid shear stress on the eNOS gene expression and NO production in endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs).

Methods: The peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy volunteers were inducted into EPCs and divided into stationary group (0 dyn/cm(2), 1 dyn/cm(2) = 0.1 Pa), low-flow shear stress group (5 dyn/cm(2)), medium-flow shear stress group (15 dyn/cm(2)) and high-flow shear stress group (25 dyn/cm(2)).

Increased brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity is associated with impaired endothelial function in patients with coronary artery disease.

Background: Pulse wave velocity and flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) are widely used as noninvasive modalities for evaluating atherosclerosis. However, it is not known whether pulse wave velocity is related to FMD in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the alteration in brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and endothelial function in CAD patients.