Death in children with influenza A (H3N2) virus infection-associated encephalopathy: two case reports.

We herein report two cases involving children who died of influenza A (H3N2) virus infection-associated encephalopathy/encephalitis (IAE). Both children developed convulsions and impaired consciousness within a relatively short period and eventually died of brainstem failure. Patient 1 presented with high fever, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Platelet endothelial aggregation receptor-1 (PEAR1) is involved in C2C12 myoblast differentiation.

C2C12 murine myoblasts are a common model for studying muscle differentiation. Platelet endothelial aggregation receptor-1 (PEAR1), an epidermal growth factor repeat-containing transmembrane receptor, is known to participate in platelet contact-induced activation. In the present study, we demonstrated that PEAR1 is involved in the differentiation of C2C12 murine myoblasts.

[Change of voltage-gate potassium channel in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells of pulmonary hypertension induced by left-to-right shunt in rats].

Objective: To investigate the electrophysiological changes of voltage-gate potassium channel (Kv) of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells of pulmonary arterial hypertension in rats induced by left to right shunt, and to analyze the role of Kv during the progress of pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Methods: Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups, group A (control, n = 10), group B (sham operated only group, n = 10), and group C (PAH model group, n = 20). Mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) and right ventricular hypertrophy index (RVHI) of each rat were measured, single pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell (PASMC) was obtained by acute enzyme separation method (collagenase I plus papain) and the conventional whole-cell patch clamp technique was used to record resting membrane potential (Em), potassium ion current of voltage-gated potassium channel, the I-V curve between each 2 groups was compared, and correlation of each parameter was analyzed.

Association of angiotensin converting enzyme insertion/deletion gene polymorphism with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome susceptibility in children: a meta-analysis.

Background And Objective: Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene contains either an insertion (I) allele or a deletion (D) allele forming three potential genotypes: II, ID and DD. The D allele or DD genotype has been reported to be associated with higher plasma ACE level. An assessment of the association between ACE I/D gene polymorphism and idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) susceptibility in children is still controversial.

A meta-analysis of the association between angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion gene polymorphism and steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome in children.

Background And Objective: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) gene polymorphism correlates with circulating and cellular ACE concentration. Association between ACE I/D gene polymorphism and steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS) risk in children is still controversial. This meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the relation between ACE I/D gene polymorphism and SSNS susceptibility in children.

Insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of angiotensin-converting enzyme gene in steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome for children: a genetic association study and meta-analysis.

An assessment of the association of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) risk in children is still controversial. A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the relation between ACE gene polymorphisms and SRNS susceptibility. The relevant studies were screened from electronic database and eligible investigations were synthesized using meta-analysis methods.

The association between angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion gene variant and risk of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background And Objective: The association of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) gene polymorphism with the risk of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is still controversial. A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the association between ACE I/D gene polymorphism and FSGS susceptibility.

Method: We performed a predefined literature search and selection of eligible relevant studies to collect data from electronic databases.

GATA4 mutations in Chinese patients with congenital cardiac septal defects.

The object of the study was to elucidate the mutations of the GATA4 gene in Han ancestry patients with congenital cardiac septal defects. Fifty Han ancestry patients with sporadic and familial cardiac septal defects and 200 normal subjects of the same ethnical background were studied. A total of six exons and the intron-exon boundaries of GATA4 were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

[Association between GATA-4 mutations and congenital cardiac septal defects in Han Chinese patients].

Objective: To elucidate the association between GATA-4 gene mutations and congenital cardiac septal defects in Han Chinese patients.

Methods: Fifty Han Chinese patients with congenital cardiac septal defects and 100 normal subjects with the same ethnical background were studied. Total six exons and the intron-exon boundaries of GATA-4 were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction.

Effect of all-trans retinoic acid on renal expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-2, matrix metalloproteinase-9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 in rats with glomerulosclerosis.

In kidney injury the accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) plays an important role and precedes the development of glomerulosclerosis (GS). There is great interest in agents that may interfere with such accumulation of ECM. Therefore, a rat model of GS was established to investigate the effect of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on the renal expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1).

[Observation of the promotion effect taurine on hepatic stellate cell's apoptosis in rat hepatic fibrosis model].

Objective: To observe the effect of taurine on hepatic stellate cell's apoptosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in rats and to study its protective mechanisms.

Methods: CCl4-induced rat hepatic fibrosis was treated by taurine. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), plasma protein, hyaluronic acid (HA), procollagen III (PC III), hepatic microsomal drug-metabolizing enzyme and anti-transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) were determined.