Ubiquitin ligase MDM2 mediates endothelial inflammation in Kawasaki disease vasculitis development.

Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) often complicates coronary artery lesions (CALs). Despite the established significance of STAT3 signaling during the acute phase of KD and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling being closely related to CALs, it remains unknown whether and how STAT3 was regulated by ubiquitination during KD pathogenesis.

Methods: Bioinformatics and immunoprecipitation assays were conducted, and an E3 ligase, murine double minute 2 (MDM2) was identified as the ubiquitin ligase of STAT3.

Myocardial Work for Dynamic Monitoring of Myocardial Injury in Neonatal Asphyxia.

To assess the value of parameters of myocardial work for dynamic monitoring of myocardial injury after neonatal asphyxia. Fifty-three neonates with asphyxia admitted within 24 h after delivery were divided into a mild asphyxia group (n = 40) and severe asphyxia group (n = 13). Echocardiography was performed within 24 h post-birth, within 72 h post-birth (48 h after first echo), and during recovery.

Echocardiographic assessment of intimal thickness growth of patent ductus arteriosus in neonates and analysis of influencing factors.

The spontaneous closure rate of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is high, and the necessity of early intervention is debated. Quantitative echocardiographic assessment of the intima in PDA has not been reported. This study evaluated intimal thickness growth in neonatal cases of PDA via echocardiography and investigated its correlation with clinical factors.

Ultrasonography to detect cardiovascular damage in children with essential hypertension.

Background: Essential hypertension in adults may begin in childhood. The damages to the heart and blood vessels in children with essential hypertension are hidden and difficult to detect. We noninvasively examined changes in cardiovascular structure and function in children with hypertension at early stage using ultrasonography.

Clinical characteristics of Kawasaki disease and concurrent pathogens during isolation in COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The aim of this study is to explore the characteristics of Kawasaki disease (KD) and concurrent pathogens due to a stay-at-home isolation policy during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic.

Methods: All patients with KD admitted between February and April in 2015-2020, were classified into before (group 1, in 2015-2019) and after (group 2, in 2020) isolation groups. A total of 4742 patients [with KD (n = 98) and non-KD (n = 4644)] referred to Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) and virus detection were analyzed in 2020.

[Association between serum uric acid and subclinical cardiac damage in children with primary hypertension].

Objective: To evaluate the condition of subclinical cardiac damage in children with primary hypertension and the association between serum uric acid and subclinical cardiac damage.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical data of 55 children who were hospitalized and diagnosed with primary hypertension in the Department of Cardiology, Children's Hospital of Soochow University from January 2015 to June 2020. Forty-five healthy children, matched for age and sex, were enrolled as the control group.

Corrigendum: MiR-223-3p Alleviates Vascular Endothelial Injury by Targeting IL6ST in Kawasaki Disease.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fped.2019.

MiR-223-3p Alleviates Vascular Endothelial Injury by Targeting IL6ST in Kawasaki Disease.

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a self-limiting illness with acute systematic vascular inflammation. It causes pathological changes in mostly medium and small-sized arteries, especially the arteria coronaria, which adds the risk of developing coronary heart disease in adults. We detected the miR-223-3p expression in 30 KD patients combined with 12 normal controls using miRNA microarrays and RT-PCR.

Kawasaki disease OX40-OX40L axis acts as an upstream regulator of NFAT signaling pathway.

Background: We investigated a costimulatory molecule OX40-OX40L acting as an upstream regulator to regulate the nuclear factor of activated T cell (NFAT) in the acute phase of Kawasaki disease (KD).

Methods: One hundred and one samples were collected and divided into six groups: coronary artery lesion (KD-CAL) before intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), KD-CAL after IVIG, KD without CAL (KD-nCAL) before IVIG, KD-nCAL after IVIG, fever of unknown (Fou), and Healthy. In vitro OX40-stimulating and OX40L-inhibiting tests were conducted in Healthy and KD groups, respectively.

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.

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.

Evaluation of left ventricular systolic strain in children with Kawasaki disease.

The current study aimed to assess left ventricular (LV) longitudinal systolic strains in children with KD using two-dimensional speckle-tracking imaging and to analyze the relationship of LV myocardial deformation to coronary lesions and laboratory markers. The study enrolled 101 children with acute KD. An additional 50 age- and gender-matched normal children were enrolled as control subjects.

Correlation between brachial artery flow-mediated dilation and endothelial microparticle levels for identifying endothelial dysfunction in children with Kawasaki disease.

Background: We investigated vascular endothelial dysfunction by sonographic features of flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and circulating endothelial microparticles (EMPs) in Kawasaki disease (KD).

Methods: Twenty-eight patients with KD were prospectively grouped according to stage of disease: acute, subacute, and convalescent. In addition, 28 healthy children and 28 febrile children were selected as controls.

Understanding the pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease by network and pathway analysis.

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a complex disease, leading to the damage of multisystems. The pathogen that triggers this sophisticated disease is still unknown since it was first reported in 1967. To increase our knowledge on the effects of genes in KD, we extracted statistically significant genes so far associated with this mysterious illness from candidate gene studies and genome-wide association studies.