Association between BNP and all-cause mortality in critically ill children: a cohort study.

Background: There is evidence that a high level of BNP is associated with poorer outcomes in patients with cardiac diseases, but few data are available concerning BNP and all-cause mortality in pediatric population.

Methods: Using the 2010-2018 pediatric intensive care database, we conducted a retrospective study on patients aged 28 days to 18 years, analyzing post-admission BNP measurements. Through two-piecewise regression to identify inflection points, and multivariable logistic regression, we investigated BNP's association with all-cause mortality.

Panorama of artery endothelial cell dysfunction in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a fatal lung disease characterized by progressive pulmonary vascular remodeling. The initial cause of pulmonary vascular remodeling is the dysfunction of pulmonary arterial endothelial cells (PAECs), manifested by changes in the categorization of cell subtypes, endothelial programmed cell death, such as apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, et al., overproliferation, senescence, metabolic reprogramming, endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition, mechanosensitivity, and regulation ability of peripheral cells.

Role of mechanosensitive channel Piezo1 protein in intestinal inflammation regulation: A potential target.

The intestine is a hollow tract that primarily transports and digests food. It often encounters mechanical forces and exotic threats, resulting in increased intestinal inflammation attributed to the consistent threat of foreign pathogens. Piezo1, a mechanosensitive ion channel, is distributed broadly and abundantly in the intestinal tissue.

[Clinical characteristics and management status of Turner syndrome in 1 089 children].

To investigate the clinical characteristics and management status of children with Turner syndrome (TS) in China. As a cross-sectional study, 1 089 TS patients were included in the database of the National Collaborative Alliance for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Turner Syndrome from August 2019 to November 2023. Clinical characteristics (growth development, sexual development, organ anomalies, etc.

Ziresovir in Hospitalized Infants with Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection.

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of severe illness in infants, with no effective treatment. Results of a phase 2 trial suggested that ziresovir may have efficacy in the treatment of infants hospitalized with RSV infection.

Methods: In a phase 3, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial conducted in China, we enrolled participants 1 to 24 months of age who were hospitalized with RSV infection.

Tremella aurantialba polysaccharides alleviate ulcerative colitis in mice by improving intestinal barrier via modulating gut microbiota and inhibiting ferroptosis.

We aimed to investigate the effect of a polysaccharide from Tremella aurantialba on ulcerative colitis (UC), which targets ferroptosis in epithelial cells. TA 2-1 (127 kDa) was isolated from T. aurantialba and consisted of Man, Xyl, GlcA, Glc, Fuc and Rha with a molar ratio of 59.

Biological function of type 1 regulatory cells and their role in type 1 diabetes.

The collapse of immune homeostasis induces type 1 diabetes (T1D). In T1D, uncontrolled immune attacks against islet β cells reduce insulin secretion, resulting in hyperglycaemia and various complications. Type 1 regulatory (Tr1) cell therapy is a promising approach for the treatment of T1D.

Reference values for exhaled nitric oxide in healthy children aged 6-18 years in China: a cross-sectional, multicenter clinical study.

Background: The reference values of eNO have certain differences among people of different countries and races. We aimed to obtain the reference value of eNO in healthy children and adolescents (6-18 years old) in China and to explore the associations between the reference values with ages, gender, heights, BMI, and regions.

Methods: We measured FeNO levels in 5949 healthy Chinese children and adolescents, FeNO and CaNO levels in 658 participants from 16 provinces of 7 administrative areas in China aged 6-18.

Efficacy and safety of tocilizumab in Chinese patients with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a multicentre phase IV trial.

Objectives: Given the limited tocilizumab (TCZ) treatment data for systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) in China, we evaluated the long-term efficacy and safety of TCZ in Chinese patients with sJIA.

Method: In this multicentre, interventional Phase IV study, patients with sJIA and inadequate clinical response to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs/corticosteroids received TCZ infusions every 2 weeks based on body weight (< 30 kg, 12 mg/kg; ≥ 30 kg, 8 mg/kg), over a 52-week open-label period and an 8-week safety follow-up period. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with a JIA American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 30 response and absence of fever at Week 12.

A nationwide survey on the management of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome: insights from the MUNICH survey in 394 Chinese hospitals.

Background: At present, preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in China present higher mortality and morbidity rates than those in high-income countries. The aim of this nationwide survey was to assess the clinical management of RDS in China.

Methods: A nationwide cross-sectional survey to assess adherence to RDS management recommendations was performed.

Safety and efficacy of a novel dexmedetomidine nasal spray for pre-anesthetic sedation in children: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Off-label intranasal administration of injectable dexmedetomidine has been widely applied in the pediatric sedation setting. However, the development of an improved drug delivery system that is easy to use is needed. We developed a novel dexmedetomidine nasal spray that can be administered directly without dilution or configuration for pediatric pre-anesthetic sedation.

High-risk screening for late-onset Pompe disease in China: An expanded multicenter study.

Late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) is caused by a genetic deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA), leading to progressive limb-girdle weakness and respiratory impairment. The insidious onset of non-specific early symptoms often prohibits timely diagnosis. This study aimed to validate the high-risk screening criteria for LOPD in the Chinese population.

Comprehensive review of indicators and techniques for optical mapping of intracellular calcium ions.

Calcium ions (Ca2+) play crucial roles in almost every cellular process, making the detection of changes in intracellular Ca2+ essential to understanding cell function. The fluorescence indicator method has garnered widespread application due to its exceptional sensitivity, rapid analysis, cost-effectiveness, and user-friendly nature. It has successfully delineated the spatial and temporal dynamics of Ca2+ signaling across diverse cell types.

Monitoring pediatric CNS non-germinomatous germ cell tumors via cerebrospinal fluid circulating tumor DNA.

Background: Accurate molecular and clinical stratification of patients with central nervous system (CNS) non-germinomatous germ cell tumors (NGGCTs) remains challenging, impeding the development of personalized therapeutic approaches. Herein, we investigated the translational significance of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in pediatric NGGCTs to identify characteristic features of CNS NGGCTs and to identify a subset of patients for whom the presence of residual disease is a risk factor and an indicator of shorter progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

Methods: Medical records of patients with CNS NGGCTs between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2022 were reviewed retrospectively.

Two cases of Leukemoid reaction in premature infants caused by fetal inflammatory response syndrome.

Background: Fetal inflammatory response syndrome (FIRS) is a systemic inflammatory response caused by the activation of the fetal immune system. The serological diagnostic criterion for fetal inflammatory response syndrome is a cord blood interleukin-6 concentration that exceeds 11 pg/mL, while pathologic evidence indicates the presence of funisitis or chorionic vasculitis. It can affect all systems of the fetus.

The nucleus of solitary tract (NTS) synchronizes sleep-wake-state-dependent cortical activity through the parabrachial nucleus (PB) in rat.

Background: The medullary nucleus of solitary tract (NTS) and its afferents of vagus nerve have long been investigated in regulation of cortical activity and sleep promotion. However, the underlying neural circuit by which the NTS regulates electroencephalogram (EEG) and sleep remain unclear. As the NTS has a strong projection to the pontine arousal site, the parabrachial nucleus (PB), we proposed the NTS via the pontine parabrachial nucleus (PB) regulates cortical activity and sleep.

Metabolic factors are not the direct mediators of the association between type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis.

Objective: The causal relationship between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and osteoporosis (OS) remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the causal relationship and explore the potential metabolic mechanism and its mediating role.

Methods: We conducted a comprehensive study, gathering data on 490,089 T2DM patients from the genome-wide association study (GWAS) database and selecting OS data from FinnGen and MRC-IEU sources, including 212,778 and 463,010 patients, respectively, for causal analysis.

Biliary atresia: the role of gut microbiome, and microbial metabolites.

Biliary atresia (BA) is a progressive fibroinflammatory disease affecting both the extrahepatic and intrahepatic bile ducts, potentially leading to chronic cholestasis and biliary cirrhosis. Despite its prevalence, the exact mechanisms behind BA development remain incompletely understood. Recent research suggests that the gut microbiota and its metabolites may play significant roles in BA development.