Distribution of memory B cell subsets in peripheral blood of children with frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome北大核心CSCD

目的观察记忆B细胞在频复发肾病综合征(frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome,FRNS)患儿病程中分布变化。方法前瞻性选择2020年10月—2021年10月就诊于徐州医科大学附属医院儿科的原发肾病综合征(primary nephrotic syndrome,PNS)患儿35例,根据其糖皮质激素(glucocorticoid,GC)治疗后的反应及复发频次,分为FRNS组、非频复发肾病综合征(non-frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome,NFRNS)组;选择同期15例体检儿童为健康对照组。比较各组GC治疗前后记忆B细胞变化,并与临床指标作相关性分析。结果治疗前,FRNS组、NFRNS组总B细胞、总记忆B细胞、IgD^(+)记忆B细胞、IgE^(+)记忆B细胞比例均较健康对照组增高,且FRNS组较NFRNS组增高明显(P<0.05);FRNS组类别转换记忆B细胞比例较NFRNS组及健康对照组降低(P<0.05);治疗后,FRNS组、NFRNS组总B细胞、总记忆B细胞、IgM^(+)IgD^(+)记忆B细胞、IgM^(+)记忆B细胞、IgE^(+)记忆B细胞、IgD^(+)记忆B细胞、IgG^(+)记忆B细胞比例较治疗前降低(P<0.05);类别转换记忆B细胞比例较治疗前增高(P<0.05)。FRNS组尿蛋白定量高于NFRNS组及健康对照组(P<0.05),FRNS组白蛋白水平低于健康对照组(P<0.05);FRNS组尿蛋白定量与类别转换记忆B细胞比例呈负相关,与IgE^(+)记忆B细胞比例呈正相关(P<0.05)。结论FRNS患儿存在记忆B细胞亚群的分布异常;而IgE^(+)记忆B细胞和类别转换记忆B细胞比例可作为FRNS患儿在GC治疗后复发的正相关和负相关因素。     

Verbal short-term memory deficits in Down syndrome: a consequence of problems in rehearsal?

Individuals with Down syndrome suffer from relatively poor verbal short-term memory. Previous explanations of this deficit have been framed in terms of inefficient or absent rehearsal of verbal material in Down syndrome within the phonological loop component of Baddeley and Hitch's (1974) working memory model. Two experiments are presented which test this explanation by looking for the markers of rehearsal in children with Down syndrome and verbal mental age matched controls. Both experiments confirm that individuals with Down syndrome show poorer verbal short-term memory performance than controls. However, they rule out rehearsal as an explanation of these deficits because the evidence suggests that neither individuals with Down syndrome nor matched controls are engaging in spontaneous subvocal rehearsal. Other explanations of poor verbal short-term memory performance in Down syndrome, in terms of impairments both within and outside of the phonological loop system, are discussed. Practical implications for intervention strategies aimed at improving verbal short-term memory skills in Down syndrome are also outlined.     

Effect of inhibiting miR-204 expression on the learning and memory abilities of neonatal rats with intrauterine growth restriction and related mechanism北大核心CSCD

目的探讨抑制miR-204表达对宫内发育迟缓(intrauterine growth restriction,IUGR)新生大鼠学习记忆能力的影响及机制。方法采用低蛋白饮食法建立IUGR大鼠模型,将3日龄IUGR幼鼠设为模型组、miRNA拮抗剂对照组(antagomir-NC组)和miR-204拮抗剂组(antagomir组),另取正常幼鼠设为对照组,每组10只。Morris水迷宫实验测定大鼠学习与记忆能力;qRT-PCR检测各组大鼠海马组织中miR-204和脑源性神经营养因子(brain-derived neurotrophic factor,BDNF)mRNA表达水平;尼氏染色、Tunel法观察海马组织尼氏小体数量和细胞凋亡水平;Western blot检测海马组织中BDNF/TrkB信号通路相关蛋白表达水平。结果与对照组比较,模型组大鼠逃避潜伏期增加,跨台次数减少;海马组织中细胞凋亡率和miR-204表达水平升高,而尼氏小体数量、BDNF mRNA,以及BDNF、p-TrkB和p-CREB蛋白表达水平降低(P<0.001)。抑制miR-204表达后,IUGR大鼠海马组织中尼氏小体数量、BDNF mRNA,以及BDNF、p-TrkB和p-CREB蛋白表达水平升高,细胞凋亡率和miR-204表达水平降低,逃避潜伏期减少,跨台次数增加(P<0.001)。结论抑制miR-204可改善IUGR新生大鼠学习及记忆功能,其作用机制可能与靶向激活BDNF/TrkB信号通路有关。     

The prototype effect in recognition memory: intact in autism?

BACKGROUND: There are two accounts of categorization performance in autism: that there is an impairment in prototype formation (Klinger & Dawson, 2001) and that there is an impairment in processing features held in common between stimuli (Plaisted, O'Riordan, & Baron-Cohen, 1998). These accounts, together with central coherence theory (Frith, 1989; Frith & Happé, 1994), imply a reduced or absent prototype effect in autism. METHOD: Children with autism or Asperger syndrome (n = 15) matched on age, gender, and verbal mental age with typically developing children (n = 15) completed a picture recognition task (Experiment 1). These participants also studied categories of cartoon animals possessing either an average prototype structure (Experiment 2) based on (Younger's 1985) stimuli or a modal structure (Experiment 3) based on (Hayes and Taplin's 1993b) stimuli. Following the study phases, participants completed recognition tests comprising prototypes and other exemplars with varying degrees of similarity to the prototypes. RESULTS: For both participant groups, recognition memory appeared intact (Experiment 1) and a full prototype effect in recognition memory was observed in both Experiment 2 and Experiment 3. CONCLUSIONS: The present studies fail to support predictions of impaired prototype effects in autism. The discussion focuses on key methodological differences between these studies and those that support claims that central coherence, prototype formation, and common feature processing are impaired in autism.     

Allospecific CD154 + T-cytotoxic memory cells as potential surrogate for rejection risk in pediatric intestine transplantation

Sindhi R, Ashokkumar C, Higgs BW, Gilbert PB, Sun Q, Ranganathan S, Jaffe R, Snyder S, Ningappa M, Soltys KA, Bond GJ, Mazariegos GV, Abu‐Elmagd K, Zeevi A. Allospecific CD154 + T‐cytotoxic memory cells as potential surrogate for rejection risk in pediatric intestine transplantation.
Pediatr Transplantation 2012: 16: 83–91. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Abstract: Clinical end‐points dictate large trial enrollments and exclude children with the rare intestine transplant procedure (ITx), who experience higher drug‐related morbidity. We evaluate the novel rejection‐risk parameter, allo‐(antigen)‐specific CD154 + TcMs (i) as surrogates for ACR using Prentice’s criteria, (ii) for association with immunosuppression targets to determine Fleming’s surrogate end‐point designation, and (iii) as time‐to‐event end‐point in a simulated comparison of alemtuzumab (NCT#01208337, n = 14) and rabbit anti‐human thymocyte globulin (rATG, n = 16) among 30 children with ITx. CD154 + TcM were measured in MLR before, and at 1–60 and 61–200 days after ITx (NCT#01163578). CD154 + TcM correlate significantly with rejection severity (Spearman r = 0.685, p = 2.03E?5) and associate with biopsy‐proven ITx rejection with sensitivity/specificity of 90%/84% independent of immunosuppressant. The rejection‐risk threshold of CD154 + TcM resolves rapidly in 200‐day follow‐up (46 ± 20 vs. 158 ± 59 days, p = 0.009, K–M) with alemtuzumab, which demonstrates lower 90‐day ACR incidence (50% vs. 69%, p=NS, Fisher’s exact), and is associated with accelerated prednisone minimization to ≤2.5 mg/day, compared with rATG (120 ± 28 vs. 180 ± 30 days, p = 0.027, K–M). As a surrogate end‐point, time‐to‐rejection‐risk resolution measured with CD154 + TcM portends 50% reduction in sample sizes in a simulated trial of alemtuzumab vs. rATG. Rejection‐risk assessment with CD154 + TcM may enable informed immunosuppression minimization, and preliminary efficacy comparisons in pediatric ITx.     

Impact of two regimens of vitamin D supplementation on calcium — vitamin D — PTH axis of schoolgirls of Delhi

Objective  

To determine the efficacy of supplementation with oral vitamin D₃ (cholecalciferol) on bone mineral biochemical parameters of school-going girls.     

Prenatal Detection of Coarctation of the Aorta in a Non-selected Population: A Prospective Analysis of 10 Years of Experience

The objective of this study was to assess the ability of different parameters to identify fetuses requiring neonatal care for coarctation of the aorta (CoA). Between January 2003 and December 2012, 175 fetuses referred for great vessel disproportion were divided into two groups: group A (n = 51) with high risk of CoA and delivery planned in tertiary care referral center and group B (n = 124) with no increased risk of CoA. In group A, diagnosis of CoA was confirmed in 38/51 (74 %). In group B, 2/124 had CoA. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified the best combination as diffusely hypoplastic and/or angular aortic arches, ventricular septal defect and aortic valve diameter <5 mm at 36-week gestational age (GA). Positive predictive value was 75 % when vessel disproportion was noted before 28-week GA and 73 % in the third trimester. Postnatal diagnosis involved 38 cases of CoA which had not been referred. One case of CoA diagnosed after birth was referred prenatally for difficulty of screening without any defect. The results of our prospective study are in agreement with those of previous series, but our false positive rate was lower especially when the diagnosis of vascular disproportion was made at third trimester. The performance of fetal cardiac screening does not seem to be very good, but prenatal diagnosis is probably not always possible: Among our three false negative cases, two had isolated vascular disproportion and the third no risk factors.     

Psychological mechanisms in hyperactivity: I. Response inhibition deficit, working memory impairment, delay aversion, or something else?

This study tested the predictions of three different theories of hyperactivity: response inhibition deficit, working memory impairment, and delay aversion. A sample of 51 pervasively hyperactive children and 119 control children, identified by screening a general population sample of 1,316 twin pairs, were assessed on tests relating to each of these theories. The hyperactive group performed worse than the control group on the delay aversion measure and some of the working memory tasks. Controlling for IQ removed the significant group differences on the working memory measures, however. There were no significant group differences on the inhibition variables derived from the stop task. However, there was evidence of a pattern of responding on the stop task that was strongly characteristic of hyperactivity: hyperactive children were variable in their speed, generally slow and inaccurate in responding. This pattern of responses may indicate a nonoptimal effort/ activation state. Hyperactive girls were indistinguishable from hyperactive boys in their performance on the tasks.     

Retinopathy of prematurity—promising newer modalities of treatment

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a disorder of neonatal retinal vascularization. The incidence is increasing in developing countries like India in view of the rising numbers of preterm deliveries and improved neonatal care. Traditional modalities of treatment included cryotherapy and laser therapy, which were laborious and required special training. Hence, research is on way to find novel treatment modalities directed at various levels of pathogenesis for this blinding disease. We reviewed the published and unpublished literature on newer methods of ROP management. The pathogenesis of ROP has been studied with respect to the mediators of angiogenesis. Anti vascular endothelial growth factor (Anti-VEGF) therapy has been extensively studied and the studies have demonstrated its promising role early stages of ROP. The role of Insulin like growth factor (IGF), Granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF), and June kinases (JNK) inhibitors are being studied by various researchers across the world. Gene therapy holds promise in the reversal of ROP changes.     

What is the role of the prevention of allergy in the first period of life?

The widespread increase in the prevalence of allergic disease, which has occurred over the last 20 y, has created general concern in Europe and in the rest of the world. The reason for this increase is still partially unknown. In this period, despite a greater understanding of the pathogenesis and risk factors of allergies plus the greater efficacy of drugs to control the symptoms, the cost of intervention and the socio-economic impact are still very high. For these reasons, prevention in the first period of life represents a goal for both developed and developing countries in order to reduce this upward trend.     

Utility of PAS and β-catenin staining in histological categorisation and prediction of prognosis of hepatoblastomas

Aims

The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of PAS, β-catenin and Ki-67 in categorising hepatoblastomas (HBs) and their significance in predicting prognosis. In addition, we have also documented the various chemotherapy induced histologic changes in HBs.

Method

In this retrospective observational study of 29 cases of hepatoblastomas, 27 cases were considered for statistical analysis, excluding two cases of diagnostic core biopsies. All clinicopathological parameters and follow up data were collected. All HB cases including the mixed epithelial and mesenchymal HBs were classified into two groups: fetal predominant and embryonal predominant type according to the predominant epithelial component. PAS, β-catenin and Ki-67 staining were done and their correlation with histologic subtypes was assessed. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was performed in relation to histology, PAS, β-catenin and Ki-67 staining characteristics.

Result

Diffuse nuclear staining of β-catenin was significantly more common in embryonal predominant type (p = 0.036), whereas strong PAS positivity was significantly associated with fetal predominant type (p = 0.002). But no significant correlation was seen between histologic type and Ki-67 staining (p = 0.42). Survival analysis showed cases with diffuse PAS positivity, focal nuclear β-catenin staining and low Ki-67 LI had better survival.

Conclusion

PAS is a simple stain and can be utilised in histological categorisation of HB and also predicting its outcome. Nuclear β-catenin staining which is significantly common in embryonal elements in HB predicts shorter survival.