Blood Mononuclear Cell Nitric Oxide Production and Plasma Cytokine Levels in Healthy Gabonese Children with Prior Mild or Severe Malaria

Plasmodium falciparum malaria is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in children. Factors that determine the development of mild versus severe malaria are not fully understood. Since host-derived nitric oxide (NO) has antiplasmodial properties, we measured NO production and NO synthase (NOS) activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy Gabonese children with a history of prior mild malaria (PMM) or prior severe malaria (PSM) caused by P. falciparum. The PMM group had significantly higher levels of NOS activity in freshly isolated PBMC and higher NO production and NOS activity in cultured PBMC. The investigation of NO-modulating cytokines (e.g., interleukin 12, gamma interferon, tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-alpha], and transforming growth factor beta1) as an explanation for differing levels of NOS activity revealed that plasma levels of TNF-alpha were significantly higher in the PSM group. Our results suggest that NOS/ NO and TNF-alpha are markers for prior disease severity and important determinants of resistance to malaria.     

Activity of Antioxidant Enzymes in the Wound in Patients with Deep Burns

Analysis of wound discharge in children with deep burns over 3 weeks after the injury revealed gradual increase in catalase activity. The increase in activities of myeloperoxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, and catalase was maximum in patients with the most severe burns. Local complications were observed during the period of maximum myeloperoxidase activity, while the beginning of epithelialization was associated with its reduction. Analysis of wound impressions confirms long-term persistence of neutrophils in the wound.     

孤独症儿童睡眠障碍对照研究

目的比较孤独症儿童与正常儿童睡眠障碍发生情况。方法对140例确诊的孤独症儿童和82例正常儿童,用自编睡眠及一般情况问卷进行调查。结果在140名孤独症儿童中,共有102名儿童目前或既往存在睡眠障碍,其中,男孩85人,女孩17人,孤独症儿童睡眠障碍的终生患病率为72.86%,男孩终生患病率(72.03%)和女孩终生患病率(77.27%)差异无统计学意义(χ2=1.912,P=0.384)。在82名正常儿童中,共有14名儿童目前或既往存在睡眠障碍,其中,男孩10人,女孩4人,正常儿童睡眠障碍的终生患病率为17.07%,男孩终生患病率(16.67%)和女孩终生患病率(18.19%)差异无统计学意义(χ2=0.080,P=0.117)。孤独症儿童的睡眠障碍发病率明显高于正常儿童,差异无统计学意义(χ2=32.407,P=0.000)。结论孤独症儿童睡眠障碍发生多于正常儿童,睡眠障碍是孤独症儿童主要症状之一。     

Cytokine Production Is Altered in Monocytes from Children with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome

Purpose

The interaction of Shiga toxin (Stx) and/or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with monocytes (Mo) may be central to the pathogenesis of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), providing the cytokines necessary to sensitize endothelial cells to Stx action. We have previously demonstrated phenotypical alterations in Mo from HUS patients, including increased number of CD16+ Mo. Our aim was to investigate cytokine production in Mo from HUS patients.

Methods

We evaluated TNF-α and IL-10 intracellular contents and secretion in the different Mo subsets in mild (HUS 1) and moderate/severe (HUS 2?+?3) patients. As controls, we studied healthy (HC) and infected children (IC). We also studied Mo responsive capacity towards LPS, measuring the modulation of Mo surface molecules and cytokine production.

Results

In basal conditions, the intracellular measurement of TNF-α and IL-10 revealed that the highest number of cytokine-producing Mo was found in HUS 2?+?3 and IC, whereas LPS caused a similar increase in TNF-α and IL-10-producing Mo for all groups. However, when evaluating the release of TNF-α and IL-10, we found a diminished secretion capacity in the entire HUS group and IC compared to HC in basal and LPS conditions. Similarly, a lower Mo response to LPS in HUS 2?+?3 and IC groups was observed when surface markers were studied.

Conclusion

These results indicate that Mo from severe cases of HUS, similar to IC but different to mild HUS cases, present functional changes in Mo subpopulations and abnormal responses to LPS.     

婴幼儿重症肺炎肝素超声雾化治疗中血浆D-D的检测及意义

目的：探讨肝素超声雾化对婴幼儿重症肺炎血浆D-二聚体（D-D）的影响及临床意义。方法：将78例婴幼儿重症肺炎随机分成2组,治疗组46例,对照组32例,对照组为常规治疗（包括吸氧、抗感染、强心及对症治疗）,治疗组为对照组基础上加肝素（钠）300u/kg/次,超声雾化吸入,2次/d,疗程5d。采用免疫渗滤法分别测定治疗前后患儿血浆的D-D含量,并进行比较。结果：治疗组与对照组治疗前、后及治疗后治疗组与对照组的D-D水平比较,差异均有显著性意义（P〈0.01）。结论：血浆D-D检测可做为婴幼儿重症肺炎肝素超声雾化治疗时对病情的监测指标之一。     

A Prospective Study on the Safety of Immunotherapy in Children with Severe Asthma

One hundred and six of 503 (21%) consecutive children with asthma, who from 1979 to 1983 commenced hyposensitization therapy, were prospectively studied on the safety of immunotherapy. More than 80% of the patients completed therapy without side effects. Thirteen patients were withdrawn from hyposensitization due to moderate and predictable, but intolerable, side effects such as asthma/rhinitis, urticaria and subcutaneous nodules and hypersensitivity to aluminium. However, more alarming was the outcome in six children, who after an uneventful course of immunotherapy and after several months on maintenance therapy, suddenly, 5 to 20 min (mean 10 min) following an earlier tolerable allergen injection, developed severe, anaphylactic reactions, in three of them nearly fatal. Mould extracts were responsible for the most frequent and serious side effects (Alternaria iridis/alternata, 3 patients, Cladosporium herbarum, 8 patients). Furthermore, serious, but not immediately life-threatening, anaphylactic reactions occurred in two children treated with Phleum pratense. On the other hand, hyposensitization with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus was very well tolerated.     

Comparative Content of Neuron-Specific Enolase in Human Blood Serum and Seminal Plasma

Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine - We studied the content of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in 69 paired samples of blood serum and seminal plasma from men with azoospermia (n=11) and...     

学习障碍儿童与普通儿童时间管理倾向的比较研究

目的比较学习障碍儿童与普通儿童在时间管理倾向上的差异,为学障儿童的教育提供参考。方法采用黄希庭、张志杰编制的青少年时间管理倾向量表进行问卷调查。结果学障儿童和普通儿童在时间管理倾向量表总分及其子维度上有显著差异。结论学障儿童时间管理能力显著落后于普通儿童,非常需要加强训练和进一步提高。     

Targets and Mechanisms Associated with Protection from Severe Plasmodium falciparum Malaria in Kenyan Children

Severe malaria (SM) is a life-threatening complication of infection with Plasmodium falciparum. Epidemiological observations have long indicated that immunity against SM is acquired relatively rapidly, but prospective studies to investigate its immunological basis are logistically challenging and have rarely been undertaken. We investigated the merozoite targets and antibody-mediated mechanisms associated with protection against SM in Kenyan children aged 0 to 2 years. We designed a unique prospective matched case-control study of well-characterized SM clinical phenotypes nested within a longitudinal birth cohort of children (n = 5,949) monitored over the first 2 years of life. We quantified immunological parameters in sera collected before the SM event in cases and their individually matched controls to evaluate the prospective odds of developing SM in the first 2 years of life. Anti-AMA1 antibodies were associated with a significant reduction in the odds of developing SM (odds ratio [OR] = 0.37; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.15 to 0.90; P = 0.029) after adjustment for responses to all other merozoite antigens tested, while those against MSP-2, MSP-3, Plasmodium falciparum Rh2 [PfRh2], MSP-1₁₉, and the infected red blood cell surface antigens were not. The combined ability of total IgG to inhibit parasite growth and mediate the release of reactive oxygen species from neutrophils was associated with a marked reduction in the odds of developing SM (OR = 0.07; 95% CI = 0.006 to 0.82; P = 0.03). Assays of these two functional mechanisms were poorly correlated (Spearman rank correlation coefficient [r_s] = 0.12; P = 0.07). Our data provide epidemiological evidence that multiple antibody-dependent mechanisms contribute to protective immunity via distinct targets whose identification could accelerate the development of vaccines to protect against SM.     

慢性抽动障碍儿童视听整合持续操作测验的对照研究

目的：探索慢性抽动障碍儿童反应控制力和持续性注意力的特征.方法：符合DSM-Ⅳ慢性抽动障碍的38名儿童与38名正常对照儿童,采用视听整合持续操作测验进行对照研究.结果：慢性抽动障碍儿童持续性操作测验除毅力商数和速度商数外,其余商数均低于正常对照儿童,差异有统计学意义.慢性抽动障碍儿童的视觉和听觉控制力和注意力的对比差异无统计学意义.结论：慢性抽动障碍儿童存在反应控制力和持续性注意力的损害.     

学习困难儿童认知功能对照研究

探讨学习困难儿童认知功能与社会环境之间的关系,方法,用韦氏儿童智力量表和自制一般环境问卷为工具,对１８５名学习困难儿童进行了调查,并和１８５名正常儿童比较,其中５０名学习困难儿童接受了注意力测试。结果家庭环境对学习困难儿童有一定的影响。     

A Comparative EEG Study in Normal and Autistic Children

We report here a comparative analysis of spectral power and mean coherence in the alpha, beta, and gamma rhythms in children aged 5–7 years, both normal and with early childhood autism, at rest and in conditions of a cognitive task (counting). In baseline conditions, both healthy children and those with autism showed a marked frontal-occipital alpha gradient. The cognitive task led to increases in the spectral power of the alpha1 range and its displacement into the left hemisphere without any alteration of alpha2; the task also produced a marked increase in spectral power in the alpha3 range. In healthy children, the cognitive task, as compared with baseline conditions, produced significant increases in the spectral power and coherence of the rapid rhythms in the central and frontal areas of the left hemisphere. In patients with early childhood autism, there was a right-sided predominance of spectral power in the alpha range both in baseline conditions and during the cognitive task. Baseline gamma-range spectral power in early childhood autism had greater values than in normal children and did not change during the cognitive task.     

精神分裂症患者子女对立违抗性障碍的问题及研究

目的　了解我市精神分裂症患者子女罹患对立违抗性障碍 ( ODD)的现状和临床特征。方法　采用自编儿童行为学习调查表、Achenbach儿童行为调查表 ( CBCL)、韦氏儿童智力量表 ( C-WISC)。于 2 0 0 1年 1～ 1 2月对我市精神分裂症患者子女在小学上学 (其中实际有效人数 1 2 4人 )的 1 7例 ODD儿童 (研究组 )和 1 7名非 ODD儿童 (对照组 )进行对比分析。结果　 1 ODD的发生率在 1 2 4人中符合 ODD1 7例 ( 1 3 .71 % ) ,其中男 1 5 .49% ( 1 1 /71 ) ,女 1 1 .3 2 % ( 6/5 3 ) ,发生率超过 5 0 %的症状有经常发脾气、常与大人争吵、常发怒或怨恨他人、常发火或者被旁人烦扰、经常故意的烦扰他人。 2各量表评分 ,CBCL平均得分 ,研究组大于对照组 ( t=6.66,P<0 .0 1 ) ,C-WISC各项值中 So、D、BD、PA4项研究组低于对照组并有显著的差异性 ( P<0 .0 5 ) ,3 ODD合并学习障碍为 5 2 .9% ( 9/1 7) ,与对照组 1 7.6% ( 3 /1 7)比较差异性非常显著 ( χ2 =4.63 ,P<0 .0 5 )。结论　在精神分裂症患者子女中存有 ODD,这些患儿 ODD症状形式为敌对、消极与对抗主动性方面 ,ODD患儿伴有学习障碍 ,在注意力、记忆等基本认知功能方面比正常儿童受损     

人工肝血浆置换联合分子吸附系统对重症肝炎肝硬化患者血清内毒素、细胞因子清除和肝功能的影响

目的 探讨人工肝血浆置换(PE)联合分子吸附系统(MARS)对重症肝炎肝硬化患者血清内毒素、细胞因子清除和肝功能的影响.方法 将我院105例重症肝炎肝硬化患者随机分为实验组(53例)和对照组(52例),实验组接受人工肝PE+ MARS治疗,对照组接受MARS治疗,两组均治疗6个月,比较两组治疗前后血清内毒素、细胞因子清除和肝功能等情况.结果 治疗6个月后,两组血清内毒素、白细胞介素-8(IL-8)、白细胞介素-6(IL-6)、肿瘤坏死因子(TNF-α)、谷丙转氨酶(ALT)、谷草转氨酶(AST)、总胆红素(TBIL)、凝血酶原时间(PT)均显著降低(P＜0.05),凝血酶原活动度(PTA)、纤维蛋白原(FIB)及白陶土部分凝血酶时间(KPTT)均明显上升(P＜0.05),实验组肝功能、凝血功能、内毒素和细胞因子水平改善幅度均大于对照组(P＜0.05);实验组患者治疗1、3、6个月后临床症状改善情况均明显优于对照组(P＜0.05);实验组存活率显著高于对照组(98.11％与86.54％,P＜0.05);实验组发热发生率明显高于对照组(P＜0.05),但皮疹、水肿、口唇麻木发生率与对照组比较差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 PE联合MARS能显著改善重症肝炎肝硬化患者临床症状和肝功能,降低内毒素水平,清除细胞因子,最终提高患者存活率.     

听力障碍儿童与正常儿童篇章阅读理解对比研究

目的探究听力障碍儿童与正常儿童在篇章阅读理解的差异。方法以3(被试类别)×4(阅读提示策略)混合实验设计比较听力障碍儿童与正常小学4、6年级儿童共36人在4种策略提示阅读下的阅读理解指标。结果阅读成绩上类别主效应显著,P<0.001;阅读提示策略主效应显著,P<0.05;阅读时间、阅读速度上被试类别主效应不显著,阅读提示策略主效应分别为显著、不显著;交互作用均不显著。结论听力障碍儿童和正常儿童阅读在4种阅读提示策略上有相同变化趋势;提纲阅读提示策略有助于听力障碍儿童阅读理解。     

Lymphocyte Perturbations in Malawian Children with Severe and Uncomplicated Malaria

Lymphocytes are implicated in immunity and pathogenesis of severe malaria. Since lymphocyte subsets vary with age, assessment of their contribution to different etiologies can be difficult. We immunophenotyped peripheral blood from Malawian children presenting with cerebral malaria, severe malarial anemia, and uncomplicated malaria (n = 113) and healthy aparasitemic children (n = 42) in Blantyre, Malawi, and investigated lymphocyte subset counts, activation, and memory status. Children with cerebral malaria were older than those with severe malarial anemia. We found panlymphopenia in children presenting with cerebral malaria (median lymphocyte count, 2,100/μl) and uncomplicated malaria (3,700/μl), which was corrected in convalescence and was absent in severe malarial anemia (5,950/μl). Median percentages of activated CD69⁺ NK (73%) and γδ T (60%) cells were higher in cerebral malaria than in other malaria types. Median ratios of memory to naive CD4⁺ lymphocytes were higher in cerebral malaria than in uncomplicated malaria and low in severe malarial anemia. The polarized lymphocyte subset profiles of different forms of severe malaria are independent of age. In conclusion, among Malawian children cerebral malaria is characterized by lymphocyte activation and increased memory cells, consistent with immune priming. In contrast, there are reduced memory cells and less activation in severe malaria anemia. Further studies are required to understand whether these immunological profiles indicate predisposition of some children to one or another form of severe malaria.     

中美两国儿童自我概念的比较研究--评定工具对研究结果的影响

目的:探讨中美两国儿童自我概念的特点.方法:选用自评的自我概念评定量表对183名中国儿童(男82名,女101名,平均年龄10.82±0.68岁)及160名美国儿童(男72名,女88名,平均年龄11.05±0.74岁)进行了评定.结果:(1)中国儿童在自我概念评定量表各分量表的得分显著高于美国儿童.(2)中国女孩在学习成绩,同伴关系,行为表现,与成人交往,集体概念,外貌,自我控制分量表的得分显著高于中国男孩;美国男孩在行为表现,与成人交往,外貌及自我控制量表的得分显著高于美国女孩.结论:中美儿童自我概念存在显著差异.国家与性别对儿童自我概念存在显著交互作用.     

学习困难儿童认知功能和自我意识关系的研究

目的 :探讨学习困难儿童认知功能与自我意识之间的关系。方法 :用韦氏儿童智力量表 (中国修订本 )和Piers-Harris儿童自我意识量表为工具 ,对 185名学习困难儿童进行了调查 ,并和 185名正常儿童比较。结果 :学习困难儿童言语智商、操作智商和全量表智商均显著低于正常儿童 ,并且言语智商和操作智商分离现象普遍 ;学习困难儿童的自我意识水平较低。结论 :学习困难儿童存在明显的认知功能缺陷 ,儿童自我意识和认知功能有相互影响