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Bombesin receptor subtype-3(BRS-3) is an orphan receptor in the bombesin receptor family. Its signal transduction mechanism and biological function have attracted much attention. Seeking the ligand for BRS-3 is of great significance for exploring its function. Considering the fact that the activation of BRS-3 receptor can induce the change in intracellular Ca~(2+) concentration, the fluo-rometric imaging plate reader(FLIPR) was utilized for ligand screening at the cellular level. Among more than 400 monomeric compounds isolated from Chinese herbs, yuanhunine from Corydalis Rhizoma and sophoraisoflavanone A and licoriphenone from Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma antagonized BRS-3 to varying degrees. It was confirmed in HEK293 cells expressing BRS-3 that yuanhunine, sophoraisoflavanone A, and licoriphenone inhibited the calcium current response after the activation of BRS-3 by [D-Phe~6,β-Ala~(11),Phe~(13),Nle~(14)]bombesin-(6-14) in a dose-dependent manner with the IC_(50) values being 8.58, 4.10, and 2.04 μmol·L~(-1), respectively. Further study indicated that yuanhunine and sophoraisoflavanone A exhibited good selectivity for BRS-3. In this study, it was found for the first time that monomers derived from Chinese herbs had antagonistic activity against orphan receptor BRS-3, which has provided a tool for further study of BRS-3 and also the potential lead compounds for new drug discovery. At the same time, it provides reference for the research and development of innovative drugs based on the active ingredients of Chinese herbs.

Inspired by the enormous importance attributed to the structure and function of human telomeric DNA, we focus our attention on the interaction of [Ru(bpy)(2)(dppz)](2+) with the guanine-rich single-strand oligomer 5'-AGGGTTAGGGTTAGGGTTAGGG-3' (22AG) and the complementary cytosine-rich strand (22CT). In Na(+) buffer, 22AG may adopt an antiparallel basket quadruplex, whereas, it favours a mixed parallel/antiparallel structure in K(+) buffer. 22CT may self-associate at acidic pH into an i-motif. In this paper, the interaction between [Ru(bpy)(2)(dppz)](2+) and each unusual DNA was evaluated. It was interesting that [Ru(bpy)(2)(dppz)](2+) could promote the human telomeric repeat 22AG to fold into intramolecular antiparallel G-quadruplex without any other cations. What's more, [Ru(bpy)(2)(dppz)](2+) was found to have a strong preference for binding to G-quadruplexes that were induced through either Na(+) or K(+), while weak binding to i-motif was observed. The results also indicated that [Ru(bpy)(2)(dppz)](2+) could serve as a prominent molecular "light switch" for both G-quadruplexes, revealing a potential application of the title complex in luminescent signaling of G-quadruplex DNA.

Connatal tuberculosis is increasing in incidence and the mortality and morbidity of this disease remains high. We report a 27-week-old, 896 g female premature infant who had mild respiratory distress syndrome after birth. She developed signs of infection, progressive pneumonia and atelectasis which did not respond to mechanical ventilation and antibiotics. At 41 days of age, Mycobacterium tuberculosis was isolated from the non-bronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage. The isolate was sensitive to isoniazid, rifampin, streptomycin, and pyrazinamide . Miliary tuberculosis was subsequently diagnosed in her mother on a chest X-ray film and sputum cultures. The infant was treated successfully with anti-tuberculosis drugs. She had normal growth and development at the chronological age of 20 months old. Conclusion:Connatal tuberculosis should be considered in premature infants with symptoms of sepsis refractory to antibiotics. Most premature infants with connatal tuberculosis have lung involvement, and non-bronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage can be a useful procedure to establish the diagnosis.

Our objective was to review the clinical features and radiographic manifestations of chest wall lesions in a pediatric chest unit. Twenty-five patients (11 males and 14 females, aged 14 months to 15 years) were suspected of having a chest wall lesion on the basis of clinical examination and chest radiograph. A retrospective review of clinical characteristics and radiographic findings was performed in order to define the pathology and extent of lesions and outcomes of chest wall diseases in children. Thirty-six percent of pediatric patients studied for thoracic abnormalities had anatomical variations of the thoracic cage such as sternal titling, bifid ribs, and costal cartilage convexities. Tuberculous infections of the sternum and ribs were seen in 4 cases. Osteochondromas were seen in 4 patients, and were especially noted in patients with a history of familial exostosis. Other malignant thoracic wall tumors included in this study included chondrosarcoma (n=1), Ewing's sarcoma (n=1), and primitive neuroectodermal tumor (n=2). In conclusion, the protruding lesions arising from the chest wall demonstrate a wide range of normal, congenital variant, and pathologic lesions arising from the soft tissues and bony components. Those with life-threatening lesions (less likely located in the parasternal region) are more prone to have chest pains and dyspneic respirations; in most cases, plain chest radiographs tend to have a high rate of bony or pleural involvement as well as thoracic deformities. In an endemic area of tuberculosis, costal tuberculosis should be considered in undiagnosed bony lesions; a chest CT scan could be diagnostically useful.

Neonatal brain tumor is a rare clinical entity. The initial presentation in affected newborn infants is often subtle, nonspecific, and rarely includes focal neurologic signs. We report a 2-day-old male infant with congenital oligodendroglioma with initial manifestations of hyperbilirubinemia. Phototherapy was started immediately after admission. Because of a tense anterior fontanel and irritable crying, head ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging were performed and revealed a heterogenous brain tumor in the left temporoparietal lobe. Craniotomy and tumor evacuation was performed, and WHO grade III anaplastic oligodendroglioma was confirmed by the pathologic studies. The patient was discharged 3 weeks later, and outpatient follow-up examination revealed a normally developed infant at 6 months of age. The cause of jaundice was thought to be secondary to tumor hemorrhage, which was not infrequent in neonatal brain tumor.

Renal abscess is a rare disease in childhood and early diagnosis is essential to minimize the renal damages. Experiences gained from this 10-year study on patients with CT-proved diagnosis include the varied clinical presentations and use of sonographic-marked nephromegaly and focal mass as indications for further CT diagnosis.

Pneumoencephaly is usually a complication of head trauma or craniotomy. We present a patient with large pneumoencephaly with acute neurological deficit after frequent falls, but without recent major trauma or surgery. Skull X-ray films show intracranial air in the frontal region and in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th ventricles, reminiscent of an pneumoencephalogram. Computed tomography (CT) of the head shows air in the right frontal region and lateral ventricles. After craniotomy to relieve the pressure of the air, the clinical condition of the patient improved significantly after six months.

Extravasation of calcium gluconate is not an uncommon complication in neonatal units, which may result in skin and soft tissue inflammation, injury and even infection. We report an 11-day-old preterm infant who developed osteomyelitis at an infiltrated intravenous site through which calcium gluconate was infused. The patient was initially treated conservatively as a simple calcium-infiltrate. Clinical condition deteriorated until proper antibiotic treatment was given. We exclude other possible causes and assume that calcium-infiltrate had an important role in the pathogenesis. We conclude that osteomyelitis should be considered in a patient with calcium extravasation whose soft tissue inflammation does not improve as expected. Furthermore, using a diluted calcium solution and checking the insertion site frequently in order to identify extravasation earlier would prevent the complication.

A premature infant experienced respiratory distress due to chylothorax. Contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography showed superior vena cava (SVC) obstruction with collaterals, and surgery confirmed an obstruction of the SVC by intravascular fibrotic tissue and thrombi caused by placement of a central venous catheter. The respiratory distress improved after surgical intervention. In the differential diagnosis of acute respiratory distress, it is necessary to consider catheter-related chylothorax and SVC syndrome when a previously stable patient has an acute change in cardiopulmonary status, regardless of the duration of catheter use. Although often considered safe and easy, central venous catheter placement may result in complications. Using appropriate catheters and choosing proper insertion sites can minimize these events. Early diagnosis and treatment can be life-saving should complications occur.

Our goal was to investigate the correlation between upper airway 3-dimensional computed tomography (3-D CT) measurements and polysomnography data of patients with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). Study design and setting The 3-D CT scan measurements of the retropalatal space (RP), lateral and anteroposterior diameters of RP, retroglossal space, uvular thickness, and volume of upper airway were taken prospectively from 194 consecutive SDB patients. These were correlated with patients' respective Respiratory Distress Index (RDI), snoring index, and lowest arterial oxygen saturation gathered from polysomnographic data.RP (r = -0.27, P = 0.0001) and lateral diameter (P = 0.0073) were significantly correlated with RDI. Multivariate regression model (R(2) = 0.286) demonstrates RP (P = 0.0036) and retroglossal space (P = 0.027) to be predictive of RDI. No 3-D CT parameters correlated with snoring index and lowest arterial oxygen saturation attained statistical significant.The 3-D CT scan measurements can be valuable in evaluating upper airway patency in patients with SDB. The RP was the most relevant upper airway anatomic structure identified in these patients.Modification of palatal surgery to increase the lateral dimension of the RP may be a breakthrough in increasing its success rate.

During the last decade, an increasing number of paediatric surgeons have chosen to perform a delayed oesophageal anastomosis for oesophageal atresia (OA) without tracheo-oesophageal fistula (TOF).The gap between the two oesophageal pouches is an important determinant in the surgical management of these patients. We describe a new method using spiral computed tomography (CT) to evaluate the gap between the proximal and distal oesophageal pouches. In our last four cases of OA without TOF, Stamm gastrostomy was performed soon after birth. At about 4 weeks of age, these patients underwent spiral CT with air inflation via the gastrostomy feeding tube with 3 mm slice thickness, pitch 1, and reconstruction interval every 1.5 mm. A three-dimensional reconstruction was done and measurements of the gap between the two segments were recorded. The procedure was repeated at monthly intervals until the optimal conditions for surgery were observed. All the babies thrived well on gastrostomy feeding. The gap distances were 2.4, 3.8, 4.2 and 5.9 cm respectively. Delayed primary oesophageal anastomosis was accomplished in three cases and gastric transposition was performed in another case at 12, 13, 14 and 16 weeks of age. The exact anatomical position the operation correlated well with the pre-operative three-dimensional CT results. Conclusion: this new technique is an easy and non-invasive method to assess the long gap in babies with oesophageal atresia without tracheo-oesophageal fistula. The radiological findings are also consistent with surgical anatomical situation during surgery suggesting that this investigation is useful in the pre-operative planning of oesophageal anastomosis or replacement.