Management of Cervical Lymphadenitis in Children

Cervical lymphadenitis, defined as an acute symptomatic enlargement of the cervical lymph nodes, is a common condition in children of all ages. Most cases of cervical lymphadenitis in children are self-limited and can safely be monitored for spontaneous resolution over four to six weeks. (Strength of Recommendation [SOR]: C, based on expert opinion)

Injured adult motor and sensory axons regenerate into appropriate organotypic domains of neural progenitor grafts.

Neural progenitor cell (NPC) transplantation has high therapeutic potential in neurological disorders. Functional restoration may depend on the formation of reciprocal connections between host and graft. While it has been reported that axons extending out of neural grafts in the brain form contacts onto phenotypically appropriate host target regions, it is not known whether adult, injured host axons regenerating into NPC grafts also form appropriate connections. We report that spinal cord NPCs grafted into the injured adult rat spinal cord self-assemble organotypic, dorsal horn-like domains. These clusters are extensively innervated by regenerating adult host sensory axons and are avoided by corticospinal axons. Moreover, host axon regeneration into grafts increases significantly after enrichment with appropriate neuronal targets. Together, these findings demonstrate that injured adult axons retain the ability to recognize appropriate targets and avoid inappropriate targets within neural progenitor grafts, suggesting that restoration of complex circuitry after SCI may be achievable

Purinergic inhibition of Na+,K+,Cl− cotransport in C11-MDCK cells: Role of stress-activated protein kinases

Previously, we observed that sustained activation of P2Y1 leads to inhibition of Na+,K+,Cl− cotransport (NKCC) in C11 cells resembling intercalated cells from collecting ducts of the Madin-Darby canine kidney. This study examined the role of stress-activated protein kinases (SAPK) in NKCC inhibition triggered by purinergic receptors. Treatment of C11 cells with ATP led to sustained phosphorylation of SAPK such as JNK and p38. Activation of these kinases also occurred in anisomycin-treated cells. Surprisingly, we observed that compounds SP600125 and SB202190, known as potent inhibitors of JNK and p38 in cell-free systems, activated rather than inhibited phosphorylation of the kinases in C11 cells. Importantly, similarly to ATP, all the above-listed activators of JNK and p38 phosphorylation inhibited NKCC. Thus, our results suggest that activation of JNK and/or p38 contributes to NKCC suppression detected in intercalated-like cells from distal tubules after their exposure to P2Y1 agonists

Basic aspects of the pharmacodynamics of tolperisone, a widely applicable centrally acting muscle relaxant

Tolperisone (2-methyl-1-(4-methylphenyl)-3-piperidin-1-ylpropan-1-one hydro-chloride) was introduced in the clinical practice more than forty years ago and is still evaluated as a widely applicable compound in pathologically elevated skeletal muscle tone (spasticity) and related pains of different origin. In the present review, basic pharmacodynamic effects measured on whole animals, analyses of its actions on cell and tissue preparations and molecular mechanism of action on sodium and calcium channels are summarized as recently significantly new data were reported

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2,9) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMP-1,2) as novel markers of stress response and atherogenesis in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on conservative treatment

The system of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) may play a key role in atherogenesis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients by its impact on matrix accumulation. Connections with inflammation, stress, or endothelial dysfunction are also probable. However, the data on correlations between these parameters in CKD patients are scarce in adults and absent in children. The aim of our study was to evaluate serum concentrations of MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2, as well as their correlations with markers of stress response (Hsp90-α, anti-Hsp60), endothelial dysfunction (sE-selectin), and inflammation (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein) in CKD children treated conservatively. Thirty-seven patients were divided into two groups according to the CKD stage (gr.CKDI, 19 children with CKD stages 2–3; gr.CKDII, 18 subjects with CKD stages 4–5). Twenty-four age-matched healthy subjects served as controls. Serum concentrations of MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, Hsp90-α, anti-Hsp60, and sE-selectin were assessed by ELISA. Median values of MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 were significantly higher in all CKD children vs. controls and were increased in patients with CKD stages 4–5 vs. CKD stages 2–3. Hsp90-α, anti-Hsp60, sE-selectin, and glomerular filtration rate predicted the values of MMPs and TIMPs. Chronic kidney disease in children is characterized by MMP/TIMP system dysfunction, aggravated by the progression of renal failure. Correlations between examined parameters, heat shock proteins, and markers of endothelial damage suggest the possibility of MMP/TIMP application as indicators of stress response and atherogenesis in children with CKD on conservative treatment

Peroxide-based route for the synthesis of zinc titanate powder

In this work the thermodynamical solubility diagrams of zinc and titanium hydroxides were reviewed in order to determine the conditions for maximum degree of phase composition homogenization of precipitates. Experimental investigation of dependency of titanium peroxohydroxide solubility on solution acidity has been carried out and coprecipitation of zinc ions has been studied. It was concluded that precipitation by constant addition of mixed salts and base solutions into the mother liquor with constant acidity of pH 8.5 allows maximizing homogenization of precipitate composition. Thermal treatment process of mixed zinc and titanium hydroxides coprecipitated with hydrogen peroxide was studied using thermogravimetric analysis, differential thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction methods. It was found that precipitates of co-precipitated mixtures of zinc and titanium hydroxides contained impurities of salts precursors of the Zn (NO3)2 and TiOCl2 at a level of 1%. The experimental data demonstrate the influence of hydrogen peroxide on crystal growth rate of the zinc titanate during thermal treatment. The temperature ranges and kinetic parameters of hydroxide mixture dehydration, decomposition of the titanium peroxohydroxide and precursor impurities were determined