Objective To summarize the clinical characteristics and causes of ischemic cerebrovascular disease(ICD)in children.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 53 cases with ICD from Feb.2002 to Jun.2008 at the department of neurology in Wuhan Children's Hospital.The self-designed questionnaire of children with ICD was used,whose items included patients' age,gender,personal history,clinical features,cerebrospinal fluid examination,neurological imaging,immunologic examination,metabolic examination,and so on.Results Of 53 children with ICD,30 cases(56.6%)were male,and 23 cases(43.4%)were female.Patients' age varied from 9 months to 12 years old,in which 45 cases(84.9%)were less than 6 years old.Patients from rural area(60.4%)were more than those from city(39.6%).Ratio of limb paralysis was 75.5%(40 cases)in first clinical symptomatology of children with ICD,including hemiplegia in 32 cases(60.4%),alternate hemiplegia in 5 cases(9.4%)and monoplegia in 3 cases(5.7%).Skull CT/MRI scan was performed to reveal 27 cases(50.9%)with basal ganglia region infarction and secondly 15 cases(28.3%)with multi-lobar infarction.Forty cases were found in abnormal cerebrovascular image by means of magnetic resonance angiography/digital subtraction angiography,in which middle cerebral artery and its branches were involved in 21 cases(52.5%).There were 41 cases(77.4%)of patients to be found with clear causes,of which 13 cases(24.5%)were of infections,8 cases(15.1%)of moyamoya disease,5 cases(9.4%)of cerebral vascular malformations,4 cases(7.5%)of head trauma.However,another 12 cases(22.6%)of patients had unknown etiology.Conclusions Children with ICD had characteristics themselves.The limb paralysis was mostly the first symptoms,and the middle cerebral artery and its branches lesions were the most common locations in children with ICD,and next the internal carotid artery involvement,anterior cerebral artery involvement,posterior cerebral artery involvement,cerebral vascular malformations,and so on.Their major cause was infection,followed by Moyamoya disease,cerebrovascular malformations and head trauma,and there were still some unknown causes.

To explore a new method to identify Moutan Cortex to guarantee its safe use, internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) sequence was used to identify Moutan Cortex and its adulterants. DNA was extracted and target fragments were amplified. Sequences were analyzed and assembled by CodonCode Aligner V3.7.1. Genetic distances were computed and phylogenetic tree was constructed based on kimura 2-parameter (K2P) model by MEGA 5.0. The length of the 20 ITS2 sequences of Moutan Cortex from nine different places is 227 bp, and no variation site was detected. The maximum inter-specificK2P distance of Moutan Cortex is 0, the minimum intra-specific K2P distance is 0.041, the average intra-specific K2P distance is 0.222. According to NJ analysis, Moutan Cortex from different places can get together as one branch with bootstrap support values 99%, which indicates Moutan Cortex can be easily distinguished from its adulterants. Using ITS2 sequence can accurately identify Moutan Cortex and its adulterants, it is an effective supplementary to traditional identification methods.
Base Sequence ; China ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; methods ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Drug Contamination ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; classification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Paeonia ; classification ; genetics ; Phylogeny ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVETo investigate different angle projection technique for clinical judgment of obturation quality of molars with multiple root canals.

METHODSEighty-seven maxillary first molars with second mesiobuccal canal (MB2) and 105 mandibular first molars were selected. The canals were instrumented by Ni-Ti rotary instruments and obturated with lateral condensation technique. To judge the obturation quality of the root canals, the radiograph was taken at a horizontal angles of 0 and 20 - 30 degrees from distal direction of the tooth after the treatment.

RESULTSFor maxillary first molars, periapical radiographs showed 23.0% of MB2. Distally angulated radiographs showed 81.6% of MB2. For mandibular first molars, periapical radiographs showed 38.1% of mesiobuccal and mesiolingual canals, and distally angulated radiographs showed 90.5% of two mesial root canals.

CONCLUSIONSMost buccal-lingual distributed root canals of the first molar can be shown more clearly by distally angulated radiographs.

Dental Pulp Cavity ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Molar ; diagnostic imaging ; Radiography ; Root Canal Obturation

This study was aimed to explore the effect of BCL11A gene on transcription of γ-globin gene in K562 cells. B-cell lymphoma/leukemia 11A (BCL11A) gene was silenced by small interfering RNA (siRNA) expression vectors in K562 cells (human erythroblastic leukemia cell line). Gamma-globin mRNA level in K562 cells was determined by RT-PCR. Association between the BCL11A gene and γ-globin gene transcription was explored by comparison of mRNA levels. The results indicated that the silence rate of the BCL11A gene in K562 cells by 4 siRNA expression vectors was 49.7%, 55.4%, 78.2%, and 84.1%, respectively. The siRNA expression vector with 84.1% silence rate was transfected into K562 cells, transcription level of γ-globin mRNA in K562 cells transfected with siRNA expression vector increased 2.4 times as compared with control K562 cells. It is concluded that level of γ-globin mRNA increases when the BCL11A gene is silenced. It indicates that the BCL11A gene may be a negative regulator for γ-globin gene expression.
Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic ; Genes, Regulator ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Transcription, Genetic ; Transfection ; gamma-Globins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore the risk factors of children with high dmft.

METHODSIn suburban of Guangzhou, oral health of 401 3 - 4-year-old children were examined and structured questionnaire were completed by their parents. 120 children with highest number of dmft (dmft > or = 5) and 118 caries-free children were chosen for case-control analysis.

RESULTSThe results of logistic regression analysis showed that the factors associated with high dmft were developmental defect of enamel, visible plaque index, frequency of toothbrushing, frequency of sugar consumption, and income.

CONCLUSIONSAdvocating brushing teeth at least twice daily, controlling the frequency of sugar consuming, reducing the developmental defect of enamel and paying more attention to the oral health of lower income population may effectively reduce dental caries of the children.

Child, Preschool ; Dental Caries ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Oral Health ; Oral Hygiene ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tooth, Deciduous

OBJECTIVETo isolate and identify Streptococcus mutans (Sm) and Streptococcus sobrinus (Ss) in dental plaque of children with high dmft and no caries by selective medium, biochemical methods and arbitrarily primed-polymerase chain reaction (AP-PCR).

METHODSA total of 401 3-4-year-old children from seven kindergartens were recruited using cluster sampling and their dental caries status were examined. From 30% of children with the highest dmft score (dmft >/= 5), 20 children were chosen randomly as test group and 20 age and gender-matched caries-free children were selected as control. Plaque samples were collected from buccal surfaces of the molars and plated onto TYCSB plate. Sm and Ss were primarily identified by colony morphology and biochemical characteristics. Then chromosomal DNA of the strains was isolated and Sm or Ss were confirmed by AP-PCR.

RESULTSThe proportion positive for Sm and Ss in children with high dmft was 100% and 40% respectively while that in caries-free children was 75% and 5% by AP-PCR analysis. The differences were statistically significant between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSThe proportions positive for Sm and Ss detected by AP-PCR method were significantly higher in children with high dmft than in caries-free children and it is a risk factor for high dmft in deciduous teeth harboring Sm and Ss.

Child, Preschool ; Dental Caries ; microbiology ; Dental Plaque ; microbiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Streptococcus mutans ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Streptococcus sobrinus ; genetics ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo analyze potential mutations of uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 (UGT1A1) gene in patients with unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia, and to explore the correlation between the mutations and total serum bilirubin levels.

METHODSGenomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples of patients. Coding sequence and promoter region of the UGT1A1 gene were amplified. Mutations were identified through DNA sequencing.

RESULTSMutations of the UGT1A1 gene were found in 46 out of 61 patients with unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia. Five types of mutations were detected, with a decreasing order of 211G>A, TA insertion in the TATAA promoter element, 686C>A, 1091C>T and 1352C>T. Compared with those carrying a single homozygous mutation or compound heterozygous mutations, total serum bilirubin was higher in those carrying a homozygous mutation in combination with other heterozygous mutations (P< 0.05). Based on the UGT1A1 gene mutations and level of total serum bilirubin, 44 patients were diagnosed with Gilbert syndrome, and 2 were diagnosed with Crigler-Najjar syndrome type 2.

CONCLUSIONThe level of total serum bilirubin is correlated with the number of UGT1A1 gene mutations as well as their heterozygous or homozygous status.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Base Sequence ; Bilirubin ; blood ; Case-Control Studies ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Glucuronosyltransferase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Heterozygote ; Homozygote ; Humans ; Hyperbilirubinemia ; enzymology ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo developed a multiplex RT-PCR assay for simultaneous screening of type A, B and novel A (H1N1) influenza viruses.

METHODSTwo pairs of universal primers in were designed for amplifying the M gene and NS gene of type A and B influenza viruses, respectively. A pair of specific primers of HA gene was designed to detect novel A (H1N1) influenza virus. A one-step method was used to establish the multiplex RT-PCR system. A blinded experiment was carried out to validate the accuracy of this assay in comparison with the results of real-time fluorescence RT-PCR. The clinical practicability and efficacy of this assay was also evaluated.

RESULTSThe RT-PCR products were analyzed using agarose gel electrophoresis, which yielded distinct bands of the target fragments without non-specific reactions, suggesting the high efficiency and specificity of the multiplex RT-PCR. Blinded study of 50 samples demonstrated a concordance rate of 100%.

CONCLUSIONThis multiplex RT-PCR assay allows one-step simultaneous detection of type A, B and novel A (H1N1) influenza viruses rapidly and accurately, and provides a valuable low-cost screening technique for influenza epidemic monitoring and early diagnosis.

Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Influenza B virus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Time Factors ; Viral Matrix Proteins ; genetics ; Viral Nonstructural Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo detect the nitric oxide (NO) production and energy metabolism of the interleukin (IL)-1beta-treated residual hepatocytes from rats after partial hepatectomy.

METHODSForty rats were equally divided into partial hepatectomies (PH) group and control group. In the control group the rats were otherwise matched and underwent sham surgeries. The residual hepatocytes were separated by the collagenase perfusion method. The hepatocytes were cultured with cytokines such as IL-1beta. The production of NO in the two groups were measured with Griess reagent method, the production of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein detected with Western blot, the content of the nucleotide in the hepatocytes detected with high-performance liquid chromatography, and the content of the ketone body in the hepatocytes of the two groups determined with the enzymatic method. Afterwards the ketone body ratio (acetoacetate/beta-hydroxy butyrate, KBR) was calculated.

RESULTSThe production of NO in the PH group was twice as much as that in the Sham group. IL-1beta decreased the content of ATP and the KBR in the hepatocytes of both groups, and the decrease magni tude in the PH group was significantly larger than that in the Sham group. After the injection of L-arginine, the production of NO in the hepatocytes in the PH group increased, and the level of ATP and KBR decreased. N(G)-methyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), the inhibitor of NO synthase, inhibited the production of NO and reversed the decrease of ATP and KBR.

CONCLUSIONAfter partial hepatectomy, increased NO production in the hepatocytes after the treatment of interleukin-1beta may disturb the function of mitochondria by inhibiting the synthesis of ATP.

Adenosine Triphosphate ; biosynthesis ; Animals ; Arginine ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Hepatectomy ; Hepatocytes ; metabolism ; Interleukin-1beta ; pharmacology ; Ketone Bodies ; biosynthesis ; Nitric Oxide ; antagonists & inhibitors ; biosynthesis ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Rats ; omega-N-Methylarginine ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo determine the self-compatibility of Platycodon grandiflorum and the location of microspore germination on stigma.

METHODThe microspore germination of self-pollination, self-plant-pollination and cross-pollination and the pollination microspore germination in and outside of stigma were observed with fluorescence microscopy.

RESULTMost pollens of self-pollination, self-plant-pollination and cross-pollination can germinate on the stigma, and after 24 hours, pollen tube entered into the ovary successfully. Pollinated on the outer-surface of stigma, microspores could not germinate, but on the inner-surface of the stigma when it dehisced most microspores can germinate.

CONCLUSIONThe compatibility of self-plant-pollination of Platycodon grandiflorum is high. The microspore germination loci is on the inner-surface of the dehisced stigma.

Flowers ; growth & development ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; methods ; Plants, Medicinal ; growth & development ; Platycodon ; growth & development ; Pollen Tube ; growth & development ; Pollination ; physiology