Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) is a specific receptor of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) expressed in endothelial cells. It is a type Ⅱ single-chain transmembrane protein and belongs to C-type lectin family. LOX-1 leads to the injury of endothelial cells by mediating oxLDL, and plays a role in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis, hypertension, thrombosis. This article reviews the association between LOX-1 and atherosclerosis.

In order to offer the theoretical basis of preventing and treating rickets as well as providing information on scientific feeding, a case-control study of 300 infants, less than 24 months of age diagnosed by multiple means was undertaken to investigate the risk factors of infantile rickets in Beijing urban districts. The results showed that the occurrence of infantile rickets was related to maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy, certain birth circumstance, insufficient sunlight exposure and unsuitable feedings. Thus,a concerted policy of systematic management involving early prevention and treatment should be emphasized.

Weanling rats were divided randomly into two groups: taurine (0.6%) Supplemented group (ST) and taurine-free group (TF) . The water maze was used to measure the effect of the taurine on the ability of learning and remembrance of the rats. Cell culture method was used to investigate the effect of taurine and zinc on fibrocellular proliferation. The results indicated that the ability of learning and remembrance of ST rats were significantly higher than that of the TF rats. The rats of ST group had significantly higher weight of whole brain, cerebral and cerebellum, cerebral zinc, copper, iron and free animo acids than those of the TF. The results of cell culture tests showed that fibroblast could grow very well in 10% calf serum medium even taurine was not added to the medium. However, they would not grow as well as when low level taurine was added.The response was a dose-dependent manner, reaching the maximum at 800?M. But cells viability decreases to 80% of the controls at 51mM taurine. Nevertheless, if a combination of tau-rine and zinc was added, there was a striking inhibitive effect on cell proliferation and showed dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that taur-ine-Zn/taurine might act as a regulator in human cell proliferation.From the above results, it is suggested that taurine may play an important role in brain development.

Objective:To review the application of antihypertensive drugs in Wuhan Xiehe Hospital in the period of 1996 to 1998.Methods:Statistically analyze the application of antihypertensive drugs during the period in terms of their types,sales income,DDDs*d-1 as well as the changes of daily expense on drugs.Results:During the period analyzed,the newly applied drugs are mainly ACEI drugs.The DDDs*d-1 of metoprotol,benazepril,nifedipine and nimodipine had been among the highest.The increase of DDDs*d-1 was rapid.The newly prescribed drugs were mainly oral and retard preparations.Conclusion:The Prescription of antihypertensive drugs in Wuhan Xiehe Hospital was rational and in accordance to the principles of convenience and cost-effectiveness.

Objective To identify the factors related to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) prognosis in a retrospective study.Methods One hundred and six patients were evaluated with ALS enrolled in our hospital from January 1994 to December 2004.The patients were monitored with a standard evaluation form,which recorded clinical features,function rating scale (FRS) and forced vital capacity (FVC) every 3 or 6 months from visit to death or having tracheostomy.Results Mean age at onset was (52.1±10.5) years.According to revised El Escorial diagnostic criteria (EEDC),52 patients had definite ALS,37 probable ALS,17 possible ALS.The median survival time from symptom onset was 35 months (95% CI 30-40 months).In the univariate analysis,survival was significantly related to lesion site,lag time from onset to diagnosis and predicted FVC at diagnosis (Log rank 6.84,43.30,4.78,all P < 0.05).In the Cox multivariate model,lag time from onset to diagnosis was significantly related to survival (Wald 20.221,hazard ratio 0.351,P<0.05).Age,sex,EEDC classification,FRS at diagnosis were not related to survival.Conclusion Lag time from onset to diagnosis is a strong predictor of survival,which suggests that progression rate is highly related to survival and further study is needed.

Objective To investigate the progression rate and prognosis of spinal decompression surgery after the onset of symptoms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS).Methods A total of 329consecutive patients with deftnite or probable ALS were enrolled in the study.The patients were recorded with clinical features,history of spinal surgery,etc. Some of the patients were monitored every 3 months from visit to death or tracheostomy.Results Of 329 typical sporadic ALS,we found cervical spondylosis in 156(47.4%)patients,among whom 19(5.8%)underwent decompressive spinal surgery.No differences were noted regarding age at symptom onset,Sex and ALSFRS-R at time of diagnosis between ALS patients who underwent spinal surgery and other ALS patients.But the time from symptom onset to diagnosis was significantly longer in patients with spinal surgery((23.0±6.5)months vs(13.7±7.9)months,t=4.800,P=0.000).In the folow-up study,there were no differences in the rate of disease progression and survival between 2 groups.Conclusions All patients have inevitably progressed after spinal surgery.Although the surgery does not obviously fasten disease progression rate and shorten survival,it prolongs the time from disease onset to diagnosis,therefore should be handled with caution in patients with concurrent ALS and cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

Objective To identify the gene mutation of Chinese Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) pedigrees and investigate the association of gene mutation to the clinical manifestations and electrophysiology,and the underlying mechanisms.Methods A total of 105 pedigrees with CMT in our hospital were enrolled from January,2007 to December 2013.The clinical features,CMT neuropathy score (CMTNS) and electrophysiological data were collected.Gene mutations were analyzed using multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) and Sanger gene sequencing.Results We found 31 (29.5％) PMP22 duplication pedigrees,8 (7.6％) GJB1 mutation pedigrees,4 (3.8％) MFN2 mutation pedigrees,4 (3.8％) HSPB1 mutation pedigrees,3 (2.9％) MPZ mutation pedigrees and 1 (1.0％) PMP22 mutation pedigree.In Chinese Han population,the proportion of PMP22 duplication was relatively lower than that in western countries and manifested with classical clinical characteristics of CMT.Subjects with axonal CMT often presented with isolated lower extremity injury and with central nervous system involvement.Hereditary motor neuropathy might be underestimated in clinical setting and should be differentiated from motor neuron disease.Conclusions The gene frequency distribution in patients with CMT in Chinese Han population is different from that in patients from western countries.We should establish our own epidemiological data of CMT in Chinese Han population.

Wheezing is the most common respiratory disease in children.In recent years,the incidence of childhood wheezing showed an upward trend,the hot topic in the current study is how to draw up a rational and effective treatment to reduce wheezing.This paper summarized the latest research progress of pathogenic factors,clinical classifi-cation,pathogenesis and prevention strategies in childhood wheezing.It aimed to provide a theoretical basis for early diagnosis and individual treatment for children with wheezing diseases.

Objective To introduce the use of artificial lumbar intervertebral disc replacement for the treatment of lumbar disc degenerative diseases and lumbar disc herniation accompanying evident disc space narrowing. Methods Thirty-one cases(37 discs) of artificial lumbar disc replacement were performed using SB Charite Ⅲ from April 1998 to April 2000. Among them, disc degenerative diseases were seen in 16 cases (18 discs), disc herniation accompanying evident disc space narrowing in 13 cases (17 discs), recurrent disc herniation in 2 cases. Results All the cases were followed up from 17 to 41 months(mean, 26 months) . The clinical outcomes were excellent in 23 cases, good in 6 cases, fair in 2 cases. The mobility of the operated level had 4.0? anterior flexion and 5. 1? posterior extension after operation and 9. 1? on total mobility. Meanwhile, the operated intervertebral space got an average of 4. 2 mm higher than that before the surgery. Because of technical problem, a slight displacement of the core occurred in one case without any clinical symptoms and signs. Conclusion Artificial disc replacement is a new operation for the treatment of lumbar disc degenerative diseases and disc herniation accompanying evident disc space narrowing.

Objective To investigate the expression levels of of interleukin-17(IL-17),interferon-gamma(IFN-?),and macrophage inflammatory protein-3alpha(MIP-3?)mRNA in skin lesions of pa-tients with psoriasis vulgaris.Methods The skin biopsies were collected from skin lesions in31cases of psoriasis vulgaris and16normal controls.The expressions of IL-17,IFN-?,and MIP-3?mRNA were semi-quantitatively analyzed with reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)in psoriatic lesions and normal skin tissues.Results Expressions of IL-17,IFN-?,and MIP-3?were presented in all speci-mens of both psoriatic lesions and normal controls.The expression levels were1.142?0.059for IL-17mRNA,1.114?0.056for IFN-?mRNA,1.140?0.052for MIP-3?mRNA,in skin lesions,respectively,which were greatly higher than those in normal controls(0.879?0.034,0.905?0.026and0.868?0.031,respectively)(all P