China ; Humans ; Immunization Programs ; Poliomyelitis ; prevention & control ; Poliovirus Vaccines ; administration & dosage

Adrenomedullin ; metabolism ; Child ; Endothelin-1 ; metabolism ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; complications ; Humans ; Hypertension ; metabolism ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; metabolism ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism

Child ; Child Nutrition Disorders ; therapy ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Food ; standards ; Infant Formula ; methods ; Infant, Newborn

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Catgut ; utilization ; Female ; Humans ; Lactation ; Lactation Disorders ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Postpartum Period ; physiology ; Qi ; Young Adult

Achalasia is a rare primary oesophageal motility disorder that presents as a functional obstruction at the oesophago-gastric junction. The prevalence of achalasia in Down syndrome is much higher, which implies a unique association between these two uncommon conditions. Although the exact aetiology of achalasia is unknown, studies have proposed that its pathogenesis is related to autoimmune, infectious or genetic factors, leading to the intrinsic loss of inhibitory myenteric neurons in both the oesophagus and lower oesophageal sphincter. We herein report the case of a 16-month-old girl with Down syndrome and achalasia who was initially treated for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. The diagnosis of achalasia was made only when her condition deteriorated, with subsequent failure to thrive, and upon further investigations, including barium swallow study and upper endoscopy. We also review the various mechanisms postulated in the development of achalasia in Down syndrome, as well as the various treatment modalities available for this rare disorder.
Airway Obstruction ; Body Weight ; Down Syndrome ; complications ; diagnosis ; Esophageal Achalasia ; complications ; diagnosis ; Female ; Fluoroscopy ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; complications ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Infant ; Karyotyping

Acute Disease ; Atrial Fibrillation ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Infant ; Myocarditis ; complications ; virology ; Virus Diseases ; complications

BACKGROUND: Nano-hydroxyapatite has been widely used as reconstructive and prosthetic material for osseous tissue, owing to its excellent biocompatibility and bioactivity. But, its brittleness is one of the most serious obstacles for its wider applications as load-bearing implants. Therefore, hydroxyapatite/chitosan composites have been widely studied as bone substitute, due to their excellent biocompatibUity and suitable mechanical properties.OBJECTIVE: To review various preparation methods of hydroxya patite/chitosan composites and the development trend in this field.METHODS: Articles were searched in Medline Database (1995-01/2009-03), VIP Database (1995-01/2009-03) and "qinghuatongfang" Database (1995-01/2009-03) with the keywords of "nano-hydroxyapatite, chitosan, preparation, development trend".RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Total 2 034 related articles were collected, including 1 634 in Chinese and 670 in English. Following excluding earilier published, duplicate, and similar studies, we brought into 37 sub-standard literatures. Hydroxyapatite/chitosan composite in nanometer size, with similar structure as natural bone, has better biological function compared with corresponding micrometer composite. Simultaneously, optimized material composition, structure and technology will obtain more suitable bone substitute in mechanical property compared with natural bone. This paper reviews preparation methods at home and abroad in recent years, with the rapid development of biological materials, hydroxyapatite compositematerials have been wisely used in bone tissue repair and replacement surgery, but its poor mechanical properties limits its clinical application.

BACKGROUND:Currently, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s can differentiate into nerve cel s via many approaches. Different methods for inducing bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s differentiating into nerve cel s have different ratios. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the difference between chemical method and co-culture method to induce the differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s into nerve cel s. METHODS:Rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s were isolated and purified using whole bone marrow culture method, and then randomly divided into two groups:chemical group,β-mercaptoethanol was added;co-culture group, co-cultured in a Transwel chamber. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Visible protrusions from induced cel s showed radiation growth at 1 week of induced culture, and neuron-specific enolase staining was positive at 2 weeks of culture. Star-like structure of nerve cel s was visible in the co-culture group within 4-5 days of culture, and then more protrusions formed. Meanwhile, the positive rate of neuron-specific enolase was (70.82±2.46)%. After 6-7 days of culture, neuron-like cel s formed and were interconnected in the chemical group;while, the positive rate of neuron-specific enolase was (52.37±1.83)%. These findings suggest that cel microenvironment plays a leading role in the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s into nerve cel s, and chemical induction method is inferior to the co-culture method.

Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture on improvement of learning and memory ability and the expression of connective tissue growth factor(CTGF)mRNA and protein in hippocampus in diabetic rats with cognitive impairment.Methods The rat diabetes model was induced by injecting streptozotocin(20 g/L),and then the rats were randomly divided into three groups:electro-acupuncture group(EA),diabetes-mellitus-untreated group(DM)and control group(CN).After four weeks of electroacupuncture treatment,blood glucose level was determined and the effect of electroacupuncture on learning and memory was examined with the device of Morris water maze.RT-PCR was used to detect CTGF mRNA level,and immunohistochemistry was used to detect CTGF protein expression.Results Blood glucose level and the latency period in DM group were increased compared with those in EA and CN groups(P

BACKGROUND:Autologous hard palate mucosa has been validated to be a substitute of the tarsal conjunctival. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the treatment outcomes of autologous hard palate mucosa applied in the eyelid reconstruction. METHODS:180 patients (180 eyes) with eyelid defects aged 10-63 years old were recruited, including 122 males and 58 females, and subjected to the transplantation of autologous hard palate mucosa. In the same time, flaps were designed and transferred into the defected eyelid soft tissues. All patients were followed up for over 3 months to observe the treatment outcomes. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Three months after surgery, viscous secretions were found in the implanted region and conjunctival sac, which were relieved and eliminated by usage of antibiotic drops. All implanted hard palate mucosa survived within 1 year, neither infections nor falling off occurred, and blood vessels growth into the implant-tissue conjugation that inosculated with the host vessels presenting no rejection. The implants revealed different degrees of shrink in 132 patients, but the eye function was normal. During the hospitalization, some uncomfortable feeling such as eye pain had been relieved, and the wound showed no infections and healed well. During the follow-up, there were eight patients with slight lower eyelid ectropion and three with hypophasis. The length or height difference of both eyelids was within 2 mm, except those who lost eye bal s. These results suggest that autologous hard palate mucosa achieve satisfactory outcomes in the eyelid reconstruction and possesses good histocompatibility.