Objective To explore the developmental characteristics of different functional levels of autism and the diffe-rence in children. Methods A total of 159 autistic children aged 13-71 months including 85 high-functioning autistic (HFA) chil-dren and 74 low-functioning autistic (LFA) children were evaluated for their developmental characteristics by the development scales from the psycho-educational profile-revised (PEP-R). Results Within the same age group, both HFA and LFA children had obvious unbalance in individual ability development (H=41.68~113.51, P<0.01). Impaired cognitive performance is most common in HFA children. The development of cognitive performance was inconsistent with cognitive expression while the gross motor development was normal. The ability development in LFA children were all impaired, especially in imitation, cogni-tive performance and cognitive expression. With increasing age, the scores of imitation, perception, cognitive performance, cog-nitive expression and overall development quotient were increased gradually in HFA children (P<0.05) while the scores of cogni-tive performance and overall development quotient were decreased in LFA children. Conclusions Autistic children tend to have abnormal developmental progress and order, and individual ability development varies by functional level in autistic children with increasing age.

Objective To investigate the expression of FHIT gene in the 60Co gamma-ray irradiated human lymphocytoblast(AHH-1) cell and the bystander effect cell,and to explore the function of FHIT gene in the bystander effect of ionizing radiation.Method Preparation of bystander effect cell model:after irradiated with different dose of 60Co gamma-ray(0,2,5 Gy),the directly irradiated AHH-1 ceils were collected immediately by centfifugation and co-cultivated with non-irradiated cells in Transwell.forming the bystander effect group P1.In addition,some culture media supernatant of direcfly irradiated cells were transfefred to the non- irradiated cells culture medium,forming the group P2.Then cells were collected at 0,6,12,and 24 h after irradiation and the total RNA and protein were extracted.RT-PcR and Western blot were performed to determine the FHIT mRNA and protein level.respectively.Flow cytometry assay and cell counting were conducted to detect the alteration of cell cycle and cell proliferation,respectively at 0,24 h after irradiation.Results The mRNA level of FHIT gene among control cells,directly irradiated cells and bystander cells showed no obvious difference. while the FHIT protein level of the directly irradiated ceils and bystander cells was siguificandy down-regulated compared with the control cells(F=102.45,P<0.001).Moreover,the directly irradiated cells and bystander cells showed significant G2 phase arrest and obviously inhibited the proliferation ability.Conclusions 2 and 5 Gy of 60Co γ-ray irradiated AHH-1 cells can result in down regulation of the FHIT protein expression,which suggests that FHIT gene is involved in the process of bvstander effect induced by irradiation.