Cartilages of 19 human fetuses were studied by microangiographic and histological methods. Blood vessels were enclosed in a special structure, the cartilage canal which were present in individual cartilages from 2～3 months of the fetus. The cartilage canals developed either from the superficial blood vessels which was gradually embedded in the cartilage as it grew, or blood vessels in the cartilage canal grew and divided themselve progressively and penetrated into the deeper part of the cartilage. In addition to the nutritional supply for the centers of the growth of cartilage, the cartilage canal participates directly in the osteogenesis of the secondary centers of ossification.

The distal femoral epiphyses of 18 human foetus and 10 children were studied by microangiographic and histological methods. The results showed that only the articular cartilage is avascular. Characteristic of vascularity in the chondroepiphyses is that the blood vessels coming from inter-condylar fossa are distributed in the center of chondroepiphyses, those coming from medial and lateral aspects of the condyles are distributed in the outer part of the condyles and those closing to epiphyseal plate mainly come from the area superior to the patellar surface and the area superior to the inter-condylar fossa. The secondary center of ossification first takes place around cartilage canal. The increase of the ossification center is faster in the areas adjacent to blood vessels than the areas far from blood vessels. The blood vessels within cartilage canals in the chondroepiphyses transform to epiphyseal vessels which remained as the blood supply to the ossification center during ossification process. Before 2 years of age, the blood vessels supplying the ossification center are 3-5 vessels coming from inter-condylar fossa. After 2 years of age, the blood vessels coming from the area superior to the patellar surface begin to supply the ossification center. After 5 years of age, the blood vessels coming from lateral aspects of the condyles also take part in the supply of the ossification center.

Objective To study the changes of neuron-specific-enolase (NSE), S100B protein and neuropeptide Y (NPY) levels in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of children with viral encephalitis and their clinical significance. Methods The NSE, S100B protein and NPY levels in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid of 50 children with viral encephalitiswere were measured, and another 20 children without central nervous system infection were selected as controls. Results The NSE, S100B protein and NPY levels in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid of children with viral encephalitis[serum: (18.90 ± 5. 50)μg/L, (0. 57 ±0. 26) μg/L, (267. 3 ± 54. 7 ) μg/L; GSF: ( 10. 45 ± 4. 40) μg/L, (0. 93 ± 0. 53 ) μg/L, (347.2 ± 60. 6) μg/L] were higher than those in control group [serum: ( 10. 35 ± 2. 49 ) μg/L, ( 10 ± 0. 06 ) μg/L, ( 67. 8 ±22.5)μg/L;GSF:(3.96 ± 1.57)μg/L,(0. 29 ±0. 18)μg/L,(102.6 ±38.9) μg/L] ( P <0.01). The levels of serum and CSF NSE S100B protein and NPY in critical patient[serum: (21.93 ±5.39)μg/L,(0.71 ±0. 31)μg/L, (32. 5 ± 62. 8) μg/L;GSF: (13.05 ±4.41)μg/L, (1.23 ± 0. 66) μg/L, (407.3 ±68. 1 ) μg/L] were higher than ordinary patients [serum: ( 15.93 ± 4. 02 ) μg/L, ( 0. 42 ± 0. 14 ) μg/L,(234.7 ±51.2)μ.g/L;GSF:(8.05 ± 1.77) μg/L,(0. 63 ±0.26)μg/L, (320.2 ±59.5) μg/L] ( P <0. 01 ). Conclusion NSE, S100B protein and NPY can be used to evaluate encephalitis condition, brain damage degree and prognosis of viral encephalitis.

Objective To investigate the correlation between hypoglycemia and brain injury of newborns.Methods Medical records and follow-up data of 110 newborns with hypoglycemia (blood glucose level≤2.2 mmol/L) who admitted into neonatal department of Peking University First Hospital from December 2006 to December 2009 were studied.All patients were divided into 3 groups:no brain injury group,mild and severe brain injury group according to their clinical manifestation,cerebral radiological characteristics and cerebral functional tests.By using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and x2 test,the potential optimal blood glucose level and duration of hypoglycemia for predicting brain injury were confirmed.Multivariate Logistic regression was taken to determine independent predictors for brain injury.The analyzed factors included gender,preterm/small for gestational age,hyperbillirubinemia,fetal distress,asphyxia,infection,seizures and maternal hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy and hyperglycemia.Results Among the 110 hypoglycemia newborns,33 (30.0％) infants suffered from brain injury,of which 23 were mild and 10 were severe.Blood glucose ≤1.7 mmol/L had high specificity (73％) and sensitivity (60％)for predicting brain injury.When blood glucose≤ 1.7 mmol/L,the incidence of brain injury and severe brain injury was 43.6％ (24/55) and 18.2％ (10/55),which was higher than those [16.4％(9/55) and 0.0％ (0/55)] of patients whose glucose level ＞1.7 mmol/L(x2 =9.74 and 11.00,P＜0.01 respectively).Blood glucose ≤ 1.2 mmol/L had high specificity (100％) and sensitivity (81％) for predicting severe brain injury.When blood glucose ≤1.2 mmol/L,the incidence of severe brain injury was higher than that of the patients whose glucose level was higher than 1.2 mmol/L [34.5％ (10/29) vs 0.0％ (0/81),x2 =30.72,P＜0.01].Duration of hypoglycemia ≥12 h had specificity (100％) and sensitivity (36 ％) for predicting brain injury.When duration of hypoglycemia ＜12 h,the incidence of brain injury was lower than that of the patients whose duration of hypoglycemia≥12 h [21.4％ (21/98) vs 6/6,x2 =27.69,P＜0.01].Multivariate Logistic regression showed that fetal distress (OR=4.69,95％CI:1.47-14.97,P=0.009),glucose level≤1.2 mmol/L (OR =5.16,95％CI:1.56-17.03,P=0.007),duration of hypoglycemia≥12 h (OR=8 885 220 297.12,95％CI:0.00-∞,P =0.000) and maternal hyperglycemia (OR =3.34,95％CI:1.01-11.02,P=0.048) were independent risk factors for neonatal brain injury.Conclusions Low blood glucose level and prolonged hypoglycemia might induce injury of neurol system.Fetal distress and maternal hyperglycemia might increase the incidence of brain injury in newborns with hypoglycemia.

Objective To determine the prognosis and risk factors of neonatal cerebral infarction.Methods From January 2002 to December 2010,44 newborn infants were diagnosed with cerebral infarction by imaging examinations at Peking University First Hospital.The neurodevelopmental outcomes of these newborn infants were followed up and evaluated by clinical manifestations,Gesell development scale,cranial imaging,electroencephalogram and auditory evoked potential.Factors related to prognosis were analyzed with single and multi-factor Logistic regression analysis.Results Thirty-eight (86％) cases were followed up,and of these cases,five children died and the results of three were inconclusive due to small age (less than 6 months old).Among the remaining 30 children,neurodevelopmental outcome was normal in 15 cases and abnormal in the remaining 15 cases,thus,the incidence of sequelae was 50％ (15/30) and the mortality rate was 13％ (5/38).Of the 15 abnormal cases,all had cerebral palsy and movement retardation,eight cases had cognitive impairment,eight cases had epilepsy and five had visual impairment.The incidence of large cerebral infarction (more than one lobe) was 14/15,worse cranial imaging outcome (one month after treatment,cerebral infarction lesion still present or had expanded)was 13/15,and severe complications was 8/15 in the newborns with sequelae,which were higher than in those without sequelae (4/15,5/15 and 1/15,respectively) (x2=13.889,8.889 and 7.778,all P＜0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that large cerebral infarction was a risk factor for sequelae (OR=38.500,95％C1:3.749-395.407,P=0.002),however,worse cranial imaging outcome (OR=8.563,95％CI:0.909-80.683,P=0.061) and severe complications (OR=18.024,95％CI:0.516-630.163,P=0.111) were not risk factors for sequelae.Cerebral infarction with middle cerebral artery injury had a high risk of movement retardation (OR=6.000,95％CI:1.172-3.725,P=0.025),and those with a large cerebral infarction were more likely to have epilepsy (x2=7.273,P=0.010).The incidence of large cerebral infarction in the newborn infants with cognitive impairment was 8/8,which was much higher than in those without cognitive impairment (46％,10/22),thus,infarct area may be related to cognitive ability (x2=7.273,P=0.010).Conclusions Neonatal cerebral infarction might result in many types of sequelae,with motor impairment being the most common form.A large cerebral infarction is more likely to result in abnormal neurodevelopmental outcome.

Objective To investigate the effect of neonatal hypoxic myocardial injury and bradycardia on cerebral hemodynamics and brain tissue regional oxygen saturation (rSO2),and to provide patho-physiological evidence for treatment of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in acute phase.Methods Ninety nine full-term newborns admitted into Department of Neonatology,Peking University First Hospital from December,2005 to December,2008 were enrolled in this study.There were 18 newborns with both myocardial injury and HIE (group 1),31 newborns with HIE but without myocardial injury (group 2) and 50 cases of neonatal jaundice (control group).From 3 to 7 days after birth,Doppler ultrasound was used to measure systolic velocity (Vs),diastolic velocity (Vd) and resistance index (RI) of the anterior cerebral artery; and brain tissue rSO2 was detected by near infrared spectroscopy.The differences among groups were compared by variance analysis and LSD test.Brain tissue rSO2 before and after treatment of 20 newborns with bradycardia for various causes were detected and the difference was compared by paired t test.Results (1) Vs of group 1,group 2 and the control group was (19.35±5.13),(29.35±4.28) and (32.62±7.47) cm/s respectively; Vd was (6.43±2.98),(11.21±3.16) and (11.50±3.03) cm/s; RI was 0.68±0.10,0.62±0.03 and 0.64±0.06; brain tissue rSO2 was (52.4± 2.8)％,(54.6±3.1)％ and (62.1±1.9)％.There were significant differences among the three group(F=29.999,19.393,5.283 and 137.952,P＜0.01).Vs,Vd and rSO2 of group 1 were lower than that of group 2 and the control group (P＜0.05).RI of group 1 was higher than that of group 2 and the control group (P＜0.05).Vs and rSO2 of group 2 were lower than that of control group,but there were no differences between the two groups in Vd and RI.(2) The brain tissue rSO2 of newborns with bradycardia after treatment was higher than that before treatment [(58.7±4.6)％ vs (50.9±3.2)％,t=6.239,P＜0.01].Conclusions The disturbance of cerebral hemodynamics and cerebral oxygenation in HIE newborns are aggravated by hypoxic myocardial injury.Stable heart rate might be very important to early treatment for HIE.

Objective To study the development and shape of the occipital protuberance and its clinical significance with normal cranial CT scans.Methods 3000 cases of normal cranial CT images were selected.There were 1500 males and 1500 females,which were divided into nine age groups.The internal occipital protuberances were observed and measured on bone-window.Results The internal occipital protuberance was seen earlist at four-month-old-infant,and growth with age.The shape of the internal occipital protuberance was classified into four types:single-peak-type,plane-protusion-type,tropezoid-type and irregular-type.The single-peak-type was seen most commonly.Big semilunar depression of the internal occipital protuberance could be seen in patient with magna citern arachnoid cyst.Conclusion The height and shape of normal internal occipital protuberance have many diversities.Big semilunar depression of the internal protuberance is a important sign in diagnosis of magna cistern arachnoid cyst.

Objective To explore the manner of the community-based rehabilitation(CBR)on the disabled affected by leprosy(DAL).Methods Two towns with more DALs were selected as pilot areas to set up a station for CBR in township hospital respectively.Under the leadership of governments on local county and township levels and using the health resources of township hospital recovery service was offered freely to DALs periodically.Certainly,the DALs were willing to participate the program,the township hospital and doctors offered service should be paid by local county health bureau.Results The station for CBR had run in right path and its range of service expanded around the 2 towns.Most part of DALs had cured or distinctly improved their exposure conjunctivitis,cracks of in numb hands and feet,foot ulcers.The style of the station for CBR had been accepted by local people and DALs.Finally,the township hospital and doctor offered service also earned from the station for CBR service.Conclusion CBR should be the most important part of leprosy rehabilitation.The general health services offering the rehabilitation of leprosy work is feasible,which only need pay a little.It also reflects and deepens the strategy advocated by WHO on the sustainability of Leprosy Control Program.

Objective To investigate the correlation between neonatal infectious disease and brain injury.MethodsClinical data of 1266 newborns with infectious diseases were collected from Peking University First Hospital from November 2005 to August 2010.The occurrence of brain injury was summarized.Related factors of brain injury caused by infection and the risk factors for severe brain injury were analyzed by Logistic regression model. Results Among the newborns with neonatal infectious diseases, the incidence of brain injury was 8.6％(108/1266), including 101 (8.0％)mild cases and seven (0.6％) severe cases. The incidence of brain injury for the newborns with severe infectious diseases was higher than those with mild infectious diseases [38.7％(29/75) vs 6.7％(79/1191),x2=92.787,P=0.000].The incidence of brain injury for the newborns withobviousinflammatoryreactionwassignificantlyhigherthanthosewithout [(13.0％(26/200) vs 7.5％ (77/1025),x2=6.544,P=0.011].Severe infection was independent risk factor for severe brain injury by Logistic regression model analysis (OR =15.750,95％ CI:1.756-141.281,P=0.014).ConclusionsIniectious diseases could cause injury on central nervous system,especially when there are severe infections or inflammatory reactions. The severer the infection,the severer the brain injury,especially when complicated by some factors such as asphyxia and hypoglycemia.

Objective To investigate the risk factors of cerebral infarction in newborns and to provide a theoretic basis for prevention.Methods From January 2002 to December 2010,8840 newborns were admitted into the Neonatology Department of Peking University First Hospital,among which 44 patients were diagnosed as cerebral infarction by review of brain imaging and medical records.These patients were taken as study group,and 175 patients were randomly selected as the control group matched by birthday and gestational age.Risk factors of neonatal cerebral infarction were analyzed by univariate analysis and binary Logistic regression.Results Of 27 352 infants born in Peking University First Hospital,21 infants were diagnosed as neonatal cerebral tnfarction,giving the prevalence of neonatal cerebral infarction of 7 per 10 000 live births (21/27 352).Of the 8840patients in Department of Neonatology,neonatal cerebral infarction accounts for 5.0‰ (44/8840).81.8％ (36/44) of the affected babies were delivered at term.The incidence of hypoxia and polycythemia in study group were 50.0％ (22/44) and 11.4％ (5/44),higher than those in control group [27.4％(48/175) and 2.9％(5/175)],differences were statistical significant (x2 =8.237,OR=2.646,95％CI:1.343-5.211,P=0.004; x2 =5.838,OR=4.359,95％CI:1.203-15.796,P=0.030).Logistic regression showed that hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy (OR=3.388,95％CI:1.174-9.778,P=0.024),polycythemia (OR=4.319,95％CI:1.136-16.427,P=0.032)and hypoxia (OR =2.860,95％ CI:1.415-5.782,P =0.003) were risk factors for neonatal infarction.Further analysis suggested that the severity of hypoxia (x2 =- 3.470,P =0.001 ) and hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy (x2=-2.074,P=0.038) had positive correlation with neonatal cerebral infarction.Conclusions Hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy,polycythemia and hypoxia were risk factors of cerebral infarction,especially when preeclampsia and severe hypoxia occurred.