Objective To assess the life quality of children with complex congenital heart defects after surgical treatment.Methods Ten children with complex heart defects after surgical treatment were given comprehensive assessment in physical development(using weight and height standard deviation score,SDS);the symptoms and signs that easily occured;startting time for enrolment to a kindergarten or primary school enrolment.Results The weight SDS of 9 cases were below average value of reference crowd,only 1 case was above average value of refere nce crowd;all the 10 cases of the height SDS were below average value of reference crowd;the symptoms prone to appear:2 cases had cyanosis,9 cases had breathlessness,and all 10 cases of heart auscultation had heart murmur;8 cases stayed at home,having reached the school or kindergarten age.Conclusions The life quality of children with complex congenital heart defects after surgical treatment is inferior.The congenital heart disease prevention show focus on pre-birth intervention.

OBJECTIVETo promote the awareness of common variable immunodeficiency (CVID).

METHODSReport two cases of CVID and review related literature.

RESULTSThe two CVID patients were manifested recurrent infections of respiratory and digestive tract, splenomegaly, significantly reduced serum immunoglobulin, since adolescence. They were treated with intravenous gammaglobulin, anti-infection and symptomatic therapies and the diseases were well controlled. Case 1 was diagnosed as with spleen peripheral T cell lymphoma after splenectomy. Case 2 developed nutritional megaloblastic anemia resulting from repeated digestive tract infections.

CONCLUSIONCVID is a heterogeneous group of diseases with later-onset, characterized by hypogammaglobulinemia and recurrent bacterial infections. Early diagnosis and regular treatment may improve the prognosis.

Common Variable Immunodeficiency ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo describe the secular trends and epidemiological characteristics of preterm birth among singletons in 10 counties (cities) of China during 1993-2005.

METHODSWe analyzed data on 542 923 women (gestational age > or =28 weeks) collected through Perinatal Healthcare Surveillance System established by the Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University. Chi-square tests were employed to test the differences in prevalence of preterm birth among different groups.

RESULTS25 784 preterm births were identified, including 1530 stillbirths. Preterm birth rate was 4.75% (95% CI:4.69-4.81) for all births and 4.49% (95% CI:4.44-4.55) for live births. Preterm birth rate declined steadily from 1993 to 2005 and had no significant seasonal variation. Preterm birth rate from the urban areas of the Southern part of the country,was higher than that in the rural areas which was also higher than that seen in the rural areas from the northern part of the country. Relations between women's age at delivery and preterm birth appeared to be U-shaped. Increased preterm birth rates were also observed in women with lower education level,more parities,and previous history of preterm birth or abortion.

CONCLUSIONPreterm birth rate decreased steadily from 1993-2005 in 10 counties (cities) but varied by areas of the country.

Adult ; Birth Rate ; trends ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Premature Birth ; epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Rural Population ; Urban Population ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo understand the current status and its changing patterns of perinatal health care in some southern and northern areas of China from 1994 to 2000.

METHODSData was collected in 13 counties/cities covered by Perinatal Health Care Surveillance System which was part of the Sino-American cooperative project on neural tube defects prevention, established in 1992. The study population consisted of 368 589 women who delivered single live births of at least 20 gestational weeks from 1994 through 2000. Chi-square test was employed to test the difference on the proportions of women with prenatal checkup, women with early prenatal care onset, women with at least five prenatal visits, hospital delivery versus home delivery as well as the proportion of women with at least three postpartum visits. Two-way ANOVA was used to test the differences of mean of gestational weeks at first prenatal visit and the mean of prenatal visits between different year and areas.

RESULTSThe proportion of women with prenatal checkup remained over 99.0% from 1994 through 2000. The mean of gestational weeks at first prenatal visit changed from 13.1 weeks in 1994 to 10.7 weeks in 2000. The proportions of women with early prenatal care onset increased from 65.5% in 1994 to 79.4% in 2000 while women with at least five prenatal visit increasing from 34.1% to 71.8%, hospital delivery increasing from 91.3% to 98.8%, home delivery decreasing from 5.6 % to 0. 6%, women with at least three postpartum visits increasing from 80.5 % to 95.1%. Except for the proportion of women with early prenatal care onset, other proportions in northern areas were lower than those in southern areas in the same year. Greater differences between urban and rural areas in northern areas were found than in southern areas.

CONCLUSIONThe utilization of perinatal health care services was greatly improved in both southern and northern areas from 1994 to 2000. However, there were still obvious differences in the perinatal health care services between northern and southern areas as well as between urban and rural areas in northern China.

China ; Female ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Perinatal Care ; utilization ; Pregnancy ; Rural Health ; Urban Health

Hypertrichosis refers to increased vellus hair growth and is independent to androgen excess. The acquired localized hypertrichosis (ALH) is one of the typical hypertrichosis, which mainly results from chronic irritation, inflammation, friction, and occlusion by plaster of Paris. Here, we report a young boy who had ALH on his right hand following a closed fracture with internal fixation and plaster cast application. The case is unusual because the hairy area is limited to the operative region of internal fixation. We suggest that the local vascular changes and skin inflammation induced by internal fixation and plaster cast application may be associated with ALH.
Calcium Sulfate ; Casts, Surgical ; Fractures, Closed ; Friction ; Hair ; Hand ; Hyperemia ; Hypertrichosis ; Inflammation ; Internal Fixators ; Skin

Hypertrichosis refers to increased vellus hair growth and is independent to androgen excess. The acquired localized hypertrichosis (ALH) is one of the typical hypertrichosis, which mainly results from chronic irritation, inflammation, friction, and occlusion by plaster of Paris. Here, we report a young boy who had ALH on his right hand following a closed fracture with internal fixation and plaster cast application. The case is unusual because the hairy area is limited to the operative region of internal fixation. We suggest that the local vascular changes and skin inflammation induced by internal fixation and plaster cast application may be associated with ALH.
Calcium Sulfate ; Casts, Surgical ; Fractures, Closed ; Friction ; Hair ; Hand ; Hyperemia ; Hypertrichosis ; Inflammation ; Internal Fixators ; Skin

OBJECTIVETo study the dioxin level of breast milk among Chinese mothers, and to assess the dioxin intake of new-born babies from mother's milk and compare with the Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) of dioxin.

METHODSThe CALUX bioassay was used to detect the dioxin concentration of the first time mother's milk among the inland samples (Shenyang region; 32 cases) and the coastal city samples (Dalian region; 47 cases).

RESULTSThe median value of the dioxin Toxic Equivalence (TEQ) in breast milk in the Dalian region was 15.84 pg TEQs.g(-1) fat, which was significantly higher than that in the Shenyang region 7.21 pg TEQs.g(-1) fat (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe dioxin level in breast milk in Chinese is at the world's average level. The dioxin intake of the new-born babies during the period of lactation was higher than the lowest limit of the Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) proposed by WHO. This situation should be noticed by the related authorities.

China ; Dioxins ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Milk, Human ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study whether intraspinally transplanted human cord blood CD34+ cells can survive, differentiate, and improve neurological functional recovery after spinal cord injury in rats.

METHODSRats were randomly divided into two groups. One group of rats was subjected to spinal cord left-hemisection and transplanted with human cord blood CD34+ cells labeled by bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU); The other group was carried by left-hemisection with injection of PBS (control group). The neurological function was determined before and 24 h, 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks after spinal cord injury and cell transplantation using the modified Tarlov score. The distribution and differentiation of transplanted human cord blood cells in vivo in rat spinal cord were evaluated by histological and immnuhistochemical analysis.

RESULTSFunctional recovery determined by modified Tarlov score was significantly improved in the group receiving human cord blood CD34+ cells compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Moreover, human cord blood CD34+ cells were found to survive in rat spinal cord microenvironment, with the expression of the neural nuclear specific protein (NeuN) in 2% BrdU-reactive human cells and of the astrocytic specific protein glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in 7% BrdU-reactive human cells.

CONCLUSIONSIntraspinally administered human cord blood CD34+ cells can survive, differentiate, and improve functional recovery after spinal cord injury in rats. Transplantation of human cord blood cells may provide a novel strategy for the treatment of neural injury.

4-Hydroxycoumarins ; Animals ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Female ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Humans ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Recovery of Function ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; surgery ; Stem Cell Transplantation

OBJECTIVETo summarize the experience in ameliorating curative resection rate and major postoperative complication rate for treatment of hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

METHODSRespective analysis was made on the clinical data of 54 consecutive cases who underwent resection of hilar cholangiocarcinoma from Jan. 1998 to Dec. 2004.

RESULTSIn this group 54 cases received tumor resection with a resection rate of 63.5%. Combined partial hepatectomy was performed in 14 patients, while combined pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple) in 3 patients, and combined resection of portal vein in 2 patients and combined resection of hepatic artery in 2 patients. Thirty patients had curative resection. The curative resection rate was greatly increased from 27.0% (before 2001) to 41.7% (after 2001) in this group with well controlled perioperative mortality and postoperative complications rate (e.g. hepatic failure and major infection). The gross 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates for the whole group were 67.4%, 28.1% and 13.5% respectively. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates for curative resection were 87%, 36% and 24% respectively. The 1-, 2-year survival rates for palliative resection were 42% and 18%.

CONCLUSIONSEnhanced surgical technique resulted in better clinical outcomes.

Adult ; Aged ; Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; mortality ; surgery ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; surgery ; Biliary Tract Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; mortality ; surgery ; Female ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo describe the epidemiological characteristics of overweight and obesity among people aged 18 and over in Guangdong province in 2002, and to identify the populations and regions under high risk.

METHODSCross-sectional survey was used through sampling on multi-stage randomized clusters. Data of socialeconomic status were collected by face-to-face interview. Data on weight and height was obtained through physical check-ups.

RESULTSA sample size of 15 130 people and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 22.03 +/- 3.38 with no significant difference between males and females. However the significant difference was seen between cities and rural areas. The crude prevalence rate of overweight and obesity were 16.8% and 1.8%, and the age-adjusted rate were 15.0% and 1.7%, respectively. The crude rate of overweight in cities (24.8%) and males (17.5%) were higher than that in rural areas (9.4%) and females (16.2%). The crude rate of obesity in cities was seen higher than that in the rural areas, but not significantly different between females and males. The results of logistic regression analysis showed that the major risk factors influencing overweight would include household income, age, gender, smoking habits, physical exercises and location of residence.

CONCLUSIONAbout one sixth of the citizens in Guangdong province were considered to be overweighted and obesive had become an important public health problem. Integrated measures must be taken for prevention and control.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Body Mass Index ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diet ; Exercise ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; epidemiology ; Overweight ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Sampling Studies ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires