Objective To evaluate changes of regional cerebral metabolism by proton MR spectroscopy (~1H-MRS) in patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) and to correlate these changes with the neuropsychological test. Methods Fifty-four patients with cirrhosis including nine patients with hepatic encephalopathy (HE),23 patients with MHE,22 patients without HE and 13 controls underwent neuropsychological tests and ~1H-MRS scanning. The volumes of interest included occipital gray matter and left parietal white matter regions. Ratio of spectral peak areas of N-acetylaspartate (NAA),choline (Cho),myo-inositol (mI),and glutamine/glutamate (Glx) relative to creatine (Cr) were acquired. Statistical analysis was conducted using independent t test and one-way analysis of variance. The results of different groups were compared by using the nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test with Bonferroni correction. Correlations among the ~1H-MRS ratios, the grade of HE, neuropsychological test and ammonia data were calculated with Spearman correlation test. Results The ratios of NAA/Cr,Cho/Cr,mI/Cr,Glx/Cr of the occipital gray matter and left parietal white matter regions in patients with cirrhosis are 1.55±0.12,0.48±0.10,0.42±0.14,2.52±0.48 and 1.73±0.17,0.75±0.16,0.42±0.16,2.75±0.59respectively,and they are 1.53±0.10,0.48±0.09,0.51±0.11,2.20±0.39 and 1.69±0.15,0.82±0.14,0.53±0.12,2.40±0.40 in patients without HE,1.58±0.13,0.48±0.08,0.38±0.13,2.62±0.39 and 1.78±0.18,0.74±0.14,0.38±0.15,2.84±0.58 in patients with MHE,1.54±0.12,0.50±0.13,0.29±0.07,3.04±0.31 and 1.70±0.19,0.62±0.16,0.29±0.07,3.37±0.38 inpatients with HE.Compared with controls, decreased mI/Cr and Cho/Cr ratios and elevated Glx/Cr ratios were found in patients with cirrhosis (t=3.196,9.394,-6.527,P＜0.01,occipital gray matter. t=5.592,9.717,-6.681,P＜0.01,left parietal white matter＝ and in subgroup of patients without HE, with MHE and HE (F=5.097,25.896,20.204,P＜0.01,occipital gray matter.F=16.435,28.660,21.283,P＜0.01,left parietal white matter).Significant difference in these metabolic alterations was also found among the different groups of cirrhosis especially the ratios of Glx/Cr in occipital gray matter and left parietal white matter (P＜0.0084).The ratios of mI/Cr also significantly altered between patients without HE and with MHE (P＜0.0084).There was a significant negative correlation between the ratios of Cho/Cr,mI/Cr and the grade of HE (P＜0.01＝ and a significant positive correlation between the ratios of Glx/Cr and the grade of HE (r=0.709,P＜0.01,occipital gray matter; r=0.720,P＜0.01,left parietal white matter＝.NCT-A and DST of controls is (49±8) s and 39±6.They are (134±37),(83±26),(64±22) second and 15±2,25±9,35±8 in patients with HE,MHE and without HE respectively.The metabolic alterations of Cho/Cr,mI/Cr,Glx/Cr correlated significantly with neurepsychological tests in all subjects (P＜0.01＝.There was a significant positive and a negative correlation between the ratios of Glx/Cr and the data of NCT-A and DST respectively (r=0.570,-0.642,occipital gray matter; r=0.541,-0.632,left parietal white matter).The metabolic alterations of Glx/Cr had no correlation with ammonia data as well as other metabolic alterations.Conclusions ~1H-MRS study shows cerebral metabolic alterations of gray and white matter in patients with cirrhosis,especially the reduction in mI/Cr ratio and increase in Glx/Cr ratio. These changes correlate well with the neuropsychological tests and may be useful in predicting the presence of MHE.

Objective: To analyze the CYP2C19 gene polymorphism in patients with upper digestive system diseases in Anhui Province, so as to provide evidence for individual treatment. Methods: The 307 patients with upper digestive system diseases in the Department of Gastroenterology, The 901st Hospital of Combined Service Force of People＇s Liberation Army were selected. The CYP2C19 genotypes were detected by DNA microarray microarray. The CYP2C19 genotypes and metabolic types in different genders, ages and diseases were analyzed. Results: There were 197 males ( 64.17% ) and 110 females ( 35.83% ) , with the age of ( 58.00±16.13 ) years old. The gene frequency of CYP2C19*1, CYP2C19*2 and CYP2C19*3 was 62.70%, 32.25% and 5.05%, respectively. There were 119 cases (38.76%) of *1/*1 ( 636GG, 681GG ), 129 cases ( 42.02% ) of *1/*2 ( 636GG, 681GA ) , 18 cases (5.86%) of *1/*3 ( 636GA, 681GG ) , 29 cases ( 9.45% ) of *2/*2 ( 636GG, 681AA ) , 11 cases ( 3.58% ) of *2/*3 ( 636GA, 681GA ) , and 1 cases ( 0.33% ) of *3/*3 ( 636AA, 681GG ). In terms of metabolisms, there were 119 cases ( 38.76% ) of fast metabolism type, 147 cases (47.88%) of intermediate metabolism type and 41 cases (13.35%) of slow metabolism type. There were no significant differences in CYP2C19 genotypes and metabolic types among the patients with different gender, age and digestive system diseases ( P＞0.05 ). Conclusion The CYP2C19 genotypes of patients with upper digestive system diseases were polymorphic, mainly the fast metabolism type and the intermediate metabolism type, which could provide reference for the clinical medication of individualized treatment of proton pump inhibitors.

Objective To review the surgical methods and mid-term results of mitral valve repair in pediatric patients with moderate to severe mitral regurgitation (MR).Methods 132 children with moderate to severe MR,aged (18.9 ± 7.2)months,weighted(11.3 ±4.8) kg.The etiology for mitral regurgitation is congenital heart disease in 126 cases,infective endocarditis in 5 cases and Marfan syndrome in 1 case.Mitral valvuloplasty(MVP) was performed with cardiopulmonary bypass under moderate systemic hypothermia.The methods of MVP included annuloplasty,annuloplasty ring,cleft closure,reconstruction of posterior leaflet.The coucomitant cardiac anomalies were treated at the same time.The results of repair were evaluated by saline injection test and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) during operation.Results Intra-operative TEE results: 131 cases had none to mild MR,and only one case had moderate MR.The patient underwent second repair immediately,subsequent TEE was mild.Mean cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time was (80.0 ± 31.1) minutes.Mean aortic clump time was (48.0 ± 17.9) minutes.The in-hospital mortality was 2.3％ (3 cases died).One died of heart failure on postoperative day 7,the other died of low cardiac output syndrome resulting on postoperative day 2.Another one was large ventricular septal defect(VSD) with pulmonary hypertension (PH),died of pulmonary infection.Mean postoperative ventilation time was (34.4 ± 31.9) hours,and mean postoperative inhosptial time was (9.0 ± 5.4) days.The average follow-up period was (40.5 ± 8.3) months (2 to 74 months).122 cases were fully followed up.Echocardiography showed that moderate MR was in 7 patients,and 3 patients had severe MR.4 patients underwent re-do mitral valve repair or mitral valve replacement.There was no late death.The overall survival rate at 5 years was 97.7％ and the overall freedom from reoperation at 5 years was 92.0％.Conclusion Pediatric patients with moderate to severe MR need early surgical treatment,the early and mid-term results were satisfactory.Individualized treatment protocol based on specific pathology was the keypoint of surgical therapy.

Objective To summarize our clinical experience of surgical treatment for pediatric patients with ventricular septal defect(VSD) and mitral regurgitation(MR).Methods A retrospective study was performed including consecutive 84 patients with VSD and MR receiving mitral valvuloplasty(MVP) and VSD closure from January 2006 to January 2012 in Shanghai Xinhua Hospital.All patients were associated with pulmonary hypertension(PH,32-85 mm Hg).The diameters of ventricular septal defects were between 0.7 and 1.6 cm.Echocardiography showed that trivial MR (+) in 9 cases,mild MR (++)in 18 cases,moderate MR(+++) in 33 cases,and severe MR(++++) in 24 cases.VSD closure and MVP were performed with cardiopulmonary bypass under moderate systemic hypothermia.The results of repair were evaluated by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) during operation.Results Intra-operative TEE results: no residual shunt of VSD,none MR in 80 cases,residual trivial MR in 4 cases.Mean Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time was (84.6 ± 18.5) mins.Mean Aortic clump time was(50.8 ± 11.5) mins.Mean postoperative ventilation time was (38.7 ± 30.2) hours,and mean postoperative inhosptial time was(10.5 ±4.6) days.The in-hospital mortality was 1.2％ (1 case died).78 cases were fully followed up.There was no late death.Echocardiography showed that none MR in 62 cases,trivial MR in 10 cases,mild MR in 4 cases,moderate MR in 2 patients.The overall freedom from reoperation at 5 years was (97.4 ± 1.8) ％.Conclusion Ventricular septal defect with pulmonary hypertension need early surgical repair.MR was treated at the same time of VSD closure could effectively improve the surgical outcome of pediatric patients with ventricular septal defect and mitral regurgitation.

OBJECTIVE: To establish a method which processes RHCE genotyping with PCR. METHODS: Using PCR-SSP to detect RHCE genotype in 200 cases of Han population in north of China and Li population in south of China and detecting 5 samples of parentage testing at the same time. RESULTS: The results of RHCE genotyping in individuals of two populations are completely accorded with the results of serology typing. And the distribution of RH genotypic frequency in Han population in north China is: RHCCEE 1, RHCCEe 3, RHCCee 88, RHCcEE 4, RHCcEe 20, RHCcee 54, RHccEE 1, RHccEe 22, RHccee; The distribution of RH genotypic frequency in Li populatin in south China is RHCCEE 2, RHCCEe 2, RHCCee 106, RHCcEE 7, RHCcEe 62, RHCcee 10, RHccEE 3, RHccEe 8. The results of RHCE genotype detecting of parentage testing samples are accorded with the results of associated identification of 13 STR loci. CONCLUSION PCR-SSP technology can exactly detect RHCE genotype in individuals of Han population in north China and Li population in south China.
Alleles ; Asian People/genetics* ; China/ethnology* ; DNA/blood* ; DNA Primers ; Gene Frequency ; Genetics, Population ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods* ; Rh-Hr Blood-Group System/genetics*

To review the application,acceptance,evaluation and funding of the General,Youth and Regional Science Fund supported by Chinese National Natural Science Foundation in traditional Chinese medicine in 2017.There were 4 472 applications in the subject,114 of which failed in the formal examination,4 358 applications were accepted in the next assessment step;1 403 applications got more than 2 recommendations after peer assessment and 637 applications were funded in the end.The major problems in every step of Science Fund were analyzed in this paper.The author hopes all applicants should pay attention to the problems,and then improve the quality of applications in the field.

This study was aimed to analyze the hematologic and molecular biologic characteristics of 14 Wenzhou patients with minor beta-thalassemia, to find out the mutation sites responsible for the disease by detecting sequences of PCR products and to analyze the single nucleotide polymorphism. The peripheral blood of patients was collected intravenously and was anticoagulated with EDTA-K(2); then the templates from blood samples were extracted, the related primers were designed for sequencing the products amplified by PCR; finally mutation sites resulting in beta-thalassemia were found through comparison and analysis of sequences. The results indicated that the C-->T heterozygous mutation occurred at the IVS-2 -654 site in 4 cases; the TTCT deficiency appeared at CD41/42 site in 1 case; in 2 sites existed single nucleotide polymorphisms occurring at the 59th site of exon 1 (T/C, CAT/CAC, His) and IVS-2 nt 665 (T/C). It is concluded that single nucleotide polymorphism of minor beta-thalassemia patients born in Wenzhou had specificity, this study found too kinds of gene mutations which are IVS-2 -654 C-->T heterozygous mutation and CD41/CD42 site-TTCT deficiency.
Base Sequence ; China ; Humans ; Mutation ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; beta-Globins ; genetics ; beta-Thalassemia ; genetics ; metabolism

Coronary Vessel Anomalies ; diagnosis ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Infant ; Pulmonary Artery ; abnormalities

OBJECTIVEThe value of plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP) can reflect cardiac function and therefore can be used for diagnosing congestive heart failure (CHF) and evaluating cardiac function. There are few reports, however, on the value of BNP and NT-proBNP in pediatric cases of congenital heart defect. The aim of this study was to assess the value of plasma NT-proBNP in the diagnosis of CHF and evaluation of cardiac function in pediatric patients with ventricular septal defect (VSD).

METHODSFifty-one patients with VSD aged from 2 months to 2 years old (mean 7.9 months) were enrolled. According to the modified Ross Score, the patients were divided into three groups, no CHF group (20 patients), mild CHF group (18 patients) and moderate to severe CHF group (13 patients). Fifteen age-matched normal children were used as controls. Plasma NT-proBNP was measured using enzyme immunoassay. All patients had complete echocardiographic study, including measurement of left ventricular end diastolic volume index (LVEDVI), left ventricular end systolic wall stress (LVSEWS), heart rate corrected mean velocity of circumferential fiber shortening (mVcFc), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS), and contractility index (Con). The correlation between plasma NT-proBNP level and modified Ross Score and echocardiographic cardiac functional indexes was determined. The sensitivity, specificity and ROC curve of plasma NT-proBNP for diagnosing CHF was studied.

RESULTSPlasma NT-proBNP was positively correlated with modified Ross Score (r = 0.75, P < 0.01). Plasma NT-proBNP concentration in moderate to severe CHF group (2061 +/- 908) fmol/ml was significantly higher than that of mild CHF group (810 +/- 335) fmol/ml, and Plasma NT-proBNP concentration in mild CHF group was higher than that in no CHF group (309 +/- 68) fmol/ml. 97.14% of normal controls and subjects in no CHF group had their plasma NT-proBNP below 400 fmol/ml. 83.3% of children in mild CHF group had their plasma NT-proBNP between (400-1400) fmol/ml while in moderate and severe CHF group 84.6% of children had their plasma NT-proBNP beyond 1400 fmol/ml. Plasma NT-proBNP was also positively correlated with LVEDVI and LVSEWS. There was no correlation among mVcFc, LVEF, LVFS, Con and plasma NT-proBNP concentration. Using plasma NT-proBNP concentration > or = 400 fmol/ml as cut-point for diagnosing CHF, the sensitivity was 89.3%, the specificity was 91.2%, and the area under the ROC curve was 0.944.

CONCLUSIONSPlasma NT-proBNP level could be used to assess cardiac function and diagnose CHF in pediatric patients with VSD.

Echocardiography ; Female ; Heart Failure ; blood ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; blood ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; blood ; Peptide Fragments ; blood ; Ventricular Function, Left

OBJECTIVERett syndrome (RTT) is an X-linked progressive neurodeveopmental disorder that almost exclusively affects girls, and is one of the most common causes of mental retardation in females, with an estimated prevalence of approximately 1 in 10,000 - 15,000 female individuals. Mutations in X-linked methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2) gene, located on chromosome Xq28, have been found to be a cause of RS. A lot of mutations have been reported to be related to RS recently. Mutations are found in 70% - 85% of patients with classical RTT and in less than 50% of patients with atypical RS. Up to now, RTT is diagnosed based on a consistent counseling for clinical features and the established diagnostic criteria. The present study aimed to investigate frequency and type of mutation of MECP2 gene and if hot spot of mutation exits in patients with atypical RTT and find out the relationship between genotype and phenotype.

METHODSA systematic analysis of the entire coding region of MECP2 in 26 unrelated patients with atypical RTT was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing. Genomic DNA was extracted using standard procedures from the peripheral blood leukocytes of each patient. PCR amplification products were checked by 2% agarose gel electrophoresis and were subsequently sequenced with ABI 3730 Automated DNA Sequencer with both the forward and reverse primers. Mutational analyses were performed using normal human genomic MECP2 sequence as a reference (GenBank accession NO.AF030876).

RESULTSSeven mutations were identified in 12 of 26 patients. Most of the mutations were missense mutation; c.397C > T (R133C) was found in 3 of 26 patients; c.473C > T (T158M) and c.916C > T (R306C) were found in 2 of 26 patients, respectively; c.397A > G (R133H) and c.1005G > A (R335C) were found in 1 of 26 patients, respectively. One base pair deletion mutation (806delG) resulting in frameshift was found in 2 of 26 patients, and 1 base pair transversion at splice accept-site (IVS3-2A > T).

CONCLUSIONThe results of this study indicated that c.397C > T (R133C), c.473C > T (T158M) and c.916C > T (R306C) were hot spot mutations in MECP2 gene of patients with atypical RTT. There was some relationship between genotype and phenotype.

Base Sequence ; Child ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Mutation, Missense ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rett Syndrome ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA