Objectives Understanding the characteristic changes of Keshan disease (KD) in different epidemic period to provide reference basis for prevention and teatment. Methods On the basis of medical record as fundamental element, the relative conditions of Keshan disease's prevailing and spreading period were compared. Results In high incidence years, familial aggregation [accounted for 12%(6/50)] and seasonal aggregation were found, and KD cases occurred mainly from May to September, which was 78% (39/50)of the total cases in the whole year. Circulatory dysfunction(gallop rhythm, pulmonary role, jugular venous engorgement, cyanosis of lips) was more severe in high incidence years than that in low incidence years(X2=8.53,P<0.01). The average age of incidence was (4.07±1.46) years old in high incidence years and (6.11±2.71) years old in low incidence years. The type constitution in high incidence years was significantly different from that in low incidence years (X2=40.68, P<0.01), and chronic type of KD accounted for 22.85%(707/3094),46.09%(53/115), respectively, in high and low incidence years. Conclusions Making a further research of seizure of disease, and improving diagnosis and cure management level are also the important content for prevention and cure research work of Keshan disease at right time.

Child ; Critical Illness ; Humans ; Status Epilepticus

AIM: To isolate and characterize the anti-complementary polysaccharide from the root of Bupleurum chinense. METHODS: Bioactivity-guided fractionation and purification was used to obtain the anti-complementary polysaccharide from the hot-water extract of the root of Bupleurum chinense. The polysaccharide was characterized by various chemical and spectral analyses. The anti-complementary activities were evaluated by hemolytic assay in vitro. The action targets were identified in the system with individual complement-depleted sera. RESULTS: A homogeneous polysaccharide BC-PS2 was isolated as an anti-complementary agent. It was identified as a branched polysaccharide with an average molecular weight about 2 000 KDa, composed of Glc, Ara, Gal, and Man in the ratio 3.5 : 2.4 : 2.0 : 1.0, respectively, along with a trace of Rha and Xyl, and only 1.11% of protein. The main linkages of the residues of BC-PS2 include terminal, 1, 6-linked, 1, 3-linked and 1, 3, 6-linked Glcp, terminal and 1, 5-linked Araf, terminal, 1, 4-linked, 1, 6-linked and 1, 4, 6-linked Galp, terminal, and, 1, 4-linked and 1, 4, 6-linked Manp. The bioassay experiments revealed that BC-PS2 inhibited complement activation on both the classical and alternative pathways, with CH50 and AP50 of (0.222 ± 0.013) and (0.356 ± 0.032) mg·mL(-1), respectively. Preliminary mechanism studies indicated that BC-PS2 interacted with C1q, C2, and C9 components. CONCLUSION The results demonstrated that BC-PS2 is an anti-complementary polysaccharide, and should be important constituent of the root of Bupleurum chinense for its application in the treatment of diseases associated with the excessive activation of complement system.
Adult ; Bupleurum ; chemistry ; Carbohydrate Sequence ; Complement Activation ; drug effects ; Complement Inactivating Agents ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Hemolysis ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Weight ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the nerve electromyogram results by analysing the pathological characters of 4 cases diagnosed as peripheral neuropathy caused by n-hexane and arsenic.

METHODSThe nerve electromyogram examination and pathology data of 4 patients, who had been diagnosed as toxic chemicals peripheral neuropathy, were studied retrospectively.

RESULTSTwo patients in this group were exposed to n-hexane, their nerve electromyogram examinations and biopsy pathology of superficial peroneal nerve indicated the peripheral neuropathy was mainly manifests the lesion of medullary sheath. Another two patients were exposed to arsenic, their nerve electromyogram examinations showed axonal degeneration associated with demyelination, and their biopsy pathology showed the peripheral neuropathy was mainly axonal degeneration.

CONCLUSIONAxonal degeneration and demyelination always coexist in peripheral neuropathy caused by chemicals.

Arsenic Poisoning ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Female ; Hexanes ; poisoning ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; chemically induced ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

The flavonoids were investigated from the whole plants of Lagopsis supina. The compounds were isolated and purified by various column chromatography, and their structures were identified by physiochemical properties and spectroscopic data. Two flavones were isolated from the CH2Cl2 layer of Lagopsis supina extract and identified as genkwanin (1) and 5-hydroxy-7,4'-dimethoxyflavone (2), respectively. Ten flavonoid glycosides were isolated from the water layer of Lagopsis supina and elucidated as kaempferol-3-O-6" (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl) -β-D-glucoside (3), quercetin-3-O-6"-(3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl) -β-D-glucoside (4), quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucoside(5), kaempferol-3-Of3-D-glucoside ( 6), isorhamnetin-3-O-/-D-glycopyranoside (7), apigenin-7-O-6-D-glucoside (8), luteolin-7-O-β-D-glucoside (9), chrysoeriol-7-O-β-D-glucoside (10), rutin (11 ), and kaempferol-3-β-(6"-p-coumaroyl) -β-D-glucoside (tiliroside, 12). Compounds 3 and 4 were firstly isolated from Lamiaceae family, and compounds 1-12 were isolated from the plants of Lagopsis genus for the first time.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Lamiaceae ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

OBJECTIVETo compare therapeutic effects between body acupuncture and scalp acupuncture combined with body acupuncture on atherosclerotic cerebral infarction at acute stage.

METHODSForty-two cases of atherosclerotic cerebral infarction at acute stage were divided into 2 groups. They were treated respectively by scalp acupuncture combined with body acupuncture and simple body acupuncture. The comprehensive scores of mind, speech, limb motor function, etc. of the patients before and after treatment were recorded and compared.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the cumulative scores in the two groups reduced significantly (P < 0.01); the difference of scores before and after treatment in the scalp-body acupuncture group was significantly higher than that in the body acupuncture group (P < 0.05); there was no significant difference between the two groups in clinically effective rate (P > 0.05), but there was a very significantly difference between the two groups in the markedly effective rate (P < 0.01), the scalp-body acupuncture group being significantly higher than that in the body acupuncture group.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture can improve mind, speech and limb motor function of the patient with atherosclerotic cerebral infarction at acute stage, and the therapeutic effect of scalp combined with body acupuncture is better than that of simple body acupuncture.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Acute Disease ; Adult ; Aged ; Atherosclerosis ; complications ; Cerebral Infarction ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Scalp

The purpose of this study was to explore the significance of abnormal karyotype in diagnosis and prognosis estimation of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Chromosome analysis were performed in 306 cases of MDS using the short-term culture of bone marrow cell and G-banding technique, and in partial cases FISH technique was used for this analysis. 93 out of 306 cases were followed up. The results showed that 144 cases (47.1%) had clonal chromosome aberrations. The most common chromosomal aberrations included +8, translocation, complex or high complex karyotype, -7/7q-, 20q-/-20, trisomy 1 or partial trisomy 1, +11/+11q-, -9/9q-, +9/9q+, -Y, dup(1q), +21. The rate of abnormal karyotype in refractory anemia with erythroblasts (RAEB) and refractory anemia with erythroblasts-transformation (RAEBT) were much higher than in refractory anemia (RA) and refractory anemia with sideroblasts (RAS) (P < 0.05). The rate of abnormal karyotype among those cases with mutagen contact history were higher than those in cases without mutagen contact history. The patients with abnormal karyotype had a mean survival time much shorter than patients with normal karyotype (P < 0.005) and had a higher risk transforming into acute leukemia (P < 0.05). The worst outcome was observed in those patients with a complex or high complex karyotype, -7/7q- and trisomy 11. In conclusion, MDS is highly heterogeneous disorders and karyotype analysis is helpful for its diagnosis, treatment selection and prognosis estimation.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Female ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; genetics ; mortality ; Prognosis

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the detection of cytomegalovirus (CMV) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for predicting the development of CMV disease.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty one allo-HSCT patients performed in the past 2 years were analyzed retrospectively. PCR-CMV was used to monitor CMV viremia and vireuria once a week after transplantation.

RESULTSIn the dynamic detection, CMV viremia was positive for at least one chance in 89 patients, vireuria did in 99 patients. Thirty-seven patients developed CMV disease with an accumulative incidence of 32.5%. The incidence of CMV disease was 15.6% in plasma CMV-PCR negative group, 31.3% in positive once group, and 47.3% in positive over twice group. There was significant difference among the three groups (P = 0.0126). The incidence of CMV disease was 24.8% in urine CMV-PCR negative group, 43.5% in positive once group, and 33.0% in positive over twice group, being no significant difference among them (P = 0.845). On analysis, viremia could predict the development of CMV disease: the PPV (positive predictive value) is 40.5%, NPV (negative predictive value) is 84.4%, sensitivity is 75.0%, and specificity is 69.2%.

CONCLUSIONSDetected by CMV-PCR, MCV viremia may predict the development of CMV disease, but MCV vireuria cannot.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cytomegalovirus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; diagnosis ; etiology ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; urine ; Female ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Transplantation, Homologous ; adverse effects

Objective:To investigate the subtype distribution of HIV-1 strains prevalent in four areas of China,and to study the characteristics of gag gene variation and changes in antigen epitopes under the host immune pressures. Methods:The plasma of HIV-1 infected people from Henan, Guangdong, Sichuan and Beijing in China were collected. Virion RNA was extracted directly from plasma after the virion was condensed. The gag gene was amplified by RT-PCR and nested-PCR.Sequences were subtyped by Genotyping Tool software, and phylogenetic analysis of gag gene were performed using the MEGA 4.1 software.The gene distances intra each subtype were calculated by Distance program. The Ks/Ka ratios were calculated using SNAP program. The variation analysis of CTL antigen epitopes restricted by main HLA-Ⅰ specificities in China was performed.Results:Six subtypes or circulating recombinant forms(CRFs)of HIV-1,including B',CRF07_BC,CRF01_AE,B,CRF08_BC and CRF02_AG,were identified in four areas of China.The gene distances intra each subtype were CRF01_AE>B>CRF08_BC> CRF07_BC>B' listed in order of size, meanwhile the order of Ks/Ka ratios was CRF01_AE>B>CRF08_BC>B'>CRF07_BC. Far more diversity of antigen epitopes in P17 region was observed than that in P24.Epitope mutations intra subtypes were CRF01_AE>B>B'>CRF07_BC listed in order of size. Conclusion:Itseems that CRF01_AE is under the strongest immune pressures,and displays the most diversity of gene and variation of epitopes intra subtypes prevalent in China, followed by subtype B, B' and CRF07_BC. The discrepancy of epitope mutations intra the subtypes is significant.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical and myopathological characteristics and desmin mutations in patients with desminopathy associated cardiomyopathy from 5 Chinese families.

METHODSThirty-six individuals (18 male, 18 female) were from 4 autosomal dominant inherited families and 1 sporadic case. Nineteen patients manifested myopathy followed by cardiomyopathy; 13 patients presented with isolated cardiomyopathy; 1 patient had isolated myopathy; 3 patients died of cardiac diseases without detailed clinical information. Out of the 23 patients underwent electrocardiogram examinations, 20 patients showed kinds of abnormalities in cardiac conduction block. Echocardiogram revealed dilated cardiomyopathy in one case, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in one case, and restrictive cardiomyopathy in two cases. Muscle specimens from 7 different patients were performed for histological, immunohistochemistry and ultrastructural examinations. All exons of the desmin gene were screened in 21 patients, 17 asymptomatic family individuals and 50 Chinese controls.

RESULTSMuscle biopsies revealed multiple proteins aggregated in muscle fibers, also supported by immunostaining and electroscopic examinations. Five novel heterogeneous mutations were identified in 4 families and one sporadic case.

CONCLUSIONSNovel mutations of desmin gene were linked with cardiomyopathy in patients from 5 Chinese families with desminopathy.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Cardiomyopathies ; diagnosis ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Desmin ; genetics ; Exons ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Pedigree