OBJECTIVETo develop a RP-HPLC method for determination of fraxinellone in Dictamnus dasycarpus.

METHODRP-HPLC conditions were as follows: AT-LICHROM C18(4.6 mm x 250 mm) column, MeOH-H2O (70:30) as a mobile phase, detection wavelength 240 nm, column temperature 25 degrees C, Flow velocity 0.5 mL x min(-1).

RESULTLinear relationship is very good (r = 0.9999) in 0.018-0.18 mg x mL(-1). The average recovery is 98.9%, RSD is 1.2% (n = 4).

CONCLUSIONThe method is simple and repeatable and can be used for quantitative analysis of fraxinellone in root bark of D. dasycarpus.

Benzofurans ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Dictamnus ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Reproducibility of Results

OBJECTIVETo investigate the incidence of hot spot mutation of PDS gene by genetic screening testing method in Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia. The feasibility and effectiveness of genetic screening method in finding enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome were confirmed by temporal bone CT scan.

METHODSDNA were extracted from peripheral blood of 141 students of Chifeng Deaf and Dumb school. PDS IVS7-2 A-G mutation, the most common PDS mutation in Chinese population, was analyzed by direct sequencing for PDS exon 7, exon 8 with intron 7. The individuals found with homozygous or heterozygous PDS IVS7-2 A-G mutation were given further temporal CT scan, ultrasound scan of thyroid and thyroid hormone assays. The results of PDS genetic screening and temporal bone CT scan were compared with each other.

RESULTSThe sequencing results revealed twenty cases carrying PDS IVS7-2 A-G mutation, of whom nine cases were homozygous mutation and eleven cases were heterozygous mutation. Eighteen cases underwent temporal bone CT scan except two cases that left the school due to other health problem. Sixteen cases were confirmed to be enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome (EVAS) by CT scan and the shape and function of thyroid were clinically normal by ultrasound scan of thyroid and thyroid hormone assays, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSThe patients suffered from EVAS can be diagnosed by the screening for the PDS hot spot mutation which has unique advantage in epidemiologic study in large scale deaf population. The preliminary data of this study suggested relatively high incidence of EVAS in Chifeng area.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Female ; Genetic Testing ; Hearing Loss ; genetics ; Humans ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; genetics ; Point Mutation ; Syndrome ; Vestibular Aqueduct ; pathology ; Vestibular Diseases ; genetics ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo analyze the molecular pathogenesis of deaf couples by means of genetic testing. To provide accurate genetic counseling and instruction for deaf couples with different etiology based upon results of genetic testing.

METHODSFour deaf families from July 2005 to May 2006. Each subject was with moderate to profound hearing loss. Genomic and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of each subject were extracted from whole blood. Genetic testing of GJB2, SLC26A4 (PDS) and mtDNA A1555G mutation were offered to each individuals.

RESULTSThe husband from family 1 didn't carry GJB2, SLC26A4 and mtDNA A1555G mutation while his wife was confirmed to carry compound SLC26A4 mutations. The possibility of their offspring's to be SLC26A4 single mutation carrier was 100%. The couple from family 2 both didn't carry GJB2, SLC26A4 and mtDNA A1555G mutation. The possibility of their offspring's having hereditary deafness caused by GJB2, SLC26A4 and mtDNA A1555G mutation was excluded. The husband from family 3 was confirmed to carry homozygous GJB2 mutations and a single SLC26A4 mutation while his wife who was diagnosed with enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome (EVAS) by CT scan was proven to carry a single SLC26A4 mutation. The risk of their offspring's suffering EVAS was 50%. The husband from family 4 was mtDNA A1555G positive while his wife who was diagnosed with cochlear malformation by CT scan didn't carry GJB2, SLC26A4 and mtDNA A1555G mutation. The risk of their offspring's having hereditary deafness caused by GJB2, SLC26A4 and mtDNA A1555G mutation was excluded.

CONCLUSIONSGenetic testing could be applied to offer the more accurate genetic counseling and instruction to deaf couples.

Connexin 26 ; Connexins ; genetics ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; analysis ; Deafness ; diagnosis ; genetics ; prevention & control ; Female ; Genetic Counseling ; Genetic Diseases, Inborn ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; genetics ; Mutation

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the sociodemographic and clinical factors related to anxiety in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). METHODS: This study involved a secondary analysis of data obtained from the Diagnostic Assessment Service for People with Bipolar Disorders in China (DASP), which was initiated by the Chinese Society of Psychiatry (CSP) and conducted from September 1, 2010 to February 28, 2011. Based on the presence or absence of anxiety-related characteristics, 1,178 MDD patients were classified as suffering from anxious depression (n=915) or non-anxious depression (n=263), respectively. RESULTS: Compared with the non-anxious group, the anxious-depression group had an older age at onset (t=-4.39, p<0.001), were older (t=-4.69, p<0.001), reported more lifetime depressive episodes (z=-3.24, p=0.001), were more likely to experience seasonal depressive episodes (chi2=6.896, p=0.009) and depressive episodes following stressful life events (chi2=59.350, p<0.001), and were more likely to have a family history of psychiatric disorders (chi2=6.091, p=0.014). Their positive and total scores on the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) and the 32-item Hypomania Checklist (HCL-32) (p<0.05) were also lower. The logistic regression analysis indicated that age (odds ratio [OR]=1.03, p<0.001), a lower total MDQ score (OR=0.94, p=0.011), depressive episodes following stressful life events (OR=3.04, p<0.001), and seasonal depressive episodes (OR=1.75, p=0.039) were significantly associated with anxious depression. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that older age, fewer subclinical bipolar features, an increased number of depressive episodes following stressful life events, and seasonal depressive episodes may be risk factors for anxiety-related characteristics in patients with MDD.
Anxiety* ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Bipolar Disorder ; Checklist ; China ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder ; Depressive Disorder, Major* ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Mood Disorders ; Risk Factors* ; Seasons