Objective To explore the feature of electrical physiology and the key aspect of diagnosis in early stage of spinal muscular atrophy in infants.Method The back clinical data of the musle change of electrical physiology within 25 cases were analyzed.Results The children were ill in 1 year old,with the symptom that four limbs present symmetry and paralysing slowly,low limbs being more serious than upper limbs,the close and the distant of the four limbs.The levels of creatine kinase(CK) and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) in serum were normal and the case unconcentrated was not seen rarely.The show of electromyogram(EMG) was that three limbs presenting wide-range losing nerve electric potential in peace state,when straingently the deadline was long and the motor unit potential(MUP) was high,when strain highly the eletric potential was decreased;the speed of nerve conduction was common.Muscle inspection was typical nervine myatrophy.Conclusion The clinical feature,the changes of muscle electrical physiology and the muscle inspection are valuable for diagnosis so as to afford reliable evidence for further gene diagnosis.J Appl Clin Pediatr,2006,21(3):167

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Qianyang Recipe (QYR) on the Gan-yang hyperactivity syndrome (GYHS), the blood pressure, and correlated vascular regulatory factors of hypertension rat.

METHODSThirty SD rats were randomly divided into the normal control group, the model group, and the QYR group, ten in each. Hypertension rat model of GYHS was prepared using Aconiti Praeparata Decoction plus ephedrine plus salt water. Rats in the QYR group orally took QYR physic liquor, while distilled water was given to rats in the normal control group and the model group. They were medicated for 28 successive days. The facial temperature, the grip strength, and the systolic pressure were determined once every 7 days. Rats' irritable degree and feather color were observed and recorded once every 14 days. After the last administration the plasma renin (PR), angiotensin II (Ang II), aldosterone (ALD), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (cGRP) were determined.

RESULTSCompared with the model group of the same phase, the facial temperature of rats in the QYR group significantly decreased on the 14th, 21th and 28th day after administration. The systolic pressure obviously decreased on the 21st day after administration. On the 28th day after administration symptoms such as irritability, dry hair were improved, and the Ang II level decreased. There was significant difference in all these changes (P<0.05, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSQYR could relieve GYHS rats' symptoms such as facial hotness, irritability, dry hair, and so on, and decrease the systolic pressure. Decreased Ang II level might be one of its mechanisms.

Aldosterone ; blood ; Angiotensin II ; blood ; Animals ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; blood ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hypertension ; blood ; diagnosis ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Renin ; blood

Adult male Kunming mice were divided into normal control group,propylthiouracil(PTU) treated group and PTU+T_4 treated group.Neurogranin(Ng)protein expression in the hippocampus after 8 weeks was assayed by Western blotting and immunohistochemical method.Results showed that Ng protein was decreased in the hippocampus of male mice with adult-onset hypothyroidism,suggesting that decreased Ng,which is correctable by T_4,is involved in cognitive dysfunction in adult-onset hypothyroid male mice.

Objective To evaluate therapeutic effects and toxicity of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)treated by combining chemotherapy on ifosfamide(IFO)and vinorelbine(NVB).Methods 107 cases pa- tients with advanced NSCLC were enrolled.IFO was given in a dosage of 1.5g/m~2 on day 1 to 4.and NVB in a dosage of 25mg/m~2 on day 1 and 8.It was repeated every three or four weeks,up to two to four cycles.Results Two patients had complete response and 40 patients had partial response.The overall response rate was 47.7% ,the median survival time 10.3 months,1-year and 2-year survival rate was 42% and 12.3%,respectively.The main toxicity was bone marrow suppression.Conclusion The regimen is effective,sale and tolerable in advanced non- small cell lung cancer therapy.

OBJECTIVETo examine the effect of particulate matter (PM) less than 10 microns in diameter (PM10) and ozone (O3) on daily mortality in Shanghai, China.

METHODSA generalized additive model with penalized spline function was used to observe the acute effect of PM10 and O3 on daily mortality.

RESULTSHigher PM10 significantly increased the effect of O3 on total mortality, and O3 also increased the effect of PM10 although the estimated increment was statistically insignificant.

CONCLUSIONOur findings provide further evidence for the effect of PM10 and O3 on daily mortality.

Air Pollutants ; toxicity ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Mortality ; Ozone ; toxicity ; Urban Population

OBJECTIVETo investigate osthole effect on femoral tissue resorption activity of rat in vitro.

METHODSSix SD rats weighted (80 ± 5) g were used to isolate and culture femoral tissue (diaphyses and metaphysis) in vitro. The cultured tissue were devided into control group, estradiol group and osthole group. The femoral tissue was treated with final concentration of 1 x 10(-5) mol/L osthole and 1 x 10(-8) mol/L estradiol culture in vitro at 48 hours after cultured. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (StrACP) activity, glucose and Lactic acid content, StrACP, MCSF (Macrophage colony stimulating factor) and CTSK (Cathepsin K) mRNA was detected by Real-Time RT-PCR were detected.

RESULTSConcetration of Alkaline phosphatase activity were 2226 and 2498 in 1 x 10(-5) mol/L osthole and 1 x 10(-8) mol/L estradiol respectively. As compared with control group, the activity of StrACP of 1 x 10(-5) mol/L osthole and 1 x 10(-8) mol/L estradiol were inhibited at 6, 9, 12 days (P < 0.05); under treatment of in l x 10(-5) mol/L osthole, the content of Lactic acid were increased and the content of glucose were decreased at 3, 6, 9 days (P < 0.05); StrACP, MCSF and CTSK mRNA expression level were inhibited at 6, 9 days (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONOsthole can inhibit bone resorption and raise the level of nutrition metabolism of femurs tissue.

Acid Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Bone Resorption ; prevention & control ; Coumarins ; pharmacology ; Estradiol ; pharmacology ; Femur ; drug effects ; Glucose ; analysis ; Lactic Acid ; analysis ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of ambient air pollution on human health and the subsequent disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost in Shanghai.

METHODSWe used epidemiology-based exposure-response functions to calculate the attributable number of cases due to air pollution in Shanghai in 2000, and then we estimated the corresponding DALYs lost in Shanghai based on unit DALYs values of the health consequences.

RESULTSAmbient air pollution caused 103,064 DALYs lost in Shanghai in 2000. Among all the health endpoints, premature deaths and chronic bronchitis predominated in the value of total DALYs lost.

CONCLUSIONThe air pollution levels have an adverse effect on the general population health and strengthen the rationale for limiting the levels of air pollution in outdoor air in Shanghai.

Air Pollution ; China ; epidemiology ; Environmental Exposure ; Health Status Indicators ; Humans ; Morbidity ; Urban Health

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relation between air pollution exposure and preterm birth in Shanghai, China.

METHODSWe examined the effect of ambient air pollution on preterm birth using time-series approach in Shanghai in 2004. This method can eliminate potential confounding by individual risk factors that do not change over a short period of time. Daily numbers of preterm births were obtained from the live birth database maintained by Shanghai Municipal Center of Disease Control and Prevention. We used the generalized additive model (GAM) with penalized splines to analyze the relation between preterm birth, air pollution, and covariates.

RESULTSWe observed a significant effect of outdoor air pollution only with 8-week exposure before preterm births. An increase of 10 microg/m3 of 8-week average PM10, SO2, NO2, and O3 corresponded to 4.42% (95%CI 1.60%, 7.25%), 11.89% (95%CI 6.69%, 17.09%), 5.43% (95%CI 1.78%, 9.08%), and 4.63% (95%CI 0.35%, 8.91%) increase of preterm birth. We did not find any significant acute effect of outdoor air pollution on preterm birth in the week before birth.

CONCLUSIONAmbient air pollution may contribute to the risk of preterm birth in Shanghai. Our analyses also strengthen the rationale for further limiting air pollution level in the city.

Air Pollutants ; adverse effects ; Air Pollution ; adverse effects ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Pregnancy ; Premature Birth ; epidemiology ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of aluminum chloride on motor and species-typical behaviors in mice.

METHODSMale ICR mice were administered with drinking double distilled water only containing AlCl(3) (10, 50, 300 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)), and control group with drinking double distilled water only for 100 days. Spontaneous activity test, grip strength, beam traversal, tightrope task, food hoarding, and nest construction were used to study the effect of chloride aluminum on motor and species-typical behaviors in mice.

RESULTSThe frequencies of spontaneous activity in low dose group, medium dose group and high dose group [(81.53 +/- 8.97), (71.67 +/- 8.37), (66.73 +/- 6.96) times respectively] were lower than that in control [(106.46 +/- 8.21) times] (P < 0.01), and were negatively correlated with doses (r(s) = -0.42, P < 0.01). Grip strength scores in medium dose group (19.19 +/- 1.48) and high dose group (13.36 +/- 1.46) respectively were lower than that in control (24.31 +/- 1.43) (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Food hoarding was greater in high dose group [96.10 (90.20-99.00) g] than that in control group [84.00 (78.00-90.00) g (P < 0.05)]. The rest of parameters were of no statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONSubchronic exposure to AlCl(3) in mice may diminish motor activity and grip strength, but motor coordination was not impaired; alteration in food hoarding suggests damage to hippocampus cell.

Aluminum Compounds ; toxicity ; Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Chlorides ; toxicity ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Motor Activity ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo explore the mutation of tyrosine hydroxylase(TH) gene in Chinese patients with autosomal recessive(AR) dopa-responsive dystonia(DRD) and to lay a solid basis for gene diagnosis of AR-DRD in China.

METHODSMutation analysis of TH gene was performed in 5 probands with AR-DRD and 2 sporadic patients with DRD by use of polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) combining DNA direct sequencing.

RESULTSThe PCR-SSCP analysis and DNA direct sequencing following PCR revealed no mutation in all the 14 exons of TH gene.

CONCLUSIONThe mutation rate of TH gene in Chinese patients with AR-DRD is low, hence suggesting the genetic heterogeneity and a new locus for AR-DRD.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; Dystonia ; ethnology ; genetics ; Female ; Genes, Recessive ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase ; genetics