Objective To further research the urinary monitoring of the maternal thyroid functional status ,the levels of urine thyroid hormones were analyzed during pregnancy .Methods This study recruited 30 cases of healthy pregnant women at 9-12 ges-tational weeks .Their random urine specimens were collected every four weeks until delivery .The concentrations of urine thyrotro-pin(uTSH) ,urine free triiodothyronine(uFT3) and urine free tetraiodothyronine(uFT4) were detected by electrochemical lumines-cence immunoassay(ECLIA) .The urine retinol binding protein(uRBP) was detected by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) .After correc-ted by uRBP ,the statistical analysis was done to analyze the variation of the ratio of uTSH and uRBP (uTSH/uRBP) ,the ratio of uFT3 and uRBP(uFT3/uRBP)and the ratio of uFT4 and uRBP(uFT4/uRBP)during pregnancy .Results The median levels of u-rine thyroid hormone parameters were obtained from the healthy pregnant women every four weeks and were compared among dif-ferent stages .The difference of uFT3/uRBP and uFT4/uRBP was statistically significant (F= 6 .222 ,P< 0 .05 ;F= 5 .078 ,P<0 .05) ,and the levels of them varied linearity during pregnancy (F=27 .480 ,P<0 .05 ;F=23 .959 ,P<0 .05) .The difference of uT-SH/uRBP had no statistical significance(F=2 .731 ,P=0 .054) .Conclusion After corrected by uRBP ,the levels of uFT3 and uFT4 of healthy pregnant women decreased linearity among different gestational stages ,and the levels of uTSH had no noticeable change .

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy in diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary atelectasis in children.

METHODTotally 104 patients with pulmonary atelectasis, who were admitted to this department, received flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy from January 2006 to May 2010, were enrolled in a retrospective analysis.

RESULTThe analysis on causes of pulmonary atelectasis showed that 76 cases (73%) of the 104 patients had sputum obstructions, which was the main cause of atelectasis. Thirteen cases (13%) had bronchopulmonary dysplasia, 9 cases among these were infants. Twelve cases (12%) had foreign body aspiration, 8 cases among these were under the age of 3-year. After flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy, 100 cases got expansion of pulmonary atelectasis. Sixty-five of the sputum obstruction cases got atelectasis reexpansion after one time of flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Eight of the sputum obstruction cases got atelectasis reexpansion after two times of flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Two of the sputum obstruction cases got atelectasis reexpansion after three times of flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy. The rate of atelectasis reexpansion after one time of alveolus lavement was higher in the cases whose courses of disease were under 3 weeks, than in the cases whose courses of disease were beyond 3 weeks.

CONCLUSIONEtiology of pulmonary atelectasis varied at different age. The morbidity of bronchopulmonary dysplasia was high in infants. Foreign body aspiration was the common cause of pulmonary atelectasis in children from 1 to 3-year of age. Sputum obstruction was the main cause of pulmonary atelectasis in over 3-year-old children. Most cases got atelectasis reexpansion after alveolar lavage. The patients who had shorter course of disease might have higher rate of atelectasis reexpansion after alveolar lavage once. Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy plays an important role in diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary atelectasis.

Adolescent ; Age Factors ; Bronchoscopy ; methods ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Pulmonary Atelectasis ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo investigate the method and clinical outcome of reconstructing large pulp defects of the fingertips with a homodigital neurovascular island flap.

METHODSForm June 2007 to October 2009, 16 patients with the defects of pulp were repaired by the spiral flap that was a homodigital neurovascular island flap with a unique spiral advancement and transposition design allowed pulp reconstruction using sensate glabrous skin while restricting donor morbidity to the injured digit. There were 12 males and 4 females with an average age of 37 years ranging from 18 to 49 years. The defect were caused by machine crush injury 11 cases, pressure injury by heavy objects in 2 cases, crush injury by door of car 1 case, injury by saw in 2 cases. The defect was located in the index finger in 5 cases, the middle finger in 9 cases,the ring finger in 2 cases. All injuries had large pulp defects averaging 1.6 cm (long) x 1.2 cm (wide) to 2.5 cm (long) x 1.7 cm (wide). Short-term results for all patients were reviewed. Outcome measures included static 2-point discrimination, total active motion, and hypersensitivity or cold intolerance.

RESULTSAll flaps achieved primary healing with no complications. Sensory recovery was excellent with an average 2-point discrimination of 5.1 mm. All patients were followed-up for 8 to 20 months (averaged 12 months) with highly satisfactory with both aesthetic and functional outcome. There was no hypersensitivity or cold intolerance. According to the evaluation of total active motion (TAM) scales, the results were excellent in 7 cases, good in 8 cases (9 lesions) and fair in 1 case.

CONCLUSIONThe spiral advancement-transposition flap is suitable for resurfacing large pulp defects with excellent short-term functional and aesthetic results and high patient satisfaction.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Finger Injuries ; surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Surgical Flaps ; Young Adult

Objective: To explore the relationship between different mutation characteristics and clinical phenotype of children with Dravet syndrome (DS) with SCN1A gene mutation, and to summarize the drug efficacy. Methods: The clinical data of children diagnosed as DS from the Department of Pediatrics Neurology, the Third Affi-liated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2014 to May 2018 were collected.The peripheral blood DNA of the children was detected by adopting next generation sequencing for epilepsy-related gene-panel, while the parents′ were screened by using Sanger sequencing for family verification.Multiple ligation-dependent probe amplification technology was used to detect large fragment variation of SCN1A gene if the mutations of the children were negative.The Gesell scale and cavity Wechsler intelligence scale for children(C-WISC) were used to evaluate the intelligence of children. Results: A total of 50 cases of DS were collected, 38 cases of them were positive for SCN1A mutation, and the mutation rate was 76.0%(38/50 cases), of which, the missense mutation[50.0%(19/38 cases)] and frameshift mutation[28.9%(11/38 cases)] were dominant.The average onset age of 50 patients was 6 months, of which onset of seizures was triggered by fever(temperature>37.5 ℃) in 68.0%(34/50 cases)of children, the history of seizures in hot baths was found in 60.0%(30/50 cases) of children, status epilepticus was found in 74.0%(37/50 cases), cluster-like episodes was found in 80.0%(40/50 cases), ≥2 seizure types was found in 92.0%(46/50 cases). Mental retarda-tion was found in most of the children, of which 30.0% (15/50 cases) were mild mental retardation, 38.0% (19/50 cases) were moderate mental retardation, 14.0% (7/50 cases)were severe intelligence retardation.Interictal abnormalities of electroencephalogram(EEG) before 1 year old was found in 24.0%(12/50 cases), and the average age of EEG abnormalities was 30.12 months old; the top three drug efficacy rates were 70.0% (28/40 cases) of Topiramate, 48.0% (24/50 cases) of Sodium Valproate, 45.7% (16/35 cases) Clonazepam or Clobazam.The time of onset of myoclonus and atypical absence of the truncation mutation group was earlier than that of the missense mutation group(14.75 months vs.21.20 months; 16.82 months vs.26.00 months), and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05). The proportion of clustered episodes in the truncation mutation group was higher than that in the missense mutation group [94.7%(18/19 cases)vs.63.2%(12/19 cases)], and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). There was no significant correlation between the SCN1A gene mutation (type and position) and age of onset, type of seizure, proportion of convulsion persistence, the mental development or abnormal proportion of EEG and seizure frequency before 1 year old(all P>0.05). Conclusions The SCN1A gene mutation rate is high in children with DS, and the SCN1A gene mutation characteristics has a certain correlation with DS clinical phenotype.Topiramate is the most effective drug among children with DS.

Objective To analyze the clinical and genetic characteristics of 10 Chinese patients with 17? hydroxylase/17,20 lyase deficiency (17OHD). Methods Clinical features and laboratory data were collected from 7 kindreds with 17OHD. PCR products and subclone sequencing were performed to screen the mutation of CYP17A1 gene. Results All patients had typical clinical presentation of sexual infantilism, hypertension and hypokalemia. The laboratory examinations indicated decreased plasma cortisol, 17-hydroxy progesterone, estradiol and testosterone, and elevated blood adrenocorticotrophic hormone(ACTH), follcie-stimulating hormone(FSH) and luteinizing hormone(LH). CT scan showed bilateral adrenal hyperplasia. 5 CYP17A1 mutations were identified, 4 of which are novel types D487_F489del, the most frequent mutation, was identified in 4 families and 45% alleles. Conclusion Our study indicates that 17OHD should be considered in the diagnosis of patients with sexual infantilism. D487_F489del is the most frequent mutation in Chinese 17OHD patients.

OBJECTIVETo examine how the thymidine phosphorylase (TP) gene expression is upregulated by interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) in human hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC-7721 cells.

METHODSTP mRNA levels were determined by RT-PCR. Whether the JAK-STAT cascade mediates IFN-alpha-induced TP mRNA expression was studied by pretreatment with Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitor, AG-490. Effects of IFN-alpha on TP mRNA stability were detected with additional actinomycin D.

RESULTSThe expression of TP mRNA was induced by IFN-alpha in a dose- and time-dependent manner in SMMC-7721 (human hepatocellular carcinoma) cells. TP mRNA levels rose at 8 h, reached the peak value at 12 h, and remained at a high level up to 72 h in SMMC-7721 cells treated with IFN-alpha 10000 U/ml. IFN-alpha at a dose of 5000 or 10000 U/ml up-regulated TP expression about 3 fold compared with that of non-treated cells (P < 0.05). Induction of TP mRNA expression by IFN-alpha was significantly inhibited in SMMC-7721 cells by pretreatment with AG-490, in comparison with that treated with IFN-alpha alone. Pretreatment of SMMC-7721 cells with IFN-alpha 10000 U/ml for 24 h caused a substantial stabilization of TP mRNA, with a half-live of 35.8 h, compared with 8.5 hr in the control SMMC-7721 cells.

CONCLUSIONIFN-alpha at certain doses upregulates TP mRNA expression via both JAK-STAT transcriptional activation and post-transcriptional mRNA stabilization in human hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC-7721 cells.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; enzymology ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Janus Kinases ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; enzymology ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; STAT1 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Thymidine Phosphorylase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transcriptional Activation ; drug effects ; Tyrphostins ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo verify the clinical efficacy on mild cognitive impairment (MCI) treated with electroacupuncture (EA) intervention based on the principle as "promoting the circulation of the Governor Vessel and regulating the marrow" and plan to provide the A-grade evidence of the evidence-based medicine for the clinical treatment of this disease with acupuncture and moxibustion.

METHODSThe multi-center randomized controlled trial (RCT) was adopted. One hundred and ninety-two cases of MCI were randomized into an EA group and a nimodipine group, 96 cases in each one. In the EA group, EA was applied to Shenting (GV 24), Baihui (GV 20), Sishen cong (EX-HN 1) and Fengchi (GB 20), once every other day. In the nimodipine group, Nimodipine was pre scribed for oral administration. Four weeks constituted one course, the treatment of 8 weeks was required. The minimum mental state examination (MMSE) and the graphic recognition test (GRT) were applied before and in the 1st and 2nd session of treatment separately. The follow-up visit of MMSE scale was provided in the 1st, 3rd and 6th months after treatment separately.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 50.0% (47/94) in the EA group, which was superior to 34.4% (32/93) in the nimodipine group (P < 0.05). At the end of the 1st session treatment, the differences in MMSE total score and the cognitive, memory and speech dimensional scores were not significant statistically between two groups (all P > 0.05). At the end of the 2nd session treatment, the MMSE total score and the cognitive, memory, visual-space skill dimensional scores were improved in comparison before treatment (all P < 0.05). The results in the EA group were superior to those in the nimodipine group (all P < 0.05). But the difference in the speech dimensional score was not significant statistically between the two groups (P > 0.05). In the EA group, the GRT score was improved significantly after 2 sessions of treatment as compared with that before treatment (P < 0.01) and was superior to that in the nimodipine group (P < 0.05). In the 1st, 3rd and 6th month after treatment, the MMSE scale total scores were different significantly in statistics between the two groups (all P < 0.01). The long-term efficacy in the EA group was superior to that in the nimodipine group.

CONCLUSIONBoth of the EA therapy based on the principle as "promoting the circulation of the Governor Vessel and regulating the marrow" and the nimodipine program improve significantly the cognitive function of MCI patients. Compared with the nimodipine program, the EA therapy improves the comprehensive cognitive and the short-term memory abilities much more significantly and is especially advantageous at improving cognitive, memory and visual-space skill dimensions for MCI patients. In the half a year follow-up visit after the end of treatment, the long-term efficacy of EA is better than that of Nimodipine.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cognition ; Cognitive Dysfunction ; psychology ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Memory ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of calcitonin receptor (CTR) gene polymorphism with bone mineral density (BMD) in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

METHODSCTR genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in 184 premenopausal women and 199 postmenopausal women in Shanghai area. BMD at lumbar spine (L2-4) and femoral neck (FN) were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).

RESULTSThe distribution of CTR genotypes in 383 Shanghai women were CC genotype 83.8%, TC genotype 14.6%, TT genotype 1.6%, respectively. BMD at FN of CC genotype was significantly higher than TC and TT genotypes (P < 0.01) in postmenopausal women. But there was no difference in BMD of different CTR genotypes in premenopausal women. Multiple regression analysis showed that CTR genotypes were associated with FN BMD in postmenopausal women (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe polymorphism of CTR gene was associated with BMD in postmenopausal women.

Adult ; Alleles ; Bone Density ; Female ; Femur Neck ; Genotype ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Postmenopause ; Premenopause ; Receptors, Calcitonin ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relative contribution of fat mass and lean mass on bone mineral density (BMD) in premenopausal healthy women.

METHODSThe BMD at lumbar spine, proximal femur and total body, together with fat mass and lean mass was determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), the body height, weight, waist, and hip circumference were also measured, and body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio were calculated in 282 premenopausal women.

RESULTSFat mass was a major determinant for BMI, BMI and lean mass were positively related with L2-4, proximal femur and total body BMD (P = 0.000 for all), and lean mass were the only independent factor contributing to L2-4 (standardized coefficient beta = 0.282, P = 0.000), proximal femur (beta = 0.336, P = 0.000) and total body BMD (beta = 0.361, P = 0.000) in stepwise regression analysis. The relationship between BMI and BMD was further improved after controlling fat mass, while decreased or even lost when controlling lean mass.

CONCLUSIONSLean mass was an important factor determining BMD in premenopausal women.

Absorptiometry, Photon ; Adult ; Body Composition ; Body Mass Index ; Bone Density ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Premenopause

OBJECTIVETo explore the intranasal surface localization of the lacrimal sac in endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy.

METHODSFifteen adult cadavers (30 sides) were studied, the data of projection position of the lacrimal sac on the lateral wall of nasal cavity were measured.

RESULTSIn 2/3 cadavers, the lacrimal sac is located above the axilla of the middle turbinate, and 1/3 lies below it. A majority of the lacrimal sac (2/3) are located below the entry point of the common lacrimal canaliculus, about 1/3 lies above it. Inner canthal ligament projects on the middle of the lacrimal sac, almost equal to the level of common lacrimal canaliculus. Thirty-two cases (thirty-nine sides) of chronic dacryocystitis were followed-up > 6 months after operation. Thirty-five sides were cured, 2 sides improved and 2 sides ineffective. The cure rate was 89.8%, improve rate 5.1% and ineffective rate 5.1%, respectively, and the total effective rate was 94.9%.

CONCLUSIONSThe central position of dacryocystorhinostomy should be 0.2 cm above the front of the axilla of the middle turbinate, to make an curved mucous membrane incision 0.8 cm above and 0. 4 cm below the front of the axilla of the middle turbinate and bone ostium about 1.2 cm x 1.0 cm. It is the best position in endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy. Locating the inner canthal ligament with a bayonet type forceps to find the projection of lacrimal sac is also a simple and easy method.

Adult ; Aged ; Anatomy, Regional ; Chronic Disease ; Dacryocystitis ; surgery ; Dacryocystorhinostomy ; methods ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasolacrimal Duct ; anatomy & histology ; surgery ; Young Adult