OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects and mechanisms of diethylhexylphthalate (DEHP) on morphology and function of progenitor Leydig cells (PLC) in rats.

METHODSTwenty pregnant SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups ( n = 5): normal control group, DEHP low dose group , middle dose group, and high dose group, which were treated from postnatal day (PND) 1 to PND 21 of the pubs with DEHP at the doses of 0, 10, 100, 750 mg/(kg · d) in 0.5 ml of corn oil by gavage respectively. At the end of the treatment, the male pups were killed and blood samples were collected for determination of serum testosterone concentration by chemiluminescence method. The body weight, testis weight and anogenital distance (AGD) were measured. The morphology of PLC was observed by light and transmission electron microscopy. The protein expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein(StAR) in PLC was determined by immunohistochemistry. The mRNA expression of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in the testis was assayed by real-time PCR.

RESULTSCompared with normal control group, the serum testosterone and AGD of male pubs from the middle and high dose groups were declined significantly (P < 0.01), the testis weight and body weight from high dose group were decreased significantly (P < 0.01), while the testis weight increased in the low dose group (P < 0.05). Under light microscope, PLC showed hyperplasia and cluster aggregation in the low dose group and focal hyperplasia in the middle and high dose group. The spermatogenic cells in seminiferous tubules showed decrease, apoptosis and unfix in the high dose group. Under transmission electron microscope, the PLC showed decreased lipid droplets, smooth endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondriae in the treated group. The mRNA expression of IGF-I increased in the low dose group, and the protein expression of StAR decreased in the middle and high dose group.

CONCLUSIONLactating exposure to DEHP may interfere with the synthesis of testosterone of PLC in male pubs, the decrease of StAR and the damage of PLC may be involved in it.

Animals ; Body Weight ; Diethylhexyl Phthalate ; adverse effects ; Female ; Germ Cells ; drug effects ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; metabolism ; Lactation ; Leydig Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Male ; Organ Size ; Phosphoproteins ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Testis ; Testosterone ; blood

OBJECTIVETo find out the prevalence of sleep disturbances for children aged 2 to 12 years old in Chengdu.

METHODSTotally 1 600 children aged 2-12 years old were selected from 5 districts in Chengdu and investigated by using questionnaire.

RESULTSAll 1 526 survey papers were returned. The average time of every day sleep in each age group (infant group, pre-school age group and school age group) were 12.12 hours, 10.42 hours and 9.47 hours. The sleep time of the children in those three groups were much less than the standard one. The proportion of the prevalence of sleep disturbance was 37.88%. Among them, there were snoring in 5.57%, choke/gargling in 1.25%, sleep inquietude in 7.86%, mouth breathing in 4.59%, sweating in 21.36%, member spasm in 2.82%, molar teeth in 8.26%, night talking in 4.02%, somnambulate in 0.2%, bedwetting in 1.95%, and difficulty falling asleep in 10.75%. There were significant differences shown in different sexes and ages, and in incidence of symptoms of some sleep disturbances. The affecting factors were the co-sleeping, tonsillitis, bronchitis, pollen allergy and their parent's snore.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of sleep disturbances being higher and more severe than before might be due to the less sleeping time in Chengdu in children aged 2 to 12 years old. More attention should be paid by parents, the Ministry of Education and the children's doctors.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Prevalence ; Sleep Wake Disorders ; epidemiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective To describe the prevalence and risk factors for suicide ideation among college students in Chongqing city. Methods Data on suicide ideation and related factors were collected from 9808 college students at 11 colleges randomly selected in Chongqing. A multiple logistic regression model was used to identify risk factors for suicide ideation. Results 1279 (13.0%) of the 9808 students reported suicide ideation and the constituent ratio of boys and girls was 3:4 whileriskfactors for suicide ideation were ranked as follows: high frequency of feeling hopeless in prior year (OR=5.07,95%CI: 4.27-6.02); having psychological problems in recent 1 month that affecting daily lives and learning(2.07,1.79-2.38); relatives having suicide behavior (1.77,1.52-2.08); having had sexual experience (1.95,1.65-2.30); being female (1.66,1.45-1.90) and friends who had had suicide attempts(1.46,1.28-1.67);having diseases in the last 1 month that affecting daily lives and learning (1.29,1.08-1.52). Conclusion The prevalence of suicide ideation among these college students was high that calls the development,implementation and assessment of suicide prevention plans for college students that focusing on the risk factors identified for suicide ideation.

BACKGROUNDPulmonary artery sling (PAS) is a rare congenital heart anomaly and may cause unexplained respiratory symptoms in infants. Since the non-specific respiratory symptoms of PAS may lead to misdiagnosis, the aim of this study was to clarify the clinical and imaging features of this disease for timely diagnosis and treatment.

METHODSClinical histories, physical examinations and imaging studies were retrospectively evaluated in nine infants with PAS. Chest X-ray, echocardiography and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) with 3-dimensional reconstructions were performed in all patients and three of them received surgical treatment.

RESULTSNine cases included six males and three females with a mean age of (4.3 ± 2.8) months ranging from 2 to 11 months old. All patients had respiratory symptoms including recurrent cough, stridor and wheezing. The onset of symptoms was within 3 months in all cases and three children had symptoms only a few days after birth. The chest X-ray showed pneumonia in all cases. Contrast-enhanced CT showed the tracheal compression at different lengths in every case. The echocardiograph findings of PAS were anomalous origins of the left pulmonary artery from the posterior aspect of the right pulmonary artery. Of the 9 cases, 8 cases were diagnosed correctly by echocardiography. Of the complicated abnormalities, there were one with secundum atrial septal defect, one with patent foramen ovale and three with persistent left superior vena cava. None of them were complicated with significant blood dynamic changes.

CONCLUSIONSInfants with recurrent respiratory symptoms such as chronic cough, stridor and wheezing, should be examined for the possible presence of congenital pulmonary artery sling. As a noninvasive technique, echocardiography is very helpful and should be the first-choice modality for the diagnosis of pulmonary artery sling. Contrast-enhanced CT, clearly demonstrating the anatomy of pulmonary artery sling and the position and extent of trachea compression, is necessary for the final diagnosis and pre-operation evaluation.

Echocardiography ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Hemodynamics ; physiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Pulmonary Artery ; abnormalities ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Radiography

Objective To investigate and analyze the situation of urban and rural neglected children aged 3-6,in China,so as to provide basis for the analysis and comparison on relevant risk factors.Methods 1163 urban children aged 3-6 (with 49.6％ males and 4.5％ with minority ethnicity) were investigated from 25 cities of 14 provinces,autonomous regions and municipalities in the whole country.Multi-stage stratified cluster sampling method was used.Again,using the same sampling method,4096 rural children (of whom 50.6％ were males with 6.2％ as minorities) were chosen from 26 cities of 10 provinces or municipalities.Identification of children being neglected was based on “Child Neglect Evaluation Norms of Children Aged 3-6 Years in Urban/Rural China”.SPSS-Windows 13.0 was employed for data analysis.Scores,frequency/degrees,age,sex and types (physical,emotional,educational,safety,medical and social) of children under negligence on every group of the regions,were calculated.x2 test (Chi-Square) and Analysis of variance (ANOVA) were processed to determine the significance of their differences.Results The overall frequencies of negligence were 28.0％ and 53.7％ respectively among the urban and rural children aged 3-6,while the total degrees of negligence were 42.2 and 44.4 respectively.Significant difference was found between children from the urban and the rural areas (P＜0.05).Significant difference was also found between urban and rural children on every age group (P＜0.05).The frequencies of negligence among males were 32.6％ and 55.9％ respectively in urban and rural areas while among females,the figures appeared to be 23.7％ and 51.6％ respectively.The degrees of negligence were 42.7 and 44.6 among male while 41.8 and 44.3 among female children,in the urban or rural areas.Significant differences were found on male or female between urban and rural groups (P＜0.05).Frequencies of negligence in urban children aged 3-6 for the six types were from 5.1％ to 12.9％,with the frequency in rural areas as 13.1％-26.6％.Significant difference was found between urban and rural group for any other type (P＜0.05),in addition to the safety type.The degrees of negligence in urban children aged 3-6 for the different type were between 39.4 and 43.4,while in the rural areas as from 36.5 to 48.2,with significant difference for every type (P＜0.05).The degrees of negligence related to education,emotion,or physical strength were more serious on children from the urban than from the rural areas.The highest frequency of child negligence was seen in the single-parent families on both urban and rural groups (42.9％ and 60.0％ respectively),with no significant difference found (P＞0.05).The urban and rural children aged 3-6 were mainly involved in single item of negligence,with incidence rates as 16.5％ and 22.7％ and proportions as 58.9％ and 45.1％ respectively,despite the factors as age or sex.Conclusion There were large differences on the situation of negligence between the urban and rural children aged 3-6.The frequencies and degrees of negligence in every age group and different sex for children living in the rural areas were higher than those urban children.The frequency of negligence among boys was higher than girls for both urban and rural areas.The rural children had suffered more serious negligence than the urban children at any other type,in addition to the ‘ safety'.Both urban and rural children had the highest frequency of negligence in single-parent family,and were mainly suffered from single item of negligence.

· AIM:To investigate the correlation between retinal thickness (CSRT) in the macular region and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.· METHODS:Totally 39 cases of patients with diabetes (77 eyes) who screened from May 2016 to March 2017 were selected,and were divided into two groups according to the levels of HbA1c,which the 24 cases (47 eyes) in the low HbA1c group (HbA1c＜8％) and 15 cases (30 eyes) in high HbA1c group (HbA1c≥8％).Other 22 cases of normal people (normal control group) and who for healthy physical examination were selected in the same period.Then,the correlation between HbA1c level and CSRT were analyzed by the Spearman correlation analysis.· RESULTS:In the high HbA1c group,HbA1c was (10.45±1.30)％,FBG was 10.67±1.64mmol/L and 2hPG was 15.98± 1.38mmol/L,which was higher than that in the low HbA1c group,and there was significant difference between the two groups (P＜ 0.05).The CSRT in the normal group was lower than the low HbA1c group and the high HbA1c group,and there was significant difference between the groups (P＜ 0.05).According to the analysis of the Spearman method,there was positive correlation between HbA1c and CSRT,macular volume,average macular thickness,FBG and those parameters,2hPG and them (P＜0.01).· CONCLUSION:The HbA1c level is associated with retinal thickening in the macular region of patients with diabetes,which could predict the severity of diabetic retinopathy and provide important guidance for prevention and treatment.

Objective To investigate the effect of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on the proliferation and differentiation of brain tumor stem cells (BTSCs) in vitro. Methods Freshly resected glioblastoma multiforme tissues were obtained from 3 surgical patients, and BTSCs were isolated by limited dilution and clonogenic assay. The BTSCs obtained were cultured in serum-free medium and divided into control group, ATRA group, growth factor group, and ATRA/growth factor group with corresponding treatments. The proliferation of the treated BTSCs was evaluated using MTT assay. The BTSCs were induced in serum-containing medium and treated with ATRA or diluted solvent, and the expression of CD133 and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the cells were detected by immunofluorescence on day 10 of induction. The differentiated BTSCs were cultured in serum-flee medium, and the percentage of and time needed for cell sphere formation were observed. Results The proliferation of BTSCs in ATRA group was faster than that in the control group and slower than that in growth factor group and ATRA/growth factor group, and the size of brain tumor sphere (BTS) in ATRA group was smaller than that in the latter two groups. The percentage of CD133 and GFAP-positive differentiated BTSCs were (2.29±0.27)% and (75.60±4.03)% in ATRA group, and (7.05±0.49)% and (12.51±0.77)% in the control group, respectively. The differentiation rate of BTSCs was significantly higher in ATRA group than in the control group (P<0.05), and some of the differentiated BTSCs expressed CD133. The differentiated BTSCs could form BTS in serum-free medium, and in ATRA group, the percentage of BTS formation was significantly lower and time need for BTS formation was significantly longer than those in the control group [(4.84±0.32)% vs (17.71±0.78)%, P<0.05;10.07±1.03 vs 4.08±0.35 days, P<0.05]. Conclusion ATRA can promote the proliferation and induce the differentiation of BTSCs, but the differentiated BTSCs can not achieve terminal differentiation and tend to form BTS again.

Objective To investigate the expressions of the putative brain tumor stem cell (BTSC) marker CD133, nestin and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded gliomas, and discuss the BTSC microenvironment: the composition, morphology and distribution of the niche. Methods The samples of 74 patients performed resection of the glioma in our hospital from January 2007 and October 2008 were chosen. According to WHO 2008 classification of nervous system tumors, they were assigned into low-grade glioma group (grade Ⅱ, 22) and high-grade glioma group(grade Ⅲ, 27 and grade Ⅳ,25). Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of CD 133 in 74 cases of brain gliomas. Double immunofluorescence staining was employed to detect the co-expressions of CD133/nestin or CD133/PCNA. The percentages of the CD133+cells, CD133+ blood vessels and CD 133+ niches were calculated, and correlation analysis was also performed on their percentage and the pathological grading of the tumor. Results Accumulated CD 133+ cells grew in the niches. CD 133+ niches could be observed in all grade gliomas; low-grade group showed lower level expression of the CD 133+ niches, fewer proliferating cells, clearer boundary between the 2 neighboring niches and fewer surrounding blood vessels as compared with high-grade group. Besides CD113+/nestin+ BTSCs, some subsets as CD133+/nestin-cells and CD133-/PCNA+ cells were noted in the niches in the high-grade group. The percentages of CD 133+ cells, CD 133+ blood vessels and CD 133+ niches were different in different grades of gliomas and the higher the grade of gliomas was, the higher their expressions were. Positive correlation was observed between the percentage of CD 133+ niches and the percentage of CD133+ blood vessels (r=0.425, P=0.000). The expression of CD133+ niches in high-grade glioma were higher than that in low-grade tumors (F=5.324, P=0.002). Conclusion Glioma tissues have niche structures, which composed of CD133+/nestin+ BTSCs and some subsets. CD133+ blood vessels were playing a key role in maintaining the niche structure, and the expression of CD133+ niches is statistically different in different pathological grading tumors.

OBJECTIVETo explore the status of child neglect among urban areas children and adolescents aged 3 - 17 years in China.

METHODSUsing multi-stage stratified cluster sampling method, 8001 children and adolescents were recruited from 30 cities of 14 provinces in December 2008. The investigation was carried based on The 3 - 6 years old children Neglect Norms of city in China and The 6 - 17 years old children Neglect Norms of city in China. SPSS 13.0 was employed for analyzing neglect rate and degree for group of areas, age, sex and neglect type (including neglect of physical, emotional, educational, medical, safety and social).

RESULTSThe degrees of child neglect for urban children aged 3 - 6 (children aged 6 were not in school), 6 - 8 (children aged 6 were school children), 9 - 11, 12 - 14 and 15 - 17 were 42.2 ± 6.9, 42.8 ± 8.4, 42.1 ± 9.1, 46.4 ± 9.2 and 49.7 ± 8.4(P < 0.05), the neglect rates were 28.0% (326/1163), 28.8% (431/1496), 27.2% (543/1962), 22.4% (373/1664) and 32.8% (563/1716) (P < 0.05), respectively. There were differences in six neglect types for each group; the neglect degrees and rates were high in the group aged 12 - 14 and 15 - 17 (46.4 ± 9.2 and 49.1 ± 8.4, 22.4% (373/1664) and 32.8% (563/1716), respectively); for each neglect type, the neglect degree of children aged 15 - 17 were highest (52.8 ± 8.0, 47.3 ± 11.6, 49.5 ± 10.8, 42.4 ± 10.3, 52.2 ± 16.0, 56.0 ± 10.1). The degree and rate of neglect in West were highest, Middle was next, the East was lowest (the neglect degrees were 45.4 ± 9.1, 45.0 ± 9.3 and 44.0 ± 8.8, P < 0.05;the rates were 30.7% (1340/4361), 25.0% (756/3024) and 21.2% (131/616), P < 0.05). Degree and rate of child neglect for children without siblings were lower than children with siblings (the neglect degrees were 44.2 ± 9.0 and 47.6 ± 9.1, P < 0.01; the rates were 26.1% (1572/6017) and 33.0% (655/1984), P < 0.01). Neglect degree of school children aged 6 years old (43.1 ± 7.3) was higher than children not in school (40.7 ± 7.8) (P < 0.01), but neglect rate was lower (the rates were 35.4% (60/169) and 21.3% (84/394), P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONNeglect degree and rate of urban children and adolescents aged 3 - 17 years in China were both high, and neglect deserved more attentions.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child Abuse ; prevention & control ; statistics & numerical data ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Urban Population

Objective To evaluate the dynamic changes of left ventricular mechanical synchrony in the early period after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) by two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D-STI) and real time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT-3DE),and analyze the correlation with phase analysis of single photo emission computed tomography gated myocardial perfusion imaging (SPECT GMPI) in porcine models,and further to investigate the clinical significance of left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony in patients with AMI.Methods Bama minipigs(n =11) were subjected to left anterior descending (LAD) occlusion by balloon to introduce AMI porcine models.All animals underwent 2D-STI and RT-3DE at the baseline (before AMI),1 day,1 week and 4 weeks after LAD occlusion,respectively.In addition,SPECT GMPI was measured at baseline and 1 day after AMI.Data was analyzed and compared the dynamic changes of left ventricular mechanical synchrony before and after AMI.Then the correlation between echocardiography and SPECT GMPI in evaluating left ventricular mechanical synchrony before and after AMI were calculated.Results Eight pigs were successfully established as AMI models and complete the study.SPECT GMPI,2D-STI and RT-3DE showed that the left ventricular mechanical synchrony indexes were significantly higher at 1 day after AMI than those before AMI,which means the appearance of left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony.Compared with those 1 day after AMI,GLS,Time SD,Tmsv16-SD％ and Tmsv16-Dif％ did not change significantly at 1 week after AMI,but they significantly increased at4 weeks after AMI (all P ＜0.05).At baseline and 1 day after AMI,the GLS measured by 2D-STI and the SPECT GMPI parameter phase bandwidth (BW) showed good correlation(r =0.708-0.719,P ＜0.05),Time SD was significantly correlated with the SPECT GMPI parameter phase standard deviation (SD)(r =0.717-0.830,P ＜0.05),while Tmsv16-Dif％ derived from RT-3DE had a better positive correlation with BW (r =0.713-0.857,P ＜0.05),as similar as Tmsv16-SD％ with SD(r =0.803-0.957,P ＜0.05).Conclusions Left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony is present 1 day after AMI.Compared with that 1 day after AMI,left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony doesn't change significantly at 1week after AMI,but further aggravates at 4 weeks after AMI.The parameters of 2D-STI and RT-3DE have good correlation with the mechanical synchrony parameters measured by SPECT GMPI.2D-STI and RT-3DE can be used as reliable methods to evaluate left ventricle mechanical dyssynchrony early after AMI.