OBJECTIVETo assess the association between polymorphism of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene C677T locus and nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P) in Shanxi Province of China.

METHODSBlood samples from 150 patients and their parents and 150 controls and their mothers were collected. The polymorphism of MTHFR gene C677T locus were analyzed by the methods of polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism technique(PCR-RFLP). Case-control analysis, transmission-disequilibrium test(TDT) and haplotype-based haplotype relative risk analysis(HHRR) were used to study the correlation between the gene mutation and NSCL/P.

RESULTSHardy-Weinberg equilibrium test results showed that, the offspring and mother genotype in the case group and the control group was not deviated from the Hardy-Weinberg law of genetic equilibrium (P > 0.05). The distribution of genotype CC, CT and TT in offspring had significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). In the offspring and mother of case group and the control group, the carriers of the TT genotype compared to CC genotype, the OR are greater than 1 and 95% CI do not contain 1 (offspring OR: 2.692, 95% CI: 1.319-5.495; mother OR: 2.469, 95% CI: 1.136-5.363). The distribution of C allele and T mutation gene were significantly different in the offspring and mother between the two groups (P < 0.05). The TDT test showed: chi2 = 4.507, P < 0.05. The HHRR test showed: P < 0.05.

CONCLUSIONThe single nucleotide polymorphism of MTHFR C677T locus is associated with the development of NSCL/P in Shanxi Province.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Cleft Lip ; genetics ; Cleft Palate ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

Objective To investigate the vascular architecture of subdermal vascular network in antebrachial region, and provide anatomic basis for designing the subdermal vascular network skin flap in the antebrachial region. Methods Anatomical observation and measurement of the blood supply, arterial architecture and venous return of the subdermal vascular network skin flap in anterior antebrachial region were performed on 8 fresh adult specimens perfused with latex and black ink. Results It was found that 4～15 or more fine perforators derived from each the terminal end of the brachial artery and radial or ulnar arteries in anterior antebrachial region, and their diameters were between 0.2～0.9 mm. The anatomical studies showed that the fasciocutaneous perforators supplying the in anterior antebrachial region were found to form rich "spider nevus"arterial networks on the subdermal layer. Moreover, the subdermal vascular networks were also found to give off fine arterial branches into papillary and superficial fascia layers, respectively, to form papillary vascular plexus and superficial fascia vascular network, and all of the vascular networks were anastomosed densely each other. The subdermal venous networks were also anastomosized in plexus and drained into the deep vein. Conclusion Either a random or an axial subdermal vascular network skin flap of the anterior arm can be designed according to the need of recipient defect, and the latter may also be designed as a transfer or a free subdermal vascular network skin flap according to the size of the arterial diameter in the pedicle of skin flap.

Objective To investigate the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression in different grades of glioma and the relationship with MRI characteristics. Methods Thirty-one patients of glioma confirmed pathologically were divided into two groups: low grade group (grade Ⅰ and Ⅱ, n=20) and high grade group (grade Ⅲ and Ⅳ, n=11). MMP-9 expression levels were evaluated with immunohistochemical staining. Plain and enhanced MR scan were performed in all patients before operation. Peritumoral edema index (EI), enhance percentage (EP) and the tumor's maximum diameter were recorded as characteristics of MRI. Results The expression levels of MMP-9, EI, EP and the tumor's maximum diameter were significantly higher in the high grade group than those in the low grade group (t=6.312, 4.405, 6.286 and 5.026, respectively, all P＜0.05). The expression of MMP-9 were found significantly correlated to EI, EP and the maximum diameter of tumor (r=0.516, 0.554 and 0.676, respectively, all P＜0.05). The expression levels of MMP-9 were significantly different between tumors with heterogeneity and even signal (t=2.637, P＜0.05), but not between tumors with unclear border and clear border definition (t=0.906, P＞0.05). Conclusion MMP-9 expression have close relationship with invasion of glioma. EI, EP, the maximum diameter and signal of tumor can reflect the level of MMP-9 expression, and may be used to estimate tumor's malignant behavior, being able to provide the evidence for future clinical operation.

Over the past several years, mass spectrometry technology has become the important method of choice for the discovery of new biomarkers.Because the features of mass spectrometry-based proteomics including sensitivity, high throughput, speed, combined with advanced bioinformatics allow for the rapid analysis of a bunch of proteins simultaneously.It has become a powerful laboratory tool in clinical study.However recent studies showed that critical comments were made on the poor reproducibility,statistical analysis of the data et al.This article focused on challenges of study design, mass spectrometry technology and biological relevance associated its application of mass spectrometry based proteomics in serum or plasma.

There are two populations of bacteria to affect the formation of urinary stones in humanity. The first one can promote the formation of urinary stone by increasing urinary pH, decreasing concentration of urinary inhibitors , and damaging the protective urothelial glycosaminoglycan layer. The second inhibit the formation of urinary stones. These bacteria ( mainly the intestinal oxalate degrading bacteria such as Oxalobacter formigenes, lactic acid bacteria, Enterococcus faecalis etc) can decrease urinary oxalate concentration by regulating exogenous oxalate. The problems faced and the developing direction were also indicated.

Objective This study was to observe the biological effects of eprenone on proliferation ,migration and apoptosis in human gastric epithelial cell line .Methods Human gastric epithelial cells GES‐1 were cultured in vitro .MTT assay were used to e‐valuate the proliferation of GES‐1 cells in different concentrations of teprenone and ensure the appropriate drug concentration .T ran‐swell test and scratch test were used to detect the migration ability of GES‐1 cells treated with appropriate concentration of eprenone .Flow cytometry analysis were used to detect the apoptosis of GES‐1 cells treated by the appropriate concentration of eprenone .Results Treated with eprenone for 24 h ,the proliferation of GES‐1 cells were increased as the concentration of teprenone from 10 to 80 μmol/L ,but from 80 to 320 μmol/L ,the promoting effect showed no staticall significant changes .So the appropriate drug concentration was determined to be 80 μmol/L .Treated with teprenone (80 μmol/L) for 24 h ,the transwell test showed that the migration rate of the teprenone group was 3 .338 ± 0 .293 and the control group was 1 .328 ± 0 .208 .So the number of staining blue cells in eprenone group were more than in control group obviously under membrane of transwell chambers (P<0 .01) .Scratch test showed that the migration rate of the eprenone group was 1 .00 ± 0 .18 and the control group was 0 .72 ± 0 .08 .Similarly ,the migration rate of eprenone group was higher than the control group(P<0 .05) .Treated with teprenone (80 μmol/L) for 48 h ,the apoptosis rate of the teprenone group was (11 .90 ± 1 .53)% and the control group was (25 .61 ± 0 .15)% ,the cellular apoptosis of eprenone group was lower than the control group (P<0 .01) .Conclusion Teprenone can promote the proliferation and migration , inhibit the apoptosis of GES‐1 cells .

Objective To study the value of multiphasic contrast-enhanced CT in diagnosing focal noudlar hyperplasia(FNH).Methods 12 patients with FNH underwent plain CT scan and multiphasic contrast-enhanced CT scan.Arterial phases was at 25~30 s,venous phases was at 55~60 s,and delayed scans were taken after 180 s.Results The lesions showed hypodensity and slight hypodensity on plain CT in 10 cases,among them,irregular center lower density was found in 5 cases and isodensity was found in 2 cases.In the arterial phases,the lesions appeared obvious in 9 cases,among which 4 cases were enhanced homogeneously and 5 were heterogeneously.No obvious enhancement in the center scar.The supply arteries were seen in 3 cases,speckled enhancement in peripheral area of lesions was seen in 2 cases,no obvious enhancement in 1 case.In the venous phases,the lesions showed slightly hyperdensity in 6 cases,isodensity in 4 cases,and mixture of hyperdensity and hypodensity in 2 cases.12 lesions were hypodense as compared with liver in the delayed phases.Conclusion Multiphasic contrast-enhanced CT scan is specific and accurate in diagnosing FNH and can be used to guide the clinical treatment.

Objective To compare the outcomes of off-pump versus on-pump CABG.Methods From 2002 to 2008,CABG was performed in 105 patients aged 80 years and over,including 45 without cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) or off-pump (OP) CABG (OPCAB) and 60 with CPB (onpump CABG).The outcomes were compared between two groups.Results The mean ICU stay was (37.1±30.3) h in OPCAB group and (60.6±58.2) h in on-pump CABG group (P＜0.01).Average ventilator-assisted time was (10.8±9.7) h for OPCAB group versus (22.3±35.7) h for onpump CABG group (P＜0.01).Postoperative atrial fibrillation occurred in 31.1％ of OPCABG patients and 41.7 ％ of on-pump CABG patients (P＜0.01).The mortality rate was 5.0％ in OPCABG group versus 8.3％ in on-pump CABG group (P＜0.05).Conclusions OPCABG is a safe and efficient method of myocardial revascularization in the elderly patients with lower morbidity and complications.

0.05).The model group rats displayed high expression of VEGF.Compared with the model group,the expression of VEGF in Yiqi Huoxue medicine group decreased evidently(P

Objective To investigate the expression level of lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS) mRNA and its protein in glioma.Methods The L-PGDS mRNA was determined by real-time quantitative RT-PCR in 23 glioma and 5 healthy brain specimens. L-PGDS protein was detected by Western blot in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and brain tissue specimens.Results In 23 glioma specimens L-PGDS mRNA expression ranges from 1.5?10 3～7.0?10 4 copy/?g RNA, mean value is 1.6?10 4 copy/?g RNA. In 5 normal brain specimens, the mean value is 8.1?10 5 copy/?g RNA, statistic analysis indicates a distinct discrepancy ( P