OBJECTIVE: To explore the main factors that most influence the psychiatrists in the process of assessing the capacity for criminal for perpetrators of homicide. METHODS: 105 homicide cases were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The number of cases for no responsibility, reduced responsibility and full responsibility is 41 (39.0%), 28 (26.7%) and 36 (34.3%) respectively. The assessment of capability for criminal responsibility was significantly correlated with three major factors, they are: whether the homicide was driven by psychopathological factors (Gamma = 0.906, P = 0.000), whether the perpetrator was suffering a severe mental disorders (Gamma = 0.761, P = 0.000) and, whether the victim is the perpetrator's family member or relative (Gamma = 0.412, P = 0.000). CONCLUSION Forensic psychiatrists take three major aspects into account in their process in assessing capacity for criminal responsibility, in a descending order, they are: was the homicide driven by pathological motivation? Was the perpetrator suffering from a severe mental disorder? Was the victim a family member or stranger?
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Crime Victims ; Expert Testimony/legislation & jurisprudence* ; Female ; Forensic Psychiatry ; Homicide/psychology* ; Humans ; Liability, Legal ; Male ; Mental Disorders/psychology* ; Middle Aged ; Personality Disorders/psychology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Distribution ; Substance-Related Disorders/psychology* ; Young Adult

China ; Heart Transplantation ; methods ; Humans

ObjectiveTo identify the early predictors of refractory epilepsy (RE). MethodsAll 173 epileptic patients with correct diagnosis and reasonable treatment were enrolled. The 106 patients were classified as drug non-responsive epilepsy (DNR-EP). The remaining 63 patients were classified as drugresponsive epilepsy (DR-EP). With multiple logistic regression, the clinical characteristics between the two groups were compared to identify the early predictors of RE. ResultsMultiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that more than 10 seizures before treatment (OR =4. 46, 95％ CI 1.60-12. 40, P =0. 004),mental retardation at early time ( OR =19. 87, 95％ CI 3. 60-109. 78, P =0. 001 ) and abnormal electroencephalogram(EEG) with epileptiform wave after treatment ( OR =7.57, 95％ CI 2. 54-22. 56,P ＜0. 01 ) were independent predictors of RE.Response to initial therapy was a protective factor of RE (OR=0.05, 95％ CI 0.018-0. 139, P＜0.01). ConclusionPatients who have many seizures before treatment, mental retardation at the early time, epileptiform abnormality in EEG after treatment and who are resistant to initial therapy are likely to develop into refractory epilepsy.

0.05). The RBC folate level of birth defect group except the urinary defect was significantly lower compared with the control group(233-547 vs 689 nmol/L,P

OBJECTIVETo increase the success rate of prenatal diagnosis for classical phenylketonuria(PKU).

METHODSThree new short tandem repeat (STR) markers (PAH26, PAH32 and PAH9) within and surrounding phenylalanine hydroxylase(PAH) gene were selected for amplified fragment length polymorphism. The allele frequencies and polymorphism information contests (PIC) were determined in Chinese population.

RESULTSThe PIC of these three new STR markers was 0.518 (PAH26), 0.413 (PAH32) and 0.362 (PAH9) respectively. There was linkage disequilibrium between PAH9 marker and PAH-STR marker (TCTA)n in the intron 3 of PAH gene. The linkage phase of the mutant genes and the markers was established using the combination of PAH-STR, PAH26 and PAH32 in 95% families. Prenatal diagnosis was performed successfully with these markers in four cases.

CONCLUSIONBy selecting or combining the three STR markers, the mutant genes could be distinguished from the normal allele in up to 95% of families with classical PKU.

Alleles ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Linkage ; genetics ; Humans ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; genetics ; Mutation ; Phenylalanine Hydroxylase ; genetics ; Phenylketonurias ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; methods

To investigate the profile of gene expression in American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium L.) and discover its functional genes, for the first time, expressed sequence tags (EST) library of four-year-old American ginseng roots has been established. According to BLAST and Gene Ontology analysis, eleven genes, encoding cytochrome P450, glucosyltransferase, farnesyltransferase and cyclase family protein, are found to be associated with ginsenosides biosynthesis. Six other genes are obtained encoding auxin-regulated protein, auxin response factor 4 and auxin-repressed protein in the roots of American ginseng. In addition, thirteen expressed transcripts are stress-connected proteins and twelve expressed other transcripts are closely related to plant defense in four-year-old American ginseng roots. Furthermore, 62 genes no hit in BLAST and in Interproscan may be new genes. These results indicate EST is an useful tool for research on functional genomics of P. quinquefolium and it can be applied to the molecular modification of the ginsenosides biosynthetic pathway ultimately for improving the quality of American ginseng germplasm.
DNA, Plant ; genetics ; Expressed Sequence Tags ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Library ; Genes, Plant ; Ginsenosides ; biosynthesis ; Panax ; genetics ; Plant Roots ; genetics ; Plants, Medicinal ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the optimal method of screening for Down's syndrome (DS) with maternal serum mankers.

METHODSScreening by maternal serum markers for Down's syndrome was offered to all 2886 pregnant women in Peking Union Medical Hospital during 1996.11-2001.3. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotrophin (free beta-HCG) were used as markers during the first year of pregnancy. Alpha-fetoprotein, free human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) were used as mid pregnancy and first-trimester markers in next three years. Amniocentesis and (CVS) were done in those defined as risk cases.

RESULTSThe detection rate of Down's syndrome by maternal serum markers was 3.8% (11/2886). The proportion of false positive results in group of triple markers (alpha FP, free beta-HCG, PAPP-A) was 5%.

CONCLUSIONSThe PAPP-A was a good marker to detect Down's syndrome in early pregnancy and may be used to predict the outcome during mid trimester of pregnancy. The AFP and free beta-HCG can be useful markers to detect Down's syndrome and fetal abnormality. While prenatal diagnostics can be shifted to an early pregnant period.

Adult ; Amniocentesis ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human ; blood ; Down Syndrome ; diagnosis ; prevention & control ; Female ; Fetal Diseases ; diagnosis ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Pregnancy ; blood ; Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A ; analysis ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; methods ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; analysis

Objective To establish an anxiety-like gastric hypersensitivity ( GHS) rat model of functional dyspep-sia induced by new sequential stress. Methods Twenty-six male 1-day-old Sprague-Dawley rat pups were randomly di-vided into control and model groups ( n=13 in each group) . The model rats received sequential stress from postnatal day 2:neonatal maternal separation (NMS), acute gastric irritation (AGI) and restraint stress (RS). The control rats were reared freely with their mothers without undergoing the sequential stress. From postnatal 8th week all rats started to receive elevated plus maze ( EPM ) , open field test ( OF ) , abdominal withdrawal reflex ( AWR ) and electromyographic test ( EMG) . Results EPM and OF experiments depicted that the model rats showed obvious anxiety-like behavior ( P<0. 05 or P<0. 01). AWR and EMG tests exhibited that the model rats had elevated gastric hypersensitivity to gastric distention (P<0. 05 or P<0. 01). Conclusions An anxiety-like GHS rat model of functional dyspepsia can be successfully estab-lished with our new method of sequential stress.

OBJECTIVETo set up a fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) based method to detect the gene-deleted female carriers of Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD/BMD).

METHODSMultiplex polymerase chain reaction was used to identify the gene deletion DMD/BMD probands and their female relatives were checked by double-color FISH.

RESULTSTwo probands whose exon 46 of dystrophin gene was deleted, one had a positive pedigree and the other was a sporatic patient. In the case of the positive pedigree, four carriers were detected. In the case of the sporatic family, FISH showed that the mother of the proband was a somatic mosaicism.

CONCLUSIONCombined with multiplex PCR, double-color FISH is a simple, fast, directly visual and accurate method. It is feasible to identify the carrier status of the female relatives of the gene deletion DMD/BMD probands. The detection of the somatic mosaicism is a prominent feature of FISH.

Dystrophin ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Deletion ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; methods ; Male ; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo study the toxicity on rats by hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and to explore the role of oxidative stress in the mechanism of HCB intoxication.

METHODSSD female rats were fed on a powdered diet containing 0.25 per thousand or 2.00 per thousand HCB for 14 days. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activity of total-superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) in cerebral cortex, hippocampus, liver tissue and serum were determined. Eleven biochemical indicators including alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were surveyed.

RESULTS(1) MDA levels in cerebral cortex, hippocampus, liver and serum of the high dosage group rats and that in hippocampus and serum of the low dosage group were significantly higher than that of the control group. (2) The activity of T-SOD was increased in cerebral cortex and hippocampus of the rats in both groups (P < 0.01), but decreased in the serum of the high dosage group (P < 0.01). (3) The activity of CAT was also increased in the hippocampus of rats in the high dosage group. (4) In cerebral cortex and hippocampus of the rats in the high dosage group and in the hippocampus of the rats in the low dosage group, the activity of GSH-PX was significantly higher compared with the control group. However, in liver of both dosage groups, the activity of GSH-PX was decreased (P < 0.01). (5) The activity of serum alkaline phosphatase of both dosage groups was also decreased, but the contents of both serum albumin and total cholesterol were significantly higher than those of the control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONHCB can induce enhanced lipid peroxidation on SD rats, and the oxidative stress plays an important role in the mechanism of neurotoxicity and hepatotoxicity.

Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Catalase ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Hexachlorobenzene ; toxicity ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism