Thirty-six healthy women were divided into 3 groups according to their calcium intake at week 18 of gestation. The levels of their blood calcium, phosphate, parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcitonin were assayed during pregnancy and postpartum, and bone mineral density ( BMD) was measured postpartum. The levels of PHI and calcitonin were increasing with advancing pregnancy and reached the highest at the end of pregnancy. The women with higher calcium intake during pregnancy period had higher BMD than that of the women with ordinary diet during pregnancy period.

Brain Neoplasms ; mortality ; secondary ; Ethmoid Sinus ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Cavity ; pathology ; Nose Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology

Objective To determine the relationship between the viral load of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in newborns with symptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection.Methods The study cohort comprised 36 newborns with symptomatic congenital CMV infection.CSF from all of the patients were analyzed for the presence of CMV DNA by PCR.Audiological function were performed on them by brain stem auditory evoked potential at birth,at 6 and 12 months of age.Results (1)Of the 36 newborns,15 cases (41.7％) had positive CSF PCR result,17 cases (47.2％) had SNHL.(2) The prevalence of SNHL in the group of newborns with positive CSF PCR result was 60.0％ (9/15),and it was 38.1％ (8/21) in the group of newborns with negative CSF PCR result,there was no significant difference of the prevalence of SNHL between the two groups (P =0.194).(3) In newborns with positive CSF PCR result,the amounts of CSF CMV DNA was not different between the newborns with SNHL and normal hearing (3.35 ± 0.68 vs.3.17 ± 0.56,P =0.36).Conclusion A positive CSF PCR result and the CMV viral load of CSF did not correlate with SNHL.

Objective To explore the value of uric acid (UA) combined with lipoprotein a [Lp(a)] in prediction of atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS) in high risk population with atherosclerosis. Methods A total of 190 patients who were highly suspected for ARAS and received renal artery angiography in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from October 2008 to April 2011 were enrolled in the study.Among these patients,120 were diagnosed as coronary arterial disease (CAD) by coronary artery angiography and 89 were diagnosed as ARAS.The control group included 180 people undergoing routine healthy examination in our hospital.The basic information and lab results such as UA,Lp (a),total cholesterol (TC),triacylglycerol (TG),HDL,LDL,Scr and C-reactive protein (CRP) were collected.Logistic regression analysis was used to identify possible risk factors of ARAS and to establish a new tool to predict ARAS in the high risk population. Results The levels of Scr,UA,Lp (a) and CRP in ARAS cases were significantly elevated compared to control people.For high risk population,there were no significant differences in Scr,lipids,UA and CRP between ARAS cases and non-ARAS cases.Logistic regression analysis showed that UA level＞344 μmol/L was correlated to ARAS independently.Using UA level＞344 μmol/L and Lp (a) level＞242 mg/L as a predicting marker for ARAS in high risk population,the specificity was 96.0％,the positive likelihood ratio was 5.45 (P=0.001),and the odds ratio was 6.78,95％CI (1.90～24.2) (P=0.001). Conclusions In high risk population,the UA may be an independent correlating factor of ARAS.Combining UA with Lp(a) can predict the ARAS.

Objective To investigate the effect of intra-articular carboxymethylated ehitosan(CM- CTS)injection on inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS)expression in cartilage at the early stage of os- teoarthfitis(OA).Methods Thirty-two white rabbits were underwent unilateral anterior cruciate ligament transection(ACLT)and were randomly divided into 4 groups 5 weeks after transection.Rabbits of group A re- ceived 0.3 ml of 2% high molecular weight CMCTS(H-CMCTS)once every two weeks.Rabbits in group B were treated using 2% low molecular weight(L-CMCTS)CMCTS at:the same intervals.Group C rabbits were injected intra-articularly with 0.3 ml of 1% sodium hyaluronate(Na-HA)once a week.Animals of group D were not injected.At sacrifice,11 weeks following surgery,the expression of iNOS in cartilages was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)methods.Results Both immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR showed that the level of iNOS expression of cartilage in CMCTS in- jection groups was lower than that in Na-HA injection group and the untreated group.There was no significant difference in iNOS expression between the two different molecular weight CMCTS injection groups. No signifi- cant difference of iNOS expression in cartilage was found between Na-HA injection group and the untreated group.Conclusion CMCTS suppresses iNOS expression in cartilage during the early stage of OA.Na-HA treatment has no effect on iNOS expression in cartilage.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the expressed mRNA of the factor subunit A (FA) in monocyte in a hereditary factor (F) deficiency family.

METHODSThe F A mRNA of the proband and the other family members was analyzed by RT-PCR, semi-quantitative RT-PCR, cloning and sequencing. The three dimensional structure of the protein was predicted by SWISS-MODEL and viewed by RASMIOL.

RESULTS(1) A large in frame deletion from codons 11 to 279, spanning from exon 2 to 7 of F A (DelCD11-279), was identified in the proband at mRNA level and a truncated protein is predicted composed of 464 amino acids. Compared with the normal and the other families, the proband showed lower level of F A mRNA in RT-PCR. (2) SWISS-MODEL analysis showed that the truncated protein lacked the β-sandwich and a part of catalytic core, resulting in loss of the normal catalytic domains.

CONCLUSIONDelCD11-279 of F A mRNA is associated with hereditary F deficiency. The reduced expressing level of F A gene is one of the causes resulting in F deficiency in the patients.

Adolescent ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Exons ; Factor XIII ; genetics ; Factor XIII Deficiency ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pedigree ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Sequence Deletion

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of clinical and EEG features in children with febrile seizures which are prone to epilepsy four years after antiepileptic drugs valproate and/or topiramate treatment.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty-two children with febrile seizures between 2004 and 2005 and who had the indications of antiepileptic drugs treatment were administered with oral valproate and/or topiramate treatment. The children were followed up for four years. Routine blood tests, liver and renal function tests were performed twice a year. Sleeping activation EEG examination was performed once a year.

RESULTSDuring the follow-up of 1 to 10 years, 108 (98.2%) out of 110 children with valproate monotherapy were seizure-free. In the 110 cases, 95 were in the drug withdrawl and 10 were in the drug reduction. All of 13 cases receiving topiramate monotherapy were seizure-free and were in the drug withdrawl. None of the patients showed abnormalities in routine blood tests, liver and renal functions tests. Sleeping activation EEG showed normal in 102 cases, focal discharges in 8 cases, bilateral synchronized spikes in 4 cases and 3Hz spikes and polyspikes in 2 cases.

CONCLUSIONSEarly use of antiepileptic drugs valproate or topiramate is effective and safe in children with febrile seizures which are prone to epilepsy. The majority of the children have a normal sleeping activation EEG after antiepileptic drug therapy.

Anticonvulsants ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Electroencephalography ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Seizures, Febrile ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Sleep ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical characteristics and treatment of localized Castleman's disease (CD), and review the literatures to improve the diagnosis and management of this disease.

METHODSThe clinical symptoms, histopathology, CT, MRI findings and results of surgery in 20 patients with localized CD were evaluated retrospectively.

RESULTSThe average age of the patients was 37.7 years. The lesions were located in the retroperitoneal space (9 cases), mediastinum (7 cases), pelvic cavity (1 case), neck (1 case), upper arm (1 case), and axillary (1 case). All patients underwent surgical resection, including 9 cases for retroperitoneal resection (6 cases had open operation and 3 cases laparoscopic resection) and 7 cases for mediastinal resection (open operation in 5 cases and thoracoscopic resection in 2 cases). The Castleman's disease was confirmed by histopathology. There were hyaline vascular type of CD in 17 cases, plasma cell type of CD in 1 case, and mixed cellularity type of CD in 2 cases. The duration of follow-up ranged from 12 to 165 months for 16 cases. Among them 15 patients were alive without recurrence, and 1 case had recurrence in the primary site at 47 months after the operation.

CONCLUSIONSPatients with Castleman's disease have no typical clinical symptoms and have normal laboratory results. The majority of patients are of hyaline vascular type of the disease. Imaging examination is helpful to diagnosis, and the final diagnosis depends on pathologic examination. Complete surgical resection of the tumor is the best treatment for localized Castleman's disease.

Adult ; Castleman Disease ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mediastinum ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence ; Retroperitoneal Space ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo compare the tissue formation and the content of polysaccharide between the wild Dendrobium candidum and the cultured ones and to find any existed differences.

METHODBare-handed microtomy and photomicrography; The content of polysaccharide is determined by phenol-sulphuric acid method.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThere are no marked noticeable differences between the wild D. candidum and the cultured ones in terms of the tissure formation and the content of polysaccharide.

Dendrobium ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Plant Stems ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Plants, Medicinal ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Polysaccharides ; analysis ; Tissue Culture Techniques

OBJECTIVETo evaluate and map the putative tumor suppressor loci on chromosome 5 involved in tumor progress or metastasis.

METHODSChromosome 5 of 83 patients with sporadic colorectal cancer was systemically screened. Fifteen microsatellite marker primers labeled with 3 different fluorescents were used to amplify the corresponding loci of the genome DNA. The PCR products were electrophoresed on a 377 PRISM sequencer and the fluorescent signals were analyzed with Genotyper and Genescan software.

RESULTSThe highest loss of heterozygosity (LOH) ratio was found at D5S416 (48.15%) on 5p and at D5S471 (38.71%) on 5q. The region (5q13.3 - 31), where D5S471 and 3 neighboring loci (D5S428, D5S2027 and D5S2115) reside, presented high frequent LOH.

CONCLUSIONThe deletion of APC, MCC, CTNNA1 and IL cluster in the 5q 13.3 - 31.1 area play important role in the tumorogenesis of colorectal cancer, and the expected existence of another novel tumor suppressor gene on 5p is possible.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alleles ; Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 5 ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; Female ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Humans ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; genetics ; Middle Aged