OBJECTIVETo explore the pattern of abnormal skeletal development in girls with idiopathic precocious puberty (IPP) and the therapeutic effect of Chinese herbs for nourishing yin and purging fire (CH).

METHODSMeasurement of bone age, bone mineral content (BMC) and bone density (BD) were performed and levels of serum gla-protein (BGP), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP3) were determined in girls with IPP at various stages of pubertal development. Data were compared with those collected from matched girls, and the correlativity between various parameters and the extent of the disease were analyzed to explore the pattern. Thirty-eight girls out of them were treated with CH and the therapeutic effect was observed.

RESULTSThe bone age of the IPP girls was ahead of time obviously (P < 0.05), levels of BMC, BD and serum BGP, IGF-1 were significantly higher than the levels in the healthy girls of matched age (P < 0.05). And the degree of these changes were markedly positive correlated with the severity of disease (P < 0.05). After being remitted with CH treatment, the advanced bone age was apparently alleviated, and above-mentioned abnormal criteria were lowered significantly (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe skeletal development of the girls with IPP was accelerated and the skeletal maturity were ahead of time, the more serious the condition of disease, the more obvious the acceleration and the advanced bone age. CH could decelerate skeletal development and delay the skeletal maturity of IPP patients.

Age Determination by Skeleton ; Bone Development ; Child ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; metabolism ; Osteocalcin ; blood ; Phytotherapy ; Puberty, Precocious ; blood ; drug therapy

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of blocking the JAK/STAT signal pathway on the activity of Caspase-3 in the synovial tissue of rheumatoid arthritis rats.MethodsFifty rat models of collageninduced arthritis,which had arthritis index more than 2 were divided into the model group,the low dosage of AG490 group,the medium dosage of AG490 group and high dosage of AG490 group.Inaddition,6 rats were treated as normal control group.Normal saline,AG490 1,5,10 mg·kg-1 ·d-1 were given by intraperitoneal injection.Then the volume claws and pathologic scores of the rat models were recorded and the activity of Caspase-3 in the synovial tissue were compared.The results were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and LSD-t or Tamhane's T2 test.ResultsThe arthritis of the CIA models progressed fast,the volume of the claws and the pathological score of them were significantly higher than those of the control group.At the same time,no Caspase-3 positive express could be detected in the control group,whilethe model group had slightly increased expression.After different dosages of AG490 were applied,the swollen of joints was significantly improved compared with the model group.The histopathological score of the medium AG490 dosage of group and high dosage group(2.7±0.8,1.8+0.9) were remarkably decreased than those of the model group(4.3+1.2),the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.01).In addition,the Caspase-3 expression in the low,medium and high AG490 dosage group ( 1.90±0.15,3.13±0.33,3.56+0.34) was significantly higher than that of the model group(1.48±0.18)(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01 ).ConclusionBlocking JAK/STAT signal pathway can increase the activity of Caspase-3,reduce the excessive proliferation of synovial tissue,and improve arthritis symptoms.

Neuronal histamine is crucially involved in a number of physiological functions as well as in neuropsychiatric diseases. Determination of histamine in biological samples is thus of importance in the clinical studies. The aim of this review is to summarize the progress or effort made in this field, with focus on the high-performance liquid chromatography.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Histamine ; analysis ; cerebrospinal fluid ; Humans

Objective To explore the clinical,radiological findings and pathogenic factor of spondylometaphyseal dysplasia.Methods Five cases were reported and the relevant documents were studied retrospectively.Plain X-ray film was performed in all patients.Results There were 4 male and 1 female,age ranged from 4 to 15 years with average of 9 years.The main features of 5 cases included delayed bone age,stature short,short trunk,waddling gait noted,scoliosis in 2 cases,kyphoscoliosis in 1 case,severe genu valgum in 2 cases.The main X-ray appearance of 5 cases is multiple irregularities of long bones metaphyses associated with platyspondylia,epiphysis is normal.Type Ⅰ SMD in 2 cases,Type Ⅱ SMD in 1 case,Type Ⅲ SMD in 2 cases.Conclusion When we meet children with delayed bone age and stature short,and muhiple irregularities of long bones metaphyses associated with platyspondylia were seen in X-ray plain film.we should think about spondylometaphyseal dysplasia.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the replication and encapsidation of HBV mutants with the truncated C gene.

METHODSThe HBV mutants with the truncated C gene were constructed by molecular cloning and PCR-based deletion in vitro. The replication and encapsidation of HBV mutants were investigated by Southern blotting, PCR and real-time fluorescence PCR respectively after transfecting the HBV mutants plasmid into HepG2 cells by using liposome.

RESULTSThe C-truncated HBV mutant vectors were constructed successfully and confirmed exactly by clone sequencing and enzymes digestion. The C-truncated HBV mutants were replication defective, however, all types of HBV DNA could be detected positive in the cytoplasm and supernatant after co-transfecting the C-truncated HBV mutants plasmid and the helper constructs into HepG2 cells. The C-truncated HBV mutants were proved to produce 3-40 folds more progeny DNA than that of the wild-type HBV by DNA quantitative assay.

CONCLUSIONThe C-truncated HBV mutants are replication-deficient and could not replicate and encapsulate in the hepatocytes when transfected solely, however, the progeny HBV-variant viruses are encapsidated more effectively to secrete into supernatant when co-transfected with the helper construct which lacks part of 5 prime-proximal HBV RNA packaging signal Epsilon.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens ; genetics ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; physiology ; Humans ; Mutation ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Transfection ; Virus Replication

To test the safety of using cardiac death donation ( DCD ) corneas for penetrating keratoplasty surgery graft.METHODS:ln chronological order, suing DCD corneas penetrating keratoplasty, corneal endothelial cell density and best corrected visual acuity ( BCVA) were tested 3~4mo after surgery.RESULTS:A total of 14 cases of DCD while 26 corneas were included in this study. Donors age ranged 0. 5 ~61 years, averagely 38. 3 ± 15. 6 years. Causes of death included that 9 cases of traumatic brain injury, 2 cases myocardial infarction, 2 cases brain stem hemorrhage, 1 case of respiratory and circulatory failure. All 26 patients underwent penetrating keratoplasty, no rejection occurred and all grafts were transparent 3 ~ 4mo after surgery. Three to four months after surgery, corneal endothelial cell density ranged 794 ~ 4 347/mm2 , averaged 2 305 ± 827/mm2 , within which was only one case was lower than 1000/mm2 (3. 8%), while 9 cases ranged from 1000 ~ 2000/mm2 (34. 6%), 16 cases were higher than 2000/mm2 (61. 5%). The age of all the 26 receipts were from 20~80 years, mean 40. 7±17. 1 years. BCVA before surgery was light perception positive to 0. 08, with an average 0. 027±0. 024. Three to four months after surgery, BCVA were 0. 2~0. 8, with an average 0. 52± 0. 182 in contrast (t=3. 96, P<0. 001).CONCLUSlON:DCD donated corneas could be used for penetrating keratoplasty graft with high security.

Objective To provide better laboratory protection material in virology lab to prevent laboratory accident infection. Methods The four kinds of ionic polypropylene fibers were constructed and interact with recombinant adenovirus expressing GFP. Both the GFP expression and hexon gene expression of recombiant adenovirus were used to evaluate absorb ability of fibers. Results Both the amphoteric and iron ionic polypropylene fibers have certain adsorption or inactivated ability to virus in S min, the other two fibers decreased the growth within 20 min. Conclusion Both the amphoteric and iron ionic polypropylene fibers can be used as laboratory protection material in virology lab.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in preoperative T-staging of gastric cancer.

METHODSA sulfur hexafluoride-filled microbubble ultrasound contrast agent and a continuous real-time imaging technique of contrast pulse sequencing were used. Normal gastric wall was examined by CEUS in 8 healthy volunteers and the results were compared with the findings on multislice computed tomography. Sixty-two patients with gastric cancer proved by biopsies who received preoperative CEUS examination were involved in this study, and the CEUS result was compared with postoperative pathological findings.

RESULTSThe normal gastric wall presented a one-layer structure in the portal venous phase and a three-layer structure in the arterial and equilibrium phase including a slightly hyper-enhanced inner layer, a hypo-enhanced intermediate layer, and a markedly hyper-enhanced outer layer, which corresponded histologically to the mucosal, submucosal, and muscular-serosal layer, respectively. The accuracy of transabdominal ultrasonography and CEUS in determining the T stage of gastric cancer was 72.9% and 88.1% respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (chi(2)=4.37, P=0.036).

CONCLUSIONSCEUS shows the normal gastric wall as a one- or a three-layer structure, which provides a theory base for CEUS in preoperative T-staging of gastric cancer. CEUS is a useful diagnostic method for preoperative T-staging of gastric cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Contrast Media ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; methods ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Sulfur Hexafluoride ; Ultrasonography ; methods

Objective To study neutral particle particle(NEUT-X)change in the solid tumor patients with chemotherapy by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor(G-CSF).Methods Chose that 52 cases of cancer chemotherapy with G-CSF(study group),32 cases of cancer chemotherapy patients without G-CSF(study control group)and 50 cases of healthy(healthy control group).The automatic hematology analyzer Sysmex XE-2100 were been examined the peripheral blood routine and collected the data which wes the morphological parameters of peripheral white blood cell.The changes of neutrophil N-X pa-rameters during chemotherapy were analyzed,and the clinical infection fever rates of three groups were collected to reveal the relationship between leukocyte morphological parameters and body resistance.Results In the study group,study control group and healthy control group,the NEUT-X was 1 324(890.2,1 358.0),1 440(1 397.3,1 466.3)and 1 329(1 295.1, 1 359.4),and the difference was statistically significant between the three groups(F=10.778,P=0.002).In study group, the count of WBC before and after G-CSF was 0.99(0.22,1.75)×109/L and 7.53(1.00,14.05)×109/L respitively and there was the significant difference(Z=-2.395,P=0.005).In study group patients the NEUT-X was 1 382(1 323.6,1 440.4)and 1 324(890.2,1 358.0)respectively and there was a significant difference(Z=-2.832,P=0.004).Between the study group and the study control group,there were 23/52 cases and 4/32 cases infection in patients with fever case(Z=9.14,P=0.002).Conclusion By G-CSF the leukocyte counts increased in patients with chemotherapy,and reduced neu-trophil NEUT-X parameters,and the infection rate was higher than the non G-CSF patients.The neutrophil granularity will be useful for evaluating of patients with chemotherapy for solid tumor immunity.

Objective To compare plasma concentrations of biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction between patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) and essential hypertension (EH),and to determine whether elevated levels of these biomarkers could predict development of early organ damage.Methods Thirty-six PA patients and 39 EH patients matched for age,sex,blood pressure and duration of hypertension were included in this study.Plasma levels of biomarkers reflecting endothelial dysfunction (von Willebrand factor,vWF; soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1,sICAM-1; and oxidized low density lipoprotein,ox-LDL) were detected and compared between PA and EH patients. Left ventricular mass index (LVMI)determined by echocardiography,24-hour urinary protein quantitative determination and urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) were analyzed to evaluate early organ damage. Left ventricular hypertrophy was defined as LVMI ＞ 125 g/m2 in men and ＞ 120 g/m2 in women,and UAER between 20 μg/min and 200 μg/min was defined as microalbuminuria.Results vWF [(122.3 ±53.8)％ vs.(113.1 ±68.3)％],sICAM-1 [(401.0±74.1) μg/Lvs.(300.9±87.0) μg/L],ox-LDL[ (13.6±10.0) U/Lvs.( 8.1±5.9) U/L ],LVMI [ ( 124.7 ± 33.6) g/m2 vs.( 109.1 ± 25.7) g/m2 ],24-hour urinary protein quantitation [24 h UPQ,(0.17±0.10) gvs.( 0.09±0.04 ) g] and UAER [(25.9±7.7 ) μg/min vs.( 9.7±5.9) μg/min] were significantly higher in PA group than in EH group (all P ＜0.05),Elevated plasma vWF,sICAM-1 levels and plasma aldosterone concentration independently predicted microalbuminuria.Whereas,elevated plasma vWF and ox-LDL levels,plasma aldosterone concentration and systolic blood pressure independently predicted left ventricular hypertrophy.Conclusion Patients with PA have severer endothelial dysfunction reflected by multiple biomarkers and earlier organ damage than patients with EH,and plasma aldosterone concentration and multiple endothelial dysfunction biomarkers could independently predict early organ damage.