Objective To summarize the clinical,radiographic and genetic features of a family with metatropic dysplasia,in order to improve the level of understanding and diagnosis of this disease.Methods The proband,a one-year old boy,was diagnosed as metatropic dysplasia.His mother was 26 years old with mildly phenotype.Their clinical features and bone X-ray findings were analyzed.The DNA samples of the proband and his parents were collected.The coding exons and flanking introns regions of transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and analyzed by DNA automatic detector.The pathology,diagnosis,treatment and prognosis were expounded.Results The symptoms of the boy were characterized by short extremities,a short trunk with progressive kyphoscoliosis,and craniofacial abnormalities that include a prominent forehead,midface hypoplasia,and a squared-off jaw.His motor development was slightly delayed.Mental development was normal.Bone X ray of the boy showed platyspondyly and severe metaphyseal enlargement with shortening of long bones and irregularities and delayed ossification of epiphysis.The patient and his mother were heterozygous for the nucleotide substitutions c.2396 ＞ T (p.P799L) in TRPV4 gene.Conclusions The patient and his mother with metatropic dysplasia were diagnosed with TRPV4 gene analysis.The patient showed typical clinical features.His mother was mild.Metatropic dysplasia had significantly clinical heterogeneity.Gene analysis is helpful for the diagnosis.

Objective To observe the clinical features, phenotypes and genotypes in a Chinese family with choroideremia (CHM). Methods A Chinese four-generation family (15 members) with CHM, including 5 patients (4 males/1 female), 2 female carriers and 8 healthy members, was enrolled in this study. Initially all family members underwent best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), indirect ophthalmoscopy, fundus fluorescein angiography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), visual field and full view electroretinogram (ERG). BCVA was followed up for 3 years. Venous blood samples were collected, and all of the 15 coding exons and flanking intron regions were amplified in the proband by polymerase chain reaction followed by direct sequencing. Protein structure was modeled based on the protein data bank and mutations in DeepView v4.0.1 to predict the effect of the mutations. A total of 180 healthy volunteers were enrolled as control group to matching CHM gene sequences. Results The visual acuity (VA) of 3/4 adult male patients began to decrease at less than 10, 10 and 30 years old, the average BCVA was 0.43. There were characteristic signs and symptoms of CHM including narrow visual field, extinguished rod and cone response in ERG, disappeared junction line and intermediate line of photoreceptor inner segment/outer segment on OCT. After 3 years, the mean BCVA decreased to 0.11. The BCVA of one young male patient was 1.0 in both eyes with minor changes fundus and visual field. The VA of the female patient began to decrease at 50 years old, her BCVA of two eyes were 0.5 and 0.25, respectively. The fundus changes were typical of CHM, with relative scotomas in the peripheral visual field of OD, and big scotomas in the OS. After 3 years, her mean BCVA decreased to 0.2. Of 2 female carriers, one had minor fundus changes (patches of pigmentary deposits, atrophy spots of retinal pigment epithelium cells), and the other was normal. A novel heterozygous c.1837G>A mutation in exon 15 of CHM was detected in the proband, which resulted in the substitution of serine by proline at codon 613 (p.D613N). Based on molecular modeling, the misfolded protein caused by the mutation might destabilize the structure of the helix that potentially could affect the global stability of the Rep-1 protein. Conclusions A novel c.1837G>A (p.D613N) mutation may be the causative mutation for CHM in this family. Female CHM carriers may have some signs and symptoms.

Objective To compare different noninvasive models in diagnosis of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).Methods A total of 838 CHB patients admitted in Shenyang Sixth People’ s Hospital during March 2003 and October 2013 were enrolled in the study.All the patients received liver biopsy, blood and ultrasound examinations; the AST-to-ALT ratio ( AAR), AST to platelet ratio index ( APRI) , age platelet index ( API) , cirrhosis discriminant score ( CDS) , spleen to platelet ratio index ( SPRI) and age-spleen to platelet ratio index ( ASPRI) were obtained.Area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was used to assess the clinical value of noninvasive models in diagnosis of significant liver fibrosis (S2-4), advanced liver fibrosis (S3-4) and early liver cirrhosis (S4).Results Among six noninvasive models, APRI had the lowest value of AUROCs ( <0.7), while ASPRI had the highest AUROCs value in diagnosis of liver fibrosis.The AUROCs of ASPRI in diagnosing significant liver fibrosis, advanced liver fibrosis and early liver cirrhosis were 0.861, 0.873 and 0.881 with the sensitivities of 69.4%, 76.9%and 87.0%, the specificities of 87.9%, 81.5% and 75.8%, the positive predictive values of 90.9%, 74.9%and 46.1%and the negative predictive values of 62.2%, 83.1%and 96.1%, respectively.Taking<5.2 and≥9.7 as the cut-off values for exclude significant liver fibrosis and diagnosis of significant liver fibrosis, respectively, 49.4%(414/838) of the patients may avoid liver biopsy with an accuracy of 92.3%(382/414).Conclusion ASPRI is of value in diagnosing significant liver fibrosis and early liver cirrhosis in patient with chronic hepatitis B, and the number of liver biopsy can be reduced.

Objective To study normal flora components of conjunctiva, explore the relationship between normal flora and ocu- lar bacterial infections.Methods The data of 1 198 bacterial cultures of conjunctiva in non-infectious cataract patients were re- viewed and compared with the results of 985 specimens of conjunctivitis, keratitis and endophthalmitis from January 2000 to December 2004.Results Positive culture of conjunctiva in non-infectious cataract patients was 628 in 1 198 specimens (52.4%).These bacteria including gram-positive cocci and gram-neganve bacilli constituted the normal flora of conjunctiva. Staphylococcus epidermidis was the predominant bacteria (51.1%, 341/667) and its prevalence increased during this 5-year period.S.epidermidis and S.aureus were also the most frequently isolated pathogens in specimens of conjunctivitis, keratitis and endophthalmitis.The correlation was statistically significant between the positive rate in normal eye and conjunctivitis or keratitis in terms of these two species, but not statistically significant between normal eye and endophthalmitis.The resistance rate of normal flora of conjunctiva to ampicillin, amikacin, tobramycin, ciprofloxacin, and ofloxacin increased year by year. The resistance rate to gentamicin and the combination of two drugs decreased.The changing resistant pattern was similar in pa- tients with eye infection.Conclusions There is a close relationship between the normal flora S.aureus and S.epidermidis of conjunctiva and the bacterial infection of ocular surface, but no significant correlation between normal flora and the pathogen of endophthalmitis.

Objective To determine the diagnostic value and clinical significance of sonographically detected fetal dysplastic kidney with normal amniotic fluid volume. Methods At the 2nd or 3rd trimester of gestation,the fetuses with unilateral or bilateral renal anomalies (ahnormal size,echo,shape or cyst of the kidney) and normal amniotic fluid volume received systemic ultrasound examination,autopsy or follow-up until after birth. The fetus with only dilated renal pelvis was not included. Results Eleven fetuses of dysplastic renal anomalies with normal amniotic fluid volume were identified by prenatal ultrasound. Among the five fetuses affected by unilateral multicystic kidney dysplasia (MCKD),the renal anomaly was isolated in four fetuses,and the other one was complicated with absence of the ipsilateral hand. One of the two fetuses of unilateral renal agenesis had no other associated anomaly and the other one was complicated with hydrocephalus,spina bifida,ipsilateral absent radius and single umbilical artery,correspongding to the VACTERL syndrome. Two fetuses of pelvic kidney and horseshoe kidney respectively was proved by postnatal ultrasound. One fetus was diagnosed as autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease(ADPKD)on the basis of multiple renal cysts and a positive family history,the fetus also had cardiac rhabdomyoma. One fetus of bilateral normal sized hyperechoic kidneys was proved to be renal dysplasia by autopsy. Conclusions Unilateral MCKD is the most common type of fetal renal dysplasia which can be detected by prenatal ultrasound with normal amniotic fluid volume. Based on the sonographic characteristics and the family history,most of the dysplastic renal anomalies can be diagnosed prenatally and the prognosis can be predicted.

Gindenosides are the active ingredients of Panax ginseng. 20 (S) -protopanaxadiolocotillol type epimers are the main metabolites of 20 (S) -protopanaxadiol. The previous studies showed that there are stereoselectivity difference in pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics between 24R-epimer and 24S-epimer. The purpose of this study was to explore the excretion of the epimers in bile, feces and urine of rat. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method has been performed for determination of 24R-epimer and 24S-epimer in bile, feces and urine. 24R-epimer or 24S-epimer was intragastric administered to rats at a single dose of 10 mg x kg(-1). Results showed that after administration the recovery of 24R-epimer and 24S-epimer in feces was 17.69% and 17.09%, respectively, while both of the two epimers were hardly detected in urine. The 48 h cumulative biliary excretion rate of 24R-epimer was 8.01% after administration, while only 1.47% for 24S-epimer. It indicated that there are stereoselectivity in biliary excretion of the epimers with intragastric administration.
Animals ; Bile ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Feces ; chemistry ; Ginsenosides ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Mass Spectrometry ; Panax ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stereoisomerism ; Urine ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect differences between twirling-rotating reinforcing and reducing technique of acupuncture on cardiac damage in spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR).

METHODSSixty male 11-week-old SHR were randomly divided into four groups: a model control group (group A), a twirling-rotating reinforcing technique group (group B), a twirling-rotating reducing technique group (group C) and a needle retaining group (group D), 15 rats in each one. In addition, twelve male 11-week-old Wistar rats were used as a blank control group (group E). Acupuncture was not used in group A and group E, only with grasp, capture and binding stimulation that was also adapted in the rest groups. Rats in the group B were treated with acupuncture at "Taichong" (LR 3) by twirling-rotating reinforcing technique for 1 min and then the needles were retained for 9 min; rats in the group C were treated with acupuncture at "Taichong" (LR 3) by twirling-rotating reducing technique for 1 min and then the needles were retained for 9 min; rats in the group D were treated with acupuncture at "Taichong" (LR 3) but without any technique and then needles were retained for 10 min. Before and after acupuncture, blood pressure monitor was used to measure the rats' systolic pressure and diastolic pressure every 6 days. Twenty-eight days after the treatment, HE and Masson staining were adopted to observe the status of left ventricular hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis. ELISA method was applied to test the content of endothelin-1 (ET-1). PCR semiquantitative method was used to analyze Type I and III collagen mRNA in the left ventricular.

RESULTS(1) Blood pressure: after the treatment, the systolic pressure and diastolic pressure were both increased in the group A and the group B (P < 0.05); while the two pressures were both lowered in the group C and the group D (P < 0.05), which was more obvious in the group C (P < 0.05). (2) According to HE and Masson staining, except for the group E, the myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis could be found in the rest groups, in which the group C was the modest, followed by the group D, while the group A and the group B were more severe. (3) Concentration of ET-1: there were differences of concentration of ET-1 among 5 groups (P < 0.05), and the concentration value from high to low was the group A, B, C, D and E. (4) Type I collagen mRNA: the difference of level of Type I collagen mRNA between group C and D was not statistically significant (P > 0.05); compared with the group A and B, the level was lower in the group C; the level was the lowest in the group E. Type III collagen mRNA: the difference between the group A and B was not statistically significant (P > 0.05); compared with the group A, B and D, the level was lower in the group C.

CONCLUSIONThe twirling-rotating reducing could reduce the systolic pressure and diastolic pressure in SHR, effectively prohibit the production of ET-1 and expression of Type I and III collagen mRNA, and it has more obvious inhibiting effect on Type III collagen mRNA. There is biological effect difference between twirling-rotating reinforcing and reducing technique.

Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Animals ; Collagen ; genetics ; metabolism ; Endothelin-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Heart Ventricles ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Hypertension ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Wistar

Objective To discover the mutation of ADAR gene in a pedigree with dyschromatosis symmetrical hereditaria(DSH). Methods We investigated this family and collected blood samples of the individuals in this family. Mutation screening was carried out by PCR and direct sequencing. The allele specific primer was designed for the mutation point, and allele-specific PCR was carried out on the patients, normal family members and 40 normal individuals. Results A single nucleotide deletion (c.1642 delC) was identified in exon3 of ADAR gene in the patients of this family. This mutation was not detected in the normal family members and in any of the control individuals. Conclusion This single nucleotide deletion was responsible for the disease in the family.

To establish the online two-dimensional liquid chromatography by using double gradient liquid chromatography system and UV detector, in order to simultaneously determine the content of paeoniflorin, paenol, amygdaloside and cinnamic acid. A pump of the two-dimensional liquid chromatography was adopted as the one-dimensional separation pump. C18 (3.0 mm x 150 mm, 3 microm) was used as the analytical column, with acetonitrile as the organic phase and 0.08% phosphoric acid + 0.08% triethylamine as the aqueous phase for gradient elution at the flow rate of 0.5 mL x min(-1). Another pump of the two-dimensional liquid chromatography was adopted as the two-dimensional separation pump. PAII C18 was used as the analytical column, with acetonitrile as the organic phase and 20 mmol, pH 3.0 monopotassium phosphate as the aqueous phase for gradient elution at the flow rate of 0.8 mL x min(-1). The detection wavelengths were set at 218, 230, 275 nm by using wavelength time-switching program. The linearity range of paeoniflorin, amygdaloside, paeonol and cinnamic acid were 5.55-222 (r = 0.999 7), 6.6-264 (r = 0.999 8), 3.3-132 (r = 0.999 5) and 0.315-12.6 mg x L(-1) (r = 0.999 7), respectively. The average recoveries of the four components were between 96.12% and 103.9%. The experiment proved that this method was so rapid and accurate in determination results that it could be used for evaluating drug quality.
Capsules ; Chromatography, Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Online Systems ; Time Factors

Objective To evaluate the pattern of energy metabolism and nutrients intake in patients with chronic viral hepatitis and posthepatitic cirrhosis to effectively direct their nutrition therapy.Methods Resting energy expenditure (REE) was measured with open-circuit indirect Jorimetry in 60 patients with chronic viral hepatitis and 60 patients with posthepatitic cirrhosis.Their normal basal energy expenditure (BEE) was predicted by Harris-Benedict equation and energy intake (EI) was determined by diet recall. Correlation between REE and indicators for nutrition assessment was analyzed.Results REE was (77? 21) kJ?kg~(-1)?d~(-1) in 60 patients with pusthepatitic cirrhosis,significantly lower than BEE[(95?16) kJ? kg~(-1)?d~(-1)(P0.05,and their EI was (127?34) kJ?kg~(-1)?d~(-1),1.41?0.43 times as REE,in which PROI was (1.02?0.29) g?kg~(-1)?d~(-1),1.31?0.61 times as PROE (0.87?0.34) g?kg~(-1)?d~(-1),also indicating a negative nitrogen balance (-2.02?4.07).REE,EI and intake of three nutrients,serum level of albumin and prealbumin (PA) and body weight significantly decreased in patients with posthepatitic cirrhosis,as compared to those in patients with chronic viral hepatitis (P