Objective To investigate the effect of local injection of Botulinum toxin type A(BTXA) on spasticity and function of the affected upper limb in stroke patients.Methods A total of 32 stroke patients were re- cruited and randomly divided into two groups:a BTXA group and a control group.All the patients had spasticity of upper limb muscles,which scored grade 2 to 3 with the Modified Ashworth Scale(MAS) ,and decreased elbow joint range of motion.The 16 patients in the BTXA group received BTXA injection in the biceps brachii muscles and flexor muscles of forearm on 10～15 points,while those in the control group did not.All the patients in both groups were treated with rehabilitation training techniques.The MAS,Fugl-Meyer upper limb function assessment and Barthel In- dex were employed to evaluate the changes of muscle tone,upper limb function and activity of living (ADL)perform- ance of the patients before injection and at 1st,2nd,6th 12th weeks after injection.Results The therapeutic effect between the BTXA group anti control group was significantly different in terms of biceps muscle tone,the scores of Fugl-Meyer upper limb function assessment and Barthel Index.Compared with preinjection,muscle tone was de- creased significantly and ADL performance was improved after injection in BTXA group.The effects of BTXA lasted more than 12 weeks.Conclusion Intramuscular muhipoint injection of BTXA was useful in reducing muscle spas- ticity,and was helpful for increasing motor ability of the affected upper limb and ADL performance of the stroke pa- tients.

Objective To examine how stroke affects muscle coordination and whether muscle function will be improved after rehabilitation.Methods Ten stroke patients with mild hemiparesis and six age-and sex-matched controls were investigated at baseline.Velocity-encoded phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (VE-PC MRI) and surface eleetromyography (sEMG) were performed to evaluate muscle coordination of thigh muscles during knee extension and flexion and the effect of rehabilitation. Results Using VE-PC MRI,we found that the peak velocity of rectus femoris was lower in the affected limb (P

Objective To detect the argyrophilic proteins in nucleolar organizer regions(Ag-NORs) that express rDNA and rRNA proliferation of T lymphocytes before chemotherapy and after complete remission(CR) in children with primary acute leukemia(AL).Methods The argyrophilic granules area of NOR/nuclear area(I.S%) of T lymphocytes was detected by image analysis system in peripheral blood of 42 patients before chemotherapy and after CR and 30 normal children.Results I.S% in the patients before chemotherapy(5.06%?1.36%) were significantly lower than those in the healthy donors(7.51%?1.06%)(t=8.238 P0.05).Conclusion These results suggest that decrease of Ag-NORs expresses the evidence for tumour induced suppression of immune function of T cells in children with AL prior to treatment.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the serum myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and serum paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) activity in patients with silicosis and observation subjects and their clinical significance.

METHODSSeventy-two patients with silicosis (stage I: 30 cases, stage II: 22 cases, stage III: 20 cases) and 37 observation subjects were selected as a case group, and 110 healthy men were selected as a control group. Serum MPO activity was measured by double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and serum PON-1 activity was measured by chemical spectrophotometry.

RESULTSSerum MPO activity was significantly higher in the case group than in the control group [(102.1 ± 15.7) U/L vs. (62.4 ± 11.4) U/L, P < 0.01], but serum PON-1 activity was significantly lower in the case group than in the control group [(85.4 ± 15.7) U/ml vs. (125.4 ± 13.7) U/ml, P < 0.01]. Serum MPO activity was significantly lower in patients with stages I, II, and III silicosis than in the observation subjects [(91.3 ± 13.5) U/L, (85.7 ± 14.4) U/L, and (88.6 ± 14.5) U/L vs. (128.4 ± 16.4) U/L, P < 0.01]. Serum PON-1 activity declined as the stage of silicosis increased; serum PON-1 activity was significantly lower in the patients with stages II and III silicosis than in the observation subjects and the patients with stage I silicosis [(70.4 ± 11.4) U/ml and (67.6 ± 13.7) U/ml vs. (101.5 ± 14.0) U/ml and (89.1 ± 10.1) U/ml, P < 0.01].

CONCLUSIONSerum MPO activity and serum PON-1 activity are valuable for early diagnosis of silicosis and evaluation of patient's condition.

Aged ; Aryldialkylphosphatase ; blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peroxidase ; blood ; Silicosis ; blood

Objective To confirm the effect of cigarette smoking on β-cell function, and further investigate the mediation effect of abdominal obesity. Methods Participants would include 1440 Chinese smokers who had participated in a community-based chronic disease screening project in Guangzhou and Zhuhai from 2006 to 2007. They were interviewed with structured questionnaire on their socio-demographic status and smoking behaviors. Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and fasting serum C-peptide concentration were also measured. Results After adjustment for the potential confounding factors, when compared with smokers with consumption 1-10 cigarettes/day, smokers with consumption of 11-20 cigarettes/day (adjusted OR=1.53, 95%CI: 1.22-1.90) or ＞20 cigarettes/day (adjusted OR=1.92, 95%CI: 1.32-2.79) had significant higher risks to get C-peptide concentration larger than its median. Furthermore, 37.54% of the effect of cigarette smoking on C-peptide concentration was partially mediated by abdominal obesity. Conclusion Cigarette smoking might be a risk factor for β-cell dysfunction and abdominal obesity.

OBJECTIVETo explore the determinants of 'signing a agreement for establishing smoke-free homes' among the parents of secondary school students.

METHODS2019 parents were surveyed with self-administered questionnaires on their socio-demographic characteristics, smoking behaviors, attitude toward tobacco control at home and related data of their children. At the same time, parents were asked to sign an agreement for making the 'home as smoking-free'. 'Parents signing the agreement' was defined as dependent variable (0=no, 1=yes), and parent's age, gender, educational level, etc. were defined as independent ones. Multi-variant logistic regression analysis was conducted for identifying the determinants of the parents to sign an agreement for establishing 'smoking-free homes'.

RESULTSOf the 2019 surveyed parents, 1047 (51.86%) had signed the agreement including 49.25% of the fathers and 55.73% of the mothers. The results from multi-variant logistic regression analysis indicated that father's 'signing action' was significantly associated with (a) their intention of carrying out the agreements (OR = 3.37), (b) to teach their children about the consequence between smoking and health (OR = 2.10), (c) knowing tobacco control program at school (OR = 1.38), (d) reading tobacco control material provided by school (OR = 1.38), (e) being current smoker (OR = 0.53) compare to that the mother's 'signing action' was significantly associated to (a) intention to carrying out agreements (OR = 2.36), (b) teaching children not to smoke (OR = 2.22), (c) reading tobacco control material provided by school (OR = 1.57).

CONCLUSIONChanging parental cognition and attitude toward smoking was beneficial to promote parental participation in tobacco control campaign and to establish 'smoking-free homes'.

China ; Data Collection ; Female ; Housing ; Humans ; Male ; Parents ; Smoking ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical significance of promoter methylation status of hPer3 gene in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients and the in vitro effect of decitabine (DCA) on AML cell lines HL-60 and U937.

METHODSThe promoter methylation status of hPer3 gene and mRNA expression levels in bone marrow of 206 AML and 40 iron deficiency anemia (IDA) patients (as control) were detected by methylation specific PCR (MS-PCR) and real-time PCR (RT-PCR). The HL-60 and U937 cell lines were treated with different concentrations of DCA for 48 and 72 h. The inhibition rates of cell proliferation were detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT); the early apoptosis rates by staining with Annexin V and PI; the CD14 and CD11b expressions by flow cytometry (FCM); the promoter methylation status of hPer3 gene by MS-PCR; and the hPer3 mRNA expressions levels by RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe promoter methylation rates of hPer3 in newly diagnosed (ND) group, partial remission(PR) group, complete remission (CR) group, relapse (R) group and control group were 93.65% (59/63), 54.39% (31/57), 24.66% (18/73), 61.54% (8/13) and 0% (0/40), and the hPer3 mRNA expression levels were 0.19 ± 0.08, 6.28 ± 2.11, 52.76 ± 14.17, 8.18 ± 4.36, 75.03 ± 18.16, respectively. There was a significant statistic difference between any two group (P < 0.01) excepting for between PR and R group (P > 0.05). After DCA treatment, the promoter hypermethylation status of hPer3 was reduced and the mRNA and CD14, CD11b expression levels were up regulated in a dose dependent manner with an induction of cell apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONSPromotor methylation status and mRNA expression of hPer3 gene may be indicators for evaluating AML. DCA can induce the expression of hPer3 gene and cells apoptosis in AML.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Azacitidine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Cell Proliferation ; DNA Methylation ; Female ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Period Circadian Proteins ; genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; U937 Cells ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo clarify the effects of nylestriol on microarchitecture and interleukin-6 (IL-6) mRNA expression in tibial bone in ovariectomized rats.

METHODS30 female rats were randomly allocated into 3 groups: sham, OVX and nylestriol-treated group. Nylestriol-treated group were ovariectomized, then fed with nylestriol for 3 months and the bone mineral density (BMD) was measured in lumbar vertebra by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. After sacrifice of the animal, bone histomorphometric parameters were measured to study the changes in bone microarchitecture, and RT-PCR was performed to detect the expression of IL-6 mRNA in bone tissue.

RESULTSBMD was significantly reduced, while IL-6 mRNA level elevated in the OVX group compared with the sham group. Static histomorphometric data showed that the trabecular bone volume, mean trabecular plate thickness and density were reduced while the mean trabecular plate space elevated remarkably in the OVX group in comparison with that in the sham group. As for dynamic parameters, trabecular osteoid surface, tetracyclin labeled surface and bone turnover rate were increased while osteoid maturation rate decreased significantly in the OVX group compared with the sham group. BMD, IL-6 mRNA expression and bone histomorphometric parameters were improved in nylestriol-treated rats.

CONCLUSIONNylestriol plays an important role in maintaining bone volume and improving bone microarchitecture by markedly inhibiting bone turnover and bone resorption, which might be to some degree attributed to reduced IL-6 expression.

Animals ; Bone Remodeling ; drug effects ; Bone Resorption ; prevention & control ; Estradiol Congeners ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Interleukin-6 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Osteoporosis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; pathology ; Ovariectomy ; Quinestrol ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tibia ; pathology

Objective To validate the four chronic kidney disease epidemiology collaboration (CKD-EPI) predictive equations based on serum creatinine (SCr) and cystatin C (Cys C) in Chinese CKD patients,and try to develop the GFR predictive equations for Chinese CKD patients.Methods254 CKD patients were randomly selected from four Grade ⅢA hospitals in different regions in China from September 2007 to December 2010.Clearance of dual plasma sampling 99mTc-DTPA was used to measure glomerular filtration rate (rGFR) in 254 CKD patients.The serum concentration of Cr and Cys C were measured.CKD-EPI SCr equation,Cys C equation,Cys C equation adjusted for age,sex and race,SCr/Cys C combinated equation adjusted for age,sex and race were used to estimate GRF ( labeled as eGFR1,eGFR2,eGFR3 and eGFR4,respectively).The correlation,bias and precision of eGFRs were compared with rGFR by Wilcoxon signed rank test,intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Spearman correlation analysis.The deviation degree between rGFR and different eGFRs was compared via Bland-Altman graph.The accuracy within 15％,25％,30％ ( P15,P25,P30) and the staging correctness of eGFR against CKD at different stages was calculated.ResultsThe rGFR in 254 CKD participants was [ 48.07 (26.19 -92.97 )] ml · min -1·(1.73 m2) -1.The Spearman correlatiou coefficients (CC) of eGFR and rGFR varied within the range of 0.873 - 0.896 ( P =0.000 ).The intra-class CC ( ICC ) varied within the range of 0.920 - 0.942.The correlation of eGFR4 was the best.The absolute deviations of 4 eGFRs and deviation precision were eGFR4 ＜eGFR3 ＜ eGFR2 ＜ eGFR1.The 95％ confidence intervals for the regression line of 4 eGFRs shown by Bland-Altman graphs were 92.5,87.3,83.0 and 76.1 ml · min-1 · ( 1.73 m2 ) -1,respectively,with the best result of eGFR4.For P30,the correctness of 4 eGFRs were eGFR4 ＞ eGFR3 ＞ eGFR2 ＞ eGFR1,but no significant difference was found by Chi square test (x2 =6.448,P =0.092).The overall correctness rate in 4 eGFRs against CKD stages were 48.4％ -57.5％,with the highest consistency of eGFR4,but their staging correctnessratewerenotideal(Kappa values were 0.405,0.348,0.366 and 0.463,respectively).Conclusions Compared with CKD-EPI SCr equation,no advantage was found in CKD-EPI Cys C equation.The Cys C equation adjusted by age and sex shows a little advantages over CKD-EPI Cys C equation in bias,precision,correlation and accuracy.The CKD-EPI SCr/Cys C combinated equation adjusted by age,sex and race has advantage over other three equations not only in bias,precision,correlation and accuracy,but also in staging correctness.However,the validation of this equation is still not fairly ideal for Chinese CKD patients.Based on these findings,it is essential for the Chinese CKD patients to develop SCr/Cys C combined predictive equation which adjusted by age,sex or other factors.(Chin J Lab Med,2012,35:798-804)

Objective To conduct research of β-Thalassemia incidence and genotypes on children below 7 years of age in Nanning, Liuzhou and Baise areas, Guangxi province. Methods A total of 2261 children aged below 7 in Nanning, Liuzhou and Baise areas were studied. Venous blood was detected by routine blood test, hemoglobin analysis and β-Thalassemia genotyping. Results Among 2261 samples, 125 showed high level of HbA2 and were diagnosed as β-Thalassemia (5.53%). Genotypes of the patients were classified as: 59 cases with β-globin gene eondon (CD) 41-42 mutation, 33 cases CD17 mutation, 18 cases with TA TA box nt-28 mutation, 7 with IVS-Ⅱ-654 mutation, 3 with CD43 mutation, 3 with HbE mutation, one with CD71-72 and TATA box nt-29 mutation, respectively. The genotyping frequencies of β-Thalassemia were as follows: 47.20% for CD41-42 mutation, 26.40% for CD17 mutation, 14.40% for TATAbox nt-28 mutation, 5.60% for IVS-Ⅱ -654 mutation, 2.40% for CD43 mutation, 2.40% for HbE mutation, 0.80% for CD71-72 mutation and TATAbox nt-29 mutation respectively. Conclusion This study on children in the area with high incidence of β-Thalassemia reflected the incidence and characteristics of genotypes in this area. Our data also provided evidence for the development of a program on genetic counseling and prevention for thalassemia.