Cold Temperature ; Dinoprost ; analogs & derivatives ; urine ; Dust ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; urine ; Thromboxane B2 ; analogs & derivatives ; urine ; Weather

Three sesquiterpenoids and nine iridoids were isolated from the roots and rhizomes of Valeriana jatamansi by various chromatographic methods. Their structures were identified by physicochemical properties, NMR and MS data. Among them, valeriananoid G (1) was a new patchoulol-type sesquiterpenoid, and compound 3 was isolated from the genus Valeriana for the first time. Compounds 3 and 10 exhibited significant inhibitory effects on nitric oxide production induced by lipopolysaccharide in RAW 264.7 macrophages, with IC₅₀ values of 19.00 and 3.66 μmol·L^-1, respectively. In addition, compounds 4, 6 and 12 showed anti-influenza virus activity with IC₅₀ values of 51.75, 51.40 and 102.08 μmol·L^-1, respectively.

OBJECTIVETo investigate pathological changes in the epileptogenic foci of children with intractable epilepsy and their clinical significance.

METHODSThirty children with intractable epilepsy were included in the study. The epileptogenic foci were surgically resected and pathological changes in the obtained specimens were observed under a light microscope (LM) and a transmission electron microscope (TEM).

RESULTSUnder the LM, cortical dysplasia was found in 14 cases (47%), hippocampal sclerosis in 11 cases (37%), dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor in 1 case (3%), ganglioglioma in 1 case (3%), and encephalomalacia in 3 cases (10%). The TEM observation revealed pathological changes in the ultrastructure of the hippocampus and extra-hippocampal cortex, such as changes in the number of synapses and synaptic structure, decrease in neurons and karyopyknosis, swelling and degeneration of astrocytes, and changes in mitochondrial structures.

CONCLUSIONSPathological changes in the hippocampus and extra-hippocampal cortex, especially synaptic remodeling, may be the morphological basis for spontaneous recurrent seizures in children with intractable epilepsy. The pathological changes and epileptiform activity are related to an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission.

Adolescent ; Brain ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Cerebral Cortex ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Epilepsy ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Hippocampus ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Humans ; Infant ; Intelligence ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission

OBJECTIVETo explore the association between chorioamnionitis and brain injury in preterm infants.

METHODSA total of 88 preterm infants (28-34 weeks), who were born between June 2008 and June 2011, were divided into a case group (n=41) and a control group (n=47) according to whether or not they had chorioamnionitis. All the infants were examined by brain ultrasonography periodically after birth and underwent brain diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) between 3 and 7 days after birth. The two groups were compared in terms of the incidence of periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) and periventricular and intraventricular hemorrhage (PVH-IVH) by brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the corrected gestational age of 40 weeks.

RESULTSThere was statistical significance in the incidence of PVL between the case and the control groups (32% vs 6%; P<0.05), but no significant difference in the incidence of PVH-IVH between the two groups (27% vs 23%; P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSChorioamnionitis is associated with brain injury in preterm infants, increasing the incidence of PVL but having little influence over the incidence of PVH-IVH.

Cerebral Hemorrhage ; epidemiology ; Chorioamnionitis ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Leukomalacia, Periventricular ; epidemiology ; Male ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVERett syndrome (RTT, MIM 312750) is a progressive neurodevelopmental disorder that affects females almost exclusively, caused by mutations in MECP2 gene on chromosome Xq28, with symptoms such as autism, severe mental deficiency, deceleration of head growth, ataxia, loss of purposeful hand function and characteristic stereotypic hand movements. Over 80% MECP2 mutations located in the exon 3 and exon 4 were confirmed by our work and large-scale studies. RTT is defined based on clinical presentation. It is difficult to diagnose in the early life without definite biochemical abnormality, but genetic test is helpful for this. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility and clinical significance of applying long range polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to RTT diagnosis and establish a simple, economic, efficient method of genetic diagnosis.

METHODGenomic DNA was extracted using standard procedures from the peripheral blood leukocytes of each patient. Long range polymerase chain reaction(PCR)and DNA direct sequencing were employed to analyze the exon 3 and 4 of MECP2 gene simultaneity in 40 patients with RTT. The PCR products were checked by using 1.5% agarose gel.

RESULTIn total, 18 different MECP2 mutations were identified in 33 of the 40 diagnosed sporadic female patients with RTT. Missense mutations were 16, followed by 14 nonsense mutations and 3 deletions. The 314 base pairs large deletion was identified. The p. T158M mutation (21%, 7/33) was the most common, followed in order of frequency by p. R255X (12%, 4/33), p. R168X and p. R106W (9%, 3/33) respectively, p. R270X and p. Y141X (6%, 2/33) respectively, p. R133C, p. D156H, p. P157L, p. P225R, p. Q244X, p. Q262X, p. R294X, p. R306C, P322L, c. 1005del G, c.1005-1318del 314 bp and c.1127-1179del 53 bp (3%, 1/33), respectively.

CONCLUSIONLong range PCR is a simple, economic, quick, precise method of genetic diagnosis and was able to find 83% MECP2 gene mutations in RTT patients in this study. It is helpful for RTT clinical diagnosis in early stage. On the other hand, it may detect recurrent mutations and large deletions at the same time.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; DNA ; analysis ; Exons ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 ; genetics ; Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Rett Syndrome ; diagnosis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression and significance of CD133, Glut-1 and precursor cell, placental microvessel endothelial cells in the occurrence, development and regression of infantile hemangiomas.

METHODSWe examined the expression and significance of CD133, Glut-1 in the occurrence, development and regression of infantile hemangiomas and congenital vascular malformation postnatal vascular malformation using immunohistochemical technique. An image analysis system (Image-pro plus 5.0) was used to measure the average integrated optical density and the rate of positive area of CD133 and Glut-i in different stages of hemangiomas and in vascular malformation.

RESULTSThe expression of CD133 was significantly higher in differential stages congenital hemangioma, congenital vascular malformation, placenta chorionic villi than postnatal vascular malformation (P < 0.05). About the expression of Glut-1, there was difference between proliferating hemangiomas, placenta and degenerating hemangiomas, vascular malformation (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe precursor cells marked CD133 is the source of endothelial cells derived from congenital hemangiomas and congenital vascular malformation.

AC133 Antigen ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Glucose Transporter Type 1 ; metabolism ; Glycoproteins ; metabolism ; Hemangioma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Peptides ; metabolism ; Vascular Malformations ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo detect the expression of the protein of TGF-beta1 and E-cadherin in the primary and metastatic lesions of ovarian carcinoma and explore the mechanism of the metastasis of ovarian carcinoma.

METHODSImmunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed to detect the expression of TGF-beta1 and E-cadherin proteins in primary and metastatic ovarian carcinoma, benign epithelial ovarian tumor and normal ovarian tissue.

RESULTSThe expression of TGF-beta1 was significantly higher in ovarian carcinoma (67.2%) than in benign tumors (28.6%) and normal ovarian tissue (18.9%) (Chi2=26.94, P<0.001), but E-cadherin expression showed a reverse pattern. TGF-beta1 expression in the primary ovarian carcinoma carcinoma was associated with the FIGO stage, lymph metastasis and ascites of the tumor (P=0.01, P=0.01, and P=0.04, respectively). E-cadherin expression in the tumor was associated with the differentiation (P=0.02) and lymph metastasis of ovarian carcinoma (P=0.04). The expressions of TGF-beta1 and E-cadherin were all significantly lower in the primary tumors than in the metastatic tumor (Chi2=4.70, P=0.03; Chi2=5.91, P=0.015). A significant correlation was found between the expressions of the TGF-beta1 and E-cadherin in the primary carcinoma (Kappa value of -0.32, P=0.01).

CONCLUSIONTGF-beta1 and E-cadherin are closely associated with the metastasis of ovarian carcinoma and might be potential targets for controlling the metastasis of ovarian carcinoma.

Adult ; Cadherins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Peritoneal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; secondary ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To develop a portable hanging perfusion support used in the medical tent of field medical unit.Methods The support was composed of a support body,a hanging hook at one end of the body,hanging components and an automatic locking mechanism.The hanging components included two screw hangers and two inverted cone-shaped sleeves.The support body consisted of three stainless steel tubes with different sizes,whose height could be regulated through connecting thread to adapt the support to hanging the dropping bottle.Results The support gained advantages over the traditional one in convenience as well as deployment and withdrawal time,and enhanced medical training efficacy and casualty treatment timeliness greatly.Conclusion The support behaves well in structure,operation and portability,and can be used for patient treatment in battlefield,disaster relief and etc.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the possible relationship between variation of coxsackievirus B3 (CoxB3) VP1 sequence from cerebrospinal fluid of children with severe and mild central nervous system (CNS) infection and damage to CNS in children from Shandong province.

METHODSThe enteroviruses were detected using VP1 typing and sequencing primer for enteroviruses from 73 enterovirus-infected cases confirmed by detection of cerebrospinal fluid by enteroviruses common primer. VP1 sequences (450 nucleotides) were determined and analyzed for 21 CoxB3 enteroviruses strains isolated in Qingdao and Binzhou, and were compared with that of BLAST search procedures from GeneBank in NCBI. The variation of VP1 gene and amino acids sequence of CoxB3 enteroviruses was analyzed for severe and mild CNS infection.

RESULTSThe nucleotide homogeneity of these CoxB3 appeared to be 97% - 99%, however, the homogeneity among different genotypes were 83% - 76%. Replacement of glutamine by histidine at amino acid locus 856 of VP1 CoxB3 was found in 4 cases with severe encephalitis. There were different variation in VP1 nucleotide sequence of CoxB3 in 3 cases with mild encephalitis and 14 cases with meningitis, but amino acids sequences had no regular variation. The modified Glasgow's coma score was below 7 in all the 4 cases with severe encephalitis. Of these 4 cases, 3 had consciousness disturbance for less than 3 days. Lethargy, restlessness and psychiatric symptoms were major manifestations, of whom 3 also had dysphagia, 1 had encephalatrophy obviously, Glasgow's coma score was 3, deep coma lasted for 9 days, and had concomitant fatal epileptic attacks. Of these 4 cases, 2 completely recovered, 1 had high muscle tone, 1 remained under anti-epileptic drug treatment at follow-up 6 months later.

CONCLUSIONThere were a small epidemic of CoxB3 CNS infection in children in 2005 in this area. The amino acid variation of CoxB3 VP1 possibly caused increased viral virulence and caused damage to CNS.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Capsid Proteins ; cerebrospinal fluid ; genetics ; Central Nervous System ; pathology ; virology ; Child ; Coxsackievirus Infections ; cerebrospinal fluid ; epidemiology ; virology ; Encephalitis ; virology ; Enterovirus B, Human ; genetics ; pathogenicity ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; RNA, Viral ; genetics ; Virulence

OBJECTIVERett syndrome (RTT) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that represents one of the most common genetic causes of mental retardation in girls. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between MECP2 genotype and phenotype and thereby not only to provide assistance for clinical care, but also facilitate clinical genetic counseling.

METHODIndividual phenotype characteristic and clinical severity of 126 children with RTT diagnosed by molecular genetic methods were evaluated by using scales of Kerr et al and Scala et al. Statistical package SPSS 12.0 was used for analyses of data. Since the majority of the data were not normally distributed, non-parametric tests were used. The Kruskal-Wallis test/Wilcoxon Mann-Whitney test was employed to compare total severity phenotype scores. The Fisher exact test was used for comparing rates. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05.

RESULTThere were no significant differences in the average overall scores for RTT patients with mutations in the region of methyl-CpG-binding domain (MBD) compared with those mutations in the transcription repression domain (TRD) and C terminal segment (CTS), also patients with nonsense mutations compared with missense mutations, frameshift mutations and large deletions (P > 0.05). The RTT patients with nonsense mutations located in the region of MBD have more severe phenotype than those with missense mutations in the same region (P = 0.016). Among p.T158M, p.R168X, c.806delG and p.R255X, there were no significant differences in the average overall scores (P > 0.05), but there were significant differences in language skill (P = 0.028) and in language impairment rate at different level (P = 0.019).

CONCLUSIONThere are relationships between MECP2 genotype and phenotype:the RTT patients with nonsense mutations located in MBD tend to develop more severe phenotype;there are significant differences in language skill and language impairment rate in the groups with p.T158M, p.R168X, c.806del and p.R255X, which had higher frequency in children below five-years of age and the p.R168X present with most severe impairment.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Infant ; Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 ; genetics ; Phenotype ; Rett Syndrome ; genetics