Though initial report from Japan showed positive association of schizophrenia with dinucleotide repeat polymorphism in the NT-3 gene, subsequent studies showed mixed results. Therefore we conducted a replication study with Korean schizophrenics and matched controls who share similar ethnic background with Japanese population. The frequency of allele of dinucleotide repeat at 147 base pairs in the NT-3 gene was slightly increased, however, failed to reach statistical significance(X2=1.884, df=1, p<0.170) between the two groups. These findings do not support on association of NT-3 gene polymorphism with schizophrenia in Korean sample.
Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Base Pairing ; Dinucleotide Repeats ; Humans ; Japan ; Schizophrenia

Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) is a rare disease mainly characterized by accele-rated aging, with an incidence rate of 1 in 8 million to 1 in 4 million.It can affect the skin, fat, cardiovascular, bone and other organ systems.Most HGPS children can only live to 6-20 years old, with an average life expectancy of only 14.6 years.HGPS has distinctive clinical features, such as severe growth retardation, special skin manifestations, and craniofacial manifestations.The prognosis of this disease is poor, and no treatment has been proven effective so far.Upon the diagnosis, the progress of the disease should be observed and monitored via long-term and careful follow up, so as to extend the life span of the children as much as possible.In this article, the disease type, clinical manifestations, pathogenesis and clinical examination of HGPS were reviewed.

Objective To analyze postoperative complications of surgical therapy for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the lower extremity. Method From January 2001 to January 2008 vena cava filters were placed in 171 DVT cases before surgery. Fogarty catheter (73 cases), Amplatz thrombectomy device (ATD) (55 cases), Acolysis ultrasound ablation(43 cases) were used to extract the thrombi in iliac and proximal femoral vein. The full extraction of thrombi in distal end was facilitated by compressing and massaging the legs in all cases. Iliac venous stenosis or occlusion was managed by interventional therapy, and temporary femoral arteriovenous fistula were carried out routinly. Result Operations were successful in 157 cases(70 cases in Fogarty group, 52 in ATD group,35 in Acolysis ultrasound ablation group), and failed in 14 cases (3 cases in Fogarty group, 3 in ATD group, 8 in Acolysis ultrasound ablation group). Permanent,retrievable and temporary vena cava filters were placed in 51,32 and 88 cases respectively. Stenosis or occulsions of the iliac vein was found in 143 cases and stents were placed after balloon dilatation in 41 cases. During the operation, residual thrombi was found in 80 cases. Vessel perforation and rupture were complicated in 14 cases, thrombosis adhering in eava vein filters in 18 cases. There was no mortality and no pulmonary thromboembolism. During the follow-up, we found iliae vein restenosis in 21 cases, thrombosis recurrence in 36 cases, stents displacement in 6 cases, and stents fracture in 2 cases. Conclusion Surgical therapy is effective for DVT of the lower extremities.

No abstract available.

No abstract available.

Returning astronauts had experienced decreased immune function and increased vulnerability to infection during spaceflights.In immune system,cell adhesion molecules(CAMs) play an important role in regulating immune response in normal physiological conditions.Studying changes of CAMs under microgravity could not only understand the effects of microgravity and its molecular mechanism on immune function,but also help to study the relative mechanism about cell sensation of microgravity.In this review,we will introduce some downstream signal pathways,gene expression and the effects on cell functions under microgravity.All of them are regulated by cell adhesion molecules related with the immune system.

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Female ; Mammals* ; Ovulation* ; Rupture*

PURPOSE: To investigate the neuroprotective effect of growth hormone(GH) on neuronal cell necrosis and apoptosis at 1 week and 3 weeks after hypoxic ischemic brain injury. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats, seven-day-old, were used. Rats were anesthetized with ether less than 5 minutes. The right carotid artery was cut between double ligation. And then, rats were allowed to recover for 30 minutes followed by exposure to 8% oxygen at 37 degrees C for 2 hours for hypoxic ischemic insult. The study group was divided into 2 groups, control group(N=3) and GH treated group(N=3). GH treated group received intraperitoneal injection of GH 1 IU 2 hours after hypoxic ischemic insult following daily adminstration as same dose for 5 days. Rats were decapitated at 1 week and 3 weeks after hypoxic ischemic brain injury. After then, right hippocampal CA1 and CA3 neurons of rat brains were examined. RESULTS: Necrosis was significantly less in GH treated group than control group, and was more prominent at 3 weeks in both groups. The apoptosis was not found in GH treated and control group. CONCLUSION: GH has a neuroprotective effect on neuronal cell deaths(especially necrosis) from 1 week to 3 week after hypoxic ischemic insult in neonatal rat.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Brain Injuries* ; Brain* ; Carotid Arteries ; Control Groups ; Ether ; Growth Hormone* ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Ligation ; Necrosis ; Neurons ; Neuroprotective Agents* ; Oxygen ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

An autopsy case of male pseudohermaphrodite associated with Bochdalek diaphragmatic hernia is reported. This newborn infant showed a large clitoris and hypospadic urethra which was the only opening in the perineum except for the anus. There were urethrovaginal fistula and uterus didelphys. The adrenals were slightly larger than normal, but microscopically did not show any features of cortical hyperplasia. Well formed testes were found and were histologically unremarkable. In addition, Bochdalek type of diaphragmatic hernia was present, associated with severe left lung hypoplasia and massively herniated abdominal organs into the chest cavity, shifting the mediastinum considerably and eventually led to death in a few minutes after birth. The pathogenesis of genital anomaly and diaphragmatic hernia is briefly discussed and it is suggested that this type of genital abnormality might be due to defect of testicular M llerian inhibitor factor and can be categorized as incomplete male pseudohermaphroditism.
Infant ; Male ; Female ; Infant, Newborn ; Humans