Subclinical hypothyroidism during pregnancy is associated with some adverse outcomes during maternal pregnancy.The present study investigated thyroid function parameters measured by electroehemiluminescence (ECL) immunoassays in subclinical hypothyroid women treated with levothyroxine (L-T4) during pregnancy.The results showed that in evaluating thyroid function with ECL immunoassays during replacement with L-T4,determination of serum TT4 appears to have a closer correlation with TSH and may better reflect the effìcacy of treatment.

Aim To study the protective effect of CDPS on acute aging mouse model induced by D-galactose (D-gal) and its mechanism.Methods (1) The acute aging mouse model was induced by D-gal.After CDPS (25、50、100 mg·kg-1) treatment, the improving effect on learning and memory in mice was examined in vivo.(2) We also established the aging model on PC12 cells in vitro.After CDPS treatment (150、200 mg·L-1), the level of p-CREB in the nucleus was detected by Western blot, and the content of cAMP, PKA and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels were examined by the Elisa kits.Moreover, cAMP, PKA and BDNF were detected in PC12 cells under the condition that H89, the inhibitor of PKA, co-cultured with PC12 cells after CDPS treatment.(3) The UPLC/Q Exactive MS method was developed for determining the concentration of glutamic acid, dopamine and norepinephrine, which secreted in PC12 cells after CDPS treatment.Results (1) In vivo, CDPS significantly improved the memory impairment in aging mice induced by D-gal in the Morris assay.(2) In vitro, CDPS could significantly increase the expression of p-CREB (P<0.05), PKA, cAMP and BDNF (P<0.05).The H-89 abolished the increase of p-CREB (P<0.05), PKA, cAMP and BDNF (P<0.05) in PC12 aging cells induced by D-gal after CDPS treatment.(3) CDPS increased the release of dopamine, norepinephrine, and glutamate secreted in PC12 cells.Conclusion CDPS could significantly improve the learning and memory ability on aging mouse model in vivo, and reversed the damage in PC12 cells induced by D-gal by activating cAMP/PKA/CREB signal cascade, increase the expression of BDNF, and increasing modestly the release of excitatory neurotransmitter.

Objective To study the levothyroxine doses and related factors in the treatment of pregnant women with subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH).Methods Fifty-six pregnant women with SCH (diagnosed before 12 weeks of gestation) were recruited and divided into 2 groups according to the baseline TSH levels,SCH group 1 (2.5 mIU/L ≤ TSH ≤ 5.0 mIU/L,n =24) and SCH group 2 (TSH＞5.0 mIU/L,n =32).Thyroid autoantibodies [thyroid peroxidase antibody(TPOAb) and thyroglobulin antibody(TGAb)] were detected.All the subjects were treated with levothyroxine and the doses were adjusted according to the TSH level.The therapeutic target was to keep the TSH levels under control,0.3 to 2.5 mIU/L for the first trimester and 0.3 to 3.0 mIU/L for the second and third trimesters.Results There was a positive correlation between the levothyroxine doses and baseline TSH levels (r =0.533,P＜0.01) in pregnant women with SCH.A significant difference in the levothyroxine doses between SCH group 1 and SCH group 2 was found [(0.583 ± 0.341) vs (0.961 ± 0.405) μg/kg,t =-3.695,P＜ 0.01].The levothyroxine doses in SCH group 2 were 64.84％ higher than those in group 1.There was a significant difference in the levothyroxine doses between thyroid autoantibody negative and positive subjects [(0.680 ± 0.370) vs (0.918 ±0.440) μg/kg,t =-2.197,P =0.032].The levothyroxine doses in thyroid autoantibody positive subjects were 35 ％ higher than those in the negative subjects.In addition,there was a significant difference in the levothyroxine doses between subjects with negative and positive thyroid autoantibody [(0.421 ± 0.192) vs (0.720 ± 0.385)μg/kg,t =-2.331,P =0.029] in SCH group 1.While in SCH group 2,the difference did not reach statistical significance.Conclusion The baseline TSH levels and status of thyroid autoantibodies may affect the levothyroxine dosage in pregnant women with SCH.

Objective To explore the associations between microsatellites in gonadal receptor genes and dysfunctional attitudes in adolescent with major depressive disorder(MDD).Methods Polymerase chain reaction(PCR),capillary electrophoresis and genetic scanning were performed in testing the length of microsatellites in first-onset adolescent depressive patients.Dysfunctional attitudes scale(DAS) was used in rating the dysfunctional cognition of adolescent depressive sample.These results were tested by correlative analysis and comparison analysis.Results 1.There existed significantly negative correlation between microsatellite′s length in estrogen receptor ?(ER?) gene and total score of DAS in female adolescent patients with first-onset depressive disorder.2.DAS′ total score of shorter alleles′ group was significantly higher than that of longer alleles′ group on female′ estrogen receptor ?(ER?) Gene.Conclusion The microsatellite′s length of ER? and ER? gene may have associations with dysfunctional attitudes of female adolescent with MDD.

Insulin receptor substance-1 (IRS-1) mRNA and protein were assayed in rat muscle of hindlamb by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry respectively.Smoking decreased the expressions of IRS-1 mRNA and protein in rat muscle of normal chow smoking group,high fat chow smoking group and diabetic smoking group as compared with matched control groups (P

Objective To investigation the pathological characteristics of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma to provide reference criteria for delineating the target area in radiotherapy.Methods Fifty-two patients from the Fourth Hospital of HeBei Medical University underwent resection whom all had been proved to have esophageal squamous cell carcinoma before operation.Chest CT was scanned and transmitted to the 3- dimensional conformal planning system for radiotherapy by VRX-16 scanner.The lesion of esophageal carcinoma was delineated in the 3-dimensional rebuild CT image and the lesion volume was computed by digital rebuild program.Every surgically resected specimen was made into pathologic giant section.The actual size of the specimen was obtained by calculating the size under the microscope with the shrinkage ratio.Multicentric carcinomatous lesion,severe dysplasia and direct intramural infiltration were observed in the giant section with a microscope and the order of such pathological characteristics were analysed statistically.Results 1.The tumor length by different method of preparation of operated specimens differed obviously.The longest was shown by CT. 2.Multicentric carcinomatous lesion was found in 15(29%)cases out of 52 patients.Proximal to the tumor,the mean distance between the multicentric carcinomatous lesion and the main lesion plus the length of the multicentric carcinomatous lesion was 3.02?1.45cm.Distal to the tumor,it was 2.60?2.44 cm.Severe dysplasia was found in 28 patients.Proximally,the mean distance between the severe dysplasia and the main lesion plus the length of the severe dysplasia was 2.45?1.30 cm.Distal to the tumor,it was 3.24?2.19 cm.Direct intramural infiltration was found in 41 patients,of which the mean length being 2.80?1.52 cm proximally and 2.02?1.51 cm distally. 3.Tumor thrombus was found in 6 patients and lymphoduct infiltration in 36 patients.Direct intramural infiltration was found at higher incidence in specimens complicated with lymphoduct infiltration(86%)and those complicated with tumor thrombus(91%).There were no apparent factors affecting severe dysplasia.The proximal distance to direct intra- mural infiltration was much longer than distally.Conclusions Multicentric carcinomatous lesion,severe dysplasia and direct intramural infiltration may be observed in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.Multicentric carcinomatous lesion and direct intramural infiltration are obviously correlated with lymphoduct infiltration.To cover 95% of the microscopic extension,a margin of 5.0 cm is needed proximal to the base of gross tumor volume,and 7.5 cm distal to it.To cover 90% of the microscopic extension,a margin of 4.5 cm is needed proximally,and 5.0 cm distally.

PURPOSE: Treatment of Kawasaki disease with intravenous gamma globulin(IVGG), together with aspirin, has been dernonstrated to be safe and effective in preventing coronary artery lesion and systemic inflarnmation, but optimal IVGG dosage and administration method are still controversial. We compared the therapeutic efficacy and clinical response of single IVGG 1g/kg to that of IVGG lg/kg for comparable risk group of Kawasaki disease. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study involving 63 children with Kawasaki disease requiring IVGG treatment(Harada score> or =4) at Chungnam National University Hospital from February 1996 to January 1999. The children were assigned to receive IVGG either as a single infusion of 1g/kg(A group, 32 person) or 2g/kg(B group, 31 person) and aspirn(100mg/kg/day through acute phase, then 3 to 5mg/kg/day for 8 weeks of duration). RESULTS: There were no significant difference between the two groups according to clinical and laboratry data, including coronary artery lesions(group A, 31.3% and group B, 29.0%) before treatment. After IVGG treatment ratio of complication with coronary artery lesion(group A 1/32=3.1% and group B, 2/31=6.5%) and that of retreatment(group A, 4/32=12.5%, group B, 2/31=6.5%), duration of fever(group A, 1.3+/-1.6 days and group B, 0.7+/-1.4 days), hospital stay(group A, 7.0+/-1.4 days and group B, 6.5+/-2.0 days), laboratory finding and side effects of IVGG were not significantly different(P>0.05). The total dosage of IVGG was significantly lower in group A than group B(group A, 1.16+/-0.37g/kg, 375,421+/-207,351won and group B, 2.10+/-0.40g/kg, 641,498+/-274,750won (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The therapeutic efficacy and clinical response of single 1g/kg therapy are comparable to that of single 2g/kg therapy.
Aspirin ; Child ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Coronary Vessels ; gamma-Globulins* ; Humans ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Prospective Studies

The main content of the 61st Academic Conference of Japanese Acupuncture Association is introduced and summarized in this article. Different from former conferences, it focuses on the academic activity which take patient into the major consideration, and on the feasibility study of aerospace acupuncture treatment. Meanwhile, study on Japanese technique of shallow insertion with fine needle and its results are also introduced. The developing tendency of Japanese Acupuncture Association is discussed at the meeting as well.
Acupuncture ; education ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods ; trends ; Humans

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Multidetector Computed Tomography ; methods ; Pulmonary Embolism ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Venous Thrombosis ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo screen the antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (asONs) which could hybridize with KDR (kinase insert domain-containing receptor) mRNA in an effective and specific way and to explore their anti-tumor effects on breast cancer MCF-7 cell line in vitro.

METHODSThe asONs were firstly selected using oligodeoxynucleotides library hybridization or computer prediction, then their hybridization ability with KDR mRNA was further tested with oligonucleotide microarray. The asONs with strong hybridization intensity were selected. Their inhibitory effects on MCF-7 cells proliferation and KDR expression were assayed by MTT, RT-PCR and Western blotting assay, respectively.

RESULTSIn 13 asONs selected with oligodeoxynucleotides library hybridization, 8 (8/13, 61.5%) showed strong hybridization signals, while such was only 1 in 17 asONs designed by computer prediction. 9 asONs with strong hybridization intensity were selected and synthesized with phosphorothioated modification. All these asONs inhibited the MCF-7 cells proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, in which asON4 and asON7 screened by oligodeoxynucleotides library in combination with oligonucleotide microarray were the most effective, with inhibitory rates of 51.6% and 62.2% at 0.8 micromol/L, respectively. The KDR expression at mRNA and protein levels was reduced by both the two asONs, in a dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONasONs screened by oligodeoxynucleotides library hybridization are well consistent with that chosen with oligonucleotide microarray. The combination of oligodeoxynucleotides library with oligonucleotide microarray is an effective approach of asONs screening. The asONs targeting KDR mRNA showed prominent anti-tumor activity on breast cancer MCF-7 cells.

Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Gene Library ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense ; genetics ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transfection ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics