Objective To examine supine fulcrum pressurized radiograph to predict spinal flexibility in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Methods 1. Empirical study: put two points (A and B) on one side of the plastic stick and one point on the other side ( C), pressurize on the plastic stick when point C is in the middle of A and B, and then measure the projection shifting of point A. Repeat the pressure test when the distance between A and C doubled. Analyze the effect of increasing distance on diminishing pressure. 2.Clinical study :45 patients ( 16 males and 29 females) underwent standing anteroposterior radiograph ,fulcrum lateral flexion radiograph, supine lateral flexion radiograph. The Cobb's angles were measured and the flexibility ratio was determined on preoperative fulcrum radiograph. Results (1) If the length of A and C was 25 cm, pressurize on point C, when pressure quantitative scale number located 1 scale and 2 scale of the rule, projection shifting of point A were 5 cm and 10 cm. If the length of A and C was 50 cm, pressurize on point C, when pressure quantitative scale number located 1 scale and 2 scale of the rule, projection shifting of point A were 8 cm and 15 cm. The longer the distance, the lesser the pressure force of plastics stick. (2)The Cobb angles and curve flexibility provided by fulcrum lateral flexion radiograph had significant difference from that provided by supine lateral flexion radiograph in male group and female group. Cobb angles of male group was 28. 6°± 4. 1 °, 16. 7°± 4. 6° respectively (t= 7. 438, P ＜ 0. 01 )and curve flexibility was 47. 6% ±8. 1% ,69. 4% ± 8. 5% respectively( t = 7. 438, P ＜ 0. 01 ). Cobb angles of female group was 24.5°± 2. 7°,12. 6°±2. 4° respectively(t = 17. 540,P ＜0. 01 )and curve flexibility was 53.4% ±5.2% ,76. 0% ±4. 7% respectively(t = 17. 54, P ＜ 0. 01 ). The flexibility of spinal main curve of female patients was obviously higher than male patients. Conclusions Supine fulcrum pressurized technique can make up for the insufficiency of supine lateral flexion technique, and provide a convenient, safe, precise and useful method for evaluation of spinal flexibility in AIS.

Objective To explore early diagnosis and treatment of congenital esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula.Methods Clinical data of 11 patients with congenital esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula were analyzed retrospectively.Definite diagnoses were made for all cases in 24 hours through making an esophagus opacification with acetrezoic acid or iodinated oil.And an esophagus anastomosis outside pleura was made.Some experience of diagnosis and therapy were summarized.Results All of the 11 cases underwent operation.Among them,9 cases were cured (81.8%),and 2 cases died(18.2%).Anastomosis stenosis of esophagus was found in 1 case after operation,which was cured through esophagus dilatation.Tracheoesophageal fistula was found in another case after operation and it was cured through combined treatment including anti-infection, nutritional support and sufficient draining.Conclusion Early diagnosis and surgical treatment, postoperative care,prevention and cure of complication are very important to improve the survival rate of the patients with congenital esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula.

AIM:To investigate the effect of short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase ( SCAD) on collagen expres-sion and proliferation of rat cardiac fibroblasts and to explore the relationship between SCAD and cardiac fibrosis . METHODS:The model of proliferation and collagen expression of rat cardiac fibroblasts induced by angiotensin II was es -tablished.After treatment with siRNA-1186, the expression of SCAD at mRNA and protein levels , fatty acids beta oxida-tion rate, ATP, the enzyme activity of SCAD and free fatty acids in the rat cardiac fibroblasts were determined . RESULTS:The mRNA and protein expression of SCAD was decreased in the rat cardiac fibroblasts induced by angiotensin II compared with the control cells , and the expression of collagen I and collagen III was significantly upregulated .Com-pared with negative control group , SCAD expression and activity , fatty acid beta-oxidation rate and ATP significantly de-creased in siRNA-1186 group, but the content of free fatty acids were obviously increased in the rat cardiac fibroblasts , and the expression of collagen I and collagen III was significantly up-regulated.CONCLUSION:The expression and synthesis disorder of collagen may be triggered by down-regulation of SCAD .SCAD may be a promising therapeutic target for myocar-dial fibrosis .

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of calorie restriction on the high fat diet rats mRNA expressions of liver forkhead box O1(FoxO1), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), glucose-6-phosphatase (G-6-P) and to explore the possible mechanisms.

METHODS24 normal 6-week-old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal chow group (NC, n = 7), high fat diet group (HF, n = 9) and calorie restriction group (CR, n = 8). They were fed for 12 weeks. At the end of the experiment, the rats were sacrificed and their fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin (INS), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC) were measured. Their visceral fat (VF) and body weight (BW) were also measured and VF/BW was calculated. Gene expression was investigated by using semi-quantitative RT-PCR methods. Liver histology was studied with HE stained slides.

RESULTSCompared with the NC group, HF group rats developed visceral obesity which was accompanied by higher FBG, plasma INS, TG, and TC. The levels of FoxO1, PEPCK, and G-6-P increased by 18.9%, 33.8%, and 24.6%, respectively (P less than 0.01). Liver steatosis was observed with microscopy. The BW, VF FBG, INS, TG and TC of the CR group rats were lower in comparison to those of the HF group. The levels of FoxO1, PEPCK and G-6-P were lower by 26.6%, 35.0%, 34.3% (P less than 0.01). Meanwhile, liver steatosis was also milder.

CONCLUSIONCalorie restriction can inhibit the expressions of FoxO1, PEPCK and G-6-P, strengthen insulin signal conduction, suppress gluconeogenesis and thus regulate glycometabolism.

Animals ; Caloric Restriction ; Dietary Fats ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Gluconeogenesis ; genetics ; Glucose-6-Phosphatase ; genetics ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; genetics ; Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (ATP) ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo study the fingerprint of Zedoary Turmeric Oil (ZTO) as the bulk drug of Kingkong Elemene for making it safe, effective, stable, and controllable.

METHODSFingerprints were detected by gas chromatography. β-elemene peak was regarded as reference peak (S). The relative peak area of each common peak and the relative retention time were calculated. With a total of modes for reference, the fingerprints of 10 batches of Kingkong ZTO were detected, and their similarity was calculated by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) fingerprint similarity calculation software.

RESULTSThe determination method was stable and reliable. Totally 19 common characteristic peaks of Kingkong ZTO was found. The fingerprint similarity of these batches of Kingkong ZTO were not lower than 0.96.

CONCLUSIONSGas chromatography for detecting the fingerprint of Kingkong ZTO was reliable and repeatable. The established fingerprint of Kingkong ZTO could guarantee the quality stability and safety of different product batches.

Chromatography, Gas ; Curcuma ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Plant Oils ; chemistry ; Sesquiterpenes ; chemistry

Objective To ivestigate the hearing change when chronic tinnitus acute aggravated and the affect of prognosis due to hearing change. Methods The pure tone threshold and acoustic immittance were used for every case in the acute aggravation of chronic tinnitus(AACT)group, and for some of AACT group members the auditory brainstem response (ABR), distort-product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE), electrocochleogram (EcochG), glycerin test and MRI were used at the same time for further diagnosis. For the chronic tinnitus, the patients accepted the intervention of tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) both for the AACT group and the control group. As for the recent hearing loss appeared in the AACT group members, the patients were treated the cases as the sudden deafness, and then the heating characteristic of the AACT group was analyzed and the effect of the chronic tinnitus both for the AACT group and control group after the TRT for 3,6,9 and 12 months was evaluated. Results Three kinds of hearing changes appeared when chronic tinnitus acute aggravated. Based on the dated high frequencies hearing loss ranged 4-8 kHz, recent hearing loss appeared in 1-2 middle frequencies near the impaired high frequencies; Based on the dated single middle frequency hearing loss, another middle frequency hearing impaired near the dated hearing loss frequency, the sawtooth-like audiogram changed to groove-like audiogram; Hearing fluctuation in low frequency area, hearing threshold increased 10-30 dB in 125-1000 Hz but kept unchanged in the high frequency area. The recent local frequency hearing loss healed after the vasodilator and neurotrophic drugs therapy,but the dated hearing loss cann't rehabilitate. Along with the rehabilitation of recent local hearing loss, 25 of 32 cases chronic tinnitus victims get to habituation; this finding showed that the experience of tinnitus aggravation and relief accelerated the habituation. Until the 12 months after the TRT, the curative effect difference between AACT group and control group showed statistical significance. Conclusions When the chronic tinnitus acute aggravated,3 kinds of local area hearing impaired. Timely diagnosis and effective treatment had brought not only hearing rehabilitation but also promotion to habituation of chronic tinnitus.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between complex 1311 mutation of C-->T in exon 11 and 93 T-->C in intron 11 of G6PD gene and the G6PD deficiency.

METHODSUsing NBT paper strip method to screen and quantitative NBT method to confirm G6PD deficiency. PCR-SSCP technique was used to find the abnormal exon 11 and the amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) to identify 1311 mutation, and DNA sequencing to identify the complex mutation at 1311 in exon 11 and 93 in intron 11.

RESULTSAbnormal band in exon 11 was found in 12 cases. DNA sequencing showed that they were 1311 mutation together with 93 mutation.

CONCLUSIONThis complex mutation may be the cause of reduced activity of G6PD enzyme.

Base Sequence ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Exons ; genetics ; Genetic Testing ; Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase ; genetics ; Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency ; diagnosis ; enzymology ; genetics ; Humans ; Introns ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Point Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational

OBJECTIVEStudying on G6PD polymorphism from Hakka population in Guangdong province.

METHODSIdentifying the variants of G6PD gene and determining the frequencies respectively with the use of amplified refractory mutation system(ARMS), polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism(PCR-SSCP) and ABI 3100 DNA sequencing technologies.

RESULTSMutations of G6PD gene in cDNA 1388 (G-->A), 1376 (G-->T), 95 (A-->G), 392 (G-->T), 1024 (C-->T), 1311 (C-->T) have been found.

CONCLUSIONG6PD cDNA 1388 (G-->A), 1376 (G-->T), 95(A--> G), 392 (G-->T), 1024 (C-->T) and 1311 (C-->T) accompanied with intron 11 (93 T-->C) are the common mutations in Chinese population. cDNA 1388 (G-->A), cDNA 1376 (G-->T) are the most popular G6PD gene variants in Hakka population. In this study, no new type of G6PD gene mutation was found in the Hakkas of Guangdong.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase ; genetics ; Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency ; ethnology ; genetics ; Humans ; Introns ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

BACKGROUND: Intestinal and lymphoid tissues constitute an important part of intestinal immunity, which plays an important regulatory role in spleen deficiency and hydronephrosis. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupuncture on T lymphocyte subsets in lymph nodes of rats with spleen deficiency, and to investigate the correlation of spleen deficiency with intestinal immunity and the mechanism of acupuncture for spleen deficiency syndrome. METHODS: Thirty-six female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: model, acupuncture and blank control groups. The rat model of spleen deficiency was established by fatigue-induced spleen injury plus abnormal diet for 31 days. Afterwards, the rats in the acupuncture group received acupuncture at Zusanli(ST 36).Urine D-xylose excretion rate was detected during modeling and treatment.Then, the mesenteric lymph nodes were removed, and the changes in T lymphocyte subsets in the mesentericlymph nodes were observed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Urine D-xylose excretion rate under spleen deficiency in the modeling and acupuncture groups was significantly lower than that in the blank control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01); after acupuncture, the urine D-xylose excretion rate was significantly increased compared with the modeling group (P < 0.01), but still lower than that in the blank control group (P < 0.05). The count of CD4+T lymphocytes, count of CD8+T lymphocytes and ratio of CD4+/CD8+T lymphocytes were ranked as follows: blank control group >acupuncture group>modeling group(P<0.01 or P<0.05).These results suggest that acupuncture at Zusanli can improve the urine D-xylose excretion rate, regulate the balance of T lymphocyte subsets in mesenteric lymph node of rats with spleen deficiency, thus improving the intestinal immune function, spleen deficiency systems, disorder of intestinal digestive function, intestinal digestion and absorption, as well as anorexia, loose stool, diarrhea and other symptoms of the digestive system.

OBJECTIVETo explore the morbidity, burdens caused and risk factors of injuries among children and to provide information for policy making on prevention.

METHODSBy PPS sampling method, we selected 28 000 households in Beijing and using a questionnaire developed by UNICEF, TASC and China CDC.

RESULTSThe morbidity of child injury in Beijing was 2.25%, higher than that of adults (1.56%) with 6-9 year group the highest (2.83% ). The morbidity of boys was 3.04% higher than that of girls (1.37%). Among the 7 death cases, 3 were caused by injury(2 RTA, 1 drowning). The three leading causes of injuries were fall, animal bite and road traffic accident in children. Among children aged 0-5 years, fall, animal and burn/machine injuries were the leading causes. Among children aged 0-5 years, the leading causes were hurt by animals, fall and RTA with the leading causes as fall, sprain and RTA. The average medical cost of injury cases was 1617.57 Yuan. There were 3500 children (injured orphan) whose parents were injured leading to death or disability in Beijing in 2003.

CONCLUSIONInjury was the leading cause of child deaths in Beijing with children of 6-9 years old having the highest morbidity with RTA the most severe type of injuries in Beijing which affects both children and their parents.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Morbidity ; Risk Factors ; Wounds and Injuries ; epidemiology