Objective To investigate new cases of endemic cretinism in high-risk areas of Inner Mongolia, the prevalence of endemic goiter, the implementation of comprehensive measures, and to provide scientific basis for developing control strategies against iodine deficiency disorders (IDD). Methods In 2007 and 2008, a search for new cretin cases was conducted among children under the age of 10 in 11 historical serious epidemic cretinism prevalent areas of Songshan district, Keshiketeng qi, Kalaqin qi, Zhalaite qi, Zhuozi county,Liangcheng county, Qingshuihe county, Helin county, Dongsheng district, Zhungeer qi and Yinjinhuoluo qi. Three to 5 towns were selected in each qi(county, district) and 3 to 5 village primary schools were selected in each town.One hundred and twenty to 200 children aged 8 to 10 were selected in each school to inspect thyroid by B ultrasound and palpation and to test intelligence and urinary iodine. Two villages were selected in each town and 30 households were selected to determine urinary iodine of housewives and salt iodine. Results A total of 56 cases of suspected cases of endemic cretinism were found from the 11 counties but no case was confirmed. The goiter rate of children aged 8 to 10 was 5.2% (309/5922) by palpation and 4.3% (252/5922) by B-ultrasound. The median urinary iodine of children aged 8 to 10 was 241.5 μg/L, and urinary iodine was 100 to 300 μg/L, accounted 65.9%(3901/5920). Median urinary iodine of the 9 Qis(counties, districts) was in the range of 200 and 300μg/L.Higher than 5% of the 11 Qis(counties, districts) with urinary iodine lower than 50 μg/L was zero. Higher than 10% of the 11 Qis(counties, districts) with urinary iodine lower than 100 μg/L was 1. The median urinary iodine of housewives was 225.6 μg/L, and lower than 50 μg/L accounted for 2.2%(35/1597). Higher than 10% of the 11 Qis(counties, districts) with urinary iodine lower than 100 μg/L was 4. A total of 2109 households were investigated and 97.45%(2055/2109) of them ate iodized salt and 2.55%(54/2109) of them ate non-iodized salt. Conclusions In the 11 investigated counties, goiter rate of children has decreased to less than 10%, and no new cretin was found. It could be concluded that the fulfillment of prevention and control of IDD is effective. The iodine nutrition of children and women of childbearing age is in an adequate level. The coverage rate of iodized salt has maintained at a higher level, the sales network is sound, the salt price is reasonable and salt is easy to get and the children's intelligence is protected effectively. But, the health education about IDD is still weak, need to be reinforced.

Objective To explore the clinical effect of modified frontalis muscle suspension for severe blepharoptosis correction. Design Retrospective case series. Participants Fifty-six cases (101 eyes) with severe blepharoptosis. Methods Modified frontalis mus- cle suspension was adopted. The technique included single blepharoplasty-type incision, dissecting the posterior gaps of frontalis muscu- lar fasciae ahead,then euthyphoria isolating anterior gaps of rontalis muscular fasciae, using frontalis muscle transfer without vertical incision. Main Outcome Measure The positon chang of the upper eyelid in the primary position gaze. Results The follow-up period ranged from 8 to 20 months (mean, 13.6 months). All the patients were deemed to have a good surgical outcome. Complications such as ectropion and corneal exposure were avoided. But ten eyes required reoperation for undercorrection, six eyes for overcorrection and two eyes for entropion. Conclusion This surgical technique is a useful procedure that results in substantial cosmetic and functional im- provement with few complications.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the virological response of managing chronic hepatitis C (CHC) with peg-interferon alpha-2b (PEG-IFN alpha-2b) and ribavirin.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the virological response of 40 patients with different genotypes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection after anti-HCV management. Patients were given different dosages of PEG-IFN alpha-2b and ribavirin based on their weights. The duration of treatment was 48 weeks for patients infected by HCV genotype 1, and was 24 weeks for the others. HCV RNA was tested before treatment, 12 weeks post management, end of treatment, and 24 weeks after treatment stopped.

RESULTSData from 40 patients were collected. Among them, 24 cases experienced HCV genotype 1 infection, and 16 cases were infected with other genotypes. Between these two groups, the early virological responses were 75.0% (18/24) and 87.5% (14/16), the end-of-treatment virological responses were 80.0% (16/20) and 85.7% (12/14), and the sustained virological responses were 56.2% (9/16) and 78.5% (11/14), respectively.

CONCLUSIONBody weight-based customized PEG-IFN alpha-2b in combination with ribavirin can effectively treat patients with different genotypes of CHC.

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; administration & dosage ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; administration & dosage ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polyethylene Glycols ; RNA, Viral ; blood ; Recombinant Proteins ; Retrospective Studies ; Ribavirin ; administration & dosage ; Treatment Outcome

AIMTo investigate glutamate-induced [Ca2+]i changes in cultured rat neonatal cortical astrocytes after hypoxia/reoxygenation, H2O2 or high concentration of L-glutamate injury. In the meantime, the effects of Gingko biloba extract (GbE) were examined.

METHODS[Ca2+]i changes in astrocytes were monitored by laser scanning confocal microscopy with the Ca2+ sensitive fluorescent probe fluo-3.

RESULTSAfter astrocytes were impaired by hypoxia/reoxygenation, H2O2 (50 micromol x L(-1)) or L-glutamate (0.25 mmol x L(-)), the exogenous glutamate (27 micromol x L(-1)) could not induce increase of [Ca2+]i, but decrease by (3.3 +/- 1.6)%, (81 +/- 11)% and (81 +/- 7)%, respectively. Pretreatment with GbE (10 mg x L(-1)) could not improve injured astrocytic glutamate response. But after pretreatment with GbE (100 mg x L(-1)), glutamate-induced [Ca2+]i elevation of astrocytes after hypoxia/reoxygenation, H2O2 or high concentration of L-glutamate injury were (135 +/- 98)%, (117 +/- 93)% and (89 +/- 36)%, respectively. Nimodipine (1.6 mg x L(-1)) could also reverse the abnormal response of astrocytes after different injury.

CONCLUSIONHypoxia/reoxygenation, H2O2 and high concentration of L-glutamate impaired astrocytes' response to exogenous L-glutamate, and then bidirectional communication between astrocytes and neurons could not take place. GbE could improve the abnormal responses and maintain the normal function of astroglical network. These effects support that GbE has potential beneficial actions against brain injury.

Animals ; Astrocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cells, Cultured ; Cerebral Cortex ; cytology ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Glutamic Acid ; toxicity ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; toxicity ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Reperfusion Injury

AIMTo study the effect of chronic hypoxic hypercapnia on expression of COX-2 mRNA in pulmonary arterioles.

METHODSSD rats were randomly divided into two groups: control group and hypoxic hypercapnic group. COX-2 mRNA was observed in pulmonary arterioles by the technique of in situ hybridization.

RESULTSmPAP, weight ratio of right ventricle (RV) to left ventricle plus septum (LV + S) and COX-2 mRNA in pulmonary arterioles were much higher in rats of hypoxic hypercapnic group than those of control group. Light microscopy showed that vessel smooth muscle cell hypertrophy and vessel cavity straightness were found in hypoxic hypercapnic group.

CONCLUSIONChanges of expressions of COX-2 mRNA may regulate hypoxic hypercapnic pulmonary hypertension.

Animals ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hypercapnia ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Hypoxia ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Pulmonary Artery ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo analyze the relationship between the expression of FasL, Perforin and Granzyme B and the development of acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT).

METHODSThe peripheral blood mRNA expression of granzyme B, perforin, fasL from 17 patients after allo-HSCT was detected by competitive quantitative RT-PCR and the relationship between FasL, Granzyme B and Perforin expressions and clinical symptom of aGVHD was analyzed.

RESULTSThe expression level of Granzyme B, Perforin and FasL was 4.6 +/- 0.2, 4.5 +/- 0.1, 1.4 +/- 0.1 before aGVHD occurrence respectively, and was 98.7 +/- 2.5, 91.8 +/- 3.4, 61.5 +/- 2.2, after the occurrence in 14 patients (P < or = 0.05). Over expressions of Granzyme B, Perforin, and FasL during acute GVHD were detected in 13 of 14, 12 of 14, and 12 of 14 patients respectively. The upregulated expressions occurred prior to clinical symptom of aGVHD.

CONCLUSIONThe expressions of Granzyme B, Perforin, and FasL were significantly high in patients with acute aGVHD. Monitoring of the expressions, might predict the occurrence of clinical aGVHD and it severity and prognosis.

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Fas Ligand Protein ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Graft vs Host Disease ; blood ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Granzymes ; genetics ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Perforin ; genetics ; Postoperative Complications ; blood ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Prognosis ; RNA, Messenger ; blood ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transplantation, Homologous

OBJECTIVETo construct a recombinant adenovirus vector carrying antisense heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) cDNA and observe its effect on inhibiting the growth of laryngeal carcinoma Hep-2 cells.

METHODSThe HSP70 gene fragment encoding the 5' region was cloned reversely into the shuttle plasmid PAdTrack-CMV, and the resultant plasmid was recombined with the backbone plasmid PadEasy-1 in the E.coli Bj5183 cells to generate the recombinant adenovirus vector. The adenovirus were then packaged and amplified in 293 cells, and the viral titer was determined using GFP.

RESULTSThe recombinant adenovirus vector carrying antisense HSP70 cDNA was constructed successfully with a viral titer of 8 x 10(9). HSP70 expression of Hep-2 cells was obviously blocked by antisense HSP70 RNA, and Western blotting and immuohistochemistry demonstrated that cells transfected with antisense HSP70 did not express or express HSP70 at low levels. Flow cytometry presented apoptotic peak in the antisense HSP70-transfected cells, but not in the control cells.

CONCLUSIONThe recombinant adenovirus vector containing antisense HSP70 cDNA can effectively deliver antisense HSP70 gene into Hep-2 cells, suggesting the great potential of this gene therapy strategy in management of human laryngeal carcinoma.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA, Antisense ; pharmacology ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Genetic Therapy ; Genetic Vectors ; biosynthesis ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; therapy ; RNA, Antisense ; pharmacology ; Transfection

AIMTo study the effect of aspirin on chronic hypoxia and hypercapnic pulmonary hypertension.

METHODSSD rats were randomly divided into normal control group (A), hypoxic hypercapnic group (B), hypoxic hypercapnia + aspirin group (C). The concentration of TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF1alpha in plasma and in lung were detected by the technique of radioimmunology.

RESULTS(1) mPAP was significantly higher in B group than those of A and C group. Differences of mCAP were not significant in three groups. (2) Light microscopy showed that WA/TA (vessel wall area/total area) and PAMT (the thickness of medial smooth cell layer) were significantly higher in B group than those of A and C group. (3) The concentration of TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF1alpha in plasma and lung as well as the ratio of TXB2/6-keto-PGF1alpha were significantly higher in rats of B group than those of A and C group.

CONCLUSIONAspirin may inhibit hypoxic hypercapnia pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary vessel remodeling.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha ; metabolism ; Animals ; Aspirin ; pharmacology ; Carotid Arteries ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Epoprostenol ; metabolism ; Hypercapnia ; physiopathology ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Hypoxia ; physiopathology ; Male ; Pulmonary Artery ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thromboxane A2 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo determine the association between urine transforming growth factor beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)) concentration and long-term renal allograft function.

METHODSPatients undergoing kidney transplantation between August 1, 1999 and June 30, 2001 and survived for one year with normal renal functions were investigated. The blood and urine TGF-beta(1) concentrations were tested at an interval of at least 6 months. Totally 134 patients completed the 3-year follow up investigation. Correlation between their renal functions (creatinine clearance rates) and their urine relative TGF-beta(1) concentrations 1 year after renal transplantation were determined. Of the 134 renal recipients, 16 were diagnosed to have chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN), and their blood and urine TGF-beta(1) concentrations 1 year after renal transplantation were compared with those of the recipients free of CAN.

RESULTSThere was a positive correlation between long-term renal functions (loss of creatinine clearance rates) and in relative concentration of TGF-beta(1) urine 1 year after renal transplantation. The urine TGF-beta(1) concentrations of CAN and CAN-free recipients 1 year after transplantation were 182.7-/+40.2 and 398-/+33.5 pg/mg.Cr, respectively, showing significant differences. The blood TGF-beta(1) concentrations of CAN and CAN-free recipients were comparable (32.1-/+4.7 and 31.9-/+4.8 ng/ml, respectively).

CONCLUSIONUrine TGF-beta(1) is significantly elevated even before the onset of renal dysfunction in patients with CAN, and urine TGF-beta(1) level in early stage after renal transplantation can help predict long-term renal function.

Adult ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kidney Diseases ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Kidney Transplantation ; adverse effects ; methods ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; blood ; physiopathology ; urine ; Time Factors ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; blood ; urine

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical manifestations and surgical treatment of Type II orbital neurofibromatosis.

METHODSFrom Jan, 2001, to Oct, 2006, clinical data of 16 cases with type II orbital neurofibromatosis were retrospectively analyzed in the Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Medical School of Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

RESULTSAll patients had orbito-temporal or intra-orbital neurofibromatosis, combined with periorbital deformities. After partial tumor resection, the orbital reconstruction and blepharoplasty were performed in the same stage. The patients were followed up for 6-12 months with no relapse. The vision was improved in 6 cases and kept the same in 10 cases. The cosmetic results were satisfactory in all cases. 5 cases were re-operated because of relapse of blepharoptosis.

CONCLUSIONSThe function and appearance can be markedly improved after one-stage partial tumor resection, orbital reconstruction and blepharoplasty in patients with type II orbital neurofibromatosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Neurofibromatosis 2 ; surgery ; Orbital Neoplasms ; surgery ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult