Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of growth hormone(GH) stimulating test in dwarfism of children and related influencing factors .Methods Arginine and L‐dopa were applied to perform GH stimulating test in 642 children with dwarf‐ism .GH levels were detected at 30 ,60 ,90 ,120 ,150 ,180 min after stimulation .All children were divided into GH deficiency (GHD) group ,with peak value of GH less than 10 ng/mL ,and non‐GHD group ,with peak value of GH at least 10 ng/mL .Physical and la‐boratory data of the two groups were compared .Results The proportion of children with GHD and without GHD were 68 .69%and 31 .31% ,respectively ,and with statistical difference(χ2 =6 .19 ,P<0 .05) .The GH peak value ,with a delay ,mainly appeared at 30 and 150 min after stimulation ,accounting for 22 .42% and 34 .27% .Levels of age ,body height standard deviation ,body mass in‐dex ,alanine aminotransferase ,aspartate aminotransferase ,insulin growth factor‐1 and 25‐hydroxyl vitamin D were statistically dif‐ferent between the two groups(P<0 .05) .Conclusion Arginine and L‐dopa combined stimulating test could be used for the diagno‐sis of GHD in children with dwarfism .GH level might be correlated with various physical and laboratory parameters ,which should be considered for the diagnosis of GHD .

Objective To explorethe influence of leptin on the onset of puberty, and to study the relationship between leptin and hormones relevant to gonadal axis and its effect on idiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP) in obese girls. Methods Fifty-six girls with ICPP fulfilled the current diagnostic criteria and came from pediatric endocrinology clinic. The 56 cases were divided into 2 groups according to whether there was obesity or not: 38 non-obese girls with ICPP and 18 obese girls with ICPP. Forty-three age-matched prepubertal girls were divided into non-obese prepuberty group (25 girls) and obese prepuberty group (18 girls). Serum leptin wasassayedwithELISA,andserum FSH, LH and E 2 were determined with immunochemiluminescent. Results As compared with non-obese prepuberty group [(4.1?1.5)?g/L], the leptin concentrations in obese ICPP group [(14.7?7.5)?g/L], non-obese ICPP group [(8.8?5.1)?g/L] and obese prepuberty group [(8.0?5.3)?g/L] were significantly higher (P

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristic s of an infant with congenital lipoid adrenal hyperplasia (CLAH),and to sequence the acute regulatory protein (steroid acute regulatory,StAR) gene of the infant patient and her pedigree.Methods Physical examination,laboratory tests,and imaging examination of the 11-month-old patient with CLAH were collected.DNA was extracted from blood samples of the patient and her parents.The 7 exons of StAR gene were amplified by PCR and then sequenced.Results Dark skin,girl vulva,and one each 1.0 cm×1.0 cm palpable lump in inguinal area bilaterally were observed.The adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) was 253 pg/ml,cortisol was 27.6 nmol/L at 8 am,17-hydroxyprogesterone was 3 nmol/L.Uhrasound showed that sign of testicular ultrasonography existed in bilateral inguinal regions.Karyotype analysis showed 46,XY.Sequencing of PCR amplified fragments showed that there were two heterozygous mutations c.229C ＞ T,p (Gln77X) and C.659A＞G,p (His220Arg) of StAR gene in this patient.By rectifying the disturbance of electrolyte,and treating with hydrocortisone and 9α fludrocortisone,etc,the patient has been stable so far.Conclusion The patient presents typical clinical manifestations.Two heterozygous mutations including c.229C ＞T,p (Gln77X) from maternal and C.659A＞G,p (His220Arg) from paternal of StAR gene were detected.Wherein the c.659A＞G,p.(His220Arg) as a novel point mutation of StAR gene,has not been reported so far.

Objectives To investigate the causes of short stature in Turner syndrome (TS). Methods 86 patients were di-agnosed with TS by karyotypes from 2004 to 2013. According to the deletion types of the X chromosome short arm, growth hor-mone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and thyroid function, the TS patients were divided into different groups and com-parison was made among groups. Results Ht SDS in three groups with different extent of the deletion of the X chromosome short arm were (-4.39±1.08), (-3.26±1.25) and (-2.84±0.15) (P<0.05). The proportion of growth hormone deifciency (GHD) in the three groups were 62.5%, 38.9%and 0%(P<0.05). Ht SDS in groups with different degree of IGF-1 level were (-4.37±1.10), (-3.82±1.07) and (-3.25±0.91) (P<0.05). There was no signiifcant difference of Ht SDS between hypothyroidism patients with and without GHD (P>0.05). Conclusions The deletion of X chromosome short arm may cause the short stature in TS. The GH-IGF-1 axis in TS is impaired, but GHD is not related to short stature in TS.

Objective Turner syndrome (TS) is characterized with reduced adult height and gonadal dysgenesis and associated with a number of complications including thyroid disease.The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of thyroid diseases and the association between thyroid autoantibodies (TAA) and thyroid dysfunction,age,and karyotype.Methods Fifty-five girls with TS were diagnosed by chromosome analyses and were divided into 2 groups according to whether there was TAA-positive or not:TAA-positive group and TAA-negative group.Thyroid autoantibodies (antithyroglobulin antibody,thyroperoxidase antibody),thyroid function (free T3,free T4,and TSH) were determined with immunochemiluminescent.Ultrasound was applied in TAA-positive group.Results Thyroid functions in 34 TAA-negative girls were normal.Of the 21 TAA-positive girls (21/55,38.2％),7 girls suffered from hypothyroidism and 3 girls had hyperthyroidism.All of 21 TAA-positive girls were diagnosed as cases of Hashimoto's thyroiditis.As compared with the girls in TAA-negative group,the age of girls in TAA-positive group was significantly higher [(12.16 ± 2.55 vs 9.95 ± 4.50) years,P＜0.05].6 cases under 5 years old were TAA-negative.31.3 ％ (5/16) of patients aged 5-10 years old,48.1％ (13/27) aged 10-15 years old and 50.0％ (3/6) above the age of 15 were TAA-positive.There were no significant differences in the numbers of TAApositive cases among different karyotypes (P ＞ 0.05).Thyroid ultrasound in girls with positive-TAA showed the abnormal echogenicity in bilateral lobus lateralis of thyroid.Conclusion Patients with TS are prone to suffer from Hashimoto's thyroiditis leading to thyroid dysfunction,when they are older than 5 years.Thyroid function should be evaluated yearly in girls with TS after 5 years old.There is no specific association between the incidence of autoimmune thyroid disease and certain karyotypes.

BACKGROUND: Miniscrew plant attachment to maxillary sinus is an important factor for implant safety and bone density can influence implant stability. Studies have explored implantation location of implant anchorage, such as bone thickness or bone density. However, the idea on implantation angle remains controversial. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between miniscrew implant in the interradicular space between the second premolars and the first molars in the maxilla and the maxillary sinus as well as bone density in the surroundings. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: Observation experiment was performed at dinan University from October 2007 to May 2008. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 38 patients with cone beam CT data were selected from Uni-Care Dental Center, Macao, including 11 males and 27 females, aged 18-35 (24.8±3.8) years. METHODS: Three dimensional images were reconstructed from cone beam CT images. For each subject, the buccolingual bone thickness was measured by postulating that the miniscrews would be inserted at 16 positions (10, 12, 14 and 16 mm above the median sagittal planes of the interradicular spaces between the first molars and the second premolars in the maxilla, and 30°, 45°, 60°, 90° from the cortical bone surface). The danger rate representing for implantation sites where buccolingual bone thickness was less than 6 mm was calculated. The density of the bone around the entire circumference of each miniscrew was also measured. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Height of maxillary sinus, buccolingual bone thickness at implantation sites and bone density. The implantation sites could be divided into three groups. Group 2 exhibited the greatest danger rate and bone density and group 1 had the lowest danger rate and bone density.

Objective To analyze setup errors for irradiation of pelvic carcinoma by online conebeam CT (CBCT) scanning and to calculate the external margins from clinical target volume (CTV) to planning target volume (PTV) in treatment planning. Methods Twelve patients with rectal or prostate cancer were enrolled in this study. Translational errors (x,y,z) and rotational errors (u,v,w) were obtained by using CBCT in radiotherapy. Results The set-up errors were gathered from 229 sets of CBCT in 12patients. The systemic ± random errors on x,y,z, u,v and w axes were (0.49 ± 1.18) mm, (-0. 11 ±3.45) mm, (-2. 00 ± 1.59) mm, 1.14°±0. 67°, 0. 42°±O. 94°and -0. 32°±±0. 68°, respectively. Setup errors in the left-right, anterior-posterior, and superior-inferior directions were 4. 6 mm, 12. 5 mm, and 6. 2 mm, respectively. Conclusions Set-up errors were unavoidable in pelvic carcinoma irradiation. To minimize the influence of set-up errors, we suggest a PTV margin of 5 mm, 15 mm and 10 mm in the leftright, anterior-posterior and superior-inferior directions, respectively.

Objective To explore the mechanism of self-awareness in the heavy smokers(HS)by using regional homogeneity(ReHo)combined with resting-state functional MRI(fMRI).Methods Thirty HS and 31 healthy non-smokers(NS)matched for age and sex underwent a 3.0 T resting-state fMRI.The data were post-processed by SPM 5 and then the ReHo values were calculated by REST software.The ReHo values between the two groups were compared by two-sample t-test.The brain map with significant difference of ReHo value was obtained.Results Compared with that in NS group,the regions with decreased ReHo value included the bilateral precuneus,superior frontal gyrus,medial prefrontal cortex,right angular gyrus,inferior frontal gyrus,inferior occipital gyrus,cerebellum,and left middle frontal gyrus in HS group.The regions of increased ReHo value included the bilateral insula,parahippocampal gyrus,white matter of parietal lobe,pons,left inferior parietal lobule,lingual gyrus,thalamus,inferior orbital gyrus,white matter of temporal-frontal lobe,and cerebellum.The difference was more obvious in the left hemisphere.Conclusions In HS,abnormal ReHo on a resting state which reflects network of smoking addiction.This method may be helpful in understanding the mechanism of self-awareness in HS.

Objective To study the changes of the putamen metabolites with magnetic resonance spectrum(MRS),and to explore possible underlying unrecongnised aetiological factor and pathophysiology mechanism in the central nervous system of the patients with Tourette' s syndrome.Methods Twenty-two cases of Tourette' s syndrome,and twenty-two gender and age-matched subjects ( the control subjects ) were performed on a clinical 3.0 T MRI system.Proton prob-voxel spectroscopy imaging (1H-MRS) was obtained from two sides of the putamen.The metabolites included N-acetylaspartate (NAA),creatine and phosphocreatine ( Cr),choline-containing compounds (Cho),and myoinositol ( MI ).The value of the NAA,Cr,Cho,and MI were calculated by integration of their peaks.The ratios of NAA/Cr,Cho/Cr,ML/Cr were calculated respectively.Repeated measures analysis of variance ( ANOVA ) was used to test both the value of NAA/Cr,Cho/Cr,MI/Cr of the putamen for group difference,with group as between-subjects factor and side as within-subjects factor.Results The NAA/Cr ratio in patients ( left:1.29 ± 0.13 ; right:1.34 + 0.15 ) was significantly lower than that in the control subjects ( left:1.50 ± 0.08,T =1.962,P ＜0.05 ; right:1.52 ± 0.11,T =1.865,P ＜ 0.05 ).There was no significant difference in the Cho/Cr and MI/Cr ratio between both groups.Conclusion The abnormalities of the structure and(or) function in the putamens of patients may be the one of the underlying anaetiological factors and pathophysiology mechanisms of the Tourette' s syndrome.

ObjectiveTo investigate the central nervous system mechanisms of active of movement switch in the patients with Tourette' s syndrome( TS),and to explore the possible underlying distinct neural networks for tic trigger and generation. Methods Participants were 14 patients with TS and 14 age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers with no history of physical,psychiatric or neurological disease: All patients were assessed with functional magnetic resonances imaging (fMRI)of the brain during the intermittent performance of finger-tapping switch tasks,Blood-oxygen-level dependent-fMRI was performed using a 3.0 Tesla MR.The area over which the activation was distributed was calculated,and the activation volumes were also compared between the patients with TS and the control subjects.ResultsThe regions activated in the patients with TS and in the volunteers were similar in several brain regions,including contralateral precentral and postcentral gyrus,contralateral mesia pre-front gyrus,contralateral cingulate gyrus,contralateral insula and ipsilataral cerebellum. There were also many different activation areas between the patients and the control subjects. The patients with TS demonstrated more significant and extended activation in the contralateral pre- and postcentral gyrus than the healthy volunteers.The volume of the left pre- and postcentral gyrus of the TS patients was (8.024 ±0.071 ) cm3,while the volume of the left pre-and postcentral gyrus of the control subjects was ( 6.480 ± 0.026) cm3 ( t =3.026,P ＜ 0.01 ) ; The volume of the right pre- and postcentral gyrus was (6.192 ± 0.019) cm3 in the TS cases,while there was (5.608 ±0.037) cm3 in the control subjects (t =2.752,P ＜0.05).There were significant differences in the volumes of bilateral pre- and postcetral gyrus between the TS and control subjects. The activations of conralateral thalamus without contralateral insula were found in the patients with TS. Conversely, the contralateral insula activation without thalamus activation could be found in the healthy volunteers.ConclusionThe thalamus might play an important role in the aetiological and physiopathologic mechanisms of the TS. The thalamus along with the parietal cortex,cingulate cortex and insular cortex appear to constitute a distinct neural network for tic trigger and generation.