Objective To study effect of excessive iodine intake on sodium-iodide symporter(NIS)mRNA and protein expression of breast in lactating rats.Methods60 Wistar rats,having been weaned for one month,were randomly divided into three groups according to their body weights,I.e,①normal iodine(NI,30 rats);②ten fold high iodine(10 HI,15 rats);③one hundred fold high iodine(100 HI,15 rats).Eating food containing iodine of 300μg/L and drinking water of iodine at 5,1845,20 295μg/L,respectively.After fed for 3 months,the rats mated and had offspring,and urine and milk iodine of lactating rats were determined by As-Ce-catalytic spectrophotometric method.Their marmnary glands were sampled at lactation day 10.Then NIS mRNA expression by RT-PCR was determined and NIS protein by immunohistochemistry(SABC)was observed.Results The urine iodine of 10 HI group(3597.5μg/L)and 100HI group(25 404.3μg/L)increased obviously compared with that of NI group(344.7μg/L).The milk iodine of 10HI group(27.1×103μg/L)and 100HI group(191.0×1μg/L)was higher than that of NI group(6.0×103μg/L),but the increased fold of milk iodine was not paralleled with that of urine iodine.Difference of NIS mRNA expression was significant(F=24.19,P＜0.01)among the groups,and the NIS mRNA expression in 10HI(1.250±0.034)and 100HI(1.272±0.039)group were less than that in NI (1.532±0.044)group(P＜0.01).The breast NIS mRNA expression in lactating rats(1.532±0.044)was significantly higher than that in unlactating rats(0.879±0.018,P＜0.01).With the increasing iodine uptake,NIS protein expression decreased.Conclusions The NIS mRNA and protein in rat breasts is down-regulated by excessive iodine intake.So increasing extent of milk iodine concentration is inhibited,which is important to prevent off-spring from getting excessive iodine intake from parental generation.

OBJECTIVETo know the blood lead levels (BLL) of preschool children in Zhejiang Province between 1997 to 2003.

METHODSThe BLL of preschool children was investigated in this province with cluster sampling in 2003, and compared with the results with that of 1997. The BLL was determined with graphite oven atom absorption spectrography method.

RESULTThe average BLL of 2013 preschool children in 2003 was (0.34 +/- 0.13) micromol/L, similar with that of 1997 [(0.35 +/- 0.26)micromol/L (P >0.05)]. There were 274 children with BLL >or= 0.483 micromol/L, and the rate of lead poisoning was 13.61 %, lower than that of 1997 (when there were 448 children with BLL >or= 0.483 micromol/L, and the rate of lead poisoning was 23.84%). In 2003, the rates of lead poisoning among preschool children of Hangzhou, Shangyu, Zhoushan and Changshan were 7.69%, 15.37%, 10.87% and 20.15 %, respectively. There were significant differences among the four areas (P < 0.01). In comparison with the results of 1997, the lead poisoning rates of Hangzhou and Shangyu children decreased significantly, while that of Changshan children increased significantly (P <0.01), and that of Zhoushan children didn't change significantly. The highest rate of lead poisoning was found in children of 4-6 years group as 6 years ago.

CONCLUSIONThe rate of lead poisoning among preschool children has decreased significantly now in Zhejiang Province. But the condition of BLL in preschool children is still far from optimistic. The environmental lead pollution in remote mountain areas and island areas should be highly concerned by the government.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Environmental Exposure ; analysis ; prevention & control ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Lead ; blood ; Lead Poisoning ; blood ; epidemiology ; Male ; Mass Screening

Objective Take alkaline ashing method as golden standard to explore the accuracy of chloric acid digestion method in determination of human milk iodine. Methods Sixty one breast milk samples collected in Hexi district of Tianjin was measured by the method for determination of iodine in foodstuff by As3+-Ce4+ catalytic spectrophotometry (referred to as the alkaline ashing method) published in 2008 and the method for determination of iodine in urine by As3+-Ce4+ catalytic spectrophotometry(referred to as acid digestion) published in 1999, respectively. were highly correlated(r = 0.960, t = 26.3, P < 0.01), and the regression equation was (Y) = - 28.1 + 0.808X, in which X was independent variable, that is the results of alkaline ashing method; (Y) was dependent variable, that is the estimated data of chloric acid digestion method. The average difference of the results measured by the two methods was 68.3 μg/L, and the results from chloric acid digestion was 38.9% which lower than that of alkaline samples were diluted by 3,4 and 5-fold and then digested by chloric acid, the liquid clarification rates were 80.3% ashing and chloric acid digestion method were, respectively, 165.4, 110.0 μg/L. Conclusions Compared with alkaline ashing method, the results determined by chloric acid digestion method are significantly lower. It is suggested that there are systemic errors in chloric acid digestion method, which means that alkaline ashing method can not be replaced by the chloric acid digestion method.

BACKGROUNDIt has been 11 years since newborn screening started in Zhejiang in 1999. The aim of this study was to analyze and summarize the status of newborn screening in Zhejiang from 1999 to 2009.

METHODSBlood samples were collected from the heels of newborns 72 hours after birth. We have conducted laboratory tests that the congenital hypothyroidism (CH) and circulating levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) was detected. Blood phenylalanine (Phe) was detected for phenylketonuria (PKU). Dissociation-enhanced lanthanide fluorescent immunoassay (DELFIA) was used for detection.

RESULTSFrom 1999 to 2009, 3 875 228 newborns were screened and 2309 cases were confirmed as CH and 155 cases were confirmed as PKU. The incidence of CH and PKU were 1:1678 and 1:25 001 respectively.

CONCLUSIONIn 11 years, the Zhejiang newborn screening center screened more than 3.8 million newborns, and helped more than 2000 CH and PKU patients to obtain early treatment in order to prevent physical disability and mental retardation.

China ; Congenital Hypothyroidism ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Neonatal Screening ; methods ; Phenylketonurias ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo study the under-five mortality rate and the causes of death in Zhejiang Province between 2000 and 2009 in order to provide a basis for reducing the mortality rate in the region.

METHODSBy stratified random cluster sampling, all the children under 5 years old from 30 sampling areas of Zhejiang Province between 2000 and 2009 were enrolled. The under-five mortality rate and the leading causes of death were investigated by descriptive analysis and Chi-square test.

RESULTSThe under-five mortality rate demonstrated a decreased trend in Zhejiang Province between 2000 and 2009, with the under-five mortality rate of 14.83‰ in 2000 compared to 9.49‰ in 2009. In 2009, the under-five mortality rate in rural regions was significantly higher than that in urban regions (9.14‰ vs 6.50‰; P<0.01). Compared with the resident population, there were an increased under-five mortality rate in floating population (12.12‰ vs 6.42‰; P<0.01). Preterm delivery/low birth weight was the top death cause in children under 5 years old. The top three causes of death in infants less than 1 year old were preterm delivery/low birth weight, congenital heart disease and birth asphyxia compared to drowning, traffic accident and falling in children aged 1-4 years.

CONCLUSIONSThere are differences in the under-five mortality rate between rural and urban children as well as between the floating and resident population in 2009. The leading causes of death in different age groups are different. It is essential to reduce the mortality rate by preventing preterm delivery, low birth weight and congenital malformations to infants and preventing accidental injuries to children aged 1-4 years.

Cause of Death ; Child Mortality ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Mortality ; Infant, Newborn ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate effects of developmental lead exposure on nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in different brain regions and on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor mRNA expression in the hippocampus of rats. On the basis of these observations, we explored possible mechanisms by which lead exposure leads to impaired learning and memorizing abilities in children.

METHODSA series of rat animal models exposed to low levels of lead during the developing period was established (drinking water containing 0.025%, 0.05% and 0.075% lead acetate). NOS activities in the hippocampus, the cerebral cortex, the cerebellum and the brain stem were determined with fluorescence measurement and levels of mRNA expression of the NMDA receptor 2A (NR2A) subunit and NMDA receptor 2B (NR2B) subunit in the rat hippocampus were measured with Retro-translation (RT-PCR).

RESULTSThere were no differences in the body weight of rat pups between any of the groups at any given time (P>0.05). The blood lead level of Pb-exposed rat pups showed a systematic pattern of change: at 14 d of age, it was lower than that at 7 d of age, then rising to the peak level at 21 d and finally falling to lower levels at 28 d. The hippocampal NOS activities of lead-exposed groups were all lower than that of the control group on the 21st and 28th day (P<0.01). NOS activities in the cerebellum of lead-exposed groups were all lower than that of the control group on the 21st and 28th day (P<0.001) and the NOS activity of the 0.025% group was significantly lower than that of the 0.05% and 0.075% groups on the 28th day (P<0.05). NOS activity in the cerebral cortex of the 0.075% group was significantly lower than that of the control, 0.025% and 0.05% groups on the four day spans (P<0.001). There was no significant difference of NOS activity in the brain stem between any lead-exposed group and the control group on the four day spans. In the 0.05% and the 0.075% groups, the level of NR2A mRNA expression was higher than that in the control group at 7 d and 14 d of age (P<0.05). In the 0.025% group, the level of NR2A was found to be higher than that in the control group at 7 d of age only (P<0.05). No significant differences were found for the levels of NR2B mRNA expression between any of the groups at any given time.

CONCLUSIONSNOS activity in the hippocampus, the cerebral cortex and the cerebellum are inhibited by lead exposure. The degree of the inhibitory effect depends on the time span of exposure and the lead concentration. Developmental low-level lead exposure was found to raise the level of NR2A mRNA expression in the hippocampus of rats. Developmental low-level lead exposure does not affect the level of NR2B mRNA expression in the hippocampus.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Brain ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Environmental Exposure ; adverse effects ; Enzyme Activation ; drug effects ; Female ; Lead ; toxicity ; Male ; Neurotoxins ; toxicity ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Rats ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical therapy and prognosis in children with transient congenital hypothyroidism (CH).

METHODSFifty-seven children with CH diagnosed after neonatal screening were treated with low-dosage levothyroxine (L-T4). Follow-up evaluation included the determination of TT3, TT4 and TSH serum levels and the assessment of thyroid gland morphology, bone age, growth development and development quotients (DQ). A full check-up was performed at age 2, when the affected children first discontinued the L-T4 treatment for 1 month, and one year later. Development quotients were compared with a control group of 29 healthy peers.

RESULTSThe initial L-T4 dosage administered was 3.21-5.81 microg/(kg.d) with an average of (16.25+/-3.87) microg/d. Mean duration of therapy was (28.09+/-9.56) months. No significant difference was found between study group and control group in the DQ test (average score (106.58+/-14.40) vs (102.4+/-8.6), P>0.05) and 96.49% of the CH children achieved a test score above 85. Bone age, 99mTc scans and ultrasonographic findings were all normal, and evaluation of physical development was normal too, as were the serum levels of TT3, TT4 and TSH after one year of follow-up.

CONCLUSIONA L-T4 dosage of 3.21-5.81 microg/(kg.d) was found sufficient for the treatment of transient CH. The treated children showed satisfactory overall mental and physical development at age 2. So it is possible for CH children to stop taking medicine if their laboratory findings and physical development are all normal after regular treatment and 2-3 years of follow-up.

Bone Development ; drug effects ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; blood ; congenital ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Prognosis ; Thyroid Gland ; drug effects ; Thyroxine ; therapeutic use ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; Triiodothyronine ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the immunoregulatory effect of adipose-derived stem cell (ADSC) transplantation by intraperitoneal injection in food-allergic young mice before and after ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization.

METHODSThirty-two 3-week-old female Balb/c mice were randomly divided into control, allergic model, ADSC treatment, and ADSC prevention groups (n=8 each). A young mouse model of food allergy was established by OVA sensitization via intraperitoneal injection. Each mouse from the prevention and treatment groups was transplanted with 1×10(6) ADSCs on days 1 and 15 post-sensitization, respectively. The allergic symptoms of all groups were observed and scored. The jejunal villi and inflammatory cell infiltration were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Serum levels of allergy-related inflammatory cytokines were measured by Luminex.

RESULTSCompared with the allergic model group, the ADSC prevention and ADSC treatment groups had significantly reduced allergic symptom scores (P<0.05). The two groups also showed significantly alleviated allergic pathological damage of the jejunal mucosa. Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-17A, IL-22 and IL-23 were significantly lower in the ADSC prevention and treatment groups than in the allergic model group (P<0.05). However, the ADSC treatment group had a significantly increased serum interferon-γ level and a significantly reduced serum monocyte chemotactic protein-1 level compared with the allergic model and ADSC prevention groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSADSC transplantation, performed before or after sensitization, has an immunoregulatory effect on food allergy in young Balb/c mice, but this effect is better if transplantation is performed after sensitization.

Adipose Tissue ; cytology ; Animals ; Cytokines ; blood ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Food Hypersensitivity ; immunology ; therapy ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Stem Cell Transplantation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism for the apoptosis of hippocampus neuron induced by hypothyroidism in perinatal rats.

METHODSHypothyroidism was induced by administration of propylthiouracil (PTU, 50 mg/d) solution to the dams from gestational day 15 by gavage. Pups from both hypothyroid and control groups were harvested at 1, 5, 10 and 15d, respectively. Blood samples were collected at the time of death for the determination of thyroid hormone. Serum free triiodothyronine (FT(3)) and free thyroxine (FT(4)) were measured by chemoluminescence. Hippocampus specimens were collected from the control and hypothyroid pups.Mitochondia was examined under transmission electron microscopy. Translocation of apoptogenic molecules (Bax, cytochrome C and AIF) and activation of caspase-3 were analyzed by Western Blotting.

RESULTSignificantly low circulating FT(3) and FT(4) levels confirmed the hypothyroid status of the experimental pups. Electron microscopy showed that altered morphology of mitochondria significantly increased under hypothyroid conditions. The expression of Bax in the cytosol of hypothyroid pups was higher than that of control pups at all stages of development (P<0.05),and significantly higher in mitochondria (P<0.001). The expression of cytochrome c in the cytosol of hypothyroid pups was significantly higher than that of control pups at all stages of development (1,10 and 15 d:P<0.05, 5d: P<0.001), and lower in mitochondria (P<0.05). The expression of AIF in the cytosol of hypothyroid pups was higher than that of control pups at all stages of development (P<0.001), and significantly lower in mitochondria (1, 5d: P<0.001, 10, 15 d: P<0.01). he expression of caspase-3 P20 in the cytosol of hypothyroid pups was significantly higher as compared with that of the age-matched controls (1, 15d: P<0.01, 5,1 0 d: P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONThe intrinsic death pathway in mitochondria may be one of the mechanisms with which hypothyroid induces apoptosis of hippocampus neuron in developing rats.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Apoptosis ; physiology ; Female ; Hippocampus ; pathology ; Hypothyroidism ; chemically induced ; pathology ; Neurons ; pathology ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; pathology ; Propylthiouracil ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo study the best observation time for drug administration and withdrawal in the treatment of children with transient congenital hypothyroidism,seeking an objective basis for the safe drug withdrawal.

METHODSLevothyroxine was prescribed for 1 144 children diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism (CH) and according to the results levothyroxine was adjusted to a maintenance dosage. Examinations were performed periodically including physical and mental development, thyroid ultrasonography,and blood levels of T3, T4, TSH. For the patients with a small maintenance dosage of levothyroxine (15.0 - 16.6 g/d) and all the examinations normal, levothyroxine was withdrawn at 2 - 3 years, and the children were followed up and reexamined after 1 month, 2 months, and 10 months, respectively. Permanent drug withdrawal was determined for children with all the examinations normal. Once abnormal TSH occurred, levothyroxine was prescribed again, and followed up continuously.

RESULTLevothyroxine was withdrawn from 157 children. During the follow up, for 15 children (9.55%) levothyroxine were prescribed continuously, and for 142 children permanent drug withdrawal (confirmed with transient CH) was determined. Abnormal TSH of various degrees was detected in 48 cases: 25.48 % (40/157),4.46 % (7/157), and 0.64 % (1/157) were detected at 1, 2 and 10 months after drug withdrawal, respectively. In 15 children levothyroxine was prescribed again for the remarkably high TSH, and the other 33 with mildly abnormal TSH finished the treatment since TSH normalized during follow-up.

CONCLUSIONAfter 2 - 3 years of regular treatment, levothyroxine can be withdrawn from children with normal T3, T4, TSH, physical and mental development, and thyroid function. The best observation time for drug withdrawal should be 2 - 3 months. If T3, T4 and TSH levels are in the normal range, drug can be withdrawn safely. Once abnormal results were detected during follow-up, levothyroxine should be administrated continuously.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Congenital Hypothyroidism ; blood ; drug therapy ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Thyrotropin ; blood ; Thyroxine ; administration & dosage ; blood ; therapeutic use ; Time Factors ; Triiodothyronine ; blood ; Withholding Treatment