Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Mandibulofacial Dysostosis

Objective To report the spectrum of electron transfer flavoprotein dehydrogenase (ETFDH)gene mutations in 20 Chinese RR-LsM families.Methods Twenty-four RR-LSM patients in the First Hospital of Peking University from January 2003 to May 2010 were collected and the clinical characteristics were analyzed.These patients came from 20 families in North Mainland China.Sixteen families had 1 patient each.and the other 4 families had 2 patients.ETFDH gene analysis was performed in all patients,11 family members and 100 healthy controls.Results The mean onset age was(27.9±9.9)years.The main symptoms were limb weakness(21,87.5%),dysmasesia(15,62.5%),neck weakness (14,58.3%)and myalgia(14,58.3%).Eighteen patients had high level of acyleamitine.Fifteen of 17patients had glutaric aciduria.Seventeen ETFDH mutations,including 13 missense mutations,2 splice mutations,and 2 nonsense mutations,were identified in 19 families:c.998A>G,c.1450T>C,c.1703T>C,c.1717C>T,c.821G>A,c.643G>A,c.251C>T,c.1763A>T,c.IVS7+2T>C and c.IVS6+1G>A were Hovel mutations which were not found in 100 healthy controls.Nine families had the mutation of c.770A>G(P.Y257C)and 5 families had the mutation of c.1227A>C(P.L409F).Conclusions The numerous novel mutations in ETFDH gene indicate that Chinese RR-LSM might have special mutation pattern.c.770A>G(P.Y257C)and c.1227A>C(p.L409F)may be hot spot mutations in North Mainland China.

AIM:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of methazolamide in treating refractory uveitic macular edema.METHODS: Retrospective self-controlled study was designed.A total of 15 patients (20 eyes) with refractory uveitic macular edema which used methazolamide as adjuvant therapy were enrolled in Shanghai First People`s Hospital from January 2015 to June 2016.The changes of central macular thickness (CMT) and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were observed at baseline and 2, 4, 8wk after treatment.We also focused on the incidence of complications and relapse.RESULTS: The CMT was 445.95±154.10μm, 338.83±138.34μm, 251.50±40.20μm, 244.90±35.68μm at baseline, 2, 4 and 8wk after treatment, respectively.The differences among them were statistically significant (F=15.467, P<0.05).The BCVA (log MAR) were 0.40±0.17, 0.28±0.21, 0.19±0.20, 0.18±0.21 at baseline, 2, 4 and 8wk respectively, with a significant difference among them (F=5.208, P<0.05).When the cumulative dose reached to 700mg and 1400mg, no one had methazolamide-related complications;and when it came to 2800mg, 5 patients (33%) had methazolamide-related complication.After the withdrawal of methazolamide 1wk, 1 and 3mo, 3 patients (20%), 5 patients (33%) and 8 patients (53%) relapsed, respectively.CONCLUSION: Methazolamide is beneficial in improving macular edema and vision in 4wk.When the cumulative dose is more than 1400mg, we need pay attention to the complications.After discontinuing methazolamide for 1wk, macular edema relapsed in some patients, and more than half of patients recurred after 3mo.So the patients should be followed closely in 3mo after withdrawal of methazolamide.

The quality of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) has been mainly evaluated based on chemical ingredients, yet recently more attentions have been paid on biological ingredients, especially for pill-based preparations. It is a key approach to establish a fast, accurate and systematic method of biological ingredient analysis for realization of modernization, industrialization and internationalization of TCMs. The biological ingredient analysis of TCM preparations could be abstracted as the identification of multiple species from a biological mixture. The metagenomic approach based on high-throughput-sequencing (HTS) and big-data-mining has been considered as one of the most effective methods for multiple species analysis of a biological mixture, which would also be helpful for the analysis of biological ingredients in TCMs. Simultaneous identification of diverse species, including the prescribed species, adulterants, toxic species, protected species and even the biological impurities introduced through production process, could be achieved by selecting appropriate DNA biomarkers, as well as applying large-scale sequence comparison and data mining. By this approach, it is prospective to offer an evaluation basis for the effectiveness, safety and legality of TCM preparations.
Biological Products ; chemistry ; Data Mining ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Metagenomics ; methods

Acupuncture Analgesia ; Animals ; Central Nervous System ; metabolism ; Electroacupuncture ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Pain Threshold ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Objectives To analyse the clinical and MRI features of cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarct and leucoencephalopathy (CADASIL) in mainland China and compare these features with those reported in other countries.Methods All 26 CADASIL families were collected in First Hospital of Peking University from January 2003 to October 2009, and the diagnosis was confirmed by ultrastructural examination or Notch3 gene analysis.The age of onset, initial symptoms, main symptoms in 102 patients were described and the features with those reported in Germany, Japan, Arab and France were compared using x2 test.The cranial MRI changes in 35 patients were analysed and compared with the British and French patients.Results 102 patients had their initial symptoms between 22-80 years with the mean age of onset at (43.9 ± 11.0) years.There was no significant difference in the frequency of ischemic stroke or TIA (79.41% ) between our patients and the patients in other countries.Dementia rate (50.00% ) was significantly greater than that of Arab (21.05% ,x2 =5.513, P =0.020) and French patients(31.11%,x2 =4.517, P =0.034).The frequency of mood disturbances ( 14.71% ) was significantly lower than that of German patients (30.39% ,x2 =7.185, P =0.007).The frequency of migraine ( 13.73% ) was similar to that of France but lower than that of Japan (40%, x2 = 12.658, P = 0.000), Germany (38.24%, x2 =15.932, P=0.000) and Arab (42.11% ,x2 =6.869, P=0.009).Cranial MRIs were abnormal in all 35patients, but no lesion was seen in the medulla oblongata.Lacunar infarcts in the basal ganglia (82.86% )were significantly more frequent than that of French patients (60% , x2 = 5.663, P = 0.017).The frequency of leukoaraiosis in the cerebrum was similar to that of French patients.Anterior temporal involvement (68.57%) was significantly lower than of British patients ( 95%, x2 = 5.211, P = 0.022 ).Conclusion The clinical symptoms and MRI changes of CADASIL in different countries were not identical.Abnormal anterior temporal pole signal on MRI is not a sensitive marker for diagnosis of CADASIL in Chinese patients.

Objective To report 2 cases of Fabry disease with early-onset ischemic stroke and investigate the clinical and image features. Methods The 2 patients developed dizziness, diplopia and progressive memory decline at 32 and 25 years of age respectively. The α-galactosidase A (GLA)activity was 4. 3 U in case 1 and 1. 0 U in case 2 ( normal range 100-500 U). Skin biopsy showed numerous membrane bounded osmiophilic laminar material in vascular smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells. GLA gene analysis revealed GLA exon 7 1033-1034 TC del in case 1 and GLA exon 3 466G ＞ A in case 2. The 2 patients were evaluated by Mainz severity score index (MSSI) and cranial MRI. Results The general MSSI was 32 in case 1 and 16 in case 2, with the highest score of neurological score ( 11 and 14). Both cases showed multifocal infarcts in bilateral cerebellum, occipital lobe, basal ganglia, which were hypointensity on T1 WI and hyperintensity on T2WI. There were hyperintensity changes in the pulvinar and basal ganglia on T1 WI in case 2. Conclusions Cerebral ischemic stroke could appear as initial symptoms in Fabry disease,which predominantly involved the posterior circulation. There might be no dilation of basal-vertebral artery.

OBJECTIVETo establish a characterization system of traditional Chinese medicinal properties in line with modern scientific cognition regularity, in order to reveal properties of traditional Chinese medicines distributed along liver meridian and relations of effects of medicinal properties.

METHODBy collecting data about traditional Chinese medicinal properties recorded in the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China (2005 Edition), literature and data about pharmacological effects of traditional Chinese medicines recorded in the Chinese Materia Medica, by using the method of association rules, the authors dug pharmacological effect rules corresponds to relevant medicinal property combinations, with the medicinal property combination of traditional Chinese medicines distributed along liver meridian as the target.

RESULTIt was found that either obvious different pharmacological effects or identical pharmacological characteristics existed in traditional Chinese medicines distributed along liver meridian.

CONCLUSIONWith the aim to explore the correlations between traditional Chinese medicine medicinal properties and pharmacological effects, the authors linked the traditional Chinese medicine theory with modern research achievements, in order to provide the ideas and methods for interpreting mechanisms of medicinal properties.

Databases, Factual ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Liver ; drug effects ; Liver Diseases ; drug therapy ; Meridians

Objectives To report the clinical and myopathological features in a case with Danon disease caused by a novel mutation in the lysosome-associated membrane protein-2 ( LAMP2 ) B gene.Methods A 16-year-old boy presenting progressive muscle weakness and atrophy, accompanied with spinal ankylosis was clinically evaluated including electrocardiogram, echocardiogram and electromyogram.Muscle biopsy was carried out in the patient.The histological staining, ultrastructural examination, and immunohistochemical staining with antibodies against dystrophin, merosin and C5b9 were performed in frozen sections.LAMP2B sequence was analyzed in the patient and his parents.Results Electrocardiogram in the patient showed Ⅰ atrioventricular block; echocardiogram revealed focal hypertrophy in mitral valve with mild cardiac diastolic dysfunction; electromyogram indicated myogenic and neurogenic patterns.Muscle pathology study revealed numerous vacuoles located at the fibers.Dystrophin, merosin and C5b9 was immuno-positive around the vacuoles.Electron microscopy revealed vacuoles surrounded by sarcolemma and abnormal lysosome aggregating at the fibers.A novel nonsense mutation ( K402X ) in the LAMP2B gene has been identified in the patient but not in his mother and 50 normal controls.Conclusions Danon disease caused by K402X mutation in C-terminus of LAMP2B presented benign course of the disease characterized by prominent vacuolar skeletal myopathy, mild cardiac abnormalities and peripheral neuropathy.

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effects of Berberine Capsule (BC) on patients with mild hyperlipidemia.

METHODSTotally 102 mild hyperlipemia patients were recruited. All patients were suggested to have proper diet and physical activity as basic therapy for 1 month of run-in period. Totally 97 patients completed it. Then they were randomly assigned to the berberine group (the treatment group, 49 cases) and the placebo group (the control group, 48 cases). Patients in the treatment group took BC 300 mg, while those in the control group took placebo 300 mg, thrice per day for 3 successive months. Then placebos and BC were interrupted for 2 months (as washout period). All subjects received only diet control and physical activity during washout period. After washout period, placebos and BC were re-administered to all patients in the same way for 3 months. Body mass index (BMI), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), TG, TC, LDL-C, and HDL-C were assessed after run-in period, washout period, at month 1, 2, 3 after the first therapy, at month 1, 2, 3 after second treatment, respectively.

RESULTSCompared with the end of run-in period, TG, TC, and LDL-C decreased, and HDL-C increased in the treatment group (P < 0.05) after first 3 months of treatment. Compared with 3 months after the first therapy, TG, TC, and LDL-C increased and HDL-C decreased in the treatment group after washout period (P < 0.05). Compared with the end of wash- out period, TC and LDL-C decreased in the treatment group at month 2 after second treatment (P < 0.05); TG, TC, and LDL-C decreased (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), and HDL-C increased (P < 0.05) at month 3 after second treatment. Compared with the control group at month 3 after second treatment, TG, TC, and LDL-C all decreased, and HDL-C increased in the treatment group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBC was effective in improving blood lipid level in mild hyperlipidemia patients.

Berberine ; therapeutic use ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Body Mass Index ; Capsules ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; drug therapy ; Lipids ; blood