Objective To investigate the incidence rate, high risk factors and hemodynamic changes of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in premature infants, and to give suggestions abo ut clinical monitoring and management of PDA in premature infants. Methods Echocardiography was performed on 86 non-ventilated or weaned from ventilator-pr emature infants at 2 to 5 days of age,whose gestational age was 28 to 36 weeks. All premature infants diagnosed as PDA were followed up clinically and by Echoc ardiography until discharged. Results Twenty-two infants diagnosed as PDA at mean 3 days of age, mean gestational age was (33.l?2.0) weeks. Ductus in 16 infants (out of 20 infants) closed spontaneo usly when repeated echocardiography at mean 8.5 days of age. For 4 remaining PDA infants, ductus closed in 2 cases (l treated with indomethacin). One ductus reo pened because of sepsis, and 3 infants discharged with opened ductus at their 2l , 40 and 47 days of age respectively. Single and multiple Logistic analysis indi cated that the lower the birth-weight ,the higher the incidence of PDA (?2=2. 8907 P=0.0891); neonatal asphyxia and suffered from severe diseases (neonat al respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis) were high risk factors of PDA (?2= 4.3729 P=0.0365;?2=11.6590 P=0.0006). Premature infants with PDA h ad good heart function,although their LA/AO ratio increased slightly (1.0810?0. 18 vs 1.00?0.07,P= 0.048).Conclusions PDA incidence at 3 days of life in 33 weeks premature infants is 25.6%, 85% PDA disappeares spontaneously during follow-up. Low birth-weight asphyxia, severe diseases and symptomatic PDA are high risk factors of PDA. Ductus can reopen in premature infants. J Appl Clin Pediatr,2005,20(2):129-131

Objective To explore the changes of hydrogen sulfide(H2S) levels in plasma of newborn infants with pulmonary hypertension(PH) and its relationship with pulmonary hypertension,and provide scientific evidence for the decision of treating neonatal PH.Methods Sixteen children with PH and 16 children without PH in ICU from Mar.2005 to Mar.2006 were selected.Ultrasonic cardiogram(UCG) examination was performed for eachpatients.Pulmonary artery pressure(PAP) was measured.The plasma concentrations of H2S,cysteine and PAP of each patient were measured.Results PAP was 4.27-9.73 kPa[(6.49?1.79) kPa] in neonatal PH group,and PAP in control group was normal.The plasma levels of cysteine and H2S in neonatal PH group significantly increased compared with those of control group [(11.94?6.65) ?mol/L vs(6.43?2.08) ?mol/L,t=2.630 P=0.016;(26.99?1.33) ?mol/L vs(24.92?1.36) ?mol/L,t=4.373 P=0].Conclusions Endogenous H2S and cysteine were up-regulated during the development of neonatal PH;it might play an improtant role in the development of PH.H2S possibly depress the PAP by dilating the pulmonary artery to protect the patients with pulmonary hy pertension.

In order to optimize the testing methods for Paeonia suffruticosa seed quality, and provide basis for establishing seed testing rules and seed quality standard of P. suffruticosa. The seed quality of P. suffruticosa from different producing areas was measured based on the related seed testing regulations. The seed testing methods for quality items of P. suffruticosa was established preliminarily. The samples weight of P. suffruticosa was at least 7 000 g for purity analysis and was at least 700 g for test. The phenotypic observation and size measurement were used for authenticity testing. The 1 000-seed weight was determined by 100-seed method, and the water content was carried out by low temperature drying method (10 hours). After soaking in distilled water for 24 h, the seeds was treated with different temperature stratifications of day and night (25 degrees C/20 degrees C, day/night) in the dark for 60 d. After soaking in the liquor of GA3 300 mg x L(-1) for 24 h, the P. suffruticos seeds were cultured in wet sand at 15 degrees C for 12-60 days for germination testing. Seed viability was tested by TlC method.
Germination ; Light ; Paeonia ; growth & development ; Quality Control ; Seeds ; physiology ; Temperature

In order to establish the quality classification criteria of Paeonia suffruticosa seeds, thirty-one batches of P. suffruticosa seeds from different provenances were selected. The seed rooting rate, seed germination rate, seed purity, seed viability, 1,000-seed weight and moisture content were determined and analyzed through SPSS 20.0 software. Seed rooting rate, seed germination rate and seed purity were selected as the main index for classification, while 1,000-seed weight, seed viability and moisture content could be used as important references. The seed quality grading of P. suffruticosa was set as three grades. The seed quality of each grade should meet following requirements: For the first grade seeds, seed rooting rate ≥ 80%, seed germination rate ≥ 80%, seed purity ≥ 90%, seed viability ≥ 80%, 1,000-seed weight ≥ 250 g, moisture content, ≤ 10. For the second grade seeds, seed rooting rate ≥ 50%, seed germination rate ≥ 60%, seed purity ≥ 70%, seed viability ≥ 75%, 1,000-seed weight ≥ 225 g, moisture content ≤ 10. For the third grade seeds, seed rooting rate ≥ 20%, seed germination rate ≥ 45%, seed purity ≥ 60%, seed viability ≥ 45%, 1,000-seed weight ≥ 205 g, moisture content ≤ 10. The quality classification criteria of P. suffruticosa seeds have been initially established.
China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Germination ; Paeonia ; chemistry ; classification ; growth & development ; Seeds ; chemistry ; classification ; growth & development

This study was purpose to investigate the expression of XIAP mRNA in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and to explore its significance in the advance and prognosis of CML. The chromosomal karyotype analysis and detection of XIAP mRNA were performed by the technique of chromosomal R banding and real time PCR in 71 patients with CML and 10 healthy controls. The results showed that there was a significant increase of XIAP mRNA expression in accelerated and blastic phase of the CML, compared with the patients in chronic phase (t = 9.10, 9.30, p < 0.01). Moreover, the difference of XIAP mRNA expression level was not statistically significant in different karyotype groups. It is concluded that the XIAP gene expression in accelerated and blastic phases of CML patients obviously increases, XIAP gene is closely related to the advance of CML.
Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Prognosis ; X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein ; genetics

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the incidence of intra- and extrauterine growth retardation (EUGR) and growth restriction in premature infants, and to illustrate the growth pattern of them in postnatal and infantile period.

METHODSAll premature infants were admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) during the recent 7 years. The criteria for enrollment were (1) gestational age < 37 weeks; (2) single fetus; (3) admitted within the first 24 hours of life; (4) hospitalization period ≥ 14 days; (5) clinical follow-up persisted till ≥ 3 months of corrected gestational age. Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), EUGR and growth restriction were defined as having a measured growth value (weight) that was ≤ 10(th) percentile of Chinese infants' growth curve in corrected age on admission, discharge and follow-up period. Results were analyzed by using SPSS 12.0 statistical software package by chi-square test, rank-sum test, and t test.

RESULTSTwo hundred and thirty nine infants were involved, 134 were boys and 105 girls. The incidence of IUGR and EUGR assessed by weight was 25.5% and 40.6%, respectively. The lower the birth weight was, the higher the incidence of IUGR and EUGR was. The percentile of body weight in the growth curve at discharge was lower than that at birth (Z = -7.784, P = 0.000). The incidence of growth restriction assessed by weight was 20.5%, 15.0%, 8.8%, 17.0%, 10.4%, 10.1%, 11.9%, 7.0% at corrected gestational age of 38 - 40 weeks, corrected age of 28 d, 61 d, 91 d, 122 d, 152 d, 183 d, and 274 d, respectively. The incidences of growth restriction were stable when the corrected age was older than 91 days. The incidence of growth restriction in female premature infants at 183 days' corrected age was higher than that in male children (χ(2) = 6.181, P = 0.017), the incidence was 19.3% and 3.8% respectively. During the follow-up period, most of the average body weight of premature infants whose gestational age was < 32 weeks or birth weight ≤ 1500 g were lower than the 50(th) percentile of the growth curve except the average body weight of boys whose gestational age < 32 weeks at corrected age of 2 and 4 months.

CONCLUSIONSPremature and/or low birth weight infants are at high risk of growth restriction, especially very low birth weight infants. The incidence of growth restriction decreased with growth. Long-term prognosis requires further investigation.

Body Weight ; Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; growth & development ; Male ; Weight Gain

OBJECTIVETo compare botanical characteristics of cultivated Chrysanthemum morifolium cv. 'Hangju' of different origins in order to provide the basis for introduction and cultivation of Ch. morifolium cv. 'Hangju'.

METHODThe characteristics of plants, leaves and capitulum of Ch. morifolium cv. 'Hangju' were measured, and the obtained data were analyzed and compared.

RESULTThe range of plant height was 60.87-99.47 cm, number of branches 2.76-5.20, leave length 4.90-8.40 cm, leave width 3.25-5.38 cm, aspect ratio of leave 1.35-1.83, number of leave split 1.92-3.08. Numbers of capitulum were 21.92-53.12, diameter of capitulum 3.41-5.48 cm, lays of ray florets 3.28-7.16, number of ray florets 55.32-114.60, ray florets length 1.58-2.37 cm, ray florets width 0.50-0.69 cm, aspect ratio of ray florets 2.90-3.99, diameter of tubular flower 1.10-1.58 cm.

CONCLUSIONThe botanical characteristics of cultivated Ch. morifolium cv. 'Hangju' were distinguished from different origins. With the cultivation environment change, the botanical characteristics of the cultivars are changed.

China ; Chrysanthemum ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Flowers ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of cytoplasmic domain of integrin alpha IIb in platelet signal transduction.

METHODSBinding capacity of integrin alpha IIb(R995A) to antibody platelet activation complex-1 (PAC-1) and pp125 focal adhesion kinase (FAK) phosphorylation of cells were detected by flow cytometry, immune precipitation, and Western blotting.

RESULTSWithout activation, wild-type alpha IIb beta3 Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells failed to bind to PAC-1, but mutant chimera alpha IIb(R995A)beta3 CHO cells were able to bind with PAC-1. Furthermore, phosphorylation of pp125 (FAK) in wild-type alpha IIb beta3 CHO cells occured only when cells were adhered to fibrinogen, but could not be detected in bovine serum albumin suspension. However in the mutant chimera group, it could be detected in both conditions.

CONCLUSIONThe mutation in integrin alpha IIb(R995A) alters its affinity state as a receptor, thus also mediating cytoplasmic signal transduction leading to the phosphorylation of pp125 (FAK) without ligand binding.

Animals ; Blood Platelets ; metabolism ; CHO Cells ; Cell Adhesion ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; Cytoplasm ; metabolism ; Dual Specificity Phosphatase 2 ; Focal Adhesion Kinase 1 ; Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Humans ; Phosphorylation ; Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology ; Point Mutation ; Protein Phosphatase 2 ; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases ; metabolism ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transfection

INTRODUCTIONThis study aimed to determine the early growth patterns of preterm infants who required prolonged hospitalisation in terms of body weight Z-score, and to explore the influencing factors and predictors of their growth.

METHODSThe criteria of enrolment included preterm birth, singleton pregnancy, hospitalisation within the first 24 hours of life, hospital stay ≥ 28 days and clinical follow-up beyond 91 days of corrected age. Body weight Z-scores and the incidence of underweight infants were reviewed periodically, and the influencing factors and possible predictors of growth analysed.

RESULTSBody weight Z-scores of all infants of gestational age (GA) groups kept decreasing, with a trough seen at 36 weeks corrected gestational age (CGA). At corrected full-term, body weight Z-scores for all birth weight groups achieved birth level and were higher than that at 36 weeks CGA. Body weight Z-scores at 61 days corrected age was (-0.300 × GA [weeks] + 0.210 × birth weight [g] + 0.682 × body weight Z-score) at 40 weeks CGA. The cut-off values for body weight Z-score at birth (cut-off, -1.79; sensitivity, 100%; specificity, 91.3%) and 61 days corrected age (cut-off, -1.95; sensitivity, 100%; specificity, 97.1%) were selected to predict the risk of being underweight at 183 days corrected age.

CONCLUSIONEarly growth restriction is a practical problem in preterm infants with prolonged hospitalisation. Body weight Z-scores at 40 weeks CGA and 61 days corrected age can be used to predict body weight gain prior to 183 days corrected age in these infants.

Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gestational Age ; Growth Disorders ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; growth & development ; Infant, Premature, Diseases ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Length of Stay ; trends ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies ; Singapore ; epidemiology