BACKGROUND: Visual-motor integration (VMI) test was introduced into China in the 1970s and 1990s and widely used for evaluation and identification of problems in intellectual development and learning ability in children due to its good applicability without limitations by language and cultural background.OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of developmental test of VMI in children with hearing handicap, and evaluate its practical feasibility in largescale screening of intelligence problems in these children by comparing its reliability and validity with the norms of children in Shaanxi Province and the USA.DESIGN: A controlled correlation and multiple stepwise regression analysis with randomized cluster sampling.SETTING: Neurological Department of the First Hospital Affiliated to Medical College of Xi' an Jiaotong University.PARTICIPANTS: From January 1998 to December 2000, 638 children under 18 years of age with hearing handicaps were chosen from 6 schools of deaf-mutes in Xi'an City, Xianyang City, Chang'an County, Huxian County,and Lintong County in Shaanxi Province. Another 43 children with hearing handicap including 23 male and 20 female children aged (11.62±1.98) years were selected randomly for EEG and brain electrical activity mapping (BEAM) examination, who had a mean development quotient of VMI of 86.60±15.68. The children were divided by the development quotient into two groups, namely those with development quotient ＜ 86.6 (n=20) and those with development quotient ≥ 86.6 (n=23). METHODS: ① The VMI test was performed in accordance with the Fourth edition of VMI Manual by Beery K.E. The test was terminated when the testee failed to correctly copy three consecutive geometrical figures without time limit. The scale score varied from 0 to 27. ② The reliability test included split-half reliability test in which the items were split into two parts according to odd-even number, re-test reliability that tested the same group of children again in two months and inter-examiner reliability in which two examiners were asked to grade the same test paper.③ The validity test included structural and correlation validity test. Three well-revised and already established norms of scales in China, including Hiskey- Nebraska test of learning aptitude (H-NTLA), performance scale of Wechsler intelligent scale for children (PS-WISC) and Combined Raven's test (CRT), have been chosen as the structure validity criteria. The performance IQ of PS-WISC, learning quotient of H-NTLA, percentile rank of CRT and standard score of VMI were taken respectively for each test in this study.Academic achievements and teachers' and parent's rating were used as the validity correlation criteria. During the administration procedure, a card describing the requirements in detail were presented to the deaf children with reading capacity, while for those too young to read, the teacher was asked to help translate the requirements using standard sign language, but no any hints or clues in relation with the test contents were given. ④ The test did not start until the subjects fully understood the requirement (7314/F/W DYD-300A).EEG recording was performed with the leads deposited according to the international standard 10/20 lead system. Routine EEG had been recorded at least 30 minutes for visual assessment, and stable and representative waves for 120 seconds free of biases or inferences were recorded using unipolar lead from the subjects at rest with the eyes closed and stored in computer.Experienced EEG experts were asked to select the most representative waves of 20 seconds in a double-blind manner to compute the absolute power spectrum of the brain wave.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Reliability and validity of VMI test,relationship between VMI ability and cerebral electrophysiological changes.RESULTS: Totally 638 children under 18 years old with hearing handicap were involved, of whom 72 were eliminated because of lack of data, congenital disease or central nervous system diseases. Finally 566 cases were available for analysis, including 346 male and 220 female children with an average age of (12±3) years. ① The reliability of VMI reached an average of 0.92, varying from 0.63 to 0.99 in each group. The equivalent age corresponding to the scores of the VMI test norm established for the 566 healthy deaf children was lower by an average of (1.79±0.9) years than the equivalent age in the norms of the normal children in Shaanxi Province delayed and USA. ② The standard score of VMI test showed the highest correlation coefficient of 0.661 0 with the learning quotient of H-NTLA, while the correlation with PS-WISC and CRT were 0.357 6 and 0.517 4, respectively.③ Children with higher VMI score showed more powerful absolute spectrum among frequency rangesδ,θ,αl and total power spectrum in the central, parietal and occipital regions of the left hemisphere, respectively.CONCLUSION: VMI test can efficiently reflect the development status of visual-motor integration or intelligence of the school-age deaf children and represent the level of central EEG activity.

Objective To histomorphometricly assess changes occurred in the alveolar ridge following different methods of socket preservation and to compare them against natural healing without interventions. Methods The second、 third and fourth mandibular premolars were extracted from six beagles. Six extraction sites in each dog were randomly assigned to three treatments as follows:natural healing (T1), Bio-Oss Collagen (T2) and immediate implant with Bio-Oss (T3). Six month after surgery, the dogs were euthanized and tissue samples were sectioned, fixed and mounted, then were stained with toluidine blue. The histologic studies and morphological measurements were performed by using an optical microscope and a digital image software. Results Reabsorption in the buccal aspect of the alveolar crest of ridge was showed in all groups. With respect to the mean vertical bone loss of the buccal bone plate, T3 is lower than T1 and T2(P<0.001 ), while no significant differences were observed between T1 and T2. With regard to horizontal dimension of the alveolar process , a statistical significance could be found at 3mm and 4mm below the crest of ridge in group T1 and T3(P=0.017, P=0.042), while no statistical differences were found between other groups. Conclusions Both techniques of alveolar ridge preservation were not able to completely preserve the original bone volume after tooth extraction. Immediate implant placement in combination with Bio-Oss seems to have the potential to limit the reabsorption of the alveolar process efficiently , but the bone preserving effect of Bio-Oss Collagen is undesirable.

Objective To explore the correlation between high-risk human papillomavirus(hr-HPV) viral load and severity of cervical lesion. Methods One thousand eight hundred and six women undergoing both hr-HPV DNA test by hybrid capture Ⅱ(HCⅡ) and colposcopic biopsy for histologic results were enrolled in this study.Correlation between hr-HPV viral load and pathological findings was investigated. Results Of 1 806 cases,641(35.5%) patients were positive for HPV DNA.23.2%(301/1299) of women with normal diagnosis had HPV infection,significantly lower than cervical lesion including cervical intraepithelial neoplasia(CIN) and cervical cancer(P=0.000).Associations(odds ratio) among severity of cervical lesion and viral load were calculated.The significantly increased risk only existed between cervical cancer and CIN1 on high viral load(odds ratio,8.5;95% confidence interval,1.0-71.4;P=0.049).Furthermore,viral load values in CIN1,2,3 and cervical cancer were calculated and median analysis revealed non-significant difference(P=0.712). Conclusion The hr-HPV viral load can distinguish cervical lesion as CIN and cervical cancer from normal one,while the prediction of the severity of cervical lesion may be inadequate and need further investigations.

Objective To investigate the relationship between serum-VEGF(sVEGF)and clinical features in children and adolescent patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma(NHL) and acute lymphoblagtic leukemia(ALL).Methods The sVEGF in 101 of pretreated NHL and ALL patients were detected by enzymelinked inununosorbent assay(ELISA).The sVEGF prior and post-treatment were compared in 61 patients who achieved complete remission(CR).Results The median sVEGF was 567.70 ng/L in 81 prior-treated NHL patients.It was significantly higher than that in normal controls(P＜0.001).The median sVEGF wag 253.90 ng/L in 49 patients with CR,which was significantly different compared to pretherapeutic level(P＜0.001),whereag no statistical difference was observed compared to the normal controls. No relationships were found between sVEGF and clinical indexes such as clinical stage,Bsymptoms,gender,performance status(PS)score,bulk and serum lactate dehydrogenage (LDH)et al in untreated NHL patients.The median sVEGF was 198.60 ng/L in 20 untreated ALL patients.which wag no statistically different in comparison with that of normal controls.And the median sVEGF wag 181.73 ng/L in 12 of the CR ALL patients.which wag not statistically different in comparison with that in prior-treatment group or normal controls.Conclusion This study showed that the sVEGF in untreated children and adoleseent patients with NHL were higher than that of normal controls.The high sVEGF dmpped after achieving CR.There was no relationship between the level of sVEGF and clinical characteristics in the NHL patients.The sVEGF level in untreated ALL patients wag not difierent compared to that of the normal controls.and there was no change for sVEGF after chemotherapy in ALL patients.

Abstract: Objective　To investigate a poisoning incident caused by eating eight treasure congee, and establish liquid chromatography (LC)-mass spectrometry (MS)/MS screening method of 28 alkaloids to provide references for disposal of similar poisoning incidents. Methods　LC-MS/MS was used for screening 28 alkaloids in the urine, eight treasure congee and food raw material, and the detected alkaloids were quantified. Samples were extracted with 0.4% formic acid aqueous solution and separated by a Acquity UPLC BEH C18 column (1.7 μm, 100 × 2.1 mm). Acetonitrile-0.2% formic acid aqueous solution was used as the mobile phase and gradient elution was adopted. The ionization mode was electrospray positive ionization mode, and the detection method was multi-reaction monitoring (MRM). Analytes were quantified with the external standard method. Results　In the concentration range of 0-100 ng/mL, the linear correlation coefficient r were greater than 0.999 for 28 alkaloids. The recovery of 28 alkaloids in urine sample ranged from 63.0% to 105.0%, and the relative standard deviations (RSDs) were between 5.8% and 8.6%. The recovery of 28 alkaloids in eight treasure congee sample ranged from 72.0% to 109.0%, and the RSDs were between 6.3% and 9.7%. The recovery of 28 alkaloids in semen sesami nigrum sample ranged from 60.0% to 95.0%, and the RSDs were between 4.8% and 8.2%. Hyoscyamine (2 380.0 ng/mL), scopliamine (3.6 ng/mL) and rac-anisodamine (4.7 ng/mL) were detected in the patient's urine. Hyoscyamine (63.3 μg/g), scopliamine (5.7 μg/g) and rac-anisodamine (2.1 μg/g) were detected in eight treasure congee. Hyoscyamine (901.0 μg/g), scopliamine (80.0 μg/g) and rac-anisodamine (30.1 μg/g) were detected in the seed of Datura stramonium L. The ratio of scopliamine and hyoscyamine in the seed of D. stramonium was 1∶11, which complies with the characteristics of D. stramonium L. In urine sample, the proportion of scopliamine and rac-anisodamine was 0.15% and 0.20%, and hyoscyamine accounted for 99.65%. Conclusion　Seed morphology, the content range and proportion of three alkaloids are all in accord with the characteristics of D. stramonium. Combined with the clinical symptoms of atropine poisoning, it can be deduced that this incident is a family food poisoning caused by accidental consumption of seed of D. stramonium L. The method can provide technical support for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of alkaloid poisoning patients, and also provide a basis for emergency detection and disposal of alkaloid poisoning events.

Objective: To explore the determinants for health-seeking behavior of the residents after cough for more than 3 weeks in Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, in order to provide reference for prevention and control of respiratory diseases. Methods: A multi-stage cluster random sampling method was used to recruit the community residents aged 5 years and above in Yiwu. A face-to-face questionnaire survey was conducted to collect demographic information, features of cough and health-seeking behaviors in the past month. The multivariate logistic regression model was employed to analyze the associated factors for health-seeking behavior after a cough for more than 3 weeks. Results: Among 6 374 residents investigated, 152 cases had a cough for more than 3 weeks in the past month, accounting for 2.48%. They were( 45.00±21.15 ) years old, including 70 ( 46.05% ) males and 82 ( 53.95% ) females. About 58.55% ( 89 ) of them sought medical treatment. The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that females ( OR=2.100, 95%CI: 1.005-4.391 ), middle school education level ( OR=0.406, 95%CI: 0.168-0.983 ), family annual income of 100 000 to 199 999 yuan ( OR=2.993, 95%CI: 1.215-7.373 ) were associated factors for health-seeking behavior after a cough for more than 3 weeks. Conclusion The rate of health-seeking behavior after a cough for more than 3 weeks among the residents in Yiwu is 58.55%, which is associated with gender, education level and income.

Coronary Vessel Anomalies ; diagnosis ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Infant ; Pulmonary Artery ; abnormalities

AIMTo investigate the effects of RLI on plasma nitric oxide (NO) and NO synthase (NOS) isoforms of healthy humans.

METHODS30 healthy human subjects (aged from 40 - 70 years old) were recruited. RLI was induced by five 5 min cycles of ischemia of non dominant arm (200 mmHg, 5 min interval). Blood pressure, heart rate, and the feelings of ischemic arm were continuously monitored. Venous plasma was collected in contralateral arm at Pre, Post-0 h, Post-4 h, and Post-24 h. Plasma level of NO was measured by Griess reaction, and NOS was measured by chemical method.

RESULTSBlood pressure and heart rate varied in normal range. The uncomfortable feeling was decreased with the increasing numbers of ischemic cycles. Plasma level of NO, and iNOS in plasma were significantly increased at Post-0 h, Post-4 h, and Post-24 h compared to Pre (P < 0.05). tNOS was also significantly increased at Post-0 h and Post-4 h compared to Pre (P < 0.05). No significant change in plasma cNOS was shown at following three time points than Pre.

CONCLUSIONThese findings suggest that RLI can elevate plasma level of NO, tNOS, and iNOS in healthy humans. RLI might be a safe method as a rIPC, and it would have important possibility to be performed in clinic.

Adult ; Aged ; Arm ; blood supply ; Female ; Humans ; Ischemia ; blood ; physiopathology ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; blood ; metabolism ; Reperfusion Injury ; physiopathology ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of Rho-kinase signaling pathway in human airway smooth muscle cell (ASMCs) migration and cytoskeletal reorganization induced by endothelin-1 (ET-1).

METHODSPrimary cultured human ASMCs obtained by tracheal explant culture method were examined for cell migration in response to ET-1 treatment using modified Boyden chambers. The changes in actin cytoskeletal reorganization were observed under confocal laser scanning microscope, and the phosphorylation of myosin-phosphatase target 1 (p-MYPT1) was examined using Western blot analysis.

RESULTSAt the concentration of 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 nmol/L, ET-1 induced migration of the ASMCs, and 10 nmol/L ET-1 produced the most obvious effect (P<0.01). Rho-kinase inhibitor Y-27632 showed a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on ET-1-induced ASMC migration, and in cells exposed to 10 nmol/L ET-1, Y-27632 at 10 micromol/L significantly blocked ASMC migration (P<0.01). ET-1 (10 nmol/L) exposure resulted in reorganization of actin cytoskeleton and formation of stress fibers in the ASMCs, which were obviously inhibited by Y-27632. Compared with the control group, the AMSCs showed significant enhancement of p-MYPT1 protein expression after ET-1 exposure for 15 and 30 min (P<0.01), but prolonged exposure failed to result in the expression enhancement (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONRho-kinase signaling pathway may play an important role in ET-1-induced ASMC migration and reorganization of actin cytoskeleton.

Amides ; pharmacology ; Bronchi ; cytology ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytoskeleton ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Endothelin-1 ; pharmacology ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Muscle, Smooth ; cytology ; Pyridines ; pharmacology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; rho-Associated Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect and mechanism of Poly I:C in inducing growth inhibition and apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC-7721 cells.

METHODSSMMC-7721 cells were treated with different doses of Poly I:C for 24, 48, and 72 h, and the cell growth inhibition rate was analyzed with CCK-8 assay. The cell cycle and the apoptosis were analyzed using flow cytometry with Annexin-V and PI staining, and quantitative RT-PCR analysis were used to detect the expression of TLR3, TRIF, and IFN-beta mRNA in cells.

RESULTSIn the cells exposed to Poly I:C at low, moderate, and high doses, the inhibitory rates was the highest in high-dose Poly I:C group, and at a given Poly I:C dose, prolonged exposure resulted in significantly increased cell growth inhibition rate (P<0.05). Flow cytometry showed that Poly I:C induced cell apoptosis in a time- and dose-dependent manner and significantly increased the percentage of G1-phase cells as compared with that in the control group. The mRNA level of TLR3, TRIF, and IFN-beta were also increased following Poly I:C treatment in comparison with the control group.

CONCLUSIONPoly I:C can induce significant growth inhibition and apoptosis of SMMC-7721 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner possibly by causing cell cycle arrest and TLR3 signaling pathway activation that leads to IFN-beta production and cell apoptosis.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Interferon-beta ; genetics ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Poly I-C ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Receptors, Cholecystokinin ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Toll-Like Receptor 3 ; genetics ; metabolism