Neural tube defects(NTD)are a common congenital malformations in humans leading to in-fant mortality or severe disability.The etiology of NTD is complicated,with both environmentaland genetic con-tributions.It has been found that the protein markers associated with NTD are mainly maternal serum alpha feto-protein,amniotic fluid alpha fetoprotein and amniotic fluid glial fibrillary acidic protein.This article reviews the protein biomarks related with NTD.

Objective To investigate the maximum epiphyseal width lateral to Klein' s line (MEWLKL) and modification of Klein's Line (namely difference value of bilateral MEWLKL) on hip plain radiographs of normal children, and to investigate the relationship between MEWLKL and modification of Klein's Line and gender and body side, respectively.Methods Anteroposterior (AP) view pelvic plain radiographs of fourteen thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven cases aged from zero to fourteen years old in Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University from 2005 January to 2014 December were reviewed.Seven thousand one hundred and forty-seven normal AP pelvic plain radiographs were included in the present study.Fourteen groups based on the age from one years old to fourteen years old were divided.One hundred cases in each age group, including fifty males and fifty females, were randomly selected.Fourteen hundred AP view pelvic plain radiographs including twenty eight hundred hips were measured.The reference value of MEWLKL and modification of Klein's line were measured using AutoCAD2007 software.the Normal distribution test were performed using Excel and SPSS19.0 software.The relationship curve between MEWLKL and modification of Klein's Line and age were drawed.The intra-group difference between MEWLKL and gender and body side were performed using t-test in normal children.The inter-group difference between modification of Klein's line and average MEWLKL were performed using one-way analysis of variance in normal children.Results The reference value of MEWLKL and modification of Klein's Line were both normal distribution.Average reference value of MEWLKL were (5.20 ± 1.92) mm, (5.04 ± 1.88) mm in male, and (5.36 ± 1.94) mm in female (P =0.000), (5.06 ± 1.87) mm on the left side, and (5.33 ± 1.96) mm on the right side (P =0.000).The curve of reference value of MEWLKL in fourteen general groups were similar to those of fourteen male groups and fourteen female groups, and reference value of MEWLKL increased with age.It was in the trough at the age of five [general groups: (3.77 ± 1.00) mm;male groups: (3.53 ± 1.00) mm;female groups: (4.01 ±0.94) mm], and it was at the peak at the age of thirteen [general groups: (7.49 ± 1.43)mm;female group: (7.84 ± 1.42) mm].It was at the peak at the age of fourteen in male groups, and the value was (7.24 ± 1.46) mm.The reference value of MEWLKL in fourteen groups and in female groups both fell slightly after the age of fourteen.There were second trough, (6.44 ± 1.86) mm to (6.38 ± 1.15) mm,at age eleven to twelve in female groups.The curves of reference value of MEWLKL on bilateral sides was very similar, and they increased with age.They were in the trough at the age of five [(3.54 ± 0.84) mm in left side and (4.00 ± 1.10) mm in right side], and they were at the peak at the age of thirteen [(7.25 ± 1.57)mm in left side and (7.72 ± 1.24) mm in right side].The curves both fell slightly after the age of fourteen.The general reference value of modification of Klein's line was (0.93 ±0.82) mm.The average value of each age group waved in the level of 1.0 mm.Statistical significance were found in comparison of two intergroups, age eight versus age seven (P =0.011), and age eleven versus age ten (P =0.04).The maximum value of modification of Klein's line in four of fourteen groups were greater than 2.0 mm, including 2.02 mm in age ten, 2.05 mm in age eleven, 2.3 mm in age thirteen, and 2.17 mm in age fourteen, respectively.Conclusion The value of modification of Klein's line in normal children can be more than 2.0 mm, and the average value waved in the level of 1.0 mm.It is not reliable to determine slipped capital femoral epiphysis using modification of Klein's line.

Objective To find the accurate incidence of vacuum phenomenon in the hip and the best projection position produced the vacuum phenomenon on plain radiograph of hip in children.Methods All pediatric anteroposterior view and frog-leg position plain radiographs of hip joints were retrieved in our hospital between January 2003 and March 2013.All subjects was between 0 and 14 years old (mean age,4.2 years old).All the plain radiographs showing the crescent,linear,and irregular lucency between the femoral head and acetabulum were included in the present study.Results A total of 16 749 cases,including 12 422 cases (5 912 boys and 6 510 girls) only taken AP view plain radiographs and 4 327 cases (1 537 boys and 2 790 girls) taken both AP view and frog-leg position plain radiographs,were taken in our hospital between January 2003 and March 2013.None of AP view plain radiographs of hips could find the vacuum phenomenon.Two hundred and fifty-eight cases (321 hips) with vacuum phenomenon of the hips were found only in the frog-leg position plain radiographs of 4 327 cases,and the constituent ratio of vacuum phenomenon in the hip joint is 5.96％ in frog-leg position plain radiographs.One thousand seven hundred and thirty-eight normal children were included in 4 327 frog-leg position radiographs,and 150 cases of vacuum phenomenon were included in 1 738 normal children,and incidence of vacuum phenomenon in normal children is 8.63％.Two thousand three hundred and sixty children with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) were included in 4 327 frog-leg position radiographs,and 98 cases of vacuum phenomenon were included in 2 360 children with DDH,and incidence of vacuum phenomenon in children with DDH is 4.15％.258 cases with vacuum phenomenon included 150 cases of normal hips (58.14％),98 cases of developmental dysplasia of the hip (37.98％),5 cases of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (1.94％),and 1 each in solitary eosinophilic granuloma of ischium,polyostotic fibrous dysplasia of the bilateral proximal femur,hereditary multiple exostoses,congenital coxa vara and fracture of femoral neck after surgery.Three hundred and twenty-one hips in 258 cases were classified into complete type (121 hips,37.69％) and partial type (200 hips,62.31％) according to the proportion of lucency area in the hip joints and linear (159 hips,49.53％),crescent (151 hips,47.04％) and irregular (11 hips,3.43％) lucency according to the shape of lucency area in the hips.Conclusion Vacuum phenomenon of the hip in children is not very rare in frog-leg position plain radiograph.It is easier to find the vacuum phenomenon in normal hip compared to that of developmental dysplasia of the hip.The frog-leg position plain radiograph is a better projection position to obtain the vacuum phenomenon of the hip in children compared to the anteroposterior view plain radiograph.

Objective To introduce the role of pancreatic stellate cells in pancreatic fibrosis and the progress in treatment of pancreatic fibrosis. Methods Relevant literatures were collected and reviewed. Results Pancreatic stellate cells activation was closely related to pancreatic fibrosis. Inhibition of pancreatic stellate cells activation could provide a new approach in clinical treatment of chronic pancreatitis. Conclusion Pancreatic stellate cells are the key to pancreatic fibrosis,which are becoming the target for anti-fibrosis of the pancreas and treatment of chronic pancreatitis.

Objective To evaluate the relationship between the newly recominended chronic heart failue (CHF) marker-serum galection-3 (Gal-3)level and the prognosis of CHF by Meta-analysis.Methods The Chinese and English literatures about the relationship between Gal-3 and CHF prognosis were searched in PubMed,EMbase, Chinese Biomedical Literature Databases. All literatures were assessed by the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Hazard ratio (HR)and 95% confidence interval (CI)in each literature were extracted for Meta-analysis using STATA 12.1 software.The stability and reliability were evaluated by sensitivity analysis and publication bias analysis.Results Ten literatures complying with the requirements were included.The results of heterogeneity test were as follows:① When the influence of other factors were not excluded,heterogeneity test showed that P =0.000,I 2 =89.2%,heterogeneity existed in different studies,so statistics were combined using a random effects model.The combined HR of univariate analysis was 1.36 and 95% CI was 1.23-1.50.2.When the influence of other factors were excluded,heterogeneity test showed that P < 0.001,I 2 = 68.4%,heterogeneity existed in different studies,so statistics were combined using a random effects model.The combined HR of multivariate analysis was 1.17 and 95% CI was 1.07-1.26.3.Sensitivity analysis showed that when the study with the largest samples was excluded,the combined HR of univariate analysis was 1.54 and 95% CI was 1.32 - 1.77;the combined HR of multivariate analysis was 1.26 and 95% CI was 1.09 - 1.42.When the study with the smallest samples was excluded,the combined HR of univariate analysis was 1.34 and 95% CI was 1.20 - 1.47;the combined HR of multivariate analysis was 1.15 and 95% CI was 1.06-1.24.Conclusion The serum level of Gal-3 is increased significantly in the patients with CHF and it may be an independent risk factor for poor prognosis of the CHF patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of combined treatment with angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) on diabetic kidney disease. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified from CoChrane library, PubMed, EMbase, CNKI and VIP. Eleven RCTs involving 602 patients were included and analyzed with Rev Man 5.1 software. RESULTS: Compared with ACEI alone, combined treatment with ARB and ACEI was more effective on decreasing 24 h albuminuria, systolic pressure, average 24 h systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, and average 24 h diastolic pressure but with a high level of serum potassium. Compared with ARB alone, combined treatment with ARB and ACEI was more effective on decreasing systolic pressure and diastolic pressure. Compared with ACEI or ARB alone, we didn't get a definite conclusion that whether combined treatment with ARB and ACEI was more effective on decreasing 24 h proteinuria. CONCLUSION Based on this Meta analysis, combined treatment with ARB and ACEI is safer and has positive effect on diabetic kidney disease. However, small sample size and low methodological quality appeared in most of the trials included in this systematic review. Therefore, available evidence is insufficient to recommend a routine clinical application of combined treatment with ARB and ACEI on diabetic kidney disease.
Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Humans ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Objective To analyse clinical efficacy of Frey and Bger procedures for chronic pancreatitis. Methods Clinical data of seventy patients of chronic pancreatitis undergoing Frey (32 cases) and Beger Procedures (38 cases) in our hospital from January 1999 to June 2009 were retrospectively analyzed,the rate of pain relief and endocrine and exocrine function of the pancreas in longterm follow-up were compared with each other. Results Overall perioperative morbidity for Frey group and Beger group was 12. 5% and 7.9% respectively (P =0. 52); Total pain relief rate in long-term follow-up was 96. 8% and 94. 7% respectively (P =0. 57). Postoperative de novo diabetes mellitus was 12. 5% and 21% ( x2 = 0. 90, P = 0. 34), Rate of steatorrhea was 12. 5% and 18.6% respectively ( x2 = 0. 15, P =0. 70). Conclusions Frey and Beger procedures were equally effective in improving symptoms of chronic pancreatitis and there were no significant differences in perioperative morbidity, rate of pain relief and function of endocrine and exocrine of the pancreas.

Objective To explore the expressions of interleukin (IL)-17A and its receptor IL-17RA in different degrees of malignant gliomas. Methods Fifty patients with glioma were collected in this study. Accordance to the World Health Organization Classification System, patients were classified by malignancy grade, including gradeⅠ(n=12), gradeⅡ(n=18), gradeⅢ(n=13) and gradeⅣ(n=7). The glioma tissue and peripheral blood samples of patients were obtained for detecting the expression levels of IL-17A and IL-17RA mRNA by using immunohistochemistry, quantitative real-time PCR. Western blot assay was used to detect expressions of IL- 17A and IL- 17RA in both the macroscopic (immunohistochemistry) and molecular levels (mRNA and protein). Results Immunohistochemical staining showed that the expression levels of IL-17A and its receptor IL-17RA increased with the increase of the malignant degree of gliomas. The mRNA levels of IL-17A and IL-17RA receptors in peripheral blood were up-regulated with the increasing malignancy grade of glioma (F=8.96, P<0.05;F=10.34, P<0.05). The mRNA levels of IL-17A and IL-17RA in glioma tissues were up-regulated with the increasing malignancy grade of glioma (F=11.21, P<0.05;F=14.11, P<0.05). The protein levels of IL-17A and IL-17RA in peripheral blood and glioma tissues were also up-regulated with the increasing malignancy grade of glioma (in peripheral blood:F=9.90, P<0.05;F=11.80, P<0.05;and in gliomas tissues:F=8.15, P<0.05;F=14.46, P<0.05). Conclusion The expressions of IL-17A and IL-17RA receptor are positively correlated with malignancy grade of glioma. These results provide some reference for clinical diagnosis of malignant gliomas.

OBJECTIVE:To study the influence of butylphthalide on the pharmacokinetics of aspirin in rats. METHODS:20 rats were randomly divided into control group(vegetable oil 0.4 ml/rat+aspirin 10 mg/kg)and trial group(butylphthalide 80 mg/kg+aspirin 10 mg/kg) intragastrically,once a day,for consecutive 10 days. Blood samples were collected before the last medication and 10,20,40,60,120,240,360,480,600 and 720 min after medication,0.2 ml each time. The blood concentration of drugs was determined by HPLC,and pharmacokinetics parameters were calculated by DAS 2.0 software. RESULTS:Main pharmacokinet-ic parameters of aspirin in control group vs. trial group were as follows as cmax of (28.68 ± 6.08) vs. (29.33 ± 4.25)μg/ml;t1/2 of (2.48±0.67)vs.(1.60±0.36)h;AUC0-720 min of(188.71±24.29)vs.(140.31±15.08)μg·h/ml;CL/F of(0.05±0.01)vs.(0.07± 0.01)L/(h·kg);there were significant differences in t1/2,AUC0-720 min and CL/F(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Butylphthalide has no significant effect on the absorption and distribution of aspirin in rats,but can strengthen its metabolism and elimination.

Objective: The study investigated cognitive performance and brain function between treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and non- TRD patients to find potential neurobiological markers associated with refractoriness in depression patients. Methods: Fourteen TRD patients, 26 non-TRD patients and 23 healthy controls (HC) were included in the present study. The neural function of prefrontal cortex (PFC) and cognitive performance among the three group were examined using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) during verbal fluency task (VFT). Results: Both TRD and non-TRD groups exhibited significantly worse VFT performance and lower activation of oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) changes in the bilateral dorsolateral PFC (DLPFC) compared to the HC group. Within the TRD and non-TRD groups, VFT performance was no significant difference, but activation of oxy-Hb changes in dorsomedial PFC (DMPFC) in TRD patients was significantly lower than non-TRD patients. In addition, activation of oxy-Hb changes in right DLPFC were negatively correlated with the severity of depressive symptoms in depression patients. Conclusion Both TRD patients and non-TRD patients exhibited lower oxy-Hb activation in DLPFC. TRD patients exhibit lower oxy- Hb activation in DMPFC than non-TRD patients. fNIRS maybe a useful tool for predict depressive patients with or without treatment resistant.