The patient,a 11-year-old boy,presented with a 4-year history of erythema and vesicles on the face and arms as well as a 4-month history of tumor and ulcer on the extremities,accompanied by progressive fatigue and intermittent fever.The patient had a body temperature of 37.7℃.No lymph node involvement was observed.Cutaneous examination revealed minimally indurated pink-red patches on the face and nose and dusky red firm nodules and tumors of varying sizes on the extremities.The nodules ranged from 2.0 cm to 18 cm in diameter,some had necrosis and black crusts on the surface.Ulcers were observed in some of the larger nodules;many of the ulcers extended into the muscle layer.White purulent discharge was seen on the surface of many of the nodules.The lesions were sharply demarcated,firm,tender, and surrounded by small satelite nodules.Histologically,there were large quantities of irregularly shaped, middle-sized tumor cells with clear cytoplasm,large twisted nuclei and prominent chromatin,infiltrating from the epidermis to subcutaneous tissue.The tumor cells infiltrating the follicles and eccrine sweat glands were either distributed perivascularly in a nest shape,or dispersed.There were broken nuclei and reactive histio- cytic infiltration in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue.Immunohistologically,the tumor cells were positive for cytoplasmic CD3 around the nuclei,for CD56,CD45RO and T cell intracellular antigen-l,and partly for CD30,CD8 and Ki67.Epstein-Barr virus-encoded nuclear RNA was positive with in situ hybridization. TCR?-2 gene rearrangement was positive in these tumor cells.A diagnosis of hydroa vacciniforme-like primary cutaneous NK/T-cell lymphoma was made.Therefore,this is a case report of hydroa vaccini- forme-like primary cutaneous NK/T-cell lymphoma with primary involvement in the skin;the condition was slowly progressive over 51 months.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence of childhood asthma, and to find the distribution characteristics, precipitating factors, diagnosis and treatment status, and to provide scientific data for improving the prevention and management of asthma in children in Kunming City, China.

METHODSChildren were selected by random cluster sampling. A standardized preliminary questionnaire was used for screening out possible patients in the survey. Diagnosis of asthma was confirmed by diagnostic criteria in suspected asthmatic children. Asthmatic children were further asked for past diagnosis and treatment with the questionnaire of asthma in children.

RESULTSThe total asthma incidence rate was 1.40%. The prevalence of asthma in male and female children was 1.89% and 0.88% respectively (P<0.05). Children aged 0-5 years old had a higher prevalence of asthma (1.69%) than that of school-age children (6-14 years old, 1.21%). In all asthmatic children, 51.3% were previously diagnosed with classical asthma or cough variant asthma, 26.0% were suffered attacks from December to February, and 54.0% were suffered attacks at midnight or dawn. Respiratory tract infection (87.3%) was the most common triggers of asthma exacerbation. Antibiotics were used in 80.0%, bronchodilators in 66.0%, inhaled corticosteroid in 64.0%. A peak flow meter for monitoring lung function was used in 17% of asthmatic children over 5 years old.

CONCLUSIONSThe prevalence of asthma is associated with age and gender in children aged 0-14 years old in Kunming City. Acute asthma attack occurs mostly in winter and at midnight or dawn. Respiratory tract infection is the most common trigger of asthma exacerbation. Nearly a half of patients with asthma had not been diagnosed with asthma in the early stage. Most asthmatic children use antibiotics and only two-thirds use bronchodilators or inhaled corticosteroid in the treatment. The treatment and management of asthma in children awaits improvement as well.

Adolescent ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Prevalence ; Seasons

According to the theory of constitution and disease prevention of Chinese medicine, kidney deficiency, lack of nourishment of the Thoroughfare Vessel and the Conception Vessel as well as qi sufficiency and blood deficiency are taken as the main features of body constitutions of women during menopausal period. Acupuncture-moxibustion treatment before or in the early stage of menopausal period are discussed initially. Methods of tonifying the kidney and regulate qi and blood are held as the main treating principles. Acupuncture points such as Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Shenshu (BL 23), Guanyuan (CV 4) and Baihui (GV 20) are adopted as the main points. And proper stimulation of needling and moxibustion are applied. Thus, a new way of thinking is provided for disease prevention and health keeping of women during menopausal period in China.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Medicine, East Asian Traditional ; Menopause ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion

To study the optimal examination method of CD62P and CD63 and investigate platelet activation in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), whole blood labeled directly with monoclonal antibodies CD62P and CD63 and flow cytometry were used to evaluate the positive percentages and the mean fluorescence intensity of CD62P and CD63. The specimens of peripheral blood obtained from 10 healthy adults were divided into two groups. In the unfixing group, the positive percentages of CD62P and CD63 at the periods of 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes after staining were (7.57 +/- 2.33)%, (20.50 +/- 5.70)%, (28.70 +/- 5.67)% and (36.52 +/- 6.13)%, and, (0.89 +/- 0.36)%, (1.11 +/- 0.84)%, (2.35 +/- 2.02)% and (5.43 +/- 3.66)% respectively, their respective MFI were 1.57 +/- 0.13, 1.88 +/- 0.08, 2.00 +/- 0.09 and 2.38 +/- 0.22 and 3.91 +/- 0.11, 4.07 +/- 0.16, 4.38 +/- 0.14 and 4.44 +/- 0.19. However, in fixing group with 1% paraformaldehyde, the results had not any obvious change and almost were same. Besides it, the positive percentages of CD62P and CD63 in 37 adult patients with DM were (14.11 +/- 6.68)% and (2.71 +/- 1.74)%, significantly higher than that in the normal controls. It is concluded that the CD62P and CD63 on platelet membrane were very sensitive and would be easily activated in vitro, all manipulations that includes labeling with antibody, incubation and detection using flow cytometry should be finished within 30 minutes after samples collected. While fixing by using 1% paraformaldehyde can steady the labeling compounds and effectively prevent the artificial activation of platelet, and keep the stable results within two hours after the samples labeled. In adult patients with DM, the relationship between the cardiovascular complication of diabetes and platelet activation might be existed.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the basis of distinctive function of acupoint through observing the effects of acupuncture at the areas of acupoint and non-acupoint on functional connectivity of different brain regions.

METHODSTwenty-one healthy volunteers were randomly divided into two groups: 12 cases in the acupoint group and 9 cases in the non-acupoints group. Bilateral Zusanli (ST 36) and its lateral 3-4 mm were punctured with twirling manipulation in the acupoint group and the non-acupoints group respectively. Before and after 25 minutes treatment, data of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning was taken from bilateral cingulate gyrus (seed point) to analyze the functional connectivity in both groups.

RESULTSBrain functional connectivity was demonstrated widely in both acupoint group and non-acupoint group after acupuncture. Comparing with the non-acupoint group, in the acupoint group, brain functional connectivity with posterior cingulate gyrus was found more intensively in the bilateral tonsil, right dentate nucleus, bilateral uvula, left declive and right tuber of cerebellum, as well as in the left inferior frontal gyrus, right middle temporal gyurs, bilateral paracentral lobule, left cingulate cortex, right superior temporal gyrus, right anterior cingulate gyrus etc., however, its connectivity was less in the bilateral medial frontal gyrus and right inferior frontal gyrus.

CONCLUSIONBoth acupoint and non-acupoint can evoke brain functional connectivity that is similar on the most of regions, but the intensity of this connectivity in the acupoint group is higher than that in the non-acupoint group.

Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; physiology ; Brain Mapping ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Radiography ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the role of a BTB/POZ domain protein in the expression of hsp90alpha gene.

METHODSThe eukaryotic expression plasmids of sense- and antisense-GAGA related protein (GRP) or empty vector were transfected into Jurkat cells with pREP4 episomal vector plasmids carrying the hsp90alpha promoter sequence from -1756 to +37 and control plasmids pMCAT. Total RNA was extracted. The relative promoter activity of hsp90alpha-CAT reporter gene was determined by competitive RT-PCR assay.

RESULTSGRP markly increased the relative promoter activity of hsp90alpha-CAT reporter gene during heat shock.

CONCLUSIONGRP may promote the expression of hsp90alpha gene by participating in chromatin remolding.

Amino Acid Motifs ; Animals ; Checkpoint Kinase 1 ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA ; metabolism ; DNA, Complementary ; metabolism ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Drosophila ; genetics ; Drosophila Proteins ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation ; HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Heat-Shock Response ; genetics ; Homeodomain Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Repressor Proteins ; genetics ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; Two-Hybrid System Techniques

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical and genetic characteristics of three children with ornithine carbamoyltransferase deficiency(OTCD), and to provide a practical method for gene diagnosis and genetic counseling of the disease.

METHODSAll exons of the ornithine carbamoyltransferase (OTC) gene were screened by polymerase chain reaction-DNA direct sequencing in the three OTCD patients.

RESULTSOne patient firstly presented as vomiting at 6 month of age. A missense mutation of T262I was detected. His mother had the same mutation without any clinical symptoms. The second patient presented as restlessness, and had a missense mutation of R277W. Gene analysis of his parents was not available. The third patient presented as neonatal lethargy, harbored a missense mutation of I172M. His mother had the same mutation without any clinical symptoms.

CONCLUSIONGene mutation analysis is a feasible way for diagnosing OTCD. Patients with I172M mutation present symptom early, while those with T262I and R277W mutations manifest symptoms later. Gene mutation analysis will be important for asymptomatic and prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling.

Base Sequence ; Child ; Exons ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Mutation ; genetics ; Ornithine Carbamoyltransferase ; genetics ; Ornithine Carbamoyltransferase Deficiency Disease ; genetics ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate serum leptin level and its relationship with bone mineral density in obese children from Changsha City.

METHODSOne hundred and nineteen obese children and 103 normal children aged 7 to 12 years from five primary schools of Changsha City were enrolled. Obesity was assessed based on the body mass index (BMI). Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) was used to determine bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition. Serum leptin level was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSThe obesity group had higher height, weight, BMI, waist circumference and waist to hip ratio (WHR) compared with the normal group (p<0.01). BMD, bone mineral content (BMC), lean mass (LM), fat mass (FM), percentage of body fat (%BF) and leptin concentration in the obesity group were significantly higher than those in the normal group (p<0.01). Serum leptin level was positively correlated with BMD, BMC, LM and FM (r=0.528-0.903, p<0.01). Multiple stepwise regression analysis indicated that BMI and %BF were independent influencing factors for serum leptin level.

CONCLUSIONSObese children have higher serum leptin level. Serum leptin concentration is significantly correlated with BMD and body composition. BMI and %BF are independent influencing factors for serum leptin level in children.

Body Composition ; Bone Density ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Leptin ; blood ; Male ; Obesity ; blood ; Regression Analysis ; Sex Characteristics

Nasopharyngeal adenoid cystic carcinoma (NACC) is a rare malignancy with high local invasiveness. To date, there is no consensus on the imaging characteristics of NACC. To address this, we retrospectively reviewed 10 cases of NACC and summarized the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features. MR images of 10 patients with histologically validated NACC were reviewed by two experienced radiologists. The location, shape, margin, signal intensity, lesion texture, contrast enhancement patterns, local invasion, and cervical lymphadenopathy of all tumors were evaluated. Clinical and pathologic records were also reviewed. No patients were positive for antibodies against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The imaging patterns of primary tumors were classified into two types as determined by location, shape, and margin. Of all patients, 7 had tumors with a type 1 imaging pattern and 3 had tumors with a type 2 imaging pattern. The 4 tubular NACCs were all homogeneous tumors, whereas 3 (60%) of 5 cribriform NACCs and the sole solid NACC were heterogeneous tumors with separations or central necrosis on MR images. Five patients had perineural infiltration and intracranial involvement, and only 2 had cervical lymphadenopathy. Based on these results, we conclude that NACC is a local, aggressive neoplasm that is often negative for EBV infection and associated with a low incidence of cervical lymphadenopathy. Furthermore, MRI features of NACC vary in locations and histological subtypes.
Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; Retrospective Studies

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) on rat gastric antral circular smooth muscle function. Forskolin, a direct activator of adenylyl cyclase (AC), was used to observe the influences of cAMP. Multi-channel physiological recorder was used to record spontaneous contraction activity of gastric antral circular muscle from Wistar rats. And ELISA method was used to detect the change of cAMP production in perfusate. The results showed that forskolin concentration-dependently suppressed the amplitude and frequency of the spontaneous contraction of the gastric antral muscle, and lowered the baseline of contraction movement significantly. Forskolin concentration-dependently increased the production of cAMP in the perfusate, which showed a significant negative correlation with the contraction amplitude of gastric antral ring muscle. The inhibitory effect of forskolin on spontaneous contraction activity of rat gastric antral circular muscle could be blocked by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) inhibitor H-89. These results suggest forskolin increases cAMP production and then activates PKA pathway, resulting in the inhibition of the spontaneous contraction activity of rat gastric antral circular smooth muscle.
Adenylyl Cyclases ; metabolism ; Animals ; Colforsin ; pharmacology ; Cyclic AMP ; pharmacology ; Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Isoquinolines ; pharmacology ; Muscle, Smooth ; drug effects ; Pyloric Antrum ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sulfonamides ; pharmacology