Objective To observe changes of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone (T) in umbilical vein blood between male and female neonates, and assess the effect of serum LH, FSH and T on fetal growth.Methods Umbilical vein blood was obtained from 130 neonates (64 females and 66 males) in the second hospital of changshu city. According to birth weight, 130 neonates were divided into 3 groups: macrosomia (n=28), intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) (n=31) and normal neonates (n=71). The serum levels of LH, FSH and T were measured by radioimmunoassay.Results 1.The levels of LH, FSH and T in umbilical vein blood were significantly higher in male neonates than those in females (P

Serological typing for HLA-A, -B has been used for a long time. Recently with the developing of molecular biology technologies, HLA-A, -B typing is now turning to genotyping methods. In our study, the capacity of PCR-SSP in solving problems in HLA-A, -B typing with serological methes was evaluated. With this aim the serological method was compared with PCR-SSP in 102 cord blood samples, and the results showed that 18.6% of 102 cord blood samples can't give a satisfactory detection, for 14 samples, give discrepant results with the 2 methods. It is mainly due to weak expression of HLA class I cord blood lymphocytes and the cross reaction of some antigens. About B 15 group, the further study was made, it was found that most of the B 15 splits is wrongly disassigned, especially among the B62-B75, B75/*1511(+)-B75/*1511(-), B46-*1511 antigens. It was concluded that DNA typing is more preferable than serological typing, about B 15 group, the subtyping or high resolution typing can be fulfilled at first in China.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate clinical effect of micro-modified Fulkerson osteotomy under arthroscope in treating habituation patellar dislocation.

METHODSTwenty patients of habituation patellar dislocation (25 knees) were treated by the medial retinaculum plication, lateral retinaculum releasing and modified Fulkerson osteotomy (tibial tubercle anteromedial transfer) under arthroscope. There were 5 males and 15 females with the age from 16- to 28-years-old (average of 21 years). The subjective symptoms and the joint function were evaluated according to Lysholm and Tegner scoring system.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up from 12 to 36 months with an average of 24 months. No found redislocation in the patients. The Lysholm score was 54.4 +/- 12.1 and 87.7 +/- 9.6 (t=2.33, P<0.05) before and after surgery respectively. The Tegner score was 2.8 +/- 0.8 and 5.1 +/- 1.3 (t=4.36, P<0.01) before and after surgery respectively.

CONCLUSIONMicro-modified Fulkerson osteotomy under arthroscope for the treatment of habituation patellar dislocation is a rescheduled in extend knee equipment, its advantages including affirmative effect, minor damage, quick rehabilitation, fewer complications and lower rate of recurrence after operation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Osteotomy ; methods ; Patella ; injuries ; surgery ; Patellar Dislocation ; surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the influence of silver nanoparticle dressing on prevention of infection and healing of the second degree burn wound.

METHODSOne hundred and ninety-one burn patients with second degree including superficial and deep burn wound were randomly divided into three groups. Group A including 65 cases was treated by silver nanoparticle dressing on wounds, and group B (63 cases) and group C (63 cases) were treated by 1% silver sulfadiazine cream and vaseline gauze on their wounds, respectively. Dressing was changed daily, and wound swab bacterial cultures were performed before and after dressing change, and also wound healing times were recorded in each patient.

RESULTSGroup A and B were similar in their bacterium colonizations on wound after treatment with the silver nanoparticle dressing and 1% silver sulfadiazine cream, and they had a similar effect on reducing bacterium colonization on wound after treatment, while in vaseline gauze group bacterium colonization on wound increased after treatment. In group A the wound healing time of superficial second degree was significantly shorter than those in group B and group C (P < 0.01). In deep second degree wounds the healing time in group A was much shorter than that in group C (P < 0.01), but had no significant difference when compared with group B (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSilver nanoparticle dressing can be used on second degree burn wound and can decrease the risk of wound infection and accelerate wound healing.

Adult ; Anti-Infective Agents, Local ; therapeutic use ; Bandages ; Burns ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Particle Size ; Petrolatum ; therapeutic use ; Silver ; therapeutic use ; Silver Sulfadiazine ; therapeutic use ; Surgical Sponges ; Wound Healing ; drug effects ; Wound Infection ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVESevere myoclonic epilepsy of infancy (SMEI), or Dravet syndrome, is a severe epileptic encephalopathy. This study aimed to investigate the clinical features and genetic diagnosis of SMEI.

METHODSThe electroclinical data and the mutation of SCN1A gene in 13 children with SMEI were analyzed.

RESULTSOf the 13 children, 10 were males and 3 were females. Eight of them had family history of febrile seizures. The average age of seizure onset was 5.6 months, with a range of 2 to 9 months. The initial seizure was a febrile seizure in 9 patients (69%). Generalized or hemiclonic seizures were often triggered by fever. Eight patients had a history of febrile status. Afebrile seizures occurred from 2 months to 21 months of age. All patients went on to develop multiple seizure types. Generalized tonic clonus seizures (GTCS) were found in 11, partial seizures in 12, atypical absence in 10. Myoclonic seizures were presented in all patients. Twelve patients had 3 or more seizure types. Seizures of all patients had a characteristic of temperature sensitivity. The precipitating factors included fever, hot bath and vaccination. Nine patients (69%) had a history of status epilepticus. Delay in mental development was present in 11 cases, ataxia in 5 and pyramidal sign in 2. EEG was normal in most patients in the first year of life, followed by generalized, focal and multifocal discharges. Brain MRI was abnormal in 2 cases. Seizures were not completely controlled in all patients. Carbamazepine and lamotrigine aggravated seizures in some patients. SCN1A gene mutation was found in 10 cases, including seven missense mutations, two nonsense mutations and one frame shift mutation.

CONCLUSIONThe clinical features of SMEI were seizure onset within one year of age, first event is often a febrile seizure; multiple seizure types and mental delay occurred after the second year of life; seizures have a characteristic of temperature sensitivity; EEG was normal in the first year of life, followed by generalized, focal or multifocal discharges; early diagnosis by testing SCN1A mutation guides selection of antiepileptic drugs.

Child, Preschool ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsies, Myoclonic ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mutation ; NAV1.1 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; genetics ; Sodium Channels ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo analyze and review the characteristics of leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter (VWM).

METHODSThe clinical features including clinical manifestations, neurologic signs, cranial MRI and laboratory tests in 9 patients with the diagnosis of VWM were analyzed and the characteristics of the disease were reviewed.

RESULTS

CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS8 cases had symptoms involving central nervous system, 1 case only showed abnormal cranial MRI findings. The onset of the disease occurred between 6 months to 3 years of age. Family history was positive in 5 cases. Almost all cases had normal psychomotor development before the onset of the disease. The initial symptom was usually movement disorder with predominant involvement of lower limbs. The onset or deterioration of the disease was followed by respiratory tract infection in 6 cases and minor head trauma preexisted in 3 cases. The course of the disease was progressive in 7 cases and there was episodic deterioration in 4 cases. Mental abilities were relatively better preserved. Head circumference was normal in 7 cases. Positive upper motor unit signs were found in 8 cases and ataxia in 4 cases. Bilateral optic nerve atrophy was found in 3 cases. Cranial MRI indicated diffuse and symmetrical involvement of deep white matter which showed long T(1) and T(2) signal. Subcortical white matter was also involved with predominance in frontal and parietal lobes. Flair image showed symmetrical high signal intensity in cerebral white matter with low signal intensity similar to that of CSF in partial area or low signal in most area of white matter with only meshwork of higher signal preserved. The results of all the laboratory tests including the enzyme and biochemical test specific for some well-known leukoencephalopathy were normal.

CONCLUSIONSThe clinical features of VWM include: 1. Initial symptom is usually movement disorder; 2. Movement disorder is more prominent compared to mental retardation; 3. Cranial MRI shows symmetrical abnormal T(1) and T(2) signal in deep white matter with signs of vanishing white matter. Exclusion of other hereditary and acquired leukoencephalopathy is necessary for diagnosis. Final diagnosis should be made on the basis of genetic evidence.

Adolescent ; Age of Onset ; Brain ; pathology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Leukoencephalopathies ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Movement Disorders ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVEThe congenital muscular dystrophies (CMD) are a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of neuromuscular disorders with progressive muscle wasting and weakness that begin during neonatal or early infantile period. To study the clinical diagnosis, immunohistochemical feature and follow-up information of CMD, data of 8 cases with CMD were analyzed.

METHODSImmunohistochemical features of biopsied muscle specimens were summarized and analyzed by using anti-laminin alpha2 (merosin), anti alpha-dystroglycan (alpha-DG) and anti beta-dystroglycan (beta-DG) antibodies.

RESULTSThese patients mostly presented at birth or during the first six months of life with muscle weakness, hypotonia, contractures, and feeding difficulty or respiratory dysfunction. Hematoxylin-eosin staining of skeletal muscle specimens from these patients showed typical characteristics of CMD. Differences in fiber size, with predominantly small and round fibers, and dense connective tissue infiltration were seen. Four of the 8 patients were merosin-stain negative, which might be due to primary merosin deficiency. T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of the brain shows abnormalities of the white matter. Four cases were merosin-stain positive, and two of them also had hypoglycosylation of alpha-dystroglycan. Two patients had mental retardation. One of them had optic nerve atrophy and abnormal brain structure.

CONCLUSIONSTwo types of CMD were present in our group. Merosin-deficient congenital muscular dystrophy (congenital muscular dystrophy 1A, MDC1A) was more common, accompanied by abnormalities of the white matter. "Alpha-dystroglycanopathy" could be seen in merosin-positive cases.

Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Laminin ; deficiency ; Male ; Muscular Dystrophies ; congenital ; diagnosis ; metabolism

Aim of this study was to develop the detection method of soluble human leukocyte antigens I (sHLA-I) and to explore sHLA-I level alteration in storage blood and its significance. sHLA-I level in sera of 60 Guangdong normal individuals and sHLA-I concentration in blood components from 20 donors quantitatively were detected by sandwich ELISA. The results showed that sensitivity of this assay was 2.84 ng/ml. Coefficients of variation were 5.80% within assays and 9.00% between assays respectively. The recovery rate was >/= 98.57%. The sHLA-I level of normal individuals in Guangdong was (699.54 +/- 360.10) ng/ml. sHLA-I in red blood cells stored for 28 days and in random-donor platelets were significantly higher than that in other blood components and their amount was proportionate to the number of residual donor leukocytes and to the length of storage. In conclusion, sandwich ELISA assay for detection of sHLA-I is a sensitive, specific and stable technique. Blood components with different concentration of sHLA-I may be chosen for clinical transfusion.
Apoptosis ; Blood Preservation ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I ; blood ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; cytology

BACKGROUNDWound dressings are divided into traditional and new types. The new dressings are thought to accelerate wound healing. The purpose of this study was to supplement the scanty data on the absorbency of the new dressings and their effects on evaporation from the burn surface.

METHODSThe water absorption rate of four dressings (carbon fiber dressing, hydrogel dressing, silver nanoparticle dressing, and vaseline gauze) were measured by the immersion-weight gain method. A total of 120 inpatients with 10% superficial partial-thickness burn wounds were randomly assigned to four groups, each with 30 participants. Carbon fiber dressing, hydrogel dressing, and silver nanoparticle dressing were used in groups A, B, and C as the primary dressing, and traditional vaseline gauze was used in group D as the control. Multi-spot evaporation from normal skin and naked wound, and from wounds covered with each of the four dressings was measured post-burn on days 1, 3, 5, and 7 by an EP-I evaporimeter under conditions of 21 degrees C - 22 degrees C ambient temperature and 74% - 78% humidity.

RESULTSThe absorption rates of the four dressings were 988% with carbon fiber dressing, 96% with silver nanoparticle, 41% with vaseline gauze, and 6% with hydrogel. Evaporation from the naked burn wounds was about 1/3 higher than from normal skin (P < 0.01). Compared with wounds without applied dressing, evaporation from dressed wounds decreased and was time-dependent (P < 0.01). The evaporation of wounds with carbon fiber dressing was the lowest ((13.40 +/- 2.82) mlxh(-1)xm(-2), P < 0.01) on day 1 post-burn, compared with the other groups.

CONCLUSIONAll four dressings have water retention capacity while carbon fiber dressing has the highest absorption rate and shows the best containment and evaporation from the burn wound.

Adult ; Bandages ; Burns ; therapy ; Carbon ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nanoparticles ; Petrolatum ; therapeutic use ; Silver ; therapeutic use ; Volatilization ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical efficacy of the pith decompression of the femoral head and fibular allograft transplantation in the treatment of early stage avascular necrosis.

METHODSFrom January 2004 to November 2008, 32 hips of 25 patients with avascular necrosis of femoral head of Ia-IIIb period were treated by the pith decompression of the femoral head and fibular allograft transplantation, hollow lag screw fixation, included 17 males and 8 females, aged from 20 to 55 years old (39.1 years on average). Preoperative pain was from 2 to 14 months (means 5.5 months). All patients were applied on conventional X-ray films, MRI examination, Harris score.

RESULTSThe patients were followed up for 12 to 48 months (means 36.4 months). X-ray film showed 21 hips of 18 cases improved,6 hips of 4 cases unchanged, no collapse of articular surface, 3 hips of 2 cases deterioration, 2 hips of 1 case failed. Preoperative Harris score was (77.0 +/- 8.0) and postoperative (90.6 +/- 2.5), there was a significant difference (t = 1.67, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPith decompression of the femoral head and fibular allograft transplantation in the treatment of early stage avascular necrosis of femoral head has advantage of joint function in bed-ridden after a short time, quick recovery,clinical symptoms improved. Its short-term efficacy is certain but long-term efficacy is still need further observation.

Adult ; Decompression, Surgical ; methods ; Female ; Femur Head Necrosis ; surgery ; Fibula ; transplantation ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Transplantation, Homologous