Infantile spasms is a type of refractory epilepsy syndrome.This epilepsy syndrome is characterized by special tonic spasms,a peculiar set of electroencephalographic findings termed hypsarrhythmia,and arrest of psychomotor development in most patients.The etiology is not clearly understood.Recently,mutations of the arista less related homeobox gene(ARX),cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5(CDKL5)/se-rine/threonine kinase 9 gene(STK9),membrane associated guanylate kinase 2 gene(MAGI2),et al,and abnormal chromosome had been found to be responsible for infantile spasms.In this review,progress of infantile spasms in molecular genetics are discussed.

Child ; Encephalitis, Viral ; pathology ; Enterovirus A, Human ; Enterovirus Infections ; complications ; Heart Failure ; etiology ; Humans ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; etiology

Objective To evaluate CT and MRI features of brain lesions in CO poisoning and to compare the ability of detecting rate of lesions by CT and MRI.Methods CT and MRI appearances in 52 cases with CO poisoning were analysed and compared.Results Necroses and degenerations of globus pallidus in 9 cases,cerebral white matter demyelination in 3 cases and brain atrophy in 3 cases were showed by CT.The detecting rate was 28.8% by CT while,necroses and degeneration of glodus pallidus were observed in 24 cases and white matter change in 7 cases were observed by MRI,the detecting rate was 59.6% which was higher than that of CT (?

Objective To assess the distribution of vaginal microflora in healthy women and investigate their cognition of lower reproductive tract infection-related knowledge as well as personal hygiene habits and character of behavior in seeking medical treatment. Methods Total of 1660 healthy women who had physical check-ups at the Medical Center of Renji Hospital were selected and received gynecologic examination, as well as routine examination, pH examination and bacterial culture of the vaginal discharge. In addition, 860 of them were randomly selected for questionnaire survey, in which reproductive tract infection -related knowledge and personal hygiene habits as well as behavior in seeking medical treatment were involved. Results Among the 1660 eensused women, vaginal average pH was 4. 16±0.21. The positive rate of Candida in vaginal discharge routine examination was 3.86% (64/1660), which was lower than that in aerobes culture 7.71% (128/1660). Candida alhicans was the most populous species 78.9% (101/128) ,followed by 7.8% (10/128) and 7.0% (9/128) for the Candida glabrata and Candida krusei respectively. The most populous species of vaginal microflora were hemolytic streptococcus A (63.80%, 1059/1660), Staphylococcus epidermidis (14.28%, 237/1660), and Enterococcus faecalis (D) group ( 11.44%, 190/1660). The questionnaire survey showed that 88.4% (760/860) of 860 women took active treatment when feeling unwell, 92.1% (792/860) of them had good hygiene practices, and only 21.2% (182/860) had the habit of vaginal douching. In addition, 50.0% (430/860) of them had the desire to obtain reproductive health knowledge through out-patient consultation. Conclusions Vulvovaginal Candida disease ranks the first in all types of vaginitis, among which, Candida albicans is the most populous species followed by the Candida glabrata and Candida krusei. Hemolytic streptococcus A and Staphylococcus epidermidis are the most common species of vaginal mieroflora in healthy women. The censused women have high awareness of reproductive health care and pay mueh attention to common gynecologic diseases such as lower reproductive tract infection. Nevertheless, we should strengthen the public education of reproductive health-related knowledge.

OBJECTIVETo summarize the epidemiological and biological features of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and non-triple-negative breast cancer (non-TNBC) to provide reference for devising individualized therapy and making prognostic evaluation.

METHODSThe 5-year follow-up data were collected from 231 patients with pathologically established diagnosis of breast cancer treated in the Affiliated Hospital of Ningxia Medical University and Yinchuan People's Hospital between Jan. 2002 and Dec. 2004. The epidemiological and clinicopathological characteristics as well as the recurrence, metastasis and 5-year survival were compared between TNBC group and non-TNBC group.

RESULTSTNBC accounted 17.3% of the total breast cancer cases enrolled in this study. The tumor size and rates of recurrence and metastasis (especially visceral metastasis) were significantly greater in TNBC group than in non-TNBC group (P<0.05). The TNBC patients showed significantly lower 3- and 5-year survival rates than the non-TNBC patients (P<0.05), and TNBC patients with positive lymph nodes in clinical stage II had also a lower 5-year survival (P<0.05). Cox regression model analysis identified the patients' age, primary tumor size, clinical stages and triple-negativity as the independent risk factors for breast cancer.

CONCLUSIONCompared to non-TNBC patients, patients with TNBC have higher rates of local recurrence and invasion, visceral metastasis and poorer prognosis, and a lower rate of 5-year survival. The triple negativity represents an independent factor for prognosis evaluation of breast cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; mortality ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; metabolism ; mortality ; pathology ; China ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; metabolism ; Receptors, Estrogen ; metabolism ; Receptors, Progesterone ; metabolism ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between the C311S polymorphism of paraoxonase 2 (PON2) gene and ischemic stroke in Chinese type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients.

METHODSA case-control study of 279 Chinese subjects (including 162 T2DM with or without ischemic stroke and 117 non-diabetic control) was performed. Genotype frequencies of C311S polymorphism were studied by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP) analysis with DdeI digestion.

RESULTSC311S polymorphism of PON2 gene was detected in Chinese with the C/S allele frequencies 0.145 and 0.855. The frequency distribution showed significant difference between Chinese and Asian Indian. Furthermore, the genotype distribution (SS, CS and CC) of the PON2 C311S gene polymorphism exhibited a significant difference between T2DM patients complicated with ischemic stroke and T2DM without ischemic stroke, the former had a significantly higher C allele frequency(P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe above data indicate that the polymorphism at codon 311(Cys --> Ser)in the PON2 gene is associated with ischemic morbidity in Chinese T2DM patients and C allele might be a risk factor.

Adult ; Aryldialkylphosphatase ; genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Stroke ; etiology ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the principle of clearing Fei (), cooling blood, and detoxification as well as nourishing yin and moisening Fei (abbr. as CCD-NM) in regulating the levels of peripheral T-lymphocyte subsets Th and Tc cells to explore its mechanism for lowering the incidence of infection in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

METHODSSixty SLE patients without complicated infection were assigned to the treatment group and the control group, 30 in each group. The control group was treated with Western medicine alone, while the treatment group was treated with the same program of Western medicine, but additionally administered with either Langchuang No.1 (I) or 2 (II), serial concerted Chinese recipes, applied respectively in patients in the active stage or in the resting stage. The total time of treatment for both groups was 1 year. Further, a healthy control group was set up with 20 healthy subjects. The expressions of Th1, Th2, and Tc1 and Tc2 cells in peripheral blood were detected and compared with those in the healthy control group.

RESULTS(1) As compared with the healthy control group, ratios of Th1/Th2 and Tc1/Tc2 in SLE patients, whether complicated with infection or not, were significantly lower (P<0.05 or P<0.01). (2) Comparison between patients with complications and those uncomplicated with infection showed that the two ratios and Th1 expression were lower and Tc2 was higher in the former than those in the latter (all P<0.05). (3) Ratios of Th1/Th2 and Tc1/Tc2 increased after treatment in patients of both the treatment group and the control group (P<0.05 and P<0.01), but the changes in the treatment group were more significant (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe principle of CCD-NM could regulate the Th and Tc subsets toward equilibrium in SLE patients, which might be one of the mechanisms of action for alleviating complicated infection.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; drug effects ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the awareness and use of banned pesticides among vegetable greenhouse farmers in a town of Ledu County, Qinghai Province, China and to provide a basis for the management and control of banned pesticides.

METHODSLocal residents who lived in a town of Ledu County for more than 5 years were selected as subjects in August 2012. A questionnaire survey was conducted in 267 vegetable greenhouse farmers who were selected from five villages of the town by cluster random sampling.

RESULTSOf the 267 subjects, 249 (93.26%) completed and returned the questionnaires. Eighty-seven (34.9%) of the 249 subjects were aware of banned pesticides, and the banned pesticide awareness rate varied significantly among the subjects with different education levels (χ(2) = 11.061, P = 0.011). Only education level entered the regression equation in non-conditional logistic regression analysis. Only five (2.0%) of the 249 subjects knew the banned pesticides as well as the details. All the 249 subjects used banned pesticides to varying degrees in the past 5 years. Only 9.0% (17/189) of the vegetable greenhouse farmers knew the time pesticides were initially banned in China.

CONCLUSIONThe banned pesticide awareness rate is relatively low in the town of Ledu County, and this rate is influenced by education level. It is needed to spread the knowledge and hazards of banned pesticides.

Agriculture ; China ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; prevention & control ; Pesticides ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo explore association between GR and ACTHR gene polymorphisms and quantitative trait of stress in Chinese Han population.

METHODSFour polymorphic markers (GRA5556G, A5556G, GAGG4534/4536AAAG, promoter T-2C) in GR gene and ACTHR gene were genotyped with PCR-RLFP in 200 healthy Hans. ISTA6.0 and life event stressor questionnaire was used to assess stressors. JSS, SCL-90 and GWB questionnaires were used to quantify the phenotypes of stress. Blood cortical and ACTH levels, and nervous behavior function were measured to assess Physiological strain. CWAI questionnaire was used to assess work ability. Then strain was assessed with Structural equation modeling (SEM).

RESULTSThe subjects with GR A5556G genotype (G/A) showed significantly higher plasma cortisol levels, higher psychological stress scores, lower work ability scores and lower plasma ACTH levels compared with the subjects with wild-type (P < 0.01). Psychological stress scores and plasma cortisol levels in the subjects with GR GAGG4534/4536AAAG AG genotype were significantly higher than those in the subjects with wild-type, but the reaction and action sensitivity in the subjects with GR GAGG4534/4536AAAG AG genotype were significantly lower than those in ones with wild-type (P < 0.01). The ACTH level in the subjects with ACTHR promoter T-2C T/T genotype was significantly lower than that in ones with C/C and C/T genotype (P < 0.01). Interaction of GRA5556G and GG4534/4536AAAG with plasma cortisol was positively associated (βs = 0.543, P < 0.01), but with SCL-90 score was negatively associated (βs = -0.374, P < 0.01). Interaction of GRA5556G and GGC6294G with plasma cortisol was correlated (βs = 0.465, P < 0.05). While GR and ACTHR gene variants are the risk factors for psychological strain, physiological strain and decreased work ability (βs are 0.62, 0.43, -0.74, respectively (P < 0.01). While scarce social support, job stressors, negative life stressors and dangerous individual characters are the risk factors for occupational strain, psychological strain, physiological strain and decreased work ability (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONGRA5556G, GRA5556G, GAGG4534/4536AAAG and ACTHR promoter T-2C variants might be associated with quantitative trait of strain, and GR and ACTHR gene variants with stressors increased the risk for developing strain.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Life Change Events ; Phenotype ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Receptors, Corticotropin ; genetics ; Receptors, Glucocorticoid ; genetics ; Social Support ; Stress, Psychological ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Workload

Animals ; History, 20th Century ; Hong Kong ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; history ; virology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny