Surveillance of childhood blood lead levels in Chengdu, China in 2010-2011

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>Lead poisoning has been receiving great attention around the world. The Child Hygiene Cooperation Center of the World Health Organization in China has been conducting investigations to monitor blood lead levels (BLLs) from as early as 2004. However, only several lead poisoning studies have been conducted in China since August 2009. The aim of the present study was to investigate the BLLs in children aged < 7 years and to analyse the risk factors of high BLLs in Chengdu, China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Questionnaires were distributed to children in Chengdu from 2010 to 2011. A total of 2,271 children were included in this study - 1,157 received BLL tests in 2010 and the remaining received the tests in 2011. BLL was measured using a tungsten atomiser absorption spectrophotometer.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean BLL of the 2,271 children was 6.2 µg/dL and 2.03% of the children had BLLs ≥ 10 µg/dL. Mean BLL seemed to increase with age. Unhygienic habits (e.g. not washing hands frequently, biting of toys and pencils), history of pica, use of coal and residence in an industrial zone were found to be the main risk factors contributing to high BLL (p < 0.05). Children with high BLLs have a higher risk of manifesting anorexia and/or abdominal pain as compared to those with low BLLs (p < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The mean BLL of children in Chengdu (i.e. 6.2 µg/dL) was found to be higher than that of children in developed countries. Childhood lead poisoning remains a public health problem.</p>

Methylation of FHIT gene promoter region in DNA from plasma of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes and demethylating effect of decitabine / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was aimed to detect the methylation status of FHIT gene promoter region in the DNA from plasma of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), and to investigate the demethylating effect of decitabine. Methylation-specific PCR method was used to detect the methylation status of FHIT gene promoter region in the DNA from plasma of 4 patients with MDS before and after treatment with decitabine plus semis CAG therapy (among them, 1 case of newly diagnosed MDS, 3 cases progressed into acute leukemia). The results indicated that 3 cases were found to have an increased methylation in the promoter region. After treatment with decitabine plus semis CAG, increased methylation was reversed in 2 cases. In 4 cases, 2 cases displayed clinical response. It is concluded that FHIT gene hypermethylation is associated with MDS pathogenesis. Decitabine has demethylating effect on the FHIT gene hypermethylation of plasma from MDS patients. Detecting the methylation status of FHIT gene in DNA from plasma may play a role in MDS auxiliary diagnosis or prognosis.

Detection of molecular cytogenetic abnormalities in 30 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia by fluorescence in situ hybridization / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was aimed to investigate the significance of interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in detecting +12, del (13q14), p53 and atm gene deletion in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). FISH and a panel of probes (CEP 12, LSI D13S319, LSI p53, LSI atm) were used to detect molecular cytogenetic abnormalities in 30 patients with CLL. Cytogenetic aberrations and their relation with some other prognostic factors (peripheral lymphocyte count, Binet stage, LDH level, ZAP-70 and so on) were analyzed. The results indicated that out of the 30 CLL patients, molecular cytogenetic aberrations were found in 19 (63.3%) cases and 7 (23.3%) patients showed more than two kinds of abnormalities. The most frequent abnormality detected was del (13q14) (43.3%), followed by trisomy of chromosome 12 (23.3%), del (atm) (13.3%) and del (p53) (10.0%). There were no significant differences between molecular cytogenetic aberrations and sex, age, Binet stage, peripheral lymphocyte count, or the serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2)-MG), or ZAP-70. The incidence of atm gene deletion was higher in the group of CD38 high expression than that in the group of low expression (p = 0.035). It is concluded that FISH is a rapid and sensitive technique in analysing molecular cytogenetic abnormalities, but its prognostic significance in CLL needs to further investigate.

Comparison Between Two Criteria for Diagnosing Metabolic Syndrome in Hypertension Patients / 中华高血压杂志

Objective To compare the prevalence rate of metabolic syndrome(MS)using the criteria of Chi- nese Diabetes Society(CDS)or International Diabetes Federation(IDF)in hypertension patients in China.Methods The prevalence of MS in hypertension patients(n=17861)in China and its relations with age,gender and levels of blood pressure were studied.Results 1)the prevalence of MS in hypertension patients was 42.2 % or 46.3 %,ac- cording to the definition of CDS or of IDF.The diagnostic rate of the definition of IDF was higher(P80 years group,the diagnostic rate by IDF definition was slightly but significantly higher in all ages groups(P0.05),on contrary,the female prevalence was increased while the male prevalence decreased by IDF. The prevalence of MS increased with levels of blood pressure by both definition.4)The prevalence rate was in- creased with the elevation of BP,compare with CDS criteria the diagnostic rate of MS was slightly higher by IDF cri- teria in all levels of BP.Conclusion Compared with the definition of CDS,the diagnostic rate of MS by the defini- tion of IDF was higher in hypertension patients,addressing more aggressively control global risk factors.

Clinical observation on treatment of chronic aplastic anemia by Shengxuening and cyclosporin A / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the therapy to further elevate the efficacy of the treatment of chronic aplastic anemia (CAA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-five patients with CCA were assigned into two groups, the 26 patients in the treated group were treated by Shengxuening (a Chinese herbal preparation) and cyclosporin A (CsA), and the 19 patients in the control group were treated with androgen alone, with the therapeutic course lasting for over 3 months. Changes of peripheral blood picture, and the colony productivity of burst forming unit-erythroid (BFU-E), colony forming unit-erythroid (CFU-E) and colony forming unit-granulocyte macrophage (CFU-GM) in bone marrow were observed before and after 3 months treatment. The amount of erythrocyte and platelet infusion, frequency of infection, condition of hemorrhage and relevant death were also observed. The follow-up study was conducted for over half a year.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate in the treated group was 84.6%, which was significantly higher than that in the control group (52.6%, P < 0.05). Levels of hemoglobin, reticulocyte, neutrophil and platelet increased after treatment in the treated group, as compared with those before treatment, with significant difference (P < 0.05), and the colony productivity of BFU-E, CFU-E and CFU-GM in bone marrow also got significantly increased (P < 0.01), and showed significant difference from those in the control group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Shengxuening-assisting CsA therapy is an effective measure for treatment of CAA.</p>

Detection of residual leukemic cells after complete remission of patients with acute myeloid leukemia / 中国实验血液学杂志

The aim was to study minimal residual disease (MRD) in blood and bone marrow after complete remission of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and explore the role of MRD in detecting relapse of acute myeloid leukemia. The blood and bone marrow samples from 33 AML patients who had been in complete remission were determined for residual leukemic cells (RLC) with flow cytometry. The results showed that RLC in AML group of complete remission was higher than that of normal group both in blood by (4.7518 +/- 4.1537)% vs (0.4835 +/- 0.2005)% and bone marrow by (17.9082 +/- 20.4819)% vs (0.7285 +/- 0.2209)%, while the RLC in relapsed group was higher than that in non-relapsed group both in blood by (2.233 +/- 1.5923)% vs (10.2369 +/- 9.4714)% and bone marrow by (4.779 +/- 3.0336)% vs (38.0685 +/- 19.4295)%. In conclusion, early detection of leukemic residual cells with flow cytometry contributes to treatment of relapse in time.