Spectrum of gene deletion in 471 children with α-thalassemia / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the distribution of common α-thalassemia gene deletion in children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Blood cell analysis was performed on children who visited the clinic of the Foshan Women and Children's Hospital. Blood samples (2 mL, EDTA anticoagulant) was collected from children with MCV<82 fl for analysis of α-thalassemia gene using the GAP-PCR method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>MCV<82 fl was found in 1341 children. Of the 1341 children, 471 (35.1%) were diagnosed with α-thalassemia. The prevalence of α-thalassemia increased with increasing age. --SEA was a major type of α-thalassemia gene deletion (75.3%), followed by -a3.7 (17.0%) and -a4.2 (7.7%) in the 471 patients. The top three genotypes were --SEA/aa (73.2%), aa/-a3.7 (12.5%) and --SEA/-a3.7 (5.5%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Genetic testing is necessary for the diagnosis of α-thalassemia in children with MCV<82 fl. --SEA is a common type of α-thalassemia gene deletion, and -SEA/aa is a common gene type of α-thalassemia in the subjects of this study.</p>

Early warning on measles through the neural networks / 中华流行病学杂志

To discuss the effects on early warning of measles, using the neural networks.Based on the available data through monthly and weekly reports on measles from January 1986 to August 2006 in Wuhan city. The modal was developed using the neural networks to predict and analyze the prevalence and incidence of measles. When the dynamic time series modal was established with back propagation(BP) networks consisting of two layers, if p was assigned as 9, the convergence speed was acceptable and the correlation coefficient was equal to 0.85. It was more acceptable for monthly forecasting the specific value, but better for weekly forecasting the classification under probabilistic neural networks (PNN). When data was big enough to serve the purpose, it seemed more feasible for early warning using the two-layer BP networks. However, when data was not enough, then PNN could be used for the purpose of prediction. This method seemed feasible to be used in the system for early warning.

Multicenter controlled study on transient asthma-stopping action of acupuncture at "Qingchuan point" / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To test and verify the transient therapeutic effect of acupuncture at point "Qingchuan" on bronchial asthma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two hundred cases of bronchial asthma at acute attack stage were divided into a trial group of 100 cases treated with acupuncture at point "Qingchuan" and a control group of 100 cases treated with acupuncture at Dingchuan (EX-B1).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate was 92.60% and the effect occurred within 42-860 seconds after acupuncture in the trial group, and 81.0% and within 114-126 seconds in the control group, respectively, with very significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture at point "Qingchuan" can significantly improve asthmatic state in the patient of bronchial asthma with action of rapidly stopping asthma.</p>