Flavonoids in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury: Therapeutic effects and mechanisms / 中草药·英文版

Ischemic heart diseases are one of the major causes of death worldwide. Effective restoration of blood flow can significantly improve patients’ quality of life and reduce mortality. However, reperfusion injury cannot be ignored. Flavonoids possess well-established antioxidant properties; They also have other benefits that may be relevant for ameliorating myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI). In this review, we focus on flavonoids with cardiovascular-protection function and emphasize their pharmacological effects. The main mechanisms of flavonoid pharmacological activities against MIRI involve the following aspects: a) antioxidant, b) anti-inflammatory, c) anti-platelet aggregation, d) anti-apoptosis, and e) myocardial-function regulation activities. We also summarized the effectiveness of flavonoids for MIRI.

Cell suspension examination versus histopathological technique in detecting sperm in the testis tissue of non-obstructive azoospermia patients undergoing testicular sperm aspiration / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>Objective</b>To explore the clinical selection and application of cell suspension examination (CSE) or histopathological technique (HPT) in detecting sperm in the testis tissue obtained by testicular sperm aspiration (TESA) in patients with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally, 1 006 NOA patients underwent TESA and their testis tissues were subjected to CSE or HPT for sperm detection. Based on the results of CSE, the testicular tissue samples were divided into groups A (with sperm, n = 567) and B (without sperm, n = 439) and the results were compared with those of HPT.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>HPT showed 508 cases with but 59 without sperm in group A, and 403 with and 36 without sperm in group B. The consistency rate of CSE with that of HPT was 90.56% (Kappa =0.809), and CSE exhibited a significantly higher rate of sperm detection than HPT (56.36% vs 54.08%, P=0.023).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>CSE combined with HPT for detecting sperm in the testis tissue of NOA patients undergoing diagnostic TESA helps clinical diagnosis and treatment. The results of CSE have a decisive significance for assisted reproductive therapy, while those of HPT may provide some definite etiological evidence for drug therapy or surgery.</p>

Clinical analysis of 15 851 children at risk of inherited metabolic diseases / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the value of urine gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in the screening of children at risk of inherited metabolic diseases (IMD), and to identify the disease spectrum of IMD and the clinical characteristics of children with IMD.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 15 851 children at risk of IMD who underwent urine GC-MS in the Tianjin Children's Hospital between February 2012 and December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the 15 851 children, 5 793 (36.55%) were detected to have metabolic disorders. A total of 117 (0.74%) children were confirmed to have IMD, including 77 cases of methylmalonic acidemia (65.8%). The clinical manifestations of confirmed cases in the neonatal period mainly included jaundice, metabolic acidosis, abnormal muscular tension, feeding difficulty, poor response, and lethargy or coma. The clinical manifestations of confirmed cases in the non-neonatal period mainly included delayed mental and motor development, metabolic acidosis, convulsion, recurrent vomiting, and anemia.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>GC-MS is an effective method for the screening for IMD in children at risk. Methylmalonic acidemia is the most common IMD. The clinical manifestations of IMD are different between the confirmed cases in the neonatal and non-neonatal periods.</p>

Genetic Basis of Gastric Cancer / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

Gastric cancer is the result of multiple risk factors, including environmental factors, genetic factors and the interaction between them. The environmental factors mainly include dietary, Helicobacter pylori infection and family history of gastric cancer. Genetic factors mainly refer to the susceptible genes that cause epigenetic alterations in oncogenes, tumor suppress genes, cell cycle regulators, DNA repair genes and signaling molecules. This paper summarizes the susceptible genes of gastric cancer and explores the genetic basis of it.

Level of serum inhibin B for predicting the results of testicular sperm extraction in azoospermia patients / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>Objective</b>To investigate the value of serum inhibin B (InhB) in predicting the results of testicular sperm extraction (TESE) in patients with azoospermia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This study included 191 cases of obstructive azoospermia (OA), 360 cases of nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA), and 100 male controls with normal semen parameters. According to whether sperm was found in TESE, the NOA patients were divided into a sperm-absence group (TESE－, n=127) and a sperm-presence group (TESE+, n=233). Blood samples were collected from the subjects between 8:00 and 10:00 am for measurement of the levels of serum InhB. The specificity and sensitivity of serum InhB predicting TESE outcome were analyzed with receiver operating characteristics curve (ROC).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The serum InhB level was significantly lower in the TESE－ group (［19.7±34.8］ pg/ml) than in the OA (［106.8±66.2］ pg/ml), TESE+ (［98.2±62.4］ pg/ml) and normal control group (［108.3±65.0］ pg/ml) (P<0.01), but there were no statistically significant differences among the latter three groups (P>0.05). Analysis of ROC showed that the best cut-off value of serum InhB was 19.1 pg/ml. Under the cut-off value, AUCROC was 0.88, specificity 84.2%, sensitivity 90.1%, and accuracy 88.1%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The serum InhB level is a good and non-invasively obtained index of spermatogenesis and should be measured for predicting the results of TESE.</p>

Risk factors of hypertensive disorders among Chinese pregnant women / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

The prevalence of hypertensive disorders in China was much higher than that in the United States. Considering the large population with wide geographic area of China, we aimed to add more information regarding the risk factors for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. A case-control study was performed on 373 hypertensive cases and 507 normotensive controls. Participants were recruited from 2008 to 2014 in Yichang Maternal and Child Health Care Center in Hubei province and Anyang Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital in Henan province, China. Socio-demographic factors, family- related factors, pregnancy-associated factors, factors related to daily life behaviors and psychosocial factors were investigated with respect to hypertensive disorders in pregnancy through well-designed questionnaire. Chi-square test, t-test, univariate logistic regression analysis, and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to find the possible risk factors behind hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. The results showed that family history of cardiovascular diseases (OR=6.18, 95% CI, 2.37 to 16.14), history of pregnancy-induced hypertension (OR=16.64, 95% CI, 5.74 to 48.22), low maternal educational level (OR=2.81, 95% CI, 1.30 to 6.04), and poor relationship with their parents-in-law (OR=3.44, 95% CI, 1.55 to 7.59) had statistically significant associations with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy through multivariate logistic regression analysis. Increased maternal age, increased pre-pregnancy body mass index, living in rural area, low paternal education level, family history of hypertension, passive smoking one year before and/or in pregnancy, and poor sleeping quality were significantly associated with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy from univariate logistic regression analysis while the associations became uncertain when they were entered for multivariate logistic regression analysis. It was concluded that family history of cardiovascular diseases, history of pregnancy-induced hypertension, low maternal educational level, and poor relationship with their parents-in-law were independent risk factors for hypertensive disorders among Chinese pregnant women.

Effect of comprehensive control and prevention for chronic disease in demonstration plot of Chongqing / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effect of comprehensive control and prevention for chronic diseases in demonstration plot of Chongqing.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Residents were enrolled through multi-stage stratified random sampling method from 17 districts or counties which had successfully established demonstration plots and 21 districts or counties which had not established demonstration plots (non-demonstration plot for short) yet on May, 2012. Questionnaire was designed to survey awareness of health knowledge, health behaviors and utilization of health supportive tools. The results were analyzed by SPSS 15.0 software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>We investigated 15 108 residents, 6156 of which were in demonstration plot and others (8951) were not. The findings revealed the percentage of the people who were aware the national action of health lifestyle in demonstration plot and in non-demonstration plot were 44.4% (2734/6157) and 40.2% (3598/8951), respectively, and the awareness of the hypertension risk of too much sodium were 72.4% (4458/6156) and 67.5% (6042/8951), respectively, and the awareness of the cardinal vascular disease (CVD) risk of obesity and overweight were 77.2% (4753/6157) and 69.6% (6230/8951), respectively. About the residents' health behaviors in demonstration plot and in non-demonstration plot, the utilization rates of salt restriction scoop or pot were 23.5% (1447/6157) and 17.9% (1602/8951), and the utilization rates of oil restriction pot were 16.7% (1028/6157) and 11.8% (1064/8951), respectively. Totally, 33 of the 37 indexes were shown higher in demonstration plot than that in non-demonstration plot (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The chronic diseases comprehensive control and prevention in demonstration plot was more effective, and the remarkable improvement of health knowledge and behaviors level had been achieved in demonstration plot.</p>

Mutation analysis of a family with 2-Methyl-3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The aim of this study was to explore the genetic features of a family with 2-methyl-3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MHBDD) which may provide the basis for the diagnosis and genetic counseling.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Clinical data of the proband was collected, total RNA and genomic DNA were extracted from the peripheral blood. The whole coding region of the ACAT1 gene was amplified by RT-PCR. 5' noncoding region of the ACAT1 gene and all 6 exons and flanking intron regions of the HADH2 gene were amplified by PCR. All amplification products were directly sequenced and compared with the reference sequence.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>(1) The patient was a one-year-old boy who presented with psychomotor retardation and astasia when he was admitted to the hospital. Biochemical test revealed slight hyperlactatemia (3.19 mmol/L) and magnetic resonance imaging showed delayed myelination. 2-Methylacetoacetyl-CoA thiolase deficiency was suggested by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. (2) There was no mutation in the ACAT1 gene and a hemizygous missense mutation c.388C > T was found in the 4 exon of the HADH2 gene which resulted in p. R130C. Proband's mother was the heterozygote and the father was normal.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This is the first report on MHBDD patient and HADH2 mutation in China. p.R130C is responsible for the pathogenesis of the disease in the infant.</p>

Effect of Jinhuang Fuzheng powder on cytokines of immunosuppressive mice with protein antibody micro-array / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Jinhuang Fuzheng powder on cytokines of immunosuppressive mice by using protein antibody micro-array.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The immunosuppressive mice model was established by subcutaneously injecting cyclophosphamide. Rats were orally administered with low, middle and high dose of Huangjin Fuzheng powder for 10 days, and fasted for 12 hours after the final administration. 1 mL blood was drawn from caudal veins and isolated hearts of rats of each group. A quantitative test was conducted for cytokines with cytokine antibody array.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Compared with the control group, IFN-gamma and RANTES of the CTX group decreased significantly (P<0.05). After the administration, IFN-gamma of low, middle and high-dose groups, and RANTES of the high-dose group increased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, IL-5, IL-6, IL-9, IL-13 and MCP-1 of the CTX group increased remarkably (P<0.01, P<0.05). After the administration, IL-5, IL-6, IL-9, IL-13 and MCP-1 of low, middle and high-dose groups decreased to varying degrees. GM-CSF, IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-10, IL-12, IL-17, M-CSF, TNF-alpha, KC and VEGF of the 13 types of cytokines showed no significant change.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Jinhuang Fuzheng powder shows effect on 20 types of cytokines of immunosuppressive mice to varying degrees, which may be related to the regulatory immunosuppression of Th1/Th2 subgroup in mice.</p>

Inhibitory effect of 2'-o-methoxyethyl-modified antisense oligonucleotides targeting vascular endothelial growth factor A on SKOV3 human ovarian cancer cells / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Ovarian cancers are often at an advanced stage at diagnosis because early detection is difficult. The poor prognosis of ovarian cancers highlights the crucial need to develop better therapeutic agents and strategies. The objective of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of a new modified antisense oligonucleotides targeting vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) in SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Antisense oligonucleotides targeting VEGF-A was designed, synthesized and transfected into SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells. Western blotting and real-time RT-PCR were used to analyze the inhibitory effects of antisense oligonucleotides on VEGF-A protein and mRNA expression. Transwell matrix assay was used to detect cell migration inhibition.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The antisense oligonucleotides targeting VEGF-A significantly decreased VEGF-A protein and mRNA expression and inhibited cell migration in SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>This new modified antisense oligonucleotides targeting VEGF-A can decrease VEGF-A expression and inhibit cell migration in SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells. This new oligonucleotides may be a promising therapeutic agent for ovarian cancers.</p>

National pathogenic and serological analysis of plague test results in China from 2001 to 2009 / 中国地方病学杂志

Objective To describe the pathogenic and serological test results of the plague in China from 2001 to 2009, and human and animal plague distribution. Methods Through access to information of the plague surveillance report in China from 2002 to 2010, national plague pathogenic and serological test results and the epidemic situation were analyzed from 2001 to 2009. Results From 2001 to 2009, 2966 strains of Yersinia pestis were isolated in the seven provinces which were Guizhou, Guangxi, Yunnan, Qinghai, Tibet, Gansu and Inner Mongolia. Of these, 1 138 000 animals were detected by bacteriological method, 1998 strains of Yersinia pestis were isolated;379 227 groups of intermediary animals were detected, 927 strains of Yersinia pestis were isolated;41 strains of Yersinia pestis were isolated from human body. Animal serums of 1 169 702 were detected by indirect hemagglutination assay(IHA), of these 3177 animal serums were positive, 168 human serums were positive;53 323 animal samples were detected by reverse indirect hemagglutination assay(RIHA), of these 500 were positive. There were outbreak or epidemic of plague in 9 types of plague foci, 2925 strains of Yersinia pestis were isolated. Two animals and 6 fleas were judged as new reservoir and new vector. There were 23 counties of 6 provinces were judged as plague new natural foci counties. Conclusions The plague epidemic in China is still serious between 2001 and 2009. There are nine types of foci in the active state.

Immunogenicities of Env glycoproteins from circulating HIV-1 isolates in China focusing on the strategy of "DNA prime plus protein boost" / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The adenovirus-based HIV-1 vaccine developed by Merck Company suffered from an unexpected failure in September 2007. This generated a big shift in the strategy of HIV vaccine development with renewed focus on the induction of neutralizing antibodies. A major challenge in developing an HIV-1 vaccine is to identify immunogens and adopt delivery methods that can elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies against primary isolates of different genetic subtypes.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Most circulating HIV-1 isolates in China are composed of clades Thai-B, CRF_BC and CRF01_AE. In order to construct DNA vaccines against these 3 HIV-1 subtypes, DNA vaccines carrying the gp120 regions from HIV-1 isolates of GX48(AE), GX79(AE), NX22(BC), GS22(BC), HN24(Thai-B) were constructed. Expression of gp120 from these DNA vaccines was detected by Western blotting in transiently transfected 293T cells. Pilot immunizations of New Zealand white rabbits were performed using the strategy of "DNA prime plus protein boost" and the neutralizing antibody response was detected in a Tzm-bl cell based assay against different HIV-1 strains.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Response of gp120-specific antibody was relatively low after DNA primes (mean titer = 10(4.72)); however, the titer of gp120-specific antibody went up with 2 protein boosts (mean titer = 10(6.81)). Above all, neutralizing antibody (Nab) titers induced by this combined approach were much better than those elicited by DNA or protein used alone (P < 0.01). Neutralizing activities of immunized rabbit sera against several pseudoviruses and laboratorial strains were evaluated, most rabbit sera primed with monovalent vaccine were capable of neutralizing only 1 of 5 viruses, however, sera primed with the polyvalent DNA vaccines were able to neutralize at least 2 of 5 viruses.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Polyvalent DNA prime plus protein boost is an effective immunization strategy to broaden the neutralization breadth and further research should be performed on the basis of this pilot study.</p>

Production of human papillomavirus type 16 virus-like particles and its immunogenicity / 病毒学报

HPV16 L1 gene was amplified from HPV16 positive vaginal secretion sample by PCR, and inserted into pTO-T7 to obtain the recombinant expression vector pTO-T7-HPV16-L1. Then, the pTO-T7-HPV16-L1 was transformed into E. coil strain ER2566 and the recombinant protein HPV16 L1 was expressed in soluble form. After purification by ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion-exchange chromatography, and hydrophobic interaction chromatography, the recombinant protein HPV16 L1 had a purity of more than 98%. By removing DTT, purified HPV16 L1 proteins self-assembled in vitro into VLPs with the diameter of 50 nm. The vaccination experiments on experimental animals showed the VLPs could elicit high titer of neutralizing antibodies against HPV 16. HPV16 VLPs with high immunogenicity and high purity can be produced easily and effectively from an E. coli expression system in the study, and thus can be used in structure investigation and HPV16 vaccine development.

Inhibition of proliferation and transforming growth factor beta3 protein expression by peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor gamma ligands in human uterine leiomyoma cells / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Rosiglitazone is known as the most potent and specific peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-gamma) ligand. It has potentially far-reaching effects on pathophysiological processes, from cancer to atherosclerosis and diabetes. However, it is not clear whether rosiglitazone affects the protein expression of transforming growth factor beta3 (TGF-beta3) and the cell proliferation in human uterine leiomyoma cells in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Human uterine leiomyoma tissues were dissected and cultured. Cells were divided into 5 groups: one control group and other four groups with different concentrations of rosiglitazone (10(-7), 10(-8), 10(-9) and 10(-10) mol/L). Cells were cultured for 72 hours in serum-free Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium. MTT reduction assay was used to detect the cell proliferation. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression of PPAR-gamma and TGF-beta3. Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the expressions of PPAR-gamma and TGF-beta3 proteins.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>MTT reduction assay indicated that the treatment with rosiglitazone (from 10(-7) to 10(-9) mol/L) resulted in an inhibition of the cell growths after 72 hours (P < 0.01). RT-PCR analysis revealed that 10(-7) mol/L rosiglitazone significantly affected the gene expression at 72-hour: PPAR-gamma mRNA expression was up-regulated and TGF-beta3 mRNA was down-regulated and rosiglitazone at the concentration of 10(-7) mol/L affected these most effectively (P < 0.01). Immunofluorescence staining demonstrated that treatment with 10(-7) mol/L rosiglitazone resulted in the significant changes of PPAR-gamma and TGF-beta3 protein expressions compared with the other treatment groups and the control group at 72-hour (P < 0.01). All the effects of rosiglitazone on uterine leiomyoma cells were dose- and time-dependent in vitro.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The present study demonstrates that the PPAR-gamma activator, rosiglitazone, inhibits the cell proliferation partly through the regulations of PPAR-gamma and TGF-beta3 expressions. The cross-talk between the signal pathways of PPAR-gamma and TGF-beta3 may be involved in the process.</p>

Study on the Yersinia pestis plasmid along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway / 中国地方病学杂志

Objective To detect the Yersinia pestis plasmid and molecular weight along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway.Methods Yersinia pestis plasmids molecular weight detected and analyzed using alkaline lysis,phenol-chloroform extraction of Yersinia pestis plasmid by agarose gel electrophoresis.Results The 18 Yersinia pestis strains of Qinghai-Tibet Railway contained 6×106,45×106,52×106,65×106,92×106plasmid,varing in the range of the 52×106-92×106.Conclusions The Yersinia pestis of Qinghai-Tibet Railway has a standardplasmid graphics,with the biggest Yersinia pestis plasmid changing in a certain regular degree,which providessignificance in the study of plague natural foci of the spatial structure and the genetic.characteristics of Yersiniapestis.

Identification and diagnosis of three novel mutations in SLC25A13 gene of neonatal intrahepatic cholestasis caused by citrin deficiency / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Neonatal intrahepatic cholestasis caused by citrin deficiency (NICCD, OMIM #605814) is a novel autosomal recessive disease caused by mutations in the gene SLC25A13 that encodes for citrin, a liver-type aspartate/glutamate carrier located in the mitochondrial inner membrane. SLC25A13 was cloned in 1999 by Kobayashi et al at Kagoshima University in Japan, and until now, most of the NICCD patients reported in the world were Japanese. Most of the Chinese NICCD patients diagnosed by genetic analysis had the same SLC25A13 mutations as Japanese, however, in some cases, known mutations were not detected. This research aimed to identify novel SLC25A13 mutations in Chinese NICCD patients and to explore the experimental conditions for their genetic diagnosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples of 3 NICCD patients from Taiwan (P757), Guangdong (P1194) and Hebei province (P1443) of China, respectively, and all the 18 exons and their flanking sequences of SLC25A13 gene were sequenced. Furthermore, the identified novel mutations were diagnosed by amplification with PCR, digestion with corresponding restriction endonuclease, and agarose gel electrophoresis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Three novel mutations identified in SLC25A13 gene of the 3 NICCD patients were an abnormal splicing IVS7-2A > G (P757), a missense A541D (c.1622C > A, P1194) and a nonsense R319X (c.955C > T, P1443). The PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) procedures for their genetic diagnosis were also established, with specific fragments on electrophoresis after digestion of the PCR products with three different restriction endonucleases Msp I, Hpy188I and Taq I, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>So far as we know, the three novel mutations in SLC25A13 gene of Chinese NICCD patients were first identified, suggesting that SLC25A13 mutation distributed in Chinese population is somewhat different from that in Japanese. Moreover, the PCR-RFLP diagnostic procedures established in this research provide valuable tools not only for the genetic diagnosis of NICCD but also for further molecular epidemiologic investigations in Chinese population.</p>

Detection of anti-Sp17 antibodies in infertile patients' serum and its clinical significance / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To test anti-Sp17 antibodies in the serum of AsAb positive infertile patients, to investigate the proportion of anti-Spl7 antibodies in AsAb and their potential application to the serologic diagnosis of immune infertility and immunocontraception.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>With human recombinant Sp17 as the antigen, the ELISA method was used to detect the positive rate, antibody titre and content of anti-Sp17 antibodies in the AsAb positive serum.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The positive rate of anti-Sp17 antibodies in the AsAb positive serum was 56.5%, with no significant difference in the gender aspect. The percentage of anti-Sp17 antibodies in AsAb was (10.09 +/-7.45) %, with statistical significance (P <0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Sp17 is an important sperm antigen. Anti-Sp17 antibodies in the serum can be taken as auxiliary diagnostic index of infertility, and Sp17 is shown to be a potential candidate immunocontraception vaccine.</p>

Development of an immunochromayography assay method for the detection of Yersinia pestis / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To develop a method of immunochromatography assay (ICA) with sensitive, specific, rapid, simple and suitable for the detection of Yersinia pestis antigen at the local laboratories.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Colloidal gold labeled with the anti-F1 antibody of Yersinia pestis, was connnected with the anti-F1 antibody of Yersinia pestis to pyroxylin membrane and assembled them to the dipstick of ICA.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Results showed that the rates of sensitivity for F1 antigen and Yersinia pestis were 1 ng/ml and 1.56 x 10(5) CFU/ml respectively. However, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis et al could not be detected by dipstick of ICA.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The method of ICA appeared to be consistent to those of r-IHA with better specificity and sensitivity but was simple and rapid for the detection of Yersinia pestis and F1 antigen.</p>

Effect of acupuncture at Sishencong (EX-HN 1) on sleeping in the patient of insomnia / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess therapeutic effect of acupuncture at Sishencong (EX-HN 1) on insomnia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-five cases of insomnia were treated with acupuncture at Sishencong (EX-HN 1) and their quality and compositions of sleeping before and after treatment were evaluated with a multichannel sleep detector.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment, the quality of sleeping increased significantly (P < 0.05), and the sleeping rate increased from (61.95 +/- 22.90)% before treatment to (79.27 +/- 11.05)% after treatment (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture at Sishencong (EX-HN 1) has obvious therapeutic effect on insomnia.</p>

Diagnosis and treatment of methylmalonic acidemia in 14 cases / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) is one of the most common disorders of congenital organic acid metabolism. This study aimed at exploring the clinical characteristics and treatment of the disease to help improve our understanding of it.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 14 patients with MMA admitted to our hospital between January 2002 and July 2003 were analyzed and the diagnoses were confirmed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The patients consisted of 4 males and 10 females, whose age of onset ranged from birth to 9 years with 7 cases younger than 1 month (50%) and 10 cases younger than 1 year (71%).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The main clinical manifestations were lethargy (6 cases), developmental retardation or regradation (7 cases), convulsion (6 cases), recurrent vomiting (4 cases), difficulty with feeding (4 cases), muscular dystonia (5 cases with hypotonia, 3 with hypertonia) and yellowish hair (4 cases), etc. Some cases were also presented with hair loss, hepatomegaly, ataxic or stiff gait, and motor weakness with muscular atrophy. The laboratory findings showed metabolic acidosis in 6 cases, hyperammonemia in 5 cases, ketonuria in 4 cases and remarkable elevation of urinary methylmalonic acid concentration in all cases. Some abnormalities in globus pallidus and cerebral white matter as well as diffuse cerebral atrophy were noted by the brain CT and MRI in 5 respective cases, while 4 cases did not receive neuroradiological examinations. Peripheral neuropathies were found by electromyography in 2 patients and bilateral optic nerve atrophy was detected by eyeground examination in 1 child. Three patients died before the diagnoses were made. Of the 11 survivals, 10 children have received therapy of vitamin B12 (VitB12) and supplementation of L-carnitine with restricted-protein diet. The follow-up for a period ranging from 3 months to 1.5 year (mean 8.5 months) of 7 cases with medical therapy showed a favorable outcome without any symptoms in 1 case and apparent improvement in 4 cases (the diffuse cerebral atrophy in MRI completely recovered in one case), however, 2 patients died from severe metabolic acidosis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The main clinical features of MMA include lethargy, developmental retardation or regradation, convulsion, recurrent vomiting, difficulty with feeding, muscular dystonia, yellowish hair, metabolic acidosis, hyperammonemia and ketonuria, etc. Urine organic acids analysis with GC/MS is critical to the early diagnosis of MMA. Early diagnosis and appropriate long-term treatment are essential to improve the prognosis of the disease.</p>