[Effect of topiramate and carbamazepine on bone metabolism in children with epilepsy].

OBJECTIVE: To assess bone health in epileptic children who have been treated with topiramate (TPM) or carbamazepine (CBZ). METHODS: Sixty-three epileptic children who received TPM or CBZ treatment and 36 eileptic children who did not receive any drug treatment (control group) were enrolled. Bone mineral density (BMD) at lumbar vertebrae (L1-L4) and radius-ulna was evaluated by the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry method. Biochemical indices of bone metabolism, including serum calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase contents were measured. RESULTS: The serum calcium content was higher in the TPM group (2.41+/-0.17 mmol/L), but it was lower in the CBZ group (2.15+/-0.26 mmol/L) than that (2.26+/-0.11 mmol/L) in the control group (p<0.05). The serum phosphorus content in both the TPM (1.55+/-0.17 mmol/L) and the CBZ groups (1.52+/-0.26 mmol/L) was significantly lower than that in the control group (1.70+/-0.30 mmol/L) (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in the serum content of alkaline phosphatase between three groups. BMD was significantly reduced in both the TPM and the CBZ groups when compared to the control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: TPM and CBZ may result in alterations in serum contents of calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase as well as BMD reduction.

[Roles of enteric nervous system neurotransmitters and interstitial cells of Cajal in the colon in slow transit constipation in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the roles of enteric nervous system neurotransmitters, nitric oxide (NO), substance P (SP) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), and interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in the colon in slow transit constipation in rats. METHODS: Thirty-two healthy Wistar rats were randomly assigned to control and constipated groups. In the constipated group, the rats were daily administered with diphenoxylate (8 mg/kg) to develop slow transit constipation, while the control rats were fed with water. The number and the weight of fecal granule and the body weight of rats were recorded every 5 days for 90 days. Transit functions of intestinal movement were examined by an activated charcoal suspension pushing test one week after stopping the administration of diphenoxylate. The levels of NO and SP in the colonic mucosa were measured by nitrate reductase methods and ELISA respectively. The distribution of VIP and ICC positive cells confirmed with symbolic c-kit+ cells in the colonic wall were observed by immunohistochemical methods. RESULTS: The daily number of fecal granule in the constipated group was significantly less than that in the control group (P<0.01). The mean weight of each fecal granule in the constipated group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.01). The discharge time of the first granule of black faeces in the constipated group (430.2+/- 132.1 min) was significantly longer than that in the control group (337.2+/- 74.7 min; P<0.05). There were no significant differences in NO and SP levels and the density of VIP positive cells in the distal colonic segment between the two groups. The number of c-kit+ cells in the distal colonic wall in the constipated group was significantly reduced compared with that in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The reduction of ICC number in the distal colon may be contributed to the pathogenesis of slow transit constipation in rats.

[Prevalence of mite hypersensitivity in children with asthma].

By skin prick test, three kinds of mite allergens (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae, Blomia tropicalis) were tested in a group of asthma children in Jinhua area from Oct 2005 to Sep 2006. The positive rate to allergen from D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae was 80.6% and 77.8% respectively, higher than that of Blomia tropicalis (61.1%) (chi2 = 21.39, P < 0.05). Cases positive to Blomia tropicalis allergen showed 100% and 95.9% positive reaction to D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae respectively. The results demonstrated that the important allergens for children's asthma are from D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae, while the with the former two mite allergens. Blomia tropicalis allergen is supposed to have cross-reactivity