Point mutation in the parkin gene on patients with Parkinson’s disease

Summary To investigate the distribution of possible novel mutations from parkin gene in variant subset of patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) in China and explore whether parkin gene plays an important role in the pathogenesis of PD, 70 patients were divided into early-onset group and late-onset group; 70 healthy subjects were included as controls. Genomic DNA from 70 normal controls and from those of PD patients were extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes by using standard procedures. Mutations of parkin gene (exon 1–12) in all the subjects were screened by PCR-single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP), and further sequencing was performed in the samples with abnormal SSCP results, in order to confirm the mutation and its location. A new missense mutation Gly284Arg in a patient and 3 abnormal bands in SSCP electrophoresis from samples of another 3 patients were found. All the DNA variants were sourced from the samples of the patients with early-onset PD. It was concluded that Parkin point mutation also partially contributes to the development of early-onset Parkinson’s disease in Chinese. WANG Tao, male, born in 1961, Associate Professor This work was supported by grants from the key program of the special scientific project of Scientific & Technologic Agency of Hubei Province (Serial No. 2001AA308B01) and the Hygienic Research Project of Hygienic Agency of Hubei province (Serial No. WJ 01529).     

隐睾或去垂体大鼠血清中抑制素与FSH的关系

本研究观察了实验性隐睾与去垂体大鼠的血清、睾丸与间质液中抑制素水平与血清中FSH的水平。发现隐睾大鼠术后1～2周末,血清中抑制素水平下降到对照组的20～40％左右,FSH水平可增加到对照组水平的200％,二者之间有一个明显的负相关(r=-0.38,P=0.013)。去垂体大鼠的FSH水平下降到不能探测水平时,抑制素水平也明显下降。本实验认为抑制素调节着FSH的分泌,而FSH也部分地控制了抑制素的产生。     

大鼠翼腭神经节SIF细胞的年龄变化

用醛诱发荧光法观察了不同年龄组大鼠翼腭神经节小强荧光（ＳＩＦ）细胞的数量，发现出生１天时ＳＩＦ细胞数量最少，１周内急剧增加，１－２周数量无明显，至４周数量继续增加，成年时数量最多，老年时比成年时无明显的数量变化，表明大鼠翼腭神经节ＳＩＦ细胞的数量随年龄增长而增加。     

A study on various symptoms of chronic hepatitis treated with radix astragali and its regulative effect to levels of serum hormone

Sixty-seven cases of chronic hepatitis were treated with Radix Astragali. After treatment (2-month course), the clinical improvement rate in 38 cases of the Stagnation of the Liver-Qi and Deficiency of the Spleen type was 92.1%, and in 26 cases of the Deficiency of Liver Yin and Kidney Yin type was 88.5%, more effective than in the control group (P<0.05). The regulative effect to the levels of serum hormone was observed in the patients of the Stagnation of the Liver-Qi and Deficiency of the Spleen type treated with this medicine. The results showed that the levels of serum triiodothyronine, estradiol (female) and testosterone (male) were increased after treatment (1.40±1.38 ng/dl, 129.30±1.23 pg/ml and 496.24±1.47 ng/dl). Pre-treatment levels were 1.22±1.49 ng/dl, 104.60±1.45 pg/ml and 398. 17±1.55 ng/dl respectively (P<0.05); however, the level of serum prolactin (2.75±4.46 ng/ml) was lower after treatment than before treatment (3.20±3.82 ng/ml,P<0.05). No obvious changes were observed in the levels of serum follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, thyroid stimulating hormone, thyroxine, triiodothyronine uptake ratio and cortisol after treatment.     

Sexual abuse of children: an area with room for professional reforms

The cases of 46 children who had been abused sexually an average of 2.6 years previously, were reviewed and the non-offending parents were interviewed with emphasis on how they viewed the professional persons who had seen their children, and their opinions of the legal processes that were instituted. The parents found most professional groups helpful, with officers from the Department of Youth and Community Services being seen as the least helpful. Twenty-one of the cases went to court; in 12 cases this resulted in a conviction, and prison sentences were imposed on six of the offenders. Children found the court experience distressing and most parents expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome of the court hearing. Children were more likely to be required to give evidence in court if the offender had legal representation. Persisting behavioural problems and poor school performance were more likely to occur in those cases in which there had been court hearings. A review of Police Department records of children who had attended the hospital for the management of sexual assault, showed that 10 of the 107 children who are now aged over 14 years, have themselves been convicted of violent crimes since their episode of sexual assault. Long-term intervention is required to help many of these children, some legal reforms are necessary to reduce the stress that they experience when there is a court hearing, and all the professional groups that are likely to become involved with the problem of the sexual abuse of children need to be better informed about its seriousness and consequences.     

旁正中动脉入口部梗死82例临床分析

目的探讨急性桥脑旁正中动脉入口部梗死(branch atheromatous disease,BAD)的临床特点。方法回顾性分析1997～2003年本院神经内科收治的82例桥脑BAD的临床表现、MRI影像特点、脑干听觉诱发电位(BAEP)表现、危险因素。结果本组病例的临床特点是:平均发病年龄69.2岁,男性/女性=46/36,56/82病情呈进行性发展,75/82有构音障碍,72/82有肢体偏瘫,29/82为高度肢体瘫痪,27/82有轻度意识障碍,6/82伴有不全Homer征,49/82出现面部或(和)偏侧肢体感觉减退,25/82出现周围性面瘫,42/82有非旋转性头晕;13/82有眼球运动障碍。MRI表现有:梗死灶位于桥脑中上部、达桥脑表面,楔形,内侧位于桥脑旁正中、呈类似直线,可显示出基底动脉壁不整;危险因素方面除高血压外还与糖尿病、脂质代谢异常有关。结论根据临床特点及MRI表现正确诊断出桥脑BAD,以指导进一步的病因治疗及预防。     

Controlled-release codeine is equivalent to acetaminophen plus codeine for post-cholecystectomy analgesia

PURPOSE: Following ambulatory surgery, long-acting analgesics may provide advantages over short-acting analgesics. This study compared controlled-release codeine (CC) and acetaminophen plus codeine (A/C; 300 mg/30 mg) for pain control in the 48-hr period following laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: Eligible patients were randomized to CC or A/C in a double-blind, double-dummy parallel group study. Unrelieved pain in hospital was treated with fentanyl i.v. bolus. Pain [100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS)] was assessed before the first dose of medication; at 0.5, one, two, three, and four hours post-dose; at discharge; and three times a day for 48 hr. Adverse events were recorded and measures of patient satisfaction were assessed at the end of the study. RESULTS: Eighty-four patients were enrolled in the study; 42 patients in each group. There were no statistically significant differences between CC and A/C treatment. Mean VAS baseline pain was similar in both groups (P = 0.49) and there was no significant difference in the time to onset of analgesia (P = 0.17). At 0.5 hr, the mean VAS pain score was significantly reduced from baseline in both groups (P = 0.0001). The VAS pain scores at discharge were reduced 59% and 56% from baseline, respectively (P = 0.61). There was no difference between treatments in the incidence of adverse events and patients reported similar levels of satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Controlled-release codeine provides an equivalent onset of analgesia, reduction in postoperative pain, and level of patient satisfaction, to acetaminophen plus codeine, over 48 hr following cholecystectomy, with the advantage of less frequent dosing.     

腹腔镜肾上腺肿瘤切除术75例报告

目的探讨腹腔镜下肾上腺肿瘤切除的方法和临床应用价值.方法1999年1月～2004年6月75例患者行腹腔镜肾上腺肿瘤切除术,其中采用经腹腔途径51例和经腹膜后途径24例.结果手术时间平均为(170.16±33.81)min,术中的出血量平均为(70.82±37.15)ml.术后平均住院时间为(5.87±1.01)d.中转开放手术2例(2.67%).发生并发症4例(5.33%),分别为膈肌损伤、胰腺损伤、肠道损伤、皮下血肿各1例.结论腹腔镜下行肾上腺肿瘤切除术具有创伤小,术中出血少,术后恢复快等优点,已经成为现代治疗肾上腺肿瘤的金标准.     

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for difficulty in withdrawal of double J ureteral stents due to ureteral lithiasis.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) to coping with lithiasis-induced difficulty in withdrawing double J ureteral stents. METHODS: This study includes 6 patients with difficulty in withdrawing the stents due to lithiasis, who were in the anterior prone position or posterior oblique supine position to receive ESWL treatment. The stones were localized by double-band intersection X-ray system. The treatment voltage of shock wave was 11.2 kV initially, which was gradually increased to 18.1 kV, and the shock wave attack amounted to 1,000 to 3,000 times in total. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: After ESWL treatment, the encrusted double J stents were successfully withdrawn in all the 6 cases, without causing any morbidity related to the use of ESWL. Among the various techniques available for removing encrusted double J stents, ESWL appears to be the most effective and the least invasive modality.