Ghrelin levels are reduced in Rett syndrome patients with eating difficulties

Most patients with Rett syndrome (RTT) have both gastrointestinal problems and somatic growth failure, including microcephaly. Ghrelin is a peptide hormone involved in growth hormone secretion, interdigestive motility, and feeding behavior. Plasma ghrelin assays have previously been described for other neurodevelopmental disorders. To examine the pathophysiology of RTT, we measured plasma levels of ghrelin in patients with RTT. A case-control study examining plasma levels of ghrelin, serum growth hormone, and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) was performed on 27 patients with RTT and 53 controls. Plasma levels of total (T)- and octanoyl (O)-ghrelin were significantly lower in patients with RTT than in controls. Plasma levels of T-ghrelin correlated significantly with serum IGF-1 levels and head circumference. Significantly lower levels of plasma T-ghrelin and O-ghrelin were observed in RTT patients with eating difficulties, while lower levels of plasma T-ghrelin were observed in RTT patients with constipation, in comparison to patients without either of these symptoms. Alterations in plasma ghrelin levels may reflect various clinical symptoms and signs in RTT patients, including growth failure, acquired microcephalus, autonomic nerve dysfunction, and feeding difficulties. We describe the role of ghrelin in RTT and suggest this peptide as a novel biological marker in patients with RTT.     

外籍患者就诊疾病谱的调查分析

目的 了解本地区外籍人口就诊疾病谱规律,为外籍人士的疾病防控和健康教育提供依据.方法 对我院2009年1-12月就诊的1901例外籍患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析.结果 1901例外籍患者以21～40岁年龄段人群为主,共1402例,占73.75%;其中男性1329例,占69.91%.所患疾病居前五位的分别为:呼吸系统疾病...     

Tolerance of low‐frequency ultrasound sonophoresis: a double‐blind randomized study on humans

Background: Sonophoresis [low‐frequency ultrasound (US)] has been used in animals and in vitro to investigate enhanced percutaneous absorption of drugs. No study focused on its clinical human tolerance has been published as yet. Methods: We aimed to assess the bioeffects of low‐frequency US in vivo on human skin in a double‐blind randomized‐controlled study. We applied pulse‐mode US at 36 kHz for 5 min in a step procedure of increasing dosage, from 1.57 to 3.50 W/cm², and placebo. The primary outcome was toxic effects of the procedure, defined as a pain score >40 on a 0–100 mm visual analogue scale or necrosis. Erythema (scored from 0 to 3 in severity) was also evaluated. The secondary outcomes were measurements of skin thickness by high‐resolution skin imaging, of skin capacitance and temperature. Results: We included 34 healthy volunteers. We found no pain score >38 and no skin necrosis with either US or placebo. Erythema was systematically observed immediately after US application, but after 1 day, we observed three cases in the knee group. The most frequent adverse effect was tinnitus. We observed no marked increase in temperature or cutaneous thickness after US or placebo. Cutaneous capacitance increased immediately after both applications. Conclusion: Such data demonstrating good tolerance of sonophoresis can be useful before the initiation of a clinical trial of the therapeutic use of low‐frequency sonophoresis in humans.     

IGF-1 protects against diabetic features in an in vivo model of Huntington's disease

Huntington's disease (HD) is the most prevalent polyglutamine expansion disorder. HD is caused by an expansion of CAG triplet in the huntingtin (HTT) gene, associated with striatal and cortical neuronal loss. Central and peripheral metabolic abnormalities and altered insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels have been described in HD. Thus, we hypothesized that restoration of IGF-1-mediated signaling pathways could rescue R6/2 mice from metabolic stress and behavioral changes induced by polyglutamine expansion. We analyzed the in vivo effect of continuous peripheral IGF-1 administration on diabetic parameters, body weight and motor behavior in the hemizygous R6/2 mouse model of HD. We used 9 week-old and age-matched wild-type mice, subjected to continuously infused recombinant IGF-I or vehicle, for 14 days. IGF-1 treatment prevented the age-related decrease in body weight in R6/2 mice. Although blood glucose levels were higher in R6/2 mice, they did not reach a diabetic state. Even though, IGF-1 ameliorated poor glycemic control in HD mice. This seemed to be associated with a decrease in blood insulin levels in R6/2 mice, which was increased following IGF-1 infusion. Similarly, blood IGF-1 levels decreased during aging in both wild-type and R6/2 mice, being significantly improved upon its continuous infusion. Although no significant differences were found in motor function in R6/2-treated mice, IGF-1 treatment highly improved paw clasping scores. In summary, these results suggest that IGF-1 has a protective role against HD-associated impaired glucose tolerance, by enhancing blood insulin levels.     

历史风云的艺术再现--评枫亚的长篇小说《大脚潮》

<大脚潮>是系列长篇小说<扬子大脚百年记>的相对独立的第三部.它穿过历史的隧道,拉开了辛亥革命前后的帷幕,承前启后地描述了大脚沙岛三大宗族之间挟着世代的恩怨情仇,在这一历史巨变中所出现的矛盾冲突,将历史事件和岛上所发生的事件连接在一起,于总体框架上展开故事情节,反照出历史的时代特征,让人感到了历史的沉重.作家坚持的是现实主义叙事传统,无意于叙事方式上的追新求异,但却能恰到好处地把历史事件化成一幕幕历史场景和一幅幅人物形象画卷,舒缓自然地展现在读者面前.     

灰色体系中H-point法的应用研究

目的:研究广义H-point法在灰色体系中的应用,考察其分析结果的可靠性。方法:扫描槐米和芦丁的紫外吸收光谱,优化纯组分区间,利用标准加入系列光谱数据,测定主要成分芦丁的含量,并与药典方法比较。结果:该法回收率为100.6％,RSD=3.11％(n=7),芦丁的含量为16.17％,RSD:3.37％(n=5);药典方法测得量为17.24％,RSD=4.95％(n=5),两者无显著性差异。结论:此法适合于灰色体系的分析,为快速分析中药提供了一条重要思路,具有一定的实际应用价值。     

首批地红霉素国家标准品的建立

地红霉素属国家二类新药 ,为满足地红霉素质量控制之需要 ,我们参照 WHO基准品的建立指导原则 ,定义“1mg地红霉素 (C42 H78N2 O1 4 ) =10 0 0地红霉素单位 (u)”。采用正反高效液相色谱法 ,首先确定地红霉素的化学纯度 ,再根据地红霉素的效价定义 ,确定地红霉素的效价。建立了首批国家地红霉素标准品