Hb F-Xin-Su or A gamma I73(E17)Asp----His: a new slow-moving fetal hemoglobin variant

A slow-moving gamma chain variant was discovered in the cord blood of an infant born to parents of the Han nationality from Jiangsu. The variant, which migrated electrophoretically at alkaline pH between Hb A and Hb D, was characterized by an Asp----His substitution at gamma 73, while residues gamma 75 and gamma 136 were occupied by Ile and Ala, respectively. As the A gamma T-chain was also present, this baby has two types of abnormal gamma-chain. The variant was named Hb F-Xin-Su.     

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).     

Objectively measuring physical ability in elderly persons: the Physical Capacity Evaluation.

The Physical Capacity Evaluation, a performance measure of functional capabilities comprised of 13 tasks simulating those used in activities of daily living, was tested on 289 community-dwelling elderly people and compared against a widely used self-report measure of function, the Health Assessment Questionnaire. Factor analysis identified one dominant component in each instrument. Internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha) was .90 for both instruments. Global disability (Health Assessment Questionnaire) and function (Physical Capacity Evaluation) scores were correlated -.74. One-week retest reliabilities on 58 subjects were .94 for the Physical Capacity Evaluation and .95 for the Health Assessment Questionnaire. The Physical Capacity Evaluation is a valid and reliable measure of physical performance for use with elderly people.     

均一吸收体中SPECT重建多解性的探讨

通过对重建图像噪声特性的分析，间接证明ＳＰＥＣＴ的解具有多样性。分别用ＴｒｅｔｉａｋＭｅｔｚ、Ｇｕｌｂｅｒｇ、富谷武浩等推导的３种等价重建方法和Ｂｅｌｉｎｉ等推导的重建方法，经计算机模拟重建衰减均匀分布的图像，先预置相同的重建图像的空间分辨率，再比较它们的噪声特性。两种方法重建图像的噪声分布：前者近图像边缘时增大，而后者减小，从而间接证明在假定均匀衰减条件下，ＳＰＥＣＴ的重建有多解性。     

我省流通领域阿莫西林制剂质量现状

目的:了解流通领域中阿莫西林制剂的质量状况。方法:在全省各市县的部分医药经营企业,抽取阿莫西林胶囊及干糖浆共54批样品,按国家药品标准进行全检后,对其检验结果进行统计分析。结果:不合格的项目有含量、胶囊剂溶出度、干糖浆粒度。该药物制剂的标示百分含量普遍偏低。结论:影响该产品质量的主要项目是含量和溶出度,含量偏低的主要原因是厂家的低限投料,应予以充分重视。     

Gene expression of LDL receptor, HMG-CoA reductase, and cholesterol-7 alpha-hydroxylase in chronic renal failure

BACKGROUND: Chronic renal failure (CRF) is associated with an atherogenic lipid profile and an increased risk of ischaemic cardiovascular disease. The associated hyperlipidaemia is reportedly ameliorated by erythropoietin (Epo) therapy. According to a recent report, rats studied 3 weeks after 5/6 nephrectomy and fed a high- protein diet exhibited increased activities of hepatic HMG-CoA reductase (HMG-CoAR) and cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase (Ch-7 alpha- H), despite normal corresponding mRNA values. DESIGN AND METHODS: This study was designed to examine the effects of naturally progressing CRF of longer duration as well as those of Epo therapy on gene expressions of the key factors involved in hepatic cholesterol metabolism, i.e., LDL receptor (LDLR), HMG-CoAR, and Ch-7 alpha-H. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized to the CRF group (5/6 nephrectomy), Epo-treated CRF group (given Epo 150 U/kg/twice weekly) and sham-operated, placebo- treated normal controls. They were allowed free access to regular rat chow and studied 6 weeks after surgery. Liver mRNAs and protein mass or activities of the above factors were studied. RESULTS: Plasma cholesterol concentration was significantly increased in the CRF group (P < 0.001) and was modestly lowered (P < 0.05) by Epo therapy. However, microsomal cholesterol concentration and LDLR, HMG-CoAR, and Ch-7 alpha-H mRNA as well as HMG-CoAR activity, and Ch-7 alpha-H and LDLR protein mass measurements were virtually identical in the three groups. Thus, hepatic LDLR, HMG-CoAR, and Ch-7 alpha-H mRNA and protein measurements in rats with CRF were similar to those of the normal control group representing an inappropriate response to the associated hypercholesterolemia. Epo therapy led to partial amelioration of CRF- associated hypercholesterolaemia with no discernible effect on hepatic tissue expression of the above factors.      

Fracture of the patella treated by open reduction and external compressive skeletal fixation

Open reduction combined with external compressive skeletal fixation was used to treat twenty-seven patients who had a separated fracture of the patella. Fixation was obtained by the use of two compressive clamps applied to stainless-steel pins that were inserted just proximal and distal to the proximal and distal poles of the patella. Range-of-motion exercises for the knee were begun at two weeks and the pins were removed at three to four weeks. All of the fractures healed. Twenty-four patients regained a range of motion that was equal to that of the opposite knee. There was no evidence of chronic osteomyelitis. Osteoarthritis was noted in one patient who refused excision of a portion of the patella.