Sleep Patterns,Sleep Disturbances,and Associated Factors Among Chinese Urban Kindergarten Children

This study aimed to characterize sleep patterns and disturbances among Chinese urban kindergarten children and examine potentially associated factors. Caregivers of 513 children (47.96% male) aged 3–6 years (mean age = 4.46, SD = 0.9) completed the Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Almost 80% (78.8%) of the children scored above the original CSHQ cutoff point for global sleep disturbance. Regression analysis indicated that child’s age, and the presence of emotional problems, hyperactivity and peer problems, cosleeping, and interparental inconsistency of attitudes toward child rearing accounted for significant variance in the CSHQ total score (R² = 22%). These findings indicate that there is an apparently high prevalence of sleep disturbances in Chinese urban kindergarten children; and sleep disturbances are associated with both child-related and parenting practice variables.     

Pharmacological characterisation of the antihyperglycaemic properties of Tinospora crispa extract

The efficacy of Tinospora crispa (Menispermaceae) extract for the treatment of diabetes has previously been verified in animal models. In order to substantiate the antidiabetic effect, we characterised the antihyperglycaemic properties by studying its effect on intestinal glucose absorption and glucose uptake into adipocytes. We also performed experiments to characterise in more detail the mechanism of T. crispa-evoked insulin release by challenging it with insulin secretory antagonists viz. adrenaline, somatostatin, verapamil and nifedipine. In addition, we also performed experiments to determine the effect of the extract on cAMP content. The results clearly showed that the antihyperglycaemic effect is not due to interference with intestinal glucose uptake or uptake of the sugar into the peripheral cells. Rather, the antihyperglycaemic effect of T. crispa is probably due to stimulation of insulin release via modulation of β-cell Ca²⁺concentration. That the insulinotropic effect of T. crispa is physiological suggests that the extract contains compounds which could be purified for use in the treatment of type II diabetes.     

Malignancies arising in endometriosis

Malignant transformation of endometriosis is a well-documented process with over 300 cases presented in the literature. The majority of these cases arise in ovarian endometriosis; however, approximately 25% are found in extragonadal sites. Although not definitely proven, a theory has been proposed in several reports that the use of unopposed estrogen in women with a history of endometriosis who have undergone hysterectomy may be a contributing factor. Several of these studies have therefore suggested the addition of a progestational agent for these women. Endometriotic implants share not only a common histology with the endometrium, but also similar function and responsiveness to the hormonal milieu. As in the case of women with a uterus, and consequently an endometrium, the use of unopposed estrogen may present a risk factor for malignant transformation of endometriosis. Diagnosis and treatment of these malignancies is based on tumor location and histology, similar to analogous malignancies of the uterus and ovaries.     

Tumor necrosis factor gene promoterpolymorphism and recurrent hepatitis C after liver transplantation: The missing link to pathogenesis or a casual association?

Background:Hepatitis C-related liver failure is the leading0842 indication for liver transplantation worldwide. Although histologic recurrence is identified in the majority of patients the spectrum of allograft injury is wide. To date, most studies have focused on the contribution of immunosuppression and viral factors. We hypothesized that the allograft plays a significant role in determining timing and severity of hepatitis C virus (HCV) recurrence. The purpose of this analysis was to determine if genetic polymorphisms of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) locus were associated with the highly variable severity of HCV recurrence.Methods:Thirty-one HCV- seropositive liver 0842 transplant recipients with long-term follow-up were studied. Genomic DNA was extracted from archived donor spleens which corresponded to each patient. We performed polymerase chain reaction amplification, followed by sequencing for two promoter TNF-α variants (at positions −238 and −308), and restriction fragment length analysis for four polymorphic loci within the TNF-β gene (NcoI, TNFc, aa13, and aa26).Results:The relative prevalence of 0842 polymorphisms corresponded to distributions previously reported in normal control populations. Twenty-two of 31 (71%) patients received a donor liver homozygous for the wild type allele (TNF1) at the −308 TNF-α promoter region. The interval to histologic recurrence was significantly shorter and severity of HCV allograft hepatitis was significantly greater in patients with one or two TNF308.2 alleles. At last follow-up biopsy, 5 of 9 (56%) patients with a TNF308.2 donor liver had evidence of severe histologic activity index as compared to 2 of 22 (9%) of patients receiving a donor liver homozygous for the TNFI allele (P = 0.01). There was no correlation between rejection rates and the presence of any TNF-α or TNF-β alleles. TNF-β polymorphisms within the donor liver did not correlate with severity of HCV recurrence.Conclusions:The donor TNF-α promoter genotype may influence0842 the inflammatory response to HCV reinfection of the graft and contribute to accelerated graft injury. If the association between this genetic marker (TNF308.2) and disease progression is confirmed, it could improve our understanding of HCV pathogenesis and influence donor selection and patient management.     

Validation of a reversed-phase HPLC method for directly quantifying the enantiomers of MDL 74 156, the primary metabolite of dolasetron mesylate,in human plasma

A direct chiral HPLC method has been developed and validated to quantitate the enantiomers of MDL 74 156, the primary metabolite of dolasetron mesylate, in human plasma over the concentration range 1.70–340 ng ml⁻¹. Dolasetron mesylate is a 5-HT₃ receptor antagonist that is currently being developed as an antiemetic. Both enantiomers of MDL 74 156 and the internal standard (granisetron) were first extracted from alkanized plasma using methyl t-butyl ether. The analytes were then back-extracted into formic acid, separated on a ovomucoid-bonded HPLC column, and detected by native fluorescence (excitation wavelength of 274 nm and emission wavelength of 345 nm). The completed validation demonstrated the method to be accurate, precise, and specific for the direct quantitation of MDL 74 156 enantiomers in human plasma. This procedure has been used on a routine basis to quantify the relative concentrations of each enantiomer of MDL 74 156 in both oral and intravenous pharmacokinetic studies of dolasetron mesylate in normal human volunteers.     

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia with florid osseous dysplasia: Report of a case with differential diagnostic considerations

The clinical presentation of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia with various manifestations has been well described as has florid osseous dysplasia. There have been no cases reported of the two pathologic entities in the same patient. We present a case with the simultaneous occurrence of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia and florid osseous dysplasia with important considerations for differential diagnosis, and we discuss whether this case presents a potential syndrome.     

Gamma-ray induced degradation of PCBs and pesticides using spent reactor fuel

Gamma-ray induced degradation of several chlorinated hydrocarbons was studied to identify candidate hazardous waste treatment processes. Spent nuclear fuel was used to irradiate PCBs and the pesticides DDT and lindane. Changes produced in these compounds due to ionizing radiation exposure are reported. The applied gamma doses varied from 10 to 100 kGy with an average energy of ca 700 keV. Following irradiation, the samples were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to determine the extent of decomposition and the nature of the decomposition products. Doses of 100 kGy reduced PCBs to 15% of their initial concentration while DDT and lindane were reduced to below their GC/MS detection limits by doses of 50 kGy. The decomposition products detected were the next less chlorinated species resulting from a simple dechlorination reaction. Mass balance analysis shows however that the dechlorination reaction is not predominant at these gamma-ray doses. Dechlorination products account for only a small percentage of the original analyte concentrations at 100 kGy. The remaining analyte has apparently been decomposed to compounds not detectable by the GC/MS method used; that is, to volatile organics lighter than phenol.