Influence of age and sex on five human plasma lysosomal enzymes assayed by automated procedures

Automated fluorimetric procedures for the assay of five lysosomal glycohydrolases—β-N-acetylglucosaminidase; β-galactosidase; β-glucuronidase; α-mannosidase; α-fucosidase—in human plasma were set up. A Carlo Erba autoanalyser CLA 1500, provided with a sampler refrigerating unit and connected with a recording Turner Mod 111 fluorimeter was employed. The automated procedures, under the established optimal conditions, proved to be highly accurate and reproducible.Using the automated assay procedures the effect of sex and age on the plasma levels of the same enzymes was studied. 1273 randomly selected healthy subjects were studied. No sex differences were observed for all the enzymes studied with the exception of β-glucuronidase which displayed higher values (about 30%) in males from 25 to 60 years. The developmental profiles of all enzymes in females and males were similar and characterised by: (a) absolute maximum level in the umbilical cord blood; (b) absolute minimum level at 10–14 years; (c) decrease to a second minimum occurring around 35 years (not displayed by β-galactosidase and by β-glucuronidase in males); (e) slow further increase up to the elderly level which was then maintained till the oldest age examined, 74 years.     

Activity of creatine kinase in sera from healthy women,carriers of Duchenne muscular dystrophy and cord blood,determined by the “European” recommended method with NAC-EDTA activation

Creatine kinase activity has been measured at 37°C in sera from healthy women, carriers of Duchenne muscular dystrophy and cord blood, with activation by N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and EDTA as recommended by several European committees on standardisation. The upper limit of the reference range for healthy women was found to be 170 U/1. The distributions of creatine kinase activities in healthy and carrier women have been used to calculate probability of carrier status as a function of creatine kinase activity. Although the range of creatine kinase activities in normal cord blood is wide, the data provide a basis for interpretation when Duchenne muscular dystrophy is suspected.     

A sandwich enzyme immunoassay of human growth hormone in serum using anti-human growth hormone IgG-beta-D-galactosidase conjugate

The specificity, sensitivity and stability of beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-m) and retinol-binding protein (RBP) in urine as indices of tubular proteinuria were compared. In vitro experiments show that RBP in urine is stable down to pH 4.5, whereas beta 2-m degrades below pH 5.5. This was confirmed by the relationships between pH and the concentration of both proteins in the urines from 150 healthy subjects. Urinary RBP was independent of pH (r = 0.125) but in contrast at pH below 6, beta 2-m concentration was inversely correlated with pH (r = 0.54, p less than 0.05). The comparison of urinary excretion of RBP and beta 2-m in 68 patients with renal diseases shows that in absence of a pH effect, the sensitivity and specificity of both proteins as indices of tubular proteinuria are rather similar. Therefore, in view of its greater stability in urine, RBP appears to be a more practical and reliable index of proximal tubular function than beta 2-m.     

专家风采 王兴河教授

王兴河教授，男，医学博士，主任医师，教授，现任首都医科大学附属北京世纪坛医院药物Ⅰ期临床试验研究室主任。     

Sleep disturbance in pain clinic patients

One hundred out-patients, referred to a multidisciplinary pain clinic for the management of chronic pain, were questioned regarding their sleeping habits and were grouped according to whether they reported 'good,' 'fair' or 'poor' sleep. All patients were administered questionnaires to measure illness behaviour, depression and anxiety. Information was also obtained regarding the site, intensity and quality of pain as well as amount of general activity. 'Good' and 'poor' sleepers were found to differ on most measures, particularly depression, pain intensity, activity levels and hypochondriasis. These findings suggest that reported sleep disturbance may provide an index of impairment and act as an indicator of psychological disturbance in chronic pain patients.     

Secular trends in mortality and causes of death among children and adolescents aged 1–19 years in China from 1953 to 2016: a national and subnational variations systematic analysis

Background

The level and pace of mortality, and causes of death in children and adolescents might vary across regions within China. We aimed to analyse the national and subnational mortality trends, and the principal causes of deaths among Chinese children and adolescents aged 1–19 years from 1953 to 2016.

Association between consultation length and patient experience of ambulatory care in China: a cross-sectional study

Background

A longer time in consultation with doctors in ambulatory care has been associated with better quality of care. Patient experience is of great concern to policy makers and is linked with health-care quality. However, the relationship between consultation length and patient experience remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the effect of consultation length on patient experience, based on analysis of a cross-sectional nationwide patient survey data in China.

Effect of dental technician disparities on the 3-dimensional accuracy of definitive casts

Statement of problem

Studies that evaluated the effect of dental technician disparities on the accuracy of presectioned and postsectioned definitive casts are lacking.