Parkinson's Disease in Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Parkinson's disease （PD） is a neurodegenerative disease that seriously endangers the health of the middle-aged and elderly people. The main clinical manifestations include motor symptoms such as bradykinesia， static tremor， and myotonia and non-motor symptoms like constipation， mental disorders， sleep disorders， and autonomic nervous dysfunction. Its etiology and pathogenesis have not been fully understood， and the clinical efficacy is not satisfactory. By searching the relevant literature in China and abroad in recent years， this paper summarized the etiology， pathogenesis， and treatment of PD in both traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） and western medicine as well as the integrated TCM and Western medicine treatment. In general， liver and kidney deficiency is recognized by domestic experts in related fields as the main pathogenesis of PD. The abnormal aggregation of α-synuclein， oxidative stress， mitochondrial dysfunction， ubiquitin-proteasome system dysfunction， neuroinflammation， autophagy， microbiota-gut-brain axis regulation， and excitatory neurotoxicity are closely related to the pathogenesis of this disease. At present， treatment based on syndrome differentiation， empirical formulae from famous doctors， single Chinese herbs， and acupuncture and moxibustion are mainly adopted for the tackling of PD in TCM. Western medicine is still dominated by drug replacement therapy， supplemented by such surgical treatments as traditional immunotherapy， neurotrophic factors， and deep brain stimulation （DBS）， rehabilitation and exercise therapy， and scientific nursing. Gene therapy has become a new technical means for the treatment of this disease in recent years. In addition， the combined therapy of TCM and Western medicine has received increasing importance. This paper reviewed the pathogenesis and treatment of PD in TCM and Western medicine， so as to provide reference for its clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Onset and Recurrence Characteristics of Chinese Patients with Noncardiogenic Ischemic Stroke in Chinese Medicine Hospital / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To delineate the onset and recurrence characteristics of noncardiogenic ischemic stroke patients in China.@*METHODS@#A prospective, multicenter and registry study was carried out in 2,558 patients at 7 representative clinical sub-centers during November 3, 2016 to February 17, 2019. A questionnaire was used to collect information of patients regarding CM syndromes and constitutions and associated risk factors. Additionally, stroke recurrence was defined as a primary outcome indicator.@*RESULTS@#A total of 327 (12.78 %) patients endured recurrence events, 1,681 (65.72%) were men, and the average age was 63.33 ± 9.45 years. Totally 1,741 (68.06%) patients suffered first-ever ischemic stroke, 1,772 (69.27%) patients reported to have hypertension, and 1,640 (64.11%) of them reported dyslipidemia, 1,595 (62.35%) patients exhibited small-artery occlusion by The Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) classification. Specifically, 1,271 (49.69%) patients were considered as qi-deficient constitution, and 1,227 (47.97%) patients were determined as stagnant blood constitution. There were 1,303 (50.94%) patients diagnosed as blood stasis syndrome, 1,280 (50.04%) patients exhibited phlegm and dampness syndrome and 1,012 (39.56%) patients demonstrated qi deficiency syndrome. And 1,033 (40.38%) patients declared intracranial artery stenosis, and 478 (18.69%) patients reported carotid artery stenosis. The plaque in 1,508 (41.36%) patients were of mixed. Particularly, 41.09% of them demonstrated abnormal levels of glycated hemoglobin levels.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Recurrence in minor and small-artery stroke cannot be ignored. Hypertension, dyslipidemia, abnormal HbA1c, intracranial artery stenosis and carotid plaque were more common in stroke patients. Particularly, phlegm-dampness and blood stasis syndromes, as well as qi deficiency and blood stasis constitutions, were still the main manifestations of stroke. (Trial registration at ClinicalTrials.gov No. NCT03174535).

Mechanism of Kaixinsan on Learning and Memory Ability and Synaptic Function of APP/PS1 Mice / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To explore the underlying protective mechanism of Kaixinsan on learning， memory， and synaptic function in APP/PS1 mice. Method:Sixty APP/PS1 mice were randomly divided into a model group， a donepezil （2 mg·kg^-1·d^-1） group， and low- （0.7 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， medium- （1.4 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， and high-dose （2.8 g·kg^-1·d^-1） Kaixinsan groups， and the wild-type mice of the same age in the same litter were assigned to the normal group， with 12 mice in each group. After continuous intragastric administration for two months， the Morris water maze experiment was performed. The ultrastructure of hippocampal neurons was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The colorimetric assay was used to detect serum content of acetylcholine （ACh）， choline acetyltransferase （ChAT）， acetylcholinesterase （AChE）， and levels of hippocampal reactive oxygen species （ROS）， malondialdehyde （MDA）， superoxide dismutase （SOD）， and glutathione peroxidase （GSH-Px）. Real-time fluorescence-based quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real- time PCR） was used to detect the mRNA expression of hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF）， beta-nerve growth factor （NGFB）， discs large homolog (DLG)2， DLG4， and synaptophysin （SYP）. Result:Compared with the normal group， the model group showed prolonged escape latency， reduced number of crossing platforms， shortened stay in the target quadrant （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， decreased number of mitochondria with different shapes and irregular arrangement， some swollen and deformed mitochondria with broken mitochondrial cristae， endolysis， and cytoplasm vacuole， and more cell debris. Additionally， the model group also displayed reduced serum levels of ACh and ChAT， increased AChE （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， elevated hippocampal ROS and MDA （<italic>P</italic><0.05，<italic>P</italic><0.01）， declining SOD and GSH-Px （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， and diminished hippocampal BDNF， NGFB， DLG2， DLG4， and SYP mRNA levels （<italic>P</italic><0.05，<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Compared with the model group， the donepezil group， and the medium- and high-dose Kaixinsan groups showed shortened escape latency， increased number of crossing platforms， prolonged stay in the target quadrant （<italic>P</italic><0.05，<italic>P</italic><0.01）， improved mitochondrial damage with a regular shape （mainly oval shape）， relieved mitochondrial swelling and deformation， and clear mitochondrial cristae. Furthermore， the donepezil group， and the medium- and high-dose Kaixinsan groups also exhibited increased serum ACh and ChAT levels （<italic>P</italic><0.05，<italic>P</italic><0.01）， blunted AChE activity （<italic>P</italic><0.05）， reduced hippocampal ROS level （<italic>P</italic><0.05，<italic>P</italic><0.01）， declining MDA level （<italic>P</italic><0.05）， potentiated SOD and GSH-Px activities， and up-regulated hippocampal BDNF， NGFB， DLG2， DLG4， and SYP mRNA levels （<italic>P</italic><0.05，<italic>P</italic><0.01）. In the low-dose Kaixinsan group， the stay time in the target quadrant was prolonged and the expression of hippocampal SYP mRNA was elevated significantly （<italic>P</italic><0.05）. There was no statistical difference in swimming speed between the groups. Conclusion:Kaixinsan can improve the learning and memory ability of APP/PS1 mice by increasing the expression of synaptic plasticity-related proteins， reducing the ultrastructural damage to hippocampal neurons， resisting oxidative stress， and regulating cholinergic neurotransmitters， thereby exerting neuroprotective effects.

Evaluation on the efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medication Xifeng Dingchan Pill in treating Parkinson's disease: study protocol of a multicenter, open-label, randomized active-controlled trial / 中西医结合学报

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complicated disease, commonly diagnosed among the elderly, which leads to degeneration of the central nervous system. It presently lacks an effective therapy for its complex pathogenesis. Adverse effects from Western drug-based medical intervention prevent long-term adherence to these therapies in many patients. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has long been used to improve the treatment of PD by alleviating the toxic and adverse effects of Western drug-based intervention. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Xifeng Dingchan Pill (XFDCP), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, taken in conjunction with Western medicine in the treatment of PD patients at different stages in the progression of the disease.</p><p><b>METHODS AND DESIGN</b>This is a multicenter, randomized controlled trial. In total, 320 patients with early- (n = 160) and middle-stage PD (n = 160) will be enrolled and divided evenly into control and trial groups. Of the 160 patients with early-stage PD, the trial group (n = 80) will be given XFDCP, and the control group (n = 80) will be given Madopar. Of the 160 patients with middle-stage PD, the trial group (n = 80) will be given XFDCP combined with Madopar and Piribedil, and the control group (n = 80) will be given Madopar and Piribedil. The Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale scores, TCM symptoms scores, quality of life, change of Madopar's dosage and the toxic and adverse effects of Madopar will be observed during a 3-month treatment period and through a further 6-month follow-up period.</p><p><b>DISCUSSION</b>It is hypothesized that XFDCP, combined with Madopar and Piribedil, will have beneficial effects on patients with PD. The results of this study will provide evidence for developing a comprehensive therapy regimen, which can delay the progress of the disease and improve the quality of life for PD patients in different stages.</p><p><b>TRIAL REGISTRATION</b>This trial has been registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry with the identifer ChiCTR-TRC-12002150.</p>

The association of sleep hygiene and sleep quality among school-age children / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the association between sleep hygiene and sleep duration and quality among school-age children, and to explore the risk factors related to poor sleep hygiene.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 2019 grade-five children were sampled by stratified cluster random sampling from 10 primary schools in Shanghai, during November and December 2009. Questionnaires were used to investigate children and their parents. Adolescent Sleep Hygiene Scale (ASHS) was used to inquiry sleep hygiene of children; Children Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) was used to assess their sleep duration and quality; Family and Social Environment Questionnaire was used to collect demographic and socio-economic information. T-test, one-way ANOVA and multiple linear regression model were established to identify the risk factors for sleep hygiene.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The age of subjects was (10.81 ± 0.38) years old, 49.0% (989/2019) were boys. The ASHS total score was 125.43 ± 15.17, girls with better sleep hygiene than boys (127.05 ± 14.41 vs 123.74 ± 15.75, P < 0.05). The sleep duration was (9.47 ± 0.58)h/d, children slept less than 9 h/d had lower ASHS total score than those slept 9 - 10 h/d or over 10 h/d (121.69 ± 16.09 vs 126.17 ± 14.62 vs 126.50 ± 15.36, P < 0.05). Children with poor sleep quality had worse sleep hygiene than those with good sleep quality (121.00 ± 15.84 vs 128.36 ± 13.92, P < 0.05). Children with television set in bedroom had lower ASHS total score than the others (122.40 ± 15.76 vs 126.74 ± 14.66, P < 0.05). Children from single parent family had lower ASHS total score (117.90 ± 16.80 vs 125.94 ± 14.89, P < 0.05). Children whose father had irregular sleep or wake pattern had lower ASHS total score (122.65 ± 15.30 vs 125.89 ± 14.90 vs 127.79 ± 14.71, P < 0.05). The regression model confirmed that existence of television set in children's bedroom, single-parent family and father's irregular sleep pattern were the risk factors of poor sleep hygiene.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Sleep hygiene was closely associated with sleep duration and quality among school-age children. Children with television set in bedroom, male, from single parent family and whose father had irregular sleep or wake pattern had worse sleep quality.</p>

Comparative study of children's sleep evaluation methods / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the compliance of using Actiwatch, parent report of sleep diary and sleep questionnaire in school age children, and to further evaluate agreement rates between actigraphy, diary, and questionnaire for children's sleep patterns.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Two primary schools in Luwan District were selected and first grade students without obvious physical and mental illnesses or sleep disorders were enrolled in the study. Each student was home-monitored with an Actiwatch for 7 days, meanwhile parents were asked to complete a detailed sleep diary during the Actiwatch monitoring days. Sleep questionnaires were distributed to their parents who were asked to fill in these on the last monitoring day.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Forty-five children participated in the study, 36 children completed sleep assessments by all the three methods, and among them 20 were boys and 16 were girls. The mean age of those children was (7.26±0.42) years. The completion rate of questionnaire was 100%, of diary was 86.7% (39/45) and of Actiwatch was 93.3% (42/45). The completion rate between sleep diary and sleep questionnaire was significantly different (P<0.05). The satisfactory agreement between Actiwatch and sleep diary was reached with sleep diary overestimating weekday and weekend sleep duration by 26 minutes and 25 minutes respectively. The agreement rates between Actiwatch and questionnaire was insufficient for all variables with sleep questionnaire overestimating weekday and weekend sleep duration by 37 minutes and 38 minutes respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Sleep questionnaire is an easy and high compliance method for evaluating children's sleep pattern while sleep diary showed high agreement with Actiwatch. Using either of these methods for evaluating children's sleep pattern should be judged by research aim and sample size, and limitation of those methods should be considered when they are used in practice.</p>

Correlation between level of metallic elements in urine and childhood acute leukemia / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the relation between the level of metallic elements in urine and childhood acute leukemia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 71 patients under 15 years old who were newly diagnosed with acute leukemia between September 2007 and August 2008 without Downs' syndrome or other tumors, and 113 gender- and age-matched controls without tumors or congenital diseases were enrolled for the case-control study. The general data and potential risk factors were obtained by questionnaires. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to determine the metal concentrations in urine, which was collected randomly before chemotherapy. Logistic regression model was performed for univariate and multivariate analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The questionnaire showed that there was significant difference in the proportion of children whose mothers had taken iron supplements during or 3 months before pregnancy between case group and control group, which was 28.2% (20/71) and 14.2% (16/113) respectively (Wald χ(2) = 5.438, P = 0.02). Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that levels of vanadium, manganese, iron, cobalt, copper, arsenic, and barium in urine from case group were all higher than those of control group with significant difference. The median values for vanadium in urine from case and control groups were 5.39 and 3.04 ng/mg creatinine (Wald χ(2) = 9.03, P < 0.05); the median values for manganese were respectively 4.46 and 2.44 ng/mg creatinine (Wald χ(2) = 10.57, P < 0.05); the median values for iron were separately 58.69 and 14.09 ng/mg creatinine (Wald χ(2) = 13.41, P < 0.05); the median values for cobalt were respectively 0.98 and 0.77 ng/mg creatinine (Wald χ(2) = 4.46, P < 0.05); the median values for copper were 61.17 and 10.90 ng/mg creatinine (Wald χ(2) = 8.15, P < 0.05); the median values for arsenic were respectively 55.93 and 36.11 ng/mg creatinine (Wald χ(2) = 4.57, P < 0.05); and the median values for barium were 8.55 and 2.87 ng/mg creatinine (Wald χ(2) = 4.82, P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the level of iron in urine had a significantly positive relation with the incidence of childhood acute leukemia (OR = 1.009, 95%CI = 1.002 - 1.016).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The level of iron in urine might be related to the occurrence of childhood acute leukemia, but its specific role needs further investigation.</p>

Follow-up study of school-age children's sleep quality in Shanghai / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>China has undergone massive socioeconomic change during the past several years, and its impact on children's sleep is still unrecognized. Shanghai, as one of typical economically fast-developing cities, was chosen as observational city in this study, which was designed to explore trends in sleep quality in Shanghai school-aged children and related high risk factors on sleep quality.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Totally 884 fifth grade school-aged students were sampled by stratified cluster random sampling method from 10 primary schools of Shanghai in 2005, then four years later in 2009, 2161 same grade students were sampled from the same schools. Chinese version of Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) was used to evaluate 8 sleep quality parameters among those children, and high risk factors on school-aged children's sleep quality were investigated as well.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The prevalence of poor sleep quality decreased from 29.2% in 2005 to 27.9% in 2009, and among 8 sleep quality parameters, bedtime resistance decreased from 33.1% to 28.7%, sleep anxiety from 50.6% to 39.8%, night waking from 25.2% to 21.5%, and parasomnia from 51.2% to 45.8%. The factors, such as heavier homework burden, longer daily computer use, bright light during sleep, cosleeping, existence of chronic disease and irregular sleep habits of parents, were associated with poor sleep quality of school-aged children after adjusting for children's age, gender, and family social-economic status.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Part of sleep quality parameters improved during the past 4 years, but current situation is still tough with more than 1/4 poor sleep quality children. Helping children to develop good sleep hygiene as well as educating parents how to shape children's regular sleep habits might be effective methods to improve children's sleep quality.</p>

Exposure level and risk factors of heavy metal in prenatal period among Shanghai infants / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the exposure level and risk factors of heavy metal among Shanghai infants in their prenatal period.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 1652 pregnant or puerperal women were recruited from 10 midwifery-qualified hospitals in Shanghai since October 2008 to October 2009, by the stratified cluster sampling method. They answered the questionnaire and their umbilical cord blood and serum were collected to detect the content of Pb, Hg, Mn, Cd, As and Tl. The risk factors were analyzed by single and multiple regression methods respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The median value of the content of Pb, Hg, Mn, Cd, As and Tl were 41.00, 1.88, 4.10, 0.03, 0.86 and 0.02 µg/L respectively. The Hg concentration of pregnant women who ate fish for 4 - 7 times per week (9.7% (160/1652)) was 2.76 µg/L, which was higher than that of pregnant women who only ate fish for 1-3 times per week (49.3% (814/1652)) and those who seldom ate fish (40.0% (661/1652)); the Hg concentration in the two groups above were 2.41 and 2.03 µg/L separately. The difference had statistical significance (χ(2) = 36.40, P < 0.001). Meanwhile, the concentrations of Pb and Tl in the group of pregnant women whose houses were remodeled by PVC pipe (85.0% (1404/1652)) was higher than the concentrations in group of pregnant women whose houses were remodeled by galvanized pipe (15.0% (248/1652)); the Pb concentration in the two groups above were 45.54 and 40.00 µg/L (Z = 2.54, P < 0.05) and the Tl concentration in the two groups above were 0.021 and 0.018 µg/L (Z = 2.97, P < 0.05). However, the As concentration in the group of PVC pipe remodeled was 4.33 µg/L, which was lower than that in the group of galvanized pipe (9.37 µg/L). The difference had statistical significance (Z = 3.99, P < 0.01). The concentrations of Mn, Cd and Tl in the groups of pregnant women whose house had been remodeled in the last 3 years (38.0% (628/1652)) were 14.78, 0.51 and 0.022 µg/L separately, which were all significantly higher than those in the groups of women whose houses' were not remodeled (62.0% (1024/1652)), whose concentrations were 11.01, 0.29 and 0.02 µg/L respectively. The differences had statistical significance (Mn: Z = 2.46, P < 0.05; Cd: Z = 2.38, P < 0.05; Tl: Z = 2.81, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The infants in Shanghai were exposed to heavy metals in their prenatal period. The main sources of the exposure were daily diet and remodeled pollution.</p>

Effects of chelation therapy with succimer in young rabbits of moderate lead poisoning / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of chelation therapy with succimer (DMSA) in male rabbits of moderate lead poisoning during juvenile stage.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-four 45-day-old male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into three groups (therapy group, TG; positive control group, PG and negative control group, NG, n=8). The TG and PG were orally exposed to lead acetate (5 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) for 6 weeks. Rabbits in TG were orally supplied DMSA 1050 mg/m2 in the first week and 700 mg/m2 in the next two weeks, while the other two groups wren't blood and urinary samples of all rabbits were collected per week. The tissues and organs of all rabbits were collected after 12 weeks. The blood lead levels (BLLs) were determined by atomic absorption spectrometer. The urine lead levels and the lead contents of tissue and organ were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Histopathology of tissue and organ was observed by light microscope.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with PG, the lead level in the morning urine of TG with DMSA chelating was increased significantly. The level was peaked at (1246.96 +/- 157.91) microg/L on the first day after chelating. While the base line was (40.97 +/- 1.77) microg/L before chelating. Meanwhile, the BLLs were sharply declined from (429.63 +/- 10.82) microg/L to (238.50 +/- 11.82) microg/L. The urine lead levels of TG decreased through the 3-week chelating and 3-week discontinuation. The urine lead levels of these two groups were significantly different (F=2934.35, P<0.01). Compared to each two groups in these three groups, there were significant difference (P<0.01). The authors found the reversion of BLLs in first week after stop chelating. The BLLs of PG presented the slow course of declining in the same time, were (135.50 +/- 7.09) microg/L, very close to the level of TG for (149.88 +/- 11.39) microg/L. Compared with treatment discontinuation for 3 weeks, the urine lead levels and the body weight gain of the therapy group increased more than that of PG, and the BLLs and the lead concentrations in tissues and organs decreased more than that of PG, and histopathology in the liver tissues and testicle tissues were improved.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>DMSA chelating for the rodent models of moderate lead poisoning might reduce the BLLs and soft tissue lead contents quickly and effectively, decrease toxic effects of lead in a short period of time, thus alleviate the impairment of lead poisoning on tissues and organs by decreasing lead burden, and bring out improvement on the growth retardation caused by lead poisoning.</p>

Study of influential factors in family on late talkers / 上海第二医科大学学报

Objective To identify the influential factors in family on late talkers. Methods A cluster sampling survey was conducted on Shanghai healthy children aged 24 months to 35 months from 10 districts. Children with vocabularies less than 30 were identified as late talkers. Univariate analysis and Logistic stepwise regression analysis were performed to analyse the related environmental factors. Results There were 2 774 effective samples, and 115 late talkers (4.1%) were identified. Nine risk factors were found out from 26 environmental factors by univariate analysis, among which 5 were further identified by Logistic stepwise regression analysis as significant risk factors: urban life, education of father lower than middle school, using one language, male caregiver and lack of communication between child and caregiver. Conclusion Avoiding risk factors and providing favourable language environment may help to prevent language delay in children.

Key parameters and formulas for approximate average height and weight of normal Chinese children under 7 years of age / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>In order to understand the normal physical growth of Chinese children, data of children aged from 0 to 7 years from urban and rural areas of nine Chinese cities in 2005 were analyzed.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The original data of height and weight were drawn into growth curves charts by Graphpad Prism 5.0 software according to the different age groups. The children were classified into five age groups: 0-3 months, 4-6 months, 7-12 months, 13-24 months, and 2-7 years.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average birth weight was 3.3 kg and the height averaged 50 cm. The average monthly weight gain was 1.0-1.2 kg and the average monthly increase of height was 4 cm in the 0-3 months group. By 3 months of age, the weight and height averaged 6.6 kg and 62 cm, respectively. In the 4-6 months group, the growth rate was reduced to a half of the 0-3 months group, with an average monthly weight and height gain was 0.5-0.6 kg and 2 cm respectively. The growth rate in the 7-2 months group was a half of the 4-6 months group. By 12 months of age, the weight and height average 9.9 kg and 75 cm, respectively. The average monthly weight and height gain in the 13-24 months group was 0.2 kg and 1 cm respectively, with an average weight and height of 12 kg and 87 cm respectively by 24 months of age. A steady growth was found in the 2-7 years group, with a yearly average weight and height increment of about 2 kg and 7 cm respectively. The formulas for approximate average weight and height in children between 2 and 7 years were as follows: age (yr)*2+8 (kg) (weight); age (yr)*7+75 (cm) (height).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The approximate weight and height of normal Chinese children under 7 years of age can be evaluated by the key parameters and formulas above mentioned.</p>

Impact of television-watching and computer-using on sleep patterns and sleep problems of school-aged children in Shanghai / 上海第二医科大学学报

Objective To investigate the effects of television-watching and computer-using on sleep/wake patterns, sleep duration and sleep problems of school-aged children in Shanghai. Methods A total of 4 108 school-aged children from 10 primary schools of Shanghai were enrolled by multi-stage cluster sampling and surveyed by questionnaires. The information of television-watching and computer-using, family and personal condition was investigated by self-prepared questionnaire, and the Chinese version of Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire was employed to survey the sleep behaviors of children. The effects of television-watching and computer-using on sleep/wake patterns, sleep duration and sleep problems were analyzed by multiple linear regression analysis and Logistic regression analysis. Results The percentage of children who watched television≥2 h per day was 4.1% during weekdays, and that came to 49.2% during weekends. In terms of frequency of computer-using, most children reported "rarely" (88.2%, 0-1 time/week), followed by "often" (11.0%, 2-4 times/ week) and "usually" (0.8%, 5-7 times/week). With the age increase, the percentages of children who watched television≥2 h per day and those who "often" used computer gradually increased. It was revealed by multiple linear regression analysis and Logistic regression analysis that television-watching and computer-using were not only positively correlated with later bedtime, later wake time and shorter sleep duration but also significantly associated with sleep problems such as bedtime resistance, sleep onset delay, sleep duration disorder, sleep anxiety and parasomnia. Conclusion Television-watching and computer-using exert influences on sleep behaviors of sleep/wake patterns, sleep duration and sleep problems. Concerns about the potential negative effects of television-watching and computer-using on sleep behaviors may help to promote healthy sleep patterns and improve sleep quality.

Effects of forepaw sensorimotor deprivation in early life on spatial learning and memory in rats / 上海第二医科大学学报

Objective To explore the effects of forepaw sensorimotor deprivation in early life on hippocampus-dependent spatial reference learning and memory in rats. Methods Newborn SD rats were randomly assigned to experiment group (deprivation of forepaw sensorimotor function, n=53) and control group(n=55). Rats of postnatal day 13 (PN13) in experiment group were seleeted, and models of forepaw sensorimotor deprivation were established by microsurgical technique. Open field tests and Morris water maze tests were performed during the time periods of PN25(PN21-31), PN35 (PN31-39), PN45(PN41-50) and PN60(PN56-64) to evaluate the locomotor activity and spatial reference learning and memory, respectively. Results In open field tests, there was no significant difference in parameters of locomotor activity and exploratory behavior between the two groups (P>0.05). In Morris water maze tests, eontrol group performed significantly better than experiment group during training sessions and probe tests on PN25 and PN35 (P<0.05). While on PN45, although there was no significant difference between the two groups during training sessions, control group performed significantly better than experiment group during probe tests (P<0.05). Conclusion The deprivation of forepaw sensorimotor in early life has no signifieant effect on the locomotor activity and exploratory behavior of rats, but can impair the spatial reference learning and memory.

Effects of chronic partial sleep deprivation on growth and learning/memory in young rats / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The effects of sleep deprivation on the immature brain remain unknown. Based on a computer controlled chronic sleep deprivation animal model, the effects of chronic partial sleep deprivation on growth, learning and memory in young rats were explored.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twelve weaned male Spraque-Dawley rats (3-week-old) were randomly divided into sleep deprivation, test control and blank control groups. Sleep deprivation was performed using computer-controlled "disc-over-water" technique at 8-11 am daily, for 14 days. The temperature and weights were measured every 7 days. Morris water maze was used to test spatial learning and memory abilities before and 7 and 14 days after sleep deprivation. After 14 days of sleep deprivation, the rats were sacrificed for weighting their major organs.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After 14 days of sleep deprivation, the rats' temperature increased significantly. During the sleep deprivation, the rate of weight gain in the sleep deprivation group was much slower than that in the test control and blank control groups. The thymus of the rats subjected to sleep deprivation was much lighter than that of the blank control group. After 7 days of sleep deprivation, the rats showed slower acquisition of reference memory, but were capable of successfully performing the task by repeated exposure to the test. Such impairment of reference memory was not seen 14 days after sleep deprivation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Chronic sleep deprivation can affect growth of immature rats, as well as their abilities to acquire spatial reference memory.</p>

Effects of preweaning enrichment on activity-regulated cytoskeletal protein expression and long-term memory in rats / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of preweaning enrichment on the expression of activity-regulated cytoskeletal protein (Arc), an immediate early gene, and on the long-term memory in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to control group (standard environment, n=20) and experimental group (enriched environment, n=20). The experimental group received enriched environment exposure from postnatal day 10 until weaning (2 weeks, 20 minutes per day). The open field and novel object recognition tests were performed at postnatal day 28. Arc expression was detected by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no significant difference in the open field test between the two groups. However, in the novel object recognition test, the experimental group rats performed significantly better than the control rats after 1 and 24-hr retention. The preference index in the experimental group after 1-hr (59.61%+/-9.61% vs 50.46%+/-9.34%; P<0.05) and 24-hr retention (62.72%+/-14.12% vs 52.39%+/-9.16%; P<0.05 ) was significantly higher than that in the control group. Arc expression in both areas CA1 and DG of hippocampus in the experimental group increased significantly compared with that in the control group (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Preweaning enrichment can up-regulate the expression of immediate early gene, Arc, in the hippocampus of the rats, and promote their long-term memory.</p>

Internet addiction among Shanghai adolescents: prevalence and epidemiological features / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the prevalence of internet use and internet addiction in adolescents of Shanghai.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>From September to October 2007, a total of 5135 adolescents from 16 middle schools of 6 districts of Shanghai took part in the epidemiological study by a cross-sectional survey and 5123 adolescents finally enrolled in the study. A questionnaire of "DRM Adolescent Internet Use 52 Scale" was administrated to investigate the prevalence of internet use and internet addiction in adolescents of Shanghai. On this scale of 5-point rating, the scale includes seven parts of contents as tolerance, abstinence reaction, planning ability, self-control ability, whenness, sociability and hazard.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The rate of internet use among the surveyed adolescents was 94.32% (4673/5123), among which the incidence rate of internet addiction was 8.78% (450/5123). Boys, senior middle-school students were more susceptible to internet addiction than girls and junior middle-school students (male scores 122.42+/-43.46, female scores 116.92+/-38.10, F=23.22, P=0.00; senior middle-school students 125.24+/-39.02, junior middle-school students 110.30+/-42.35, F=164.68, P=0.00). Students from vocational senior middle-school were most susceptible (junior middle-school students 110.30+/-42.35, ordinary senior middle-school students 122.83+/-40.99, key senior middle-school students 120.05+/-37.87, vocational senior middle-school students 133.37+/-36.84, F=34.44, P=0.00). The 2nd grade students of senior middle-school have the highest risk for internet-addiction.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The prevalence of internet use and internet addiction in adolescents of Shanghai should be comparatively high in China, which indicates that great attention should be paid to the prevention and control.</p>

Sleep habits and sleep disturbance in school-age children of China / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To survey the sleep habits (bedtime, wake time), sleep duration, and sleep problems in school-age children of China.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>From November to December, 2005, a total of 19,299 school-age children from 55 elementary schools of 9 cities entered the study by a cross-sectional survey. A parent-administered questionnaire and the Chinese version of the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire were applied to investigate children's sociodemographic characteristics and sleep behaviors, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean sleep duration was 9 hours and 10 minutes (9:10, SD:48 min) during the weekdays and 9:48 (SD: 63 min) during the weekends. In about 71.4% and 41.8% school-aged children the sleep duration per day did not reach the lowest criterion of 10 hours recommended by the Ministry of Education of China during weekdays and weekends, respectively. Sleep problems were common with prevalence ranging from 14.5% for sleep-disordered breathing to 75.3% for daytime sleepiness. Parasomnia (chi(2) = 13.76, P < 0.01) and sleep-disordered breathing (chi(2) = 119.83, P < 0.01) were more prevalent in boys than in girls; however, sleep anxiety was more prevalent in girls than in boys (chi(2) = 19.42, P < 0.01). Except for night waking, other types of sleep problems were significantly associated with age.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Inadequate sleep duration and sleep problems prevail among school-age children, which indicates that children's sleep health may be a major public health concern in China.</p>

Effects of moderate lead poisoning on the hippocampus tissue of rabbits in juvenile stage / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To understand the effects of moderate lead poisoning on the hippocampus tissue of rabbits in juvenile stage.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixteen 45-day-old male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into blank group and lead-exposed group,8 for each group. Rabbits in the lead-exposed group were treated with 5 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) lead acetate in their forage for 6 weeks to establish a moderate lead poisoning animal model. The blood lead levels and the lead contents in the hippocampus were determined by atomic absorption spectrometer and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry respectively. Histopathology and ultra-microstructure in the hippocampus tissue were observed by light microscope and electron microscope. The NR1, NR2A and NR2B protein expressions in the CA1 hippocampal region were analyzed through immunohistochemical method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with those of blank group, the blood lead levels of lead-exposed group were significant increased, (428.63 +/- 9.46) vs (66.38+/-3.93) microg/L (t = 100.08, P<0.01); and lead contents of hippocampus was significantly increased, (44.57+/-2.03) vs (21.20+/-1.53) ng/g, (t = 26.05, P<0.01); the hippocampus wet weight were significant decreased, (0.735 +/-0.012) vs (0.808+/-0.010), (t =12.97, P<0.01); the coefficient of hippocampus wet weight, was (0.458 +/-0.004) vs (0.476+/-0.005), (t =7.87, P<0.01). The significant declines in both the positive rate of NR1 and NR2A in the CA1 hippocampal region for NR1: (37.44 +/- 2.05)% vs (41.81+/-2.50)% (t = 3.82, P<0.01) and for NR2A: 21.97+/-1.08 vs 25.48+/-1.30 (t =5.89, P<0.01) were also observed. With light microscope and electron microscope, the histopathology and ultra-microstructure of neuron and glial cell in the hippocampus tissue were changed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The impairment of hippocampus of rabbits in juvenile stage with chronic moderate lead poisoning were observed, and the histopathology and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor protein expressions in the hippocampus tissue were changed.</p>

Development and psychometric properties of the Chinese version of Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To develop the Chinese version of Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) by translating and retranslating the English version of CSHQ and to examine the reliability, content validity, construct validity of the Chinese version in a general population of school-age children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>During November and December 2005, a total of 20 457 school-age children from 55 primary schools of 9 cities were recruited through cluster-stratified selection, using geographic location, economic standard, and population density as criteria. A parent-administered questionnaire and the Chinese version of CSHQ were completed to quantify sociodemographic characteristics and to characterize sleep patterns and sleep disturbances, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The internal consistency of overall questionnaire and the eight subscales of the Chinese version of CSHQ was good (Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.73 and ranged from 0.42 to 0.69, respectively). The consistency between mother and father was ICCs = 0.89 for overall questionnaire and ranged from ICCs = 0.83 to ICCs = 0.92 for subscales. The test-retest reliability was ICCs = 0.85 for overall questionnaire and range from ICCs = 0.60 to ICCs = 0.88 for subscales. Factor analysis revealed a three-factor structure, which could represent bedtime behavior problems, sleep disturbance, sleep duration and daytime sleepiness, respectively, and the three factors could be used to explain 58.63% of the total variance. The factor loading was above 0.5 for the corresponding subscale.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Reliability, content validity and construct validity of the Chinese version of CSHQ in a general population of school-age children are good. It appears to be a suitable instrument for measuring sleep patterns and screening for sleep problems in school-aged children.</p>