Objective To determine the change of β-endorphin (β-EP) in central nerve system (CNS) infection. Methods Plasma and CSF β-EP concentration of 45 viral encephalitis (VE), 18 purulent meningitis (PM), and 6 tuberculous meningitis (TM) were measured with r adioimmunoassay and were compared with those in 19 non-CNS diseases as controls. Results Plasma and CSF β-EP were (39.9±24.8) ng/L and (44.8±32.6) ng/L in VE , (49.9±28.3) ng/L and (62.1± 46.9) ng/L in PM, (44.1±25.3) ng/L and (55.8±46.2) ng/L in TM and (14.8±6.6) ng/L and (9.8±6.2) ng/L in the control grou p respectively. Plasma and CSF β-EP in VE, PM and TM were significantly higher than those of the controls (P<0.05). Plasma and CSF β-EP of CNS infection with severe neurologic dysfunction (71.7±20.5) ng/L, (92.1± 38.8) ng/L respectively were significantly higher than those of CNS infection with mild or moderate neurologic dysfuntion (47.1±22.8) ng/L, (55.2 ±32.8) ng/L respectively and the controls ( P<0.01). The plasma and GSF β-EP in the mild or moderate group were higher than those of the controls (P<0.01). Conclusions Plasma and CSF β-EP concentrati on may be useful as indicators of cerebral edema or cerebral injury, especially the CSF β-EP level.

Objective To determine the changes ofserum interleukin-2 (IL-2), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF α) and interferon alpha (IFN α) levels in children with age-dependent epileptic encephalopathy (A DEE). Methods We used double antibody sandwiched ELISA to measu re serum IL-2, TNF α and IFN α levels in 20 children with ADEE. Twenty healthy children who were matched by age and sex were in the control group. Res ults The serum IL-2, TNF α and IFN α levels of the epilepsy group wer e statistically higher than those in the control group (379.53±44.86) n g/L vs. (239.66±21.03) ng/L; (962.42±107.69) ng/L vs. (501.6 2±38.93) ng/L; (586.12±84.86) ng/L vs. (329.56±30.43) n g/L; respectively. (t=2.59, 3.51, 2.71,P<0.05, P< 0.01,P<0.05, respectively). The serum level of IL-2 was positively co rrelated with that of TNF α in children with ADEE (r=0.671,P<0.01). Conclusions Children with ADEE had abnormal immunologic f unction. The cytokines might be involved in the pathogenesis of ADEE.

Objective To study the clinical types and the characteristics of the meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS). Met hods According to the symptoms and signs, results of chest radiograph and d oppler ultrasonic echocardiograph, 100 cases of MAS were divided into 5 clinical types. All cases were divided into 3 clinical types based on the severity of th e diseases. Results The 5 typess were: asymptomatic, general, p ersistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), the acute respiratory di stress syndrome (ARDS) and pulmonary hemorrhage. The number of cases (and rate) of each type was 18(18%), 70(70%), 6(6%), 3(3%) and 3(3%) respectively, and the mortality rate of each type was 0, 1.4%, 16.7%, 33.3% and 66.7% respectively. The cases (and rate) of the mild type, severe type and risky type were 64 (64%), 23 (23%) and 13 (13%) respectively. The mortality rate of each ty pe was 0, 4.3% and 30.8%. Conclusions The division of c linical types of MAS may be useful in the treatment and prognosis.

Objective To determine the changes of urinary enzymes and the relationship with the peripheral white cell count in po stasphyxial newborns. Methods We divided 28 newborns with asphy xia into 2 groups: mild asphyxia group (10 cases) and severe asphyxia group (18 cases) and 9 normal newborns as controls. The peripheral white cell count, urina ry Nacetyl-β-Dglucosaminidase (NAG), and urinary γglutamy transpeptidase (GGT) were studied within 24 hours of life. Results The peri pheral white cell count and urinary NAG, GGT in the severe asphyxia group were ( 27.42±10.95)×109/L, (34.28±26.18) U/L, (30.50±21.10 ) U/L respectively; those in the mild asphyxia group were (10.24±4.10 )×109/L, (10.34±8.72) U/L, (16.80±6.48) U/L respectively; T hose in the control group were (15.70±3.21)×109/L, (2.73± 2.50) U/L, (8.75±2.43) U/L respectively. The severe asphyxia group wa s higher than those in both the mild asphyxia group and the control group (P<0.05). Except for the peripheral white cell count (P>0.05), NAG and GGT in the mild asphyxia group were higher than those in the control group. The white cell count was positively related to the levels of urinary NAG (r=0.41,P<0.05) and GGT (r=0.22,P>0.05) in the severe as phyxia group. Conclusions The peripheral increased white cell c ount was related to the severity of asphyxia and changes of urinary enzymes, whi ch may be a predicting parameter for postasphyxial renal damage.

Objective To study the clinical signif icance of cystic degeneration in the adrenal cortex of newborns. Methods We reviewed the clinical data and morphologic changes of the adrenal c ortex of 70 newborns who died between January 1990 and December 1996. Re sults Cystic degeneration of the adrenal cortex was observed in 29 case s. There was a significantly higher incidence of cystic degeneration in infantswhose gestational age ≤36 w than those whose gestational age>36 w (60% vs 24. 57%, χ2=9.95,P<0.005). We also found a higher incidence of cys tic degeneration in asphyxiated infants than in nonasphyxiated ones. Histochem ical study showed that cystic degeneration was related to lipid depletion in the adrenal cortex. Conclusions Microcyst information in the outer adrenal cortex was associated with prematurity and perinatal hypoxia, which may be a reaction stress situation.

Objective To determine the incidence o f congenital heart disease (CHD) in newborns and the role of folic acid on reduc ing or preventing CHD in early pregnancy. Methods A prospective study was conducted on all the 31 470 live-births in Jiaxing Maternity and Child Health Hospital from January 1st, 1992 to December 31st, 1998. The relatio nship between CHD and the maternal consumption of folic acid from 1 month before pregnancy to 3 months after pregnancy was studied. The patients recruited in th e study were women who gave birth to a total of 7 445 livebirths from Augu st 1st, 1996 to July 31st, 1998. Results We found 312 newborns with CHD (excluding simple PDA and VSD of <5 mm) of the 312 newborns, 298 were d etected by color Dopler echocardiogram (CDFM)and 14 by autopsy. The incidence wa s 9.91‰ with VSD 5.12‰ topping the list of CHD. Thirtytwo babies wit h complex heart disease died in the newborn period, with a mortality of 10.3% . The incidence of CHD was 7.43‰ in the folic acid group, and 15.17‰ in the nonfolic acid group. The difference was statistically significont between the 2 groups (P<0.01). RR was 0.4898, AR was 0.00774, and AR P was 51.02%. The incidence of severe complex cardiac deformity in the non folic acid group was 4.6 times that of the folic acid group. Of the 217 wome n discharging babies with CHD during January 1st, 1994 and December 31st, 1998,30.9% belonged to the folic acid group, and 69.1%to the nonfolic acid group. Seven severe complex deformity belonged to the folic acid group (11.4% ), and 34 the nonfolic acid group (22.7%). Conclusions The incidence of CHD was the highest in the newborn period. The incidence decrea sed with the death of severe complex heart disorders and the spontaneous closure of some cases of VSD and ASD. The main reason of a high detection rate of CHD w as due to the application of CDFM. Taking folic acid in early pregnancy may redu ce the incidence of CHD, especially the incidence of complex CHD.

Objective To explore the therapeutic effect, safety and appropriate dosage of Lthyroxine on child hypothyroidism. Methods In the treatment group (L Group) Lthyroxine was used (n =40), while in the control group (T Group) dry thyroxine was used (n=35). The cl inical behavior, TSH, T4, T3 and bone ages were observed. Results Significant difference in remission in the 4th week of therapy was found between the 2 groups.The L Group was significantly higher than the T Group (χ 2=13.78, P<0.01). There was a significant difference in the 4th we ek in the convalescence of TSH and T4. The L Group was higher than the T Group (χ2=24.75，P<0.05). No hyperthyroidism was found in the L Group. Conclusions Lthyroxine therapy for child hypothyroidism resu lts in significant improvement in brain development and milder side effects than tranditional treatment. Lthyroxine may be considered for clinical use.

Objective To determine the effects ofQingkailing Injection (QKL) on free calcium of synaptosomes in rats with neuroto xic brain edema (NBE) induced by L-glutamate. Methods Thirty S pragueDawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: ①sham control group (SHA, n=10); ②model group (MOD, n=10); ③therapy group (QKL, n=10), each rat was injected QKL (10 ml/kg, i.p.). The water content and the concentrations of sodiu m, potossium, calcium of the cerebral cortex and free calcium (［Ca2+］i) of the synaptosomes were determined at 4 hours after injecting chloride sodium o r glutamate into the right lateral ventricle. Results The level of water content 82.04%±0.8%, and the concentrations of sodium (244. 4±29.3) mmol/kg and ［Ca2+］i (327.9±33.2) nmol/L signific antly increased in MOD compared with SHA 79.93%±0.59%, (213.8±13 .0) mmol/kg, (159.6±18.6) nmol/L,P<0.01, P<0.05, P<0.01 respectively, while the concentraion of calcium in MOD (4.76± 0.74) mmol/kg significantly decreased compared with SHA (5.21±0.81) m mol/kg (P<0.05). The water content 80.13%±0.72% and the concent rations of sodium (209.4±14.7) mmol/kg and ［Ca2+］i (162.5± 17.6) nmol/L significantly decreased in QKL compared with MOD (P<0.01, 0.01, 0.01 respectively), while calcium (5.44±0.76) mmol/kg increased (P<0.05). Conclusions These findings suggest that QKL can protect against NBE, whose mechanism may be related to preventing the free calcium of the synaptosomes influx.

Objective To study the differential display of promyletic leukemia cell lines induced and non-induced by all-trans ret inoid acid (ATRA). Methods cDNA fragment was obtained by revers e transcription-polymerse chain reaction (RT-PCR) with total RNA extracted from promyletic leukemia cell lines. The amplified cDNA fragment was confirmed on non -denaturing polyacrylamide gel. Results With 24 primer combinat ions, we amplified a total of 541 bands, the mean number of bands obtained per l ane was 23, and 36 bands were found with obvious differnce. Conclusions mRNA differential display is effective to detect and characterize alte red gene expressions in promyletic leukomia cell lines induced and non-induc ed by ATRA.

Objective To determine the diagnostic value of coxsackie virus B-RNA (CVB-RNA) assay by the PCR technique and to ident ify the viral pathogen of myocarditis. Methods CVB3 was injec ted into the abdominal cavity of 75 mice. The pathological examination and CVB-R NA assay by the PCR technique were done. CVB-RNA was measured by the PCR method in 145 children with myocarditis. The positive rates of CVB-RNA of 104 cases who se courses were within one month were compared with 41 cases whose courses were more than one month. Results Of the 75 mice, 64 (85.3%) had pathological change of myocarditis. CVB-RNA was positive in 40 out of the 75 mi ce (53.3%). The positive rate of CVB-RNA was 46.2% in the blood of the 1 45 patients with myocarditis. The positive rate of CVB-RNA in patients whose cou rses were within one month (56.7%) was higher than that of patients whose co urses were longer than one month (26.8%). Conclusions The sensitivity and reliability of CVB-RNA assay in the blood by the PCR technique t o indentify the viral pathogen of myocarditis are high. The positive rate is hig her in patients whose courses of illness within one month than whose more than o ne month.

Objective To report the incidence of type Ⅰ diabetes mellitus (IDDM) of children in Shijiazhuang. Methods A retrospective study was carried out in children (aged 0～14 years) with IDDM at onset in Shijiazhuang during 1985～1997. Cases were collected from hospitals (primary source), primary schools, middle schools, and kindergartens (secon d source). Results We found 51 children (23 boys, 28 girls) wit h type I diabetes mellitus. The average crude annual incidence rate was 0.60 per 100 000 (95% CI: 0.44～0.77), adjusted annual incidence rate was 0.64 per 100 000 (95% CI: 0.35～0.93) and ascertainment corrected incidenc e rate was 0.71 per 100 000 (95% CI: 0.53～0.88). In 1985 there was a incidence peak, and the incidence was particularly high in spring and autumn . The incidence rate was higher in the 10～14-year group than in other groups (0 ～4-year group and 5～9-year group) and the peak incidence fell at 4 years and 1 4 years. There was no significant difference in boys and girls. Conclusi ons The onset of IDDM in children appears to be relative to children's age and the specific season.