OBJECTIVE: To study the status and influencing factors of malnutrition in rural children under 7 years of age in Gansu Province. METHODS: By stratified random cluster sampling, 9 390 rural children under 7 years of age from 4 counties of Gansu Province were enrolled. A cross-sectional investigation on children's nutritional status was performed. The major influencing factors of malnutrition were evaluated by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The detection rate of under-weight was 3.60% (338 cases). The growth retardation occurred in 992 cases (10.56%). Athrepsy was found in 196 cases (2.49%) out of 7 868 children under 5 years of age. Gender, age, birth weight, life style, parents' educational level and family income were influencing factors of malnutrition. CONCLUSIONS: More attention should be paid to the issue of malnutrition of rural children under 7 years of age in Gansu Province. The prevalence of malnutrition may be reduced through increasing family income and nutrition education, and improving parents' education level and children's life style.[Chin J Contemp Pediatr, 2010, 12 (12):950-953]
OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of in vitro inducement on the expression of SF1-G imprinted genes, Kcnq1 and Cdkn1c during the course of differentiation from mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells to islet-like cells. METHODS: Mouse ES cells were induced to differentiate into islet-like cells in vitro. The expression of islet specific markers was tested by RT-PCR or immunofluorescence. RT-PCR/RFLP was used to test the imprinted genes parental expression in cells at different stages. RESULTS: Islet specific genes, such as Insulin, Glucagon, Somatostatin, IAPP and Glut2, were expressed in differentiated cells. The proteins of insulin, C-peptide and Somastatin were expressed in the final stage cells. Imprinted gene Kcnq1 and Cdkn1c were biallelicly expressed in islet-like cells. CONCLUSIONS: Mouse ES cells can be successfully induced into islet-like cells in vitro. Gene imprinting status of Kcnq1 and Cdkn1c may be changed in differentiated cells (causing loss of imprinting) during the in vitro inducement.[Chin J Contemp Pediatr, 2010, 12 (12):954-958]