Evaluation of Whole Blood Trace Element Levels in Chinese Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder, which has increased markedly during the last decades. Essential trace elements play an important role in neurological function and their imbalances are common in children with ASD. The objective of the present study was to investigate whole blood levels of trace elements including zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and magnesium (Mg) in Chinese children with ASD.

Cleidocranial dysplasia: report of 3 cases and literature review.

Background: Cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD) is an autosomal-dominant skeletal dysplasia syndrome that is characterized by widely patent calvarial sutures, clavicular hypoplasia, supernumerary teeth, and short stature. It is caused by mutations of the transcription factor RUNX2, which is known as a major regulator of bone differentiation.

Objective: To report on 3 Chinese pediatric cases of CCD with an emphasis on the clinical presentation and diagnostic modalities.

Gonadotropins and sex hormones in healthy Chinese infants.

This study was conducted to investigate the infantile changing regularity of gonadotropins and sex hormones. Serum samples were obtained from 416 healthy infants (male: 215; females: 201). In male infants, peaks in serum gonadotropins and testosterone concentrations were observed at 2-4 months.

[Behavioral development in adolescent rats of perinatal hypothyroidism and its relations to androgen receptor gene expression in hippocampus].

Objective: To investigate the behavioral development in adolescent rats of perinatal hypothyroidism and its relation to androgen receptor (AR) gene expression in the hippocampus.

Methods: Perinatal hypothyroidism was induced by gavages 50 mg/d of propylthiouracil solution in 48 dams starting at embryonic day 15 through the lactation period. Twenty-four pups (M:F=1) of perinatal hypothyroidism were injected intraperitoneally with 2 microg T(4)/100 g BW daily from the day of birth to the age of 21 days (treatment group); 24 pups (M:F=1) without treatment were designated as hypothyroidism group.

Effect of perinatal iron deficiency on myelination and associated behaviors in rat pups.

Iron deficiency in early development has been associated with irreversible alterations in brain myelination, but whether these neural changes are mirrored in altered behaviors in rats is not known. The goals were to determine if dietary induced gestational and lactational iron deficiency alters brain myelination and behaviors dependent on that system. Pregnant rats were randomly assigned to control (CN) or iron-deficient (ID) groups by providing iron-sufficient (40 ppm Fe) or iron-deficient (2-6 ppm Fe) diets from gestational day 5 through to weaning of pups.

[Mechanism for apoptosis of hippocampus neuron induced by hypothyroidism in perinatal rats].

Objective: To investigate the mechanism for the apoptosis of hippocampus neuron induced by hypothyroidism in perinatal rats.

Methods: Hypothyroidism was induced by administration of propylthiouracil (PTU, 50 mg/d) solution to the dams from gestational day 15 by gavage. Pups from both hypothyroid and control groups were harvested at 1, 5, 10 and 15d, respectively.

[Low initial dose of levothyroxine for treatment of congenital hypothyroidism].

Objective: To evaluate the results of treatment of infants with congenital hypothyroidism (CH) with a low initial dosage of levothyroxine.

Methods: 138 newborns with primary CH detected by neonatal screening were divided into 3 groups according to levels of serum TSH, TT(3) and TT(4): sub-clinical CH (TSH >50 mU/L), mild CH (TT(4) <54 nmol/L), severe CH (TT(4)<54 nmol/L and TT(3)<1.2 nmol/L).