[Mutational spectrum of phenylalanine hydroxylase gene and identification of novel mutations in patients with hyperphenylalaninemia in Jiangsu province].

Objective: To study the characteristics of phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) gene mutations in patients with hyperphenylalaninemia from Jiangsu province by DNA sequencing, and to analyze the spectrum of PAH gene mutations.

Methods: A total of 70 patients and their parents were included in this study. All of the 13 exons and flanking introns of the PAH gene were analyzed with DNA sequencing.

Effects of electroacupuncture on muscle state and electrophysiological changes in rabbits with lumbar nerve root compression.

Objective: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture on force-displacement value (FDV) of muscle state and electrophysiology of the muscle in rabbits with lumbar nerve root compression.

Methods: Thirty New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into a control, a model, an electro-acupuncture acupoints (EAA), a medication, and an electro-acupuncture un-acupoints (EAU) group. All rabbits except those in the control group were subject to modeling (surgical lumbar nerve root compression).

[Second trimester screening for trisomy 21 using ADAM12-S as a maternal serum marker].

Objective: To investigate the value of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 12 secreting form (ADAM12-S) as a maternal serum marker in second trimester screening for trisomy 21 (Down syndrome, DS), and to develop an appropriate prenatal DS screening protocol.

Methods: Serum samples were collected from 53 pregnant women carrying a trisomy 21 fetus and 621 pregnant women with matched gestational age and weight carrying a healthy fetus. ADAM12-S concentrations were determined with a time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay (TRFIA).

[Correlation study on effects of electroacupuncture on the muscle condition and MNCV in rabbits with lumbar nerve root compression].

Objective: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture on the muscle condition and electrophysiology of the muscle in rabbits with lumbar nerve root compression and to explore potential mechanisms.

Methods: Twenty-four New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a medication group and an electroacupuncture group. The rabbit model with lumbar nerve root compression was established in the model group, the medication group and the electroacupuncture group.