Neurodegeneration in Alzheimer disease. Is apoptosis involved?

Alzheimer disease (AD), the most common dementia of the elderly, results from a significant loss of neuronal cells in brain regions important in memory and cognition. Several lines of evidence suggest that the A beta peptide is directly responsible for some of this neuronal cell death. We review recent evidence from in vitro toxicity and immunohistochemical studies that suggest some of the cell loss in AD is the result of apoptosis.

Expression of the D-MEF2 transcription in the Drosophila brain suggests a role in neuronal cell differentiation

D-MEF2 is a MADS domain transcription factor expressed in the cardiac, somatic, and visceral muscle cell lineages in the Drosophila embryo. Genetic studies have demonstrated that D-mef2 gene function is required for the proper differentiation of all three of these muscle types. We show that D-MEF2 is also expressed in a limited number of other cells types during development, including Kenyon cells present in the mushroom bodies of the Drosophila brain. This finding suggests a role for D-mef2 in neuron differentiation. To investigate D-mef2 expression in muscle and Kenyon cells, we assayed 26 kb of D-mef2 5'-flanking and intragenic DNA for regulatory sequences controlling the expression of the gene. Our results show that separable enhancer sequences direct D-mef2 gene expression in the myogenic and neuronal cell lineages. The identification of these regulatory DNAs provides a starting point for the analysis of transcriptional regulators controlling the cell-specific expression of D-mef2 and a means to address the function of D-mef2 in Kenyon cell differentiation.

Scavenging effect of Chinonin on NO and oxygen free radicals and its protective effect on the myocardium from the injury of ischemia-reperfusion

The scavenging effect of Chinonin on NO and oxygen free radicals and its protective effect on myocardium from the ischemia-reperfusion injury was studied with electron spin resonance (ESR) and chemiluminescence techniques. Chinonin can effectively inhibit the oxidative activity of ONOO-, (the IC50 = 7 x 10 (-5) mmol/L) and scavenge oxygen free radicals generated from the reaction of xanthine and xanthine oxidase (the IC50 = 2/5 x 10(-4) mmol/l). It is difficult to find another antioxidant which can scavenge so effectively both ONOO- and oxygen free radicals simultaneously. In the system of ischemia-reperfusion injury of myocardium, Chinonin can, in parallel, scavenge the NO and oxygen free radicals generated from the ischemia-reperfused myocardium, and decrease the activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) in the coronary artery effluent of ischemia-reperfused heart and therefore protect the heart from ischemia-reperfusion injury. The protective effect of 0.1 mmol/l Chinonin is similar to that of 1500 U/ml SOD and catalase.

Role of lipoproteins in platelet activation

Native low density lipoprotein influences platelets principally in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Oxidized low density lipoprotein activates platelets and promotes platelet adhesion. Certain parts of high density lipoprotein may decrease the risk of platelet activation. The calcium signaling pathway, protein kinase C pathway, and cytotoxic effect are probably involved in the platelet activation process.

[Treatment of neovascular glaucoma by anterior retinal cryotherapy and trabeculectomy]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the efficacy of anterior retinal cryotherapy (ARC) for treatment of neovascular glaucoma (NVG).

METHODS

12 eyes (11 patients) with open angle NVG were treated by ARC only, 22 eyes (22 patients) with closed angle NVG were treated by ARC combined with trabeculectomy, and 32 eyes (31 patients) with closed angle NVG were treated by either ARC or cyclocryotherapy as controls. The follow-up period were 6-26 months.

RESULTS

Iris new vessels (INV) regressed or disappeared with normal intraocular pressure (IOP) in 92% (11/12) of the eyes with open angle NVG treated simply by ARC. In comparison with closed angle NVG treated by the same method, there was a significant difference in IOP (P < 0.05). The combination of ARC and trabeculectomy showed markedly better results than either ARC or cyclocryotherapy for treatment of closed angle NVG (P < 0.01). In the eyes with closed angle NVG, INV regressed or disappeared with normal IOP in 86% (19/22), 90% (18/20) achieved a marked relief from pain and the visual acuity was better or unchanged in 67% (8/12) that was significantly different from the eyes treated by cyclocryotherapy (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The results indicate that ARC is suitable for treatment of NVG at early stage, and ARC combined with trabeculectomy, at later stage.

Qualitative investigations on vital blood platelets by reflection contrast microscopy

Light-microscopic visualization of vital human blood platelets is improved by reflection contrast microscopy. The light reflected from the specimen causes interference patterns which are used for the assessment of surfaces or adhesion areas. By means of this technique we studied the activation process of unstimulated platelets. During the observation the following two features were assessed: (1) Platelet adhesion areas and their shape change: two main types of adhesion patterns were found for activated platelets. Type A was characterized by flat spreading and extensive adhesion zones, whereas type B showed only focal contacts in the center and long and sometimes dichotomously split pseudopodia. Both adhesion types coexisted in each sample but did not change into one another during the observation period of 25 min. (2) Pseudopodia formation: initially, a rapid evagination of mobile pseudopodia could be observed which lasted for approximately 2 min. After reaching their final individual length, the pseudopodia adhered to the glass and remained stationary.

RRR-alpha-tocopheryl succinate enhances TGF-beta 1, -beta 2, and -beta 3 and TGF-beta R-II expression by human MDA-MB-435 breast cancer cells

The proliferation of MDA-MB-435 human breast cancer cells was inhibited by RRR-alpha-tocopheryl succinate (vitamin E succinate, VES). Conditioned media (CM) from VES growth-inhibited cells contained potent antiproliferative activity, part of which is contributed by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) isoforms. Antibody neutralization analysis, employing TGF-beta isoform-specific antibody reagents, showed that TGF-beta 1, -beta 2, and -beta 3 were present in the CM from VES-treated cells. Culturing MDA-MB-435 cells with VES did not alter the levels of constitutively expressed 2.4-kb TGF-beta 1, 3.0- and 4.0-kb TGF-beta 2, or 1.2- and 3.5-kb TGF-beta 3 mRNA transcripts. Inhibition of DNA synthesis by MDA-MB-435 cells was increased by combinations of suboptimal levels of VES and purified TGF-beta 1. VES-treated MDA-MB-435 cells exhibited enhanced binding of radiolabeled TGF-beta 1, and Western immunoblotting analyses showed that VES treatment enhanced TGF-beta type II receptor protein expression. TGF-beta type I receptor protein levels were not modified by VES treatments. Although the mRNA transcript for the 5.5-kb TGF-beta type II receptor was upregulated after four hours of treatment with VES, this treatment did not modify the 6.5-kb TGF-beta type I or the 6.5-kb TGF-beta type II receptor mRNAs. Results demonstrate that biologically active TGF-beta 1, -beta 2, -beta 3 and levels of TGF-beta type II receptor expressed by human breast cancer cells are enhanced by VES treatment.

A strongly inwardly rectifying K+ channel that is sensitive to ATP

We have cloned an inwardly rectifying K+ channel from the hamster insulinoma cDNA library and shown that it is inhibited by cytoplasmic ATP. The channel is 90.97% identical to the IRK3 channels cloned from other species, and its mRNA is found primarily in the brain. When expressed in Xenopus oocytes, the channel displays strong inward rectification typical of inward rectifiers. The channel is inhibited reversibly by physiological concentrations of ATP via a mechanism that does not appear to involve ATP hydrolysis, as shown by studies of channels in excised inside-out membrane patches. This effect is antagonized by ADP, again in the physiological range, implying that this channel is sensitive to the index of metabolic state, i.e., the intracellular [ATP]/[ADP] ratio. This channel is different from previously known ATP-sensitive K+ channels, although it may also be stimulated by MgATP, as are other ATP-sensitive K+ channels. The potential physiological significance of these ATP-dependent regulations will be discussed.

High-density lipoprotein fails to inhibit serotonin-induced activation of blood platelets

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) of 100-400 micrograms/ml did not prevent morphological alterations of human blood platelets treated with serotonin (1-5 microM). Highly concentrated HDL (1,200 micrograms/ml) appeared to activate platelets in vitro. These findings indicate that whole HDL may not inhibit agonist-induced platelet activation.

A paradigm for drug discovery using a conformation from the crystal structure of a presentation scaffold

We describe a structural validation of the use of presentation scaffolds for control and elucidation of bioactive conformations of peptides. The protein REI-RGD34--produced by inserting the sequence RIPRGDMP into the CDR1 loop region of the immunoglobulin VL domain REI--strongly inhibits fibrinogen binding to the integrins alpha IIb beta 3 and alpha V beta 3. In the X-ray crystal structure of their protein at 2.4 A resolution, the RGD-containing loop exhibits defined electron density that is consistent with models for the bioactive conformations of ligands of these receptors based on previous small-molecule studies. Furthermore, a search of a small-molecule database with conformational information derived from the structure of REI-RGD34 identified constrained peptides and peptidomimetics known to be antagonists of the platelet receptor alpha IIb beta 3.

Characterization of novel phorbol ester- and serum-responsive sequences of the rat ornithine decarboxylase gene promoter

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), the key regulatory enzyme in mammalian polyamine biosynthesis, is rapidly induced by mitogens and tumor promoters. We used transient expression assays and DNA-protein binding studies to examine the regulation of ODC promoter activity by phorbol esters and serum growth factors. A fragment of the ODC 5' flanking region (nt-1156 to +13) was sufficient to confer 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-responsive expression to a luciferase reporter gene when transfected into H35 cells. However, induction by TPA was not observed in Rat2 fibroblasts, although refeeding of serum-starved Rat2 cells with fresh serum-containing medium rapidly induced a fivefold to sixfold increase in ODC promoter activity, maximal about 8 h after refeeding. Deletion analysis demonstrated that several sequences contributed to basal ODC promoter activity but that nt -92 to +13 was sufficient for induction by TPA or by serum. This sequence lacked canonical TPA-responsive elements, and an activator protein-1 (AP-1) consensus oligonucleotide failed to compete effectively for proteins binding to this region. Two of four protein complexes observed by gel-shift analysis of nt -92 to +13 were competitively inhibited by wild-type but not mutant oligonucleotides encompassing a variant cyclic AMP-response element (CRE) (ODC nt -50 to -42); however, a consensus CRE did not compete. Mutagenesis of this site demonstrated that it contributes to basal expression of the ODC promoter but not to TPA or serum responsiveness. Thus, we conclude that the proximal ODC promoter (nt -92 to +13) responds to TPA and serum stimulation in a cell-type-specific manner that is not mediated by canonical AP-1 elements.

[Determination of panaxadiol and panaxatriol in shihu yeguang pills]

The contents of panaxadiol and panaxatriol in Shihu Yeguang Pills manufactured by pharmaceutical works in Beijing, Jinan, Guangzhou and other places were determined by TLC-densitometry. A quantitative method has been developed to serve as a reference to quality control of these pills.

Morphologic quantification of blood platelets by image analysis

OBJECTIVE

For morphologic and functional investigations on the physiology and pathology of human blood platelets, their adhesion plays an important role. This feature is normally assessed concerning qualitative aspects, but there is a lack of quantitative investigations.

STUDY DESIGN

We developed a model to quantify in vitro manipulations on thrombocytes by measuring their adhesion areas automatically. This was achieved by combining the VIDAS 2.5 image analysis system with reflection contrast microscopy (RCM). The evaluation was performed independent of the position of the grey value histogram by analyzing each digitized image corresponding to its individual mean grey value.

RESULTS

The applicability and validity were verified from the example of a pharmacologic experiment administering the platelet stimulant oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) to thrombocyte suspensions and confirming it by aggregometry. We assessed the temporal increase in adhesion area and mean total adhesion area of activated platelets, comparing unstimulated to stimulated ones. Ox-LDL accelerated the adhesion process and increased the adhesion area.

CONCLUSION

The combination of RCM with consecutive image analysis provides useful parameters for in vitro examination on vital human platelets. Large amounts of data can be accumulated in a short time for an evaluation of influences of and on blood platelets.

Frequency of mutant CYP1A1, NAT2 and GSTM1 alleles in normal Indians and Malays

Several xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes, including CYP1A1, NAT2 and GSTM1, are subject to genetic polymorphisms. Because these enzymes are important for the detoxification and/or bioactivation of drugs and carcinogens, these polymorphisms have important implications in therapeutics and cancer susceptibility. The distributions of CYP1A1, NAT2 and GSTM1 genotype frequencies in unrelated individuals of the Indian (n = 139) and Malay (n = 146) populations were characterized by the polymerase chain reaction. The respective allelic frequencies of wild-type and mutant alleles of CYP1A1 were 0.82 and 0.18 for the Indians, and 0.69 and 0.31 for the Malays. The frequencies of wild-type, M1, M2 and M3 of NAT2 among Indians were 0.44, 0.20, 0.32 and 0.04 respectively. The corresponding NAT2 allelic frequencies in Malays were 0.41, 0.12, 0.38 and 0.09. The GSTM1*A allele could not be amplified in 33.1% of Indians and 61.6% of Malays. At least one GSTM1*B allele was detected in 7.2% and 7.5% of the respective populations. The allelic frequencies of CYP1A1, NAT2 and GSTM1 among Malays are similar to previously reported frequencies among Chinese in the region. These findings will be of importance in the determination of cancer risks in these populations.

Pneumococcal clearance function of the intact autotransplanted spleen

OBJECTIVE

To determine if the venous drainage of the spleen into the portal circulation is essential for its ability to protect against encapsulated bacterial challenge.

DESIGN AND INTERVENTIONS

Three groups of dogs were randomly assigned to undergo either sham laparotomy, splenectomy, or splenectomy with autotransplantation of the intact spleen into the pelvis and formation of vascular anastomoses to the iliac vessels. Two weeks post-operatively, the dogs received a sublethal intravenous injection of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 25.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Bacterial clearances and inflammatory damage to the liver. Bacterial clearance of the autotransplanted spleen should be no different from that of a sham-operation spleen and significantly different from that of a splenectomized animal. In addition, immunologic function of the autotransplanted spleen should not differ from that of a sham-operation spleen in the degree of inflammatory damage to the liver.

RESULTS

No differences in bacterial clearance function were found between the animals that had undergone sham laparotomy or splenic autotransplantation. However, bacterial clearance in the splenectomized animals was significantly impaired. Histologic examination of the liver 2 weeks after the bacterial challenge revealed high-grade inflammatory damage to the livers of splenectomized dogs, intermediate liver damage in dogs that underwent autotransplantation, and essentially no damage in dogs that underwent sham laparotomy. Autotransplanted spleens were essentially nonreactive, lacking actively proliferating germinal centers, whereas splenic tissue from sham-operation animals showed reactivity.

CONCLUSION

Although bacterial clearance function is unchanged in autotransplanted spleens, this method still does not fully protect the liver from inflammatory damage.

In vivo analysis of straight-chain and branched-chain fatty acid biosynthesis in three actinomycetes

The starter units for branched-chain and straight-chain fatty acid biosynthesis was investigated in vivo in three actinomycetes using stable isotopes. Branched-chain fatty acids, which constitute the majority of the fatty acid pool, were confirmed to be biosynthesized using the amino acid degradation products methylbutyrl-CoA and isobutyrl-CoA as starter units. Straight-chain fatty acids were shown to be constructed using butyrl-CoA as a starter unit. Isomerization of the valine catabolite isobutyryl-CoA was shown to be only a minor source of this butyryl-CoA.

A series of mutations in the D-MEF2 transcription factor reveal multiple functions in larval and adult myogenesis in Drosophila

The D-mef2 gene encodes a MADS domain transcription factor expressed in differentiated muscles and their precursors in the Drosophila embryo. Embryos deficient for D-MEF2 protein due to a deletion of upstream transcriptional control sequences fail to form muscle, suggesting that the gene is required for muscle cell differentiation. To directly demonstrate a role for D-mef2 in embryonic myogenesis, we isolated gene mutants containing EMS-induced point mutations, characterized the effects of these mutations on D-MEF2 protein stability and nuclear localization, and analyzed the resulting muscle phenotypes. Our results show that in the somatic muscle lineage, D-mef2 is required for both the formation and patterning of body wall muscle. In the absence of somatic myogenesis, there is extensive apoptosis among the myoblast cell population. In contrast, in the cardiac muscle lineage, morphogenesis of the dorsal vessel occurs normally but the three myosin subunit genes are not expressed. Mutant embryos also exhibit an abnormal midgut morphology, which correlates with the absence of alpha PS2 integrin gene expression and muscle-specific enhancer function, suggesting that D-mef2 regulates the inflated locus which encodes this integrin subunit. D-MEF2 is also expressed in adepithelial cells and rare D-mef2 transheterozygous mutant adults fail to fly, consistent with defects observed in the indirect flight muscles. These results demonstrate that the D-mef2 gene has multiple functions in myogenesis and tissue morphogenesis during Drosophila development.

A check on rational drug design: crystal structure of a complex of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 protease with a novel gamma-turn mimetic inhibitor

We have previously reported (Newlander et al., J. Med. Chem. 1993, 36, 2321-2331) the design of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) protease inhibitors incorporating C7 mimetics that lock three amino acid residues of a peptide sequence into a gamma-turn. The design of one such compound, SB203238, was based on X-ray structures of reduced amide aspartyl protease inhibitors. It incorporates a gamma-turn mimetic in the P2-P1' position, where the carbonyl of the C7 ring is replaced with an sp3 methylene group yielding a constrained reduced amide. It shows competitive inhibition with Ki = 430 nM at pH 6.0. The three-dimensional structure of SB203238 bound to the active site of HIV-1 protease has been determined at 2.3 A resolution by X-ray diffraction and refined to a crystallographic R-factor (R = sigma magnitude of Fo magnitude of - magnitude of Fc magnitude of /sigma magnitude of Fo magnitude of, where Fo and Fc are the observed and calculated structure factor amplitudes, respectively) of 0.177. The inhibitor lies in an extended conformation in the active site; however, because of the constrained geometry of the C7 ring, it maintains fewer hydrogen bonds with the protein than in most other HIV-1 protease-inhibitor complexes. More importantly, the inhibitor binds to the enzyme differently than predicted in its design, by binding with the P2-P1' alpha-carbon atoms shifted by approximately one-half a residue toward the N-terminus from their presumed positions. This study illustrates the importance of structural information in an approach to rational drug design.

Adhesion of washed blood platelets in vitro is advanced, accelerated, and enlarged by oxidized low-density lipoprotein

In order to study the influence of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL) on platelet functional morphology at an early activation stage, washed human blood platelets were stimulated by 100 micrograms/ml Ox-LDL at 37 degrees C. The settling and spreading process of stimulated and unstimulated platelets on Formvar-coated glass was observed for approximately 20 min by reflection contrast microscopy (RCM) and quantified by image analysis. Each group consisted of at least 250 platelets. The results show that incubation with Ox-LDL causes platelet shape change and pseudopodia formation. The sedimentation of stimulated platelets precedes that of unstimulated platelets by approximately 3 min. The increase of the total adhesion area of all Ox-LDL treated platelets is significantly accelerated in comparison to normal platelets (20.45 microns2/min vs. 15.45 microns2/min; P < 0.01). The mean total adhesion area of Ox-LDL-treated platelets was generally larger than that of untreated platelets (189.7 microns2 vs. 144.7 microns2; P < 0.01). The disappearance of intracellular granules after platelet activation, observed by RCM, is supported by transmission electron microscopy. Our results suggest that Ox-LDL activates platelets and advances and accelerates their adhesion and thereby may contribute to pathological thrombosis and arteriosclerosis.

Evaluation on blood platelets by the image analysis system VIDAS 2.5

This paper introduces a program written on the image analysis system VIDAS 2.5. It enables the automatic quantification of high numbers of adhesion areas of vital human platelets, thus allowing statistical analysis. These adhesion areas were observed by reflection contrast microscopy (RCM), which generates images of an intense contrast and serves as a prerequisite for an evaluation by image analysis. However, RCM-photographs of the observed platelets have highly varying mean greyvalues and greyranges. These common problems for self-operating identification are excluded by two procedures within the program: 1. calibration of the scanning process for an optimal use of the available greyvalues provided by the negative, camera, and the image analysis system; and 2. relation of the threshold for discrimination of adhesion areas to the statistic parameters of the histogram within each individual digitized image. Images processed according to these prerequisites were transferred to the VIDAS implemented routines for identification and measurement of areas. Thus, image analysis combined with RCM offers a tool for basic and clinical platelet research, which is shown by an example of stimulation and inhibited stimulation of platelet activation.

Endothelial cells injured by oxidized low density lipoprotein

Cultured endothelial cells from bovine aorta were exposed to oxidized low density lipoprotein and examined by electron microscopy. The endothelial cells contracted slightly and the intercellular junctions became unclear. Some osmiophilic material increased in the cytoplasm. The oxidized low density lipoprotein appears to injure endothelial cells and thereby plays a causative role in atherogenesis and thrombogenesis.

Binding interactions of human interleukin 5 with its receptor alpha subunit. Large scale production, structural, and functional studies of Drosophila-expressed recombinant proteins

Human interleukin 5 (hIL5) and soluble forms of its receptor alpha subunit were expressed in Drosophila cells and purified to homogeneity, allowing a detailed structural and functional analysis. B cell proliferation confirmed that the hIL5 was biologically active. Deglycosylated hIL5 remained active, while similarly deglycosylated receptor alpha subunit lost activity. The crystal structure of the deglycosylated hIL5 was determined to 2.6-A resolution and found to be similar to that of the protein produced in Escherichia coli. Human IL5 was shown by analytical ultracentrifugation to form a 1:1 complex with the soluble domain of the hIL5 receptor alpha subunit (shIL5R alpha). Additionally, the relative abundance of ligand and receptor in the hIL5.shIL5R alpha complex was determined to be 1:1 by both titration calorimetry and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of dissolved cocrystals of the complex. Titration microcalorimetry yielded equilibrium dissociation constants of 3.1 and 2.0 nM, respectively, for the binding of hIL5 to shIL5R alpha and to a chimeric form of the receptor containing shIL5R alpha fused to the immunoglobulin Fc domain (shIL5R alpha-Fc). Analysis of the binding thermodynamics of IL5 and its soluble receptor indicates that conformational changes are coupled to the binding reaction. Kinetic analysis using surface plasmon resonance yielded data consistent with the Kd values from calorimetry and also with the possibility of conformational isomerization in the interaction of hIL5 with the receptor alpha subunit. Using a radioligand binding assay, the affinity of hIL5 with full-length hIL5R alpha in Drosophila membranes was found to be 6 nM, in accord with the affinities measured for the soluble receptor forms. Hence, most of the binding energy of the alpha receptor is supplied by the soluble domain. Taken with other aspects of hIL5 structure and biological activity, the data obtained allow a prediction for how 1:1 stoichiometry and conformational change can lead to the formation of hIL5.receptor alpha beta complex and signal transduction.

Scavenging effects of baicalin on free radicals and its protection on erythrocyte membrane from free radical injury

Using electron spin resonance (ESR) spin trapping technique, we found that baicalin (B) could scavenge hydroxyl radicals generated from Fenton reaction. It also could scavenge superoxide radicals generated from the reaction system containing xanthine (X) and xanthine oxidase (XO), as was found by using chemiluminescence (CL) method. Kinetic studies on the competition between baicalin and a spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-1-oxide (DMPO) in trapping OH showed that baicalin had a kinetic reactive rate constant of the order of 7.7 x 10(11) M-1 s-1 in its reaction with OH, and the studies on the competition between baicalin and ferricytochrome c (f.c.) in trapping O2- gave a kinetic reactive rate constant of 3.2 x 10(6) M-1 s-1 for baicalin in its reaction with O2-. Furthermore, we have investigated the protective effects of baicalin on erythrocyte membranes from hydroxyl free radical injuries. The results showed that baicalin could reduce hydrogen peroxide-induced hemolysis, protect the conformation of sulfhydryl groups (-SH) on membrane proteins and the membrane fluidity of erythrocytes incubated with hydrogen peroxide. The results indicated that baicalin could protect the membranes of erythrocytes from free radical injuries, and it was even more effective than alpha-tocopherol.

[Investigation on scoliosis incidence among 24,130 school children]

Through the screening on scoliosis among 24,130 school children in Hu Guan County, Shanxi Province, it showed that the forward-bending test was positive in 1,794 children (7.4 per cent), with male 3.64 per cent and female 3.8 per cent. The hump inclination angles that were more than 4 degrees were found in 665 children (2.75 per cent). The Cobb angles that were more than 10 degrees were found in 347 children. The incidence rate was 1.44 per cent, with a male to female ratio of 1:1.17. Most of them were idiopathic scoliosis.