[An investigation of mental health in migrant workers in an enterprise]

Objective: To investigate the mental health status in migrant workers in a labor-intensive enterprise and related influencing factors. Methods: Typical sampling was used to perform an investigation in 910 migrant workers in a large foreign-funded labor-intensive enterprise in Shenzhen, China. All the respondents gave informed consent and completed the questionnaire independently and anonymously. The self-reported mental health status was evaluated using the Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, and General Health Questionnaire. Results: Of all the migrant workers in this enterprise, 7.2% had a positive self-reported anxiety symptom, 25.4% had a moderate or severe self-reported depression symptom, and 76.4% had a poor self-reported general health status. Age had significant influence on the self-reported depression symptom (χ²=21.968, P<0.05) ; age did not have significant influence on the self-reported anxiety and general health status (χ²=6.616、12.498, both P>0.05) . The knowledge of occupational hazards had significant influence on mental health status (χ²_Depression=47.289, χ²_{General health}=21.087, both P<0.05) . The feeling of work had significant influence on self-reported depression and general health status (χ²_Depression=52.406, χ²_{General health}=17.327, both P<0.05) . Attention to self mental health had significant influence on self-reported depression (χ²=17.714, P<0.05) , and whether the person wanted to learn the knowledge of mental health had significant influence on self-reported anxiety (χ²= 6.145, P<0.05) . Conclusion: The self-reported mental health status in migrant workers is poor and is associated with age, worry about exposure to occupational hazard factors, emphasis on mental health knowledge, and a focus on personal mental health. Therefore, targeted occupational health education and occupational mental health education should be strengthened.

NF1 frameshift mutation (c.6520_6523delGAGA) association with nervous system tumors and bone abnormalities in a Chinese patient with neurofibromatosis type 1

Neurofibromatosis type 1, also known as NF1 or von Recklinghausen's disease, is a common neurocutaneous syndrome that presents with multiple café-au-lait patches, skinfold freckling, dermatofibromas, neurofibromas, and Lisch nodules. The mutations of the gene NF1, encoding the protein neurofibromin, have been identified as the cause of this disease. Here, we report a clinical and molecular study of a Chinese patient with multiple café-au-lait skin freckles, dermatofibroma, central and peripheral nervous system tumors, and bone abnormalities attributed to NF1. The patient showed >6 café-au-lait spots on the body and multiple dermatofibromas. A brain glioma and multiple nerve sheath tumors inside and outside the vertebral canal were identified by magnetic resonance imaging, which also showed multiple intercostal nerve schwannomas and hydrocephalies above the cerebellar tentorium. Talipes equinus was also apparent. A mutation analysis of the NF1 gene revealed a novel frameshift mutation in exon 43, consisting of a heterozygous deletion of four nucleotides (GAGA) between positions 6520 and 6523. No NF1 mutations were detected in the patient's parents or younger brother. These results extend the list of known mutations in this gene. The absence of the NF1 mutation in the healthy family members suggests that it is responsible for the NF1 phenotype. To our knowledge, this frameshift mutation represents a novel NF1 case, and may be associated with nervous system tumors and bone abnormalities.

[Influencing factors of visual hallucinations in patients with Parkinson's disease and its relationship with sleep disorders]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prevalence and influencing factors of visual hallucinations in patients with Parkinson's disease(PD), and to analyze the relationship between visual hallucinations and sleep disorders.

METHODS

We recruited 187 patients with PD(H-Y Ⅰ-Ⅲ) from outpatient department in Beijing Hospital. The patients were investigated for general information and the use of medicine. The patients were divided into visual hallucination(VH) group and non-hallucination(non-VH) group. A comparison study was conducted between two groups. We investigated the sleep disorders of PD patients according to Non Motor Symptom Quest(NMSquest) and Parkinson's disease sleep scale(PDSS). Logistic stepwise multiple regression procedures were used to determine the best predictive model of visual hallucinations in patients with PD.

RESULTS

(1) 42 cases(22.5%) of PD patients were accompanied by visual hallucinations; (2) the VH group and non-VH group had no difference in age, sex, duration of illness, the scores of Minimum Mental State Examination(MMSE) and levodopa equivalent doses (LED). The scores of Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale(UPDRS) Ⅰ, the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety(HAMA) and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression(HAMD) in VH group were significantly higher than those in non-VH group[3.5(2, 5) vs 2 (1, 3); 10(6.75, 15) vs 8(5, 11); 11(7.75, 17) vs 9(5, 13); P<0.05]; (3) the incidences of vivid dreams and REM sleep behavior disorder(RBD) in VH group were significantly higher than those in non-VH group(61.9% vs 40.7%, 71.4% vs 47.6%, P<0.05). There were no significant differences in incidences of excessive daytime sleepiness and restless legs between two groups(P>0.05). The score of PDSS in VH group was significantly lower than that in non-VH group[111(92.75, 128.25) vs 123(109, 135), P<0.05]; (4) the Logistic stepwise multiple regression revealed that vivid dreams(P=0.045) and the score of PDSS(P=0.006) were the independent influencing factors for VH in PD patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of VH in PD with H-Y staging Ⅰ-Ⅱ is 22.5%. The presence of vivid dreams and severe sleep disorder are independently associated with VH in PD.

Correlation between serum IL-16 and atopic dermatitis

This study aims to investigate the correlation between allergic sensitization of atopic dermatitis (AD) patients and their serum interleukin (IL)-16 levels. AD patients, healthy volunteers, and patients with psoriasis (N = 80, 35, 20, respectively) were tested for serum IL-16 and total and specific IgE levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, along with eosinophil counts. Serum allergen-specific IgE levels were determined, and skin-prick testing conducted in a subgroup of 45 AD patients. Based on specific IgE levels, AD patients were categorized into non-sensitized group 1 and sensitized group 2. Furthermore, they were sorted as non-sensitized group A and sensitized group B based on skin-prick results. Next, the serum IL-16 and total IgE levels in these subgroups were determined. Compared to levels in healthy volunteers and psoriasis patients, the serum IL-16 levels in AD patients were significantly higher (P < 0.001). Additionally, total serum IgE levels were significantly correlated with serum IL-16 levels and eosinophil counts. However, no correlation was observed between serum IL-16 levels and eosinophil counts. The serum IL-16 and total IgE levels in group 2 were also significantly elevated (P < 0.001) in contrast to those in group 1. Although we did not observe any significant difference between serum IL-16 levels in groups A and B, the total serum IgE level in group B was significantly higher than that in group A (P < 0.001). Thus, allergic sensitivity in AD patients correlates with total serum IgE as well as serum IL-16; the correlation with IL-6 is weaker.

[A clinical study on the relationship of autonomic nervous function and arteriosclerosis in patients with essential hypertension]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between autonomic nervous function and arteriosclerosis in patients with essential hypertension.

METHODS

From January 2011 to December 2013, a total of 269 patients with essential hypertension hospitalized in Chang'an Branch of First People's Hospital of Liangshan were divided into normal PWV group (PWV<9 m/s, n=178) and high PWV group (PWV≥9 m/s, n=91) via the results of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV). Synchronic 24 hours ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and dynamic electrocardiogram were performed for all participants to simultaneously monitor the heart rate variability (HRV) and blood pressure variability (BPV) in these patients. Pearson single factor analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to define the relationship between PWV and HRV, BPV respectively.

RESULTS

The level of nHR/dHR (index of heart rate variability), 24 hour'sSSD, dSSD, nSSD (indexes of blood pressure variability) increased significantly (all P<0.05), while the level of SDANN (index of heart rate variability) decreased significantly (P<0.05) in high PWV group compared with normal PWV group. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that PWV was positively correlated with 24 hour'sSSD, 24 hour'sPP, LF, LF/HF and night/day heart rate ratio (all P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

HRV (LF, LF/HF, nHR/dHR) and BPV (24 hours'SSD, dSSD, nSSD) are positively correlated to arteriosclerosis in patients with essential hypertension. Our results show that sympathetic activation and vascular injury are closely related in patients with essential hypertension.

A High-sugar High-fat Diet Induced Metabolic Syndrome Shows some Symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease in Rats

OBJECTIVES

Cases of sporadic Alzheimer's disease (SAD) are the predominant form of the age-related dementia. New evidence suggests that metabolic syndrome (MS), a metabolic disorder, is an initiating factor of some SAD cases. A high-sugar high-fat diet could cause MS, we aimed to investigate whether it could directly lead to SAD.

MEASUREMENTS

The characteristic molecules of AD (hippocampus Aβ and Tau) were tested by using ELISA and western blotting to confirm the happening hallmarks of AD in brain. MS and inflammation related biochemical indicators were measured using immunological method. Proteins associated with the insulin resistance signal pathway (JNK, PI-3K, AKT, GSK-3β, GLUT3) were evaluated using western blotting method. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured by immunofluorescence method.

RESULTS

Expressions of hippocampus Aβ, phosphorylation-Tau (p-Tau), inflammatory factors and p-JNK, Gsk-3βwere higher in the model rats than those in the control rats and expressions of p-PI3K, p-AKT and GLUT3 were reversed.

CONCLUSIONS

The MS model animals, which can induce the characteristics symptoms of AD, and therefore it may be preliminarily considered that the AD pertains to the MS-related diseases.

Impact of adherence to GOLD guidelines on 6-minute walk distance, MRC dyspnea scale score, lung function decline, quality of life, and quality-adjusted life years in a Shanghai suburb

We performed a 1-year cluster-randomized field trial to assess the effect of standardized management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on lung function and quality of life (QOL) measures in patients in China. We used the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) treatment guidelines and assessed indexes including pulmonary function, QOL, quality-adjusted life years (QALY), Medical Research Council (MRC) dyspnea scale, 6-min walk distance (6-MWD), number of emergency visits, and frequency of hospitalization. Of a total of 711 patients with chronic cough and asthma, 132 were diagnosed as having COPD and 102 participated in this study [intervention group (N = 47); control group (N = 55)]. We found that adherence to GOLD guidelines had a perceivable impact on 6-MWD, MRC dyspnea scale score, and QOL. The average QALY increased by 1.42/person/year in the intervention group, but declined by 0.95/person/year in the control group. We conclude that standardized management improves disease severity, QOL, and QALY in COPD patients when treatment protocols adhere to GOLD guidelines.

Associations between parent-reported sleep duration and adiposity in Chinese early adolescents

BACKGROUND

Short sleep duration has recently been found to be associated with obesity in children, but findings involving adolescents have been less consistent, and some have mentioned gender differences.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the association between parent-reported sleep duration and adiposity in early adolescence (10-12 years old) and to explore gender differences within this population.

METHODS

Participants were 1309 fifth-grade students (685 boys) from 10 primary schools in Shanghai, China. Body mass index (BMI), waist-height ratio (WHeR) and body fat percentage (BF%) were assessed. Sleep and other potential contributors were recorded by parents or self-reported.

RESULTS

Compared with adolescents in the longest sleep group (greater than or equal to +1 SD, ≥10.05 h), those in the shortest sleep group (less than -1 SD, <8.89 h) had significantly higher BMI, WHeR and BF%. Sleep was found to be closely related to increased adiposity in girls who were in the shortest and shorter sleep group (<mean, <9.45 h). No association was found in boys.

CONCLUSIONS

Short sleep duration was associated with higher adiposity indices in early adolescents from China, especially in girls. Interventions focusing on modifying adolescents' sleep habits may potentially prevent obesity and overweight.

Empirical Selection of Informative Microsatellite Markers within Co-ancestry Pig Populations Is Required for Improving the Individual Assignment Efficiency

The Lanyu is a miniature pig breed indigenous to Lanyu Island, Taiwan. It is distantly related to Asian and European pig breeds. It has been inbred to generate two breeds and crossed with Landrace and Duroc to produce two hybrids for laboratory use. Selecting sets of informative genetic markers to track the genetic qualities of laboratory animals and stud stock is an important function of genetic databases. For more than two decades, Lanyu derived breeds of common ancestry and crossbreeds have been used to examine the effectiveness of genetic marker selection and optimal approaches for individual assignment. In this paper, these pigs and the following breeds: Berkshire, Duroc, Landrace and Yorkshire, Meishan and Taoyuan, TLRI Black Pig No. 1, and Kaohsiung Animal Propagation Station Black pig are studied to build a genetic reference database. Nineteen microsatellite markers (loci) provide information on genetic variation and differentiation among studied breeds. High differentiation index (FST) and Cavalli-Sforza chord distances give genetic differentiation among breeds, including Lanyu's inbred populations. Inbreeding values (FIS) show that Lanyu and its derived inbred breeds have significant loss of heterozygosity. Individual assignment testing of 352 animals was done with different numbers of microsatellite markers in this study. The testing assigned 99% of the animals successfully into their correct reference populations based on 9 to 14 markers ranking D-scores, allelic number, expected heterozygosity (HE) or FST, respectively. All miss-assigned individuals came from close lineage Lanyu breeds. To improve individual assignment among close lineage breeds, microsatellite markers selected from Lanyu populations with high polymorphic, heterozygosity, FST and D-scores were used. Only 6 to 8 markers ranking HE, FST or allelic number were required to obtain 99% assignment accuracy. This result suggests empirical examination of assignment-error rates is required if discernible levels of co-ancestry exist. In the reference group, optimum assignment accuracy was achievable achieved through a combination of different markers by ranking the heterozygosity, FST and allelic number of close lineage populations.

First Report of Fusarium equiseti Causing a Sheath Rot of Corn in China

Corn is the most important cereal crop in China. Over 34.94 million ha of corn is cultivated in the country annually. However, fungal diseases are a major limiting factor in corn production. In August 2008, 50 ha in several corn fields in Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang provinces were observed to be severely affected by a disease causing a yield loss of 30%. Results from field surveys suggested an epidemic during late corn growth stages that affected corn sheaths, causing irregularly circular spots with grayish brown to dark brown lesions. Lesions ranged from 2.5 to 3 × 3 to 5 cm. To isolate the causal agent, tissue was removed from the border of lesions and surface sterilized in 75% ethanol for 30 sec and 0.1% HgCl₂ for 1 min. The sample was then triple rinsed in sterile distilled water. The isolate was purified and subcultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA) at 25 ± 2°C. The initial color of the mycelium was white, turning brown after being cultured for 7 days. A pale brown to dark brown pigment developed in the agar beneath the colony. Chlamydospores, solitary but also in short chains, measuring 7.2 to 15.3 μm, were produced on carnation leaf agar (CLA) after 10 days and became verrucose 20 days later. Macroconidia were produced on CLA in orange sporodochia from monophialides on branched conidiophores, usually 5- to 7-septate, and apical cells were tapered and elongate. Basal cells were prominent, foot-shaped, and elongated in appearance. Microconidia were not observed (1). These morphological characteristics matched the description of Fusarium equiseti reported by Leslie and Summerell (1). A pathogenicity test was conducted with an isolate from each of the 36 corn plants by spraying 2 ml of spore suspension (10⁶ conidia/ml) on 45-day-old corn sheaths (cv. Huang Zao). For the control treatment, 36 corn plants were sprayed with an equal volume of sterilized water. Inoculated plants were placed in a greenhouse at 32 to 34°C and 95% relative humidity. Typical irregularly circular lesions were observed 7 days after inoculation, except in the control samples. Each treatment was replicated three times. The suspected pathogen was consistently re-isolated from diseased tissue according to Koch's postulates, and was found to be morphologically similar to F. equiseti. Preliminary morphological identification of the fungus was confirmed by a PCR assay using genomic DNA extracted from the mycelia of a 7-day-old culture on PDA at 25 ± 2°C. A 750-bp amplified region of the transcription elongation factor (TEF) of rDNA was generated using TEF1 (5'-ATGGGTAAGGAGGACAAGAC-3') and TEF2 (5'-GGAAGTACCAGTGATCATGTT-3') primers. The TEF region (GenBank Accession No. KF754798) was sequenced by Sangon Biotech Co., Ltd. (Shanghai, China) and displayed 99% nucleotide similarity with the rDNA-TEF of F. equiseti (JN127347.1) separately after a BLASTn search in GenBank. Based on the symptoms, fungal morphology, TEF sequence, and pathogenicity testing, this fungus was identified as F. equiseti. To our knowledge, this is the first report of F. equiseti on corn sheaths in China. This report will establish a foundation for further study of F. equiseti to address the disease effectively and to determine the severity of damage caused by F. equiseti. Reference: (1) J. F. Leslie and B. A. Summerell. The Fusarium Laboratory Manual. Blackwell, Ames, IA, 2006.

Effects of dietary copper on growth, digestive, and brush border enzyme activities and antioxidant defense of hepatopancreas and intestine for young grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

To investigate the effects of dietary copper (Cu) on fish growth, digestive and absorptive enzyme activities, and antioxidant status in the hepatopancreas and intestine, young grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) (282±2.8 g) were fed six diets containing 0.74 (basal diet), 2.26, 3.75, 5.25, 6.70, and 8.33 mg Cu /kg diet for 8 weeks. Results showed that percentage weight gain (PWG) and feed intake were increased with dietary Cu levels up to 3.75 mg/kg diet. In addition, the positive effects of dietary Cu at a level 3.75 or 5.25 mg/kg diet on trypsin, chymotrypsin, and lipase activities in the hepatopancreas and of Na(+), K(+)-ATPase, alkaline phosphatase, creatine kinase, and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase activities in three intestine segments produced significantly (P<0.05) better feed efficiency (FE). However, amylase activity in the hepatopancreas was decreased by dietary Cu levels up to 3.75 mg/kg diet (P<0.05). In addition, dietary Cu at 3.75 or 5.25 mg/kg diet decreased malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl content partly by significantly (P<0.05) increasing the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione-S-transferase, and glutathione content in the hepatopancreas and intestine. Collectively, dietary Cu improved growth and digestive and absorptive capacity and decreased lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation partly by enhancing antioxidant defense in the hepatopancreas and intestine. The dietary Cu requirement for PWG, plasma ceruloplasmin activity, and FE of young grass carp (282-688 g) were 4.78, 4.95, and 4.70 mg/kg diet, respectively.

First Report of Bipolaris papendorfii Causing Corn Leaf Spot in China

Corn is the most important cereal crop in China, with over 34.94 million ha being cultivated in the country annually. However, fungal diseases are a major limiting factor in corn production. In August 2012, 20 ha of corn fields in Anhui Province were found to be heavily infected by fungi. The margin of the lesion was achlorotic, and the middle was yellowish white or off-white, which was similar to the corn Curvalaria leaf spot. The oval lesions were approximately 5 to 7 mm. Lesion tissue was removed from the border between symptomatic and healthy tissue. The surface was sterilized in 75% ethanol for 30 s and 0.1% HgCl₂ for 1 min, after which the sample was washed three times in sterile distilled water. The isolate was purified and subcultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA) at 25 ± 2°C. The initial color of the colony was light brown, turning dark brown after being cultured for 7 days. The conidia were boat-shaped or inverted pear-shaped and were clearly bent to one side. The cells of both ends were slightly lighter and respectively ranged from 34.5 to 44.0 μm and 12.0 to 21.0 μm away from the base, with the second cell as the widest. The majority conidia had three or four false septates; isolates produced light brown to medium brown conidiophore, scattered or clustered, often branching, and exhibited bending. These morphological characteristics matched with the description of Bipolaris papendorfii reported by Zhang (3). A pathogenicity test was conducted with the two isolates on each of the 36 corns by spraying 2 ml spore suspension (10⁶ conidia/ml). For the control treatment, 36 corns were inoculated with an equal volume of sterilized water. Inoculated plants were placed in a greenhouse from 29 to 33°C and 95% relative humidity. The typical 5 to 7 mm oval lesions were observed 7 days after inoculation, except on the control samples. Three replications of 36 corns were used for each treatment. The isolate was consistently 100% reisolated from the diseased tissue according to Koch's postulate. The isolate was found to be morphologically similar to B. papendorfii. Preliminary morphological identification of the fungus was confirmed by PCR assay using genomic DNA extracted from the mycelium of a 7-day-old culture on PDA at 25 ± 2°C. A 550-bp amplified region of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of rDNA was generated using ITS1 (5'-TCCGTAGGTGAACCTGCGG-3') and ITS4 (5'-TCCTCCGCTTATTGATATGC-3') universal primers (1). The ITS region (GenBank Accession No. KC592365) was then sequenced by Sangon Biotech (Shanghai, China), and displayed 99% nucleotide similarity with the rDNA-ITS of B. papendorfii (JQ753972.1) separately after BLASTn research in GenBank. Based on the symptoms, fungal morphology, ITS sequence, and pathogenicity testing, this fungus was identified as B. papendorfii. The pathogen could reportedly infect tobacco and cotton (2). To our knowledge, this is the first study to report that B. papendorfii can infect corn in China. This report will establish a foundation for the further study of B. papendorfii to address the disease effectively. Further studies will be conducted to determine the incidence of the disease and the severity of damage caused by B. papendorfii as well as determine a possible mode for controlling the spread of the disease. References: (1) Y. J. Cao et al. Chin. J. Trop. Crops 31:1098, 2010. (2) H. Deng et al. Mycosystema 21:327, 2002. (3) T. Y. Zhang. Chin. Fungi Chi. 30:21, 2010.

CHAPERONIN 20 mediates iron superoxide dismutase (FeSOD) activity independent of its co-chaperonin role in Arabidopsis chloroplasts

Iron superoxide dismutases (FeSODs; FSDs) are primary antioxidant enzymes in Arabidopsis thaliana chloroplasts. The stromal FSD1 conferred the only detectable FeSOD activity, whereas the thylakoid membrane- and nucleoid-co-localized FSD2 and FSD3 double mutant showed arrested chloroplast development. FeSOD requires cofactor Fe for its activity, but its mechanism of activation is unclear. We used reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gel filtration chromatography, LC-MS/MS, protoplast transient expression and virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) analyses to identify and characterize a factor involved in FeSOD activation. We identified the chloroplast-localized co-chaperonin CHAPERONIN 20 (CPN20) as a mediator of FeSOD activation by direct interaction. The relationship between CPN20 and FeSOD was confirmed by in vitro experiments showing that CPN20 alone could enhance FSD1, FSD2 and FSD3 activity. The in vivo results showed that CPN20-overexpressing mutants and mutants with defective co-chaperonin activity increased FSD1 activity, without changing the chaperonin CPN60 protein level, and VIGS-induced downregulation of CPN20 also led to decreased FeSOD activity. Our findings reveal that CPN20 can mediate FeSOD activation in chloroplasts, a role independent of its known function in the chaperonin system.

Effect of soy isoflavones on blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The effect of soy isoflavones on blood pressure is controversial. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary soy isoflavones on blood pressure.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Trials were searched in PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase and references cited in related reviews and studies. A total of eleven trials were reviewed. Meta-analysis results showed a mean decrease of 2.5 mm Hg (95% CIs, - 5.35 to 0.34 mm Hg; P = 0.08) for systolic blood pressure and 1.5 mm Hg (95% CIs, - 3.09 to 0.17 mm Hg; P = 0.08) for diastolic blood pressure in the soy isoflavones-treated group compared to placebo. Meta-regression and subgroup analyses indicated that blood pressure status was a significant predictor of heterogeneity for the effect of soy isoflavones on blood pressure. Subgroup analysis of hypertensive subjects revealed that a greater blood pressure reduction was identified in the soy isoflavone-treated group compared to placebo (5 trials; SBP: - 5.94, 95% CIs [- 10.55, - 1.34] mm Hg, P = 0.01; DBP: - 3.35, 95% CIs [- 6.52, - 0.19] mm Hg, P = 0.04). In contrast, treatment with soy isoflavones did not lead to a significant reduction in blood pressure in normotensive subjects (6 trials; SBP: 0.29, 95% CIs [- 2.39, 2.97] mm Hg, P = 0.83; DBP: - 0.43, 95% CIs [- 1.66, 0.81] mm Hg, P = 0.50).

CONCLUSION

Soy isoflavones had an effect of lowering blood pressure in hypertensive subjects, but not in normotensive subjects. Larger trials need to be carried out to confirm the present findings.

The effect of a high-fat meal on postprandial arterial stiffness in men with obesity and type 2 diabetes

CONTEXT

Postprandial dysmetabolism is emerging as an important cardiovascular risk factor. Augmentation index (AIx) is a measure of systemic arterial stiffness and independently predicts cardiovascular outcome.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of a standardized high-fat meal on metabolic parameters and AIx in 1) lean, 2) obese nondiabetic, and 3) subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

DESIGN AND SETTING

Male subjects (lean, n = 8; obese, n = 10; and T2DM, n = 10) were studied for 6 h after a high-fat meal and water control. Glucose, insulin, triglycerides, and AIx (radial applanation tonometry) were measured serially to determine the incremental area under the curve (iAUC).

RESULTS

AIx decreased in all three groups after a high-fat meal. A greater overall postprandial reduction in AIx was seen in lean and T2DM compared with obese subjects (iAUC, 2251 +/- 1204, 2764 +/- 1102, and 1187 +/- 429% . min, respectively; P < 0.05). The time to return to baseline AIx was significantly delayed in subjects with T2DM (297 +/- 68 min) compared with lean subjects (161 +/- 88 min; P < 0.05). There was a significant correlation between iAUC AIx and iAUC triglycerides (r = 0.50; P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Obesity is associated with an attenuated overall postprandial decrease in AIx. Subjects with T2DM have a preserved, but significantly prolonged, reduction in AIx after a high-fat meal. The correlation between AIx and triglycerides suggests that postprandial dysmetabolism may impact on vascular dynamics. The markedly different response observed in the obese subjects compared with those with T2DM was unexpected and warrants additional evaluation.

The study on role of peripheral blood mononuclear cell in HBV intrauterine infection

OBJECTIVE

To explore the role of mother's peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) in intrauterine transmission.

METHODS

We have selected 60 cases of pregnant women with negative serum HBV DNA and positive PBMC HBV DNA from hospitalized patients. These women and their neonates acted as the experimental group. Twenty cases of pregnant women with HBV serum marker negative were selected. These women and their neonates served as the control group. Immunohistochemistry was employed to detect the expressions of HBsAg and HBcAg in cells of every placental layer and CD68 cells of placenta of the pregnant women whose neonates' PBMC HBV DNA was positive and/or whose neonates' serum HBV DNA positive.

RESULTS

In the experimental group, neonatal serum HBV DNA of only four cases were positive, only eight cases' neonatal PBMC HBV DNA were positive and four cases had HBV DNA positive in both neonatal serum and PBMC. The expressions of HBsAg and HBcAg were detected in CD68 cells of villous stroma and blood capillary in only eight cases of neonatal placenta with positive PBMC HBV DNA. HBV infection was found in cells of every layer in placenta in two of four cases with neonatal serum HBV DNA positive. The expressions of HBsAg and HBcAg were detected in trophoblastic cells, CD68 cells of villous stroma and blood capillary in two of four cases with HBV DNA positive in both neonatal serum and PBMC. In control group, no positive signals were detected in neonates and placenta.

CONCLUSION

HBV-infected PBMC in pregnant women may lead to intrauterine infection.

Prenatal exposure to lipopolysaccharide results in cognitive deficits in age-increasing offspring rats

Studies have suggested that maternal infection/inflammation maybe a major risk factor for neurodevelopmental brain damage. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of prenatal exposure to a low level of inflammatory stimulation lipopolysaccharide (LPS) repeatedly on spatial learning and memory performances in rat offspring's lifetime. Sixteen pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups. The rats in the LPS group were treated i.p. with LPS (0.79 mg/kg) at gestation day 8, 10 and 12; meanwhile the rats in the control group were treated with saline. After delivery, the rat offspring at 3- (young), 10- (adult) and 20-mon-old (aged) were allocated. Spatial learning and memory abilities were tested by Morris water maze. The structure of hippocampal CA1 region was observed by light microscopy. The expression of synaptophysin (SYP) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in hippocampal CA1 region were measured by immunohistochemistry. Results showed that the rat offspring of LPS group needed longer escape latency and path-length in the Morris water maze and presented a significant neuron loss, decreased expression of SYP, increased expression of GFAP in CA1 region in histological studies. All these changes were more significant with the age increasing. These findings support the hypothesis that maternal systemic inflammation may alter the state of astrocytes in rat offspring for a long time, the alteration may affect neurons and synapse development in neural system, increase the neurons' vulnerability to environment especially as the age increasing, at last result in distinct learning and memory impairment.

HIV/AIDS education effects on behaviour among senior high school students in a medium-sized city in China

Few studies have examined the long-term effects of peer-led HIV prevention in Chinese adolescents. A two-year follow-up study was conducted among senior high school students in a medium-sized city of Fujian Province, from 1 March 2006 to 30 April 2008. In all, 3068 students from 14 schools were invited in March 2006, and 893 students in five schools were followed up. Data were collected at baseline, right after intervention (one month later) and two years later by a self-administered questionnaire. In the intervention group, the average knowledge score including reproductive health and HIV/AIDS/sexually transmitted diseases rose from 4.30 to 7.06 one month later (P < 0.01) and to 7.08 two years later (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference between the average knowledge score after one month and two years (P > 0.05). Sustained increases were found in the attitude scores towards people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) and intention of condom use after intervention. The study indicates that peer-led HIV prevention education succeeds in improving and sustaining HIV/AIDS-related knowledge and some behaviour intentions. Future research should focus on strategies to sustain long-term behaviour change.

Genetic variation and phylogenetics of Lanyu and exotic pig breeds in Taiwan analyzed by nineteen microsatellite markers

The Lanyu pig is an indigenous miniature pig breed on Lanyu Islet near Taiwan, with a mitochondrial DNA genetic lineage remote from Asian and European pig breeds. The unknown population genetic structure and increased inbreeding among the small population of conserved Lanyu pigs is now of great conservation concern. Additionally, the presence for more than a century of exotic pig breeds in Taiwan has made gene introgression from exotic pig breeds into Lanyu pigs very possible. The present study thus aimed to investigate nuclear genetic variation within the conserved Lanyu pigs and the phylogenetic relationship and possible genetic introgression between Lanyu and exotic pig breeds by determining the polymorphism of 19 microsatellite loci. In the neighbor-joining tree constructed from 7 pig breeds based on Cavalli-Sforza and Edward chord genetic distances, 3 major clades were recognized, in which the Asian and European breeds were separately clustered into 2 clades with a 93.0 and 99.9% bootstrap confidence value, respectively. All individuals of the Lanyu breed formed a unique subclade within the Asian clade based on the distance of the proportion of shared alleles, -ln(ps), suggesting that the Lanyu breed possesses a unique nuclear genetic structure and that no nuclear gene introgression from exotic breeds into the conserved Lanyu pigs has occurred in recent history. Fifteen of 19 microsatellite loci deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (by Wright's statistic), suggesting a significant loss of heterozygosity in the conserved population. The valuable nuclear genetic structure and phylogenetic information should assist future conservation and population management of Lanyu pigs.

Interpopulation and intrapopulation maternal lineage genetics of the Lanyu pig (Sus scrofa) by analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome b and control region sequences

The Lanyu pig is an indigenous breed from the Lanyu Islet, which is southeast of Taiwan. Two herds of Lanyu pigs were introduced from the Lanyu Islet into Taiwan in 1975 and 1980. The current population of conserved Lanyu pigs consists of only 44 animals with unknown genetic lineage. The Lanyu pig possesses a distinct maternal genetic lineage remote from Asian and European pigs. The present study aimed to understand the phylogenetic relationship among conserved Lanyu, Asian, and European type pigs based on the cytochrome b coding gene, to ascertain the maternal lineage and genetic diversity within the conserved Lanyu pigs, and to address whether genetic introgression from exotic or Formosan wild pigs had occurred in the conserved Lanyu pigs. Entire mitochondrial genomes of both types of Lanyu pig comprised 2 ribosomal RNA, 22 transfer RNA, and 13 protein-coding genes. Only 2 haplotypes of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region and cytochrome b were identified in the conserved Lanyu pig herds. When maximum likelihood trees were constructed, the Type I Lanyu mitochondrial genes formed a unique clade with a large pairwise distance of both cytochrome b and the control region from Asian and European type breeds, Formosan wild pigs, and exotic breeds. Significant loss of genetic diversity of mtDNA within the conserved Lanyu pigs was demonstrated by low haplotype and nucleotide diversities, supported by Fu and Li's D* neutrality test (1.44055; P < 0.05). The mtDNA control region sequences of extant pigs in the Lanyu Islet, however, showed high haplotype and nucleotide diversity, and clustered with exotic pigs. These results indicate no maternal lineage mtD-NA gene introgression from Formosan wild pigs and introduced exotic pigs to conserved Type I Lanyu pigs, and a severe loss of heterozygosity of mtDNA in conserved Lanyu pigs. The remaining extant pigs on the Lanyu Islet have been introgressed with exotic breeds. Strategies for future conservation of native Lanyu pigs are now even more urgent and important.

CITED2 mediates the paradoxical responses of HIF-1alpha to proteasome inhibition

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) is destabilized via the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Thus HIF-1alpha expression is robustly upregulated by proteasome inhibition, but paradoxically its activity is reduced. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism underlying the paradoxical response of HIF-1alpha to proteasome inhibition. In both Hep3B and HEK293 cells, a proteasome inhibitor MG132 noticeably attenuated hypoxic induction of erythropoietin and VEGF mRNAs. MG132 inactivated HIF-1alpha C-terminal transactivation domain (CAD), independently of factor inhibiting HIF-1 (FIH) and inhibited p300 recruitment by HIF-1alpha. We next tested the possibility that CITED2 is involved in the HIF-1 inactivation. CITED2 was found to be degraded via the ubiquitin-proteasome system and thus was stabilized by proteasome inhibition. Both the activity and the p300 binding of HIF-1alpha were inhibited by CITED2 expression and recovered by CITED2 siRNA in the presence of MG132. These results suggest that CITED2 is stabilized by proteasome inhibition and inactivates HIF-1 by interfering with the HIF-1alpha-p300 interaction. This may be an important mode-of-action for proteasome inhibition-based cancer therapy.

The type I Lanyu pig has a maternal genetic lineage distinct from Asian and European pigs

The Lanyu pig is an indigenous breed from Lanyu Islet, located south-east of Taiwan, with phenotypic characteristics distinctive from other pig breeds in Asia and Europe. Based on geographic considerations, the Lanyu pig may have originated from mainland China, Austronesia or the Ryukyu Islands. In the present study, polymorphism of the mitochondrial DNA control region sequence was used to clarify phylogenetic relationships among two herds of Lanyu pigs imported before 1980 from Lanyu Islet into Taiwan and reared in isolation on two different farms. Two distinct mitochondrial control region haplotypes were found. The type I Lanyu sequence appeared independently as a unique clade different from Asian and European pig sequences, while the type II Lanyu sequence was clustered within the major Asian clade. The pairwise distances between the major Asian clade vs. the type I Lanyu and European clades were 0.01726 +/- 0.00275 and 0.01975 +/- 0.00212 changes per site respectively. Estimates of divergence time suggest that the type I Lanyu sequence split from the major Asian pig clade in prehistoric times. The type II Lanyu mtDNA shares a close genetic lineage with Japanese Satsuma and New Zealand Kune Kune mtDNA with pairwise distances of 0.00095 +/- 0.00000 and 0.00192 +/- 0.00000 respectively, indicating gene flow between Lanyu Islet, Japan and Oceania in recent times. Together these results indicate that the type I Lanyu pig has a genetic lineage separate from Asian-type pigs, while the type II Lanyu sequence may represent a more recent introgression of modern Asian pigs.

Improving energy accumulation of microbial fuel cells by metabolism regulation using Rhodoferax ferrireducens as biocatalyst

AIMS

To study the physiology and metabolism of microbial cells in the performance of microbial fuel cells (MFCs).

METHODS AND RESULTS

A dual-chamber MFCs was constructed, and Rhodoferax ferrireducens was used as biocatalyst. To examine the physiology of microbial cells in the performance of MFCs, the anode media containing planktonic cells was replaced with fresh media in which KH(2)PO(4) and/or NH(4)Cl were excluded. The replacing of anode media containing planktonic cells with fresh media excluded of KH(2)PO(4) and NH(4)Cl made the coulombic yield remarkably increased by a factor of 68% (from 29.1 to 46.8C). The results showed that the electricity could be generated with cells in biofilms as biocatalyst, and coulombic yield was improved by limiting cell growth via removal of ingredients in anode media. By supplementation of glucose to the anode media when current declined to baseline, MFCs achieved about same platform current values immediately. MFCs could continue to produce electricity for about 30 h even after glucose was below detection.

CONCLUSIONS

Biofilms and metabolism of glucose play important roles in the performance of MFCs. Coulombic yield of MFCs could be improved by regulating the media ingredients using the stable biofilms-electrode system.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This is the first attempt to study the effect of ingredient compositions of anode media on the performance of MFCs. The observed results that MFCs continued to produce electricity after glucose was below detection was helpful to better understand the mechanism of microbial electricity production.

Characterization of a poly-epsilon-caprolactone polymeric drug delivery device built by selective laser sintering

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), an established Rapid Prototyping (RP) process, is investigated for building controlled drug delivery devices (DDD). The drug and its matrix in a powder form were first mixed mechanically before being sintered on the SLS. Each cylindrical DDD is designed with a number of concentric rings separated from each other by a characteristic 'wall' created by the laser of the SLS. These rings act as diffusion obstacles to control the rate of release. Poly-epsilon-caprolactone (PCL) was used as the matrix and Methylene Blue (MB) as the drug model. Samples were built, characterized and tested for homogeneity using Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometry (FTIR). Experimental results show that the matrices fabricated are not affected by sintering and the polymer and drug model are evenly distributed throughout the matrix. The initial burst effect has been reduced by the increase of the numbers of rings. The linear curve using the Higuchi equation confirmed that the DDD matrix release profile is by diffusion. These results show that the DDD matrix design has promising potential for application in controlled release drug delivery.