Objective: To study the absorption and utilization of dietary iron, zinc and calcium of male adults of Yi nationality, for basic information to prevent and cure diseases related to mineral deficiencies. Method: Twelve young men aged between 20 and 22 from the region lived by Yi nationality were studied in 14 d period with metabolic balance technique. At the beginning of study, their fasting blood hemoglobin and hematocrit, serum ferritin, plasma zinc and calcium concentration were deteimined. During the 4-12 d of the study, experimental diet, subsequent feces and urine samples were also collected for determining the contents of iron, zinc and calcium by flame atom absorption spectrum method, and then apparent absorption rate, apparent utilization rate and metabolic balance of these minerals were calculated. Results: The apparent absorption rate of iron, zinc and calcium was (15.8?6.2)%, (24.5?4.1)% and (32.3?9.7) % and the apparent utilization rate was (1.9?5.7)%, (12.8?4.3)% and (5.5?15.9)% respectively. The metabolic study showed iron balance, and zinc balance, but calcium balance was variable. Conclusion: The intakes of iron and zinc from the diet can meet the requirements, but calcium cannot. More intakes of foods rich in calcium are recommended for Yi nationality.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate trends of overweight and obesity prevalence between 1996 and 2007 in Yi farmers and Yi migrants.

METHODSAn Yi migrant study was conducted in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, China from 1996 to 2007. Data were collected with identical methods, including standardized questionnaire and body measurements.

RESULTSAge- and sex-specific body mass index (BMI) significantly increased from 20.02 in 1996 to 22.36 in 2007, among Yi farmers, which was significantly different from those among Yi migrants (23.67 in 2007 and 20.90 in 1996) (P<0.05). Prevalence of obesity rose from 1.21 % in 1996 to 4.55 % in 2007 (OR=1.15, P<0.001) in Yi migrants, while that in Yi farmers from none in 1996 to 0.12 % in 2007 (P>0.05). Prevalence of overweight rose significantly to 26.24 % in 2007 from 17.24 % in 1996 (OR=1.06, P<0.001) in Yi migrants, while that in Yi farmers from 1.29 % in 1996 to 4.45 % in 2007 (OR=1.14, P>0.001). Yi migrants appeared to have a 5.52-fold higher risk on developing overweight and obesity than Yi farmers have.

CONCLUSIONThe Yi migrants had a steeper increase of overweight with year and consequently caused more obesity. Change in lifestyle may contribute most likely to higher prevalence of overweight and obesity in Yi migrants.

Adult ; Agriculture ; statistics & numerical data ; trends ; Body Mass Index ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; epidemiology ; Overweight ; epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Rural Population ; statistics & numerical data ; Transients and Migrants ; statistics & numerical data ; Urban Population ; statistics & numerical data ; Young Adult

The thalamocortical (TC) circuit is closely associated with pain processing. The hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) 2 channel is predominantly expressed in the ventral posterolateral thalamus (VPL) that has been shown to mediate neuropathic pain. However, the role of VPL HCN2 in modulating TC circuit activity is largely unknown. Here, by using optogenetics, neuronal tracing, electrophysiological recordings, and virus knockdown strategies, we showed that the activation of VPL TC neurons potentiates excitatory synaptic transmission to the hindlimb region of the primary somatosensory cortex (S1HL) as well as mechanical hypersensitivity following spared nerve injury (SNI)-induced neuropathic pain in mice. Either pharmacological blockade or virus knockdown of HCN2 (shRNA-Hcn2) in the VPL was sufficient to alleviate SNI-induced hyperalgesia. Moreover, shRNA-Hcn2 decreased the excitability of TC neurons and synaptic transmission of the VPL-S1HL circuit. Together, our studies provide a novel mechanism by which HCN2 enhances the excitability of the TC circuit to facilitate neuropathic pain.
Animals ; Mice ; Hyperpolarization-Activated Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Channels/genetics* ; Neuralgia ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Thalamus/metabolism* ; Up-Regulation