Objective To explore the iodine status of pregnant women after 17 years of salt iodization in rural areas of Shijiazhuang City.Methods Probability proportionate to size sampling was employed in which 30 towns were selected from the 211 towns in the rural areas of Shijiazhuang City.In each town selected,40 pregnant women were randomly selected to collect their spot urine samples,edible salt samples and drinking water samples from their households to measure iodine content.The iodine content of salt was determined quantitatively using a titration method (GB/F 13025.7-2012).The urinary iodine content was determined using the method of ammonium persulfate digestion arsenic cerium catalytic spectrophotometry (WS/T 107-2006).The iodine content in drinking water was determined by the method of standard test for drinking water.Results A total of 1 200 salt samples was collected from the pregnant women's households in 30 towns,with the overall median iodine content being 27.2 mg/kg.The median salt iodine content in 30 towns varied from 23.4 to 32.6 mg/kg.A total of 478 water samples were collected,with a median of 5.3 μg/L.The median urinary iodine content (UIC) of 1 200 pregnant women in 30 towns was 146.4 μg/L.The median UIC in the first (≤ 13 weeks),second (14 ～ 26 weeks) and third (≥27 weeks) trimesters was 166.3,145.1 and 133.5 μg/L,respectively.The median UIC in the first trimester was significantly higher than that in the third trimester (Mann-Whitney Test,U =18 265,P ＜ 0.05).Except for the 9-20 and 37-40 weeks period of pregnancy,the median UIC was lower than the WHO criteria (150 μg/L).Tested by linear correlation,the pregnant women's median UIC did not correlate with median salt iodine (r =0.725,P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Under the current universal salt iodization,the pregnant women's iodine intake could almost meet their requirement in the rural areas of Shijiazhuang City,however,mild iodine deficiency has existed in the third trimester.Alternative measures of iodine supplement could be implemented.

Objective To investigate whether conventional protein kinase C (cPKC ) βⅡ-interacting collapsin response mediator protein-2 (CRMP-2) provides neuroprotection against cerebral ischemic (I) injuries. Methods Male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into normoxic control (Nor) , HPC, Nor + Sham, HPC + Sham, Nor + I and HPC + I groups (n = 6 per group). Using our HPC and MCAO mouse models, we applied immunoprecipita-tion, two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry to characterize cPKCβⅡ-interacting proteins and combined with SDS-PAGE and Western blot to quantitatively analyze CRMP-2 phosphorylation and degradation levels in the brain of mice after HPC and MCAO. Results The expression level of 10 cPKCβⅡ-interacting proteins changed obviously in cerebral cortex of HPC mice when compared with Nor group. One of these proteins, CRMP-2 protein level increased in particulate fraction and decreased in cytosolic fraction of cerebral cortex of HPC mice. CRMP-2 phosphorylation level in ischemic core (Ic) of cerebral cortex decreased significantly ( P < 0. 05 , n = 6) as compared with that of Nor + sham group, but CRMP-2 phosphorylation level in HPC +I group increased significantly as compared with that of Nor +I group ( P < 0. 05, n = 6). In ischemic cortex, CRMP-2 degradation (proteolysis) was observed as the appearance of 55 ku breakdown products (BDP). However, the CRMP-2 degradation level, BDPs products decreased significantly in penumbra ( P) of ischemic cortex from HPC +I group when we compared with that of Nor +I group (P < 0. 05, n = 6 ). Conclusion CRMP-2 is involved in attenuating the decrease of CRMP-2 phosphorylation in ischemic core and in inhibiting its degradation in penumbra of cerebral cortex of mice thereby to lessen the ischemic injuries.

Based on the teaching concept of constructivism, this study aims to promote independent inquiry-based learning and clinical thinking among students and establish the guiding ideology of "full participation, process control, in-depth discussion, and expansion of thinking". A blending learning model was adopted with offline inquiry-based group learning and in-class defense and comment, as well as online teacher-student interaction and supervision to promote learning. Case-problem-based learning (CPBL) of pathophysiology was carried out among the medical students in the class of 2017, and process management was strengthened to effectively manage the two key links of data retrieval and group discussion. The analysis of 176 teaching evaluations collected at the end of the semester show that in terms of the overall evaluation of CPBL teaching, 162 students (92.05%) had high evaluation on teaching objectives, organization, cases, and personal gains and held a very or relatively favorable attitude. There were more negative feedbacks on "appropriate time allocation"; 21 students (11.93%) held a relatively or very disapproving attitude, and 149 students (84.66%) "felt very tired". In terms of teaching effect evaluation, 150 students (85.23%) strongly or relatively agreed that CPBL teaching may help to understand professional knowledge, stimulate learning enthusiasm and initiative, improve problem solving ability, emphasize clinical practice to cultivate clinical thinking, supervise and promote learning, and enhance team cooperation and teacher-student communication. In terms of the evaluation of teachers, 167 students (94.89%) thought that teachers were rigorous, responsible, and enthusiastic in teaching, attached importance to process management, and did well in effective guidance and thinking inspiration (strongly or relatively agree). The above results suggest that the CPBL teaching reform of pathophysiology based on process management can effectively promote in-depth inquiry-based independent learning and the cultivation of clinical thinking and improve teaching effectiveness, but further improvement is needed for teaching arrangement and time allocation.

Objective To study epidemic of schistosomiasis in the Qiandao Lake reservoir area,and to provide a reference for prevention and control of schistosomiasis in the construction of large water conservancy projects in the epidemic area of schistosomiasis.Methods The data over the years of snail condition and monitoring of schistosomiasis before and after building the dam,and water conservancy project reconstruction related information were collected.Based on the survey results of the river channel,the lake beach and the dissipation zone in the reservoir area,the influence of Xin'an River water conservancy project on epidemic of schistosomiasis in the Qiandao Lake reservoir area was analyzed,and the epidemic factors of the schistosomiasis in the Three Gorges reservoir were compared and analyzed.Results Before the dam was built,an area of 38 144 000 m2 was examined but Oncomelania was undetected.The Qiandao Lake reservoir area belonged to a non epidemic area of schistosomiasis.After the dam was built,557 cases of schistosomiasis were found in 6 232 immigrants during 1962-1965,resulting in an imported epidemic.In 1970-1980,an area of 379 654 m2 in which Oncomelania was found was examined and snails were mainly distributed in some rice fields and ditches in the end of the reservoir.949 cases of local schistosomiasis were found in the snails.The condition and condition of the snail are gradually controlled through several decades of comprehensive prevention and control.Compared with the epidemic factors of schistosomiasis in Qiandao Lake and the Three Gorges reservoir,the environment of elevation beach and ecologically fragile fluctuation zone coexist in the two reservoir areas.Conclusion From the long-term longitudinal monitoring data of the Qiandao Lake reservoir area and the epidemic regularity of schistosomiasis and the comparison with the ecology of the Three Gorges reservoir,it is concluded that the two reservoir areas will not cause a large range of schistosomiasis epidemic in general,but it does not exclude the possibility of the breeding of the inputting Oncomelania.

AIM:To investigate the influence of fat mass and obesity-associated(Fto)gene on the aberrant contraction of aortic smooth muscle in diabetes mellitus(DM)mice,and to explore the mechanism of Fto gene underlying the calcium regulation.METHODS:Smooth muscle-specific Fto gene knockout(FtoSMKO)mice were generated using Cre-loxP technology.The experiment involved 3 groups of mice:wild-type(WT)group,DM model group and FtoSMKO-DM group,with 15 mice in each group.In DM group and FtoSMKO-DM group,type 1 DM was induced by intraperitoneal injec-tion of streptozotocin.The mice in WT group were injected with equal volume of citric acid-sodium citrate buffer solution.The influences of different drugs on the contraction responses of aortic smooth muscle in mice were analyzed using a multi-myograph system.The expression level of FTO protein in the aortic tissues was detected by Western blot.RESULTS:(1)Compared with WT mice,the expression levels of FTO protein in the aortic tissues of DM mice were significantly in-creased(P＜0.01).(2)The expression level of FTO protein in smooth muscle was significantly decreased after knockout of Fto gene(P＜0.01).Compared with WT group,the mice in DM group exhibited a significant decrease in body weight and a marked increase in fasting blood glucose level(P＜0.05).There were no noticeable differences in body weight or fasting blood glucose level between FtoSMKO-DM group and DM group(P＞0.05).(3)The contraction responses of aortic smooth muscle in DM group were substantially increased by phenylephrine compared with WT group.Specifically,vaso-constriction responses mediated by non-L-type calcium channels and store-operated calcium channels(SOCC)were signifi-cantly enhanced in DM group.In addition,the responses mediated by inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors(IP3R),which facilitate calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum,were significantly enhanced.However,the responses mediated by caffeine-activated ryanodine receptors(RyR),which also facilitate calcium release from the sarcoplasmic re-ticulum,were significantly inhibited(P＜0.05).(4)Compared with DM group,the phenylephrine-induced contraction re-sponses of aortic smooth muscle in FtoSMKO-DM group were greatly weakened(P＜0.05).In particular,the vasoconstriction responses mediated by non-L-type calcium channels and SOCC in FtoSMKO-DM group were greatly suppressed(P＜0.05),while those mediated by caffeine-activated RyR were dramatically boosted(P＜0.05).However,IP3R-mediated responses were not affected(P＞0.05).CONCLUSION:Smooth muscle-specific Fto gene knockout suppresses contractile hyperre-sponsiveness in the aortic smooth muscle of DM mice,which may be attributed to involvement of FTO protein in calcium regulation in the vascular smooth muscle.

AIM:To investigate the mechanism of Piezo1 channel activation promoting the increase in intra-cellular Ca2+ concentration([Ca2+]i)of rat coronary artery smooth muscle cells(CASMCs).METHODS:The primary CASMCs of SD rats were cultured,and the expression and subcellular localization of Piezo1 in the cells were observed by immunofluorescence staining.The Piezo1 and stromal interaction molecule 1(STIM1)in CASMCs were knocked down by siRNA transfection,and the expression levels of the proteins were detected by Western blot.Utilizing laser confocal mi-croscopy,the change of[Ca2+]i in CASMCs was detected by Fluo-4 AM fluorescent probes.RESULTS:It was confirmed by immunofluorescence staining that the expression of Piezo1 existed in primary rat CASMCs.Immunofluorescence staining also showed that Piezo1 was co-located with sarco-/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase 2(SERCA2),mitochondrial outer membrane protein TOM20 and nuclear membrane protein lamin B1.Western blot results showed that the protein expres-sion levels of STIM1 and Piezo1 were significantly down-regulated by siRNA transfection(P<0.05).Compared with con-trol group,Yoda1,the agonist of Piezo1,could increase the extracellular Ca2+ influx of CASMCs(P<0.01).However,the Ca2+ influx mediated by Yoda1 was not affected by the inhibition of L-type calcium channels.Treatment with Yoda1 in-creased the intracellular Ca2+ release of CASMCs(P<0.01).However,inhibition of calcium channels on endoplasmic re-ticulum,ryanodine receptor and inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor,did not affect intracellular Ca2+ release mediated by Yoda1.After the Ca2+ in endoplasmic reticulum was emptied using thapsigargin(TG),Yoda1 also mediated the Ca2+ re-lease of other organelles in CASMCs(P<0.01).After inhibition of L-type calcium channels,treatment with store-operated calcium channel(SOCC)inhibitor BTP2 or knockdown of STIM1 led to the decrease in extracellular Ca2+ influx of CASMCs mediated by Yoda1(P<0.01).Treatment with TG increased the release of Ca2+ from the endoplasmic reticulum of CASMCs after knockdown of Piezo1(P<0.05),but the extracellular Ca2+ influx mediated by TG was not affected.After inhibition of L-type calcium channels and SOCC,knockdown of Piezo1 led to the decreases in intracellular Ca2+ release and extracellular Ca2+ influx induced by Yoda1(P<0.01).CONCLUSION:The Piezo1 agonist orchestrates the influx of extracellular Ca2+ by activating Piezo1 channels on the cell membrane and inducing the indirect activation of SOCC.More-over,it facilitates the release of Ca2+ from organelles.Consequently,these pathways synergistically elevate the[Ca2+]i of rat CASMCs.