BACKGROUND:Preadipocyte is a kind of specific precursor cells with the potential of proliferation and differentiation into adipocytes.If factor or drug with strong promotion of preadipocyte proliferation and differentiation is obtained and used in adipose tissue transplantation,which could elevate transplantation outcome of adipose tissues.OBJECTIVE:To find an optimal culture environment and to accumulate culture experience of in vitro culture 3T3-L1 preadipocytes,and to observe the effect of insulin-like growth factor(IGF)-1 on the proliferation and differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes,and to explore the optimal concentration of IGF-1.DESIGN,TIME AND SETTING:The cell control observation was performed at the Science Experiment Center,Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from October 2007 to February 2008.MATERIALS:3T3-L1 preadipocytes were purchased from Shanghai Institutes For Biological Sciences.IGF-1 was bought from Biological,USA.METHODS:According to in vitro culture direction of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes,3T3-L1 preadipocytes were divided into 6 groups.3T3-L1 preadipocytes in the blank control group were inoculated in high-glucose DMEM supplemented with 0.1 volume fraction of fetal bovine serum.3T3-L1 preadipocytes in each experimental groups were respectively treated with high-glucose DMEM containing 5,10,20,50,100 ?g/L IGF-1 and 0.1 volume fraction of fetal bovine serum.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Growth,proliferation and differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in each experimental groups under the inverted microscope,and photographed.When cells were confluence,cell cycles were detected by flow cytometry.Growth rate of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes was measured by MTT essay.Fat growth rate in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were examined by using oil red O stained-extracted assay.RESULTS:Inverted microscope showed that 3T3-L1 preadipocytes before differentiation were fusiform shape,with little fat in their endochylemas.3T3-L1 preadipocytes after differentiation were spherical shape,with much fat in their endochylemas.Lipid droplet gathered in the perinuclear space,and was stained orange by oil red O stained-extracted assay,forming ring-shape.Results from MTT essay and oil red O stained-extracted assay demonstrated that growth rate of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and fat growth rate in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were higher in each experimental groups treated with different doses of IGF-1 compared with the blank control group(P

Objective To compare and analyse four references for assessment of obesity in Chinese children. Methods The height and weight of 2347 children(1175 boys and 1172 girls) aged 7 to 8 years in Shanghai were measured,and their body mass indexes (BMI) were calculated.The prevalences of overweight and obesity were evaluated and compared among reference of Weight for Height 1985(WFH 1985 reference),BMI reference of Working Group on Obesity in China (WGOC reference),BMI reference of Europe International Obesity Task Force(IOTF reference) and BMI reference of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of American 2000 (CDC reference). Results The prevalence of overweiight in boys evaluated by IOTF reference was significantly higher than those by the other three references(P<0.05),and the prevalence of overweight in girls evaluated by IOTF reference was significantly higher than those by WGOC and CDC references (P<0.05).The prevalence of obesity in boys evaluated by IOTF reference was significantly lower than those by the other three references (P<0.01),and the prevalence of obesity in girls evaluated by IOTF reference was significantly lower than those by WGOC and WFH 1985 references(P<0.01).There was no significant difference in the evaluation findings of obesity and overweight between WFH 1985 and WGOC references(P>0.05). Conclusion WFH 1985 and WGOC references are more suitable than IOTF and CDC references for assessment of overweight and obesity in Chinese children.

A registered dietitian credential is generally accepted and recognized as the most authoritative certificate of eligibility for American dietitians.In this article we describe in detail the American Registered Dieti-tian (RD) training system,administered by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) and the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) of the American Dietetic Association (ADA).Taking the Division of Nutritional Sciences of Cornell University as a good example of the RD training unit,we describe the Cornell Un-dergraduate Didactic Program in Dietetics and Dietetic Internship.Career opportunities and job outlook for Ameri-can registered dietitians are also presented.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of overweight and obesity and the nutritional status of dietary calcium intake in school-age children in Shanghai and to analyze the relationship between dietary calcium and bone mineral density (BMD).Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in the second and third grade students of 10 primary schools in Yangpu District and Baoshan District in Shanghai. Food frequency questionnaire was used tu estimate the relative intake of dietary calcium of students in 6 primary schools in Baoshnn District. Quantitative ultrasound bone density examination was used to estimate the calcaneal BMD.The relation-ship between calcium intake and BMD was analyzed.Results The average calcium intake was 647 mg/d among ested students.BMD was not significantly different among different age groups (F=1.595,P=0.173),while Z-score was significantly different among different age groups (F=16.02,P=0.000).The total calcium intake was not correlated with BMD or Z-score.The percentage of dairy calcium intake was positively correlated with BMD (r=0.097,P=0.015)and Z-score (r=O.117,P=0.003),the percentage of non-dairy calcium intake and the non-dairy calcium intake were negatively correlated with BMD (r=-0.097,P=0.015) and Z-score(r=-0.110,P=0.006).When the total dietary calcium intake was ≥600 mg/d,BMD and Z-score significantly higherin students with high dairy calcium intake than those with low dairy calcium intake (P<0.05).When the total dietary calcium intake was <600mg/d,BMD and Z-score were higher in students with high dairy calcium in-take than in those with low dairy calcium intake,although no statistical significance was noted (P>0.05).Conclusions BMD and Z-score increase along with the increase of dairy calcium intake.Such effect becomes even more obvious when the total dietary calcium intake is ≥600 mg/d.

Objective:To investigate the effect of vitamin E, selenium and quercetin on the expression of zf-9 mRNA of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) during early acute liver injury in rats. Methods:90 healthy SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal control, pathological control, VE 20 mg/(kg bw﹒d) + Se 16 ?g/(kgbw﹒d) supplement, and quercetin 50 mg/(kg bw﹒d) supplement through intragastric way for 15 d respectively. The normal control group was injected with normal saline, the others were given intraperitonal CCl4 once to induce acute liver injury model. The serum levels of MDA, SOD, ALT and AST were determined at 3 h, 6 h, 12 h and 24 h after CCl4 injection respectively. The pronase-collagenase perfusion of liver was used to isolate HSC, and the expression of zf-9 mRNA was examined by RT-PCR. Results: Serum levels of MDA were lower in VE+Se supplement group and quercetin supplement group than pathological group. Supplementation with VE+Se and quercetin could decrease the level of ALT and AST and down-regulate the expression of zf-9 mRNA. Conclusion:Dietary supplementation of VE,Se and quercetin could effectively down-regulate the expression of zf-9 mRNA in HSC during early acute liver injury in rats.

Objective To investigate the anti-virus effect of baicalein on influenza A virus in vivo.Methods NIH mice were randomized into the normal control group,model group,virazole group(at the dose of 0.07g?kg-1?d-1),high-,middle-and low-dose baicalein groups(100,10 and 1 ?g?kg-1?d-1 respectively).Mice infected models were induced by intranasal drip of influenza A virus strain FM1.The lung index,inhibitory rate of lung index,survival rate and death prevention rate as well as the pathological changes of lungs were observed.Results Compared with the normal control group,the lung index and survival rate were decreased(P

Objective To investigate the effects ofShipi-Gushen-Huayu Recipe on the expressions of collagen I, laminin(LN), transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)andα-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)in adriamycin-induced renal fibrosis in rats.Methods A total of male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups, with 10 rats in each group: a normal group, a model group, a treatment group and a fosinopril sodium group. Except the rats in the normal group, the rest rats were subjected to renal fibrosisvia tail intravenous injection of adriamycin(4 mg/kg). Two weeks after modeling, the rats in the rreatment group and in the fosinopril sodium group were intragastrically administrated daily withShipi-Gushen-Huayu Recipe extract(43 g/kg)and fosinopril solution(2 mg/kg), respectively,both in the normal group and model group with saline. After 30 days, 24-hours urine protein were determined, and the expressions of collagen I, LN, TGF-β1 andα-SMA in kidney tissue were detected with immunohistochemistry staining.Results The expressions of collagen I(24.64±0.67vs. 32.86±0.88), LN(18.71±0.72vs. 28.35±0.87), TGF-β1(14.71±0.68vs. 18.35±0.96)andα-SMA(17.64±0.74vs. 25.86±0.85)in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the model group(allP<0.01). The expressions of collagen I, LN, TGF-β1 andα-SMA in the fosinopril sodium group were 27.33±0.73, 20.44±0.81, 15.44±0.85 and 19.33±0.77, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the expressions of collagen I, LN, TGF-β1 andα-SMA in the treatment group and in the fosinopril sodium group.ConclusionShipi-Gushen-Huayu Recipe can significantly down regulate the expressions of collagen I, LN, TGF-β1 andα-SMA in adriamycin-induced renal fibrosis in rats.

OBJECTIVEThe interrelation of yield and agronomic traits of Gentiana rigescens was studied for the germplasm and breeding variety of this species.

METHODTwelve agronomic traits, root diameter, root length, root number, root biomass, stem diameter, plant height, the first branch number, leaf length, leaf width, leaf length/leaf width ratio, calyx length, and calyx number of G. rigescens from 26 wild populations in Yunnan were determined for correlation analysis, multiple stepwise regression analysis and path analysis.

RESULTCorrelation analysis showed that there were significantly positive correlation between the traits of aboveground part and the length, diameter, number, and biomass of the root. Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that length, width, and number of root, plant height, the first branch number, and the calyx number were the main factors that affected the root biomass. Path analysis showed that the diameter, length, and number of the root, the stem height, and the first branch number had a direct positive effect on the root biomass.

CONCLUSIONThe traits, such as high and strong stem, high number of first branch number and shrubby shape could be selected for the breeding and high yielding of G. rigescens.

Objective To investigate the vitamin B 12 status of vegetarians in Shanghai.Methods A total of 282 adult vegetarians and 282 omnivores matching by gender and age were recruited in Shanghai.Their dietary intakes were collected.The serum concentrations of vitamin B12,folate and homocysteine were tested.The red blood cell,hematocrit value,mean corpuscular volume and mean erythrocyte width were also examined.Results The daily average intake of dietary vitamin B12 was (0.46± 1.01) μg/d in vegetarians and only (0.1±0.46) μg/d in vegans,which was lower than that of omnivores [(3.91±6.92) μg/d,F=50.57,P＜0.01].137 omnivores and 274 vegetarians had less dietary vitamin B12 level than recommended nutrient intake (RNI) and the difference was statistically significant (x2 =114.77,P＜ 0.01).54.26％ of vegetarians,68.92％ vegans,49.04％ ovo-lacto vegetarians and 15.60％ omnivores had hyperhomocysteinemia and the differences between vegetarians and omnivores were statistically significant (all P＜0.01).After adjusting the confounding factors the hematocrit value was higher in vegetarians,vegans and ovo-lacto vegetarians than in omnivores (27.42％± 18.32％,28.73％± 18.19％,26.95％± 18.38％ vs.8.96％± 16.59％,P＜0.01).Vegans had lower red blood cell counts and higher hematocrit value and mean corpuscular volume than omnivores.Conclusion Vitamin B12 deficiency combined with an elevated level of homocysteine and red blood cell volume growth are common but serious issue in vegetarians,especially in vegans.

Objective To investigate the effects and mechanism of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on white adipose tissue angiogenesis in high fat diet rats.Methods Twenty-four male weaning SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group,high fat diet group and EGCG intervention group,8 rats in each group.Normal control group were fed with normal diet,high-fat diet group were fed with high-fat diet,EGCG intervention group were fed with high-fat diet along with intragastric administration of 200 mg/ (kg · d) EGCG.After 8 weeks,the rats were sacrificed.The adipocyte size and vascular density of the abdominal adipose tissue in rats in each group were observed under the microscope.The serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentration was detected by Elisa Kit.RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of VEGF,nuclear factor E2 (Nrf2),heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1),catalase (CAT),SOD,GPx,interleukin-6 (IL-6) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) mRNA.Results The adipocyte size,number of vascular/each adipocyte,serum VEGF concentration and VEGF mRNA expression in adipose tissue of high fat diet group were significantly higher than those of normal control group (all P＜0.05).EGCG can significantly reduce the above indicators of high fat diet group (all P＜0.05).The expression of Nrf2,HO-1,SOD,GPx and CAT mRNA in adipose tissue of EGCG group was significantly higher than those in high fat diet group and normal control group (all P＜0.05).The expression of MCP-1 and IL-6 mRNA in adipose tissue of EGCG group was significantly lower than that in high fat diet group (all P＜0.05).Conclusion EGCG can decrease the production of serum VEGF,vascular density and the expression of VEGF mRNA in white adipose tissue of high fat diet rats,and inhibit the angiogenesis in white adipose tissue possibly due to its up-regulation of Nrf2/HO-1 pathway to increase the expression of antioxidant enzymes (SOD,CAT,GPx),reduce ROS production and decrease the inflammatory response.