Objective To observe the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-9 mRNA and the change of cerebral edema after diffuse brain injury in rats and discuss their correlation.Methods Marmaruu's diffuse brain injury model of rat was made.Real-time quantitative RT-PCR,dry-wet meth- od,histological techniques and electron microscope were used to determine the expressions of MMP-9 containing water in brain tissue and inflammatory reaction and uhrastructural changes of blood capillary at different time phases after truama.Results The expressions of MMP-9 mRNA started to increase at 1 hour,peaked at 12 hours(P

The Conus venom is secreted by the duct and theca of venom. Most of conotoxins are composed of 10-40 amino acid residues with several disulfide bridges. They can specifically target neurotransmitter receptors including nAChRs, calcium ion channels, sodium ion channels and potassium ion channels, etc. Some conotoxins, such as that target N-Ca2+ channels, nAChR alpha9alpha10 subtype, TTX-R Na+ channels or NMDA receptors, have potent antinociceptive activities, omega-MVIIA, an Ca2+ channels blocker was approved by FDA in December, 2004 for marketing. Because of lower molecular weight and high specificity, conotoxins are the powerful pharmacology tools and potent analgesics without addiction. This review briefly summarizes the research progress of antinociceptive conotoxins and addresses on their targets and structure-activity relationships.
Analgesics ; pharmacology ; Calcium Channels ; drug effects ; Conotoxins ; pharmacology ; Sodium Channels ; drug effects ; Structure-Activity Relationship

Objective To investigate the neuroimaging features in mitochondrial encephalomyopatbies with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes(MELAS).Methods Twenty-two clinically diagnosed patients who came from department of neurology,Huashan hospital in October 2003 to July 2006 were analyzed for CT,MRI,MRI contrast,MRA and MRS.Results In all 22 patients,the neuroimaging results of 21 were positive.There were 9 patients lying in hemisphere,12 in both cerebral hemispheres,including occipital,parietal,temporal and frontal lobe.The abnormal areas showed low signal intensity on T_1-weighted MRI,high signal intensity on T_2-weighted MRI and fluid attenuated inversion recovery(FLAIR)images.The lesions of 12/16 patients on MR contrasted images were enhanced.The lesions of one patient showed malacoma-like changes,one showed Fahr syndrome' s change and another showed high signal intensity on MR contrasted images.Conclusion Although the neuroimaging features of MELAS are complicated,the specific ones could help to make the diagnosis.

Objective To find out the situation of household consumption of iodized salt in Hebei province so as to provide scientific basis for prevention and control of iodine deficiency disorders(IDD). Methods According to the "national iodine deficiency disorders surveillance program (Trial)", the county (city, district) was taken as a unit, township (town) and administrative villages were selected in accordance with the principle of systematic sampling, then households were chosen by random sampling to collect their edible salt in Hebei province from 2007 to 2009. Salt iodine content was detected by direct titration method. Results A total of 48 675, 48 448 and 48 756 salt samples were collected from 2007 to 2009, respectively. The consumption rate of qualified iodized salt from 2007 to 2009 was 91.16%, 91.96% and 96.17%, respectively. There were 24.6%(41/167)and 18.0%(30/167)counties with consumption rate of qualified iodized salt under 90% in 2007 and 2008, respectively. The percentage of counties with consumption rate of qualified iodized salt above 90% was 100.0%(167/167) in 2009. In general there was a significant differences in frequency distribution of consumption rates of qualified iodized salt among the three years(H = 10.778, P ＜ 0.01 ), and the difference was found significant between 2007 and 2009 as well as between 2008 and 2009(all P ＜ 0.05), but was not significant between 2007 and 2008(P ＞ 0.05). Conclusions The consumption rate of qualified iodized salt at household level increases annually from 2007 to 2009. By 2009,the consumption rate of qualified iodized salt in each county is more than 90%, which has reached the national standard stipulated in "the evaluation programs for fulfilling the goal of eliminating IDD at county level".

OBJECTIVETo assess the association between G894T (Glu298Asp) mutation in exon 7 of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene and premature coronary heart disease (P-CHD).

METHODSHospital-based case-control study was conducted. Newly-diagnosed CHD patients were recruited as study subjects. 132 CHD patients diagnosed at/before age 55 for males and 65 for females were assigned to P-CHD case group with other 172 CHD patients as the control group. Polymerase chain reaction with Ban II restriction enzyme digestion was performed to detect the G894T mutation.

RESULTSG894T mutant genotypes in P-CHD group (TT, GT and GG frequencies were 6.06%, 20.45% and 73.48%, respectively) were significant higher than those in control group (TT, GT and GG frequencies were 1.74%, 11.63% and 86.63%, respectively) (P = 0.01). Mutant T allele frequency in P-CHD group was also significantly higher than that in control group (16.29% versus 7.56%, P = 0.001, OR = 2.38, 95% CI: 1.38 - 4.16). Stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis at 0.05 significant level with sex, smoking, alcohol drinking, and overweight covariates indicated that G894T mutation also having significant effect on P-CHD (P = 0.01, OR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.19 - 4.26).

CONCLUSIONThis study suggested that G894T mutation in endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene might serve as a major risk factor to the pathogenesis of P-CHD in this study population.

Age Factors ; Case-Control Studies ; Coronary Disease ; enzymology ; genetics ; Exons ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; genetics ; Point Mutation ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo assess the necessity of routine prophylactic irradiation at the level Ib for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

METHODSNewly diagnosed NPC patients between January, 2001 and June, 2005 were enrolled in this study. The nodal distribution in each region was calculated from the data of transversal contrast enhance CT or magnetic resonance scan of the head and neck.

RESULTSCervical node involvement was found in 75.1% of the 338 patients enrolled. The rates of involvement at levels Ib, IIa, IIb, III, IV, Va, Vb and in the supra-clavicular region were 0.9%, 49.1%, 60.7%, 26.0%, 5.9%, 9.5%, 3.8% and 0.9%, respectively. Skip metastasis occurred only in 2.4% of the cases. The high risk region (defined by a probable risk>5%) of nodal metastases was (1) the ipsilateral levels III, IV, Va, and Vb in case of level II involvement, (2) the ipsilateral levels II, IV, Va, and Vb in case of level III involvement, (3) the ipsilateral levels II, III, Va, Vb and the supra-clavicular region in case of level IV involvement, (4) the ipsilateral levels II, III, IV, Vb and the supra-clavicular region in case of level Va involvement, (5) the ipsilateral levels II, III, IV, Vb, and the supra-clavicular region in case of level Vb involvement, (6) the contralateral levels II, III, and Va in case of unilateral cervical node involvement.

CONCLUSIONNodal involvement in NPC patients rarely occurs at the level Ib, which is not a high risk region whatever the regions may be to have lymph node metastasis and therefore does not need routine prophylactic irradiation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Neck ; Neoplasm Staging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the supply of iodized salt in non-excessive iodine counties and iodine-free salt in excessive iodine counties at household level in Hebei province so as to provide a basis for the prevention and control of iodine deficiency disorders(IDD). Methods According to the national project of IDD surveillance,the county was taken as the elementary sampling unit. The towns and villages were selected by systematic and random sampling in every county and households were chosen by random sampling to collect their edible salt in Hebei province in 2008. The salt iodine content in non-and excessive iodine regions was detected by direct titrition method and semiquantitative method respectively. Results all 48 448 salt samples were collected from 167 non-excessive iodine counties. Weighed by the population of counties,the rate of non-iodized salt was 4.73%. Iodized salt accounted for 95.27%,out of which,96.13% were qualified and the consuming rate of qualified iodized salt was 91.96%. Eighty point eighty three percent(135/167) of the counties covered by iodized salt above 95%,92.81% (155/167) passing rate of iodized salt above 90% and 82.04 (137/167) consuming rate of qualified iodized salt. All 1466 salt samples were collected in 5 counties with excessive water iodine content and the coverage rate of iodine-free salt was 93.25%(1367/1466). Conclusions In a nutshell,the national targets for preliminary elimination of IDD have been achieved in regions of non-excessive iodine of Hebei province. Nevertheless,the coverage rate of iodized salt and qualified iodize salt rate in some counties are still below the national standard. Therefore the prevention and control of IDD need to be strengthened. The supply of iodized salt in excessive iodine regions should be timely stopped.

Objective To understand the status of drinking-water-borne endemic fluorosis and the effect of preventive measure in Hebei province, so as to provide a basis to prevent and cure the disease. Methods Thirtyeight affected counties(cities, districts) with drinking-water-borne endemic fluorosis were sampled by random sampling in Hebei in 2009. All affected villages in every county were divided into mild, moderate and severe endemic fluorosis areas and a village was randomly selected from each category of the area to carry out the monitoring of endemic fluorosis. Dental fluorosis of children aged 8 - 12 were examined and 6 copies of urine samples were randomly collected in each age group in the above-mentioned villages. Clinical skeletal fluorosis was diagnosed among adults aged 16 and over and 20 copies of urine samples were tested for fluorosis in every village.Results A total of 112 affected villages were investigated, among which the drinking water quality of 66 villages were improved and 46 villages were not improved. A total of 236 copies of water samples from the 66 villages were measured and the fluoride content ranged from 0.1 to 4.3 mg/L, among which 20 copies of water samples exceeded the fluorine standard of 1.2 mg/L, accounting for 33.3%. A total of 230 copies of water samples were collected in the 46 villages and the fluoride content ranged from 0.2 to 4.6 mg/L, among which 76.1% (35/46) of the water samples exceeded the fluorine standard of 1.2 mg/L. A total of 5169 children aged 8 - 12 were examined of dental fluorosis, the dental fluorosis rate was 36.43%(1883/5169) and the dental fluorosis index was 0.81. A sum of 71 497 adults aged over 16 years were examined, and the rate of skeletal fluorosis was 4.81%(3438/71 497), moderate or severe clinical detection rate of skeletal fluorosis was 1.56%( 1114/71 497). A total of 2876 copies of children urine samples and 2021 copies of adult urine samples were tested and the geometric mean of fluoride content was 2.30,3.32 mg/L, respectively. Conclusions The prevalence of dental fluorosis of children in the areas with improved water is less than 30% and the rate of dental fluorosis and skeletal fluorosis decline gradually with time.The rate of dental fluorosis and skeletal fluorosis increases with the increase of water fluoride in the water quality not improved areas. The endemic fluorosis is still comparatively serious in Hebei. The progress of improving water quality in the areas with endemic fluorosis should be accelerated and the acceptability of improved water should be enhanced.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the association between G894T (Glu298Asp) mutation at exon 7 in the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene and essential hypertension.

METHODSOne hundred and sixteen essential hypertensives without taking hypertensive medication and 136 normotensives screened from health workers in a steel factory were selected as subjects in this study. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Ban II restriction enzyme digestion were performed to detect the G894T mutation.

RESULTSG894T mutation was significantly associated with essential hypertension. The T allele frequency in essential hypertensive group was significantly higher than that in normotensive group (16.0% versus 8.8%, P = 0.019, OR = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.14 - 3.37). The levels of systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure in the G894T mutant genotypes were all significantly elevated in hypertensive, normotensive, and the total subjects (P < 0.05). After adjusting factors as age, sex, smoking, alcohol drinking, body mass index, triglyceride, serum total cholesterol, serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol by analysis of multiple covariance, significant positive effect of the G894T mutant genotypes on blood pressure in the total subjects (P < 0.01) was noticed.

CONCLUSIONThis study suggested that the G894T mutation in the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene might serve as a major risk factor of essential hypertension in this study population.

Adult ; Alleles ; Blood Pressure ; genetics ; China ; epidemiology ; Exons ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Hypertension ; enzymology ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; genetics ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; Point Mutation ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between the 7th exon G894T mutation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene and overweight in patients with essential hypertension.

METHODSTotally, 116 patients with essential hypertension taking no medications and 136 normotensives were selected from a steel workers as study subjects. Polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism were performed to detect mutation of the 7th exon G894T. Additive model was used to analyze interaction between G894T mutation and overweight on hypertension. Population attributable risk percent (PAR%) for them, etiologic fraction, was applied to their contribution to hypertension.

RESULTSThere was a positive interaction between G894T mutation and overweight on essential hypertension, with an index of interaction of 1.99 and attributable interaction percent of 30.76%. Their pure attributable interaction percent was 36.38%. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that there still was positive interaction between G894T mutation and overweight on essential hypertension, adjusted for age, sex, smoking and alcohol drinking. Index of their attributable interaction was 2.85, with attributable interaction percent of 39.97%, also adjusted for the above-mentioned factors. Their pure attributable interaction percent was 46.49% and PAR% was estimated as about 15% under certain condition.

CONCLUSIONSInteraction between mutation of the 7th exon G894T of eNOS gene and overweight played an important role in essential hypertension of the studied population. Control of body weight in the population with both G894T mutation and overweight could markedly decrease their risk of hypertension.

Adult ; Exons ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; genetics ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; Obesity ; complications