OBJECTIVETo establish a probabilistic model for evaluation of dietary exposure to lead and construct age-related exposure centiles for the residents in Jiangsu.

METHODSLead contamination data were obtained from the national food contamination monitoring program during 2001 - 2006 and 2791 samples from 232 food products in Jiangsu were included. Food consumption data were from the national diet and nutrition survey conducted in 2002, including 3938 subjects in Jiangsu. A non-parametric probabilistic model using Monte Carlo simulation was applied to derive the intake distribution. The intake data was then analyzed using the LMS method, which constructs exposure percentiles adjusted for the median (M), the coefficient of variation (S) and the skewness (L) of the intake distribution.

RESULTSThe median and P(99) of the lead exposure for the residents in Jiangsu were 1.02 µg×kg(-1)×d(-) and 9.29 µg×kg(-1)×d(-1), respectively.6.38% of the total population showed to have a lead intake exceeding the tolerable limit, which for the urban and rural population were 4.31% and 7.06%, respectively. The exceeding rate for children of 2 - 10 years old from the urban and rural areas were 13.17% and 17.70%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThere was a large variation in the lead exposure level of the population in Jiangsu; People in rural areas are in greater risk for higher lead exposure than urban people; The dietary exposure to lead for children and the high-end population was serious.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Environmental Exposure ; Food Contamination ; analysis ; Humans ; Lead ; analysis ; Risk Assessment

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in patients with previous fertilization failure after conventional IVF.

METHODSData from 20 ICSI cases (22 ICSI cycles) with previous complete failure of fertilization or with fertilization rate < or = 20% between January 2002 and December 2004 were retrospectively analyzed. The control group consisted of 100 consecutive ICSI cycles for male factor infertility in the same period.

RESULTSThe fertilization rate dramatically increased from 5.4% after conventional IVF to 76.9% after ICSI treatment (chi-squared = 264.66, P < 0.001). However, the fertilization rate in the subgroup with previous low fertilization was significantly lower than those in the control and in the subgroup without previous fertilization (67.9% vs 77.5%, 67.9% vs 84.2%). Compared with the control group, the subgroup without previous fertilization had a higher pregnancy rate and implantation rate, but only the difference in the implantation rate was statistically significant (40.5% vs 18.9%).

CONCLUSIONICSI can overcome previous fertilization failure with conventional in vitro fertilization and thus improve the clinical outcome.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Infertility ; therapy ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Retrospective Studies ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; Treatment Failure

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and clinical significance of 64-multislice spiral computed tomography angiography(MSCTA) with image fusion for the anatomy of perigastric arteries.

METHODSA total of 53 patients underwent abdominal 64-MSCTA, among whom 26 patients with gastric cancer underwent gastrectomy. Using volume rendering techniques, computed tomography angiography(CTA) of perigastric arteries and the stomach were reconstructed respectively, and then the images were fused together. The branching pattern of the celiac trunk and the origins and courses along the stomach of the 10 perigastric arteries were assessed. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 64-MSCTA were determined based on intraoperative findings.

RESULTSCTA clearly showed the celiac trunk. The most common branching pattern of the celiac trunk was Michels type I( in 46 patients(86.8%). The anatomy of perigastric arteries and stomach could be clearly demonstrated from any angle according to image fusion. The left gastric artery and the right gastroepiploic artery were shown in 100%, the left gastroepiploic artery 94.3%(50/53), the right gastric artery 83.0%(44/53), short gastric artery 58.5%(31/53), posterior gastric artery 49.1%(26/53), the replaced left hepatic artery 15.1%(8/53). The accessory left hepatic artery, accessory left gastric artery and replaced right hepatic artery were all identified in 7.5%(4/53) patients. The accuracy of preoperative CTA in term of correctly identifying perigastric arteries ranged from 84.6% to 100%, the sensitivity 82.6% to 100%, and the specificity was 100% for all the perigastric arteries.

CONCLUSIONS64-MSCTA can clearly reveal individual perigastric arteries. The anatomy of the stomach and perigastric arteries can be shown in vivo by fused image, and can provide guidance for gastrectomy.

Adult ; Aged ; Angiography ; methods ; Arteries ; Female ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Preoperative Care ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stomach ; blood supply ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study changes in the levels of systematic and airway local oxidative stress in patients in different stages of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), and explore the association between oxidative stress and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) level in the peripheral blood leukocytes.

METHODSThe levels of malonaldehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) in induced sputum and plasma, as well as GR levels in peripheral blood leukocytes and plasma levels of cortisol and adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), were examined in 33 patients with acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD, group A), 27 with stable COPD (group B), and 28 healthy volunteers (including 15 smokers as group C, and 15 nonsmokers as group D).

RESULTSMDA level in induced sputum and plasma decreased, whereas the levels of GSH, SOD and GSH-PX increased significantly in the order of groups A, B, C, and D (P<0.05). The activity of SOD in induced sputum and plasma were significantly lower in group C than in group D. No significant difference was noted in the other oxidative stress indices between groups C and D (P>0.05). The plasma levels of cortisol and ACTH showed no significant difference between the 4 groups, while the GR level in peripheral blood leukocytes increased significantly in the order of groups A, B, C and D (1565-/+719, 2069-/+488, 2739-/+926, and 4793 -/+1415 U, respectively, P<0.05). After controlling for the factor of smoking status, the plasma and sputum SOD activity were both positively correlated to GR, with the partial correlation coefficient of 0.512 and 0.564, respectively (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONPatients in different stages of COPD, especially those with AECOPD, may sustain systematic and local oxidation and anti-oxidation imbalance. Decreased SOD activity may contribute to GR level decrement in peripheral blood leukocytes in these patients.

Aged ; Female ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oxidative Stress ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; metabolism ; Receptors, Glucocorticoid ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo establish the basis for Chinese dietary exposure assessment database by classifying and coding the data from the national dietary survey and pollutant surveillance.

METHODSThe method, which combined CODEX food classifying and coding of Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) with Chinese food classification of food composition table, was applied to classify and code the data of 1 810 703 Chinese dietary consumption and 487 819 pollutant surveillance. The coding system was according to the first two letters of the respective food group that represent the type or source of foods, the last four digits represent the serial number of the food in the CAC food classification. If the foods can be found in CAC food code system, its original food code is used. The new codes corresponding with the foods which are not exist in CAC food code system, is added according to CAC coding methods.

RESULTSDietary consumption data were divided into 6 major categories, 19 types, 75 groups, the agricultural products of pollutant surveillance corresponding to 499 codes. Comparing with CAC food coding system, Chinese dietary consumption data have added F (candy snacks) and G (beverages) 2 major categories, 4 types, 33 groups, 302 new codes. The additional groups most were the processing food groups with Chinese characteristics, such as canned, beverages, candy, meat products.

CONCLUSIONThe foundation of data communication to dietary exposure assessment has been established, and the connection of Chinese food classifying and coding with CAC data have been achieved.

China ; Consumer Product Safety ; Databases, Factual ; Diet ; classification ; statistics & numerical data ; Diet Surveys ; Humans ; Vocabulary, Controlled

OBJECTIVETo establish a non-parametric probabilistic model for evaluation of Chinese dietary exposure and to improve the assessment accuracy while integrating into the global risk assessment on food safety.

METHODSContamination data was from the national food contamination monitoring program during 2000 - 2006, including heavy metals, pesticides and mycotoxins, amounting to 135 contaminants with 499 commodities and 487 819 samples. Food consumption data was obtained from the national diet and nutrition survey conducted in 2002 with three consecutive days by 24-hour recall method, and 66 172 consumers were included. Monte Carlo simulation was applied to derive the intake distribution, and the uncertainty of each percentile was estimated using the Bootstrap sampling.

RESULTSDifferent non-parametric probabilistic models for dietary exposure evaluation on heavy metals, pesticides and some of the toxins were established for Chinese people, and intake distributions with 95% confidence intervals of these contaminants were estimated. Taking acephate as an example, the results of its model shows that, for the 7 - 10 year-old children, the median dietary exposure in urban and rural areas were 1.77 microg x kg(-1) x d(-1) and 2.48 microg x kg(-1) x d(-1) respectively, with a 95% confidence interval of (1.59 - 2.06) microg x kg(-1) x d(-1) and (2.33 - 2.80) microg x kg(-1) x d(-1) respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe non-parametric probabilistic model can quantify the variability and uncertainty of exposure assessment and improve the assessment accuracy.

China ; Consumer Product Safety ; Diet Surveys ; Humans ; Models, Statistical ; Risk Assessment ; Statistics, Nonparametric

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) on cell viability and tissue factor (TF) in angiotensin II (Ang II) induced vascular endothelial cells and to investigate its mechanisms.

METHODS10(-6) mol/L Ang II was added to human vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) culture media alone or 30 min after pretreatment with IGF-1 (0.1 microg/ml , 0.5 microg/ml, 2.5 microg/ml). Cell viability and AngII type 1 receptor (AT1-R) mRNA were evaluated after 24 h incubation with AngII. At the optimum concentration of IGF-1 affecting cell viability, the time dependent manner for 12 - 48 h incubation with Ang II was evaluated. TF, NOS and NO were investigated after 24 h incubation with Ang II. In addition, NO synthase inhibitor Nomega-nitro-1-arginine methylester(L-NAME) was added 30 min before addition of IGF-1 and Ang II, and cell viability, TF, AT1-R mRNA, NOS and NO were evaluated after 24 h incubation.

RESULTS(1) Ang II induced a decrease in cell vitality, an upregulation of AT1-R mRNA, an increase in TF, and a decrease in the activity of NOS and content of NO. (2) Pretreatment with IGF-1 significantly inhibited the decreased cell viability and upregulation of AT1-R mRNA. IGF-1 at 0.5 microg/ml showed the most obvious effects. This effect of cell viability recovery was in a time dependent manner during 12 -48 h. (3) IGF-1 also inhibited the increased content of TF, the decreased activity of NOS and the decreased content of NO. (4) The beneficial effects of IGF-1 on cultured endothelial cells were completely abolished by L-NAME.

CONCLUSIONIGF-1 pretreatment could enhance the ang II injured cell viability and anti-thrombosis capacity, and the protective effects may be related to activation of NOS-NO signaling pathway which inhibited AT1-R.

Angiotensin II ; pharmacology ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiology ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; pharmacology ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Thromboplastin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEUsing nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to perform preimplantation gender diagnosis.

METHODSOne (or two) lymphocyte and blastomere (n=50/group) were collected and prepared under the following conditions: (1) water only (H(2)O); (2) freeze-thaw liquid nitrogen, then boiling; (3) potassium hydroxide/dithiotheriol, heated to 65 degree centigrade, followed by acid neutralization (KOH). Cells were analyzed by PCR using nested primers amplification with amelogenin gene.

RESULTSThe amplification rate and allele dropout (ADO) rate for male lymphocytes by the three methods were 83%, 94%, 95% and 24%, 12%, 4%, respectively. Using two cells per reaction did not increase the amplification rate for the KOH method.

CONCLUSIONThe KOH method for DNA preparation is superior to the other methods evaluated. Dual blastomere biopsy and independent blastomere analysis may improve preimplantation diagnostic reliability.

Amelogenin ; Blastocyst ; cytology ; metabolism ; Blastomeres ; cytology ; metabolism ; DNA ; genetics ; Dental Enamel Proteins ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Sex Determination Analysis ; methods

OBJECTIVETo achieve pregnancy with unaffected embryo using in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) and preimplantation genetic diagnosis(PGD) for the couples at risk of having children with beta-thalassemia.

METHODSA couple carrying different thalassemia mutations of codon 41/42 and codon IVS2 position 654 received standard IVF treatment and intracytoplasmic sperm injection, embryo biopsy, single cell polymerase chain reaction and DNA analyses, and only the unaffected or carrier embryos were transferred to uterus. Pregnancy confirmation, and prenatal diagnosis were done at 20 week's gestation.

RESULTSA total of 13 embryos were analyzed in the IVF cycle. PGD indicated that 2 were normal 18.1 , 3 were affected 27.3 , and 6 were carriers 54.5 ; diagnosis was not possible in 2. Three embryos were transferred to uterus on the third day after oocyte retrieval. Ultrasonography showed twin pregnancy with one blighted ovum. The prenatal diagnoses revealed that both fetuses were unaffected, one normal baby and one carrier were born.

CONCLUSIONThese studies represent the successful application of PGD for beta-thalassemia in China.

Adult ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Preimplantation Diagnosis ; methods ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; methods ; beta-Thalassemia ; diagnosis ; genetics ; prevention & control

BACKGROUNDPrimary ovarian insufficiency (POI) is defined as a primary ovarian defect characterized by absent menarche (primary amenorrhea) or premature depletion of ovarian follicles before the age of 40 years. The etiology of primary ovarian insufficiency in human female patients is still unclear. The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential genetic causes in primary amenorrhea patients by high resolution array based comparative genomic hybridization (array-CGH) analysis.

METHODSFollowing the standard karyotyping analysis, genomic DNA from whole blood of 15 primary amenorrhea patients and 15 normal control women was hybridized with Affymetrix cytogenetic 2.7M arrays following the standard protocol. Copy number variations identified by array-CGH were confirmed by real time polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTSAll the 30 samples were negative by conventional karyotyping analysis. Microdeletions on chromosome 17q21.31-q21.32 with approximately 1.3 Mb were identified in four patients by high resolution array-CGH analysis. This included the female reproductive secretory pathway related factor N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF) gene.

CONCLUSIONSThe results of the present study suggest that there may be critical regions regulating primary ovarian insufficiency in women with a 17q21.31-q21.32 microdeletion. This effect might be due to the loss of function of the NSF gene/genes within the deleted region or to effects on contiguous genes.

Adult ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Primary Ovarian Insufficiency ; genetics ; Young Adult