Objective To investigate the distribution status of coal-burning fluorosis (endemic fluorosis) areas in Luoyang and to provide scientifc evidence for making strategies in prevention and control. Methods In 2006, a household per village was chosen to carry the general survey so as of disease condition, living habits and housing structure among 941 coal-burning pollution fluorine sickness natural villages in Yanshi, Mengjin, Xin'an, Luanchuan counties and Geely area which were under the jurisdiction of Luoyang. In the general survey, the sampled village having a population of more than 500 person was considered as a major survey village, and water fluoride, 8 - 12 year-old child fluorine spot on tooth and the urinary fluoride were surveyed. Water fluoride and the child urinary fluoride determination used the fluoride ion selective electrode method, and the children's dental fluorosis used Dean method. Results The endemic fluorosis of Luoyang existed 742 in endemic fluomsis villages, compared with history, a decrease of 199 in number. Ninety-six point seven per cent( 142 543/147 419) of the households were consuming smoke-free coal. Households using intact kitchens accounted for 93.6%( 137 919/147 419). Of which 63.0%(86 889/137 919) of kitchens were mixed up with bedrooms. Total 125 060 people were using coal- fired furnace for heating, of which 87.8%(109 802/125 060) had smoke-free facilities, 12.2%(15 258/125 060) had none. Among 52 endemic villages with population of more than 500 people surveyed, a total of 183 water samples were collected, 2 had water fluoride exceeding 1.0 rag/L, the highest water fluoride being 1.04 rag/L, averaging 0.39 mg/L Sixteen villages had a prevalence rate of dental fluorosis for children less than 30.00%, accounting for 30.8% (16/52), 36 endemic villages the prevalence of dental fluorosis detection rate of more than 30.00%, accounting for 69.2%(36/52). Twenty-thrce villages had a dental fluorosis index greater than 0.6, severe dental fluorosis was not found. Real-time measurement of 1408 urine samples of children aged 8 - 12 showed that urine fluoride highest value 6.88 nag/L, the minimum value of 0.10 mg/L, geometric mean 1.10 mg/L. The prevalence rate of dental fluorosis for children was 36.06%. Conclusions In Luoyang city, numbers of coal-burning endemic fluorosis villages are less than before, children's dental fluorosis has significantly declined, however some people still use kitchens connecting with bedrooms and lack smoke-free facilities, they need to be educated to change lifestyle and improve furnace to reduce soot fluoride pollution.

ObjectiveTo identify serum specific protein biomarkers for the early diagnosis of lymphoma patients by using surface enhanced laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS)protein chip array.MethodsSELDI-TOF-MS technique and weak cation exchanger (WCX2)protein chip were used to detect the serum proteomic patterns of 96 patients with lymphoma (86 patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and 10 patients with Hodgkin lymphoma)and 30 normal control.The serum level of LDH were measured by biochemical methods,the serum level of β2-MG and CA125 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).ResultsFour protein peaks pattern mass/charge ratio (M/Z) 6880,8564,8692 and 13751 were decreased in lymphoma patients,and they could be used to distinguish lymphoma from healthy people and other malignant tumors.Their sensitivity and specificity were 82.29 ％ and 80.00 ％,78.13 ％ and 73.30 ％,75.00 ％ and 80.00 ％,71.88 ％ and 83.30 ％ respectively in lymphoma patients.When it was used to early diagnosing lymphoma in stage Ⅰ or Ⅱ,the sensitivity of four protein peaks pattern (M/Z 6880,8564,8692 and 13 751) were 77.55 ％,71.43 ％,71.43 ％ and 67.35 ％respectively and the specificity of all four protein peaks pattern were 100.00 ％.Four protein peaks pattern sensitivity were higher than LDH,CA125 and β2-MG respectively.ConclusionApplication of SELDI-TOF-MS can be of great potential for the early diagnosis of lymphoma patients.

Objective To study Edg4 and Edg7 expression in placenta of women with hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy,and to investigate the relation between the expression of lysophosphatidic acid(LPA)and hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy.Methods Immunohistochemical SP method was used to measure the expressions of Edg4 and Edg7 in placenta of women with normal pregnancy,20 women with gestational hypertension,20 with mild preeclampsia,and with severe preeclampsia.Results (1)Location:immunohistoehemical staining for Edg4 and Edg7 protein were located at the membrane and endoehylema of cytotrophoblast as well as decidua cells.(2)The positive expression of Edg4 protein and Edg7 protein on membrane and endochylema of cytotrophoblast was 25% and 20%(normal women),60% and 40%(gestational hypertension),80% and 65%(mild preeclampsia),and 83.3% and 86.7%(severe preeclampsia).The expression of Edg4 and Edg7 protein in mild preeclampsia and severe preeclampsia was significantly correlated with the degree of differentiation(P0.05). (3)The positive expression of Edg4 protein and Edg7 protein on membrane and endochylema of decidua was 20% and 25%(normal pregnancy),55% and 50%(gestational hypertension),70% and 55%(mild preeclampsia),and 83.3% and 73.3%(severe preeclampsia)respectively.The expression of Edg4 and Edg7 protein in mild preeclampsia and severe preeclampsia showed a significant correlation with the degree of differentiation(P0.05).Conclusions The high expression of Edg4 and Edg7 protein in the placentas of patients with hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy indicates that LPA combines with Edg4 and Edg7,inducing the occurrence of hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy.

Objective To study the effect of public hospitals vertical integration on scale economy in Shanghai. MethodsA total of 401 samples of 67 hospitals from 1999 to 2004 in Shanghai were collected.Median regression was performed to estimate the multi-output cost function and marginal cost of discharge patients,and scale economies were calculated.Results The independent variables Beds,W,X1,X23,Region,Level,Y03,and Y04 were all predictors of cost.Conclusion Both integrated tertiary and secondary hospitals had scale economy before and after integration.Integration enhanced the output and improved the efficiency of integrated secondary hospitals.To some extent,patients were dispersed to secondary hospitals.

Objective To explore the differences in health care quality,scale,output,efficiency,cost and financial condition between freestanding secondary hospitals and system-affiliated secondary hospitals in Shanghai,and analyse the determinants of hospital integration. Methods Eleven upper secondary hospitals in Shanghai integrated between 2000 and 2004 were selected,and another 40 secondary hospitals (including 30 upper secondary hospitals and 10 middle secondary hospitals) without integration were served as controls. Using related data of 1999,Mann-Whitney U test was performed to analyse the differences between these two groups,and Logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore the determinants of hospital integration. Results There were significant differences in health care quality,scale,and output between these two groups (P0.05). It was revealed by Logistic regression analysis that health care quality,scale,output,and financial condition were determinants of integration. Conclusion System-affiliated secondary hospitals have advantages over freestanding hospitals in health care quality,scale,output and financial condition,and those with better health care quality,larger scale,larger output and better financial condition are more likely to be integrated by tertiary hospitals.

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents contained in Acorus calamus.

METHODThe chemical constituents were separated and purified by various chromatographic methods including silica gel, ODS, HPLC and Sephadex LH-20, and their structures were identified on the basis of analysis on spectroscopic data.

RESULTTen compounds were separated from A. calamus and identified as 1beta, 4beta, 7alpha-trihydroxyeudesmane (1), bullatantriol (2), teuclatriol (3), threo-1', 2'-dihydroxyasarone (4), erythro-1', 2'-dihydroxyasarone (5), (+)-de-4'-O-methyleudesmin (6), (+)-de-4'-0-methylmagnolin (7), (+)-eudesmin (8), (+)-magnolin (9) and beta-sitosterol (10), respectively.

CONCLUSIONCompounds 1-2,4-9 were separated from this plant for the first time. Specifically, compounds 1-2,6-9 were obtained from Acorus genus for the first time.

Acorus ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Objective To construct the recombinant eukaryotic expression vector pRNAT-U6,1- siEdg4 which curries small interfering RNA(siRNA)of Edg4 and observe the silencing effect of Edg4 gene targeted siRNA in ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3.Methods The Edg4 gene-targeted hairpin siRNA sequence was designed according to the Edg4 sequence in Genbank,and the two complementary oligo nucleotide strands were synthesized and annealed and inserted into the pRNAT-U6.1 plasmid to build a recombinant Edg4 siRNA eukaryotic expression vector,which was sequenced and identified to contain the correct Edg4 siRNA sequence.The human ovarian carcinoma cell lines SKOV3 were transfeeted with the vector using lipofeetamine method.The efficiency of transfecting cells was observed with fluorescent microscope and the mRNA expression level of Edg4 gene was detected by real time quantitative PCR.The LPA levels in cell supernatants were detected using a biochemical method.And the apoptosis of SKOV3 cells induced by the vector was evaluated by flow cytometry.Results The recombinant eukaryotic expression vector was confirmed to contain correct Edg4 siRNA sequence by PCR and sequencing.After transfection large amounts of green fluorescence were seen in plasma and nuclei of SKOV3 cells and the positive cell rates were 64%.The expression level of Edg4 mRNA in transfeeted SKOV3 cell line was significantly decreased (0.05?0.01 vs 0.29?0.04,P

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Chromones ; pharmacology ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; physiology ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Estradiol ; pharmacology ; Female ; G1 Phase ; drug effects ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; physiology ; Morpholines ; pharmacology ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; physiology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; antagonists & inhibitors ; physiology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; physiology

Objective To screen the antibacterial activity of Chinese traditional medicines against Yersinia pestis.Methods Six Chinese traditional medicines(Coptis Chinesis etc)were selected and extracted with pure water to make a concentration of 1 mg/L.Yersinia pestis strain 201 and EV 76 were used to determine the minimal inhibitory concentrations(MIC)of these selected medicines in vitro with liquid dilution method.Results Three herbs had inhibition effects on the strain 201 and EV76 in different extents,among which Rheum palmatum had the strongest effect and MIC was 0.025 00 mg/L.Furthermore,the Chinese traditional medicine had the same MIC on both strain 201 and EV76.Conclusions Chinese traditional medicines commonly used have inhibiting effect on Yersinia pesti.

Adiponectin is an adipocyte-derived secretory protein. It was found to be associated with insulin resistance, inflammation and arteriosclerosis. To further study the biological function and expression of adiponection in vivo, adipoenctin gene knock-out and LacZ gene knock-in mouse model was constructed. Gene targeting strategy was designed to replace part of exon 2 and exon 3 of adiponectin gene with full length LacZ gene in frame with remaining upstream ATG and signal peptide sequence of exon 2. The targeting vector (Adipo-LacZ-XpPNT) was constructed and verified by restriction enzyme digestion and sequencing. CJ7 ES cells were transfected with targeting vector linearized by NotⅠ digestion, selected in the medium containing both G418 and ganciclovoir. Resistant clones were screened by PCR and further confirmed by Southern blot for correct homologous recombinants. Chimera mice were obtained by routing microinjection of homologous recombined ES cells into blastocysts. After mating, mice heterozygous and further homozygous for adiponectin knockout and LacZ gene knock-in were established. Expression of both endogenous adiponectin and exogenous LacZ gene in mouse tissues and sera were detected by RT-PCR, Northern-blot, Western blot and ELISA. The results show that adiponectin was disrupted at both mRNA and protein levels. LacZ gene is expressed exclusively in adipose tissue of mutant mice. Its expression profile is identical to endogenous adiponection. Unexpectedly, LacZ activity could not be detected in both adipose tissue and serum although LacZ protein can be detected in adipose tissue but not in serum of mutant mice. In conclusion, mice homozygous for adiponectin knockout and LacZ gene knock-in have been successfully constructed. Mutant mice display LacZ expression profile identical to endogenous adiponectin albeit neither LacZ activity nor protein can be detected in serum of mutant mice.