OBJECTIVE: To learn the prevalence of abnormal components of metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women, and to explore the optimal body composition indices to predict the abnormal components of metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women. METHODS: A total of 181 participants were recruited from postmenopausal women who came to Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital for health examination between July 2006 and August 2007. They were 41-60 years of age, and there were 1-9 years since menopause. Their clinical and biochemical parameters were measured, including body height, body weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, sagittal abdominal diameter, blood pressure, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, fasting,plasma glucose, fasting insulin and body fat. The prevalence of the abnormal components of metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women was investigated. The correlations between body composition indices and the components of metabolic syndrome were analyzed by partial correlation analysis independent of age, years since postmenopause and the level of estradiol. The body composition indices to predict the abnormal components of metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women were explored. RESULTS: ①The prevalence of central obesity (waist circumference ≥ 80 cm), hypertriglyceridemia (triglyceride ≥1.7 mmol/L), low high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (high density lipopretein-cholesterol < 1.29 mmol/L), hypertension (systolic pressure ≥ 130 mm Hg or diastolic pressure ≥ 85 mm Hg, 1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa) and high fasting glucose (fasting plasma glucose ≥ 5.6 mmol/L)was 48.1%, 31.5%, 16.6%, 38.7% and 50.3%, respectively. ②Through partial correlation analysis, body composition indices (body mass index, waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, sagittal abdominal diameter, and body fat) had a positive correlation with triglyceride, systolic pressure, diastolic pressure and fasting plasma glucose, while a negative correlation with high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, independent of age, years since postmenopause and the level of estradiol.③Body composition indices and critical value of them used to predict the abnormal components of metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women were as follows: hypertriglyceridemia: body mass index ≥ 24.845 kg/m~2; low high density lipoprotein-cholesterol: sagittal abdominal diameter ≥ 18.85 cm; hypertension: body mass index ≥ 23.33 kg/m~2; high fasting glucose: sagittal abdominal diameter ≥ 18.10 cm or body fat ≥ 36.515%. CONCLUSION: Central obesity and high fasting glucose are the most common metabolic disorders in postmenopausal women. Obesity is an independent risk factor of metabolic syndrome for postmenopausal women. Body composition indices and their critical values to predict the abnormal components of metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women are found.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the differences of two matrine (MA) self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS) in intestinal lymphatic transport. METHODS: Triple single pass intestinal perfusion model (T-SPIP) was established to study the intestinal absorption kinetics of MA in different absorption segments of rats with chylomicron flow blocking approach using colchicine as the blocker. The concentration of MA in the perfustae was measured by HPLC. RESULTS: The two SNEDDSs had regular spherical surface and narrow particle size distribution. MA showed high Peff. The phospholipid complex formulation (MPC-SN) exhibited higher intestinal lymphatic transport especially in distal ileum, and it was influenced more significantly by the chylomicron flow blocker in distal ileum compared to in proximal jejunum and mid-small intestine. CONCLUSION: SNEDDS can improve the absorption of MA by intestinal lymphatic transport. MPC-SN might be easier to be absorbed via lymphatic transport because of its high lipophilicity and small particle size.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate biological characteristics and uptake mechanism of Quercetin-nanostructured lipid carriers (Q-S) in vivo and in vitro. METHODS: Quercetin suspension (Q-X), quercetin-phospholipid complex (Q-L) and nanostructured lipid carriers loaded with quercetin (Q-S) were prepared. Then the intestinal permeability of these three formulations were studied using in situ rat intestinal perfusion, followed by in vivo relative oral bioavailability studies. In addition, in vitro cellular uptake of quercetin from Q-S in a time and concentration-dependent were carried out. To elucidate the uptake mechanism(s) from Q-S, Q-L and Q-X contribution of NPCILI carrier-mediated uptake, endocytosis and passive permeability were investigated. RESULTS: In situ studies demonstrated Q-S has 14-fold higher permeability than Q-X and 3-fold than Q-L. In vivo studies showed Q-S relative oral bioavailability is increased dramatically (Fr=4.6), meanwhile, no significant increased for Q-L compared with Q-X. Consistent with in situ results, in vitro time and concentration-dependent studies revealed quercetin uptake from Q-S was obviously higher than Q-X and Q-L. In vitro mechanistic characterization showed that the reduced contribution of NPCILI to the transport and passive diffusion enhancement of quercetin are primary explanations for its enhanced uptake from Q-S. CONCLUSION: Quercetin can enhance oral bioavailability attributed to enhance passive permeability and reduce transport of NPCILI formed nanostructured lipid carriers.

Full-length NS5A gene of the hepatitis C virus was amplified by PCR using plasmid pBAC25 containing HCV nonstructural gene as template. The amplified fragment (about 1.34 kb) was cloned into plasmid pQE32, and the recombinant plasmid pQENS5A was expressed in JM109 strain. The NS5A protein was purified by NiSO4 metal chelating resin, and characterized by Western-blot. Its antigenecity was determined by ELISA. The positive detection rate of anti-NS5A was 75% (69/92) in ninety-two clinic sera. The positive rate of anti-NS5A was 82.5% (33/40) in fourty positive standand sera, and the negative rate of anti-NS5A was 100% (40/40) in fourty negative standand sera. The results showed that the Full-length NS5A proteinn had the higher sensitivity and specificity in the detection of HCV antibody in sera, we suggested that NS5A protein was a useful antigen for blood screening.

OBJECTIVETo set up animal models of the lung cancer induced by Yunnan tin mineral dusts (no radon) in F344 rats and to explore the process of carcinogenesis and pathologic alterations in various stages of malignant transformation in the animal models.

METHODSOne hundred and ninety F344 rats were randomly divided into Yunnan tin mineral dust group (100 rats), furfural physiological saline group (30 rats), physiological saline group (30 rats) and normal control group (30 rats). The intratracheal instillation with mass fraction of 6% suspension liquid mixture Yunnan tin mineral dusts, volume fraction of 2% furfural physiological saline and physiological saline 0.2 ml was performed in the rates once per week respectively except normal control group. Then the rats were sacrificed in batch periodically after one week. The last rat was exposed to the tin mine dusts for 100 weeks. The morphological process and tumor formation were dynamically observed under LM and TEM. Immunohistochemistry detection of cytokeratin of High MW and low MW was used for tumor classification. Pollak stein was used to evaluate the development of fibrosis of lung in the rats.

RESULTSBronchoalveolar inflammation occurred in the early stage after the intratracheal instillation of Yunnan tin mineral dust was performed in F344 rates. Along with reduction of inflammation, collagen fibrils increased at alveolar interstices. Simple hyperplasia, papillary hyperplasia and metaplasia of the epithelial cells in alveolar and bronchi were observed, followed by atypical adenomatous hyperplasia and squamous dysplasia. Lung cancer was induced in the end. Among the 14 cases of lung cancer, 9 cases were adenocarcinoma, 2 squamous cell carcinoma and 3 mixed carcinoma. No lung cancer occurred in other three control groups. There was a significant difference in the malignancy rate between the experimental group and the three control groups (P < 0.01). The squamous metaplasia and squamous carcinoma were found in alveoli that expressed cytokeratin of High MW. Lung fibrosis was found in 31 cases of in the tin mineral dust group. The greater the mineral dust deposit was, the more serious the alveolar fibrosis was.

CONCLUSIONYunnan tin mineral dusts without radon induce lung cancer in rates. The adenocarcinoma and squamous carcinomas induced in F344 rat lung can occur in the alveoli. The further study on whether type II alveolar epithelial cells are the origin cells of adenocarcinoma and some peripheral squamous lung carcinomas is worthwhile.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dust ; Female ; Lung ; drug effects ; pathology ; Lung Neoplasms ; chemically induced ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred F344 ; Tin ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the polymorphism of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) UL150 open reading frame (ORF) in low-passaged clinical isolates, and to study the relationship between the polymorphism and different pathogenesis of congenital HCMV infection.

METHODSPCR was performed to amplify the entire HCMV UL150 ORF region of 29 clinical isolates, which had been proven containing detectable HCMV-DNA using fluorescence quantitative PCR. PCR amplification products were sequenced directly, and the data were analyzed.

RESULTSTotally 25 among 29 isolates were amplified, and 18 isolates were sequenced successfully. HCMV UL150 ORF sequences derived from congenitally infected infants were high variability. The UL150 ORF in all 18 clinical isolates shifted backward by 8 nucleotides leading to frame-shift, and contained a single nucleotide deletion at nucleotide position 226 compared with that of Toledo strain. The nucleotide diversity was 0.1% to 6.8% and the amino acid diversity was 0.2% to 19.2% related to Toledo strain. However, the nucleotide diversity was 0.1% to 6.4% and amino acid diversity was 0.2% to 8.3% by compared with Merlin strain. Compared with Toledo, 4 new cysteine residues and 13 additional posttranslational modification sites were observed in UL150 putative proteins of clinical isolates. Moreover, the UL150 putative protein contained an additional transmembrane helix at position of 4-17 amino acid related to Toledo.

CONCLUSIONHCMV UL150 ORF and deduced amino acid sequences of clinical strains are hypervariability. No obvious linkage between the polymorphism and different pathogenesis of congenital HCMV infection is found.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Cytomegalovirus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; congenital ; virology ; DNA, Viral ; genetics ; Genes, Viral ; Genetic Variation ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Open Reading Frames ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Viral Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo probe factors of influencing therapeutic effects of acupuncture in the patient of insomnia.

METHODSAccording to scores of degrees of anxiety and depression, 52 cases of insomnia were divided into 3 groups, group I (mild or less degree) and group II (moderate degree) and group II (serious degree). The Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) were compared before and after treatment in the 3 groups, and between two groups after treatment. Results There were significant differences in the therapeutic effect as the groups I, II compared with the group III (P < 0.01). The total sleep quality in the group I was better than that in the group II (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe degree of anxiety and depression in the patient of insomnia is one of important factors influencing therapeutic effect of acupuncture on insomnia.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Anxiety ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder ; Humans ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders

OBJECTIVETo isolate and identify the high-yield poly-malic acid (PMLA) bacterial strains from the nature.

METHODSSamples were collected and cultured. The high-yield PMLA bacterial strains were screened through morphological observation, qualitative PMLA tests by HPLC and ITS sequence analysis on the isolated bacterial strains.

RESULTSA high-yield PMLA strain II 04 was isolated, the yield of PMLA of the strain reached to 26.23g/L in the rotary shaker at 25 degree for 7d. From morphological observation and ITS sequences analysis, the strain belonged to Aureobasidium pullulans, and named as Aureobasidium pullulans ZUCC-41.

CONCLUSIONA high-yield bacterial strain has been isolated from the nature and identified to be Aureobasidium pullulans.

Fermentation ; Malates ; metabolism ; Mitosporic Fungi ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Polymers ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between the phenotypes in XX male patients and the sex determining region(SRY) gene.

METHODSMultiple polymerase chain reactions were carried out in 6 male patients with karyotype of 46, XX, and then the PCR products were sequenced directly.

RESULTSThree cases of male infertility were positive for the SRY gene without evident malformation in their extra genitalia, while 3 cases with testes were negative for the SRY gene, with evident malformation in their extra genitalia.

CONCLUSIONThe SRY gene is key in sex determination and development, yet there might be other important genes involved.

Adult ; Child, Preschool ; Genes, sry ; genetics ; Genitalia, Male ; pathology ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sex Chromosome Aberrations ; Sex Chromosome Disorders ; genetics ; pathology

Aiming at raising awareness of preventing adverse effects of acupuncture in clinical practices, such cases were studied from the angle of therapy methods, the factors of patients constitution and practitioners. The findings showed that adverse physical and chemical effects of acupuncture increased in modern times because of multifactorial reasons, for instance, the introduction of modern medicine, the differences of individual constitution and the practitioners. This suggests that to decrease adverse cases acupuncture practitioners should be an expert not only in traditional Chinese medicine, but also in western medicine, such as anatomy, and pharmacology.
Acupuncture Therapy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Practice Patterns, Physicians'