OBJECTIVETo investigate the self-rated health status of the floating population in a district of Guangzhou.

METHODSCluster stratified random sampling was applied to survey 219 floating people from a community in Guangzhou, who were assessed with self-rated health status was assessed with Self-Rated Health Measurement Scale.

RESULTSThe scores of the floating population were significantly higher than the normal individuals in physical health sub-scales (P<0.01), while the scores of the floating population were significantly lower in psychological and social health sub-scales (P<0.05). The low score items in the subscale of physical health mainly consisted of fatigue and gastrointestinal symptoms, those in the subscale of psychological health mainly in anxiety, depression and obsession, and those in the subscale of social health mainly in participation in social activities and seeking help from others.

CONCLUSIONTo improve the health status of the floating population, campaigns of health education need to be launched periodically and psychological counseling should be provided for these individuals. Additionally, interactive activities should be increased in their daily social life.

Adolescent ; Adult ; China ; Female ; Health Status ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Population Dynamics ; statistics & numerical data ; Self Concept ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Transients and Migrants ; statistics & numerical data ; Travel ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo compare the effects of elastic bandage compression with the specific hemostasis devices in patients undergoing transradial coronary intervention.

METHODSA total of 3000 consecutive patients were randomized to 3 groups and 2910 patients completed the study, 963 patients in elastic bandage group (ER), 976 in T band group (TB) and 971 in balloon group (TR). In-hospital vascular related complication was the primary study endpoint. The secondary endpoints included: risk factors of complications, compression time, fibroplasia conditions and the comfort feeling of patients.

RESULTSThe overall incidence of vascular related complication in 3 groups was similar (P = 0.262). Female, low body weight, prolongation of procedure and multi-punctures were identified as the independent risk factors for complications. Moreover, the compression time and the fibroplasia condition in TB and TR group were superior to those in the ER group. Comfortable feeling of the patients was better in TR and TB group than in ER group (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSBoth conventional bandage device and specific radial device are feasible and associated with low incidence of vascular complication. However, the specific radial device has significant advantage over bandage strategy in compression time and quality of life.

Adult ; Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; methods ; Bandages ; Female ; Hemostatic Techniques ; instrumentation ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Hemorrhage ; prevention & control ; Radial Artery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of mitochondria membrane potential and cytoplasma cytochrome C as the mechanism of neuron apoptosis induced by B(a)P.

METHODSPrimary neurons were dissociated from cerebral cortex of 1 - 3 days old SD rats and cultured with DMEM incubator at 37 degrees C. After 5 days' cultivation, the neurons were added S9 and B(a)P, and the concentrations of treated B(a)P were 0, 10, 20 and 40 micromol/L respectively. After administering of B(a)P, the neurons were cultivated for 40 hours. Apoptosis rate was measured by flow cytometry using Annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide (PI) staining, and the changes in mitochondrial potential (DeltaPsim) were tested with Rhodamine fluorescence (R2123) technique. Preparation of cytosolic extracts by centrifugation. Western blotting analysis was used to evaluate the level of cytochrome C of cytoplasm.

RESULTSThe apoptotic rate of neuron increased in both the middle dose group and the high dose group compared with controls, and had a dose-response tendency with the concentration of B(a)P. Moreover mitochondrial potential decreased in a dose dependent manner. There was a negative correlation between DeltaPsim and the apoptotic rate of neurons (r = -0.763, P < 0.05); Western blotting analysis showed cytoplasmic cytochrome C level increased significantly, which was positively related with neuron apoptosis (r = 0.831, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONLoss of mitochondria membrane potential and increase of cytoplasma cytochrome C may be the main cause of neuron apoptosis induced by B(a)P.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Benzo(a)pyrene ; toxicity ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytochromes c ; metabolism ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; Mitochondria ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Neurons ; cytology ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

A simple, rapid and sensitive colorimetric loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method was established to detect HPV6 and HPV 16 respectively. The method employed a set of four specially designed primers that recognized six distinct sequences of HPV6-E6 or HPV16-E7 for amplification of nucleic acid under isothermal conditions at 63 degrees C for one hour. The amplification process of LAMP was monitored by the addition of HNB (hydroxy naphthol blue) dye prior to amplification. A positive reaction was indicated by a color change from violet to sky blue and confirmed by real-time turbidimeter and agarose electrophoresis. Thirteen cervical swab samples having single infection with 13 different HPV genotypes were examined to evaluate the specificity. A serial dilution of a cloned plasmid containing HPV-E6 or HPV-E7 gene was examined to evaluate the sensitivity. The results showed that no cross-reaction with other HPV genotypes was observed. The colorimetric LAMP assay could achieve a sensitivity of 1000 copies, 10-20 times lower than that of real-time PCR. The assay was further evaluated with 62 clinical specimens and consistent results were obtained compared with the detection using Kai Pu HPV Genotyping Kit. We concluded that this colorimetric LAMP assay had potential usefulness for the rapid screening of the HPV6 or HPV16 infection in the laboratories and hospitals of provincial and municipal region in China.
Colorimetry ; methods ; DNA Primers ; chemistry ; genetics ; Genotype ; Human papillomavirus 16 ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Human papillomavirus 6 ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques ; instrumentation ; methods ; Papillomavirus Infections ; virology

BACKGROUNDThe radial approach has been increasingly used as an alternative to femoral access. And more procedures using repeated transradial coronary intervention (r-TRI) are performed. However, few data about r-TRI has been obtained. Therefore, we investigated the safety and feasibility of r-TRI using the same route.

METHODSA total of 423 consecutive eligible patients undergoing r-TRI were enrolled in the r-TRI group, and 846 patients with initial TRI (i-TRI) were assigned to the i-TRI group in a 2:1 matching ratio compared to r-TRI group. The primary endpoint included the success rate of the procedure and the incidence of vascular related complications.

RESULTSThe baseline clinical characteristics in the two groups were comparable. The success rate of procedures in the r-TRI and i-TRI was similar (96.0% vs. 97.5%, P = 0.130). In subgroup analysis (coronary angiography only or angiography with pecutaneous coronary intervention), similar results were also observed. The puncture numbers and incidence of radial artery spasm in the r-TRI group were significantly higher than in the i-TRI group (P = 0.024 and P < 0.001, respectively). The other procedural outcomes in the two groups were identical. With respect to the incidence of overall vascular related complication and independent events, there were no significant differences in spite of a higher incidence of radial artery occlusion (RAO) in the r-TRI group (RAO: 1.2% vs. 0.7%, P = 0.521). The patients in the i-TRI group had more comfortable feeling than patients in the r-TRI group (P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSR-TRI produces a comparable procedure success rate and incidence of vascular complication when compared to i-TRI. It should be considered as an acceptable and safe procedure.

Adult ; Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; adverse effects ; methods ; Coronary Angiography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

BACKGROUNDStent thrombosis is one of severe complications after sirolimus-eluting stent implantation. Rapamycin (sirolimus) promotes arterial thrombosis in in vivo studies. However, the underlying molecular and transcriptional mechanisms of this adverse effect have not been thoroughly investigated. This study was designed to examine the effects of rapamycin on the expression of the gene, Kruppel-like factor 2 (KLF2), and its transcriptional targets in mice.

METHODSMice were randomly divided into four groups: the control group (intraperitoneal injection with 2.5% of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) only), rapamycin group (intraperitoneal injection with 2 mg/kg of rapamycin only), Ad-LacZ + rapamycin group (carotid arterial incubation with Ad-LacZ plus intraperitoneal injection with 2 mg/kg of rapamycin 10 days later), and Ad-KLF2 + rapamycin group (carotid arterial incubation with Ad-KLF2 plus intraperitoneal injection with 2 mg/kg rapamycin 10 days later). The carotid arterial thrombosis formation was induced by FeCl3 and the time of arterial thrombosis was determined. Finally, the RNA and protein of carotid arteries were extracted for KLF2, tissue factor (TF), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), thrombomodulin (TM) mRNA and protein analysis.

RESULTSCompared with controls, treatment with rapamycin inhibited KLF2, eNOS and TM mRNA and protein expression, and enhanced TF and PAI-1 mRNA and protein expression, and shortened time to thrombotic occlusion from (1282 ± 347) seconds to (715 ± 120) seconds (P < 0.01) in vivo. Overexpression of KLF2 strongly reversed rapamycin-induced effects on KLF2, eNOS, TM, TF and PAI-1 expression. KLF2 overexpression increased the time to thrombotic occlusion to control levels in vivo.

CONCLUSIONSRapamycin induced an inhibition of KLF2 expression and an imbalance of anti- and pro-thrombotic gene expression, which promoted arterial thrombosis in vivo. Overexpression of KLF2 increased KLF2 expression and reversed time to thrombosis in vivo.

Animals ; Carotid Arteries ; metabolism ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; adverse effects ; Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors ; analysis ; genetics ; physiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; physiology ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; physiology ; Sirolimus ; pharmacology ; Thrombomodulin ; physiology ; Thrombosis ; chemically induced

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of different concentration extract from Shenghua decoction on contractile activity of the uterine smooth muscle isolated from normal, estrogen-treated and postpartum mice.

METHODMedlab/4 s vital signal recorder was used to measure the effects of extract from Shenghua decoction (3-12 mg x mL(-1)) on contractile amplitude and frequency of the isolated uterus from normal, estrogen-treated and postpartum mice.

RESULTShenghua decoction extract (3-12 mg x mL(-1)) significantly decreased the contractile activity of the mouse isolated uterus in normal non-pregnancy and postpartum, but significantly increased that of the mouse isolated uterus treated with estrogen, and didn't show significant concentration-response relationship.

CONCLUSIONThe effects of Shenghua decoction extract on contractile activity of mouse-isolated uterus treated with estrogen cannot represent the pharmacological effects on that of in normal non-pregnancy and postpartum uterus.

Angelica sinensis ; chemistry ; Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Estrogens ; pharmacology ; Female ; In Vitro Techniques ; Mice ; Muscle, Smooth ; drug effects ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Postpartum Period ; Uterine Contraction ; drug effects ; Uterus ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene polymorphism and serum lipid profile.

METHODSPolymerase chain reaction-restricted fragments length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used to determine ApoE genotype on 1452 subjects including 1101 cases with cardio cerebrovascular disease including 379 cases with cerebral infarction, 313 cases with cerebral hemorrhage, 257 cases with coronary heart disease, and 152 cases with other types and on 351 healthy controls.

RESULTSAfter adjusting for age, sex and BMI, the subjects with ApoE4 carriers had significantly higher levels of total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and ApoB than those with ApoE2 carriers and ApoE3/3 (P < 0.05), and higher level of triglyceride(TG) than those with ApoE3/3 (P < 0.05), while the subjects with ApoE2 carriers had significantly higher levels of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) than those with ApoE4 (P < 0.05). The effects of ApoE polymorphism exhibited similarity in different sex and age of subjects. Linear regression analysis showed that unlike ApoE3/3, the HDL-C level in ApoE2 carriers tend upward with age (beta = 0.178, P = 0.015), significantly higher than ApoE4 carriers and ApoE3/3 in the cohort of 65-74 years (P < 0.05). The level of TC and TG in ApoE4 carriers had a tendency of downward with age (p = -0.179, P = 0.009; beta = -0.147, P = 0.032).

CONCLUSIONApoE gene polymorphism affected profile of blood lipids and the effects were found in different sex and age. The degrees of effects related to ApoE2 carriers and ApoE4 carriers to blood lipid level seemed to be related to age.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Apolipoproteins E ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Sex Factors ; Young Adult

The study was aimed to explore the roles of exosomes derived from regulatory dendritic cells of mice in the induction of immune tolerance. Immature DC (iDC) from mouse bone marrow cells and regulatory DCs (rDC) were induced by treating iDC with TGF-beta1 and IL-10. The phenotype of regulatory DCs and normal DCs were assayed by flow cytometry. Exosomes from immature DCs (iDex) and regulatory DCs (rDex) were isolated by ultracentrifugation and ultrafiltration. A skin transplantation model was established with the recipients BALB/c mice and the donor C57BL/6 mice. Recipients were divided into PBS control group, iDex group (injection 10 microg iDex of donor C57BL/6 mice via tail vein at days 7 and 3 before skin transplantation), rDex group (injection 10 microg rDex of donor C57BL/6 mice via tail vein at days 7 and 3 before skin transplantation). The capacity of the donor mice and the unrelated allogeneic donor mice to stimulate allogeneic T lymphocyte proliferation was examined by mixed lymphocyte culture (MLR). The results showed that TGF-beta1 and IL-10 could down-regulate the expressions of costimulatory molecules, including CD80, CD86 and CD40. The graft mean survival time (MST) in control group, iDex group and rDex group was 7.8, 10.7 and 18.8 days, respectively. There was significant difference in MST between iDex group and control group (p<0.05), and between rDex group and iDex group (p<0.01). The results of MLR assays indicated donor-specific hyporeactivity especially in rDex group, while the tolerant B/C mice were still immunocompetent to unrelated allogeneic DBA mouse. It is concluded that injection iDex or rDex of donor mice via tail vein before skin transplantation induces immunotolerance, and the effect of rDex is more significant.
Animals ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; transplantation ; Exosomes ; immunology ; transplantation ; Female ; Graft Enhancement, Immunologic ; methods ; Graft Survival ; Immune Tolerance ; immunology ; Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Inbred DBA ; Skin Transplantation ; Transplantation Immunology ; Transplantation, Homologous

A simple, rapid and sensitive colorimetric reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) method was established to detect norovirus genotype GII. The method employed a set of six specially designed primers that recognized eight distinct sequences of RNA-dependant RNA polymerase and capsid protein gene for amplification of nucleic acid under isothermal conditions at 65 degrees C for 60 minutes. The amplification process of RT-LAMP was monitored by the addition of HNB (Hydroxy naphthol blue) dye prior to amplification. A positive reaction was indicated by a color change from violet to sky blue and confirmed by agarose electrophoresis. The specificity of the RT-LAMP was validated by detecting several different diarrhea viruses including norovirus genotype GII. The sensitivity was determined by serial dilutions of RNA molecules from in vitro transcription of norovirus genotype GII in parallel with conventional RT-PCR detection. The assay was further evaluated with 93 clinical specimens of diarrhea patients. The results showed that the sensitivity of RT-LAMP was 1 000 copies/microL with a high specificity and the relative sensitivity was at the same level as that of conventional RT-PCR. Positive rate of RT-LAMP in analysis of clinical specimens was approximately the same as that of conventional RT-PCR as well. This colorimetric RT-LAMP assay was potential for rapid detection of norovirus genotype GII on spot due to the observation of visual result with high specificity and sensitivity, time-saving and cost benefit.
Caliciviridae Infections ; diagnosis ; virology ; Colorimetry ; methods ; Feces ; virology ; Genotype ; Humans ; Norovirus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques ; methods