Objective To study the relationship between ghrelin gene polymorphisms and type 2 diabetes.MethodsAll subjects were genotyped for these two single nucleotide polymorphisms(C408A,G346A)of ghrelin by PCR-RFLP assay.Anthropometric variables,blood glucose,insulin,lipid,uric acid and other clinic parameters were measured.Results In control group,the genotype frequencies are as follows:CC 75.4%(n=251),CA 24.0%(n=80),and AA 0.6%(n=2).In type 2 diabetes group,the genotype frequencies are as follows:CC 70.8%(n=143),CA 28.2%(n=57),and AA 1.0%(n=2).There was no significant differences of the genotype frequencies in two groups.In control group,serum total cholesterol in subjects carrying CC genotype was higher than that of subjects without CC genotype(P

Objective To evaluate the features of insulin sensitivity and ?-cell function in a Chinese population with normal fasting glucose.Methods 2,388 subjects aged≥20 years were divided into 5 groups based on the results of oral 75-g glucose tolerance test(OGTT):low-NFG,mid-NFG,high-NFG,IFG,T2DM.We compared insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity using several indexes derived from OGTT.Results There was a progressive decline in indexes of ?-cell function and insulin sensitivity when moving from NFG to type 2 diabetes.Compared with subjects with mid-NFG(FPG 4.9～5.6mmol/l),subjects with high-NFG(FPG5.6～6.1mmol/l)were more resistant to insulin,and had reduced insulin secretion,higher plasma triglyceride level and reduced HDL cholesterol concentrations(P

Objective To explore the CT and MR features of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) of adults.Methods The CT and MRI findings of 20 patients of MPNST confirmed by pathology were analyzed retrospectively.Results Among 20 cases,the lesions were located in the lower extremities (n=4),shoulder and spine (n=4),abdomen (n=3),chest wall (n=2),mediastinum (n=2),breast (n=1),prostate (n=1),scrotum (n=1),scalp (n=1),left maxillary sinus and orbital bottom (n=1).Nineteen cases appeared as solid masses and 1 case appeared as diffuse lesion.The maximum cross section of the lesions were about 1.41 cm× 1.42 cm-17.10 cm× 18.08 cm.Sixteen cases were ill defined margin and 4 cases were well-defined margin.CT scan showed 14 cases were lower density or isodensity and with patchy inhomogeneous density.Multiple calcification were found in 2 cases and osteolytic destruction were found in 7 cases.Enhanced CT of 10 cases showed solid component and gradually delayed enhancement,while cystic lesion and necrosis were not enhancement.The tortuous arteries were displayed in 7 cases.Seven cases were performed MRI and the lesions appeared as hypo-intensity on T1WI and hypo-intensity on T2WI with obviously high intensity of cystic component.Enhanced MRI of 3 cases showed significantly heterogeneous enhancement,cyst and necrosis had no enhancement.MR dynamic enhancement of 1 case showed time-signal intensity curve was platform type.DWI showed high signal.Conclusion MPNST has certain CT and MR characteristics which are helpful to improve the diagnostic accuracy.

OBJECTIVE:To explore the optimal steaming time of Carapax trionycis during cleansing period,and to optimize and improve production technology of Carapax trionycis recorded by current Chinese Pharmacopoeia. METHODS:The mechanical processing replaced the artificial processing method in Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The content of protein and the appearance of Cara-pax trionycis were investigated after steaming for 30,60,90,120,180,240 min during cleansing period. The extract,decoction, ash content,appearance and property of Carapax trionycis decoction piece processed with vinegar were also investigated after cleansed Carapax trionycis decoction piece was processed by sand scalding and vinegar quenching method. RESULTS:The differ-ent steaming time obtained different quality of cleansed Carapax trionycis decoction piece and Carapax trionycis decoction piece pro-cessed with vinegar. Compared with decoction piece steamed for other duration,when the steaming time was 90 min,the content of protein in cleansed Carapax trionycis decoction piece was higher(31.16%),and its appearance was up to the requirement. Cara-pax trionycis decoction piece processed with vinegar had higher contents of extract and decoction(9.13%,11.39%)and lower con-tent of ash(66.29%),and its appearance was up to the requirement. CONCLUSIONS:Different steaming time have certain effect on the quality of cleansed Carapax trionycis and Carapax trionycis processed with vinegar,the optimal steaming time of Carapax tri-onycis is about 90 min during cleansing. The mechanical processing method maybe replace the artificial processing on Carapax tri-onycis for improving its production efficiency.

Objective: To explore the relationship among somatostatin (SS), neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and early vascular dementia.Methods: A total of 40 patients with early vascular dementia treated in our hospital were selected as vascular dementia group, another 40 inpatients with cerebral infarction (CI) treated during the same period were enrolled as CI group.Plasma NSE and SS levels were compared between two groups during different periods.Results: Compared with CI group at onset, one month and three months after CI, there was significant rise in plasma NSE level[(22.08±7.05) ng/ml vs.(26.39±6.80) ng/ml, (23.92±4.25) ng/ml vs.(28.12±4.06) ng/ml, (25.55±4.72) ng/ml vs.(30.10±4.33) ng/ml], and significant reduction in plasma SS level[(1084.50±133.00) ng/ml vs.(748.30±129.10) ng/ml, (836.40±160.20) ng/ml vs.(624.25±140.50) ng/ml, (690.25±146.30) ng/ml vs.(432.70±151.00) ng/ml]in vascular dementia group, P<0.05 or <0.01.Plasma NSE level gradually rose and SS level gradually reduced along with the time went by(P<0.05 or <0.01).Conclusion: Early dynamic detection of somatostatin and neuron-specific enolase levels in patients with cerebral infarction may help to early diagnosing and treatment of vascular dementia.

Purpose To investigate the role of SOCS3 on diabetic renal injury. Methods Male CD-1 mice were randomly divided into four groups:control group, diabetic group, empty plasmid vector transfection group and SOCS3 plasmid transfection group. The diabet-ic mice were induced by intraperitoneal injection of STZ at a dose of 150 mg/kg body weight. The mice of transfection group were re-ceived an injection of SOCS3 plasmid or empty vector at every 7 days thereafter. Specimens were collected at 12 week after STZ injec-tion. The morphological changes of tubular epithelial cells were observed by transmission electron microscope. RT-PCR and immuno-histochemistry were used to determine the mRNA and protein expression of CK18 and α-SMA. Western blotting analysis was used to determine the protein expression of SOCS3, p-STAT3, CK18 and α-SMA. Results SOCS3 overexpression in kidney down-regulated the levels of p-STAT3 andα-SMA but up-regulated the expression of CK18. Conclusion Overexpression of SOCS3 can ameliorate the tubular epithelial-mesenchymal transdifferentiation of diabetic mice via inhibiting the phosphorylation of STAT3.

Objective To predict the incidence of birth defects in Xi'an using the auto-regressive integrated moving average product seasonal model.Methods In Xi'an,the trend of the incidence of birth defects was analyzed and tested from October 2009 to August 2015.Using the data from September to December 2015,the actual birth defects were compared with the model fitting data to evaluate the predictive performance of the model.Multiple seasonal ARIMA model was then fitted under time series to predict the incidence of birth defects in 2016.Results Seasonal effect was seen in the incidence of birth defects in Xi'an.A multiple seasonal ARIMA(0,0,1) (0,1,1)12 was established.The mean of absolute error and the relative error were 9.5 and 0.084,respectively,when compared to the simulated number of patients from September to December in 2015,suggesting that ARIMA (0,0,1) (0,1,1)12 has a better predictive ability.Results under the prediction of multiple seasonal ARIMA model showed that the number of patients in 2016 was similar to that of 2015 in Xi'an,with a slight increase and a decrease in the peak value.Conclusion Multiple seasonal ARIMA(0,0,1)(0,1,1)12 model could be used to successfully predict the incidence of birth defects in Xi'an.

Objective To investigate the dynamic epidemiological characteristics of perinatal birth defects in Xi'an so as to provide scientific evidence for the priority of future birth defect prevention.Methods We made a statistical description of the data of perinatal birth defects from 2010 to 2015 reported by all the maternity hospitals in Xi'an.Results The incidence of birth defects in Xi'an from 2010 to 2015 was 89.62/104 (87.60/104,91.74/ 104) and had an annual ascending tendency (x2-157.13,P＜0.01).The top five main birth defects in a descending order were congenital heart disease (26.53/104),polydactyly (13.10/104),total cleft lip (11.42/104),neural tube defects (6.06 /104),and congenital hydrocephalus (5.08/104),accounting for 69.39％ of the total number of birth defects.And the incidence of congenital heart diseases showed a year-by-year ascending trend (x2=837.65,P＜ 0.01).The incidence of birth defects was higher in urban areas than in rural areas (OR 1.108,95％ CI:1.056-1.162).The birth defects were more frequently seen in males than in females (OB=1.151,95％ CI:1.097-1.208).Mother's age ＜20 (OR=1.764,95％ CI..1.532-2.032) and mother'sage≥35 (OR=1.283,95％ CI:1.179-1.395) also were risk factors for birth defects.Up to 72.54％ of the defects were live births.There were 52.83％ cases diagnosed by ultrasound and 46.24％ ones by clinical examination.The prenatal diagnosis rate was 33.20％.Conclusion The incidence of perinatal birth defects in Xi'an from 2010 to 2015 showed an annual ascending trend.We should improve the prenatal diagnosis level of all monitored hospitals in order to reduce incidence of birth defects and increase the quality of population.

Objective To study the effects of air pollution including sulphur dioxide (SO2),nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and PM10 in Xi'an on birth defects.Methods We collected the birth defects data from Xi'an Maternal and Child Health Hospital,meteorological data from Xi'an Bureau of Meteorology,and the air pollution data from Xi'an Environment Monitoring Station from 2010 to 2015.Generalized additive model (GAM) was used to explore the relationship between air pollution and birth defects after adjusting the effects of long-term and seasonal trend,temperature,and relative humidity.Results The monthly average birth defects were 89 cases;the monthly average concentration of SO2,NO2 and PM10 was 34.05 μg/m3,45.13 μg/m3,and 96.77 μg/m3,respectively.In the GAM,the monthly average temperature was 13.57 ℃ and the relative humidity was 63.20％.The three kinds of air pollutants all had a certain lag effect in 10 months,which reached the maximum.With an increase of concentration by 10 μg/m3 in three air pollutants,the relative risks and confidence interval of SO2,NO2,and PM10 were 1.060 (1.023-1.097),1.033 (1.014-1.052) and 1.018 (1.007-1.029),with significant differences (P＜0.05).Conclusion Exposure to SO2,NO2,and PM10 may be associated with the risk of birth defects.

Objective To analyze the spatial distribution characteristics of birth defects and air pollution in Xi'an and the correlation between air pollution exposure and birth defects.Methods In this study,we calculated the mean and median concentration of air pollutants in Xi'an between 2010 and 2015 to describe their concentration trends.Then we analyzed quartile range to describe their discrete trend.The spatial distribution of air pollution in the whole study area was calculated by inverse distance weighted spatial interpolation method to describe its overall occurrence level.The global trend was analyzed to describe the main body change pattern in the birth defect space.The total number of birth defects in the districts and counties of Xi'an between 2010 and 2015 was calculated and the incidence of birth defects was calculated according to the monitoring data of live births.Correlation between birth defects and air pollution was analyzed by rank correlation analysis.Results The spatial distribution of air pollutants in Xi'an between 2010 and 2015 was as follows:the concentration of SO2 was relatively high in Lianhu District,Yanta District,Baqiao District,Beilin District,and Xincheng District.The concentration of NO2 was relatively high in Yanta District,Baqiao District,Lianhu District,Beilin District,and Xincheng District.The concentration of PM10 was relatively high in Baqiao District,Yanta District,Xincheng District,Weiyang District,and Yanliang District.In Baqiao District,Xincheng District,Lianhu District,Weiyang District,and Gaoling District,the concentration of PM2.5 was relatively high.The total number of birth defects was 6 858 cases in Xi'an between 2010 and 2015,and the total number of perinatal births was 752 142 cases,with the incidence of 91.18 (1/10 000).The spatial distribution of birth defects from the west to the east direction and from south to north direction was generally characterized of inverted U type.The birth defects were positively correlated with NO2 concentration.Conclusion There are obvious regional differences in air pollution and birth defects in Xi'an.Birth defects may be related to NO2.