C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Calcitonin ; blood ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Pneumonia ; blood ; diagnosis ; Protein Precursors ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the levels of cardiovascular disease risk factors and their relations to clinical phenotype associated with coronary artery disease (CAD).

METHODSThe subjects were recruited from five independent cardiovascular centers. Coronary angiography was employed to define the CAD with stenosis in each major vessel > or = 70% and control with stenosis < 10% in every lesion. The classic risk factors including family history, body mass index, smoking habits, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and serum lipid levels were surveyed according to established criteria. Associations between risk levels and clinical phenotypes were assessed by case control and correlation analysis.

RESULTSA total of 762 individuals were collected, including 481 men and 281 women, aged from 17 to 81 (mean 60 +/- 10) years. The patients with CAD accounted for 55.5% of all participants, and controls 44.5%, respectively. Compared with the pattern in published data, our study showed that mean serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level was significantly lower (P < 0.001) and triglycerides was significantly higher (P < 0.001), while total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were comparative (both P > 0.05). The prevalence of low HDL-C (< 40 g/L) and hypertriglyceridemia (> 150 g/L) were 27.2% and 41.4%, respectively. Mean serum levels of HDL-C and apolipoprotein A1 were significantly higher in female subjects than in male (P < 0.001). Lower HDL-C functioned as an independent risk factor for CAD only in men (RR = 2.8, 95% CI: 1.5-4. 2, P < 0.001), yet increased non-HDL cholesterol combined with diabetes mellitus and obesity seemed to play a key role in the development of CAD in women. Similarity in risk association with CAD was found for hypertension and TC/HDL ratio in male and female subjects, while family history had no relationship with the presence of CAD.

CONCLUSIONIt is remarkable that emphasis of intervention in future should be given on the prevalent low serum HDL-C and its strong risk correlation with the presence of CAD in male subjects of Chinese Han population.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; epidemiology ; Coronary Artery Disease ; epidemiology ; Ethnic Groups ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors

INTRODUCTIONTo investigate the attitudes of medical and nursing student towards the older Chinese population.

MATERIALS AND METHODSA reliable and valid Chinese language version of Kogan's Attitudes toward Older People (KAOP) with 17 matched item pairs (34 items) was completed by 275 medical and nursing students. Descriptive data analysis was employed.

RESULTSParticipants reported slightly to have a more positive attitudes (Mean, 144.30 +/- 17.89) than those reported from studies in other countries (Jordanian: Mean, 110.6 +/- 21.79). Students who were females (Mean, 148.27 +/- 18.97), younger (Mean, 146.01 +/- 18.59) and studying nursing (Mean, 156.86 +/- 17.56) were more likely to have a more positive attitudes than older (Mean, 140.04 +/- 15.31), males (Mean, 140.47 +/- 15.93), studying medicine (Mean, 138.77 +/- 15.04).

DISCUSSIONResults show that students may have greater ambivalence attitudes on 10 out of 17 matched item pairs which provides useful information for faculty involved in aged care curriculum design. Working as a volunteer in the university hospital may increase students' interactions with the elderly and may positively influence attitudes towards the elderly.

Aged ; Attitude of Health Personnel ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Students, Medical ; psychology ; Students, Nursing ; psychology ; Taiwan

Objective To investigate the geographical characteristics of single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP) of candidate genes associated with coronary artery disease in Chinese Han population.Methods Study population were Chinese Han nationality recruited from Xi'an,Shiyan and Ningbo districts.Patients with coronary artery disease were defined by coronary angiography with stenosis ≥ 50% and control subjects with stenosis ＜10%,respectively.The DNA was extracted from peripheral white blood cell by approach comprised proteinase K digestion,phenol and chloroform extraction as well as isopropanol precipitation.The SNP of ATP-binding cassette transporter(ABCA1)-G596A,cholesteryl ester transfer protein(CETP)-Taq1B,Lipoprotein lipase(LPL)-Hind Ⅲ and LPL-Pvu Ⅱ were genotyped by PCR-RFLPs,and verified by gene sequencing.Results A Total of 615 patients undertaken coronary angiography were recruited from cardiac center in Xi'an(220),Ningbo(209)and Shiyan district(186),China (mean age 60±10 years,75.9% males).Diabetes melitus was more prevalent in Xi'an Cohort population than Shiyan and Ningbo cohort(P＜0.01).Plasma total cholesterol,LDL cholestcol and trigtyceride levels in Xi'an Cohort population were significantly higher,and HDL-C siginificantly lower than in Shiyan and Ningbo cohort population [HDL-C:(1.17±0.48)mmol/L vs.(1.25±0.33)mmol/L and (1.29±0.44)mmol/L,P＜0.05].Distribution differences for ABCA1-G596A and CETP-Taq1B genotypes were found in Xi'an Cohort population compared to Ningbo and Shiyan cohorts(for ABCA1,Xi'an:0.24,0.53,0.23 and Shiyan:0.17,0.62,0.21 and Ningbo:0.34,0.37,0.29,for GG,AG,AA,respectively,P＜0.01;and for CETP,Xi'an:0.29,0.54,0.17 and Shiyan:0.38,0.40,0.22 and Ningbo:0.39,0.49,0.12 for B181,B182,B282,respectively,P＜0.01),but not for LPL variants.ABCA1-G596A variant predicted HDL-C [Xi'an:(1.2±0.3)mmol/L,(1.3±0.2)mmol/L and(1.4±0.4)mmol/L,P=0.01;Shiyan:(1.1±0.4)mmol/L:(1.2±0.3)mmol/L and(1.3±0.4)mmol/L,P=0.03;Ningbo,(1.2±0.3)mmol/L,(1.3±0.4)mmol/L and(1.4±0.3)mmol/L,across GG,Gato AA genotype,respectively,P=0.01]and TG levels[Xi'an:(2.4±1.3)mmol/L,(1.9±0.9)mmol/L and(1.6±0.8)mmol/L,P＜0.01;Shiyan:(2.1±1.0)mmol/L,(1.9±0.8)mmol/L and(1.8±0.7)mmol/L,P=0.03;Ningbo:(1.9±1.1) mmol/L,(1.8±0.9) mmol/L and(1.6±0.7)mmol/L,across GG,GA to AA genotype,P=0.05] with dose-dependent relationship.LPL-Hind Ⅲ(+)carriers had higher triglycerides in three cohort population[Xi'an:(2.2±1.0)mmol/L,(1.8±0.9)mmol/L,(1.6±0.7)mmol/L,P=0.01;Shiyan:(2.1±0.7)mmol/L,(1.9±1.0)mmol/L,(1.7±0.6)mmol/L,P=0.01;Ningbo:(1.8±1.0)mmol/L,(1.6±0.6)mmol/L and(1.4±0.5)mmol/L,for +/+,+/-and-/-genotypes,respectively,P=0.001].SNP of CETP-Taq1B,LPL-Hind Ⅲ and LPL-Pvu Ⅱ predicted HDL-C and/or TG levels in different cohort population with different manners.All these SNP were not significantly associated with the development of coronary artery disease (all P＞0.05).Conclusion A geographical heterogeneity of environmental and genetic risk factors related to the development of coronary artery disease exists in Chinese Han population.Irrespective of the different geographical cohort of Chinese Han population,the SNP of candidate genes can partly predict the differences in risk-related plasma HDL-C and/or TG levels rather than angiographic coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVETo study the therapeutic efficacy of siRNA fragments silencing p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75(NTR)), which may be a key regulator of glioma cell apoptosis and invasion.

METHODSThe siRNA sequence fragments targeting p75(NTR) were designed and transferred into human glioma cell line U251. RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry method were used to explore the expression of p75(NTR) mRNA and protein. Cell adhesion assay was employed to detect cellular adhesion ability, and soft agar clone formation assay was adopted to identify oncogenicity, and a U251 glioma model was established in nude mice. The intracranial tumor volume was detected by MRI. The expression of p75(NTR), NGF and cyclin D2 were identified using immunohistochemistry. Cell apoptosis was detected by apoptosis kit in situ.

RESULTSThe siRNA fragments targeting p75(NTR) were capable of decreasing mRNA and protein expression of p75(NTR) in U251 glioma cell line. Both the cellular adhesion ability and oncogenicity were weakly relevant. The p75(NTR) expression level was negatively correlated with cyclin D2 and apoptosis, and positively correlated with NGF expression. The siRNA sequence fragments targeting p75(NTR) were effective in decreasing the gross volume of tumor; prolonged the survival time of mice, and the edge of tumor was much sharper than that of the control group.

CONCLUSIONSThe gene silencing technique by siRNA targeting p75(NTR) is capable of decreasing tumor invasion and cell proliferation as well as inducing cell apoptosis. It is expected to be a new choice for glioma gene therapy.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Brain Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Cyclin D2 ; metabolism ; Gene Silencing ; Glioma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Nerve Growth Factor ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor ; genetics ; metabolism