AIM: To study the relationship among peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma2(PPAR ?2) gene Pro12Ala polymorphism,Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori) infection,and gastric cancer in China.METHODS: 104 consecutive patients with gastric cancer and 104 age-and sex-matched controls from Guangdong Province of southern China were examined.PPAR?2 Pro12Ala polymorphism was analyzed by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism method(PCR-RFLP).H.pylori status of subjects was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) for anti-H.pylori IgG.RESULTS: The prevalence of H.pylori infection was significantly higher in gastric cancer patients than that in control(81.7% vs 59.6%,2=12.27,P

This study is to explore the effect of ginkgolide B (BN52021) on the production of nitric oxide (NO), interleukin (IL)-6 and regulated upon activation normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) from astrocytes induced by stimulators. Primary cultured rat astrocytes were stimulated with lipopolysaccharides (LPS), the production of NO was assayed using Griess reaction; U251 cells were stimulated with IL-1 beta, the contents of IL-6 and RANTES in the supernatant were measured using ELISA. The mRNA expressions of IL-6 and RANTES were detected using RT-PCR. LPS (10 ng mL(-1) to 10 microg mL(-1)) could stimulate rat astrocytes to produce NO in a dose-dependent manner. Ginkgolide B at the concentrations of 0.1-10 micromol L(-1) were shown to decrease NO production significantly. IL-1 beta could induce the mRNA expression and protein secretion of IL-6 from U251 cells, as well as RANTES. Ginkgolide B at concentrations of 0.1-10 micromol L(-1) were shown to inhibit RANTES secretion, and to inhibit mRNA expression of IL-6 and RANTES at concentration of 10 micromol L(-1). Ginkgolide B has inhibitory effect on the production of NO, IL-6 and RANTES from astrocytes treated with inflammatory stimulators.

AIM: To study the relationship between MIF gene -173 locus polymorphism, helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection, and gastric cancer in high prevalent (Shanxi) and low prevalent (Guangdong) regions in China. METHODS: Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of 104 healthy controls, 104 gastric patients from Guangdong and 102 healthy volunteers, and 102 gastric cancer patients from Shanxi. Polymorphism of MIF-173 locus was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). RESULTS: In high prevalence region, the number of patients who carrying with MIF -173 C/C is much higher than those of healthy controls (28.8% vs 15.4%, ?~2=5.47, P0.05). CONCLUSION: The C genotype of MIF -173 locus may be associated with the risk of gastric cancer in China.

Objective To evaluate the performance characteristics of the second trimester double-marker test for the detection of fetal Down's syndrome in mainland China. Methods This prospective national multi-centered study used alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and free β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotrophin( free β-hCG)as the serum markers. From May 2004 to September 2006, 11 centers participated in the collection and analysis of maternal serum AFP and free β-hCG between 14 and 20+6 weeks of pregnancy. The screening results were calculated using the standard algorithm based on the standard database provided with the analytic software. Patients with an increased risk of Down's syndrome pregnancy (≥1/270) were offered genetic anmiocentesis. Outcomes of all pregnancies were obtained.Results A total of 66 132 singleton pregnancies were included in the study. The median maternal age was 27 years. At a cut-eft of 1 in 270, the detection rate (DR) based on a Caucasian database was 72% corresponding to a false positive rate (FPR) of 5%, and the DR based on the Chinese database was raised to 76% corresponding to an FPR of 5%. Conclusion The double-marker test using AFP and free β-hCG is an effective screen strategy for second-trimester detection of fetal Down's syndrome in mainland China. Ethnic variance exists between the Caucasian and Chinese populations. The accuracy of screening is increased by the use of race-specific medians.