Objective To explore the relationship between genetic variation in PAF-AH V279F and coronary heart disease among Han population in Beijing.Methods A case-control study was held which enrolled 124 patients with coronary heart disease and 103 normal subjects.The genotype of PAF-AH V279F was determined with allele-specific polymerase chain reaction(AS-PCR)method. Results The highest frequency of PAF-AH V279F genetic variation was VV genotype(92.2%),the next was VF genotype(5.8%)and the lowest was FF genotype(2.0%)among the studied Han population in Beijing.In the coronary heart disease group the frequency of 279 V→F carriers was significantly higher than in the control group(19.3% vs.7.8%,P＜0.05)and F allele frequency was also higher(12.1% vs.4.9%,P＜0.01).Among the coronary heart disease group,the V279F variation frequency and the F allele frequency were significantly higher in patients with myocardial infarction than in those without myocardial infarction(27.3% vs.13.0%,17.3% vs.8.0%,both P＜0.05).In multiple logistic regression analysis,the odds ratio(OR)of V279F genetic variation for coronary heart disease was 1.919(95% CI:1.448-2.544,P=0.033).Conclusions The PAF-AH V279F genetic variation may be a novel genetic marker for high risk of coronary heart disease.

To understand Lophatherum gracile plant community's structural characteristics, a survey of community structure and species diversity was conducted through quadrat sampling in Yongchuan district of Chongqing. The results showed that there were 386 species vascular plants, belonging to 117 families and 229 genera. Based on habitat, community structure and species composition, L. gracile were found in three community types: Pinus massoniana community, banboo community, shurb community. Vertical structure was composed of three layers, including tree layer, shrub layer and herb layer. Species in shrub layer was the richness. P. massoniana is the only dominant species of the community, it can not regenerate naturally, the shrub layer has a greater effect on the community of L. gracile in the future. In addition, the banboo community and shurb community is not stable because of human's activity. Therefore, the community characters of L. gracile should be taken care of conservation when the resources are utilized.
China ; Ecosystem ; Pinus ; physiology ; Plants ; Poaceae ; physiology

Objective The present study has been designed to investigate the impact of dietary iodine/sodium intake on blood lipid metabolism in mice. Methods According to body weight and gender, two hundred and sixty Balb/c mice were randomly divided into 2 groups including normal sodium group(Na) and low sodium group(LNa), with 130 animals per group. Each group were then randomly further divided into 5 sub-groups according to the amount of iodine intake: ① severe iodine deficiency(SID); ② mild iodine deficiency(MID); (③normal iodine (NI); ④ 10-fold high iodine ( 10HI ); (⑤ 50-fold high iodine (50HI), 10 groups in total, 26 per group.Eight months later, the body weight and the levels of urinary iodine, thyroid hormones and total cholesterol (TC),Results In Na group, the levels of TG and TC in male mice of SID group[ (1.64 ± 0.35), (3.88 ± 0.35 )mmol/L]and MID group[ ( 1.67 ± 0.31 ), (3.41 ± 0.66)mmol/L] were significantly higher than that of NI group[ ( 1.49 ± 0.42), (3.25 ± 0.47)mmol/L] and the levels of TG in female mice of SID group[(1.52 ± 0.22)mmol/L] were significantly higher than that of NI group[ (1.23 ± 0.22)mmol/L]. In addition, the levels of TG in male mice of 10HI and 50HI groups [ ( 1.16 ± 0.23 ), ( 1.21 ± 0.27 ) mmol/L ] were significantly lower than that of NI group [ ( 1.49 ± 0.42)mmol/L, all P ＜ 0.05], the levels of TC in female mice of 10HI and 50HI groups[(2.37 ± 0.49), (2.48 ± 0.37)mmol/L] were significantly lower than that of NI group[ (2.84 ± 0.37) mmol/L, all P ＜ 0.05 ]. In LNa group,the levels of TG and TC in male mice of SID group[ (1.39 ± 0.40), (3.33 ± 0.46 )mmol/L] were significantly lower than that of NI group [(1.30 ± 0.28), (3.00 ± 0.53) mmol/L, all P ＜ 0.05], the levels of TG, TC and LDL in female mice of SID group[ (1.48 ± 0.26), (2.76 ± 0.43), (0.62 ± 0.22)mmol/L], the levels of LDL in female mice of MID group[ (0.60 ± 0.17 )mmol/L] were significantly lower than that of NI group[(l.22 ± 0.36), (2.51 ± 0.38),(0.48 ± 0.08), (0.48 ± 0.08)mmol/L, all P ＜ 0.05], the levels of TG in male mice of 10HI and 50HI group [ (1.12 ± 0.22), (0.90 ± 0.11 )mmol/L] were significantly lower than that of NI group (all P ＜ 0.05 ), the levels of TC in female mice of 10HI and 50HI groups[ (2.35 ± 0.34), (2.37 ± 0.37)mmol/L], the levels of LDL in female mice of 50HI group[(0.65 ± 0.18)mmol/L], were significantly lower than that of NI group(all P ＜ 0.05). In Na group, the levels of thyroid hormones were distinctively decreased in SID group[TT4(0.00 ± 0.00)nmol/L, FT4 (0.93 ± 0.42)pmol/L, TT3(0.49 ± 0.07)nmol/L, FT3(2.86 ± 0.37)pmol/L] and MID group [TT4 (17.15 ± 15.26)nmol/L, FT4( 18.46 ± 4.31 )pmol/L, TT3(0.67 ± 0. 10)nmol/L, FT3(3.18 ± 0.24)pmol/L] compared with that of the NI group [TT4 (37.15 ± 15.26)nmol/L, FT4(28.46 ± 4.31)pmol/L, TT3(0.85 ± 0.10)pmol/L, FT3(3.87 ± 0.24)pmol/L, all P ＜ 0.05 ]. In LNa group, the levels of thyroid hormones were distinctively decreased in SID group [TT4 (0.00 ± 0.00) nmol/L,FT4(1.03 ± 0.78)pmol/L, TT3(0.51 ± 0.05)nmol/L, FT3(3.01 ± 0.17)pmol/L] and MID group[TT4(19.76 ± 12.22)nmol/L, FT4(21.46 ± 5.37)pmol/L, TT3(0.71 ± 0.21)nmol/L, FT3(3.56 ± 0.23)pmol/L] compared with that of the NI group[TT4(36.23 ± 14.72)nmol/L, FT4(30.96 ± 6.33)pmol/L, TT3(0.89 ± 0.20)nmol/L, FT3(4.05 ± 0.24)pmol/L, all P ＜ 0.05]. Conclusions Dietary iodine intake plays an important role in the blood lipid metabolism. Iodine deficiency could increase while iodine excess could decrease the levels of serum TG, TC or LDL in mice. Monitoring the amount of iodine intake during sodium restriction should have an important role in effective prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Objective To observe the effects of iodine deficiency and iodine excess on the lipid metabolism in an experimental hypothyroid model of mice and to explore the roles of iodine independent of its role in thyroid hormones. Methods Female Balb/c mice were randomly divided into 6 groups: control, severe iodine deficiency (SID), mild iodine deficiency(MID), normal iodine (NI), 10-fold high iodine (10HI) and 50-fold high iodine(50HI), 10 in each group. The mice in control group were fed with low iodine forage, other mice were fed with low iodine forage containing 0.2% methylthiouracilum. All mice drank deionic water containing different concentrations of potassium iodide(KI). The iodine content in water was 326.79, 0, 196.08,326.79, 385621, 19 542.50 μg/L, respectively. After three months, thyroid hormones in the serum were determined by radioimmunoassay.Also, the blood samples were analyzed for total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesteiol (HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and measured enzymatically by automatic analyzer. Results①The levels of Tr4 in SID[(21.27 ± 9.63)μg/L], MID[(23.41 ± 3.93)μg/L], NI[(22.57 ±4.66)μg/L], 10HI [(21.07 ± 5.03) μg/L] and 50HI groups [(21.46 ± 5.90) μg/L] were distinctively decreased compared with control group[(42.15 ± 8.26)μg/L, all P ＜ 0.01]. There were no statistical significant differences of TT3 between different groups (F = 0.99, P > 0.05 ). ②The level of TG in 10HI group [ ( 1.17 ± 0.16)mmol/L ] was obviously decreased compared with control [(1.39 ± 0.22 )mmol/L] and NI groups[(151 ± 0.22)mmol/L, all P＜ 0.05].Both TG and TC in 50HI group[(1.18 ± 0.22), (1.78 ± 0.15)mmol/L] were significantly decreased compared with control [( 1.39 ± 0.22), (2.14 ± 0.37)mmol/L] and NI groups [(1.51 ± 0.22), (2.00 ± 0.15)mmol/L, all P ＜ 0.05].The difference of serum HDL-C and LDL-C between the groups was not significant(F = 0.55,0.54, all P ＞ 0.05 ).Conclusions Dietary iodine plays a role in the metabolism of serum lipids independent of thyroid hormones.Thus, monitoring the amount of iodine intake during sodium restriction should also be taken extremely important for effectively prevention and cure of cardiovascular disease.

Objective To observe the levels of serum leptin in Gaves disease(GD)and thyroiditis(HT)Datients and to discuss the immunological role of leptin in the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid disease(AITD).Methods 102 newly diagnosed female AITD patients were divided into 3 groups:GD hyperthyroid group,HT hypothyroid group and subclinical hypothyroid group.Age,sex and BMI-matched 27 euthyroid,healthy subjects served as controis.The levels of FT3,FT4 and sTSH were determined by immunofluorometrie assay.ELISA kit was aDplied to measure the levels of serum leptin.Results Serum FT3 and FT4[(19.74±15.39),(78.25±58.68)pmol/L]levels of GD hyperthyroid patients were obviously higher than those of the controls[(4.87±0.25),(15.96±3.15)pmol/L,P＜0.01],but serum sTSH and leptin levels[(0.15±0.08)mU/L,(8.73±1.92)μg/L]were obviously lower than those of the controls[(3.81±0.19)mU/L,(12.38±3.51)μg/L,P＜0.01or＜0.05].Serum FT3 and FT4[(3.36±0.26),(6.95±3.29)pmol/L]levels of HT hypothyroid patients were obviously lower than those of the controls(P＜0.05),but serum sTSH and leptin levels[(45.48±35.83)mU/L,(17.17±3.82)μg/L]were obviously higher than those of the controls(P＜0.01 or＜0.05).Serum FT3 and FT4[(4.67±0.60),(14.87±2.14)pmol/L]levels of subclinical hypothyroid patients had not statistical difference comparing with those of the controls(P＞0.05),but serum sTSH and leptin levels[(13.67±8.66)mU/L,(16.25±3.67)μg/L]were obviously higher than those of the controls(P＜0.01 or＜0.05).Conclusions Leptin might have an immuoregulation role in the pathogenesis of AITD.In addition,serum levels of leptin in AITD is also influenced by many other related hormones.

In hyperthyroid,hypothyroid and subclinical hypothyroid patients,the positive rate and level of the thyroid autoantibodies were all remarkably higher than those in the control group.The positive rate of thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) was higher than those of thyroglobulin antibody and thyroid microsome antibody in each group.In the group with restored thyroid function,the average level of TPOAb was significantly decreased, suggesting that TPOAb could be taken as an important indicator in evaluating the treatment and prognosis of autoimmune thyroid diseases.

The study aims to investigate the associations of SUMO4 polymorphisms with tacrolimus concentrations in Chinese renal transplant recipients. Blood samples and clinical data were collected from 132 renal transplant recipients with tacrolimus treatment. CYP3A5*3 genotypes were detected by PCR-RFLP, and SUMO4 (rs237024, rs237025) genotypes were detected by Sequenom® MassARRAY system. SUMO4 rs237024 and rs237025 genotypes were in complete linkage disequilibrium (D' = 1). The dose-adjusted concentration of tacrolimus in SUMO4 rs237024A-rs237025A (GA-GA +AA-AA) carriers was considerably higher than that in GG-GG carriers (P < 0.05). After stratification by CYP3A5*3 genotypes, SUMO4 rs237024A-rs237025A carriers (GA-GA+AA-AA) had a higher dose-adjusted tacrolimus concentration than that in GG carriers in CYP3A5 expresser (P < 0.05). The results illustrated that SUMO4 rs237024 and rs237025 polymorphisms were associated with tacrolimus concentrations, and the test of these genotypes may be useful for individualized medicine of tacrolimus.

Objective To explore the effect of iodine on the pathogenesis of postpartum thymiditis.Methods Forty-four female C57BL/6J mice,8-week old,fed by low iodine dietary(the concentration of iodine≤35 μg/kg),were randomly divided into 4 groups:non-pregnancy experimental autoimmune thymiditis(non-pregnancy EAT)group with 8 mice,EAT of mice was induced by immunization with pig's thyroglobulin(Tg)in the presence of complete Freund's adjuvant.Six mice in non-pregnancy EAT group survived at the end of experiment;normal iodine-PPT(NI-PPT)group,10-fold high iodine-PPT(10HI-PPT)group and 50-fold high iodine-PPT(50HI-PPT)group with 12 mice in each group.The last 3 groups mice,who received the same immunization schedule as the above,were mated with adult male mice followed by induction of EAT.In the end,7,6 and 6 mice were noticed to be pregnant in each group.All animals were killed 4 weeks after postpartum.Histological severity of thyroid specimens was evaluated.The serum level of thyroglobulin antibody(Tg-Ab),thyroid pomxidase antibody(TPO-Ab),TT3 and TT4 were measured by radioimmunoassay(RIA).The expression level of IFN-γ/IL-4 mRNA in spleenwere assayed by RT-PCR.Results Pathological examination showed the infiltration of inflammatory cells.epithelial cell applanation,follicle atrophy or destruction.The severity of inflammation in non-pregnancy EAT bgroup.NI-PPT group and 10HI-PPT group was less serious than that in the 50HI-PPT group,the difference has bstatistical significance(P＜0.05).The level of TPO-Ab in non-pregnancy EAT group,NI-PPI-group,10HI-PPTgroup and 50HI-PPT group wag(14.32±8.85)%,(64.45±10.52)%,(38.46±5.57)%and(90.09±9.98)%.respectively the difference being statistically significant between any two groups(P＜0.05).There was no statisticaldifference(F＝0.484,P＞0.05)of Tg-Ab among non-pregnancy EAT group[(33.74±3.71)%],NI-PPT group [(29.65±2.06)%],10HI-PPT group[(37.21±3.87)%]and 50HI-PPT group[(33.87±4.17)%].There was no statistical difference(F＝1.596,P＞0.05)of TT3 among non-pregnancy EAT group (2.47±0.69)%,NI-PPT group(1.57±0.25)%,10HI-PPT group[(1.60±0.28)%]and 50HI-PPT group[(1.82±0.75)%].The level of TT4 in 50HI-PPT group[(66.68±5.47)%]was lower than that in non-pregnancy group,NI-PPT group and 10HI-PPTgroup[(99.87±5.97)%,(89.13±7.64)%and(91.05±5.82)%],the difference being statistically significant(P＜0.05).The expression level of IFN-γ mRNA was increasing,being 1.02±0.10,1.37±0.10,1.39±0.12 and 1.68±0.06 in non-pregnancy EAT group,NI-PPT group,10HI-PPT group and 50HI-PPT group.The difference had a statistical significance between any two groups except for NI-PPT group and 10HI-PPT group(P＜0.05).The expression level of IL-4 mRNA in 10HI-PPT group(0.49±0.04)and 50HI-PPT group(0.53±0.06)were all higher than non-pregnancy EAT group(0.24±0.05)and NI-PPT group(0.35±O.05),the differences being statistically significant (P＜0.05).Conclusions Adequate iodine supplementation during pregnancy and postpartum period is necessary,but iodine excess could induce postpartum thyroiditis.So iodine supplementation during pregnancy and postpartum should be adequate and reasonable.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of iodine on the level of CD4/CD8 cells and the production of thyroglobulin autoantibody (TGAb) and thyroid peroxidase autoantibody (TPOAb) in Wistar rats and to investigate the role of iodine in thyroid autoimmunity.

METHODSRat models with different iodine intakes including low iodine (LI,), normal iodine (NI,), 5 times normal iodine (5HI), 10 times normal iodine (10HI), 50 times normal iodine (50HI) and 100 times normal iodine (100HI) were established. The amount of iodine intake per rat per day in every group was about < 1, 6.15, 30.75, 61.50, 307.50, 615.00 microg separately. The levels of CD4 and CD8 immune cells in peripheral blood were measured by using flow cytometry. Radioimmunoassay (RIA) was used to determine the titers of TGAb and TPOAb in the serum.

RESULTSIn peripheral blood, the level of CD4 cells in LI group was (57.9 +/- 4.3)%, being much higher than in NI group (51.2 +/- 4.9)%. When the level of CD8 cells in 100HI group was (18.4 +/- 3.1)% showing significantly lower than in NI group (26.5 +/- 4.1)%, thus making the ratio of CD4/CD8 cells in the above two groups (LI: 2.4 +/- 0.40 and 100 HI: 2.7 +/- 0.4) higher than in NI group (1.9 +/- 0.3). As comparing with NI group (2099 +/- 220) CPM, the level of TGAb in LI group (1510 +/- 221) CPM was significantly decreased; while in 50HI group (3986 +/- 286) and 100HI group (3550 +/- 378) CPM, the levels of TGAb were both increased, and the levels of TPOAb in 10HI group (2066 +/- 184) CPM and in 50HI group (2141 +/- 163) CPM were both distinctly lower than in NI group (2372 +/- 245) CPM.

CONCLUSIONSIodine might exert influence on the level of CD4/CD8, and thus the production of thyroid antibodies might directly or indirectly take part in the process of thyroid autoimmunity. Both low iodine and 100 times normal iodine intakes might activate the immune state on some degrees. The effects of iodine on immune responses of TG and TPO antigen in thyroid autoimmunity might not be completely the same.

Animals ; Autoantibodies ; immunology ; Autoimmunity ; drug effects ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Drug Overdose ; Iodine ; adverse effects ; deficiency ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Thyroid Gland ; drug effects ; immunology

Objective: To explore the determinants for health-seeking behavior of the residents after cough for more than 3 weeks in Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, in order to provide reference for prevention and control of respiratory diseases. Methods: A multi-stage cluster random sampling method was used to recruit the community residents aged 5 years and above in Yiwu. A face-to-face questionnaire survey was conducted to collect demographic information, features of cough and health-seeking behaviors in the past month. The multivariate logistic regression model was employed to analyze the associated factors for health-seeking behavior after a cough for more than 3 weeks. Results: Among 6 374 residents investigated, 152 cases had a cough for more than 3 weeks in the past month, accounting for 2.48%. They were( 45.00±21.15 ) years old, including 70 ( 46.05% ) males and 82 ( 53.95% ) females. About 58.55% ( 89 ) of them sought medical treatment. The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that females ( OR=2.100, 95%CI: 1.005-4.391 ), middle school education level ( OR=0.406, 95%CI: 0.168-0.983 ), family annual income of 100 000 to 199 999 yuan ( OR=2.993, 95%CI: 1.215-7.373 ) were associated factors for health-seeking behavior after a cough for more than 3 weeks. Conclusion The rate of health-seeking behavior after a cough for more than 3 weeks among the residents in Yiwu is 58.55%, which is associated with gender, education level and income.