Objective To determine the bowel habits and its perceptions in the general population of Guangdong province. Methods Random clustered sampling involving permanent inhabitants aged 18-80 year was carried out under stratification of urban and suburban areas in Guangdong province. Questionnaire included the items on the characteristics of people being selected and their bowel habits. Results A total of 4103 residents (male 1878, female 2225) were investigated. Mean age among the responders was 42.81 ± 14.13 year. Among 4056 subjects (missing =47 ), 2972 subjects (73.3%) reported daily defecation, and 3951 subjects (97.4%) reported stool frequency between 3 times per week and three times per day. Two hundred and seventy subjects (6.6%) reported abnormal bowel habits by themselves. The stool frequency (OR=2.03, 95% CI:1.54-2.67) , forms of stool (OR=2.75, 95% CI: 2.35-3.22) and straining (OR=3.56, 95% CI:2.49-5.11) were significantly associated with self-reported abnormal bowel habits. Among 3949 subjects (missing= 154), 644 (16.3%) were defined as having abnormal bowel habits according to Rome Ⅱ criteria. There was poor agreement between self-reported abnormal bowel habits and that defined by Rome Ⅱ criteria (Kappa=0.312). Conclusion It seemed to be appropriate that the normal stool frequency was defined as bowel movements between 3 times per week and three times per day in the general population. The prevalence of self-reported abnormal bowel habits was lower than that defined by Rome Ⅱ criteria and the agreement between these two definitions was poor.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the applicability of the polymorphic marker closely linked with beta-globin gene for the preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) in couples at risk of having child with beta-thalassemia.

METHODSSingle cell multiplex nested PCR which coamplifies the beta-globin gene and the closely linked polymorphic marker, HumTHO1 gene, was applied in six clinical PGD cycles for four couples with beta-thalassemia.

RESULTSIn six clinical PGD cycles, a total of 44 embryos were biopsied and 44 blastomeres were obtained. Forty-one blastomeres were amplified and thirty-five embryos were given definite diagnoses. Fourteen embryos were transferred back to the uterus of the patients and one pregnancy went on well and ended with one live healthy birth, which confirmed the results of PGD. The average amplification efficiency of single blastomere was 89.7% and the average allele drop-out(ADO) rate was 14.4%. The coamplification of HumTHO1 could help to detect the existence of ADO and contamination.

CONCLUSIONThis is the first report on unaffected pregnancy resulting from PGD using multiplex nested PCR in China. The simultaneous amplification of polymorphic marker closely linked to beta-globin gene(HumTHO1) could help to resist the risk of misdiagnosis in PGD caused by ADO and contamination.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pregnancy ; Preimplantation Diagnosis ; methods ; beta-Globins ; genetics ; beta-Thalassemia ; diagnosis ; genetics

BACKGROUNDThe relationship between symptom elimination and normalization of esophageal acid level of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) on proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy has been questioned. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between symptom response and gastro-esophageal acidity control in Chinese patients with GERD on esomeprazole therapy, and to assess the role of 24-hour esophageal pH-metry after therapy in GERD patients.

METHODSGERD patients with typical reflux symptoms were enrolled and received esomeprazole 40 mg once daily for 4 weeks. Patients with positive baseline 24-hour esophageal pH-metry were divided into two groups depending on an additional dual-channel 24-hour pH-metry after treatment. The pH- group achieved normalization of esophageal pH level whereas the pH+ group did not.

RESULTSOf the 80 patients studied, 76 had abnormal baseline esophageal pH levels. Of these, 90% (52/58) of symptom-free patients and 67% (12/18) of symptom-persistent patients achieved esophageal pH normalization after therapy (P = 0.030). The mean post-therapy gastric nocturnal percent time of pH < 4.0 was significantly higher in pH+ group than that in pH- group (P < 0.001) after therapy. The multivariate regression analysis identified hiatus hernia (P < 0.001) and persistent reflux symptom (P = 0.004) were two independent factors predicting the low post-therapy esophageal pH level.

CONCLUSIONSSymptom elimination is not always accompanied by esophageal pH normalization, and vice verse. Esophageal pH-metry is recommended for GERD patients with hiatus hernia or with persistent reflux symptoms after PPI therapy.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Ulcer Agents ; therapeutic use ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Esomeprazole ; therapeutic use ; Esophageal pH Monitoring ; Esophagus ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate effects of retinol on the expressions of epidermal growth factor (EGF), stem cell factor (SCF), colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF1) and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) in cultured human umbilical-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSCs).

METHODSHuman UCMSCs were isolated from human umbilical cord and identified for immunophenotypes. The cells were then cultured in DMEM/F12 media supplemented with 12% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 12% FBS+1 µmol/L retinol, 15% knockout serum replacement (KSR) and 15% KSR+ 1 µmol/L retinol. The expressions of the cytokines EGF, SCF, CSF1 and LIF in the cells were detected using RT-PCR and ELISA.

RESULTSThe isolated cells exhibited characteristic immunophenotypes of human UCMSCs and expressed EGF, CSF1 and SCF at both mRNA and protein levels but not LIF protein. Retinol (1 µmol/L) significantly promoted the expressions of SCF and CSF1 at both mRNA and protein levels but did not result in changes of EGF and LIF expressions in human UCMSCs.

CONCLUSIONRetinol at the concentration of 1 µmol/L can promote expression of SCF and CSF1 in human UCMSCs in vitro.

Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; EGF Family of Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Leukemia Inhibitory Factor ; metabolism ; Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; metabolism ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Stem Cell Factor ; metabolism ; Umbilical Cord ; cytology ; Vitamin A ; pharmacology