Objective: To describe the differences of plasma folate concentration and prevalence of folate deficiency in genders and ages in Chinese adults aged 35 to 64 years. Methods: By cross-sectional analysis, plasma folate concentration was measured in 2 545 adults including men and women by microbiological assay. Results: (1) Men tended to have lower plasma folate concentration and higher prevalence of folate deficiency(9.70 nmol/L, 31.0%) than did women(14.2 nmol/L, 12.5%, P=0.001). (2) Men in South have significantly higher plasma folate concentration and lower prevalence of folate deficiency than in North. The difference of plasma folate concentration was not evident between urban and rural area, but evident in North between in winter and spring. There were no significant differences of prevalence of folate deficiency for men between urban and rural areas in both regions. For women, the differences of plasma folate concentration in areas were significant, which were higher in South and urban, and lower in North and rural areas. (3) Plasma folate concentration increased with age in Southern men. A similar trend for others was not significant. Conclusion: Men have lower plasma folate concentration and higher prevalence of plasma folate deficiency than do women. The distribution of plasma folate concentrations in urban and rural areas seems different between men and women.

Objective: To describe the distribution of plasma vitamin B12 concentration in Chinese adults aged 35 to 64 years.Methods:Cross-sectional analysis was empolyed.Plasma vitamin B12 concentration was measured in 2 459 adults sampled from the representative urban and rural areas in the South and North of China.Results:Adjusted plasma vitamin B12 concentration was significantly higher (260 pmol/L) in the Southerners than in the Northerners (189 pmol/L).There were different patterns of seasonal changes of plasma vitamin B12 concentration between South and North.Plasma vitamin B12 concenration was higher during the summer and autumn (269 pmol/L)than during the winter and spring (252 pmol/L) in the South.However,the concentration was lower during the summer and autumn (177 pmol/L) than during the winter and spring (200 pmol/L) in the North.Women tended to have higher plasma vitamin B12 concentration than men.There were 5.5 percent of the participants whose plasma vitamin B12 concentration was lower than 110 mol/L.Conclusion:Significant regional and gender differences in plasma vitamin B12 concentration were observed in Chinese adults.The seasonal changes between the South and North were different.

Objective: To compare two methods (microbial assay and radioimmunoassay) for measuring plasma folate concentrations, and to examine the relationship between plasma folate levels, and alcohol consumption, tobacco use and body mass index, and the risk of hyperhomocysteinemia in China. Methods: We used a microtiter plate microbial assay and a radioimmunoassay to measure the folate concentration in 88 plasma samples. After comparing the results of these two methods and fitting a regression line, we examined the geographical, seasonal, and gender differences in folate concentration of plasma collected from 2 422 adults in south and north areas in China, and evaluated the association of plasma folate concentration, with alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, and body mass index, and with the risk of hyperhomocysteinemia, using the data from the two assays. Results: The data from the two assays had a linear relationship ( r =0.879, P =0.000); the regression was Y =0.683 X +0.308 (where X and Y were nature logarithmic transformations of plasma folate by microbial assay and radioimmunoassay, respectively); however, the mean plasma folate levels by microbial assay were much higher than those obtained by radioimmunoassay. Both data sets showed similar plasma folate distributions among Chinese adults, associations with other risk factors, and the risk of hyperhomocysteinemia. We estimated that 19.9% of the Southerners and 67.1% of the Northerners had plasma folate concentrations by radioimmunoassay lower than the 6.8 nmol/L used to define plasma folate deficiency. Conclusion: There is a linear relationship between plasma folate levels determined by microbial assay and radioimmunoassay, but because of the different levels obtained in the two assays, it is difficult to use the microbial assay results to evaluate folate status at this time. The use of 10.5 nmol/L as a cut off for plasma folate deficiency by microbial assay needs further study.

Animals ; Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cell Separation ; methods ; Culture Media ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Respiratory System ; cytology ; Swine

Objective To understand the prevalence and cause of eye diseases in the middle and old aged population in community was of important significance for the prevention and treatment of relevant diseases.The present study attempts to survey the prevalence of common eye diseases and conditions of blindness and low vision in 50 years and older population in community of Beijing.MethodsThis was an ophthalmologic epidemiology survey.The 2 833 target population was included and registered in Western Chang'an street community in door-to-door and questionnaire manner between October,2006-October,2007.Multiple factors,such as demography,general conditions,lifestyles,education degree,economical status,medical status and the awareness of relevant ophthalmic knowledge of participants were recorded and evaluated.Relevant eye examinations including uncorrected visual acuity,pinhole visual acuity,non-contact intraocular pressure test,slit-lamp,funduscopy and optometry examinations were performed in Beijing No.2 Hospital by trained ophthalmologists.Blindness and low vision were evaluated based on WHO criteria.The causes of leading-blindness and low vision were analyzed.Oral informed consent was obtained from all of the subjects.Results2 410 individuals of 2 833≥50-year-old participants received complete surveys according to the designed process in this study with an examined rate of 85.07%.The incidence of blindness and low vision in examinees was 0.79% and 5.64% respectively.The positive factors related to blindness and low vision appeared to be age,education and an awareness of relevant ophthalmic knowledge (χ~2=26.62,18.28,21.32,P＜0.001).The primary causes of blindness in examined population,in order,were cataract,glaucoma and retinopathy,and those of low vision were cataracts,refractive error and diabetic retinopathy.ConclusionIt is emphasized that early prevention and treatment for cataract,glaucoma,diabetic retinopathy and refractive errors can reduce the prevalence of blindness and low vision in people over 50 years in the Western Chang'an street community of Beijing.

Objective To compare the two kinds of purification method for purifying recombinant human cardiac troponin I(cT-nI)to obtain the stable cTnI and promote the study of cTnI diagnosis standardization.Methods The cTnI inclusion body was ob-tained by the ultrasonic broken engineering,after washing by 2% Tritonx-100,2M urea,dissolved in 8M urea,then purified by the column refolding on CM-FF and the dilution refolding respectively.The cTnI yields were compared between the two kinds of meth-od and the stability at 4 ℃,20 ℃,-80 ℃ and on the freeze-dried condition was compared.Then the purification method to effi-ciently obtain the stable cTnI was established.Results The protein about 2 mg and 1.4 mg could be obtained by CM-FF on the col-umn refolding and the dilution refolding from 0.1 g of wet inclusion body,respectively.The former method had the short cycle and high efficiency.The cTnI purified by the column refolding on CM-FF was more stable at 4 ℃,20 ℃,-80 ℃ and on the freeze-dried condition.Conclusion The column refolding on CM-FF is more stable and highly efficient in purification of cTnI than the dilution refolding.

OBJECTIVETo compare the extent of genetic damages in somatic and germ cells from patients of benzene poisoning, silicosis and gas poisoning, which may provide clues for protection and reproductive healthcare.

METHODS174 patients with three types of occupational disease (including 48 with benzene poisoning, 71 with silicosis and 55 with gas poisoning) and 80 healthy controls had their aberrant chromosome and micronuclei rates measured with routine methods. Male patients also had their sperm samples measured for sperm abnormities and de novo mutations.

RESULTSThe aberrant chromosome rate, micro-nuclei rate and sperm abnormity were as followed: benzene poisoning 0.4%, 1.52 per thousand, (62 +/- 14%), silicosis 0.51%, 2.31 per thousand, (41 +/- 7%), harmful gas poisoning 0.42%, 1.55 per thousand, (48 +/- 8%), all being significantly higher than those of the controls [0.20%, 0.34 per thousand, (27 +/- 5)%]. The aberrant chromosome and micro-nuclei rates of silicosis group were higher than other two groups, but without statistical significance. Sperm abnormity of benzene poisoning group was significantly higher than that of other groups. In addition, de novo mutations in sperm of benzene poisoning group were detected.

CONCLUSIONPatients with the studied occupational diseases not only have genetic damage in their somatic cells, but also acquire de novo mutations in germ cells.

Asbestosis ; Benzene ; poisoning ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Gas Poisoning ; Humans ; Occupational Diseases ; genetics ; Occupational Exposure

OBJECTIVETo compare plasma and red blood cell folate levels among women in their first trimester of pregnancy from rural areas with high or low prevalence of neural tube defects.

METHODSA cross-sectional study was performed, among women in their first trimester of pregnancy from rural areas with high or low prevalence of neural tube defects in 2003. Non-fasting blood sample were collected and analyzed for plasma and red blood cell folate concentrations for 688 women.

RESULTSThe median plasma (10.53 nmol/L) and red blood cell folate (389.2 nmol/L) among women from the high prevalence rural area were lower than those of women from the low prevalence rural area (plasma folate: 30.39 nmol/L, red blood cell level folate: 926.0 nmol/L). Among women from the high prevalence area, about 50% and 43% were respectively, deficient for plasma and red blood cell folate, compared with 6% and 4% respectively, for women from the low prevalence area. The median plasma folate levels among women who took periconceptional folic acid supplements in both high and low prevalence areas were about twice higher than those who did not take the folic acid. The median red blood cell folate level of the folic acid users was 40% higher than those of the non-users. Among those who took folic acid, women in the low prevalence area had 70%-90% higher plasma folate concentration and twice higher red cell folate concentration than women in the high prevalence area.

CONCLUSIONWomen from the rural area with a high prevalence of neural tube defects had low plasma and red blood cell folate levels. Periconceptional supplementation with folic acid could substantially improve folate status of reproductive-aged women. However, supplementation with 0.4 mg of folic acid per day might be inadequate for women in the high prevalence rural area.

Dietary Supplements ; Erythrocytes ; chemistry ; Female ; Folic Acid ; administration & dosage ; blood ; Humans ; Neural Tube Defects ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Preconception Care ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Prevalence ; Rural Health

The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) protein resulted from chromosome translocation in anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) and its relationship with the age and prognosis of patients with ALCL. The tissue microarray including 30 cases of ALCL and 2 normal control tissues were established, the expression of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) protein was detected by immunohistochemistry, the statistical analysis of detected results was carried out by SPSS software. The results showed that the ALK protein was expressed negatively in 2 cases of primary skin ALCL, but in 20 out of 28 cases of systematic ALCL the ALK protein was expressed positively and mainly located in cytoplasm and/or nucleus (71.4%). Clinically, the patients with ALK expression were younger than those without ALK expression (p < 0.05). The prognosis of patients with ALK expression was better than those without ALK expression (p < 0.05). It is concluded that there is a high incidence of ALK expression in ALCL, especially in younger group. ALK expression may be an useful and independent marker for the differential diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of ALCL.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 2 ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic ; enzymology ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Translocation, Genetic ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo describe the distribution of plasma folate concentrations and prevalence of folate deficiency in adults aged 35 to 64 years in some areas and different seasons in China.

METHODSStudy subjects were sampled from the representative rural and urban areas in the south and north of China aged 35 to 64 years totaling 2 545, and their plasma folate concentrations were determined and analyzed.

RESULTSPlasma concentrations of folate in the southern population were significantly higher (16.9 nmol/L) than those in the north (8.3 nmol/L), and the prevalence of folate deficiency in the south (5.8%) was significantly lower than that in the north (37.1%). Plasma folate concentration varied with season either in the south or north. Plasma concentrations of folate were lower during the summer and the fall (15.0 nmol/L) than those during the winter and the spring (18.8 nmol/L) in the south, but without significant changes in the prevalence of folate deficiency in different seasons. However, the plasma folate concentrations were significantly higher during the summer and the fall (9.7 nmol/L) than those during the winter and the spring (7.1 nmol/L) in the north. And the prevalence of folate deficiency in the north was significantly higher in winter and spring (48.0%) than that in summer and fall (26.2%).

CONCLUSIONSThere existed significant difference in plasma folate concentrations in adults between varied geographic areas in China, which differed from their seasonal changes.

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Folic Acid ; blood ; Folic Acid Deficiency ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rural Health ; statistics & numerical data ; Seasons ; Urban Health ; statistics & numerical data