To examine the relationship between genetic variants in the interleukin-6 receptor gene and obesity. The result showed that the carriers of Asp358 homozygotes had higher risk in developing obesity when compared with Ala358 homozygotes (OR = 1.32,95% CI 1.07-1.68, P = 0. 041). Interleukin-6 receptor gene pulymorphism was significantly associated with obesity.

Objective To explore the relationship between CA repeats polymorphism in the promoter region of IGF-1 gene and MS in the Han nationality.Methods 1047 subjects were recruited from general population of Dongcheng District in Beijing.MS was diagnosed based on the criteria for MS in 2005 by IDF.Genomic DNA was extracted by standard methods.PCR,Genescan,Genotyper and direct sequencing were conducted to screen CA repeats polymorphism in the promoter region of the human IGF-1 gene.Levels of plasma glucose,lipids,serum insulin and IGF-1 were determined.BMI and ISI were calculated.Results The prevalence of MS in (CA) 19 homozygote was lower than that in (CA) 19 heterozygote (9.1% vs 18.3%,x2 = 8.55,P ＜ 0.01) and without (CA) 19 (9.1% vs 24.0%,x2 = 18.05,P ＜ 0.01).The level of serum IGF-1 had differences among the three groups [ (114.0 ± 52.6) μg/L vs (136.6 ± 80.5) μg/L vs (129.2±49.1) μg/L,F =3.16,P ＜0.05],(CA)19 homozygote had lower serum IGF-1 than (CA)19heterozygote and without (CA) 19.BMI,WC,TG,FIns,2hIns and ISI had difference among the three groups (P ＜0.05).Conclusions (CA)19 repeats polymorphism in the promoter region of IGF-1 gene was significantly associated with MS in Han nationality.

ObjectiveTo assess the effectiveness and safety of target-controlled infusion (TCI) of remifentanil during remedial endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in the elderly patients.Methods390 patients (aged 65 years and over) undergoing ERCP were divided into two groups: remifentanil group (n =175) and lidocaine group (n =215). Remifentanil group were anaesthetized by TCI with remifentanil as method of sensible analgesia,while lidocaine group were anaesthetized by lidocaine as conventional local anesthesia.Arterial blood pressure,heart rate and oxygen saturation (SpO2) were monitored during ERCP.The memory and feeling of pain during operation and side effects after operation were followed up. ResultsThe statistical differences in changes of blood pressure,heart rate and SpO2 were not found between the two groups.There were 165 cases(94.3 ％) with satisfactory anaesthetization,10 cases (5.7 ％ ) with mild and endurable pain and 7 cases(6.7％) with side effects of circulation and respiration during operation,while these symptoms improved after symptomatic treatment in remifentanil group.In lidocaine group,there were 25 cases(8.6 ％ ) with side effects of circulation and respiration during operation,most of patients were obviously uncomfortable,2 cases (1.8％) were intolerant of operation. Conclusions Targetcontrolled infusion of remifentanil during ERCP in the elderly is safe,effective and worthy of clinical popularization.

Humans ; Metals ; Microwaves ; adverse effects ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; analysis ; Workplace

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of the combined therapy of cyclophosphamide and thalidomide in the treatment of refractory Crohn's disease (CD).Methods This study was a prospective and open study.A total of 15 patients with refractory CD were enrolled.All patients received intravenous cyclophosphamide 200 mg every other day for two weeks,then followed by intravenous 400 mg once a week until the cumulative dose reached 6 to 8 g.when the cyclophosphamide treatment started,at the same time thalidomide was taken 25 to 75 mg every night according to the tolerance of patients.Before the treatment,two weeks' after the treatment and at the time when the cumulative dose of cyclophosphamide reached 6 to 8 g,Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI),hemoglobin (Hb),white blood cell (WBC) count,erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were recorded.Endoscopy examination was conducted before the treatment and at the time when the cumulative dose of cyclophosphamide reached 6 to 8 g.The condition of mucosa healing was observed and scored by simple endoscopic score for crohn's disease (SES-CD).Adverse effects of all patients were monitored.Paired t test was performed for statistical analysis.Results Before the treatment,the CDAI of 15 patients with refractory CD was 235.87±59.87,two weeks after the treatment the CDAI declined to 135.33 ± 29.23,and the difference was statistically significant (t=7.50,P＜0.01).Before the treatment,ESR and hs-CRP was (42.13±22.80) mm/1 h and (13.73± 2.18) mg/L.Two weeks after treatment they declined to (23.80±16.63) mm/1 h and (5.77±4.77) mg/L,and the differences were statistically significant (t=2.43 and 6.17,both P＜0.05).After two-week treatment,10 patients achieved clinical remission.After the cumulative dose of cyclophosphamide reached 6 to 8 g combined therapy,CDAI of patients was 108.14 ± 47.10,which decreased significantly compared with that before treatment (t=6.30,P＜0.01).ESR,hs-CRP and WBC count was (19.35± 19.18) mm/1 h,(6.16± 5.02) mg/L and (6.28 ± 3.42) × 109/L,respectively,which decreased compared with those before treatment,and the differences were statistically significant (t=5.90,5.40 and 3.71,all P＜0.01).Twelve patients achieved clinical remission.And the lesions of 12 patients improved under endoscope,furthermore,the mucosa of four patients healed.Before the treatment,SES-CD was 9.14 ± 5.39,which declined to 5.07 ± 4.58 after the treatment,and the difference was statistically significant (t =3.14,P ＜ 0.01).During the treatment,five patients had adverse effects.Alanine aminotransferases (ALT) increased in three patients,WBC count decreased in one patient and one patient got a severe urinary infection.Conclusions Patients with refractory CD could achieve clinical remission,mucosa healing under endoscopy and better efficacy with the combined therapy of cyclophosphamide and thalidomide.However,adverse effects should be monitored during the treatment.

Background Posterior capsular opacification(PCO) is common complication after extrecapsular extract of cataract.Matrix metalloproteinases-3 (MMP-3) can degrade all the extracellular matrix except polyose.The gene therapy of PCO upon MMP-3 is the researching hot topic.Fibronectin ( FN ) is a degrade gelatin,so its expression can reflect the effect of MMP-3 on LECs indirectly. Objective The aim of this study was to construct MMP-3 eukaryotic recombination plasmid and transfect to lens epithelium cells(LECs) for the observation of MMP3 expression,and to explore the feasibility of gene therapy for after cataract. Methods Six fresh lenses were obtained from pigs.LECs were cultured using explant method.The eukaryotic expression vector pEGFP-N1-MMP-3 was reconstructed with MMP-3 and pEGFP-N1 plasmids.The accuracy of MMP-3 gene fragment was confirmed by double enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing analysis.After transfecting pEGFP-N1-MMP-3 into LECs of pig,the expression of MMP-3 protein in the cells was indirectly observed by green fluorescent protein.The expression of FN in LECs was detected using Western blot. Results The result of double enzyme digestion was consistent with the base number of pEGFP-N1 plasmids and target fragment.By enlacing the result of DNA sequencing analysis with software,the resemblance of the DNA sequence of MMP-3 from recombination plasmid pEGFP-N1-MMP-3 and that of homo MMP-3 was 99.6％,indicating that the target fragment was inserted to pEGFP-N1 plasmids successfully.Green fluorescence for GFP was seen in the LECs in pEGFP-N1-MMP-3 transfected group,but absent response for GFP was in empty vector group.Western blot revealed that the relative expression level of FN in LECs was 0.666±0.008 in pEGFP-N1-MMP-3 trasfected group and 0.326 ±0.071 in empty vector group,with a significant difference between these two groups(P=0.000). Conclusions Eukaryotic recombination plasmid pEGFP-N1-MMP-3 is successfully constructed,and MMP-3 can be expressed in LECs after transfected.These results lay a foundation for the further research of MMP-3 gene therapy for PCO.

Accidents, Occupational ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Arsenic Poisoning ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Water Pollution, Chemical

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of zinc finger E-box binding homebox 1 (ZEB1) in the prepuce of hypospadias children and its relationship to the incidence of hypospadias.

METHODSPrepuce tissues were collected from 37 children aged 6-15 months undergoing hypospadias repair and 11 age-matched controls receiving circumcision. Based on the position of the urethral meatus, the hypospadias cases were classified as severe (n = 13) and mild-moderate (n = 24). The mRNA and protein expressions of ZEB1 were determined by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe expression of the ZEB1 protein was remarkably higher in the severe (100% [13/13]) and mild-moderate hypospadias patients (75.0% [18/24]) than in the controls (9.1% [1/11]), with statistically significant differences between any two groups (P < 0.05). RT-PCR showed the integrated density value (IDV) of the ZEB1 mRNA expression to be (0.67 ± 0.21), (0.81 ± 0.24), and (1.55 ± 0.29) in the control, mild-moderate, and severe hypospadias patients, respectively, significantly higher in the severe hypospadias than in the control and mild-moderate hypospadias groups (P < 0.05), but with no significant difference between the latter two (P = 0.64).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of ZEB1 is significantly increased in hypospadias patients, and its upregulation is positively correlated with the severity of hypospadias, which suggests that the overexpression of ZEB1 may contribute to the development of hypospadias.

Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Circumcision, Male ; Foreskin ; metabolism ; Homeodomain Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hypospadias ; classification ; etiology ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Infant ; Male ; Penis ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation ; Urethra ; Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 1

Peptide cyclization, a pivotal approach to modifying linear precursors of proteins and pepticles, has been used to enhance their biological activities and serum stabilities. Recently, sortase A (SrtA) from Staphyloccus aureus becomes a promising new technology for efficiently incorporating site specific modifications into proteins, conjugating the cell surface and cyclizing the linear peptides. In this study, we constructed two recombinant expression systems, one with chitin binding domain and the other with six-histidine tag and chitin binding domain on the N-terminal of SrtA, separately. The results of enzymatic kinetics indicate that the two recombinant tags do not impair the transpeptidase activity of SrtA compared with the standard reaction reported under the same reaction condition. The two synthesized peptides with N-ternimal three glycines and C-terminal penta-amino acid motif, LPETG, were cyclized using immobilized and recycled SrtA. The SrtA-based cyclization promises to represent a simple method for easy and efficient enzymatic synthesis of large cyclic peptides.
Aminoacyltransferases ; metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins ; metabolism ; Cyclization ; Cysteine Endopeptidases ; metabolism ; Enzymes, Immobilized ; metabolism ; Kinetics ; Peptides ; metabolism ; Peptides, Cyclic ; biosynthesis ; Staphylococcus aureus ; enzymology

Objective To study the relationships among resilience, self-awareness, personality, stress level and mental health in the warship soldiers. Methods Resilience Scale for Adults ( RSA), Eysenck Personality Questionnaire ( EPQ), Self Acceptance Questionnaire( SAQ), General Self-Efficacy Scale( GSES), Wallance Self Concept Scale (WSCS), Psychological Stress Self-evaluation Test (PSET) and Symptom Checklist (SCL-90)were used to survey 1451 warship soldiers. Results ① 2.5％ of the warship soldiers reported obvious psychological stress. Mental health of warship soldiers was worse than the norm of China population, except for obsessivecompulsive and interpersonal sensitivity factor. While the scores of other factors were significantly higher than the norm of Chinese soldiers(P＜0.01). ②The total scores of SCL-90, psychological stress and resilience, internal/external had negative correlation with self-awareness, and positive correlation with neuroticism. Compared to the SCL-90-negative group,SCL-90-positive soldiers (SCL-90 total score ＞ 160) had higher scores of nervousness and PSET and lower scores of RSA, internal/external and self-awareness (P ＜ 0.01 ). ③Regression analysis showed that stress levels, emotional stability,self-awareness and resilience were able to predict 35.1％ of mental health in warship soldiers. Mental health, emotional stability, internal/external and resilience were able to predict 33.2％of individual's stress level. Conclusion To some extent, warship soldiers have psychological stress and mental health problems. Resilience, personality, self-awareness are important factors affecting psychological stress and mental health.