Cold Temperature ; Dinoprost ; analogs & derivatives ; urine ; Dust ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; urine ; Thromboxane B2 ; analogs & derivatives ; urine ; Weather

Objective To study adrenomedullin (AM) mRNA and protein expression level in myocardium of autoimmune myocarditis animal models induced by immunization of mice with lactobacillus casei cell wall element(LCWE). Methods Forty-five Balb/c male mice were randomly divided into experimental group (n = 30) and control group (n = 15), which were intraperitoneally injected with LCWE and phosphate buffered solution(PBS) at day 0,3,5 and 10,respectively. Sera and myocardium samples were gained 14,21 and 28 days after the first immunization. AM expression levels were determined by semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT- PCR) and immunchistochemistry,and mycardial histopathological lesions were observed. The anti- myosin antibodies in different stages were examined by an ELISA. Results There were myocardial necrosis or inflammatory infiltration in the experimental group, but myocardial lesions were not found in the control group. Anti - myosin antibodies were detected in sera of experimental mice,but not in control group. Immunchistochemistry findings demonstrated that AM expression level was higher in the experimental group than in the control group( P

OBJECTIVETo study the associations of CYP1A1 gene polymorphisms with levels of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene among coke oven workers.

METHODS223 male workers from a coke plant (76, 82 and 65 workers in oven top group, oven-side group and oven-bottom group respectively) and 119 controls without occupational polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure were selected. The MspI gene polymorphism in CYP1A1 3' flanking region and the genotypes at I462V site in exon 7 of CYP1A1 were detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and allele specific amplification (ASA).

RESULTSThe urinary 1-hydroxypyrene of coke oven workers in oven-top, oven-side and oven-bottom (3.77+/-0.64, 3.57+/-0.49, 3.26+/-0.80 micromol/mol Cr) were significantly higher than controls (2.80+/-1.02 micromol/mol Cr) (P<0.01). The urinary 1-hydroxypyrene was not significantly different among MspI genotypes in CYP1A1 3' flanking region (P>0.05). In oven-top group and oven-side group, the subjects with Val/Val genotype in exon 7 of CYP1A1 had significantly higher urinary 1-hydroxypyrene levels than those with Ile/Val or Ile/Ile genotype, and urinary 1-hydroxypyrene of Ile-Val genotype were also significantly higher than Ile/Ile genotype (P<0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the coke oven workers (OR in oven top group, oven-side group and oven-bottom group was 24.926, 4.226 and 6.729 respectively) and subjects with m2/m2 genotype in CYP1A1 3' flanking region (OR=4.031) or with Val/Val or Ile/Val genotype in exon 7 of CYP1A1 (OR were 5.524 and 3.811) had elevated urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (greater than 95 percentile of control group, 3.876 micromol/mol Cr).

CONCLUSIONBAP concentration of work environment contributes to the elevated urinary 1-hydroxypyrene levels, and the exposed BAP levels were regulated by the CYP1A1 MspI and I462V genotypes. Genetic polymorphism of CYP1A1 gene could be a susceptible biomarker in coke oven workers which was involved in the individual susceptibility on metabolism of PAHs.

Adult ; Benzo(a)pyrene ; adverse effects ; Coke ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Pyrenes ; pharmacokinetics ; Urine ; chemistry

Total RNA was extracted from infected papaya (Carica papaya L.) leaves in Hainan Province, and the full-length sequences of papaya ringspot virus were amplified by RT-PCR and RACE, and its complete genomic sequence was assembled, named Hainan-P isolate. The RNA genome sequence of Hainan-P isolate was 10323 nucleotides (nts)in length,excluding the 3'-terminal poly(A) tail. And it was composed of a single open reading frame encoding a polyprotein of 3343 amino acids.. The result of homology analysis with twelve GenBank PRSV isolates showed that the polyprotein identity of Hainan-P ranged from 89. 8% to 93.2%, that was higher than the complete nt homology of 82.3% to 89.1%. The P1 amino acid was the least conserved (sharing homology only between 65.4% and 80.1%), whereas HC-Pro, CI and CP were the most conserved. Phylogenetic tree were constructed by the Neighbor-joining method in MEGA 3.1, which showed that PRSV isolates were obviously relevant to geographical origin, and it was impossible to delineate host-specific (P type and W type)evolution.
Carica ; virology ; Genome, Viral ; Phylogeny ; Potyvirus ; classification ; genetics

Objective To describe the prevalence and risk factors for suicide ideation among college students in Chongqing city. Methods Data on suicide ideation and related factors were collected from 9808 college students at 11 colleges randomly selected in Chongqing. A multiple logistic regression model was used to identify risk factors for suicide ideation. Results 1279 (13.0%) of the 9808 students reported suicide ideation and the constituent ratio of boys and girls was 3:4 whileriskfactors for suicide ideation were ranked as follows: high frequency of feeling hopeless in prior year (OR=5.07,95%CI: 4.27-6.02); having psychological problems in recent 1 month that affecting daily lives and learning(2.07,1.79-2.38); relatives having suicide behavior (1.77,1.52-2.08); having had sexual experience (1.95,1.65-2.30); being female (1.66,1.45-1.90) and friends who had had suicide attempts(1.46,1.28-1.67);having diseases in the last 1 month that affecting daily lives and learning (1.29,1.08-1.52). Conclusion The prevalence of suicide ideation among these college students was high that calls the development,implementation and assessment of suicide prevention plans for college students that focusing on the risk factors identified for suicide ideation.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of self-reported suicidal behavior in university students and to compare the related risk factors between two selected groups. Methods A questionnaire survey on situation of suicidal behavior and risk factors was conducted among 9808 university students. Results The overall rate of suicide attempts among university students was 1.7%. Factors as suicidal attitude, having associates who had suicidal experience and negative life events, were significantly different between groups with or without suicide attempts. Risk factors on suicidal behavior were as follows: high frequency of feeling hopeless in the last year (OR=4.23,95% CI: 3.05-5.85) , first degree relatives with suicide behavior (OR=2.85, 95% CI: 1.72-4.73),having associates with suicide behavior (OR=2.82,95%CI: 2.05-3.88), having had sexual experience (OR=2.73,95%CI: 1.88-3.96), daily live being influenced by the existing psychological problems in the last month (OR=2.53, 95% CI: 1.80-3.56) , being female (OR=2.47, 95% CI: 1.77-3.45) and having other relatives with suicide behaviors (OR=2.36, 95% CI: 1.63-3.41). Conclusion Psychological, biological and social factors had influenced on suicidal behaviors among university students which all called for effective intervention to be implemented.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on the neurobehavioral function of coke oven workers.

METHODS200 healthy adult male coke oven workers were selected from a coke plant of a state-owned steel enterprise in Taiyuan City. 88 controls occupationally unexposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were selected from the same enterprise. All the subjects participated in this investigation voluntarily in their consent. Concentration of B(a)P in the working environment was monitored by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Urine samples were sampled immediately after working shifts. The level of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene was determined by HPLC. General information of workers correlated with the investigation was collected in a questionnaire according to the same criteria by well-trained investigators. Neurobehavioral core test battery (NCTB) recommended WHO was performed on coke oven workers and controls to test the neurobehavioral changes and the mood state.

RESULTSthe concentration of B(a)P at oven bottom,oven side and oven top were 0.0195 microg/m3, 0.186 microg/m3 and 1.624 microg/m3 respectively, that at oven side and oven top being higher than the one stipulated by the occupational hygiene criterion. Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene was significantly different between the exposure group (3.42 +/- 0.98 micromol/mol creatinine) and control group (2.75 +/- 1.09 micromol/mol creatinine). No significant differences were found between exposure group and control group of age, working years, smoking, drinking and unhealthy food consumption; however, compared to the controls, the scores of total digital span, the forward digital span, and right dotting in the coke oven workers were lower, but that of total dotting was higher, with a statistical significance. According to urinary 1-hydroxypyrene concentration, all the subjects were divided into three groups. (<3.10 micromol/mol creatinine, 3.10 micromol/mol creatinine, >3.87 micromol/mol creatinine). Significant differences of the total digital span, the forward digital span, backward digital span, digit symbol and Benton visual retentions existed in different urinary 1-hydroxypyrene concentration groups and showed a dose-response tendency. Results of multiple stepwise regression analysis and correlation analysis showed that the level of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene affected memory and perception of coke oven workers and negative correlations between the level of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene and changes in neurobehavioral function were found.

CONCLUSIONPAHs mainly causes decrease of memory and perception in coke oven workers.

Adult ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Coke ; Humans ; Male ; Memory ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Occupational Exposure ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ; urine

OBJECTIVETo explore the attitudes on suicide and their related factors among university students in Chongqing.

METHODSA total of 9808 students from 11 universities in Chongqing, were chosen under stratified cluster random sampling method and had completed a questionnaire survey through the Scale of Public Attitudes on Suicide(SPAS).

RESULTSData showed that the scores of university students having negative or neutral attitudes towards questions including "suicide is not preventable", "suicidal behavior is not controllable or is caused by outside forces" and "suicidal behavior can(or is used to)affect the behavior of others'" were 34.28±16.44, 35.64±19.14 and 36.94±16.05 respectively. The scores of students taking neutral attitude towards questions as:"similarity of attempted and completed suicide", "negative attitudes on the behavior or on the person him/her self", "positive aspects of suicide and positive feelings about suicides"were 47.38±22.01, 51.78±17.05 and 37.77±18.12 respectively but 70.77±17.21 went to the students who had agreed with "suicide is an important social/health problem". Factors as gender, nationality, religion, history of attempted suicide and suicide exposure to others appeared having had important effects on the attitude towards suicide among college students.

CONCLUSIONIt is necessary to consider above mentioned factors when developing related suicide crisis intervention strategy.

Adult ; Attitude ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Students ; psychology ; Suicide ; psychology ; statistics & numerical data ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Universities

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between polymorphism of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) gene in G1661A and the level of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene among coke oven workers.

METHODS295 male subjects were studied, including 214 workers working in coke oven plant and 81 controls working in raw material plant who were not generally exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons occupationally. General in-formation of subjects were collected in a specific questionnaire including age, smoking and drinking habits, the history of occupation and so on. The AhR genotypes were detected by allele specific amplification (ASA), and the levels of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene were measured by high performance liquid chromatography with a fluorescence detector.

RESULTSThe frequencies of G/G, G/A and A/A genotype were 52.8% (113/214), 27.6% (59/214) and 19.6% (42/214) in exposed group and 67.9% (55/81), 19.8% (16/81) and 12.3% (10/81) in control group, respectively. No significant difference was found in three genotypes between the exposed and control group. Allele frequencies of G and A were 66.6% (285/428) and 33.4% (143/428) in exposed group and 77.8% (126/162) and 22.2% (36/162) in control group, and no statistical differences were found in allele frequency between exposed and control group. After the length of service and external exposure orders in general linear model were adjusted, results of covariance analysis showed that logarithmic transformed urinary 1-hydroxypyrene levels were (3.62 +/- 0.12), (3.43 +/- 0.12) and (3.44 +/- 0.08) micromol/mol Cr in individuals with A/A, G/A and G/G, respectively. The logarithmic transformed urinary 1-hydroxypyrene levels were (3.24 +/- 0.09) and (3.43 +/- 0.10) micromol/mol Cr in individuals with allele of G and A. No statistical differences were found in level of 1-hydroxypyrene among A/A, G/A and G/G genotype individuals, and between allele G and allele A after external exposure orders and length of service were adjusted.

CONCLUSIONThe polymorphism of aryl hydrocarbon receptor G1661A has no significant impact on levels of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene.

Adult ; Coke ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Pyrenes ; pharmacokinetics ; Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon ; genetics ; Urine ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of naringin on the proliferation, differention and maturaion of rat calvarial osteoblasts (ROB).

METHODSegregated neonatal SD rat skull, enzyme digestion to obtain ROB. The culture medium was replaced every three days. Serial subcultivation proceeded when cells covered with 80% culture dish. Naringin supplemented into the culture at 1 x 10(-4), 1 x 10(-5), 1 x 10(-6), 1 x 10(-7) mol x L(-1) respectively. MTT method was adopted in proliferation analysis and the activity of ALP was examined after induced 9 days. Search the best concentration and supplemented into the medium, then the osteogenic differentiation markers including the secretion amount of osteocalcin, osteopontin and bone morphogenetic protein-2 were compared between the naringin-supplemented group and the control. Total RNA was isolated and the mRNA level of bFGF, IGF-1, Runx-2, Osterix, ERa and ERbeta was investigated by Real time RT-PCR. Total protein also was isolated and the expression ERa, ERbeta and collagen I was examined by Western blot. After the addition of ICI 182.780, an inhibitor of the estrogen signal pathway, these index also was examined and the changes were compared.

RESULTThe ROB proliferation was motivated by naringin dose-dependently. And it evidently leads to osteogenic process and maturation. 1 x 10(-5) mol x L(-1) is the best concentration. Naringin improved the secretion of osteocalcin, osteopontin, bone morphogenetic protein-2 and collagen I significantly. Besides, it can also enhanced the mRNA level of bFGF, IGF-1, Runx-2, Osterix, ERalpha and ERbeta. While all these effects can be restrained by ICI 182.780.

CONCLUSIONThe naringin with final concentration of 1 x 10(-5) mol x L(-1) enhances the osteogenic differentiation and maturation of ROB significantly, while the promoting effects vanished after the addition of ICI 182.780. These results suggesting that naringin is one of the phytoestrogens and have the activity of bone formation may via estrogen signal pathway, it can be developed into a new drug for osteoporosis therapy.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Flavanones ; pharmacology ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; genetics ; metabolism ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Osteocalcin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skull ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism