Objective To investigate whether single nucleotide polymorphisms of catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) of Val158Met are associated with the risk of breast cancer.Methods Gene polymorphisms of COMT were detected using di-allele-specific-amplification with artificially modified primers combined with SYBR Green I real-time polymerase chain reaction in a case-control study,which included 96 breast cancer patients (treatment group) and 116 healthy women(control group).Results The frequency of allele G in COMT gene Val158Met was 65.10％ and 71.98％ in treatment group and control group,and the frequency of allele A were 34.90％ and 28.02％ respectively.There were no differences between the two groups in allele frequencies of COMT Val158Met among Guangxi Baise population (all P ＞ 0.05).COMT Val158Met G/G genotype frequency distribution of the treatment group (38.54％) was lower than that of control group (54.31％),A/G genotype frequency distribution of the treatment group was higher(53.13％)than that of control group (35.34％).The distribution frequency differences of the two groups homozygous wild-type and heterozygous were statistically significant (all P ＜ 0.05).A/A genotype frequency distribution was relatively similar in the treatment group and control group,and they were 8.33％ and 10.35％ respectively.The breast cancer risks of Guangxi Baise women with A/G heterozygous genotype increased by 2.118 times compared with that of G/G homozygous genotype.Conclusion Gene polymorphism of COMT Val158Met may be associated with the risk of breast cancer.

OBJECTIVETo explore the level of serum uric acid (UA) in children with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).

METHODBetween Sep. 2008 and Mar. 2010, 138 children with OSAHS were enrolled in study group. Sixty-five children with accessory auricle or ptosis of upper lid were enrolled into the control group. Furthermore, according to apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) or obstructive apnea index (OAI) the study group was further divided into three subgroups (mild, moderate and severe group). At last, the study group and control group were divided into two groups according to the body mass index (BMI), separately. The fasting serum UA level was compared among the different groups. Then the correlation between the serum UA level and AHI, BMI, oxygen desaturation index, least arterial oxygen saturation (LSaO(2)) and the percentage of total sleep time with arterial oxygen saturation < 0.92 was also analyzed in OSAHS children with or without overweight and obesity respectively.

RESULTThe difference of serum UA level between the study group and control group (z = -0.443), and the difference among the three groups (χ(2) = 1.241) was not significant(P > 0.05). The serum UA level in overweight and obese children [study group, 273.0 (238.3 - 357.3); control group, 298.0 (253.0 - 336.0)] was significantly higher than that in children with normal BMI [study group, 246.5(215.8 - 300.0); control group, 266.0 (224.0 - 303.3)] (z = -2.084, -2.214, P < 0.05). That serum UA level did not correlate with the above index of OSAHS was observed in children with or without overweight and obesity in study group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONFindings of higher serum UA level were not observed in children with OSAHS. There was no correlation between serum UA level and the above indices of OSAHS. The serum UA level in overweight and obese children was significantly higher than that in children with normal BMI.

Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; blood ; Uric Acid ; blood

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Cyclosporine ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Fibronectins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; PPAR gamma ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rats ; Thiazolidinediones ; pharmacology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Objective In order to compare the iodine deficiency disorders(IDD)prevalent slatus in Chun'an County between 2006 and 2007,and to provide the science information for iodine supplementation in different regions.Methods Three schools of Wangzhai,Pingmen and Wenchang which the goiter prevalenee was the most severe were selected in Chun'an County;and from each school,90 pupils aged 8-10 years were randomly selected.B-ultrasound examination of thyroids,urine iodine and salt iodine were measured.Results The goiter rate in B-ultrasound were 7.5%(20/267),median of urine iodine was 247.5 μg/L,mean of salt iodine was 32.7 ms/ks in 2006;and the goiter rate in B-uhrasound were 3.7%(10/271),median of urine iodine was 383.4 μg/L,mean of salt iodine was 33.5 mg/kg in 2007.The goiter prevalence in Wangzhai,Pingrnen and Wenehang township were 15.2%(14/92),6.0%(5/83)and 2.2%(2/92),respectively,and median of urine iodine were 360.1.211.3,189.3μg/L,respectively,in 2006;The goiter prevalence were 6.6%(6/91),3.3%(3/90)and 1.1%(1/90),respectively.and median of urine iodine were 388.6,41 1.5,327.8μg/L,respectively,in 2007.Family ineome of Wangzhai,Pingmen and Wenchang township were 1000,2000,3000 yuan,respectively.Conclusions Goiter prevalence was correlated with urinary iodine,nutritional state and economic condition,high urinary iodine contents and poor nutritional status lcad to a high goiter rate.

Objective To explore the effect and mechanism of hydroxysafflor yellow A(HSYA)on autophagy in bEnd.3 cells after oxygen-glucose deprivation(OGD).Methods The bEnd.3 cells were divided into normal group(conventional culture),model group(OGD model),HSYA group(OGD model+75 μmol·L-1 HSYA),3-methyladenine(3MA)group(5 mmol·L-1 3MA+OGD model)and 3 MA+HSYA group(5 mmol·L-1 3 MA+OGD model+75 μmol·L-1 HSYA).The level of apoptosis was determined by TUNEL fluorescence staining;Western blot was used to detect the expression of autophagy,blood brain barrier(BBB)related proteins;real time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction method for determining the expression of sirtuin-1(SIRT1)and forkhead box protein O3a(FOXO3A)mRNA.Results In the normal group,model group,HSYA group,3MA group and 3MA+HSYA group,the positive cells selected for TUNEL staining were 5.00±1.00,28.00±2.00,21.00±3.00,35.33±2.51 and 29.67±2.52;the expression levels of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-Ⅱ/-Ⅰ(LC3-Ⅱ/-Ⅰ)were 0.90±0.20,1.34±0.10,1.95±0.14,0.76±0.15 and 1.14±0.09;sequestosome 1(P62)were 0.99±0.02,0.60±0.02,0.38±0.01,0.67±0.04 and 0.54±0.01;occludin were 1.39±0.17,0.62±0.15,1.00±0.09,0.40±0.13 and 0.80±0.15;zonula occludens-1(ZO-1)were 1.63±0.20,0.64±0.06,0.98±0.14,0.37±0.14 and 0.87±0.04;SIRT1 mRNA were 1.00±0.00,0.75±0.07,1.69±0.09,0.31±0.02 and 0.56±0.01;FOXO3A mRNA were 1.00±0.00,0.80±0.05,1.47±0.09,0.40±0.01 and 0.62±0.09,respectively.Significant differences were found between model group and normal group,HSYA group and model group,3MA+HSYA group and 3MA group(P＜0.05,P＜0.01,P＜0.001).Conclusion HSYA may enhance autophagy levels in bEnd.3 cells after OGD through the SIRT1/FOXO3A pathway,inhibit cell apoptosis and alleviate BBB damage.

OBJECTIVETo develop a rapid, highly sensitive, and quantitative method for the detection of NT-proBNP levels based on a near-infrared point-of-care diagnostic (POCT) device with wide scope.

METHODSThe lateral flow assay (LFA) strip of NT-proBNP was first prepared to achieve rapid detection. Then, the antibody pairs for NT-proBNP were screened and labeled with the near-infrared fluorescent dye Dylight-800. The capture antibody was fixed on a nitrocellulose membrane by a scribing device. Serial dilutions of serum samples were prepared using NT-proBNP-free serum series. The prepared test strips, combined with a near-infrared POCT device, were validated by known concentrations of clinical samples. The POCT device gave the output of the ratio of the intensity of the fluorescence signal of the detection line to that of the quality control line. The relationship between the ratio value and the concentration of the specimen was plotted as a work curve. The results of 62 clinical specimens obtained from our method were compared in parallel with those obtained from the Roche E411 kit.

RESULTSBased on the log-log plot, the new method demonstrated that there was a good linear relationship between the ratio value and NT-proBNP concentrations ranging from 20 pg/mL to 10 ng/mL. The results of the 62 clinical specimens measured by our method showed a good linear correlation with those measured by the Roche E411 kit.

CONCLUSIONThe new LFA detection method of NT-proBNP levels based on the near-infrared POCT device was rapid and highly sensitive with wide scope and was thus suitable for rapid and early clinical diagnosis of cardiac impairment.

Antibodies ; Biomarkers ; Heart Diseases ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; methods ; Infrared Rays ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; blood ; Peptide Fragments ; blood ; Point-of-Care Testing ; Reagent Strips ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Objective Changes in the number and function of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) were reported in clinical and experimental Sjögren’s syndrome (SS), whereas the underlying mechanisms of MDSCs in SS remain to be elucidated. This study was to observe the changes in the pathologic structure and function of the submandibular gland and salivary flow in SS mice after adoptive transfer or deletion of MDSCs and explore the action mechanisms of MDSCs. Methods Ten 4-week-old non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice (without SS-like symptoms) received adoptive transfer of purified MDSCs at 1×10⁶ per mouse (the MDSC group, n = 5) or injection of PBS (the PBS group, n = 5). Another ten 10-week-old NOD mice were injected intraperitoneally with anti-Gr1 antibodies (the anti-Gr1 group, n = 5) or commensurable Rat IgG2b isotype antibodies (the Rat IgG2b group, n = 5). At 2 weeks after treatment, we determined the salivary flow rate, examined lymphocytic infiltration in the submandibular glands, and counted the MDSCs on Th2 cells in different groups of the mice. Results Compared with the PBS group, the NOD mice of the MDSC group showed significantly reduced Th2 cells in the peripheral blood ([0.67 ± 0.13] % vs [0.16 ± 0.07] %, P < 0.05) and spleen ([0.80 ± 0.13] % vs [0.37 ± 0.04] %, P < 0.05) and salivary flow ([78.70 ± 6.80] vs [33.85 ± 11.25] µL, P < 0.05), but increased numbers of MDSCs in the peripheral blood ([1.54 ± 0.14] vs [5.47 ± 1.54] ×10⁵, P < 0.05) and spleen ([1.09 ± 0.23] vs [4.50 ± 1.04] ×10⁵, P < 0.05). In comparison with the Rat IgG2b group, the animals of the anti-Gr1 group exhibited remarkably decreased Th2 cells in the peripheral blood ([0.55 ±0.09] % vs [0.92 ± 0.10] %, P < 0.05) and spleen ([0.63 ± 0.08] % vs [1.10 ± 0.06] %, P < 0.05) and salivary flow ([56.48 ± 14.18] vs [121.20 ± 10.34] µL, P < 0.05), as well as decreased numbers of MDSCs in the peripheral blood ([1.53 ± 0.12] vs [0.35±0.16] ×10⁵, P < 0.05) and spleen ([2.53 ± 1.10] vs [0.91±0.07] ×10⁵, P < 0.05). The adoptive transfer of MDSCs aggravated while the injection of anti-Gr1 antibodies attenuated lymphocytic infiltration in the submandibular gland of the mice. Conclusion MDSCs participate in the pathogenesis Sjögren’s syndrome by suppressing the response of Th2 cells, which suggests that increasing the response of Th2 cells by inhibiting MDSCs could be a novel target for the treatment of Sjögren’s syndrome.

Humans ; Pregnancy ; Female ; Culture Media ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Objective　Mini-invasive Carisolv is an aid to treat dental caries for patients with dental phobia. The article was to investigate the level of pain in caries removal using mini-invasive Carisolv III gel and mechanical methods with four psychological indicators.　Methods　We collected 120 primary molar tooth caries of 60 children treated in our hospital. Two primary molar tooth caries of each child were respectively treated with Carisolv III gel (Group A) and mechanical method (Group B) for caries removal. Psychological indicators including the visual analog scale (VAS), the Frank1 behavior rating scale (Frank1), the Kuttner law (Kuttner), and the Houpt behavior rating scale (Houpt) were used to assess the level of pain, degree of cooperation, pain tolerance and comfort. The clinical efficiency after six months and treatment time were compared between the two groups.　Results　There was no statistically significant difference before treatment between the two groups using the four psychological indicators (P>0.05) , while significant differences were found during and after the treatment between the two groups (P<0.05). Then, Carisolv III gel and mechanical groups for careis removal were compared before, during and after treatment themselves. In the Carisolv III gel group, there was no statistically significant difference using the four psychological indicators (P>0.05). In the mechanical group, there were statistically significant differences before and during treatment or before and after treatment using the four psychological indicators (P<0.05). The treatment time in Carisolv III gel group was longer than in mechanical group (P=0.001). There was no statistical difference between the two groups in filling examination after six months (P=0.082).　Conclusion　Carisolv III gel for caries removal can effectively avoid pain, improve comfort and decrease fear in children, which can be promoted in clinical application.