Objective To investigate the distribution status of coal-burning fluorosis (endemic fluorosis) areas in Luoyang and to provide scientifc evidence for making strategies in prevention and control. Methods In 2006, a household per village was chosen to carry the general survey so as of disease condition, living habits and housing structure among 941 coal-burning pollution fluorine sickness natural villages in Yanshi, Mengjin, Xin'an, Luanchuan counties and Geely area which were under the jurisdiction of Luoyang. In the general survey, the sampled village having a population of more than 500 person was considered as a major survey village, and water fluoride, 8 - 12 year-old child fluorine spot on tooth and the urinary fluoride were surveyed. Water fluoride and the child urinary fluoride determination used the fluoride ion selective electrode method, and the children's dental fluorosis used Dean method. Results The endemic fluorosis of Luoyang existed 742 in endemic fluomsis villages, compared with history, a decrease of 199 in number. Ninety-six point seven per cent( 142 543/147 419) of the households were consuming smoke-free coal. Households using intact kitchens accounted for 93.6%( 137 919/147 419). Of which 63.0%(86 889/137 919) of kitchens were mixed up with bedrooms. Total 125 060 people were using coal- fired furnace for heating, of which 87.8%(109 802/125 060) had smoke-free facilities, 12.2%(15 258/125 060) had none. Among 52 endemic villages with population of more than 500 people surveyed, a total of 183 water samples were collected, 2 had water fluoride exceeding 1.0 rag/L, the highest water fluoride being 1.04 rag/L, averaging 0.39 mg/L Sixteen villages had a prevalence rate of dental fluorosis for children less than 30.00%, accounting for 30.8% (16/52), 36 endemic villages the prevalence of dental fluorosis detection rate of more than 30.00%, accounting for 69.2%(36/52). Twenty-thrce villages had a dental fluorosis index greater than 0.6, severe dental fluorosis was not found. Real-time measurement of 1408 urine samples of children aged 8 - 12 showed that urine fluoride highest value 6.88 nag/L, the minimum value of 0.10 mg/L, geometric mean 1.10 mg/L. The prevalence rate of dental fluorosis for children was 36.06%. Conclusions In Luoyang city, numbers of coal-burning endemic fluorosis villages are less than before, children's dental fluorosis has significantly declined, however some people still use kitchens connecting with bedrooms and lack smoke-free facilities, they need to be educated to change lifestyle and improve furnace to reduce soot fluoride pollution.

BACKGROUND: Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (TREM-1) is a cell surface receptor expressed on neutrophils and monocytes. TREM-1 acts to amplify inflammation and serves as a critical mediator of inflammatory response in the context of sepsis. To date, the predisposition of TREM-1 gene polymorphisms to septic shock has not been reported. This study was designed to investigate whether TREM-1 genomic variations are associated with the development of septic shock. METHODS: We genotyped two TREM-1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs, rs2234237 and rs2234246) and evaluated the relationships between these SNPs and septic shock on susceptibility and prognosis. RESULTS: TREM-1 rs2234246 A allele in the promoter region was significantly associated with the susceptibility of septic shock in recessive model (AA, OR=3.10, 95％Cl 1.15 to 8.32, P=0.02), and in codominant model (AG, OR=0.72, 95％Cl 0.43–1.19, P=0.02; AA, OR=2.71, 95％Cl 1.00–7.42;P=0.03). However, in three inherited models (dominant model, recessive model, and codominant model), none of the assayed loci was significantly associated with the prognosis of septic shock. The non-survivor group demonstrated higher plasma IL-6 levels (99.7±34.7 pg/mL vs. 61.2±26.5 pg/mL, P<0.01) than the survivor group. Plasma concentrations of IL-6 among the three genotypes of rs2234246 were AA 99.4±48.9 pg/mL, AG 85.4±43 pg/mL, and GG 65.3±30.7 pg/mL (P<0.01). The plasma concentrations of IL-6 in patients with AA genotypes were significantly higher than those in patients with GG genotypes (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: TREM-1 genetic polymorphisms rs2234246 may be significantly correlated only with susceptibility to septic shock in the Chinese Han population.

The gene orf25 encodes functional protein that may play an important role in plant fertility control in nature. To clone the orf25 from Salicornia europaea Xinjiang into a T-vector, a single designed primer was used to amplify 1.7kb cDNA fragment with RT-PCR. Sequence analysis reveals that the cloned fragment contains entire orf25 coding region with 98%, 95%, 92% and 88% identity to that of orf25 from Beta vulgaris, Nicotiana, wheat and maize mitochondrion, respectively. This analysis suggests that orf25 gene is highly conserved in terms of evolution in plant; and it also suggests that wild plant Salicornia europaea contain a male-sterility gene similar to crops that is of great importance in improvement of the breed of crop.
Base Sequence ; Chenopodiaceae ; genetics ; DNA Primers ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plant Infertility ; genetics ; physiology ; Plant Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid

Objective To observe the effect of intracoronary transfer of autologous HO-1 overexpressed MSCs in porcine model of myocardial ischemia ( 1 h)/reperfusion. Methods Apoptosis was assayed and cytokine concentrations in supernatant were measured in cells exposed to hypoxia-reoxygen in vitro. In vivo, Chinese male mini-pigs were allocated to the following treatment groups; control group (saline), MSCs group (MSCs), MSCs transfected with pcDNA3. 1-nHO-l (HO-1-MSCs). 1 x 107 of autologous stem cells or identical volume of saline was injected intracoronary into porcine hearts 1 h after ischemia. MRI assay and postmortem analysis were assessed 3 months after stem cell transplantation. Results In vitro, cell apoptosis rate post hypoxia-reoxygen was significantly reduced in HO-1- MSCs group ( 30. 30% ±7. 64% ) compared with that in MSCs group (56. 93% ±4. 68% , P <0. 001) and LacZ- MSCs group (55. 88% ± 4. 38% , P < 0. 001) , VEGF was also significantly upregulated in HO-1-MSCs group [(768.44±78.38)pg/ml] compared with that in MSCs group[ (555. 27 ±67. 67)pg/ml, P<0.001] and LacZ-MSCs group [ (522. 97 ± 71. 45 ) pg/ml, P < 0. 001 ] . In vivo, cardiac function was significantly improved in both MSCs transplantation groups compared to saline group (all P<0. 05 vs. saline) and the left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly higher in HO-1-MSCs group compared with that in MSCs group at 3 months after transplantation ( 53. 50% ± 2. 09% vs. 49. 54% ± 2. 74% , P = 0. 017 ), capillary density in the peri-infarct area was also significantly higher in HO-1-MSC group than that in MSCs group [ (14.59 ± 2. 39 )/HPF vs. (11.78 ± 2.48 )/HPF, P = 0.033 ] . Conclusions Efficacy of HO-1 overexpressed MSCs on improving cardiac function and promoting angiogenesis was greater than those by MSCs in this porcine ischemia/reperfusion model.

OBJECTIVETo explore the association between the polymorphisms of oncogenes H-ras and L-myc and colorectal cancer risk, and the interaction of those genes.

METHODSThe genotypes of H-ras and L-myc genes were determined by polymerase chain reaction-based restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Stratified analysis and logistic model were used to detect the gene-gene interaction. The gene-gene interaction was validated by multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) analysis.

RESULTSThe single SNP model showed that the polymorphisms of H-ras and L-myc genes were not significantly related with colorectal cancer risk (P > 0.05). Stratified analysis revealed that among the L-myc LS + SS genotype carriers, those with H-ras TC + CC genotype showed significantly increased risk of rectal cancer than those with TT genotype (OR = 1.81, P = 0.005). The positive interaction between L-myc and H-ras was detected by logistic regression model. The OR of the interaction effect was 2.74 (P = 0.024). This result was confirmed in the MDR model, with 54.83% testing balanced accuracy and 10/10 cross-validation consistency, and the model was still significant after the 1000 times permutation test (P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONOur findings suggest that the polymorphism of H-ras and L-myc genes is not related to colorectal cancer risk, but there is a synergy between H-ras and L-myc polymorphisms in the development of rectal cancer.

Aged ; Colonic Neoplasms ; genetics ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; Female ; Genes, myc ; Genes, ras ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multifactor Dimensionality Reduction ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Rectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; Risk ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo investigate the dynamic changes of dystrophin expression in mdx mice after bone marrow stem cells transplantation.

METHODSThe bone marrow stem cells of C57 BL/6 mice (aged 6 to 8 weeks) were injected intravenously into the mdx mice (aged 7 to 9 weeks), which were preconditioned with 7Gy gamma ray. The amount of dystrophin;expression in gastrocnemius was detected by immunofluorescence, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot at week 5, 8, 12 and 16 after transplantation.

RESULTSAt week 5 after bone marrow stem cells transplantation, the dystrophin expression detected in mdx mice were very low; however, its expression increased along with time. At week 16 week, about 12% muscle cells of all transplanted mice expressed dystrophin. There were less centrally placed myonuclei than the control mdx mice, whereas peripheral myonuclei increased.

CONCLUSIONSAfter having been injected into mdx mice, the allogenic bone marrow stem cells have a trend to reach the injured muscle tissues and differentiate to fibers that can express dystrophin and the expression increased with time. The bone marrow stem cells participates in the repair and regeneration of the injured tissues permanently and constantly.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dystrophin ; biosynthesis ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Inbred mdx ; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne ; metabolism ; surgery ; Transplantation, Homologous

OBJECTIVETo investigate the differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into myocytes and their expression of dystrophin/utrophin after transplantation in mdx mice.

METHODSBrdU-labeled fifth-passage rat MSCs were transplanted in mdx mice with previous total body gamma irradiation (7 Gy). At 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks after the transplantation, the mice were sacrificed to detect dystrophin/BrdU and utrophin expressions in the gastrocnemius muscle using immunofluorescence assay, RT-PCR and Western blotting. Five normal C57 BL/6 mice and 5 mdx mice served as the positive and negative controls, respectively.

RESULTSFour weeks after MSC transplantation, less than 1% of the muscle fibers of the mdx mice expressed dystrophin, which increased to 15% at 16 weeks. Donor-derived nuclei were detected in both single and clusters of dystrophin-positive fibers. Some BrdU-positive nuclei were centrally located, and some peripherally within myofibers. Utrophin expression decreased over time after transplantation.

CONCLUSIONThe myofibers of mdx mice with MSC transplantation express dystrophin, which is derived partially from the transplanted MSCs. Dystrophin expression from the transplanted MSCs partially inhibits the upregulation of utrophin in mdx mouse muscle, showing a complementary relation between them.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Dystrophin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Inbred mdx ; metabolism ; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal ; cytology ; metabolism ; Muscular Dystrophy, Animal ; metabolism ; therapy ; Rats ; Utrophin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate mRNA expression of caspase apoptosis pathway genes in colorectal cancer, polyps and normal mucosa.

METHODSNineteen patients with colorectal cancer, 86 patients with polyps and 10 normal controls were enrolled from 2008 to 2010. Fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR was performed to detect the mRNA expression of caspase apoptosis pathway genes (caspase-2,-3,-6,-7,-8,-9 and -10) in colorectal cancer, polyps and normal mucosa.

RESULTThere were no statistically significant differences of demographic characteristics between patients with colorectal cancer, patients with polyps and normal controls. Compared with normal control group, the mRNA expression of all selected genes except for caspase-3 were lower; however, the P values did not reach statistic significance. Highly positive correlations were observed between mRNA expression of all selected genes except caspase-9.

CONCLUSIONThere are no significant changes in mRNA expression levels of caspase apoptosis pathway genes from normal mucosa to polyps to cancer. The mRNA expressions of most caspase pathway genes are highly correlated with each other.

Aged ; Caspases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa ; metabolism ; Intestinal Polyps ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

AIM To evaluate the habitat suitability of Hedysari Radix based on MaxEnt model and ArcGIS.METHODS Using the MaxEnt model to screen the ecological factors affecting the distribution of Hedysari Radix,an evaluation model was thus established.ArcGIS software was used to evaluate the ecological suitability of Hedysari Radix to obtain the data about the highly suitable area,the moderate suitable area,the low suitable area and non-suitable area for its growth in China.RESULTS Hedysari Radix found its 1.29×106 km2 suitable area in China,among which the highly suitable area was 5×104 km2,mainly in Gansu Province,the moderately suitable area was 3.38×105 km2,and the low-suitable area was 9×105 km2,occupying 4.03%,26.20%and 69.77%of all,respectively.The main ecological factors affecting the distribution of Hedysari Radix were determined to be altitude,precipitation in the hottest quarter,solar radiation in September and December,seasonal temperature variation deviation and basic saturation of upper soil(0-30 cm).CONCLUSION With its result complying well with the literature records,this study provides theoretical basis for the introduction and cultivation of Hedysari Radix,and sustainable utilization of resources as well.

Objective To explore the effect of "peer mentor" teaching mode on nursing students'psychological stress in early clinical practice (three months).Methods One hundred and sixty nursing students were randomly divided into the study group and the control group,each with 80 cases.The study group received "peer mentor" teaching mode,and the control group received convention teaching mode.The Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90),Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS),Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) were used to evaluate the students' psychological state.The clinical comprehensive skill was assessed after 12 weeks.Results The cases of normal,mild anxiety,moderate anxiety,severe anxiety according to SAS were respectively 51,20,8,1 in the study group,and 33,30,13,4 in the control group respectively,and the difference was statistically significant (x2 =8.275,P ＜ 0.01).The cases of normal,mild depression,severe depression,moderate depression numbers according to SDS were respectively 51,20,8,1 in the study group,and 34,31,12,3 in the control group respectively,and the difference was statistically significant (x2 =4.971,P ＜ 0.05).The differences were statistically significant in the interpersonal sensitivity (x2 =5.71,P ＜ 0.05),hostile (x2 =5.13,P ＜ 0.05)and paranoid (x2 =4.78,P ＜ 0.05) between the two groups.In the clinical practice,cooperation consciousness,love consciousness,psychological ability,interpersonal communication ability,health education ability and the evaluation feedback in the study were better than those of the control group,and the differences were statistically significant (x2 =9.49,10.25,11.62,6.32,8.07,7.17,respectively; P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Peer mentor teaching mode can reduce students' psychological stress in early clinical practice,and help to improve practice quality.