Objective To examine the current situation of smoke-free policies and the support for comprehensive smoke free policies in Beijing, Shenyang, Shanghai, Changsha, Guangzhou, and Yinchuan. Methods Data from Wave 1 of the ITC China Survey (April 2006-August 2008) were analyzed. The ITC China Survey employed a multistage sampling design across 6 cities: Beijing, Shenyang, Shanghai, Changsha, Guangzhou, and Yinchuan. Face to face interviews were conducted with a total of 4 815 smokers and 1 270 non-smokers across the 6 cities to examine their support for smoke free policies. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with support for comprehensive smoke free policies. Results None of the six cities had implemented comprehensive smoke free policies. Support for comprehensive smoke free policies in workplaces, restaurants and bars was relatively lower compared to hospitals, schools, and public transport vehicles. Support for comprehensive smoke free policies in workplaces, restaurants and bars were associated with knowledge about the adverse health effects of secondhand smoke (for workplaces OR=1.27, 95%CI: 1.08~1.49; for restaurants and bars OR=1.55, 95%CI: 1.17~2.05). Conclusion More comprehensive smoke free policies are needed in the 6 cities. To improve support for comprehensive smoke free policies, public knowledge about the adverse health effects of secondhand smoke needs to be strengthened.

Aim To construct a lentiviral low expres-sion of miR-139-5 p vector and validate its expression efficiency in H9c2 cells. Method Target sequence was designed according to the sequence of rat miR-139-5p. Oligonucleotide duplex was synthesized and cloned into the lentiviral vector pGC-LV. The recombi-nant lentiviral vector, pHelper 1. 0, and pHelper 2. 0 were co-transfected into 293T cells, packaging virus. Then H9 c2 cells were infected with the supernatant containing lentiviral particles, and its infection effi-ciency and miR-139-5 p expression were determined by fluorescent microscope and real-time quantitative PCR, respectively. Results A lentiviral low expression of miR-139-5p vector was successfully constructed. The infection efficiency in H9c2 cells reached over 95%, and the relative expression of miR-139-5p was significantly down-regulated. Conclusion The lentiviral low expression of miR-139-5p vector is successfully constructed, and the expression of miR-139-5p in infected H9c2 cells is inhibited effectively.

ObjectiveTo study the characteristic of apoptosis and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS),as well as relation between them after spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats.Methods84 adult SD rats were randomly divided into three groups,and made into mild,moderate and severe acute SCI models.The rats were killed at 4h,8h,1d,3d,7d,14d and 21d after surgery.The histopathology changes in spinal cord tissue were observed with HE staining microscopic examination.The expression of iNOS was determined by immunohistochemistry and the apoptosis was labeled by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL).ResultsThe histopathology changes in spinal cord tissue deteriorated with increasing in injury degree.A little iNOS immunoreactivity (iNOS-IR) was detected in nerve cells,gliocytes,ependymocytes and blood vessel endotheliocytes of normal and vertebra shelf operated controls,increasing at 8 h, and in flood tide in 7 d. The expression of Bax and the rates of TUNEL positive cells were similar with that of iNOS after SCI. There was positive correlation between expression of iNOS and degree of primary SCI ,apoptosis index(r=0.414,P<0.01;r=0.854,P<0.01).Conclusions Expression of iNOS and Bax increase and a large number of TUNEL positive cells present after SCI in rats. There is positive correlation between expression of iNOS and degree of primary SCI,apoptosis index.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Chinese medicine and pharmacy (CMP) on the mortality of senile HIV/AIDS patients as adjunctive therapy.

METHODSHIV/AIDS patients of a certain rural area of Hanna Province, who were recruited in national CMP HIV treatment trial program (NTCMTP) in 2004, were enrolled as the CMP treatment group. HIV/AIDS patients in the same village without recruiting in NTCMTP were enrolled as the non-CMP treatment group. Data related to subjects were collected from the database of NTCMTP and National HAART Reporting System. Multiple regression analysis under Cox proportional hazard model was applied to examine the risk factors for death of senile HIV/AIDS patients.

RESULTSA total of 436 HIV/AIDS were enrolled in this study, 204 in the CMP treatment group and 232 in the non-CMP treatment group. There were 70 AIDS-relative deaths in the CMP treatment group, with 8-year mortality rate of 37.74%. There were 111 AIDS-relative deaths in the non-CMP treatment group, with 8-year mortality rate of 48.34%. The 8-year mortality rate was higher in the non-CMP treatment group than in the CMP treatment group (chi2 = 5.136, P < 0.05). Results of univariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed the hazard ratio in the non-CMP treatment group was 1.41 times that of the CMP treatment group (P < 0.05). Result of multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed the hazard ratio in the non-CMP treatment group was 1.44 times that of the CMP treatment group (P < 0.05). Besides, gender and marital conditions were significantly associated with death of HIV/AIDS patients.

CONCLUSIONCMP treatment was favorable to lower the mortality rate of senile HIV/AIDS patients, and its objective evaluation awaits for further prospective study.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; drug therapy ; mortality ; Alzheimer Disease ; therapy ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; Communicable Diseases ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; HIV Infections ; drug therapy ; mortality ; Humans ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors

vides com-parable efficacy with medical castration in regard of decreasing PSA level and reducing prostate vol-ume. It is a safe and well tolerated treatment option as well.

In traditional clinical application, Coptidis Rhizome and Evodiae Fructus have been combined to treat various stomach heat and cold syndromes, gastritis, gastric ulcer and the like. With the application of modem instruments and the development of molecular pharmacologic theory, their chemical constituents and pharmacological effects have been sufficiently studied. In this paper, literatures from Pubmed were adopted, with particular emphasis on findings of international counterparts and studies on compatibility of main chemical components in Coptidis Rhizoma and Evodiae Fructus, in order to elaborate on the scientific comparability of Coptidis Rhizoma and Evodiae Fructus through chemical analysis, and pharmacological and biopharmaceutics studies and introduce the future development trend of the studies.
Animals ; Drug Interactions ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Evodia ; chemistry ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Humans ; Ranunculaceae ; chemistry ; Rhizome ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the results of using the modified Jaslow technique to treat the recurent lumbar disc herniation.

METHODSFrom January 2002 to December 2008,62 patients with recurrent lumbar disc herniation were treated with a modified Jaslow technique. There were 42 males and 20 females with an average age of 53.6 years old, ranging from 36 to 70 years. The primary surgical procedures were enlarged fenestration in 20 cases, unilateral semi-laminectomy in 20 cases, bilateral semi-laminectomy in 8 cases and total-laminectomy in 14 cases. The procedures were performed at L3.4 level in 2 cases, L4.5 in 32 cases, L5S1 in 15 cases, L3.4-L4.5 in 3 cases and L4.5-L5S1 in 10 cases respectively. The clinical symptoms included low back pain and radicular pain. Pre-and postoperative JOA score (including subjective symptoms, self-care ability and pain), ratio of disc height and the fusion condition of the involved segments were applied to assess clinical outcome.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up for 1 to 5 years (averaged 3 years). The space height ratio increased from (62.5 +/- 10.4)% to (90.5 +/- 10.3)%, fusion rate was 96.8% (60/62) at the last follow-up. Mean JOA score was (10.42 +/- 2.50) preoperative, improved to (24.26 +/- 2.35) at last follow-up (P < 0.001). The clinic results was excellent in 39 cases, good in 14, fair in 9.

CONCLUSIONThe modified Jaslow technique was a good alternative method for the treantment of recurent lumbar disc herniation with complete decompression, solid interbody fusion and satisfactory clinical result.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; surgery ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Fusion ; methods

AIM: To observe the effect of exogenous androgen responsive element decoy on the promoter of prostate specific antigen (PSA) and the growth of LNCaP cells for searching the possibility of gene therapy for prostate cancer. METHODS: Firstly, pGL3 - PSA luciferase expression vector containing 640bp - promoter fragment of PSA gene was constructed. Then, a 23 -mer phosphorothioated ARE decoy based on the deduced ARE sequence at the promoter region of PSA gene was synthesized. pGL3 - PSA and ARE decoy DNA were cotransfected into PC3 - M cell by lipofectamineTM 2000. Through detecting the activity of luciferase, the effect of ARE decoy on the promoter of PSA was studied. Then the ARE decoy DNA was transfected into LNCaP cells. The effect of decoy DNA on the proliferation of LNCaP cells was examined by using MTT assay. The effects of apoptosis were detected by phase contrast microscopy, DNA agrose gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry. Meanwhile, the nuclear extract was prepared from LNCaP cells and DNA - protein interactions were examined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). RESULTS: The reporter assay showed that the aetivity of luciferase was significantly reduced in the ARE decoy - transfected cells, bnt not in the cells transfected with the control decoy. EMSA demonstrated specific binding of the ARE decoy to androgen receptor. The growth of LNCaP was remarkably inhibited and apoptotic morphological changes as well as DNA fragmentation were observed in the ARE decoy- transfected cells. The rate of apoptosis was 22.4% detected by FCM. CONCLUSION: The ARE decoy is capable of inhibiting the promoter of PSA gene and inducing the apoptosis in prostate cancer cells. It may become a potential therapeutic tool for prostate cancers.

Many bioactive peptides from neural and endocrine tissue are amidated at C-terminals,which is essential for their activities.The ?-amide comes from post-translational modification that is catalyzed by ?-AE (?-amidating enzyme) or PAM (pepdilylglycine ?-amidating monooxygenase).The gene encoding ?-AE was amplified with PCR and cloned into the plasmid pET-30a.After the recombinant plasmid pET-A was transformed into E.coli BL21,the ?-AE was expressed and purified by the Ni2+affinity chromatography,which has the ability catalyzing Dns-Tyr-Val-Gly to Dns-Tyr-Val-NH2.It identified that the recombinant protein producing by E.coli BL21 is ?-AE,which will benefit for studies of amidation at the C-terminals of peptides.

In recent years, non-viral gene vectors have attracted great attention for efficient gene delivery due to the advantages, including low toxicity, low immunogenicity and simple preparation. Polyethylenimine (PEI) is one of the typical non-viral gene carriers that have been widely utilized for gene delivery owing to its superior capabilities in gene compression and buffering capacity. This article discusses the processes of gene delivery and the barriers of PEI-based carrier during the gene delivery, such as low biocompatibility, cytotoxicity, lack of specific targeting and insufficient gene release, etc. Therefore, we summarize the multiple approaches for the modifications of PEI in terms of improved biocompatibility, degradability, specific targeting and buffering capacity. Furthermore, we also review on the recent impressive progresses of smart stimuli-responsive PEI carriers, including endogenous stimuli (pH, reactive oxygen species, glutathione, biomolecular, etc), exogenous stimuli (light, temperature, magnetic field, etc) and dual-responsive strategies, which might provide guidance for the development of more efficient and safer non-viral gene vectors.