T,P=0.008; Genotype:P=0.031)of DISC1 gene were significantly associated with schizophrenia.The haplotypes constructed by these two markers were significantly associated with schizophrenia,such as AT(?2=7.065,P=0.008,OR=1.42,95%CI=1.10~1.83)and GA(?2=6.009,P=0.014,OR=0.80,95%CI=0.68~0.96).When the subjects examined with the positive and negative syndrome scale(PANSS),the risk haplotype AT was not significantly correlated with positive,negative,excitement,depression and cognitive impairment factors of PANSS. Conclusion:These findings provide further evidence for DISC1 as a predisposing gene involved in schizophrenia in the Chinese Han Population.However,no positive association is found between DISC1 polymorphisms with schizophrenia clinical symptoms.

Objective To investigate the early clinical outcome of peripheral cutting balloon(PCB) in the management of peripheral vessel stenosis.Methods Thirteen patients with peripheral limb vessel stenosis, in which 4 stenoses in hemodialysis access and 9 at lower limb arteries,underwent angioplasty by PCB.For multiple stenosis in the same vessel,the distal one should be expanded firstly.The balloon pressure was controlled in the range of 8 atm to 10 atm(1 atm=10.108 kPa).All the patient were given continuous anticoagulant therapy after the procedure.Results All the procedure were carried out successfully on the 13 patients,and no serious complications occured.The symptoms did not recur in all patients after the procedure.The 5 months' follow-up angiography proved that no restenosis occurred in one patient with previous stenosis at the hemodialysis access.Conclusion The angioplasty with PCB was a safe and reliable procedure in management of the peripheral limb vessel stenosis.The early outcome is satisfying.

Objective To investigate the effect of prolonged stroboscopic illumination exposure on the growth of eyeball of guinea pig. Methods Thirty 2-week-old guinea pigs were randomized into three groups ( n=10 for each) . Two strobe-reared groups were raised with 20 Hz sinusoidal and 20 Hz square wave stroboscopic illumination, respectively. The control group received usual light illumination. The illumination intensity was 500 lux. All animals underwent refraction and biometric measurements prior to and after 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of treatment. Finally, flash electroretinograms were com-pared, and retinal microstructures were examined. Results There was a significant correlation between refractive errors and axial eye elongation, and myopia increasing was observed with eye elongation. After 8 weeks of treatment, the animals raised in 20 Hz sinusoidal and 20 Hz square wave stroboscopic illumination were (-0. 75 ± 0. 79)D and (-1. 50 ± 0. 91) D more myopic than the group raised in continuous illumination. The implicit time of the a-wave was delayed by 3. 8 and 7. 9 ms, respectively. No significant difference was found in retinal ultrastructures among the three groups. Conclusions Chronic exposure to 20 Hz sinusoidal or square wave stroboscopic illumination alters the emmetropization of the guinea pig eye to some extent.

Objective To know the condition and feature of water-born endemic arsenism in Shaanxi province, and to provide scientific evidences for prevention and treatment of the disease. Methods In 2009, 8 villages of Duhe, Miaogou, Sanhe, Caiyuan in Shanyang county and Shuanglong, Guangming, Donghekou in Zhen'an county and Guojiawan in Mian county as monitoring sites from both the found water-born arsenic poisoning areas and potential ones of drinking water arsenic ＞ 0.15 mg/L were selected. The disease conditions of residents who lived for more than six months of continuous residence, were investigated according to "Endemic Arsenism Diagnostic Criteria" (WS/T 211-2001 ) and arsenic level in the drinking water were determined. Results Seven thousand six hundred and ninety-three individuals were investigated and 612 cases of arsenism were diagnosed in the 8 villages, the prevalence rate was 7.96%(612/7693). Mild patients accounted for 33.17%(203/612), moderate patients accounted for 50.16%(307/612), and severe patients accounted for 16.67%(102/612). The detection rate for male was 9.99%(408/4085), for female was 5.65%(204/3608), the former was higher than the latter(x2 = 49.138,P ＜ 0.01 ). The older the age was, the higher the rate was(x2 = 770.708, P ＜ 0.01 ). Main clinical manifestation of the patients was depigmentation and pigmentation in skin. Patients with one symptom accounted for 43.30% (265/612), with two symptoms accounted for 56.70% (347/612). Three hundred and seventy drinking water samples were detected, the median of arsenism content was 0.005 mg/L, ranged 0 - 1.660 mg/L. The over-limit rate of arsenic level in the drinking water were 11.62% (43/370). Conclusion Water-born endemic arsenism is mildly prevailing in Shaanxi province, however, great attention should be given to control and monitoring of the disease.

Objective To investigate the current situation of endemic fluorosis associated with drinking water in Shaanxi province in 2008, providing prevention and control work with scientific evidence. Methods According to data of drinking water endemic fluorosis in Shaanxi, 15 counties in Yulin, Weinan and Xianyang city were divided into mild, moderate and severe diseased areas according to fuoride level in the drinking water or the fluorosis severity, and 12,39,45 endemic fluorosis villages were selected respectively from each area. Dental fluorosis for all the children aged 8 - 12 years old and clinical skeletal fluorosis for the people over the age of 16 were examined. In mild, moderate and severe areas, 30% of the survey villages received X-ray to examine skeletal fuorosis. Five water samples were collected from villages with unimproved water respectively from the east, the west, the south, the north, the middle; if there was less than 5 that could be sampled, then all were collected, moreover 3 peripheral and 1 central water samples were collected from villages with improved water. Also in mild, moderate and severe illness areas, 50% of the surveyed villages were selected; in each village, 30 urine samples of the children aged 8 - 12 were collected, 6 portions in each age group. If Less than 30 children in all the age groups or less than 6 in each age group, all their urine samples were collected to determine fluoride. Results Totally 3652 children aged 8 - 12 years old were examined and 1930 cases of dental fluorosis were diagnosed, the rate was 52.85% and the index was 1.22. The rates in Dinghian, Jingbian and Pucheng village were higher, being 90.43% (170/188) ,82.89%(126/152),80.65% (325/403) respectively. A total of 40 543 adults over the age of 16 were examined and 5935 cases of skeletal fluorosis were diagnosed, in a rate of 14.64%. The rates of the mild, moderate, severe skeletal fluorosis were respectively 9.17%(3717/40 543),4.36%(1769/40 543),1.11%(449/40 543).All 706 adults were taken X-ray films.and 280 cases of positive change were diagnosed,the positive rate was 39.66%. The rates of the mild,moderate,severe change were respectively 17.28%(122/706),17.00%(120/706),5.38%(38/706).All 427 water samples were collected,the fluoride content waS(2.22±1.41)ms/L,and the abnormal rate was 85.01%(363/427).All 1393 portions of urine sample were collected in children and the median of fuoride was 2.37 mg/L Conclusions The endemic fluorosis associated with drinking water is still comparatively serious in Shaanxi.The preventive measures for improving water must be improved.

Objective To investigate the status of the disease of the fluorosis and arsenism caused by coal-burning in Ankang city of Shaanxi. Methods Nine survey spots were chosen to carry out the epidemiological investigation of adult skeletal fluorosis and arsenism in the coal-polluted areas of Ankang, respectively using Determination of Fluorine in Coal (GB/T 4633-1997) to determine the coal fluorine and using hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrophotometry(HCAFS) to determine coal arsenic. The diagnose of the adult skeletal fluorosis followed the Diagnosis of Clinical Classification for Endemic Skeletal Fluorosis Standard(GB 16396-1996), that of arsenism using Standard of Diagnosis for Endemic Arsensim (WS/T 211-2001). Results Totally 569 adults were investigated over the age of 16, among which 121 cases were skeletal fluorosis, with a total detection rate of 21.27%. Four cases of II degree and higher skeletal fluorosis patients were identified, accounting for 0.70% of the number of subjects. One hundred and thirty-two cases of arsenic poisonin were detected, in a rate of 23.20%. Ninety-five patients were identified with moderate or severe arsenic poisoning, accounting for 16.69% of subjects. A positive correlation was found between the detection rates of the skeletal fluorosis and the arsenism(r = 0.816, P < 0.01), as well as between the detection rate of skeletal fluorosis and fluoride content of coal(r = 0.775, P < 0.05). The detection rate of arsenism and arsenic content of coal also had close relationship (r = 0.761, P < 0.05). The detection rate of skeletal fluorosis in the group aged 40 - ,50 - , and 60 - [27.20%(34/125) ,29.27%(36/123), 28.13%(36/128)] was increased, compared the group of less than 40 years age[7.77%( 15/193), X~2 = 21.969,25.648,23.856,P<0.01].For the detection rate of arsenism,male[33.67%(99/294)]was obviously higher than female[12.00%(33/275),)(X~2=37.162,P<0.01].Conclusions A high detection rate of fhorosis is correlated with arsenic poisoning,but the probability of the two diseases simultaneously occurred in a person is not high.In this polluted area.when fluoride accumulates to a certain level as in aduh,the detection rates no longer varies obviously;however,that of arsenism increases along with the age.

Objective To explore the biological functions of retinoic acid-inducible gene-I(RIG-I) in vivo through phenotype analysis of RIG-I knockout mice. Methods The gene expression of RIG-Ⅰ in various tissues of mice was examined with Northern blotting and semi-quantitative RT-PCR.The phenotypes observed included body weight measurement,differential count of peripheral blood cells,metabolic parameters measurement and histopathologic examination. ResultsRIG-Ⅰ expressed in various tissues of mice with different levels.No gross developmental abnormalities and expected maturation arrest in granulocytic differentiation were observed in RIG-Ⅰ knockout mice.However,RIG-Ⅰ knockout mice exhibited an unexpected increase in the ratios of neutrophiles to lymphocytes in peripheral blood and increased susceptibility to bacteria infection. Conclusion RIG-Ⅰ may play an important role in immune regulation in mice.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on U937 cell growth and its mechanism.

METHODSCell cycle was detected by flow cytometry (FCM), expressions of cell cycle associated protein and the p27 related protein were detected by Western blot. The binding of P27 and Skp2 was detected by immunoprecipitation.

RESULTSFCM displayed that ATRA could inhibit the proliferation of U937 cells. At 72 h on 1 micromol/L ATRA treatment, 72% of the cells were arrested at G0/G1 phase. Western blot displayed that ATRA could decrease the expression of cyclin A, up-regulate the expression of p21 and p27, and down-regulate the expression of p27 related proteins Skp2. p27 could bind with Skp2 in U937 cells as detected by immunoprecipitation.

CONCLUSIONATRA may arrest the proliferation of U937 cells through the reduction of Skp2 expression, and finally the induction of the accumulation of p27.

Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 ; metabolism ; Humans ; S-Phase Kinase-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; Tretinoin ; pharmacology ; U937 Cells

Adult ; Aneurysm, False ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Heart Ventricles ; pathology ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo investigate the biomechanical effect of different volume, distribution and leakage to adjacent disc of bone cement on the adjacent vertebral body by three-dimensional osteoporosis finite element model of lumbar.

METHODSL(4)-L(5) motion segment data of the cadaver of an old man who had no abnormal findings on roentgenograms were obtained from computed tomography (CT) scans. Three-dimensional model of L(4)-L(5) was established with Mimics software, and finite element model of L(4)-L(5) functional spinal unit (FSU) was established by Ansys 7.0 software. The effect of different loading conditions and distribution of bone cement after vertebroplasty on the adjacent vertebral body was investigated.

RESULTSThis study presented a validated finite element model of L(4)-L(5) FSU with a simulated vertebroplasty augmentation to predict stresses and strains of adjacent untreated vertebral bodies. The findings from this FSU study suggested the endplate and disc stress of the adjacent vertebral body was not influenced by filling volume of bone cement but unipedicle injection and leakage to the disc of bone cement could concentrate the stress of adjacent endplate.

CONCLUSIONSAsymmetric distributions and leakage of cement into intervertebral disc can improve the stress of endplate in adjacent vertebral body. These results suggest that optimal biomechanical configuration should have symmetric placement and avoid leakage of cement in operation.

Bone Cements ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; Finite Element Analysis ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Polymethyl Methacrylate ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; Stress, Mechanical