BACKGROUND: The emphasis for preventing and treating cardiovascular diseases is to detect correlated risk factors. Among those accepted risk factors, whether serum uric acid (SUA) plays an independent role in the development of diseases is unknown.OBJECTIVE: To study SUA distribution and the prevalence of hyperuricemia, in middle-aged and elderly residents from the conjoining area between city and countryside in Guangzhou, and its association with other cardiovascular disease risk factors.DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.SETTING: Department of Cardiovascular internal medicine, Prevention and Health department, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University.PARTICIPANTS: An investigation on the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases was carriedout among total 890 residents living at the conjoining area between city and countryside in Guangzhou in December 2002. A total of 642 persons including 152 men and 490 women who were above 55years and had complete data were involved, and all of them understood and agreed to the investigation.the-spot investigation. Systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, body height and body mass were measured, and then body mass index [body mass (kg)/body height (m)2] was calculated. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride and total cholesterol were measured by endpoint method; SUA was measured by uricolase turbidimetric method.were defined as hyperuricemia. Diagnosis of hypertension was made according to the WHO/ISH 1999 Prevention and Cure Guidelines of Hypertension. Various kinds of dyslipidemia were diagnosed based on Prevention and Cure suggestions of dyslipidemia for Chinese (1997). Obesity was defined, according to 2002 International Obesity Special Working Group'skewness distribution and described by Median ± quartile. Spearson correlation analysis was used to determine the dependability between SUA and other selected cardiovascular risk factors. Binary Logistic regression analysis was done for further analysis.SUA and other cardiovascular risk factors.terolemia and hypertriglyceridemia in men and women were 30.3%, 30.8%;were (357.30±66.77) and (299.80±59.64) μmol/L respectively. SUA level was positive correlated with age in women (r=0.18, P ＜ 0.01), but was not of SUA in men were 293.53, 357.30, 427.08 (μmol/L), and in women were 247.60, 299.80, 366.88 (μmol/L). Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglyceride, blood pressure and body mass index were positively associated with SUA, while high-density lipoprootein cholesteral was negtive correlated with SUA. In both men and women, triglyceride, total cholesterol, systolic blood pressure and body mass index were positively correlated with SUA significantly (r=0.09-0.35, P ＜ 0.05-0.01), but highdensity lipoprotein cholesterol was negatively correlated with SUA significantly (r=-0.21, -0.25, P ＜ 0.05, 0.01); diastolic blood pressure in men and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in women were positively correincluded to Logistic regression equation were age, body mass index and triglyceride [OR (95%CI): 1.048 (1.023-1.073), P=0.000; OR (95%CI): 1.156(1.096-1.219), P=0.000; OR (95%CI): 1.436 (1.224-1.684), P=0.000].uricemia is correlated with hypertension and various kinds of dyslipidemia.The elevation of SUA may be an important marker of cardiovascular dismay affect SUA mostly, and increase the risk for hyperuricemia.

To summarize the present situation of research on amylolytic lactic acid bacteria and its amylase,and the fermentation technology of amylolytic lactic acid bacteria.The amylolytic lactic acid bacteria have the ability of secreting amylase,can direct ferment starchy material into lactic acid without hydrolysising processes,simplify the production process,and saving the equipment investment,thereby,decrease the cost of production.Amylolytic lactic acid bacteria isolated from traditional fermented food,or from organic waste and kitchen waste.The mechanism of direct utilize starch raw materials by the amylolytic lactic acid bacteria were introduced,the fermentation technology of amylolytic lactic acid bacteria were compared.Meanwhile it was pointed out that through mutation breeding and genetic engineering methods gain the potent amylolytic lactic acid bacteria,and use the advanced fermentation and separation technology can improve the productivity of lactic acid.

AIM:To clone the SPA gene promoter and construct its luciferase report vector of SPA gene and to study its transcriptional targeting activity.METHODS:① The SPA gene sequence was acquired from GenBank,of which the upstream was analyzed according to bioinformatics.The results showed that the upstream region of SPA gene sequence about 163bp has the function of promoter.② The SPA gene promoter fragment was generated by polymerase chain reaction and then subcloned into the multiple clone site(MCS)of luciferase report gene vector pGL3-basic to generate the recombined plasmid pGL3-SPA.This fragment was also subcloned into pGL3-control to generate recombined plasmid pGL3-SPA-enhancer by replacing its primary SV40 promoter.③ pGL3-SPA,pGL3-SPA-enhancer,pGL3-control,pGL3-basic were cotransfected with pRL-TK into A549 cells and H441 cells.The luciferase activities were measured by dual luciferase reportor(DLR)system.RESULTS:Sequencing and restricted digestive results showed that SPA gene promoter was successfully cloned and identified,and also correctly subcloned into plasmid pGL3-basic and pGL3-control to construct its luciferase report plasmid pGL3-SPA and pGL3-SPA-enhancer,respectively.The transcriptional activity was high in H441 cells.CONCLUSION:The luciferase report system of SPA gene promoter is successfully constructed with high transcriptional activity.

Objective To control residual DNA by optimizing methodology during the production of rabies vaccine using Vero cells as a vector .Methods The antigen recovery rate was assessed by linked immunosorbent assay-sandwich technique while the residual DNA was detected by DNA probe hybridization method .Antigen recovery and removal of DNA were the main indexes for evaluateing ultrafiltration , the vital part of rabies vaccine production .Three key factors in ultrafiltration were assessed: selection of membrane packages , ultrafiltration pressure and the concentration ratio .Then protamine was used to pretreat ultrafiltrates .Based on the two indicators mentioned above , the effect of protamine pretreat-ment on the ultrafiltrate was evaluated .Results and Conclusion The optimum condition of ultrafiltration was obtained on the basis of the general antigen recovery rate , DNA removal rate and actual production .The primary parameters of ultrafil-tration were as follows:7.5 ×105 ultrafiltration membrane packages, 20 times concentrated, 15 psi ultrafiltration pressure. After pretreatment with protamine , ultrafiltration has proved to be a molecular sieve in intercepting DNA ,while protamine can tangle the fragmented DNA and form a larger molecular segment , which is believed to be more conducive to ultrafiltra-tion interception .

Objective To determine prevalence of dementia in diabetics and non-diabetics, and in different age and gender groups. Methods A case-control study was conducted among participants aged 50 and over in Jing' an temple community in Shanghai. Subjects in diabetics group were matched to non-diabetics groups for age and sex with 1:1 matching. Personal information and case history were collected through questionnaire. The subjects were screened for dementia using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Subjects that screened positively (indicated by an MMSE score below 19, 21 and 24 among those with illiteracy, elementary school and above junior middle school education, respectively) were subsequently examined by a series of neuropsychological tests. Based on all available information, a diagnosis of dementia was defined according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ( DSM )-Ⅳ criteria Results Prevalence of dementia of 4. 75% (23/484, 95% CI: 3. 03%-7.04%) in diabetics was higher than that of 2. 24% (11/490,95% CI: 1.13% -3.98%) in non-diabetics (X~2 = 4.54, P=0.03).Prevalence of dementia among diabetics in age groups of 60-69, 70-79 and 80 and above was 1.94% (2/103), 4. 43 % (9/203) and 14.12% (12/85, trend X~2 =18.04, P <0.01), and in non-diabetics was 1.43% (2/140), 2. 86% (6/210) and 5.00% (3/60, trend X~2 = 4.58, P=0.03), respectively.Prevalence of dementia among female and male in diabetics was 6.55% (19/299) and 2.06% (4/194) (X~2 = 5.18, P = 0.02), respectively, and in non-diabetics was 3.01% (9/299) and 1.05% (2/191).Conclusions Prevalence of dementia is significantly higher in diabetics than in non-diabetics, higher in women than men, and increases as age rises.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Cerebral Cortex ; cytology ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Neurons ; drug effects ; Nickel ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

In order to confirm the alteration and significance of cigarette smoke exposure on SP-A in rats, 20 Wistar rats were assigned randomly to two groups: an N group (n=10), and an S group (n=10). The ultra-structural change was observed by electron microscopy. The number of cells positive for SPA was by immunohistochemically measured. The mRNA expression in the lung tissues was determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The number of cells positive for SPA of the S group (0.52 +/- 0.05) was lower than that of the N group (0.72+/-0.06) (P<0.05). The levels of mRNA of SPA in the lung tissues of the S group (0.3522+/-0.0512) was significantly lower than that of the N group (0.4432+/-0.05628) (P<0.05). It is concluded that cigarette smoke alone decreased the level of SP-A and that might have an important effect on surfactant metabolism and the host defense functions of surfactant in the peripheral airways, which might play a crucial role in the development of chronic obstructive lung disease.
Gene Expression Regulation ; Immunohistochemistry/methods ; Lung/metabolism ; Microscopy, Electron ; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A/*biosynthesis ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism ; Rats, Wistar ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Smoking/*adverse effects ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution/*adverse effects

Xiaoyao pills are a famous traditional Chinese medicine collected in Welfare Pharmacy, which is a classic prescription for treating liver depression and spleen deficiency. However, its composition is complex. In order to better control the quality of Xiaoyao pills, in this study, HPLC-ion-trap time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-IT-TOF/MS) was used to identify the main ingredients of Xiaoyao pills, paeoniflorin, albiflorin, glycyrrhizic acid, saikosaponin A and saikosaponin B2. Then a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was developed for simultaneous determination and quantification of the main compounds. Fragmentation pathways of five active components were obtained. The method was validated. Five active ingredients in Xiaoyao pills had a good linear relationship, and the values of RSD (%) of repeatability were all less than 5%, the recovery ranges were between 90% and 115%, and the values of RSD (%) of each substance were less than 10% after the sample solution is placed for 24 hours. Three batches of Xiaoyao pills (concentrated pellets) and two batches of Xiaoyao pills (water pellets) were determined, the contents of paeoniflorin in concentrated pills were more than 4.0 mg·g^-1, and those in water pills were more than 2.5 mg·g^-1, which was accordance with Chinese Pharmacopoeia. However, other compounds behave differently. This method has high sensitivity and reliable measurement results, which provides basis for quality control of Xiaoyao pills and material basis for pharmacology research.

OBJECTIVETo explore the inhibitory effect of Fuzheng Yiliu Granule (FYG) on growth and apoptosis of H22 tumor cell, and expressions of p53 and Caspase-3 gene.

METHODSThe tumor inhibitory rate of FYG on H22 tumor cell line was observed in vivo, cell apoptosis rate and cell cycle were determined by flow cytometry (FCM), and expressions of wild type p53 and Capase-3 mRNA were determined by RT-PCR.

RESULTSFYG could inhibit the growth of H22 tumor cell at the dose of 12g/kg, 24g/kg, the maximal inhibitory rate up to 51.24% (P < 0.01). By FCM, it was shown that FYG could significantly enhance apoptosis rate of cell line H22, with the peak reached 15.84% (P < 0.01), and cause the tumor cell cycle being blocked at G0/G1 phase, with decrease of cells in S phase. RT-PCR illustrated that FYG could significantly up-regulate the level of p53 and Caspase-3 mRNA expression.

CONCLUSIONFYG can significantly inhibit the growth of tumor cell in mice, its anti-tumor mechanisms may relate to the cell apoptosis induction, cell cycle regulation and wild type p53 and capase-3 gene expression enhancing.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Caspase 3 ; Caspases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Random Allocation ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate a technique for decreasing the tension of the nasal floor during the procedures of repairing complete clef lip.

METHODSWith the designation of an inferior turbinate mucosal flap combined with an oral mucosal flap in the splitting side, the tension was effectively decreased and the nasal floor was closed easily. Eighteen patients was selected for the treatment with this technique since 2000. The follow-ups were 10 to 24 months.

RESULTSAll of the patients showed wound healing well with the significant improvement in the donor site.

CONCLUSIONThe above mentioned technique may effectively decrease the tension and be used to close the nasal floor safely. It could also reduce the incidence of the complications.

Cleft Lip ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Nasal Mucosa ; blood supply ; surgery ; Reproducibility of Results ; Surgical Flaps ; supply & distribution ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; methods ; Treatment Outcome