OBJECTIVETo study the potential effect of gene-environment interaction between glutathione S-transferase T1 (GSTT1) and serum organochlorines residues on the risk of breast cancer in women, in China.

METHODS70 newly diagnosed female breast cancer patients and 30 controls from September 2006 to October 2007 were interviewed using the same questionnaire to obtain information regarding exposure to those risks. Organochlorine residues level in serum was measured by gas chromatography (GC). Genotypes of GSTT1 polymorphisms were analyzed by multiplex allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Interaction indexes (gamma) were calculated to determine the type of gene-environment interaction.

RESULTSAfter adjusting the confounding factors, results showed that interaction existed in genetic polymorphisms of GSTT1 and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT)/hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) residues, with interaction indexes (gamma) value as 1.352 and 1.528.

CONCLUSIONGenetic and environmental hazard factors had a co-effect on the development of breast cancer while genetic polymorphisms of GSTT1 and DDT/HCH expressed an interaction to breast cancer.

Breast Neoplasms ; blood ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Glutathione Transferase ; genetics ; Humans ; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated ; blood ; Lindane ; blood ; Pesticide Residues ; blood ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Risk Factors

AIM:To observe the antiulcer effect of butyric acid and hydrogen , the main metabolites of Clos-tridium butyricum (C.butyricum), and to explore the underlying mechanism .METHODS: The mouse model of acute gastric mucosal lesion was prepared by gavage with ethanol .The mice were randomly divided into 4 groups:normal group , model group , butyric acid group and hydrogen group .The mice in butyric acid group and hydrogen group were given buty-rate and hydrogen prior to model establishment , respectively .Macroscopic observation of the pathological changes in gastric tissues was performed to evaluate the effect of the 2 metabolites of C.butyricum.Meanwhile, the mRNA expression levels of inflammatory factors, such as IL-12, RAN1 and MCP-1, were determined by RT-qPCR.The expression levels of apopto-sis-related proteins Bcl-2 and Bax were detected by immunohistochemical staining .RESULTS:The macroscopic observa-tion found that butyrate , not hydrogen , protected gastric mucosa .HE staining also showed that butyrate significantly attenu-ated the pathological damage of the gastric mucosa induced by ethanol .Compared with model group , the mRNA levels of inflammatory factors IL-12, RAN1 and MCP-1 in butyrate group significantly decreased (P<0.01).In butyrate group, the protein level of Bax was obviously decreased compared with model group (P<0.01), while the protein level of Bcl-2 was significantly increased ( P<0.01 ) .CONCLUSION: The gastric mucosa protective metabolite of C.butyricum may be butyric acid , not hydrogen .Butyric acid protects the gastric mucosa against ethanol-induced lesion by inhibiting the inflam- mation and reducing the expression ratio of Bax/Bcl-2.

BACKGROUNDOptical Quality Analysis System II (OQAS, Visiometrics, Terrassa, Spain) that uses double-pass (DP) technique is the only commercially available device that allows objective measurement of ocular retinal image quality. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of spectacle lenses on the ocular optical quality parameters and the validity of the optometer within OQAS.

METHODSSeventy eyes of healthy volunteers were enrolled. Optical quality measurements were performed using OQAS with an artificial pupil diameter of 4.0 mm. Three consecutive measurements were obtained from spectacle correction corresponding to subjective refraction and from the OQAS built-in optometer separately. The modulation transfer function cutoff frequency, the Strehl ratio, the width of the point spread function (PSF) at 10% of its maximal height (PSF10), and the width of the PSF at 50% of its maximal height (PSF50) were analyzed.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference in any of the parameters between the spectacle correction and the optometer correction (all P > 0.05, paired t-test). A good agreement was found between both the methods and a good intraobserver repeatability in both the correction methods. Difference in best focus between two methods was the only parameter associated significantly with optical quality parameter differences. Best focus difference, built-in optometer correction with or without external cylindrical lens, and age were associated significantly with PSF10 difference. No linear correlation between refractive status and optical quality measurement difference was observed. A hyperopic bias (best focus difference of (0.50 ± 0.44) D) and a relatively better optical quality using spectacle correction in high myopia group were found.

CONCLUSIONSOQAS based on DP system is a clinically reliable instrument. In patients with high myopia, measurements using built-in optometer correction should be considered and interpreted with caution.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Refraction, Ocular ; Visual Acuity ; physiology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the epidemiology of pediatric human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in six provinces of China.

METHODSA cross-sectional study was conducted in six provinces with the highest HIV prevalence. Surveys on demographics and HIV-related questions (transmission modes, time of diagnosis, clinical stage, laboratory test) were distributed to clinicians in these provinces. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were performed on the completed surveys.

RESULTSSurvey results of 650 children [405 males and 245 females; average age: (7.9 +/- 3.2) years] were eligible for analysis. The interval between possible transmission and diagnosis was (7.1 +/- 3.2) years. The location distribution was as follows: 570 cases (87.7%) in Henan Province, 23 cases (3.5%) in Guangxi Province, 21 cases (3.2%) in Yunnan Province, 19 cases (2.9%) in Hubei Province, 10 cases (1.5%) in Anhui Province, and 7 cases (1.1%) in Shanxi Province. Transmission routes included mother-to-child transmission (75.1%), blood transfusion/ plasma donation (15.7 %), and injecting drug use (IDU, 0.5%). Former plasma donation (FPD) was the main transmission route in some provinces (Henan, Shanxi, Hubei, and Anhui), while IDU was the main transmission route in other provinces (Guangxi and Yunnan). The average age in the FPD provinces was significantly higher than that in IDU provinces [(8.1 +/- 3.2) vs. (5.4 +/- 2.2) years, P <0.001]. Among 178 patients in all six provinces who required treatment (on the basis of CD4 count or WHO staging), 133 (74.7%) did not receive treatment and 45 (25.3%) received antiretroviral therapy.

CONCLUSIONMother-to-child transmission is the main transmission mode in pediatric patients. Efforts should be made to strengthen the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric HIV/AIDS patients.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; HIV Infections ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; therapy ; transmission ; Humans ; Infant ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ; Male ; Needle Sharing ; adverse effects ; Transfusion Reaction

Objective To investigate the clinical application of enteroscopies in China, and to further provide evidence for popularization and promotion of enteroscopies. Methods The survey was designed between January 1st , 2017 and July 31th , 2017 with pre-survey in Guangdong Province between May 1st , 2017 and July 31st , 2017. It was conducted in Chinese mainland between August 30th , 2017 and December 30th , 2017. Data were collected through the online survey and reality survey at 385 hospitals. A total of 373 hospitals gave feedbacks and 7 hospitals were unqualified for further analysis after data checking, so 366 hospitals were included for final analysis, with a responding rate of 95. 1％. Information on practice status of hospitals with enteroscopies and enteroscopists were collected. The chi-squared test was used for comparison of data between eastern and central and western regions. Results The hospitals owning enteroscopies accounted for 47. 0％ ( 172/366 ) , 154/172 ( 89. 5％) were tertiary referral hospitals, 112/172 ( 65. 1％) established enteroscopy units, and 84/172 ( 48. 8％) owned X-ray exclusive for enteroscopy. The proportion of enteroscopists with senior title was 40. 3％ (50/124), female enteroscopists accounted for 42. 7％ ( 53/124 ) . Most enteroscopists aged 31-40 ( 50. 8％) and 41-50 years ( 27. 4％) . 43. 0％ ( 74/172) hospitals employed only 1-2 enteroscopists. The diagnostic cases per year were less than 50 cases in 51. 2％ hospitals ( 88/172) . The therapeutic cases per year were less than 10 cases in 51. 7％hospitals ( 89/172 ) . Nineteen of 124 ( 15. 3％) of enteroscopists didn' t receive standard training. The number of hospitals performing enteroscopies in eastern regions was higher than that in central and western regions [111(51. 6％) VS 61(40. 4％), P=0. 034]. The training background of enteroscopists in eastern regions was better than that in central and western regions. Untrained endoscopists accounted for 10. 5％ in eastern regions, while those accounted for 22. 9％ in central and western regions with significant difference ( P=0. 031 ) . Conclusion Low number of patients treated and shortage of enteroscopists are obvious in Chinese mainland, especially in central and western regions. Standard training of enteroscopists is impending.

Aim To explore the main pathways and possible mechanisms of saffron in treatment of depression using network pharmacology. Methods A network of active components of saffron-depression disease target was constructed through the TCM System Pharmacology Database (TCMSP), Genecards, Uniprot database, Cytoscape software, and ClueGo analysis tool, and GO biological process and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were performed, and molecular docking verification was carried out using Autodock vina software. Results The five main chemical components quercetin, kaempferol, crocealdehyde, crocetin, and isorhamnetin may pass through the IL-17 signaling pathway, HIF-1 signaling pathway and Toll-like inflammatory pathways such as receptor signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, relaxin signaling pathway, Thl7 cell differentiation and other pathways, playing an antidepressant effect. In the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and MAPK signaling pathway, the targets of saffron for depression were mainly enriched in multiple targets such as BD-NF, TNF, IL-1, IL-6, MAPK8, JUN, GSK3B, N0S3 and so on. The results of molecular docking verification indicated a good docking effect of saffron and crocetin with the BDNF target in the antidepressant pathway of saffron. Conclusions The mechanism of saffron treatment of depression is mainly reflected in the regulation of neurotrophic factors, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxida-tive stress, etc., providing a theoretical basis for clinical application.

Post-transcriptional modifications of eukaryotic mRNA can regulate the genetic information of many genes, and the study of m

OBJECTIVEAlthough sleep is one of the most important health-related behavioral factors, the association between night sleep duration and cognitive impairment has not been fully understood. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a random sample of 2,514 participants (⋝ 40 years of age; 46.6% women) in China to examine the association between night sleep duration and cognitive impairment.

METHODSNight sleep duration was categorized as ⋜ 5, 6, 7, 8, or ⋝ 9 h per night. Cognitive function was measured using the Mini-Mental State Examination. A multivariate regression analysis was used to analyze the association of night sleep duration with cognitive impairment. A total of 122 participants were diagnosed with cognitive impairment.

RESULTSA U-shaped association between night sleep duration and cognitive impairment was found. The odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of cognitive impairment (with 7 h of daily sleep being considered as the reference) for individuals reporting ⋜ 5, 6, 8, and ⋝ 9 h were 2.14 (1.20-3.83), 1.13 (0.67-1.89), 1.51 (0.82-2.79), and 5.37 (1.62-17.80), respectively (P ⋜ 0.01).

CONCLUSIONShort or long night sleep duration was an important sleep-related factor independently associated with cognitive impairment and may be a useful marker for increased risk of cognitive impairment..

China ; Cognitive Dysfunction ; etiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Sleep ; physiology ; Time Factors