Objective To investigate the relationship and potential pathways between metal(loid)exposure and the risk of polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS)in women of childbearing age. Methods This case-control study included 200 patients with PCOS(cases)and 896 non-PCOS controls with the age of 25-37 years.The concentrations of 29 metal(loid)s in the follicular fluid(FF)and clinical indicators in the serum were measured in all participants.Logistic regression analysis and mediation analysis were conducted to evaluate the associations between metal(loid)exposure and PCOS risk and investigate the possible roles of clinical indicators,respectively. Results Logistic regression analysis revealed an association between high copper levels in FF and increased PCOS risk(highest vs.lowest quartile:adjusted odds ratio=2.94,95%confidence interval:1.83-4.72).A high luteinizing hormone/follicle-stimulating hormone ratio and elevated levels of testosterone and anti-Müllerian hormone(AMH)were strongly associated with increased PCOS risk induced by high copper exposure.The mediation analysis indicated a mediating effect of AMH in the association between copper exposure and PCOS risk. Conclusion Copper may affect PCOS risk through the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis,mediated by AMH.Copper exposure and internal AMH levels are important indicators for early warning of PCOS development.

In order to explore the adsorption characteristics of proteins on the membrane surface and the effect of protein solution environment on the permeation behavior of berberine, berberine and proteins were used as the research object to prepare simulated solution. Low field NMR, static adsorption experiment and membrane separation experiment were used to study the interaction between the proteins and ceramic membrane or between the proteins and berberine. The static adsorption capacity of proteins, membrane relative flux, rejection rate of proteins, transmittance rate of berberine and the adsorption rate of proteins and berberine were used as the evaluation index. Meanwhile, the membrane resistance distribution, the particle size distribution and the scanning electron microscope (SEM) were determined to investigate the adsorption characteristics of proteins on ceramic membrane and the effect on membrane separation process of berberine. The results showed that the ceramic membrane could adsorb the proteins and the adsorption model was consistent with Langmuir adsorption model. In simulating the membrane separation process, proteins were the main factor to cause membrane fouling. However, when the concentration of proteins was 1 g•L⁻¹, the proteins had no significant effect on membrane separation process of berberine.

Objective To investigate the antibacterial resistance in nationwide's tietiary hospitals and understand the trend of antimicrobial resistance.Methods All the clinical isolates were collected from 18 hospitals and the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were tested using agar dilution method recommended by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) in central laboratory.The susceptibilities of isolates to antimicrobial agents were determined by using CLSI or European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) 2017 guideline.Results A total of 4333 pathogenic isolates from 18 tertiary hospitals in 18 cities nationwide over the period from July 2015 to June 2016 were studied.Based on the MIC results,Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae showed extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBLs) phenotype rates of 59.4％ and 27.5％,respectively;decreased by 7 to 10 percentage points comparing the last time.Carbapenems,amikacin,moxalactam,β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations,tigecycline,and fosfomycin displayed desirable antibacterial activity against Enterbacteriaceae,but a significant increasing of carbapenems resistance Klebsiella pneumoniae were noted.For non-fermenting Gram-negative isolates,resistance rate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannnii to imipennnem were 29.5％ and 69.8％ and multidrug-resistant (MDR) detection rate were 35.6％ and 78.3％,extensively drug-resistant (XDR) were 10.2％ and 72.5％,respectively.Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from children were more resistant to β-lactam than those from adults and the old people,so bacterial resistance in children is an important problem in China.Conclusion Though the decline of ESBLs detection rate,carbapenem non-susceptible Klebsiella pneumoniae rates continued to increase,which should be paid more attention.

Objective To investigate the gram-positive coccus resistance in nationwide's tietiary hospitals and understand the trend of antimicrobial resistance.Methods All the clinical isolates were collected from 18 hospitals and the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were tested using agar/broth dilution method recommended by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) in central laboratory.The susceptibilities of isolates to antimicrobial agents were determined by using CLSI or European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) 2017 guideline.Results A total of 2301 Gram-positive cocci isolated from 18 hospitals in 18 cities nationwide were studied.Based on the MIC results,the prevalence of methicillin resistant Stapylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin resistant Stapylococcus epidermidis (MRSE) were 39.9％ and 86.6％ respectively.No vancomycin insensitive Staphylococcus was detected.Staphylococcus aureus were 100％ susceptibile to linezolid and teicoplanin,but resistant or insensitive for drugs other than vancomycin were observed among Coagulase Negative Staphylococci (CoNS).Antibiotic resistance rate of Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcusfaecium to ampicillin were 4.5％ and 85.1％.The detectation rate of vancomycin resistant Enterococcus(VRE) was 2.1％.Nonsusceptibility rate of Enterococcus faecalis to linezolid was 7.8％,showing slight increase than last time.The prevalence of penicillin nonsusceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae (PNSSP) was 6.6％ based on non-meningitis and parenteral administration criterion;while for cases of oral penicillin,the rate was 70.0％,was as flat as last time.There were no significant differenees of resistance rates of Stapylococcus aureus,Stapylococcus epidermidis Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium among various groups such as different department,age,or specimen source.Conclusion Compared with past surveillance result,VRE detection ratio was steady,while MRSA detection ratio decreased.The emergence of resistance and non-susceptible strains to new antibiotics such as linezolid,tigecycline and daptomycin should be payed more attention.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Shengjiang Xiexin Decoction (SXD) on the intestinal mucosal and functional cells of rats after irinotecan (CPT-11) chemotherapy.

METHODSTotally 24 healthy Sprague-Dawley (SD) male rats were divided into three groups, the normal control group, the CPT-11 group, the SXD combined CPT-11 group according to random digit table, 8 in each group. CPT-11 was injected at the daily dose of 150 mg/kg to rats in the CPT-11 group and the SXD combined CPT-11 group from the caudal vein on the 4th day, once daily for 2 successive days to duplicate delayed diarrhea model. Equal volume of normal saline was injected to rats in the normal control group from the caudal vein. SXD at 2 g/mL (10 g/kg body weight) was administered to rats in the SXD combined CPT-11 group by gastrogavage for 9 successive days. Deionized water was administered to rats in the CPT-11 group and the normal control group. Diarrhea was observed at 48, 60, 72, 84, 96, and 108 h to calculate the incidence rate of diarrhea. Meanwhile, scoring for diarrhea was performed by referring methods of Akinobu Kurita. Rats were killed on day 10, ileum, cecum, and colon tissues were collected and fixed in 10% formalin solution. HE staining was performed. Intestinal mucosa injuries were graded under light microscope according to the criterion of Chiu's score. The expressions of goblet cells and Paneth cells were observed by PAS stain. Enteroendocrine cells were observed by immunohistochemical CgA staining. Positive cells were counted and cumulative optical density (IOD) analyzed by Image-Pro-Plus 6.0.

RESULTSNo diarrhea occurred in rats of the normal control group at each time point. The incidence rate of diarrhea was 75.0% (6/8) at 48 h, 100.0% (8/8) at 60 h, 100.0% (8/8) at 72 h, 87.5% (7/8) at 84 h, 75.0% (6/8) at 96 h, and 75.0% (6/8) at 108 h in the CPT-11 group. The incidence rate of diarrhea was 25.0% (2/8) at 48 h, 50.0% (4/8) at 60 h, 12.5% (1/8) at 72 h, 0.0% (0/8) at 84 h in the SXD combined CPT-11 group. Compared with the same group at 60 h, scores for diarrhea at 48, 84, 96, and 108 h obviously decreased in the CPT-11 group, and scores for diarrhea at 48, 72, 84, 96, and 108 h obviously decreased in the SXD combined CPT-11 group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the same group at 72 h, scores for diarrhea at 84, 96, and 108 h obviously decreased in the CPT-11 group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the normal control group, scores for diarrhea increased in the CPT-11 group at each time point (P < 0.01); grading of ileum, cecum, and colon mucosal tissues increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); expressions of ileum and cecum mucosal epithelial goblet cells obviously decreased (P < 0.05); the number and expressions of ileum and cecum mucosal epithelial Paneth cells increased (P < 0.01). Expressions of ilium endocrine cells increased, while those of cecum and colon endocrine cells decreased in the CPT-11 group (P < 0.01). Compared with the CPT-11 group, scores for diarrhea were obviously lowered (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), grading of ileum, and cecum mucosal tissues decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); expressions of ileum, cecum, and colon mucosal epithelial goblet cells obviously increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); the number and expressions of ileum cecum mucosal epithelial Paneth cells increased (P < 0.05); expressions of cecum and colon endocrine cells increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) in the SXD combined CPT-11 group.

CONCLUSIONSXD played roles in preventing and treating CPT-11 induced delayed diarrhea by improving CPT-11 chemotherapy induced apoptosis and necrosis of intestinal mucosal and functional cells.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Camptothecin ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; Colon ; Diarrhea ; Drug Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Ileum ; Intestinal Mucosa ; drug effects ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Wound Healing ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo observe the temporal modification of transcription factor Mef2c by histone acetylases (HATs) P300, PCAF, and SRC1 during cardiogenesis and to provide a basis for investigating the pathogenesis of congenital heart disease.

METHODSThe normal heart tissues from embryonic mice (embryonic days 14.5 and 16.5) and neonatal mice (postnatal days 0.5 and 7) were collected. The binding of P300, PCAF, and SRC1 to Mef2c gene and level of histone H3 acetylation in the promoter region of Mef2c were evaluated by chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Meanwhile, real-time PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression of Mef2c.

RESULTSP300, PCAF, SRC1 were involved in histone acetylation in the promoter region of Mef2c during cardiogenesis in mice, and binding of P300, PCAF, and SRC1 to the promoter of Mef2c varied significantly in different stages of cardiogenesis (P<0.01). The level of histone H3 acetylation and mRNA expression of Mef2c in the promoter region of Mef2c also varied significantly in different stages of cardiac development (P<0.01). The levels of acetylated H3, Mef2c mRNA, and HATs (P300, PCAF, SRC1) changed over time. They were highest on embryonic day 14.5 (P<0.01), decreased gradually with cardiac development, and were maintained at low levels after birth.

CONCLUSIONSThe mRNA expression of Mef2c varies during cardiogenesis in mice, which indicates that Mef2c plays an important role in the process of cardiac development. Meanwhile, histone acetylation in the promoter region of Mef2c is regulated temporally by HATs P300, PCAF, and SRC1.

Animals ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Heart ; embryology ; Histone Acetyltransferases ; physiology ; MEF2 Transcription Factors ; genetics ; physiology ; Male ; Mice ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the overall diet quality and diet model of labor workers in Shenzhen using Chinese Diet Balance Index (DBI).

METHODSIn May 2009, 14 canteens from Baoan, Longgang and Nanshan districts were selected by stratified random sampling and 60 workers were randomly selected from each canteen by using random number method. Diet measurements were carried out among the 840 labor workers. Diet quality was evaluated by using DBI scoring and evaluating system.

RESULTSThe median values of labor workers' food intakes of cereal and meat & poultry were 483.8 and 121.7 g/d, which were more than the recommended amounts of their intakes of Chinese residents (cereal: 250 - 400 g/d, meat & poultry: 50 -70 g/d). The median values of the labor workers' intakes of fruit, dairy and eggs were 37.3, 20.6 and 23.5 g/d,which were less than recommended amounts in fruits (200 - 400 g/d), dairy (300 g/d) and eggs (25 - 50 g/d). The DBI-HBS scores of males and females in Shenzhen migrant workers were 24.4 +/- 6.1 and 22.6 +/- 6.3, respectively with a statistically significant difference (t = 4.21, P < 0.01). DBI-HBS scores of < 20 age group, 20 - 29 age group, 30 - 39 age group and > or = 40 age group in labor workers were 12.7 +/- 5.9, 11.3 +/- 6.3, 12.8 +/- 6.4 and 11.2 +/- 5.6 respectively (F = 3.67, P = 0.01). There were 7 dietary patterns among labor workers in this survey. Nearly 8.2% (68/830) of them belonged to Pattern A. Pattern B and E were the main dietary patterns, which accounted for 37.3% (310/830) and 31.0% (257/830) of the total population.

CONCLUSIONDBI can describe and evaluate the overall dietary quality and the major problem of the dietary patterns in labor workers. It is necessary to strength nutritional education to increase the intake of fruits, milk and eggs to improve nutritional status in labor workers in Shenzhen.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Dairy Products ; Diet ; statistics & numerical data ; Diet Surveys ; Eggs ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Fruit ; Humans ; Male ; Meat ; Middle Aged ; Nutritional Status ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo examine whether the polymorphisms of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene are associated with the susceptibility to high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) in Chinese railway construction workers at Qinghai-Tibet where the altitude is over 4 500 m above sea level.

METHODSA case-control study was conducted including 149 HAPE patients in the construction workers and 160 healthy controls randomly recruited from their co-workers, matching the patients in ethnicity, age, sex, lifestyle, and working conditions. Three polymorphisms of eNOS gene, T-786C in promoter, 894G/T in exon 7, and 27bp variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) in intron 4, were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and confirmed with DNA sequencing.

RESULTSThe frequencies of 894T allele and heterozygous G/T of the 894G/T variant were significantly higher in HAPE patients group than in the control group (P=0.0028 and P=0.0047, respectively). However, the frequencies of the T-786C in promoter and the 27bp VNTR in intron 4 were not significantly different between the two groups. Haplotypic analysis revealed that the frequencies of two haplotypes (H3,T-T-b, b indicates 5 repeats of 27 bp VNTR; H6, C-G-a, a indicates 4 repeats of 27 bp VNTR) were significantly higher in HAPE patients (both Pü0.0001). On the contrary, the frequencies of H1 (T-G-b) and H2 (T-G-a) were lower in HAPE patients than in healthy controls (both Pü0.001).

CONCLUSIONSTwo haplotypes (T-T-b and C-G-a) may be strongly associated with susceptibility to HAPE. Compared with the individual alleles of eNOS gene, the interaction of multiple genetic markers within a haplotype may be a major determinant for the susceptibility to HAPE.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Altitude ; Base Sequence ; Case-Control Studies ; DNA Primers ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; genetics ; Occupational Diseases ; enzymology ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Pulmonary Edema ; enzymology ; genetics ; Tibet ; Young Adult

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of rapamycin on cell growth and apoptosis in the myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) cell line MUTZ-1 and possible mechanism. MUTZ-1 cells were treated with rapamycin, cell proliferation capability was determined with MTT, protein expression including Annexin V/PI, caspase 3, PTEN, p-Akt, p-mTOR and the cell cycle were analyzed with flow cytometry. The results indicated that the proliferation of MUTZ-1 cells was inhibited by rapamycin in concentration-and time-dependent manners (r=0.67, 0.61, 0.72). After treatment with rapamycin for 24-72 hours, cell count in G0/G1 were significantly higher than that of the control (p<0.01), and this effect showed a time-and concentration-dependency (r=0.94, 0.93, 0.92), the cell cycle was blocked in G0/G1 phase. As compared with control group, the proportion of Annexin V+PI-MUTZ-1 cells and the cellular PTEN levels increased in the treated group dramatically and in time-and dose-dependent manners (p<0.01). To the contrary, level of p-mTOR expression markedly decreased as compared with control group (p<0.05). It is concluded that the rapamycin inhibits the proliferation of MUTZ-1 cells, down-regulates the PTEN/PI3K-Akt/mTOR signaling pathway by interaction with mTOR, which induces the apoptosis of mUTZ-1 cells.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; metabolism ; pathology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Sirolimus ; pharmacology ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore a new surgical procedure for vaginal reconstruction with pedicled deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap.

METHODSSince June 2007, 6 cases underwent vaginal reconstruction, including five congenital vaginal absence and one immediately after total vaginal resection due to carcinoma. Intensive CT scans were performed preoperatively for perforator selection. The DIEP flaps were designed vertically on the anterior abdominal wall and transferred for vaginal reconstruction.

RESULTSAll the patients recovered uneventfully with no flap loss and other complication. The patients were followed up for 1 to 8 months (mean, 4 months) with satisfactory results.

CONCLUSIONVaginal reconstruction with vertical DIEP flaps is a safe and reliable method.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Epigastric Arteries ; transplantation ; Female ; Humans ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Surgical Flaps ; Vagina ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Young Adult