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Background: As the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, glutamate has been accepted to play a major role in the pathophysiology of migraine. The previous studies have reported the glutamate receptor ionotropic GRIA1 and GRIA3 genes variants associated with migraine. The project aims to investigate the polymorphisms in both genes for their association with migraine in the Chinese Han population. Methods: A Han-Chinese case-control population, including 331 unrelated female migraine patients and 330 matched controls, was studied. Variants in genes ( GRIA1 and GRIA3) were genotyped by Multiplex SNaPshot assay. Results: In the group of patients, the frequency of allele C was 84.1 % (557 C alleles) and allele T was 15.9 % (105 T alleles) for the GRIA1 (rs2195450) in migraineurs, this was significantly as compared with the controls ( P = .001, OR = 1.786, 95 % CI: 1.28-2.49). And an association was also seen in the migraine with aura (MA) subtype ( P = .012, OR = 2.092, 95 % CI: 1.17-3.76) and migraine without aura (MO) subtype ( P = .002, OR = 1.737, 95 % CI: 1.23-2.45). However, no evidence was found that GRIA1 (rs548294) or GRIA3 (rs3761555) is associated with migraine. Conclusion: Our data of this study confirmed the association of GRIA1 (rs2195450) to female migraine (MA, MO) susceptibility in the Chinese Han population. The result provides evidence that the glutamatergic system is implicated in the pathophysiology of migraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Currently, obesity has become a worldwide health problem. Adipocyte differentiation is closely associated with the onset of obesity. Our previous studies suggested that persimmon tannin might be a potent anti-adipogenic dietary bioactive compound. However, the mechanism of persimmon tannin on adipocyte differentiation is still unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of persimmon tannin on adipogenic differentiation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and the underlying mechanisms. Methods: Adipogenic differentiation was induced by cocktail in the presence or absence of persimmon tannin. Intracellular lipid accumulation was determined by Oil red O staining and enzymatic colorimetric methods. Gene expression and protein levels were measured by real time RT-PCR and Western blot. Results: Persimmon tannin inhibited intracellular lipid accumulation markedly, and the inhibitory effect was largely limited to the early stage of adipocyte differentiation. Persimmon tannin suppressed the expression of C/EBPα and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ), significantly. Furthermore, genes related to lipogenesis, such as sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1, were down-regulated by persimmon tannin. In addition, adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (aP2), which is a target gene of PPARγ, was suppressed by persimmon tannin notably. Correspondingly, the expression of miR-27a and miR-27b were up-regulated by persimmon tannin from Day 2 to Day 8 significantly. Conclusion: Persimmon tannin inhibited adipocyte differentiation through regulation of PPARγ, C/EBPα and miR-27 in early stage of adipogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Postmenopausal osteoporosis is a major health problem with important genetic factors in postmenopausal women. We thoroughly evaluated the relationship of CNR2 polymorphisms with osteoporosis in a cohort of 1032 osteoporosis patients and 2089 healthy controls from Han Chinese postmenopausal women. Statistically significant differences, depending on different genotypes, were presented. Introduction: Osteoporosis is a major health problem in postmenopausal women, which is a multifactorial disease in which genetic determinants are modulated by hormonal, environmental, and nutritional factors. An important clinical risk factor in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis is the presence of genetic polymorphism in susceptibility genes. The aim of our study was to investigate whether CNR2 gene, which attributes to osteoporosis susceptibility in some populations, is associated with bone mineral density (BMD) or osteoporosis in Han Chinese postmenopausal women. Methods: We examine 39 SNPs covering the region of CNR2 gene in 3121 Han Chinese postmenopausal women, consisting of 1032 osteoporosis patients and 2089 healthy controls, to evaluate the association with BMD and osteoporosis. Results: We found that rs4237 and rs2501431 were significantly associated with BMD and osteoporosis (corrected p = 0.020085 and 0.017199) in our sample, and the TT genotype of rs2501431 and the AA genotype of rs4237 had lower lumbar spine BMD and femoral neck BMD compared with the other genotypes. Additionally, analyses by haplotypes indicated that two haplotype blocks, containing rs4237 and rs2501431 respectively, in the CNR2 gene significantly associated with BMD and osteoporosis (both global permutation p < 0.001), and a risk haplotype (ATTT) in the block of rs3003336-rs2501431-rs2502992-rs2501432 had almost 4-fold increase in the cases. Conclusions: Our results provide further supportive evidence for an important role of CNR2 gene in the etiology of osteoporosis and suggest that it may be a genetic risk factor for BMD and osteoporosis in Han Chinese postmenopausal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine whether a set of well-known predictors of mortality in younger elderly also maintain their importance in Chinese oldest old group. Design: A cross-sectional study of 1401 inhabitants aged 90 and older were conducted in the area of Dujiangyan, China. 825 subjects participated and were followed up for vital status after 49 months. Professional interviewers collected baseline data concerning socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle habits, physical factors and geriatric assessment. Bivariate analysis was conducted between survivors and deceased. Cox regression models were used to evaluate predictors of mortality. Results: Four hundred and thirty-six (52.8 %) of 825 participants eligible for the analysis died during the 49 months of follow-up period. Older age, comorbidity, lower MMSE score, lower ADL and IADL scores increased the risk of mortality in the study group. Multivariate analyses showed older age (HR = 1.03, 95 % CI 1.01-1.07) and comorbidity (HR = 1.09, 95 % CI 1.02-1.17) were associated with mortality while female gender (HR = 0.61, 95 % CI 0.43-0.86), taking exercise (HR = 0.80, 95 % CI 0.64-1.01) and higher MMSE scores (HR = 0.96, 95 % CI 0.94-0.99) showed a positive effect on survival. Conclusion: In Chinese nonagenarians and centenarians, age, gender, taking exercise, cognitive impairment and comorbidity at baseline show predictive power of oldest old mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discrimination plays an important role in the development of ethnic minority adolescents. However, previous studies have often adopted a unidirectional model examining the influence of discrimination on adolescent development, thus leaving the potential reciprocal relationship between them understudied. Moreover, there is a dearth of studies on Chinese Americans in the discrimination literature. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the reciprocal relationships between discrimination and two measures of adolescent outcomes (i.e., ethnic affect and depressive symptoms) from early adolescence to emerging adulthood in Chinese Americans. Participants were 444 adolescents (54 % female), followed at four-year intervals, beginning at 7th or 8th grade ( M = 13.03) in 2002, for a total of three waves. An examination of cross-lagged autoregressive models revealed two major findings. First, in contrast to the rejection-identification model, perceived discrimination at early adolescence negatively related to ethnic affect at middle adolescence. Conversely, ethnic affect at early adolescence also negatively related to discrimination at middle adolescence. These results held the same direction but became insignificant from middle adolescence to emerging adulthood. Second, perceived discrimination positively related to depressive symptoms across the studied developmental periods, and depressive symptoms positively related to perceived discrimination from middle adolescence to emerging adulthood. The strength of these longitudinal relationships did not change significantly across developmental periods or gender. These findings highlight the bidirectional relationship between perceived discrimination and adolescent outcomes; they also demonstrate the value of studying the discrimination experiences of Chinese Americans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Treatment with curcumin attenuated modeled microgravity-induced bone loss, possibly through abating oxidative stress and activating vitamin D receptor. Curcumin might be an effective countermeasure for microgravity-induced bone loss but remains to be tested in humans. Introduction: Bone loss is one of the most important complications for human crewmembers who are exposed to long-term microgravity in space and also for bedridden people. The aim of the current study was to elucidate whether treatment with curcumin attenuated bone loss induced by microgravity. Methods: We used hind-limb suspension (HLS) and rotary wall vessel bioreactor (RWVB) to model microgravity in vivo and in vitro, respectively. We investigated the effects of curcumin consumption (40 mg kg body weight day, via daily oral gavages) on Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats exposed to HLS for 6 weeks. Then, we investigated the effects of incubation with curcumin (4 μM) on MC3T3-E1 and RAW264.7 cells cultured in RWVB. Results: Curcumin alleviated HLS-induced reduction of bone mineral density in tibiae and preserved bone structure in tibiae and mechanical strength in femurs. Curcumin alleviated HLS-induced oxidative stress marked by reduced malondialdehyde content and increased total sulfhydryl content in femurs. In cultured MC3T3-E1 cells, curcumin inhibited modeled microgravity-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and enhanced osteoblastic differentiation. In cultured RAW264.7 cells, curcumin reduced modeled microgravity-induced ROS formation and attenuated osteoclastogenesis. In addition, curcumin upregulated vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression in femurs of rats exposed to HLS and MC3T3-E1 cells exposed to modeled microgravity. Conclusion: Curcumin alleviated HLS-induced bone loss in rats, possibly via suppressing oxidative stress and upregulating VDR expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study examines the relationships of several psychosocial correlates and mediating factors with problem behaviors among children (6-18 years of age) affected by parental HIV/AIDS in rural China. Cross-sectional data were collected from 755 children orphaned by AIDS ('orphans') and 466 children living with HIV-positive parents ('vulnerable children') during 2006-2007 in central rural China. The structural equation modeling analyses revealed that HIV-related stigma had a positive direct effect on problem behaviors of vulnerable children, while HIV-related stigma and low education aspiration had direct negative effects on school adjustment among both orphans and vulnerable children. Measures of future orientation and perceived social support mediated the effect of HIV-related stigma and low education aspiration on school adjustment, which in turn was negatively associated with problem behaviors of both groups. The data also showed that school adjustment mediated the effect of low education aspiration and HIV-related stigma on problem behaviors of both orphans and vulnerable children. Future prevention intervention efforts aiming to reduce problem behaviors and improve school adjustment among these children should target multiple factors at individual, community, and societal levels such as enhancing the children's future expectation, increasing the social support from family, school, and community, and reducing HIV-related stigma against children and families affected by HIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the associations between autism developmental profiles and cooperation with an oral health screening among preschool children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). A random sample of Special Child Care Centres registered with the Government Social Welfare Department in Hong Kong was selected (19 out of 37 Centres). All preschool children with ASDs were invited to participate in the oral health survey and 347 children agreed to participate (among 515 invited). A checklist of autism developmental profiles: (1) level of cognitive functioning, (2) social skills development, (3) communication skills development, (4) reading skills and (5) challenging behaviours was ascertained. Feasibility of conducting oral health screening in preschool children with ASDs was associated with their cognitive functioning ( p = 0.001), social skills development ( p = 0.002), communication skills development ( p < 0.001), reading skills ( p < 0.001) and challenging behaviours ( p = 0.06). In regression analyses accounting for age (in months) and gender, inability to cooperate with an oral health screening was associated with high level of challenging behaviours (OR 10.50, 95 % CI 2.89-38.08, p < 0.001) and reduced cognitive functioning (OR 5.29, 95 % CI 1.14-24.61, p = 0.034). Age (in months) was positively associated with likelihood of cooperative behaviour with an oral health screening (OR 1.06, 95 % CI 1.03, 1.08, p < 0.001). Feasibility of conducting population-wide oral health screening among preschool children with ASDs is associated with their developmental profiles; and in particular levels of cognitive functioning, and challenging behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:To evaluate the effects of gestational subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) on early neurodevelopment of offspring.Study Design:A prospective study included 106 infants born to mothers with gestational SCH and 106 infants born to mothers who were euthyroid during pregnancy. The neurodevelopment of 12 to 24-month-old infants was assessed and compared using the Gesell developmental test (revised version).Results:Infants born to mothers with gestational SCH and those born to euthyroid mothers had similar scores on the Gesell development test. No correlations were observed between maternal TSH concentration and Gesell developmental test scores of offspring. Infants born to mothers who had gestational SCH during the first trimester specifically and those born to euthyroid mothers had similar scores on the Gesell development test. No significant correlations were detected between maternal TSH concentration during the first trimester and offspring neurodevelopment.Conclusions:No detectable neurodevelopment deficit was observed in offspring up to 24 months old from mothers who had gestational SCH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of the genotype and allele frequencies of the polymorphisms rs4379368, rs10504861, rs10915437, rs12134493 and rs13208321 in She people of China with migraine headache susceptibility. The five alleles were previously identified as being associated with migraine in a Western population, but it was not known if this association would hold in a She population. rs4379368 is in the succinic HMG coenzyme A transferase ( C7orf10) gene; rs10504861 is near the matrix metallopeptidase 16 ( MMP16) gene; rs10915437 is near the adherens junctions associated protein 1 ( AJAP1) gene; rs12134493 is upstream of the tetraspanin 2 ( TSPAN2) gene; and rs13208321 is within the four and a half LIM domains protein 5 ( FHL5) gene. Methods: This was a case-controlled study conducted in She people of Fujian province in China. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism and direct sequencing were performed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess the association of the different genotypes of each SNP with migraine. Results: The rs4379368 T allele was not in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and was more common than the C allele in subjects with migraine (58.7 %; P = 0.049), possibly suggesting a selection bias for T allele in this population. In support of this, the CT and TT genotypes were more frequent in the migraine compared with the control groups (54.0 % and 31.7 % vs. 48.0 % and 28.7 %, respectively; P = 0.019). These genotypes were also more common in females with migraines than females without migraines (53.8 % and 30.9 % vs. 46.7 % and 27.6 %; P = 0.026). Univariate and multivariate analyses found the CC genotype of rs4379368 and AA or AG genotype of rs13208321 were associated with a reduced risk of migraine ( P values ≤0.039). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that rs4379368 and rs13208321 are potential genetic markers for migraine in this She population. The findings of this study and others indicate important differences between ethnic populations in regard to genetic markers of migraine susceptibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the mechanisms underlying the relation between temperament (i.e., effortful control, sensation seeking, and dispositional anger/frustration) and adolescent problematic internet use (PIU) by examining the mediating role of maladaptive cognition toward internet use in linking temperament and PIU and the moderating role of parenting styles in influencing the mediation. A total of 660 Chinese middle-school adolescents completed anonymous questionnaires regarding temperament, maladaptive cognition toward internet use, maternal parenting styles, and PIU. After controlling for gender, age, and family socioeconomic status, it was found that effortful control was negatively related to PIU, whereas sensation seeking and anger/frustration were positively related to PIU. Moreover, maladaptive cognition partially mediated the relation of effortful control and dispositional anger/frustration to PIU and completely mediated the relation of sensation seeking to PIU. Moderated mediation analyses further revealed that authoritative and permissive parenting styles moderated the relation between sensation seeking and maladaptive cognition. Specifically, in adolescents with low authoritative or low permissive mothers, sensation seeking promoted maladaptive cognition, whereas in adolescents with high authoritative or high permissive mothers, sensation seeking no longer predicted PIU. Theoretical and practical implications were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Tramadol is a synthetic opioid which has analgesic efficacy in the postoperative pain. It is metabolized by polymorphic enzyme cytochrome P450 ( CYP2D6). Patients with different CYP2D6 genotypes would have different responses to tramadol in pain relief. The CYP2D6* 10 allele is the most common allele in a Chinese population. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the different CYP2D6* 10 genotypes have an effect on the postoperative tramadol analgesia in the Chinese population after elective nephrectomy. Methods: One hundred and twenty patients after performed elective nephrectomy were enrolled in this study after being approved by the local Ethics Committee. The patients were given patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) which included 10 mg/ml tramadol after receiving a loading dose of 100 mg tramadol and 1 mg granisetron intravenously. Blood samples were collected after induction of anesthesia. The CYP2D6* 10 polymorphism was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). According to the results, the patients were divided into three groups ( CYP2D6* 1/* 1, n = 33; CYP2D6* 1/* 10, n = 28; CYP2D6* 10/* 10, n = 50). The total consumption of tramadol, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and PCA control times among the three genotype groups for 2, 4, 24, 48, and 72 h after operation were compared. Results: Nine out of 120 patients were dropped out of the study; 111 patients completed the study. The frequency of CYP2D6* 10 allele was 57.7 %. The demographic data among the three groups were comparable. The consumption of tramadol, patient self-control times of pump, and VAS score in CYP2D6* 10/* 10 group were significantly higher than that in CYP2D6* 1/* 1 or CYP2D6* 1/* 10 group at 2 and 4 h ( P < 0.05), while it did not differ between CYP2D6* 1/* 1 and CYP2D6* 1/* 10 group ( P > 0.05). There was no difference in the incidence of nausea and vomiting among the three groups ( P > 0.05). No sever apnea was recorded in these groups. Conclusions: Different CYP2D6* 10 genotypes have an influence on the analgesic effect of tramadol in Han nationality patients after elective nephrectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In a cohort of 393 Chinese women, by using high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT), we found that significant cortical bone loss occurred after midlife. Prominent increase in cortical porosity began at the fifth decade but reached a plateau before the sixth decade. Trabecular bone loss was already evident in young adulthood and continued throughout life. Introduction: This study aimed to investigate age-related differences in volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD), microarchitecture, and estimated bone strength at peripheral skeleton in Chinese female population. Methods: In a cross-sectional cohort of 393 Chinese women aged 20-90 years, we obtained vBMD, microarchtecture, and micro-finite element-derived bone strength at distal radius and tibia using HR-pQCT. Results: The largest predictive age-related difference was found for cortical porosity (Ct.Po) which showed over four-fold and two-fold differences at distal radius and tibia, respectively, over the adulthood. At both sites, cortical bone area, vBMD, and thickness showed significant quadratic association with age with significant decrease beginning after midlife. Change of Ct.Po became more prominent between age of 50 and 57 (0.26 %/year at distal radius, 0.54 %/year at distal tibia, both p ≤ 0.001) but thereafter, reached a plateau (0.015 and 0.028 %/year, both p > 0.05). In contrast, trabecular vBMD and microarchitecture showed linear association with age with significant deterioration observed throughout adulthood. Estimated age of peak was around age of 20 for trabecular vBMD and microarchitecture and Ct.Po and age of 40 for cortical vBMD and microarchitecture. Estimated stiffness and failure load peaked at mid-30s at the distal radius and at age 20 at distal tibia. Conclusions: Age-related differences in vBMD and microarchitecture in Chinese women differed by bone compartments. Significant cortical bone loss occurred after midlife. Prominent increase in Ct.Po began at the fifth decade but appeared to be arrested before the sixth decade. Loss of trabecular bone was already evident in young adulthood and continued throughout life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In this study, we characterized longitudinal changes of volumetric bone mineral density and cortical and trabecular microstructure at the distal radius using HR-pQCT in female systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients on long-term glucocorticoids. Cortical thinning and increased cortical porosity are the major features of longitudinal microstructural deterioration in SLE patients. Introduction: The study aims to characterize longitudinal changes of volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) and bone microstructure at distal radius in female systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients on long-term glucocorticoids. Methods: This 2-year case-control study consisted of 166 premenopausal subjects (75 SLE patients and 91 controls) and 79 postmenopausal subjects (44 SLE patients and 35 controls). We obtained areal BMD (aBMD) by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at multiple skeletal sites and indices of vBMD and microstructure at distal radius by high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) at baseline, 12 and 24 months. Results: In either premenopausal or postmenopausal subjects, changes in aBMD did not differ between patients and controls except that decrease in aBMD at total hip at 24 months in premenopausal patients was significantly higher. In premenopausal subjects, decrease in cortical area (−0.51 vs. −0.06 %, p = 0.039) and thickness (−0.63 vs. 0.02 %, p = 0.031) and increase in cortical porosity (21.7 vs. 7.16 %, p = 0.030) over study period were significantly larger in patients after adjustment of age and body mass index. Decreased in trabecular vBMD was significantly less (−0.63 vs. −2.32 %, p = 0.001) with trabecular microstructure better maintained in patients. In postmenopausal subjects, decrease in cortical vBMD (−2.66 vs. −1.56 %, p = 0.039) and increase in cortical porosity (41.6 vs. 16.3 %, p = 0.021) were significantly higher in patients, and there was no group-wise difference in change of trabecular microstructure. Conclusion: Longitudinal microstructural deterioration in SLE is characterized by cortical thinning and increased cortical porosity. Cortical bone is an important source of bone loss in SLE patients on glucocorticoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study design:Retrospective case-control study.Objectives:To analyze the results of two surgical treatments for lower lumbar tuberculous spondylitis with neurological deficits in the aged.Methods:We studied 33 cases of lower lumbar spinal tuberculous spondylitis treated in our center from January 2006 to October 2010. The cases were divided into two groups: 16 cases (group A) underwent single- or two-stage anterior debridement, bone grafting and posterior instrumentation, and 17 cases (group B) underwent single-stage posterior debridement, decompression, interbody fusion and instrumentation. Clinical and radiographic results were analyzed and compared between the groups.Results:Patients were followed for a mean of 41.3 months (range 36-48 months). The average operative durations were 276.9±23.8 and 193.8±22.5 min in groups A and B, respectively. The average hospital stay was 18.2±3.2 days for group A and 13.4±1.6 days for group B. Average intraoperative blood loss for groups A and B was 1187.5±163.0 and 804.7±134.1 ml, respectively. Operative complications affected four patients in group A and one in group B. Solid fusion occurred at 12 months in the other 32 cases. Neurological status was significantly improved in all cases. Kyphosis was significantly corrected after surgical management, but loss of correction occurred in both groups.Conclusion:Single-stage posterior debridement, decompression, interbody fusion and instrumentation might be a better surgical treatment than combined posterior and anterior approaches for lower lumbar tuberculous spondylitis with neurological deficits in the aged, offering fewer complications and a better quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study design:Prospective study.Objectives:To investigate whether preoperative and postoperative changes of signal intensity (SI) and transverse area (TA) of the spinal cord reflect the surgical outcome in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM).Setting:The Second Hospital of Tangshan, Tangshan, Hebei, China.Methods:In 45 consecutive prospective patients, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively. The Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scale was used to quantify the neurological status at admission and of at least 12-month follow-up. Preoperative and postoperative TA of the spinal cord at the site of maximal compression and grayscale of signal intensity (GSI) were measured using the image analysis software. Ratio of transverse area (RTA) and ratio of grayscale of signal intensity (RGSI) were used to assess the extent of spinal cord re-expansion and extent of SI regression. Preoperative status and postoperative recovery were assessed in relation to MRI parameters preoperatively and postoperatively using univariate and multivariate analysis.Results:Higher baseline JOA scores were associated with larger TA. Greater recovery rate was associated with larger preoperative and postoperative TA, along with greater RTA. Recovery rate negatively correlated with RGSI and age. Higher baseline JOA score was associated with greater recovery rate. RGSI negatively correlated with RTA. Multivariate stepwise regression analysis showed that the optimal combination of surgical outcome predictors included age, postoperative TA and RGSI.Conclusion:Quantitative MRI analysis in CSM may provide reliable information for the prediction of the postoperative outcome of CSM patients. MRI indicators of good outcome include the larger postoperative TA and greater RGSI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The estimation of annual maximum snow load is important for designing light-weight structures experiencing severe winter climate. The specified (basic) snow load in the Chinese design code is based on statistics of the return period values of ground snow load. The code tabulates the values for a few locations in a region. For example, values are only available at 31 sites for Heilongjiang Province with an area of more than 470,000 km, China. The snow load needs to be spatially interpolated for sites far away from the tabulated locations. However, the statistical justification of the selected probability distribution to model snow depth or load hazard is unclear and the preferred spatial interpolation technique is unknown. This study focuses on the extreme value analysis and spatial interpolation of the annual maximum snow depth and ground snow load using the records at 83 stations in Heilongjiang Province from 1981 to 2010. The statistical analysis results show that the use of the lognormal distribution rather than the Gumbel distribution for the annual maximum snow depth suggested in the code is preferred for most sites, and the application of the ordinary co-kriging is adequate for spatial interpolation of extreme snow depth. The results also show that the uncertainty in snowpack bulk density should not be neglected in estimating the extreme (ground) snow load for updating the snow load in Chinese design code. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the production of grammatical morphemes by Mandarin-speaking children with high functioning autism. Previous research found that a subgroup of English-speaking children with autism exhibit deficits in the use of grammatical morphemes that mark tense. In order to see whether this impairment in grammatical morphology can be generalised to children with autism from other languages, the present study examined whether or not high-functioning Mandarin-speaking children with autism also exhibit deficits in using grammatical morphemes that mark aspect. The results show that Mandarin-speaking children with autism produced grammatical morphemes significantly less often than age-matched and IQ-matched TD peers as well as MLU-matched TD peers. The implications of these findings for understanding the grammatical abilities of children with autism were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) mainly affects children, but age is also thought to be an important prognostic factor. Kidney involvement is a major cause of mortality in HSP patients. The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinicopathological correlations between adults and children. Methods: A total of 208 children and 75 adult patients with HSP nephritis (HSPN) were evaluated. All patients underwent a renal biopsy. Results: Extra-renal symptoms (arthritis and abdominal pain) were more common in the pediatric patient group than in the adult group ( P < 0.05), but renal symptoms (edema and hypertension) were relatively rare ( P < 0.05). A significant positive correlation was noted between pathological type and clinical type ( P < 0.01). Pathological activity was positively related to renal failure, abdominal pain, microscopic hematuria, hypertension, and proteinuria ( P < 0.05). Pathological chronicity was positively associated with age, duration of follow-up since the onset of palpable purpura, renal failure, lower extremity edema, hypertension, and proteinuria ( P < 0.05). Conclusions: Various clinicopathological differences exist between children and adults with HSPN. Massive proteinuria, renal failure, and abdominal pain usually correlated with severe pathology. Renal biopsy should be performed in both pediatric and adult HSPN patients with repeated hematuria and/or consistent minimal proteinuria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate the clinical effect of sequential therapeutic intervention Yupei Qisun [compensating for weakness by invigorating Kidney (Shen) and Spleen (Pi) in advance] in Chinese medicine (CM) and hysteroscopic endometrial mechanical stimulation on the treatment of infertile patients with repeated implantation failure (RIF); and to study the differences in patients' endometrial thickness and type on the day of embryo transfer, serum hormone levels on embryo transfer day and clinical pregnancy outcomes. Methods: In the clinical study, 168 frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles for couples with RIF conforming to the research protocol were randomly divided into three groups: a CM group with 56 cycles (CM combined with FET), a hysteroscopy group with 55 cycles (hysteroscopic endometrial mechanical stimulation), and a control group with 57 cycles (conventional FET). Differences in endometrial thickness on the embryo transfer day, levels of serum estradiol (E) and progesterone (P) on the embryo transfer day, the E/P ratio on the embryo transfer day, biochemical and clinical pregnancy rates, implantation rate, abnormal pregnancy rate and other indices were compared among the three groups. Results: Endometrial thickness, E and P levels, and the E/P ratio on embryo transfer day and other factors had no significant differences among groups. The biochemical pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, and implantation rates of the CM and hysteroscopy groups were significantly higher than the control group ( P<0.05), and there were no significant differences between these two groups. The abnormal pregnancy rate had no significant difference among the three groups. Conclusions: Sequential therapy of Yupei Qisun could significantly improve the clinical outcomes of RIF-FET cycles, being equivalent to hysteroscopic endometrial mechanical stimulation, and provided a reliable method to treat such infertile couples: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the protective effect of propyl gallate (PG), an alkyl ester of gallic acid which is an active ingredient of Radix Paeoniae, against oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced apoptosis and death in endothelial cells (ECs) and to find out its preliminary mechanism. Methods: The cultured endothelial cells were divided into normal, model (ox-LDL), control (fetal bovine serum), PG high dose (20 μg/mL), PG middle dose (10 μg/mL), and PG low dose (5 μg/mL) groups, each derived from three different pools of umbilical cords. The model of injured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was induced by ox-LDL. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, Hoechst 33258 staining, flow cytometry and measurement of nitrogen monoxidum (NO) release were used to evaluate the protective effect of PG against ox-LDL-induced apoptosis and death in HUVECs. To find out the mechanism of this protective effect, the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) mRNA, eNOS protein expression, immunofluorescence of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and activities of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxidedismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were observed. Results: PG significantly reduced ox-LDL-induced apoptosis and cell death. The percentage of cells death and apoptosis was significantly higher in the ox-LDL group than that in the control group ( P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the cells death and apoptosis of PG group was no different ( P>0.05). As compared with the ox-LDL group, results of the PG high dose group showed that cell viability was significantly increased ( P<0.05), the level of NO release, expression of eNOS mRNA, densitometric value of eNOS protein expression, as well as the activities of SOD and GPx were all significantly higher (all P<0.05). Conclusion: PG could potentially serve as a novel endothelial protective agent against ox-LDL-induced injury of endothelial cell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This study aims to longitudinally assess the effect of oxytocin on bone and bone fat masses using micro-CT, in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), and histopathological adipocyte quantification. Early in vivo oxytocin (OT) treatment to the osteoporosis (OP) rabbit model may reliably inhibit bone degeneration and reduce bone marrow fat accumulation by decreasing marrow adipocyte size and density. Introduction: This study aims to longitudinally assess the effect of early OT treatment on bone and bone fat masses in a rabbit OP model by comparing the results of MRS and micro-CT with histopathological findings. Methods: Sixty 20-week-old female rabbits were randomly assigned into three groups. The control and OP groups were subjected to either sham surgery or bilateral ovariectomy (OVX). The OT group was subcutaneously injected with OT daily from the second week after OVX for 8 weeks. The left proximal femurs of the rabbits were evaluated through MRS, micro-CT, and histopathological examination at 0, 4, 8, 10, and 12 weeks after operation. Differences in fat fraction (FF) values, micro-CT parameters, and calculated pathological marrow adipocytes among three groups were analyzed. Results: The FF values of the OP group significantly increased ( p = 0.019), but the tissue mineral density (TMD) decreased ( p = 0.037) from eighth week compared with those of the control group. The FF values of the OT group significantly decreased ( p = 0.044), but the TMD values increased ( p = 0.042) from eighth week compared with those of the OP group. The adypocyte diameter of the OT group significantly decreased ( p = 0.041) from eighth week and then adypocyte density did so too from tenth week, compared with those of the OP group at the same time point. No difference in adypocyte calculation was found between the OT and control groups until the 12th week after operation. Conclusion: Early in vivo OT treatment slowed down bone deterioration and reduced bone marrow adiposity accumulation in a rabbit OP model, which is consistent with pathologic findings. OT treatment is a promising preventive OP therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: We established a chronic kidney disease (CKD) mouse model with estrogen deficiency and inserted titanium implants into the femur of such mice to investigate the fixation of the implants. Both the histomorphometry and implant resistance indicated that estrogen deficiency impaired the fixation of titanium implants inserted into such mice. Introduction: CKD has been regarded as a worldwide public health problem. Estrogen is a critical factor for both renal protection and bone remodeling. A previous study demonstrated that CKD impairs the early healing of titanium implants. However, the combined effect of estrogen deficiency and CKD on the fixation of titanium implants is largely unknown. Methods: Forty 9-week-old female C57BL mice were randomly divided into sham, ovariectomy (OVX), CKD, and CKD + OVX groups. Uremia and estrogen deficiency were induced by 5/6 nephrectomy and OVX, respectively. Experimental titanium implants were inserted into the distal end of the femur. Bone-implant contact (BIC) ratio and bone volume (BV/TV) around the implants were histomorphometrically analyzed. The fixation strength of the implant was measured by a biomechanical push-in resistance test. Results: Serum measurement confirmed a significant increase in serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in the CKD group, which was further increased by OVX. Estrogen deficiency led to significant decreases in the BIC ratio, BV/TV, and the push-in resistance in CKD animals. There was a significant interaction between the effects of OVX and CKD, with OVX exacerbating the effects of CKD on BIC ratio and push-in resistance. Conclusions: The results indicated that estrogen deficiency exerts a synergistic effect with CKD and further impairs the fixation of titanium implants in CKD mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The local renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is closely related to bone metabolism. However, it is unknown whether the local RAS is related to bone mineral density (BMD) in glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP). Here, we revealed that the two main characteristics of GIOP might inhibit bone formation and enhance bone resorption. Introduction: The aim of this study is to assess the expression of the main RAS components in the trabecular bone of lumbar vertebrae in GIOP and analyze the relationship between the major RAS components and BMD. Methods: We collected 96 inpatient cases of lumbar disc herniation from patients who underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry examinations followed by surgical treatment in our hospital. Patients were divided into the GIOP group ( n = 48) and control group ( n = 48). The circulating and local expression levels of the main RAS components were examined. The correlation between the main RAS components and BMD was then analyzed. Results: The mRNA expression of local bone angiotensin type 1 and 2 receptors (AT1R and AT2R, respectively) and RANKL was higher in the GIOP group compared with the control group ( p < 0.001), but there was no difference in the circulating protein levels between groups ( p > 0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that AT1R and AT2R expression and the RANKL/OPG ratio in local bone were negatively associated with BMD ( p < 0.001, odds ratio (OR) 1.236, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.207-1.333; p < 0.001, OR 1.971, 95 % CI 1.809-2.233; and p < 0.001, OR 1.676, 95 % CI 1.546-1.845, respectively). Conclusion: This study provides evidence that the role of local RAS is related to BMD in GIOP patients, and suggests that local RAS might influence RANKL/OPG signaling to modulate bone metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: We sought to evaluate the effects of antiretroviral therapy on skeletal metabolism in Chinese individuals with human immunodeficiency virus. Patients switched to tenofovir/lamivudine + lopinavir/ritonavir after treatment failure had an increase in bone resorption marker levels by nearly 60 %, which is greater than the magnitude previously described in non-Chinese populations. Introduction: Few studies have evaluated the effects of antiretroviral therapy on skeletal metabolism in Asian populations infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of bone turnover markers (BTM) at baseline and 2 years in stored plasma samples collected from 2/2009 to 1/2013 as part of a multi-center trial. Two groups were compared: (1) treatment-naïve patients initiated on zidovudine (AZT)/lamivudine (3TC) plus nevirapine (NVP) and (2) patients who failed first-line therapy and were switched to tenofovir (TDF)/3TC plus lopinavir/ritonavir (LPVr). Tests included the bone resorption marker, C-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type-1 collagen (CTX), and the bone formation marker procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP). Results: In the TDF/3TC + LPVr group, samples were available from 59 patients at baseline and 56 patients at 2 years. Of these, 36 patients had samples available from both time points. In the AZT/3TC + NVP group, plasma samples were analyzed from 82 participants at baseline and of those, 61 had samples at 2 years. Median change over 2 years was greater in the TDF/3TC + LPVr group for both CTX (+0.24 ng/mL, interquartile ranges (IQR) 0.10-0.43 vs. +0.09 ng/mL, IQR −0.03 to 0.18, p = 0.001) and P1NP (+25.5 ng/mL, IQR 2.4-51.3 vs. +7.11 ng/mL, IQR −4.3 to 21.6, p = 0.012). Differences remained after adjusting for potential confounders in the multivariable analysis. Conclusions: Switching to TDF/3TC + LPVr after treatment failure resulted in greater increases in BTMs than initiation with AZT/3TC + NVP in Chinese patients with HIV. Following this change, bone resorption marker levels increased by nearly 60 %, which is greater than the 25-35 % increase from baseline described previously in non-Chinese populations. Further studies are warranted to elucidate these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study design:Retrospective case series.Objectives:The primary aim was to assess the clinical effects of sacral neuromodulation (SNM) for neurogenic bladder and/or bowel dysfunction with multiple symptoms secondary to spinal cord disease or injury.Setting:Beijing, China.Methods:Between 2011 and 2013, 23 patients with multiple bladder and/or bowel problems secondary to spinal cord disease or injury were treated with a preliminary test SNM. If at least 50% clinical improvement occurred, then the patient underwent a permanent SNM procedure. We evaluated the patients using a bladder diary, post-void residual volume measurement and the Wexner questionnaire score for constipation before the test phase, during the test phase and after the permanent SNM.Results:In the test phase, the rate of improvement in dysuria (29.4%) was significantly lower than urgency frequency (64.7%), urinary incontinence (69.2%) and constipation (75.0%). An implant was performed in 13 (56.5%) patients, including 4 patients who still used intermittent catheterization to exclude urine after permanent SNM because the symptom of dysuria could not be improved significantly and 1 patient who achieved ⩾50% improvement in lower urinary tract dysfunction but not in constipation. During follow-up (17.5±2.0 months), 1 patient (7.7%) failed and 1 patient had bilateral vesicoureteral reflux.Conclusion:Chronic SNM cannot always resolve all the bladder and bowel symptoms secondary to spinal cord disease or injury, but combined with other treatments may help improve multiple symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluation on the population pressure in the mountainous areas is a necessary condition for the protection and good governance. The evaluation depends on accurate population density assessment. Traditional methods used to calculate population density often adopt the administrative region as a scale for statistical analysis. These methods did not consider the effects of the relief degree of land surface (RDLS) on the population distribution. Therefore they cannot accurately reflect the degree of population aggregation, especially in mountainous areas. To explore this issue further, we took the mountainous areas of China as the research area. China has A total area of 666 km can be classified as mountainous area, accounting for 69.4% of the country's total landmass. The data used in this research included the digital elevation model (DEM) of China at a scale of 1:1,000,000, National population density raster data, the DEM and the national population density raster data. First, we determined the relief degree of land surface (RDLS). Next, we conducted a correlation analysis between the population distribution and the RDLS using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). Based on the correlation analysis results and population distribution, this new method was used to revise the provincial population density of the mountainous areas. The revised results were used to determine the population pressure of different mountainous areas. Overall, the following results were obtained: (1) The RDLS was low in most mountainous areas (with a value between 0 and 3.5) and exhibited a spatial pattern that followed the physiognomy of China; (2) The relationship between the RDLS and population density were logarithmic, with an R value up to 0.798 (p<0.05), and the correlation decreased from east to west; (3) The difference between the revised population density (RPD) and the traditional population density (PD) was larger in the southeastern region of China than in the northwestern region; (4) In addition, compared with traditional results, the revised result indicated that the population pressure was larger. Based on these results, the following conclusions were made: (1) the revised method for estimating population density that incorporates the RDLS is reasonable and practical, (2) the potential population pressure in the southeastern mountainous areas is substantial, (3) the characteristics of the terrain in the high mountainous areas are important for the scattered distribution of the population, and (4) the population distribution of mountainous areas in China should be guided by local conditions, such as social, economic, and topographic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyze the diagnostic consistency of Chinese medicine (CM) specialists in patients with cardiovascular disease and to study syndrome classification and identification based on the multi-label learning method. Methods: Using self-developed CM clinical scales to collect cases, inquiry information, complexity, tongue manifestation and pulse manifestation were assessed. The number of cases collected was 2,218. Firstly, each case was differentiated by two CM specialists according to the same diagnostic criteria. The consistency of the diagnosis based on Cohen's Kappa coefficient was analyzed. Secondly, take the same diagnosis syndromes of two specialists as the results of the cases. According to injury information in the CM scale 'yes' or 'no' was assigned '1' or '0', and according to the syndrome type in each case 'yes' or 'no' was assigned '1' or '0'. CM information data on cardiovascular disease cases were established. We studied CM syndrome classification and identification based on the relevant feature for each label (REAL) learning method, and the diagnostic rate of the syndrome was studied using the REAL method when the number of features selected was 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 50, 70, and 100, respectively. Results: The syndromes with good diagnostic consistency were Heart (Xin)-qi deficiency, Heart-yang deficiency, Heart-yin deficiency, phlegm, stagnation of blood and stagnation of qi. Syndromes with poor diagnostic consistency were heartblood deficiency and blood deficiency of Heart and Liver (Gan). The highest diagnostic rates using the REAL method were Heart-yang deficiency followed by Heart-qi deficiency. A different number of features, such as 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 70, and 100, respectively, were selected and the diagnostic accuracy based on five features showed the highest diagnostic accuracy. The top five features which had a strong correlation with the syndromes were in accordance with the CM theory. Conclusions: CM syndrome differentiation is strongly subjective and it is difficult to obtain good diagnostic consistency. The REAL method fully considers the relationship between syndrome types and injury symptoms, and is suitable for the establishment of models for CM syndrome classification and identification. This method can probably provide the prerequisite for objectivity and standardization of CM differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Although chondroprotective activities have been documented for polysaccharides, the potential target of different polysaccharide may differ. The study was aimed to explore the effect of glucan HBP-A in chondrocyte monolayer culture and chondrocytes-alginate hydrogel constructs in vivo, especially on the expression of type II collagen. Methods: Chondrocytes isolated from rabbit articular cartilage were cultured and verified by immunocytochemical staining of type II collagen. Chondrocyte viability was assessed after being treated with HBP-A in different concentrations. Morphological status of chondrocytes-alginate hydrogel constructs in vitro was observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The constructs were treated with HBP-A and then injected to nude mice subcutaneously. Six weeks after transplantation, the specimens were observed through transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The mRNA expressions of disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 5 (ADAMTs-5), aggrecan and type II collagen in both monolayer culture and constructs were determined by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The expression of type II collagen and matrix metalloproteinases-3 (MMP-3) in chondrocyte monolayer culture was also tested through Western blot and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Results: MMP-3 secretion and ADAMTs-5 mRNA expression in vitro were inhibited by HBP-A at 0.3 mg/mL concentration. In morphological study, there were significant appearance of collagen in those constructs treated by HBP-A. Accordingly, in both chondrocyte monolayer culture and chondrocytes-alginate hydrogel constructs, the expression of type II collagen was increased significantly in HBP-A group when compared with control group ( P<0.001). Conclusions: The study documented that the potential pharmacological target of glucan HBP-A in chondrocytes monolayer culture and tissue engineered cartilage in vivo may be concerned with the inhibition of catabolic enzymes MMP-3, ADAMTs-5, and increasing of type II collagen expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to describe the prevalence of sarcopenia and discussed the applicability of different diagnostic criteria in Chinese older adults. 286 Chinese adults (136 men and 150 women) aged 60-88 were recruited. The prevalence of sarcopenia were calculated using different diagnostic criteria. Physical functioning was compared in sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic older adults. Compared with the standard of EWGSOP (European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People), the prevalence of sarcopenia was higher when the IWGS (International Working Group on Sarcopenia) standard was applied (Men: 7.4% vs. 0.8%; Women: 4.7% vs. 0%). If the AWGS (Aisa Working Group on Sarcopenia) standard was applied, the prevalence was 5.9% in men and 0.7% in women. In conclusion, the prevalence of sarcopenia in Chinese older adults ranged from 0% to around 10% when the diagnostic criteria of IGWS, EWGSOP and AGWS were applied. Further studies are still needed to investigate appropriate diagnostic criterion of sarcopenia for Chinese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Interleukin 18 (IL-18) is a potent proinflammatory cytokine thought to down-regulate cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme activities. This study aimed to assess the potential influence of two functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IL-18 promoter region on the tacrolimus pharmacokinetics in Chinese renal transplant patients. Methods: We enrolled 96 renal allograft recipients receiving tacrolimus-based immunosuppressive regiments. Two functional SNPs in the IL-18 gene promoter region at the positions -137G/C (rs187283) and -607A/C (rs1946518) and one SNP (rs776746) of CYP3A5 were genotyped using a Mass ARRAY platform. Tacrolimus daily doses (mg/day) and trough tacrolimus concentration (ng/ml) were continuously recorded for 1 month after transplantation. Results: The tacrolimus C/D ratio was significantly associated with the IL-18 rs1946518 gene polymorphism in the first month after transplantation ( P = 0.0225). We studied the influence of its polymorphism on tacrolimus C/D ratios in subjects with different CYP3A5 genotype backgrounds, and among patients with CYP3A5 expressers, the difference among the three genotypes was even more striking ( P < 0.001). We did not find significant differences in tacrolimus C/D ratios between the IL-18 rs187238 genotypes, either nominally or according to the CYP3A5 genotype. In a simple linear regression model, age, hemoglobin (Hb), CYP3A5 gene polymorphisms, and IL-18 A-607C gene polymorphisms were associated with log-transformed tacrolimus C/D ratios ( P < 0.05). In the final multiple linear regression model, CYP3A5 polymorphisms were the most important variant, accounting for 19.5 % of total variation involved in tacrolimus pharmacokinetics. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that a combined analysis of CYP3A5 and IL-18 promoter polymorphisms may help clinicians develop individualized tacrolimus treatment, which is based on determining CYP3A5 genotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The influence of various stroke impairments on bone health is poorly understood. This study showed that muscle function and small artery compliance were more strongly associated with the bone strength index at the tibial diaphyseal and epiphyseal regions, respectively. These impairments should be targeted in promoting bone health post-stroke. Introduction: This study examined the bone structural properties of the tibial distal epiphysis and diaphysis after chronic stroke and identified the clinical correlates of the bone strength index measured at these sites. Methods: The tibial distal epiphysis (4 % site) and diaphysis (66 % site) were scanned on both sides in 66 chronic stroke patients and 23 control participants using peripheral quantitative computed tomography. Dynamic knee muscle strength, balance function, spasticity, arterial compliance, and endurance were also measured in the stroke group. Results: At the 4 % site, multivariate analysis showed a significant side × group interaction effect (Wilk's lambda = 3.977, p < 0.001), with significant side-to-side differences in total volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD), trabecular vBMD, and bone strength index in the stroke group, but not in the control group. A significant side × group interaction was also found at the 66 % site (Wilk's lambda = 4.464, p < 0.001), with significant side-to-side differences in cortical vBMD, cortical area, cortical thickness, and bone strength index in the stroke group only. Balance and endurance were independently associated with bone strength index at both tibial sites in the paretic leg ( p < 0.05) after adjusting for relevant factors in multivariate regression analysis. Small artery compliance and muscle strength were significantly associated with the bone strength index at the 4 % site and 66 % site, respectively. Conclusions: The influence of various stroke impairments on bone was region-specific. While muscle function was more strongly associated with the bone strength index in the diaphyseal region, the effect of vascular health was more apparent in the tibial epiphysis in the paretic leg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This study seeks to investigate the effect of electrical stimulation (ES) at dorsal root ganglion (DRG) on disuse bone loss in a rat model. Hindlimb unloading for 14 days resulted in significant bone loss in rat tibia while rats with ES at DRG showed a significant reduced bone loss Introduction: Mechanical unloading induces osteoporosis in both human and animals. Previous studies demonstrated that electrical stimulation (ES) to dorsal root ganglion (DRG) could trigger secretion of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) which plays an important role in bone modeling and remodeling. This study seeks to investigate the effect of ES to DRG on disuse bone loss in a rat model. Methods: Twenty-four rats were randomly assigned in three experimental groups: cage control (CC), hindlimb unloading (HU), and hindlimb unloading with ES (HUES). ES was applied via implantable micro-electrical stimulators (IMES) to right DRGs at vertebral levels L4-L6 in HUES group. Results: Hindlimb unloading for 14 days resulted in 25.9 % decrease in total bone mineral content (BMC), 29.2 % decrease in trabecular BMD and trabecular microarchitecture and connectivity were significantly deteriorated in the proximal tibia metaphysis in HU group, while rats with ES at DRG showed significant reduced bone loss that there was 3.8 % increase in total BMC, 2.3 % decrease in trabecular BMD, and significant improvement in trabecular microarchitecture. There was a concurrent enhancement of expression of CGRP in stimulated DRGs. Conclusions: The results confirm the effect of ES at DRG on enhancing CGRP expression and suggest potential applications of IMES for the prevention and treatment of disuse bone loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Materialistic values among today's adolescents have been a concern around the world, yet few studies concerning Chinese adolescents' materialistic values have been conducted. Additionally, the joint effects of parental rejection and self-esteem on materialistic values remain unclear. Objective: We examined materialistic values in a sample of adolescents in mainland China, and tested whether parental rejection was positively correlated with adolescents' materialistic values and whether the process was moderated by self-esteem. Methods: We recruited 593 adolescents from 7th to 12th grade (299 boys; age: M = 16.41, SD = 1.84) and asked them to complete a questionnaire containing parental rejection (parental rejection subscale from s-EMBU; Arrindell et al. in Personal Individ Differ, 27(4):613-628, ), self-esteem (Self-Esteem Scale; Rosenberg in Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton University Press, Princeton, ), materialistic values (Youth Materialism Scale; Goldberg et al. in J Consum Psychol 13(3):278-288, ), and demographic information. Results: Chinese adolescents did not strongly endorse materialistic values and the 7th grade students had a significantly lower level of materialistic values than students from the other five grades. No gender difference was found. Parental rejection was positively correlated with adolescents' materialistic values, and the relationship was moderated by self-esteem. If faced with parental rejection, adolescents with higher self-esteem were less susceptive, without being as materialistic as those with lower self-esteem. Conclusion: Parental rejection might thwart adolescents' basic psychological needs. Therefore, adolescents pursued materialistic aspirations to compensate their needs. Adolescents with higher self-esteem were less materialistic, because they coped with parental rejection more effectively than those with lower self-esteem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the effect and molecular mechanisms of different doses of 8-hydroxy dihydroberberine (Hdber) for the treatment of hyperlipidemia in rats. Methods: A rat model of hyperlipidemia was established by feeding rats a high-fat diet for 4 weeks in 70 rats of 80 animals, and 10 rats were randomly selected as control group. The hyperlipidemic rats were then randomly divided into the following groups: a model group (MOD); a berberine group [BBR, 156 mg/(kg day)]; Hdber groups, which were treated with different doses of Hdber [78, 39 and 19.5 mg/(kg day)]; and a simvastatin group [SIM, 4 mg/(kg day)]. The corresponding therapy was administered to the rats of each treatment via gastric tubes. Normal animals were used as a control group. The blood levels of various lipids, including total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, free fatty acid (FFA), apolipoprotein AI(Apo-AI) and apolipoprotein B (Apo-B) were examined. The protein expressions of low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R), sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 (SREBP-2), 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK-9) in liver tissues were determined by Western blot analysis. Results: Compared with the control group of rats, the model group demonstrated a deteriorated blood lipid profile and exhibited increased expression levels of PCSK-9 protein in their liver tissues ( P<0.01). In addition, the high-fat diet decreased the expression levels of LDL-R, SREBP-2 and HMGCR proteins in murine liver tissues. However, the addition of berberine or Hdber reversed the blood lipid profile changes ( P<0.05 or P<0.01), decreased the expression levels of PCSK-9 proteins ( P<0.01), and increased the expression levels of LDL-R proteins in the hyperlipidemic rats ( P<0.01). These compounds did not significantly influence the expression levels of SREBP-2 and HMGCR proteins in the hyperlipidemic rats. Conclusions: Hdber is effective in the treatment of hyperlipidemia in rats. The therapeutic mechanisms of Hdber may be associated with increasing the expression of LDL-R protein and decreasing the expression of PCSK-9 protein in liver tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate whether the serum levels of inflammation-related cytokines might be different between the healthy individuals and the psoriatic patients diagnosed of three varied Chinese medicine (CM) syndromes [blood-stasis syndrome (BSS), blood-dryness syndrome (BDS) and wind-heat syndrome (WHS)]. Methods: A total of 62 psoriatic patients were recruited and assigned to 3 groups according to their CM syndromes, including 27 patients of BSS, 21 of BDS and 14 of WHS. Another 20 sex- and age-matched healthy subjects were enrolled into the control group. Serum concentrations of multiple cytokines, including monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), macrophage inflammatory protein-1α (MIP-1α), soluble CD4O ligand (SCD40L), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), epidermal growth factor (EGF), interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-17 (IL-17), interferon γ inducible protein-10 (IP-10) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), were measured by a multiplexed flow cytometric assay. Results: The circulating levels of MIP-1α, TNF-α, IL-8, and IP-10 were significantly increased in the psoriatic patients compared with the healthy controls ( P<0.01). Male and female patients tended to have higher serum levels of MCP-1 and IP-10, respectively ( P<0.05). Interestingly, compared with the control group, 6 out of the 9 cytokines (MCP-1, MIP-1α, TNF-α, EGF, IL-8 and IP-10) were substantially increased in the BSS group ( P<0.05 or P<0.01), whereas only MIP-1α and IL-8 levels were elevated in the BDS group ( P<0.05 or P<0.01) concurrent with lowered concentrations of SCD40L and IL-17 ( P<0.05). In the WHS group, MIP-1α was the only cytokine whose level was evidently increased ( P<0.01), in contrast to IL-17 which was decreased as compared with the control ( P<0.05). The psoriatic patients overall owned higher levels of MIP-1α and IL-8 in the circulation which were comparable among the 3 groups of CM syndromes ( P<0.01). In contrast, TNF-α level of the BSS group was the highest among the three ( P<0.01), followed by the BDS and the WHS groups. Conclusions: The expression profiles of cytokines in the circulation might not be necessarily identical for psoriatic patients with different CM syndromes. Accordingly, the serum concentrations of certain cytokines could potentially be used as the ancillary indices for the clinical classification of psoriatic CM syndromes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the association between variants in prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 1 ( PTGS1), prostaglandin F (2α) receptor ( PTGFR), and multidrug resistance protein 4 ( MRP4) genes and intraocular pressure (IOP) response to latanoprost in Chinese patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Methods: The IOP response to latanoprost was evaluated by percent IOP reduction (%ΔIOP) in the treated eye with the formula %ΔIOP = (Baseline IOP values − IOP values posttreatment) / Baseline IOP values × 100 %. Polymorphisms in PTGS1 (rs3842787 and rs10306114), PTGFR (rs3753380 and rs3766355), and MRP4 (rs11568658 and rs11568668) genes were detected by direct DNA sequencing. The differences among %ΔIOP of genotypes or haplotypes were obtained by use of the Mann-Whitney U test. Association analyses were performed by multiple linear regression analysis. Results: Latanoprost were prescribed to 63 subjects, 60 of which met the inclusion/exclusion criteria for the current study. Notably, the %ΔIOP in the rs11568658 GT heterozygous genotype was 10.4 %ΔIOP lower than that of GG homozygous wild-type on day 7 (15.7 ± 2.52 vs. 26.1 ± 2.88, P = 0.003), and the corresponding results in the rs10306114 AG heterozygous genotype and AT haplotype constructed by rs3753380 and rs3766355 on day 7 were 7.2 and 10.3 %ΔIOP ( P < 0.05). Interestingly, similar results were also observed on day 30 ( P = 0.008, P = 0.006, and P = 0.002, respectively). Multiple regression analysis showed that heterozygous genotypes of rs10306114, rs11568658, and carrier of AT haplotype were significantly correlated with the lower %ΔIOP. On day 30, the above variations explained 9.9, 10.7, and 17.7 % of the total variability of %ΔIOP in the Chinese POAG patients, respectively. Conclusion: rs10306114, rs3753380, rs3766355, and rs11568658 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) correlate with a response to latanoprost treatment in patients with POAG. These SNPs may be important determinants of variability in response to latanoprost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: We investigated the densitometric and microstructural features of the distal radius in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients using high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography. PsA patients have unique bone microstructural deficits, manifested as lower cortical bone density and higher cortical porosity, which are associated with a propensity to bone fragility. Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the densitometric, geometric, microstructural, and biomechanical features of the distal radius in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients. Methods: This study cohort consisted of 53 PsA patients (24 males and 29 females), with an average age of 53.1 years and 53 gender- and age-matched controls. Areal bone mineral density (aBMD) of the hip, lumbar spine, and ultradistal radius was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. High-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) was performed at the distal radius to obtain measures of volumetric BMD (vBMD), microstructure, and derived biomechanical indices. Results: There were no significant between-group differences in aBMD at the femoral neck, total hip, and ultradistal radius, while aBMD at the lumbar spine was significantly higher in patients. The only indices indicating compromised bone quality in PsA patients were related to cortical bone quality. Cortical vBMD were −3.8 % significantly lower, while cortical pore volume, porosity index, and pore diameter were 108, 79.5, and 8.6 %, respectively, significantly higher in patients. Cortical stress was marginally lower (−1.3 %, p = 0.077) in patients with stress significantly more unevenly distributed (4.9 %, p = 0.035). Endocortical perimeter and cortical pore volume were significantly higher in patients with vertebral fracture. Deficits in cortical bone quality were associated with indices of disease activity/severity and were more prominent in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus or hypertension. Conclusions: There is an intertwined relationship between chronic inflammation, cardiovascular risk factors, and bone loss in PsA. PsA patients seem to have unique bone microstructural deficits which are associated with a propensity to bone fragility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Association between 22 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the TNFSF11, TNFRSF11A, and TNFRSF11B genes in the RANKL/RANK/OPG pathway with bone mineral density (BMD) in 881 post-menopausal women. Our results suggest that TNFSF11 and TNFRSF11A, but not TNFRSF11B, genetic polymorphisms influence BMD mainly in the femoral neck in post-menopausal Chinese women. Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship of polymorphisms in the TNFSF11, TNFRSF11A, and TNFRSF11B genes in the RANKL/RANK/OPG pathway with bone mineral density (BMD) in a cohort of Chinese post-menopausal women. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 881 post-menopausal women aged 50-89 years. All participants underwent lumbar spinal (LS) and femoral neck (FN) BMD evaluation by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Twenty-two TNFSF11, TNFRSF11A, and TNFRSF11B SNPs were genotyped. We tested whether a single SNP or a haplotype was associated with BMD variations. Results: Two SNPs in the TNFSF11 gene (rs2277439 and rs2324851) and one in the TNFRSF11A gene (rs7239261) were found to be significantly associated with FN BMD ( p = 0.014, 0.013, and 0.047, respectively). Haplotype TGACGT of TNFSF11 rs9525641-rs2277439-rs2324851-rs2875459-rs2200287-rs9533166 was a genetic risk factor toward a lower FN BMD (beta = −0.1473; p = 0.01126). In contrary, haplotype TAGCGT of TNFSF11 rs9525641-rs2277439-rs2324851-rs2875459-rs2200287-rs9533166 was genetic protective factor for LS BMD (beta = 0.3923; p = 0.04917). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that TNFSF11 and TNFRSF11A, but not TNFRSF11B, genetic polymorphisms influence BMD mainly in the femoral neck in post-menopausal Chinese women. This contributes to the understanding of the role of genetic variation in this pathway in determining bone health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the effect of acupuncture on progesterone (P4) and prolactin (PRL) in rats of embryo implantation dysfunction (EID). Methods: On the first day of pregnancy, 72 female Wistar rats were randomly allocated into the normal group, the EID model group, the acupuncture group and the P4 group (18 in each group). The normal group was injected sesame oil, while the other three groups were given mifepristone to establish the EID model. The acupuncture group and the P4 group were given treatment of acupuncture and P4 injection, respectively. The serum of P4 and PRL were detected by radioimmunoassay, and the mRNA and protein expressions of P4 receptor (PR) and PRL receptor (PRLR) were detected using real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical method, respectively. Results: Compared with the normal group, the serum levels of P4 and PRL as well as the mRNA and protein expression levels of PR and PRLR in the EID model group were significantly lowered ( P<0.01 or P<0.05). The above indices in the acupuncture group and the P4 group were significantly elevated compared with the EID model group ( P<0.01 or P<0.05). Conclusion: Acupuncture can promote embryo implantation effectively, which might be related to the effects of acupuncture on upregulating the P4 and PRL levels in serum and the PR and PRLR expression levels in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate HIV disclosure activities in social support networks of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs). An egocentric network study was conducted in Nanning, China. A sample of 147 PLWHAs (egos) nominated 922 network members (alters) who would provide egos with social support. All egos disclosed their HIV status to at least one alter in their support networks and 26.5 % disclosed to all alters. Among network alters, 95.7 % of spouse alters, 59.9 % of other family member alters, and 29.7 % of friend alters were aware of egos' HIV status. PLWHA egos were more likely to disclose their HIV status to their spouse and other family members, frequently-contacted alters, and alters who provided more social support. In addition, older egos and unmarried egos were more likely to disclose their HIV status. The findings indicate that network-based HIV intervention programs should take into consideration selective disclosure in social networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Maternal obesity is a risk factor for metabolic diseases in offspring. The aim of this study was to investigate whether quercetin administration during gestation and lactation could have any protective effect against the impact of maternal obesity on increased sensitivity to obesity and metabolic disorders in offspring. Methods: Female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a high-fat diet to induce obesity. Obese dams were administered 0, 50, 100 or 200 mg/kg body weight (BW) quercetin intragastrically during gestation and lactation. Normal weight dams were used as controls. The F1 generation was fed with a standard diet after weaning, and blood glucose, lipids and inflammatory factors were assessed. Expression of biomarkers involved endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and related inflammatory pathways in liver and adipose tissues were analyzed at postnatal day 100. Results: Maternal obesity resulted in increased birth weight, postnatal BW gain, hyperglycemia, hyperlipemia, hyperinsulinemia, increased serum levels of inflammatory factors, and up-regulated biomarkers involved in ER stress and related inflammatory pathways in the offspring. Maternal quercetin intervention (QI) had significant ameliorating effects on maternal blood lipids, especially cholesterol, which resulted in improved glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity and alleviated ER stress and related inflammation in the grown offspring of obese dams. Conclusions: Maternal QI in obese dams during gestation and lactation reduced birth weight and postnatal BW gain in the offspring, and helped to improve insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism of the mature offspring via reducing ER stress and related inflammation in the liver and adipose tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The study is about the regulatory effects of estrogen and parathyroid hormone (PTH) on sclerostin, a protein that inhibits the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. The results indicate that estrogen may down-regulate sclerostin expression and that estrogen displays synergistic action with PTH. These results provide a new perspective on the relationship between estrogen and bone. Purpose: To investigate whether estrogen can down-regulate SOST and MEF2 (myocyte enhancer factor 2) expression and whether co-treatment with estrogen and PTH has a stronger effect on suppressing SOST than PTH applied alone in ovariectomized rats. Methods: Forty-three-month-old virgin female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were ovariectomized and divided into four groups ( n = 10). Another ten age-matched rats received sham operations as controls. After allowing 8 weeks for the development of vertebral osteopenia, the rats were administered the drug intervention. For this intervention, the estrogen group was subcutaneously injected with 17β-estradiol at 25 μg/kg body weight, the PTH group was injected with 80 μg/kg synthetic human PTH (1-34), and the co-treatment group was concurrently treated with PTH and estrogen at the above dosage. The OVX group and sham group were treated with vehicle. The drug treatment was conducted for 12 weeks. After the lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) was measured, the rats were sacrificed, and the lumbar spine and blood were collected for qPCR, Western blot, immunohistochemistry and other tests. Results: Estrogen can down-regulate MEF2 and sclerostin expression, and co-treatment with estrogen and PTH has a stronger effect on suppressing MEF2 and SOST mRNA than PTH alone. The co-treatment group displayed slightly higher bone mass and biomechanical properties than the PTH group, but the differences were not significant. Conclusions: Estrogen appears to be a regulator of sclerostin, and the effect may involve suppressing MEF2s. Combined treatment with PTH and estrogen is not more beneficial for vertebral bone mass and strength than treatment with PTH alone in ovariectomized rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The bone mineral density (BMD) of a total of 1,379 healthy postmenopausal Chinese women was measured. Ten tagging SNPs of the sclerostin ( SOST) gene were genotyped. Our results suggest that the polymorphisms of the rs2023794 and rs74252774 in the SOST gene were associated with BMD of the lumbar spine in postmenopausal Chinese women. Introduction: The purpose of the study was to determine the associations between polymorphisms of SOST gene and BMD in postmenopausal Chinese women. Methods: A total of 1,379 independent healthy postmenopausal Chinese women including 703 in our previous study were recruited. The BMD of the lumbar spine 1-4 (L1-4) and left proximal femur including total hip and femoral neck were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Ten tagging SNPs (rs1234612, rs1513670, rs1634330, rs1708635, rs2023794, rs7220711, rs74252774, rs851057, rs851058, and rs865429) of the SOST gene were genotyped. Results: The rs2023794 and rs74252774 and the haplotype ACCATTCT of SOST gene were associated with age and body mass index (BMI) adjusted L1-4 BMD ( P values were 0.010, 0.007, and 0.007, respectively) even after performing the Bonferroni multiple-significance-test correction. There was a clear trend in these regions that the CC genotype of the rs2023794 and the TT genotype of the rs74252774 have higher BMD values than other genotypes. The contributions of the rs2023794 and rs74252774 to the phenotypic variation of L1-4 BMD were 0.6 and 0.7 %, respectively. We failed to find any association between the 10 SNPs and 6 haplotypes of the SOST gene and BMD at the hip site in this study. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the polymorphisms of the rs2023794 and rs74252774 in the SOST gene were associated with BMD of the lumbar spine in a large sample of postmenopausal Chinese women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: We aim to investigate the correlation between presence of anterior temporal artery (ATA), the first major branch of middle cerebral artery (MCA), on conventional angiography and clinical outcome in patients with acute atherosclerotic M1-MCA occlusion. Methods: Consecutive patients with acute atherosclerotic M1-MCA occlusion from Nanjing Stroke Registry Program (NSRP) between January 2007 and December 2012 were included in this study. All patients underwent MRI followed by conventional angiography. From their data, we analyzed baseline characteristics, infarction patterns, DWI-ASPECTS, and collateral circulation. The correlation of ATA presence and good clinical outcome, modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score ≤2, at 3 months was also calculated. Results: In 98 patients meeting entry criteria, the presence of ATA was found in 44 patients. Patients with ATA present were found to have less hypertension ( p = 0.042), lower baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) ( p = 0.043), more small infarcts in perforating artery territory ( p = 0.013), and a higher number of DWI-ASPECTS ≥7 ( p = 0.034). Binary logistic regression analysis showed an adjusted odds ratio of 4.45 for a good outcome in patients with ATA presence (95 % CI 1.52 to 13.03, p = 0.007). Conclusion: The presence of ATA can be used as a predictor of good outcome in patients with acute atherosclerotic M1-MCA occlusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To observe the clinical curative effect of Chinese medicine Bushen Huoxue Granule(补肾活血颗粒, BHG) on Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with depressive state. Methods: Sixty-two PD patients with depressive state were randomly assigned to two groups by using a random number table, 31 in each group. Madopar was given to all as the conventional treatment. The fluoxetine hydrochloride dispersible tablet was given to the patients in the control group and BHG was given to those in the treatment group. The therapeutic course for all was 12 weeks. Before and after treatment, Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD) was applied to judge the curative effect, and the changes of cerebral neurotransmitters levels in the brain of patients were detected by encephalofluctuograph technique. Results: The scores of HAMD in the two groups were decreased markedly after 12-week treatment. It was lower in the treatment group than that in the control group with significant difference ( P<0.01). The contents of norepinephrine (NE) and 5-serotonin (5-HT) in the PD patients were obviously lower than normal value. There was no significant difference between the two groups before treatment ( P>0.05). The contents of NE and 5-HT were all increased in the two groups after treatment ( P<0.05), with significant differences between the two groups ( P<0.01). Conclusion: BHG could increase the contents of NE and 5-HT in PD patients' brain to improve the depressive state of PD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the correlations among persistent viral infection, heart function and Chinese medicine (CM) difined-syndromes in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Methods: Fifty patients with DCM in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University from October 2009 to December 2011 were selected as the research subjects, and 30 healthy people were simultaneously selected as the normal control group to detect persistent viral infections after admission. The CM syndrome type and grade of heart function were then evaluated. The expression level of Coxsackie adenovirus receptor (CAR) was detected using the flow cytometry (FCM) technique, coxsackie virus RNA (CVB-RNA) using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR), and the plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level with a Triage meter plus diagnosis instrument. Finally, the parameters such as left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDd) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were measured by ultrasonic cardiogram. Person correlation analysis was used for measured data, Spearman correlation analysis for rating data, and the Chi-square test for numerical data. Results: CVB-RNA was positive in 22 patients (44%) with DCM, while only 6 cases (20%) were CVB-RNA-positive in the normal control group, with a significant difference between the two groups ( P<0.01). The expression level of CAR was significantly elevated in the DCM group compared with the normal control group ( P<0.01). In CVB-RNA-positive patients (22 cases), the expression level of CAR was significantly higher than in CVB-RNA-negative patients (28 cases; P<0.01). In the DCM patients, there was a positive correlation between the CAR expression and the BNP level ( r=0.34, P<0.05), while no significant difference was found between the CAR expression and the LVEF and LVEDd ( r=−0.32, 0.30, P>0.05). There was no clear correlation between virus infection and the CM syndrome types in DCM patients ( r=−0.22, P>0.05). According to the sequence of syndrome types: phlegm → qi deficiency → blood stasis → hydroretention with asthenic yang (from low to high), a positive correlation was existed between the BNP levels and CM syndrome types ( r=0.139, P<0.05). Conclusion: The expression of CAR on the surface of white cells could be used to detect persistent viral infection. The expression level of CAR and heart function in DCM patients were highly correlated. The expression level of BNP may serve as an objective index for differentiating CM syndromes for patients with DCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the objectivity and comprehensiveness of Response Evaluation Criteria of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Solid Tumor (Draft, REC-TCM-ST) in application of Chinese medicine therapeutic effect in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: A retrospective clinical research was used in 104 NSCLC patients in stages of III-IV, 53 cases were in Chinese medicine (CM) group and 51 cases were in Western medicine (WM) group. The therapeutic effect of the two groups was evaluated with both REC-TCM-ST and Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumor (RECIST). Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the survival time. Kappa test method was used to test the consistency of the two kinds of evaluation results. Results: According to REC-TCM-ST, the effective rate on relieving tumor mass in the CM group was significantly lower than that in the WM group ( P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in tumor-mass stable rate ( P>0.05); the symptom of weakness in the CM group was improved significantly, indicating better therapeutic effect than that in the WM group ( P<0.01). Karnofsky score in the CM group was significantly better than that in the WM group ( P<0.01). In terms of survival conditions, the median survival time and the survival rate of 6 months, 1 year and 2 years of the CM group were higher than the WM group. The total effective rate was 9.62%, and the total stable rate was 72.12% for 104 cases according to RECIST; while the total effective rate was 34.62%, and the total stable rate was 84.62% according to REC-TCM-ST, thus there were significant differences between the results of the two criteria ( P<0.01), and there was also some consistency between them, but not satisfactory. Conclusions: REC-TCM-ST was used to evaluate the therapeutic effect of CM in the treatment of advanced NSCLC, which shows that its evaluation results can better reflect the advantages and disadvantages of CM, and the effectiveness of CM is more objective and comprehensive than RECIST, so REC-TCM-ST is worthy of further improvement and clinical expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Workstyle as it is related to symptoms of musculoskeletal symptoms of the upper limbs is the behavioural, cognitive and physical responses that occur in individuals to increases in work demands. A self report measure of this construct was developed that was both associated with and predictive of work related upper extremity symptoms. The aim of this study was to translate, culturally adapt, and validate a Chinese version of the Workstyle Short Form (C-WSF). Methods The C-WSF was translated following a forward and backward translation approach. Content validity was examined by item- and scale-level content validity indices. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to analyze test-retest reliability. Exploratory factor analysis was used to identify factor structures and the internal consistency of these factors was assessed by calculating Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficients. The construct validity of the C-WSF was first determined by convergence in relation to the Cumulative Symptoms Score for Upper Extremity symptoms and then by comparison of those with and without upper extremity pain in Chinese cooks, a work with a high level of exposures to varying levels of work demands coupled with exposure to workplace psychosocial and biomechanical stressors. Results The C-WSF demonstrated excellent item- and scale-level content validity index (>0.9). The factor structure of C-WSF was similar to its original English version. The internal consistency of different subscales of C-WSF ranged from 0.65 to 0.91. The ICC was between 0.79 and 0.93 indicating good test-retest reliability. C-WSF was significantly correlated with upper extremity symptoms (r = 0.34, p < 0.001). Conclusions C-WSF is a reliable and valid version of the Workstyle measures for use in Chinese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Epidemiological studies have shown that circulating sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels are lower in metabolic syndrome (MetS) patients than in non-MetS individuals. In this study, we investigated the relationship of polymorphisms in the SHBG gene with the serum SHBG levels and MetS in Han Chinese. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of 316 subjects who were recruited from a health checkup population at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, lipid levels, total testosterone, and SHBG levels were obtained in addition to the seven SHBG single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Results: The variant allele (AG or AA) carriers in rs6259, compared to the wild-type allele carriers (GG), have a lower risk for MetS [OR 0.56, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.33-0.96] and higher serum SHBG and TT levels ( P = 0.016, 0.004). CT or TT allele carriers in rs3760213, compared to CC allele carriers, also have a lower risk for MetS (OR 0.59, 95 % CI 0.34-1.00) and significantly higher SHBG and TT levels ( P = 0.029, 0.009). Carriers having both of the variant alleles had the lowest risk of MetS (OR 0.51, 95 % CI 0.275-0.950) and the highest SHBG levels. The risk of MetS rose with the decrease in serum SHBG levels for rs6259 and rs376021 carriers. Conclusion: rs6259 and rs3760213 SNPs are associated with the risk of MetS and lower serum SHBG level in Chinese Han males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]