Suicidal ideation and attempts among rural Chinese aged 16-34 years--socio-demographic correlates in the context of a transforming China

BACKGROUND

The distinctive epidemiologic profile of suicide in China, with notably high rates among rural young adult females, invites examination of possible underlying risk factors. Although there are accumulating data regarding the epidemiology of suicide among youth and young adults in China, there are meager data on suicidal ideation and attempts despite its importance.

METHODS

Our study in 2005-06 sought to identify all potentially suitable rural participants, aged 16-34 years, from 10 representative villages in rural Sichuan Province. We conducted structured interviews regarding a range of socio-demographic characteristics and suicidal morbidity.

RESULTS

1654 of a potential 3008 participants participated; lifetime and one-year prevalence were: suicidal ideation (18.8% and 5.2%), serious ideation (8.6% and 2.3%), planning (5.8% and 1.5%), and attempt (2.7% and 0.5%). Comparisons among strata of socio-demographic characteristics showed more prevalent suicidal ideation associated with: female gender, lower education, poorer financial perception, greater rurality of residence, and marital status of "never married" or "others". Suicidal attempt was associated with: female gender and a marital status of "others".

LIMITATIONS

The study was carried out in one province and caution is required when considering other rural regions of China. There were a substantial number of unapproachable subjects because of their migrant work at distant sites.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results revealed an apparently higher prevalence for suicide ideation and planning compared with residents of other countries, but a lower prevalence for attempts. These data suggests that the relatively high rate of suicide in rural China reflects an elevated case fatality ratio due to chosen methods. The results also revealed unique patterns for correlates with the occurrence of ideation and attempts.

Three-dimensional secondary instability of a spatially developing von Kármán vortex street in a far wake

This paper presents studies of a three-dimensional secondary instability of a spatially developing von Kármán vortex street. It develops owing to the nonlinear interaction between a two-dimensional mean far-wake flow and its most unstable disturbances. This forms a nonlinear primary wake flow. Sections of this flow are selected to perform a temporal secondary stability study under the assumption of parallel flow. The eigenvalue characteristics of the secondary instability are compared with the results from the use of a linear primary flow comprising unmodified mean wake flow coexisting with a linear primary fundamental disturbance with an empirical amplitude as a parameter, resulting in a simpler Floquet analysis. The maximum amplification rates occur at about the same spanwise wavenumber for both the nonlinear and linear primary flows, in qualitative agreement. But the amplification rate versus the spanwise wavenumber spectrum are both qualitatively and quantitatively different, the nonlinear primary flow results in a lower magnitude of the amplification rates. Some interpretations of controlled experiments are made, and it is concluded that the two- and three-dimensional disturbances so obtained appeared to be from the primary instability, where the amplification mechanisms come from the unmodified mean flow. A general discussion of the nonlinear interaction between the primary two-dimensional flow and the three-dimensional secondary instability is given, which may well form the basis for further nonlinear studies.

Prevalence and characteristics of psoriatic arthritis in Chinese patients with psoriasis

BACKGROUND

The prevalence and clinical characteristics of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in patients with psoriasis vary widely in different countries and studies on Chinese population are rarely reported.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of PsA in a Chinese population of patients with psoriasis.

METHODS

A large cross-sectional observational study was conducted in our outpatient dermatology department and consecutive psoriatic patients were evaluated for PsA according to Classification of Psoriatic arthritis (CASPAR) criteria. Demographic and medical parameters were recorded.

RESULTS

Among 1928 patients with psoriasis, 112 patients (5.8%) had PsA, of which 92% was newly diagnosed. Oligoarthritis (48.2%) was the most common manifestation pattern, followed by spondylitis (26.8%), polyarthritis (19.6%) and classic distal interphalangeal (DIP) arthritis (5.4%). Enthesitis was present in 26.8% and dactylitis in 13.4% of the patients. Compared with patients without PsA, patients with PsA had more severe skin disease (mean PASI 9.7 vs. 6.0), higher frequency of nail changes (46.4% vs. 21.0%) and scalp involvement (90.2% vs. 76.4%).

CONCLUSION

The findings are consistent with a low prevalence of PsA among patients with psoriasis in Asia and confirm a high percentage of undiagnosed cases with active arthritis among PsA patients in dermatologist's office. Dermatologists should screen for PsA in their patients, especially those with risk characteristics and early signs.

CIP2A is over-expressed in acute myeloid leukaemia and associated with HL60 cells proliferation and differentiation

INTRODUCTION

CIP2A is a newly identified inhibitor of PP2A. It can stabilize c-Myc and promote anchorage-independent cell growth and tumour formation. CIP2A is over-expressed in some solid tumours although its expression in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is still unknown.

METHODS

CIP2A mRNA and protein expressions were determined in bone marrow mononuclear cells of both patients with AML and healthy controls using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, respectively. We used siRNA to knock-down CIP2A expression in HL60 cells and then examined its potential roles during the pathological progression of AML.

RESULTS

CIP2A mRNA was present in 54 of 70 (77.14%) patients with newly diagnosed AML and in 11 of 14 (70.86%) patients with relapsed AML, which was significantly higher than complete remission specimens and healthy controls (P<0.001). Knock-down of CIP2A in HL60 cells slowed down cell proliferation, decreased clonogenic activity and promoted cell differentiation.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that CIP2A is over-expressed in patients with newly diagnosed/relapsed AML and the expression of CIP2A could have potential use as a clinical marker for AML relapse after treatment. The high expression of CIP2A in HL60 cells may be related to active cell proliferation and arrest of cell differentiation. This study may shed light on the molecular function of CIP2A in myeloid leukemogenesis.

Clinical features of atopic dermatitis in a hospital-based setting in China

BACKGROUND

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory skin disease. There have been few detailed reports of the clinical evaluation of Chinese patients with AD.

OBJECTIVES

To give a profile of the clinical features of Chinese AD patients in a university hospital setting.

METHODS

A total of 1008 cases met Hanifin and Rajka diagnostic criteria of AD were recruited at Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, China.

RESULTS

In our survey, 22.7% patients were mild, 66.6% were moderate and 10.7% were severe according to the SCORAD index. Both the frequency and severity of the male patients were slightly higher. The frequency of asthma among the AD patients was 16.7% and it was increased with the age (χ2 = 205.20, P = 0.000). The frequencies of objective minor signs were demonstrated with age-related changes. Besides, three localized variants including eyelid eczema (49.8%), scalp dermatitis (49.7%), infra-auricular and retroauricular fissuring (44.8%) were commonly observed, especially in the infantile phase (P < 0.01). It was showed significant differences in serum total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels of different age groups. The positive rate of Phadiatop was raised after 3 years old and that of the common food allergens were decreased after 6 years old.

CONCLUSIONS

More males than females had ongoing AD in our survey. Most AD debuted in the first year of the cases. High incidence of the three clinical signs: eyelid eczema, scalp dermatitis and infra-auricular and retroauricular fissuring among the patients suggests it can be a potential valuable diagnostic clue to AD.

Adenosine 2A receptor is protective against renal injury in MRL/lpr mice

OBJECTIVE

Adenosine is considered as a potent endogenous anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive molecule. We examined the roles of A2A-adenosine receptor (A(2A)R) in the progression of lupus nephritis.

METHODS

MRL/lpr mice were given a selective A(2A)R agonist, CGS21680 (0.4 mg/kg per day, i.p.) while control mice received saline only. After 8 weeks of treatment, mice were sacrificed for assessment of functional and histological parameters as well as inflammatory infiltration in the kidneys. MCP-1, IFN-γ, MHC-II and A(2A)R mRNA expression was evaluated by RT-PCR. Expression of A(2A)R and nuclear NFκB p65 protein was determined by Western blot analysis. Levels of anti-dsDNA antibody and IFN-γ were measured by ELISA.

RESULTS

CGS21680 treatment resulted in significant decrease in proteinuria, blood urea and creatinine as well as improvement in renal histology. Renal macrophage and T-cell infiltration were significantly attenuated in association with suppressed expression of MCP-1, IFN-γ and MHC-II. CGS21680 treatment reduced the level of serum anti-dsDNA and renal immune complex deposition. CGS21680 inhibited the activation of NFκB and suppressed the expression of IFN-γ, MCP-1 and MHC-II in MRL/lpr splenocytes.

CONCLUSIONS

A(2A)R activation suppressed inflammation in the kidneys of MRL/lpr mice and can be considered as a novel therapeutic approach for human lupus nephritis.

Wnt/β-catenin activation promotes prostate tumor progression in a mouse model

Our previous studies have found that activation of Wnt/β-Catenin signaling resulted in mouse prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (mPIN). In the large probasin promoter directed SV40-Large T-antigen (LPB-Tag) expressing mouse prostate, mPIN forms with rare areas of adenocarcinoma. Combining expression of both Wnt-signaling and Tag expression in the mouse prostate, we have studied the role of Wnt/β-Catenin signaling in the progression from mPIN to adenocarcinoma. Our results show that the prostates of mice expressing Tag alone or nuclear β-Catenin alone developed mPIN while the activation of both Tag and the Wnt/β-Catenin pathway resulted in invasive prostate adenocarcinoma. Also, Foxa2, a forkhead transcription factor, was induced by active Wnt/β-Catenin signaling; and the expression of Foxa2 was associated with the invasive phenotype in the primary prostate cancer. In the LPB-Tag/dominant active (D.A.) β-Catenin prostates, MMP7, a Wnt/β-Catenin target gene, was up-regulated. Furthermore, we also assessed AR and AR signaling pathway in these LPB-Tag/D.A. β-Catenin mice. Although β-Catenin is a well known AR co-activator in vitro, our study provides strong in vivo evidences indicating that both AR protein and the AR pathway were down-regulated in the prostate of LPB-Tag/D.A. β-Catenin mice. Histological analysis shows that prostate sections derived from the LPB-Tag/D.A. β-Catenin mice display neuroendocrine differentiation (NED) but NE cancer does not develop. Together, our findings indicate that Wnt/β-Catenin signaling plays an important role in the progression of mPIN to prostate adenocarcinoma.

Next-generation small RNA sequencing for microRNAs profiling in the honey bee Apis mellifera

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators in various physiological and pathological processes via post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. The honey bee (Apis mellifera) is a key model for highly social species, and its complex social behaviour can be interpreted theoretically as changes in gene regulation, in which miRNAs are thought to be involved. We used the SOLiD sequencing system to identify the repertoire of miRNAs in the honey bee by sequencing a mixed small RNA library from different developmental stages. We obtained a total of 36,796,459 raw sequences; of which 5,491,100 short sequences were fragments of mRNA and other noncoding RNAs (ncRNA), and 1,759,346 reads mapped to the known miRNAs. We predicted 267 novel honey bee miRNAs representing 380,182 short reads, including eight miRNAs of other insects in 14,107,583 genome-mapped sequences. We verified 50 of them using stem-loop reverse-transcription PCR (RT-PCR), in which 35 yielded PCR products. Cross-species analyses showed 81 novel miRNAs with homologues in other insects, suggesting that they were authentic miRNAs and have similar functions. The results of this study provide a basis for studies of the miRNA-modulating networks in development and some intriguing phenomena such as caste differentiation in A. mellifera.

Use of CBCT to identify the morphology of maxillary permanent molar teeth in a Chinese subpopulation

AIM

To investigate variations in root canal configuration in the maxillary permanent molar teeth of a Chinese subpopulation using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).

METHODOLOGY

A total of 269 patients with healthy, untreated, well-developed maxillary molars were enrolled, including those suffering facial trauma, and those who required a pre-operative assessment for implants. Radiographic examination by CBCT was conducted as part of their routine examination, diagnosis and treatment planning. Overall, 299 maxillary first and 210 maxillary second molar teeth were examined in vivo by CBCT. The number of roots, the number of canals per root, the canal configuration and the presence of additional mesiobuccal canals were recorded. Vertucci's classification for root-canal configurations was utilized.

RESULTS

All maxillary first molars had three separate roots; however, 52% of mesiobuccal (MB) roots had two canals with the remainder having one. All distobuccal and palatal roots had Vertucci Type I canal configurations. When the MB2 canal was present, 14, 69 and 16% of MB roots had Type II, IV and V canal configurations, respectively. The root canal system of the maxillary first molar teeth could be categorized into two variants: one with three separate roots with one canal in each of the distobuccal and palatal roots and two canals in the MB root, and the other with three separate roots with one canal in each root. Of 210 maxillary second molars, 10% had one root, 8% two roots and 81% three roots. Of the MB roots, 22% had two canals with the remainder having one. When the MB2 canal was present, 18%, 58%, 10% and 3% of MB roots had type II, IV, V and VI canal configurations, respectively. The root canal system of the maxillary second molar could be categorized into eight variants.

CONCLUSIONS

Mesiobucccal roots of maxillary molar teeth had more variation in their canal system than the distobuccal or palatal roots. The root canal configuration of the maxillary second molars was more variable than that of the first molars. CBCT can enhance detection and mapping of the mesiobuccal root-canal system with the potential to improve the quality of root canal treatment.

Biochemical and molecular analysis of carboxylesterase-mediated hydrolysis of cocaine and heroin

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Carboxylesterases (CEs) metabolize a wide range of xenobiotic substrates including heroin, cocaine, meperidine and the anticancer agent CPT-11. In this study, we have purified to homogeneity human liver and intestinal CEs and compared their ability with hydrolyse heroin, cocaine and CPT-11.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

The hydrolysis of heroin and cocaine by recombinant human CEs was evaluated and the kinetic parameters determined. In addition, microsomal samples prepared from these tissues were subjected to chromatographic separation, and substrate hydrolysis and amounts of different CEs were determined.

KEY RESULTS

In contrast to previous reports, cocaine was not hydrolysed by the human liver CE, hCE1 (CES1), either as highly active recombinant protein or as CEs isolated from human liver or intestinal extracts. These results correlated well with computer-assisted molecular modelling studies that suggested that hydrolysis of cocaine by hCE1 (CES1), would be unlikely to occur. However, cocaine, heroin and CPT-11 were all substrates for the intestinal CE, hiCE (CES2), as determined using both the recombinant protein and the tissue fractions. Again, these data were in agreement with the modelling results.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

These results indicate that the human liver CE is unlikely to play a role in the metabolism of cocaine and that hydrolysis of this substrate by this class of enzymes is via the human intestinal protein hiCE (CES2). In addition, because no enzyme inhibition is observed at high cocaine concentrations, potentially this route of hydrolysis is important in individuals who overdose on this agent.

Polymorphism in 3'-untranslated region of toll-like receptor 4 gene is associated with protection from hepatitis B virus recurrence after liver transplantation

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) recurrence is one of the more severe complications following liver transplantation. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a key role in human immunity by recognizing various bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the TLRs are thought to have an impact on the susceptibility to some pathogens. This study focused on the association between polymorphisms in the TLRs and HBV recurrence after liver transplantation in Han Chinese patients.

METHODS

A total of 41 tag SNPs in TLRs were detected by the snapshot technique in 125 patients with primary HBV-related diseases receiving liver transplantation in our center from 2004 to 2008.

RESULTS

By comparing the genetic variations and clinical data between the HBV recurrence patients and nonrecurrence patients, we found that the variant genotype of rs11536889 (TLR4) was significantly associated with HBV recurrence after liver transplantation (P = 0.040, odds ratio was 0.390, 95% confidence interval 0.159-0.957).

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that polymorphism in 3'-untranslated regions of the TLR4 gene may be related to protection from HBV recurrence after liver transplantation in Han Chinese patients.