Elevated serum complement C3 levels are related to the development of prediabetes in an adult population: the Tianjin Chronic Low-Grade Systematic Inflammation and Health Cohort Study

AIMS

To investigate whether serum complement C3 is related to the prevalence and incidence of prediabetes in an adult population.

METHODS

A cross-sectional (n = 10 206) and prospective cohort study (n = 3333), with a mean (range; 95% CI) follow-up of 2.63 (1-6; 2.58-2.68) years, was conducted in people recruited from the Health Management Centre of Tianjin Medical University General Hospital in Tianjin, China. Measurement of serum C3 concentration, blood fasting glucose, oral glucose tolerance, HbA1c and other potential confounding factors was performed at baseline and each year during the follow-up. Prediabetes was defined according to the criteria of the American Diabetes Association. Adjusted logistic and Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to assess the relationships between C3 quintiles and prediabetes.

RESULTS

The prevalence and incidence of prediabetes were 38.5% and 119 per 1000 person-years, respectively. In cross-sectional analysis, after adjustment for potential confounders, the odds ratios of prediabetes for increasing quintiles of C3 were 1.00 (reference), 1.32 (95% CI 1.14-1.53), 1.37 (95% CI 1.18-1.59), 1.75 (95% CI 1.51-2.03), 2.25 (95% CI 1.93-2.62; P for trend < 0.0001). In the cohort analysis, the multiple-adjusted hazard ratio of prediabetes in the highest quintile of baseline C3 was 1.43 (95% CI 1.15, 1.78; P for trend < 0.001), when compared with the lowest quintile.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that elevated serum C3 levels are significantly related to an increased risk of developing prediabetes in an adult population, suggesting that C3 can be used as a biomarker in high-risk individuals to improve primary prevention of prediabetes and diabetes.

[RNPC1 induces sensitivity of HER-2-positive breast cancer BT474 cells to trastuzumab through upregulation of HER2]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the sensitivity of HER-2-positive BT474 breast cancer cells to trastuzumab after knockdown or overexpression of RNA binding protein 38 (RNPC1).

METHODS

The expressions of RNPC1 and HER-2 mRNA were detected by qRT-PCR, and the expressions of RNPC1, HER-2 and PI3K/AKT proteins were detected by Western blot after transfected with RNPC1 lentiviral vector, respectively. The experimental groups were treated with different concentration of trastuzumab, and cell apoptosis rate was analyzed by 7-AAD/APC double staining flow cytometry, and cell growth inhibition rate was tested by cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8). The expression of apoptosis-related proteins was detected by Western blot assay.

RESULTS

The results of qRT-PCR showed that overexpression of RNPC1 increased the expressions of RNPC1 and HER-2 mRNA, and the expressions of RNPC1 and HER-2 were decreased after RNPC1 knockdown. The knockdown of RNPC1 decreased the expressions of RNPC1 and HER-2. Moreover, overexpression of RNPC1 decreased and knockdown of RNPC1 increased the levels of p-PI3K and p-AKT while the total protein expressions of both were marginally changed.The results of analysis using a cell counting CCK-8 kit showed that the RNPC1 overexpressed group had a higher growth inhibition rate [(20.33±1.25)%, (35.38±2.05)%, (50.43±2.12)%, (65.35±2.08)% and(76.00±2.16)%, respectively] than that of the control group [(13.67±1.24)%, (27.86±2.05)%, (39.72±1.69)%, (53.33±1.70)% and(62.68±2.07)% ] when treated with different concentrations of trastuzumab (5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 μg/ml). The cell apoptosis rates in the RNPC1-overexpressed group [(19.46±1.06)%, (30.87±0.98)%, (50.45±1.13)%, respectively] were also increased compared with that in the control group [(14.38±0.64)%, (21.65±1.24)%, (38.03±0.85)%] when treated with different concentrations of trastuzumab (0, 10, 20 and 30 μg/ml)(P<0.05 for all). Reverse results were observed in the RNPC1 knockdown experiments [experimental groups: (9.67±1.18)%, (21.67±1.23)%, (30.33±1.25)%, (40.33±1.69)%, and (53.00±1.63)%] compared with those of control groups: [(14.00±0.82)%, (27.67±1.25)%, (39.67±1.79)%, (53.67±1.50)%, and (63.33±1.52)%]; and experimental groups: [(11.64±0.68)%, (16.60±1.01)%, and (25.14±3.12)%] compared with those of the control groups: [(14.71±0.61)%, (22.65±0.96)%, and (39.03±0.85)%]. The overexpression of RNPC1 increased the expression levels of Bim and Bad and decreased the level of Bcl-xl, and reverse result was observed after knockdown of RNPC1.

CONCLUSION

RNPC1 may promote the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to trastuzumab through the increased expression of HER-2 in the BT474 breast cancer cells.

[Phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten/phosphatidyl Inositol 3-kinase/vascular endothelial growth factor signaling pathway changes in the rabbit Kawasaki disease model]

OBJECTIVE

To observe the changes of phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten(PTEN)/ phosphatidyl Inositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/ vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)signaling pathway in a rabbit Kawasaki disease model.

METHODS

Model of Kawasaki disease was established in weanling Japanese big-eared rabbits with 10% bovine serum venous injection (2.5 ml/kg, 2 times, and 2 week's interval) through the ear. Twenty four rabbits were divided into 4 groups: control group (without injection of 10% bovine serum albumin, six rabbits); 1 day group (sacrificed a the second day after the establishment of Kawasaki disease models, six rabbits); 7 day group (sacrificed at the seventh day after establishment of Kawasaki disease model, six rabbits); 30 day group (sacrificed at the thirtieth day after establishment of Kawasaki disease model, six rabbits). Pathological analysis was performed on coronary artery tissue samples. The express of PTEN and PI3K were detected by immunohistochemistry. The levels of VEGF and CK were also examined with ELISA and white blood cells were counted.

RESULTS

(1) Coronary artery of model groups was thinner, distorted and had enlarged lumen. (2) PTEN expression in 1 d group, 7 d group and 30 d group were 58.5 ± 12.9, 73.2±9.9 and 109.6 ± 24.4, respectively, significantly higher than in the control group (25.5 ± 6.9, P<0.01 or 0.05). (3) The express of PI3K was significantly upregulated in 1 d group(57.2±11.1)and 7 d group(39.9±4.8) compared to control group(19.1±3.5, P<0.01 or 0.05). The expression level of PI3K in 30 d group was 18.8 ± 7.5, which was similar as control group (P>0.05) and significantly lower than 1 d and 7 d group (both P<0.05). (4) Similarly, the level of VEGF in 1 d group, 7 d group ((89.1 ± 15.5) ng/L, (76.9±9.9) ng/L) were significantly higher while it was significantly lower in 30 d group ((19.8 ± 4.4)ng/L) compared with the control group ((33.9 ± 6.7) ng/L, P<0.01 or 0.05). The level of VEGF in 7 d group was significantly lower than in 1 d group (P<0.05) and the level of VEGF was significantly lower in 30 d group than in 7 d group (P<0.01). (5)Creatine kinase levels were significantly higher in 30 d group than in control group (P<0.05) and there were no significantly different between control group, 1 d group and 7 d group(all P>0.05). (6)White blood cell count were significantly higher in 1 d group, 7 d group and 30 d group than in control group (all P<0.01).

CONCLUSION

The level of PTEN/PI3K/VEGF signaling pathway change after establishment of rabbit Kawasaki disease model and the signaling pathway might be involved in this model.

Diversity of arthropod community in transgenic poplar-cotton ecosystems

Poplar-cotton agro-ecosystems are the main agricultural planting modes of plain cotton fields in China. Here, we performed a systematic survey of the diversity and population of arthropod communities in four different combination of poplar-cotton eco-systems, including I) non-transgenic poplar and non-transgenic cotton fields; II) non-transgenic poplar and transgenic cotton fields [Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton]; III) Bt transgenic poplar (high insect resistant strain Pb29) and non-transgenic cotton; and IV) transgenic poplar and transgenic cotton fields, over a period of 3 years. Based on the statistical methods used to investigate community ecology, the effects of transgenic ecosystems on the whole structure of the arthropod community, on the structure of arthropods in the nutritive layer, and on the similarity of arthropod communities were evaluated. The main results were as follows: the transgenic poplar-cotton ecosystem has a stronger inhibitory effect on insect pests and has no impact on the structure of the arthropod community, and therefore, maintains the diversity of the arthropod community. The character index of the community indicated that the structure of the arthropod community of the transgenic poplar-cotton ecosystem was better than that of the poplar-cotton ecosystem, and that system IV had the best structure. As for the abundance of nutritional classes, the transgenic poplar-cotton ecosystem was also better than that of the non-transgenic poplar-cotton ecosystem. The cluster analysis and similarity of arthropod communities between the four different transgenic poplar-cotton ecosystems illustrated that the structure of the arthropod community excelled in the small sample of the transgenic poplar-cotton ecosystems.

Selection of an effective microsatellite marker system for genetic control and analysis of gerbil populations in China

Although gerbils have been widely used in many areas of biological research over many years, there is currently no effective genetic quality control system available. In the present study, we sought to establish a microsatellite marker system for quality control and conducted an optimized analysis of 137 microsatellite loci in two laboratory gerbil populations and one wild population. Independent sample t-tests on the mean effective allele number, mean of Shannon's information index, and mean HE suggested that 28 of the 137 microsatellite markers were informative for gerbil genetic control. Analysis of 4 laboratory gerbil populations and 1 wild population using the 28 microsatellite loci indicated that allele numbers varied from 1.9639 (Guangzhou, GZ) to 6.6071 (North-West wild, NW). The average of HO versus HE was 0.6236/0.3802, 0.6671/0.4159, 0.4185/0.3464, 0.4592/0.3821, and 0.3972/0.4167 for the Beijing, NW, Hangzhou, Dalian, and GZ populations, respectively. The GZ population showed the greatest differentiation, having higher RST and Nei's standard genetic distances. An AMO-VA revealed high genetic differentiation among the five populations (FST = 0.296). The microsatellite system established here is effective and will be important in future studies for genetic quality control and monitoring of gerbil breeds.

Idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis mimicking prolactinoma with recurrent vision loss

Idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis is a rare inflammatory condition with diffuse thickening of the dura mater, which may cause a compressive effect or vascular compromise. We report on a 28-year-old Chinese woman with a history of granulomatous mastitis 7 years previously and oligomenorrhoea, headache, blurred vision, and raised prolactin level 2 years previously, that was diagnosed as prolactinoma and treated conservatively with bromocriptine. However, she had recurrent bilateral vision loss when the bromocriptine was stopped. Her symptoms were resolved by high-dose steroid injection but remained steroid-dependent. Serial magnetic resonance imaging scan showed progressive diffuse thickening of the pachymeningitis with disappearance of pituitary apoplexy. Lumbar puncture showed lymphocytosis with no organisms. Open biopsy of the meninges was performed and histology showed features of inflammatory infiltrates and vasculitis. This is an unusual presentation of a rare condition in this age-group, with co-existing granulomatous mastitis and chronic otitis media, and is a diagnostic challenge mimicking pituitary macroadenoma and meningioma in initial magnetic resonance imaging scans.

Impacts of transgenic poplar-cotton agro-ecosystems upon target pests and non-target insects under field conditions

Poplar-cotton agro-ecosystems are the main agricultural planting modes of cotton fields in China. With increasing acres devoted to transgenic insect-resistant poplar and transgenic insect-resistant cotton, studies examining the effects of transgenic plants on target and non-target insects become increasingly important. We systematically surveyed populations of both target pests and non-target insects for 4 different combinations of poplar-cotton eco-systems over 3 years. Transgenic Bt cotton strongly resisted the target insects Fall webworm moth [Hyphantria cunea (Drury)], Sylepta derogata Fabrieius, and American bollworm (Heliothis armigera), but no clear impact on non-target insect cotton aphids (Aphis gossypii). Importantly, intercrops containing transgenic Pb29 poplar significantly increased the inhibitory effects of Bt cotton on Fall webworm moth in ecosystem IV. Highly resistant Pb29 poplar reduced populations of the target pests Grnsonoma minutara Hubner and non-target insect poplar leaf aphid (Chaitophorus po-pulialbae), while Fall webworm moth populations were unaffected. We determined the effects of Bt toxin from transgenic poplar and cotton on target and non-target pests in different ecosystems of cotton-poplar intercrops and identified the synergistic effects of such combinations toward both target and non-target insects.

[Clinical significance of high expression with UTX in renal cell carcinoma]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the expression and significance of ubiquitously transcribed TPR gene on the X chromosome (UTX) in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) tissues, then to explore the relationship between UTX expression and renal cancer pathologic characteristics.

METHODS

In the study, 45 patients with dignosed renal cell carcinoma clinical samples were collected in Peking University Shenzhen Hospital. Total RNA and protein were extracted from the cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues. UTX expression of cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues was detected on both mRNA and protein levels using real time-PCR and IHC, respectively. And the relationship between UTX expression and the 45 patients' clinical characteristics was analyzed.

RESULTS

The mRNA level of UTX in cancer tissues(C) was 4.4 folds, higher than that of the adjacent normal tissues(N) [ 0.883 2±0.703 8 vs. 0.199 7±0.140 0, P<0.05]. The protein expression of UTX in cancer tissues was up-regulated, and the protein score of cancer tissues was 4 folds, change compared with adjacent normal tissues[12±4 vs. 3±3, P<0.05].The expression of UTX was associated with pathological grade(P=0.004)but without gender, age, tumor size and TNM stage.

CONCLUSION

UTX is up-regulated in RCC tissues and the expression of UTX is associated with pathological grade, illustrating that UTX may play an important role in renal cancer progression.

Visible and near-infrared imaging spectrometer and its preliminary results from the Chang'E 3 project

In order to conduct lunar surface mineral composition studies and content analysis, the Visible and Near-infrared Imaging Spectrometer (VNIS), one of the scientific payloads of the Chang'E 3 Yutu rover, has been developed to detect lunar surface objects and to obtain their reflectance spectra and geometric images. This is achieved with a 45° visual angle and at a height of 0.69 m. VNIS is equipped with a lunar surface calibration function, and the spectral range is 0.45-2.40 μm with a spectral resolution of 2-12 nm. It is capable of synchronously acquiring the full spectrum of lunar surface objects and in situ calibration. Here, we describe the VNIS and explain the preliminary results of the lunar surface exploration and calibration, which provides valuable information for scientific data processing and applications.

Urethral reconstruction using bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell- and smooth muscle cell-seeded bladder acellular matrix

BACKGROUND

Congenital or acquired abnormalities may lead to a urethral defect that often requires surgical reconstruction. The traditional methods often lead to complications, including urethrocutaneous fistulae and strictures. In this study, we proposed to construct a tissue-engineered sheet graft (TESG) using a bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC)- and smooth muscle cell (SMC)-seeded bladder acellular matrix (BAM) for urethral reconstruction.

METHODS

Rabbit BMSCs and SMCs were isolated, expanded, and identified in vitro before seeding into BAM as the experimental group, whereas BAM-only was the control group. The graft was used to construct TESG for implantation into the rabbit omentum for 2 weeks before urethral reconstruction. We divided 24 male rabbits into four experimental groups six each, and six other were the control group. Histological analysis was performed at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 16 weeks postoperatively. Retrograde urethrography was performed at 16 weeks postoperatively.

RESULTS

All experimental rabbits survived to they were humanly killed. At 8 weeks, there was no difference between the graft and the normal urethra with no severe shrinkage. At 8 and 16 weeks after TESG grafting in vivo, multilayer urothelium covered the graft, neovascularization was visible within the center of TESG, and organized smooth muscle bundles were present. Retrograde urethrography failed to demonstrate diverticula formation or urethral stricture. Three control rabbits died within 4 weeks postoperatively. Autopsy showed their urethras to be almost completely blocked whereas another three hosts displays urethral strictures.

CONCLUSION

A TESG was constructed using a BMSC- and SMC-seeded BAM for urethral reconstruction.

Efficacy and safety of gabapentin for treatment of postherpetic neuralgia: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a common type of neuropathic pain occurring after resolution of herpes zoster rash. Although gabapentin is a widely used treatment, some disagreements exist about its efficacy and safety. Meta-analysis was performed to better evaluate the efficacy and safety of gabapentin for management of PHN.

METHODS

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of gabapentin to treat PHN were identified by searching MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL databases. Searches were restricted to studies published in English.

RESULTS

Seven trials involving a total of 2039 participants were identified. Pooled analysis showed that gabapentin reduced PHN-related pain significantly more than placebo (mean difference, MD=-0.89, 95% CI -1.58 to -0.18, P<0.001). Gabapentin reduced pain below baseline by at least 50% in significantly more patients than did placebo (RR=1.59, 95% CI 1.35 to 1.88, P<0.001). Gabapentin was significantly more likely than placebo to lead patients to rate their global impression of change as "much improved" or "very much improved" (RR=1.82, 95% CI 1.41 to 2.35, P=0.003). Gabapentin also improved sleep quality significantly more than did placebo (MD=-0.62, 95% CI -0.67 to -0.57, P<0.001). On the other hand, patients given gabapentin were significantly more likely to experience dizziness, somnolence, peripheral edema, ataxia or gait disturbance and diarrhea. Subgroup analysis on formulation of gabapentin showed that gabapentin enacarbil had similar efficacy of pain relief with other formulations while it may be superior to others in term of compliance and safety.

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis indicates that gabapentin is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for patients with PHN.

Study on characteristics of in vitro culture and intracellular transduction of exogenous proteins in fibroblast cell line of Liaoning cashmere goat

Establishment of fibroblast cell lines of endangered goat breeds and research on the gene or protein functions based on the cells made a significant contribution to the conservation and utilization of genetic resources. In this study, a fibroblast cell line of Liaoning cashmere goat, frozen in 174 cryovials with 5 × 10(6) cells each, was successfully established from 60 goats ear marginal tissues using explant culture and cryopreservation techniques. Biological analysis of in vitro cultured cell line showed that, the cells were morphologically consistent with fibroblasts; the average viability of the cells was 94.9 % before freezing and 90.1 % after thawing; the growth process of cells was consisted of a lag phase, a logarithmic phase and a plateau phase; cell population doubling time was 65.5 h; more than 90 % of cells were diploid prior to the 6th generation; Neither microbial contamination nor cross-contamination was detected. To determine cell permeability, intracellular path and stability of exogenous proteins during the transduction, a TAT protein transduction domain was fused to the C-terminus of enhanced green fluorescent protein, the established fibroblast cell line was treated with the purified exogenous proteins at various concentrations by adding them to the cell culture media for 1-24 h and assayed cell morphology and protein presence, it was found that the purified exogenous proteins readily entered cells at a concentration of 0.1 mg/ml within 1.5 h and some of them could translocate into nucleus, moreover, the exogenous proteins appeared to be stable inside cells for up to 24 h.

Generation and analysis of expressed sequence tags from a normalized cDNA library of young leaf from Ma bamboo (Dendrocalamus latiflorus Munro)

Ma bamboo (Dendrocalamus latiflorus Munro) belongs to Dendrocalamus genus, Bambusease tribe, Bambusoideae subfamily, Poaceae family. It is a representative species of clumping bamboo, and a principal commercial species for various construction purposes using mature culms and for human consumption using young shoots. A normalized cDNA library was constructed from young leaves of Ma bamboo and 9,574 high-quality ESTs were generated, from which 5,317 unigenes including 1,502 contigs and 3,815 singletons were assembled. The unigenes were assigned into different gene ontology (GO) categories and summarized into 13 broad biologically functional groups according to similar functional characteristics or cellular roles by BLAST search against public databases. Eight hundred and ninety-one unigenes were assigned by KO identifiers and mapped to six KEGG biochemical pathways. The transcripts involved in biosynthesis of secondary metabolites such as cytochrome 450, flavonol synthase/flavanone 3-hydroxylase, and dihydroflavonol-4-reductase were well represented by 14 unigenes in the unigene set. The candidate genes involved in phytohormone metabolism, signal transduction and encoding cell wall-associated receptor kinases were also identified. Sixty-seven unigenes related to plant resistance (R) genes, including RPP genes, RGAs and RDL/RF genes, were discovered. These results will provide genome-wide knowledge about the molecular physiology of Ma bamboo young leaves and tools for advanced studies of molecular mechanism underlying leaf growth and development.

Preliminary study of the presence and association of bacteria and archaea in teeth with apical periodontitis

AIM

To investigate, by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), the presence and association of bacteria and archaea in primary and secondary root canal infections.

METHODOLOGY

A total of 77 root canal samples from 77 Chinese patients, 42 with necrotic pulp tissues (primary infection) and 35 with failed prior conventional root canal treatment (secondary infection), aseptically exposed at the first patient visit, were studied. Total RNA was isolated directly from each sample, and 16S rRNA gene-based RT-PCR assays were used to determine the presence of bacteria and archaea, respectively.

RESULTS

Bacteria were detected in 39/42 (93%) of root canal samples from teeth with primary infections, and archaea in 16/42 (38%). In the cases diagnosed as secondary root-infected canals, bacteria were detected in 30/35 (86%), whilst archaea were detected in 6/35 (17%) of cases. Amongst the canals, which were positive for bacteria, archaea were always found in combination with bacteria. The incidence of symptomatic cases positive for both bacteria and archaea (16/22, 73%) were significantly higher than those positive for bacteria alone (21/47, 45%) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirms the presence of archaea in root canal infections and further implicates them in an association with clinical symptoms. The nature of this association requires further study.

Prevalence and molecular diversity of Archaea in subgingival pockets of periodontitis patients

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and molecular diversity of Archaea in the subgingival crevices of patients with chronic periodontitis.

METHODS

Subgingival plaque was collected from 41 patients with chronic periodontitis and 15 healthy subjects. The prevalence of Archaea in those plaque samples was tested by polymerase chain reaction with two broad-range archaeal primer sets. Amplicons from eight Archaea-positive plaque samples were cloned and sequenced for molecular diversity analysis using one of these two primer sets and a novel third primer set.

RESULTS

Archaea were detected in the subgingival plaque of patients with chronic periodontitis at a prevalence of 70.7-73.2%, but were not detected in healthy subjects. Using one primer set, all sequences of the archaeal amplicons were identified as Methanobrevibacter oralis-like species. With another primer set, the amplicons were also found to be identical to the uncultured M. oralis-like species except one phylotype was found to belong to the class Thermoplasmata.

CONCLUSION

Archaea might be correlated with periodontal diseases. The diversity of Archaea associated with periodontitis was limited. Almost all sequenced amplicons fell into the genus Methanobrevibacter of the Euryarcheota phylum. M. oralis-like species was the predominant but non-exclusive archaeon in the subgingival dental plaque of patients with periodontitis.

Health-related quality of life predicts hospital admission within 1 year in people with diabetes: a nationwide study from Taiwan

AIMS

To investigate whether health-related quality of life (HRQOL) predicts hospital admission in a nationally representative sample of adults with diabetes.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective study on persons aged > or = 18 years with self-reported physician-diagnosed diabetes (n = 797) who participated in the National Health Interview Survey in Taiwan, 2001. Of these potential participants, 674 provided consent for data linkage and were successfully linked to the National Health Insurance claims data. We analysed the associations between the Short Form 36 (SF-36) subscales and summaries and the occurrence of hospital admission for any cause during 2002.

RESULTS

Approximately 23% of participants with diabetes had at least one hospital admission during 2002. After adjusting for demographic characteristics, co-morbidities and diabetics-related attributes, those who had been admitted to hospital had significantly poorer mean scores on each of the physical dimensions, physical components summary (PCS) and social functioning domain of the SF-36 at baseline. In logistic regression models, poorer scores on the PCS [odds ratio (OR) = 1.80; 95% confidence interval (CI) = (1.14-2.86)], duration of diabetes > or = 10 years [OR = 2.10; 95% CI = (1.14-3.89)] and the presence of heart disease [OR = 1.63; 95% CI = (1.01-2.63)] were significantly associated with an increased risk of hospital admission.

CONCLUSION

In people with diabetes, poorer scores on the PCS of the SF-36 at baseline may provide additional information for assessment of hospital admission risk, independent of other measures of health outcomes.

A new noninvasive method for evaluation of coronary endothelial function in hypertensive patients based on change in diameter of the left main coronary artery induced by cold pressor test using echocardiography

BACKGROUND

Coronary endothelial function is frequently studied by measuring the vasodilator response of coronary arteries to acetylcholine or to cold pressor test by invasive quantitative coronary angiography. Because invasive methods have substantial inherent limitations, studies should attempt to evaluate coronary endothelial function noninvasively.

HYPOTHESIS

We attempted to evaluate the accuracy of measurement of the percent change in diameter of the left main trunk induced by cold pressor test with two-dimensional (2-D) echocardiography. Furthermore, we applied this method to the evaluation of coronary artery endothelial function in hypertensive patients.

METHODS

We measured the left main trunk diameter in 21 subjects (51 +/- 4 years) before and after cold pressor test using quantitative coronary angiography followed immediately by 2-D echocardiography. The accuracy of measurement of the left main trunk diameter and its percent change by echocardiography was evaluated by comparing the values obtained by the two methods. In addition, using echocardiography, we compared left main trunk diameter responses to cold pressor test in 16 hypertensive patients [51 +/- 5 years (mean +/- standard deviation)] and 16 matched healthy subjects (50 +/- 4 years).

RESULTS

Although there was only a weak correlation between the absolute values of the left main trunk diameter measured by the two methods (r = 0.61; p = 0.04), a strong correlation was found between the percent change in diameter measured by the two methods (r = 0.93; p = 0.0001). The percent change in diameter of the left main trunk induced by cold pressor test in hypertensive patients (-3.7 +/- 10.6%) was significantly lower than that in control subjects (13.2 +/- 6.8%, p = 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Percent change in diameter of the left main trunk induced by cold pressor test can be evaluated accurately using 2-D echocardiography. Our study showed reduced vasodilation or vasoconstriction of the left main trunk after cold pressor test in hypertensive patients compared with healthy subjects, indicating impaired coronary endothelial function in hypertensive patients. The present echocardiographic method is a potentially useful new noninvasive method for evaluating coronary endothelial function.

Evaluation of endothelial function in hypertensive elderly patients by high-resolution ultrasonography

BACKGROUND

Multiple investigations, both in experimental models and in middle-aged patients with essential hypertension, demonstrate impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilatation.

HYPOTHESIS

We attempted to determine whether hypertension still exerts additional negative effect on endothelial function of large arteries in hypertensive elderly patients who may already be affected by endothelial dysfunction due to aging.

METHODS

We compared 13 elderly patients with hypertension [69 +/- 9 years, (mean +/- standard deviation)] with 13 matched healthy elderly subjects (72 +/- 6 years) as controls. Using high-resolution vascular ultrasound, we measured brachial artery responses to reactive hyperemia (with increased flow causing endothelium-dependent dilatation) and sublingual nitroglycerin (causing endothelium-independent dilatation).

RESULTS

Flow-mediated dilatation correlated inversely with age (r = -0.60, p = 0.03) in the controls. Flow-mediated dilatation was significantly impaired in hypertensive elderly patients (6.7 +/- 3.3 vs. 13.3 +/- 1.8% in controls, p < 0.0001). No significant difference could found in nitroglycerin-induced dilatation between controls (12.1 +/- 4.9%) and hypertensive elderly patients (10.2 +/- 6.8%, p = 0.5). On multivariate analysis, flow-mediated dilatation in hypertensive elderly patients was inversely related to aging (r = -0.37, p = 0.04) and mean blood pressure (r = -0.57, p = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study showed decreased flow-mediated dilatation with aging even in the healthy controls, and further decline in flow-mediated dilatation in hypertensive elderly patients compared with controls. This impairment of flow-mediated dilatation in hypertensive elderly patients was related to age and mean blood pressure, indicating that aging and hypertension may independently impair endothelial function in the brachial artery of these patients.

Cytotoxicity of a newly synthesized nitroxide derivative of 4-ferrocenecarboxyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl in high metastatic lung tumor cells

Low molecular weight nitroxides are widely used as electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)-detectable spin labels in the biological and pathological areas. A novel nitroxide derivative, 4-ferrocenecarboxyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl piperidine-1-oxyl (FC-TEMPO), was synthesized for evaluating the effects of spin label compounds on tumor cells and firstly its biological effects on tumor and normal cells were evaluated. The cytotoxicity of FC-TEMPO in the high metastatic lung carcinoma cells (95-D) showed that it markedly inhibited the viability of cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner, while it was less toxic to a normal human cell line. Further studies found that FC-TEMPO suppressed the growth of tumor cells by induced apoptosis through activating caspase-3 but not caspase-8 which was proved by caspase inhibitors, and the cell cycle arrest at G1 phase. Moreover, the concomitant increase of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity was observed. Taken together, these results might provide a base for further anticancer investigations of nitroxides and their potential pharmacological applications.

Analysis of expressed sequence tags from skeletal muscle-specific cDNA library of Chinese native Xiang pig

A Longissimus Dorsi muscle cDNA library of Xiang Pig was constructed, and 131 randomly isolated clones were sequenced in this study. The results of bioinformatics analysis showed that 131 ESTs represented 109 unique clones sequences, of which 99 showed homology to previously identified genes in humans or other mammals, 3 matched other uncharacterized expressed sequence tags (ESTs), and 7 showed no significant matches to sequences already present in DNA databases. No protein matches were found for 10 ESTs. Functional analysis of the ESTs showed that a considerable proportion of them encoded proteins involved in gene/protein expression (45.46%). Other classes included genes involved in metabolism (10.10%), cell structure/motility (10.10%), cell/organism defense (5.05%), cell signaling/communication (2.02%), and cell division (0.0%). Unclassified genes constituted the remaining 27.27%. This study reported the results of the first gene expression profile analysis of Chinese native Xiang Pig skeletal muscle cells, thereby greatly facilitating the functional study of candidate genes involved in muscle growth as well as in the improvement of meat quality in domestic pigs.

Association of uncultivated oral phylotypes AU126 and X112 with periodontitis

OBJECTIVE

To discuss the relationship between uncultivated pathogenic bacteria and periodontitis.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers were designed for phylotypes AU126 and X112; PCRs were applied to determine the prevalence of these phylotypes in 35 patients with chronic periodontitis, 26 patients with plaque-induced gingivitis and 20 healthy control subjects.

RESULTS

The specificity of each primer is validated on the basis of the results from sequence analysis of PCR products. AU126 and X112 were detected in the subgingival plaque samples in all the three groups. The prevalence of AU126 in subgingival plaque in chronic periodontitis (77.1%) and plaque-induced gingivitis (61.5%) is relatively higher than that in the healthy subjects (10.0%), and the difference is statistically significant (P < 0.01). The prevalence of X112 in subgingival plaque in periodontitis patients (85.7%) is higher than that in healthy subjects (30.0%), the difference (P < 0.01) being equally statistically significant. The difference between the chronic periodontitis group and the plaque-induced gingivitis group (50.0%) is statistically significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

It might be assumed that the novel uncultivated AU126 phylotype could possibly be related to chronic periodontitis and plaque-induced gingivitis, and that X112 might play a role in the progress of lesion from gingivitis to periodontitis.