MicroRNA Bta-miR-181a regulates the biosynthesis of bovine milk fat by targeting ACSL1

MicroRNA (miRNA) are a class of small noncoding RNA that function as important posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression. The acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 1 (ACSL1) is an important enzyme in the process of milk lipid synthesis. In a previous study dealing with incubations of stearic acid in bovine mammary epithelial cells, an opposite expression pattern was observed between ACSL1 and miR-181a. Bioinformatics analysis with TargetScan and PicTar revealed ACSL1 as a potential target gene of miR-181a. The objective of this work was to determine the potential function of miR-181a on milk fat synthesis by defining the regulatory relationship between miR-181a and ACSL1. Primary bovine mammary epithelial cells were harvested from mid-lactation cows and cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium/F-12 medium with 10% fetal bovine serum, 0.5μg/mL of insulin, 10 ng/mL of epidermal growth factor, 5μg/mL of transferrin, 1μg/mL of hydrocortisone, 1μg/mL of progesterone, 5μg/mL of estradiol, and 5μg/mL of prolactin. Cells were transfected with an miR-181a mimic to increase its expression and an miR-181a inhibitor to decrease its expression before culturing for 48 h. The results revealed that the overexpression of miR-181a inhibited the expression of ACSL1, whereas the downregulation of miR-181a increased ACSL1 expression. Western blot analysis of ACSL1 revealed similar effects. Oil-red-O staining indicated that cellular lipid droplet synthesis was decreased with the overexpression of bta-miR-181a, and treatment with the bta-miR-181a inhibitor increased concentration of lipid droplets. Furthermore, overexpression of bta-miR-181a resulted in a decrease in concentration of triacylglycerol in the cells, whereas inhibition of bta-miR-181a increased concentration of triacylglycerol. Therefore, the results indicated that bta-miR-181a may contribute to negative regulation of lipid synthesis in mammary cells via targeting ACSL1.

Mobile phone addiction and psychological distress among Chinese adolescents: The mediating role of rumination and moderating role of the capacity to be alone

BACKGROUND

With the increasing incidence of mobile phone addiction, mobile phone addiction has been considered to be related to adolescents' psychological distress. However, the underlying mechanisms of this relation were still unclear. The present study tested the mediating role of rumination and the moderating role of the capacity to be alone in the relation between mobile phone addiction and psychological distress.

METHODS

754 middle school students were recruited to complete measures of mobile phone addiction, rumination, the capacity to be alone, psychological distress and demographic variables.

RESULTS

Mobile phone addiction was significantly and positively associated with psychological distress, and this link could be mediated by rumination. Moreover, the direct effect of mobile phone addiction on psychological distress and the indirect effect of rumination in this link were moderated by the capacity to be alone. Both these two effects were stronger for adolescents with lower capacity to be alone.

LIMITATIONS

The present study is limited in terms of its sample selection, cross-sectional design, and self-reported instruments.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study advances our understanding of how and when or for whom mobile phone addiction is related to serious psychological distress. Education professionals and parents should pay special attention to the psychological distress of adolescents suffering from mobile phone addiction, particularly for those with lower capacity to be alone.

Yak milk-derived exosomes alleviate lipopolysaccharide-induced intestinal inflammation by inhibiting PI3K/AKT/C3 pathway activation

Intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) are important parts of the mucosal barrier, whose function can be impaired upon various injury factors such as lipopolysaccharide. Although food-derived exosomes are preventable against intestinal barrier injuries, there have been few studies on the effect of yak milk-derived exosomes and the underlying mechanism that remains poorly understood. This study aimed to characterize the effect of exosomal proteins derived from yak and cow milk on the barrier function of IEC-6 treated with lipopolysaccharide and the relevant mechanism involved. Proteomics study revealed 392 differentially expressed proteins, with 58 higher expressed and 334 lower expressed in yak milk-derived exosomes than those in cow exosomes. Additionally, the top 20 proteins with a relatively consistent higher expression in yak milk exosomes than cow milk exosomes were identified. Protein CD46 was found to be a regulator for alleviating inflammatory injury of IEC-6. In vitro assay of the role of yak milk exosomes on survival of IEC-6 in inflammation by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay confirmed the effectiveness of yak milk exosomes to increase IEC-6 survival up to 18% for 12 h compared with cow milk exosomes (up to 12%), indicating a therapeutic effect of yak milk exosomes in the prevention of intestinal inflammation. Furthermore, yak and cow milk exosomes were shown to activate the PI3K/AKT/C3 signaling pathway, thus promoting IEC-6 survival. Our findings demonstrated an important relationship between yak and cow milk exosomes and intestinal inflammation, facilitating further understanding of the mechanisms of inflammation-driven epithelial homeostasis. Interestingly, compared with cow milk exosomes, yak milk exosomes activated the PI3K/AKT/C3 signaling pathway more to lower the incidence and severity of intestine inflammation, which might represent a potential innovative therapeutic option for intestinal inflammation.

Radioprotective effect of Ganoderma lucidum (Leyss. ex. Fr.) Karst after X-ray irradiation in mice

Six to seven week old male mice of ICR strain were exposed to 500 or 650 cGy of X-ray during experiments to determine if Ganoderma lucidum could be a factor in modification of radiation damage. Continuous intraperitoneal injection of the extract from Ganoderma lucidum before or after irradiation of 500 and 650 cGy of X-ray was found to improve the 30-day survival fractions of ICR mice, but wasn't significant by statistical analysis. The administration also enhanced the recoveries of the body weights and increased the recovery of hemograms of irradiated mice from radiation damage by injecting before or after radiation exposure, especially for the treatment of 500 cGy irradiation. The 10-day CFUs was significantly higher for Ganoderma lucidum treated groups than for untreated groups. However, the differences of radioprotective effect between the X-ray irradiated groups with Ganoderma lucidum pretreated and post-treated were not significant (p greater than 0.05).

Oily skin: specific features in Chinese women

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Inconsistent data are available on the various types of skin, their prevalence and characterization, particularly regarding Asian skins. This observation prompted to conduct a large study in China to assess the prevalence of oily skin and identify the specific factors related to that type of skin.

METHODS

The multicentre trial involved 1787 Chinese women in Shenyang, Harbin, Beijing, Chengdu and Suzhou, between 18 and 65 years of age. Data on history of acne, the presence of environmental factors and a detailed self-evaluation of the skin were collected using a standardized questionnaire. A clinical evaluation of facial skin oiliness was carried-out by a dermatologist at each centre. Sebum secretion was measured on the forehead using Sebumeter SM810. Statistical analysis (multiple correspondence analysis) of typology was conducted based on self-evaluation data.

RESULTS

According to self-evaluation data, oily skin prevalence in the overall Chinese population of the study was 25.6%. Self-evaluation results were quite consistent with sebum measurements and with clinical assessment by dermatologist. Parameters associated with oily skin were (i) shiny skin and a past history of acne, (ii) irregular menstruation, and (iii) highly reactive or sensitive skin. Moreover, a clear and significant link was noted between oily skin and the ingestion of spicy or sweet food. Lastly, sebum levels were found to be twice as high in Beijing as in the other cities and were correlated to higher oily skin prevalence.

CONCLUSION

The study demonstrated the capacity of women for proper self-evaluation of their skin type. It also suggests a potential link between nutritional factors such as spicy and/or sweet diets and oily skin as well as between sensitive and oily skin in this population.

The effect of external radiotherapy in treatment of portal vein invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma

To investigate the effect of external radiotherapy in the control of portal vein invasion (PVI) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), ten patients with cytologically confirmed unresectable HCC were recruited for study. All of the patients were assigned Pugh's classification A, and all had only unilateral PV involvement. The main tumors were treated by transcatheter arterial embolization. The PVI was irradiated with a dose of 3000-5000 cGY using a linear accelerator under localization by real-time ultrasound. All ten patients responded to the external irradiation, with complete disappearance of the PVI occurring in five and partial shrinkage, in the other five. However, the HCC extended to the contralateral PV in two patients, although the irradiated lesion had shrunk. Both patients had shown involvement of the main PV in the initial study. Six patients died after 3, 6, 7, 7, 8, and 10 months, respectively, due to advance of the HCC, rupture, liver failure, and respiratory failure. The others survived for longer than 6 months and remain under follow-up. The branch of PVI at discovery might have an important bearing on the effect of the radiotherapy. No postirradiation hepatitis or other complication was observed.

The effect of a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device on human endometrial oestrogen and progesterone receptors after one year of use

Thirty-four women bearing a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device, 20 micrograms/day (LNG-IUD-20), for 12-15 months were recruited. Endometrial biopsies were collected during the late proliferative phase of the cycle (on cycle days 10-12) before (control) and after the use of the IUD for 12 months, and assayed for oestrogen receptors (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR). An immunohistochemical technique with the peroxidase-antiperoxidase detection system (PAP method) was employed. D75 and JZB39 were the primary antibodies for ER and PR respectively. The immunostaining semiquantitative analysis was performed with a computerized microscope image processor, and expressed as 'grey value'. Both endometrial ER and PR populations were significantly lower after insertion of the IUD (P < 0.01) than in control biopsies. The intensity of nuclear staining and the percentage of positively stained cells for ER and PR in women with LNG-IUD were each about 50% of those in control biopsies. The results suggested that LNG released locally from the IUD has a depressive action on the ER and PR, which may contribute to the contraceptive effectiveness of this type of IUD and also to the possible causes of LNG-IUD-induced irregular bleeding and amenorrhoea.

Recovery of the hematopoietic system by Si-Jun-Zi-Tang in whole body irradiated mice

The herbal formulation Si-Jun-Zi-Tang reduced the decrease of leukocytes, erythrocytes, thrombocytes and hematocrit in irradiated mice. In general, its protection was more effective in leukocytes and thrombocytes than other hematocytes. Protection of bone marrow stem cells by Si-Jun-Zi-Tang was markedly enhanced by increased radiotolerance under the dose ranging from 0 to 5 Gy. This increased radiotolerance led to a prolonged shoulder in the survival curve but did not influence the D0 value. Si-Jun-Zi-Tang exerted a beneficial effect on clinical syndromes such as anemia. From the results in this study, we concluded preliminarily that the most effective concentration with least toxicity was about 20 mg/20 g body weight. At this dose, levels of leukocytes as well as thrombocytes were enhanced significantly after chi-irradiation. Elevation of erythrocytes and hematocrits could also be found but was not significant.

Radiotherapy in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma and its metastases

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of external radiation therapy on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its metastatic lesions. A total of 33 patients with cytopathologically proven HCC were subjected to radiation therapy over a 4-year period, and treatment was discontinued in 8 cases due to jaundice, severe discomfort, or early mortality. Thus, 25 patients with 28 lesions underwent irradiation with a total dose ranging between 3000 and 5600. Of these, seven were irradiated for liver tumors, and the results showed that two lesions decreased in size, the symptoms improved in 1 case, and another patient maintained stable disease for 4 months. Among the 21 metastatic lesions treated, only 2 patients failed respond to the treatment. Nine subjects were irradiated for bone metastases, and the bone pain subsided in all but one case. The survival for bone metastasis was as long as 23 months when the primary tumor was treated effectively. Three of the four cases of irradiated skin nodules disappeared and had not recurred after 5 months, 1 year, and 4 years, respectively. Tumor shrinkage or symptoms of relief were noted for three abdominal lymph nodes, one neck lymph node, one pleural tumor, and one lung tumor. Clinical improvement associated with a stable lesion was observed in two patients with brain metastasis. Follow-up revealed regrowth of the tumor or recurrence of symptoms in most of the patients. However, none of the patients died as a direct result of a metastatic lesion. Although external radiation therapy is palliative in intent, it appears to be useful in the treatment of HCC and its metastatic lesions.

Ga-67 scan in patients with intrathoracic esophageal carcinoma planned for surgery

The authors evaluated Ga-67 scan in 68 patients with intrathoracic esophageal carcinoma initially planned for surgery. Of these, 59 patients were staged pathologically or surgically; their Ga-67 scan results correctly predicted the presence of extraesophageal spread and lymph node metastases. Of 38 clinical Stage II patients, 15 (39%) could be Stage III by the results of Ga-67 scan. However, two of four clinical Stage I patients (50%) and 35 of 38 clinical Stage II patients (92%) were eventually pathologic or surgical Stage III. This high conversion rate and the high incidence of Stage III in esophageal carcinoma patients may not justify routine use of Ga-67 scan only for staging. Ga-67 scan, however, was useful for planning radiotherapy, because missing extraesophageal extension or gross metastases from the radiation fields were detected in six patients of 51 so treated. Ga-67 scan has its value in some patients with intrathoracic esophageal carcinoma.

A novel missense mutation of the ECM1 gene in a Chinese patient with lipoid proteinosis

Lipoid proteinosis (LP), is caused by loss-of-function mutations in the gene for extracellular matrix protein 1 (ECM1), and has been mapped to chromosome 1q21. We report the case of a 49-year-old Chinese woman with LP, who presented with a hoarse voice, easily damaged skin with poor wound healing, lesions and scarring on the skin, and bead-like papules around the eyelids. On physical examination, yellowish deposits were seen on the soft palate, with thickening of the vocal cords. The coding region of ECM1 was amplified and sequenced, and a novel homozygous single-nucleotide substitution, c.1429T>C, was found in exon 9, which converts cysteine to arginine, designated p.C477R. This mutation was not founded in 100 unrelated normal genomic DNA sequences. In conclusion, this is a novel mutation in the ECM1 gene, which is the underlying cause of LP in this patient.

Changes of serum copper and zinc levels in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma by radiotherapy

Serum copper levels (SCL) and serum zinc levels (SZL) were evaluated in 128 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) of varying stages before, during, and after radiotherapy, and then compared with normal age-matched subjects. Among these patients, there were 119 undifferentiated squamous cell carcinoma, 5 differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, and 4 moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, respectively. Before radiotherapy, SCLs were significantly higher in NPC patients than in normal subjects, but the difference of SZLs was not significant. The ratio of Cu/Zn also showed a significant difference between normal subjects and NPC patients preradiotherapy. Moreover, except stage II, patients with more advanced stages of the disease had more elevated Cu/Zn ratios. During and after the period of radiotherapy, the SCL decreased as compared with the level of preradiotherapy. The Cu/Zn ratio also decreased after radiotherapy but not significant. However, Cu/Zn ratio of expired patients at least 2 yr after radiotherapy did not show the significant decrease in contrast to the alive ones.

Identification of a novel mutation in a Chinese family with X-linked ocular albinism

PURPOSE

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the GPR143 gene (G-protein coupled receptor 143) in a Chinese three-generation family with OA1, including four carriers and a proband with clinical features of X-linked ocular albinism.

METHODS

The proband underwent a detailed ophthalmologic evaluation. Blood samples of family members were obtained and genomic DNA isolated. Mutational analysis by SSCP and direct sequencing of the GPR143 gene was used to screen all nine exons including the intron/exon junctions. The novel mutation c.943G>T (p.G315X) found in the study was confirmed by DHPLC to exclude the possibility of polymorphism.

RESULTS

Ophthalmic features of the proband were characteristic of X-linked ocular albinism. The authors identified a novel nonsense mutation p.G315X on exon 8 that was not found in 100 non-albinism subjects by DHPLC. This novel mutation in the GPR143 gene is predicted to subject to nonsense mediated decay.

CONCLUSIONS

The novel mutation p.G315X in the OA1 gene was identified in a Chinese family with ocular albinism, which is predicted to generate a premature stop codon. These findings extend the mutational spectrum of GPR143 gene and will be useful for gene diagnosis and genetic counseling in Chinese OA1 patients.

Regulation of arginase production by glucocorticoid in three human gastric cancer cell lines

Gastric cancer tissues have high levels of glucocorticoid receptors (GR) and arginase. To investigate the interrelation of glucocorticoid, GR and arginase, three human gastric cancer cell lines (AZ-521, NUGC-3, KATO-III) were treated with hydrocortisone in the presence or absence of a glucocorticoid antagonist RU38486. GR were found to be present in all three lines, and hydrocortisone significantly increased the production of total arginase in all 3 lines. The induction of arginase production by hydrocortisone was inhibited by RU38486. These findings suggest that the regulation of arginase production by hydrocortisone in gastric cancer cells is mediated through GR.

Preliminary study on the anti-radiation effect of jen-sheng-yang-yung-tang

Six to seven week old male mice of ICR strain were exposed to different doses of x-rays to determine if jen-sheng-yang-yung-tang could be a modifier in the elimination of radiation damage. Colony forming units of bone marrow cells in the spleen (CFUs) were measured before and after x-ray irradiation with intraperitoneal injection of 10 mg/20 g or 20 mg/20 g body weight of jen-sheng-yang-yung-tang, once a day for seven consecutive days. The recovery of CFUs and hemocytes counts by 4 Gy irradiation with jen-sheng-yang-yung-tang administration was faster for a concentration of 20 mg/20 g than 10 mg/20 g. The measurement of 10-day CFUs showed an increase of radiotolerance in the treatment of 20 mg/20 g administration before x-ray irradiation. The injection of jen-sheng-yang-yung-tang accelerated the recovery of hemocyte counts in mice irradiated with 4 Gy x-ray; the effect was especially profound for leukocytes with 20 mg/20 g jen-sheng-yang-yung-tang administration after irradiation.

Reticulum-cell sarcoma of the jaws. Report of two cases and comparison of incidence in Japan and other countries

The two cases presented involved a sarcoma which may arise primarily in the gingivae and mandible. These sarcomas were treated with radiation and chemical antitumor agents. The primary lesions showed complete remission, but later there was rapid extension and metastasis to many vital organs. A review of the literature demonstrates the lesion's occurrence in the head and neck region in Japan and other countries.

Effect of feeding Rumen-protected capsule containing niacin, K2SO4, vitamin C, and gamma-aminobutyric acid on heat stress and performance of dairy cows

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplemental rumen-protected capsule (RPC) on animal performance, serological indicators, and serum heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) of lactating Holstein cows under heat stress (HS). During summer months, 30 healthy multiparous lactating Holstein cows with a parity number of 3.1 ± 0.44, 70 ± 15 d in milk, an average body weight of 622 ± 62kg, and an average milk yield of 32.28 ± 0.96kg/d, were used. The cows were randomly allocated to two groups: a control group and an RPC-supplemented group (0.13373kg K₂SO₄, 0.02488kg vitamin C, 0.021148kg niacin, and 0.044784kggamma-aminobutyric acid per cow). During the 42-d experiment, ambient air temperature and relative humidity inside and outside the barn were recorded hourly every day for the determination of temperature-humidity index (THI). Milk and blood samples were collected every week, and body weight and body condition scoring were measured on day 0. Based on the THI values, the animals had moderate HS. On day 42, the RPC group had lower HSP70, adrenocorticotropic hormone (P = 0.0001), lactate dehydrogenase (P = 0.0338), and IL-6 (P = 0.0724) levels than the control group, with no significant differences in creatine kinase, glucocorticoid, or IL-2 levels. Milk yield, energy-corrected milk, and dry matter intake were higher in RPC than in the control group (P = 0.0196). There were no significant differences in milk fat or daily protein levels between the two groups; however, daily protein and milk fat levels were higher in the RPC group than in the control group (P = 0.0114 and P = 0.0665, respectively). Somatic cell counts were no different between the two groups. In conclusion, RPC may alleviate HS and improve dairy cow performance.

Adenocystic carcinoma in computed tomography

Computed tomography was introduced in 1972 by Ambrose and Hounsified in England. At first it was designed for diagnostic radiology and neurosurgery of the brain and skull. Soon, in 1974, whole-body computerized tomography scanners went into operation in the United States and then came into worldwide use. The use of computed tomography in maxillofacial regions is rare. In the report two adenocystic carcinomas in the maxilla are described by computed tomography, and the images thus produced are compared to those obtained by ordinary tomography and isotope scintigraphy.

Preliminary study on antiradiation effect of kuei-pi-tang

In order to evaluate the potential action of Kuei-Pi-Tang as an antiradiation agent, colony forming units of bone marrow cells in the spleen (CFUs) were used. Different sequences of X-ray irradiation with or without Kuei-Pi-Tang administration in the groups of ICR strain mice were intraperitoneally injected 10mg/20g or 20mg/20g, once a day, for consecutive seven days before or after 4Gy X-ray irradiation. After the different treatments, whole blood was collected from the tail endings to observe the fluctuation of leukocytes, erythrocytes and thrombocytes. The administration of 20mg/20g was more effective than that of 10mg/20g. Lower radiosensitivity was observed with the treatment of 20mg/20g of Kui-Pi-Tang than that of 10mg/20g. The injection of Kuei-Pi-Tang accelerated the recovery of blood cell counts of leukocytes, erythrocytes and thrombocytes in mice irradiated with 4Gy, especially for leukocytes under the treatments with 20mg/20g of Kuei-Pi-Tang administered after irradiation.

Aberrant expression of Fas and FasL pro-apoptotic proteins in basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas

BACKGROUND

Fas and FasL are cell-surface receptors involved in apoptosis. Aim.  To investigate Fas and FasL expression levels in basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) to gain an insight into the mechanisms of Fas/FasL apoptosis and immune evasion in epidermal tumours.

METHODS

Real-time PCR and streptavidin-biotin immunohistochemistry techniques were used to detect Fas and FasL expression in BCC, SCC and normal skin specimens.

RESULTS

Fas and FasL mRNA expression and immunostaining levels were lower in the 21 BCC specimens than in normal skin, whereas they were higher in the 15 SCC specimens than in normal skin.

CONCLUSION

FasL immunostaining correlated with the capability of the tumour to invade and metastasize; the absent or weak immunostaining in the BCC specimens correlated with low capability, and the strong staining in the SCC specimens correlated with high capability.

Preference for Solitude and Mobile Phone Addiction Among Chinese College Students: The Mediating Role of Psychological Distress and Moderating Role of Mindfulness

Background: With the increasing incidence of mobile phone addiction, the potential risk factors of mobile phone addiction have attracted more and more researchers' attention. Although various personality trait factors have been proven to be significant predictors of mobile phone addiction, limited attention has been paid to preference for solitude. Considering the adverse impacts of preference for solitude in the context of collectivistic societies and its possible negative effect on mobile phone addiction, this study was designed to examine the relationship between preference for solitude and mobile phone addiction, and to test the mediating role of psychological distress and the moderating role of mindfulness in this relationship. Methods: Data were collected through convenience sampling from a comprehensive university in China. A total of 927 Chinese college students (371 males and 556 females), aged from 16 to 24 (M age = 19.89 years, SD = 1.22), participated in this study. Their preference for solitude, psychological distress, mindfulness, and mobile phone addiction were measured using well-validated self-report questionnaires. Results: Correlational analyses, sobel test, SPSS macro PROCESS (Model 8) and simple slopes analyses were used for major data analysis. Results showed that preference for solitude was significantly and positively associated with mobile phone addiction, and this link could be mediated by psychological distress. Moreover, the indirect effect of psychological distress in this link was moderated by mindfulness, with this effect being stronger for college students with lower levels of mindfulness. However, mindfulness can not moderate the direct relation between preference for solitude and mobile phone addiction. Conclusion: The present study broadened our knowledge of how and when (or for whom) preference for solitude is related to mobile phone addiction. Education professionals and parents should pay special attention to the psychological distress and mobile phone addiction of college students with high levels of preference for solitude, particularly for those with lower levels of mindfulness.

Pyridoxine for prevention of hand-foot syndrome caused by chemotherapy agents: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Hand-foot syndrome (HFS) is a common systemic skin toxicity syndrome caused by chemotherapy agents. However, there is no uniform clinical treatment for HFS. It is reported that pyridoxine (vitamin B6) can be used to prevent HFS, but the evidence is insufficient.

AIM

To determine whether pyridoxine can be used to prevent HFS caused by chemotherapy agents.

METHODS

Literature database searches were performed on PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library and China National Knowledge Infrastructure. The efficacy of pyridoxine was evaluated by the incidence of HFS (any grade) or severe HFS (grade ≥ 2).

RESULTS

Fourteen studies involving 1570 patients were included in this meta-analysis. There were no significant differences between the pyridoxine and control groups in the prevention of HFS (OR = 0.84, 95% CI 0.67-1.05, P = 0.09) or in the incidence of grade ≥ 2 HFS (OR = 0.87, 95% CI 0.70-1.09, P = 0.39, respectively). The subgroup analysis of pyridoxine dose also showed no significant difference between the two groups in preventing HFS grade ≥ 2 (OR = 0.79, 95% CI 0.62-0.99, P = 0.30).

CONCLUSIONS

We did not find adequate evidence to support the idea that the use of pyridoxine can prevent HFS and reduce the incidence of HFS grade ≥ 2. However, the preventive use of pyridoxine might have a tendency to reduce the incidence of HFS.

An epidemiological study on the relationship of ectopic pregnancy and the use of contraceptives in Beijing--the incidence of ectopic pregnancy in the Beijing area. Beijing Collaborating Study Group for Ectopic Pregnancy

The incidence of ectopic pregnancy (EP) was studied through a 3-level monitoring network of maternal and child health care (MCH) in the entire Beijing area, including 82 hospitals, 19 MCH centers and 2 institutes for family planning. A total of 1,420 cases of EP were collected in a sample of 2.7 million women of reproductive age (15-49) during a one-year period from January 1 to December 31, 1990. The cases were confirmed by pathological examination or laparoscopy. In addition, epidemiological surveillance method was used. The results showed that the overall incidence of EP was 0.52 per thousand women of reproductive age (W = Women of reproductive age (15-49)) in the Beijing area, 0.6/1000W in the urban districts and 0.41/1000 in the rural area; 0.67/1000W married women, and 0.05/1000W in the unmarried. For married women, 0.54/1000W for those women using various contraceptive measures and 1.80/1000W for women using no contraceptives. The incidence of EP varies with different contraceptive methods. Female sterilization had the lowest incidence (0.18/1000W) and natural contraceptive measures (rhythm or withdrawal method) had the highest (2.43/1000W). It was 0.65/1000W in IUD users, 0.21/1000W in OC users and 0.57/1000W in couples using condoms or spermicides.