Association of matrix metalloproteinase-9 C1562T polymorphism and coronary artery disease： a meta-analysis

Objective： Many investigations have studied the associations between matrix metalloproteinase-9 （MMP-9） C1562T polymorphisms and coronary artery disease （CAD）. However, the conclusions of these studies were incon- sistent. Therefore, this study was aimed at clarifying the association between MMP-9 C1562T polymorphisms and CAD in a large-scale meta-analysis. Methods： The PubMed and Embase databases were retrieved to collect all pub- lications on the association between MMP-9 C1562T polymorphisms and CAD. Then the odd ratios （ORs） and 95% confidence intervals （95% CIs） for C1562T TT＋TC versus CC genotype between CAD and the control groups were evaluated. Subgroup analysis was also performed according to different races. The meta-analysis was performed by Stata 10.0. Results： Sixteen case-control studies were included in our meta-analysis, involving 11032 CAD patients and 4628 non-CAD controls. Compared with C allele carriers, East Asian T allele carriers TT＋TC had a significantly higher risk of CAD （OR=1.43; 95% CI： 1.03-1.99; P=0.031）; however, there were no significant associations in Western populations （OR=1.06; 95% CI： 0.96-1.18; p=0.240） or West Asians （OR=1.13; 95% CI： 0.75-1.70; P=-0.565）. When further analyzing the association between C1562T polymorphisms and myocardial infarction （MI, the most serious type of CAD）, the risk of TT＋TC genotype versus CC genotype for MI was significantly higher for the overall （OR=1.21; 95% C1： 1.04-1.40; P=0.012） and for East Asians （OR=1.58; 95% C1： 1.26-1.97; P=0.000） but not in Western populations （OR=1.12; 95% CI： 0.99-1.26; P=0.078）. Conclusions： Our meta-analysis suggested an obvious ethnic difference in the association between MMP-9 C1562T polymorphisms and CAD. MMP-9 C1562T polymorphism was significantly related to CAD in East Asians. However, no significant associations were observed in either West Asians or Western populations.     

Polymorphisms in genes involved in folate metabolism as maternal risk factors for Down syndrome in China

Objective： To explore the relationship between genetic polymorphisms in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase （MTHFR）, methionine synthase reductase （MTRR）, the central enzymes in folate metabolism that affects DNA methylation and synthesis, and the risk of Down syndrome in China. Methods： Genomic DNA was isolated from the peripheral lymphocytes of 64 mothers of children with Down syndrome and 70 age matched control subjects. Polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism were used to examine the polymorphisms of MTHFR 677C→T, MTRR 66A→G and the relationship between these genotypes and the risk of Down syndrome was analyzed. Results： The results show that the MTHFR 677C→T polymorphism is more prevalent among mothers of children with Down syndrome than among control mothers, with an odds ratio of 3.78 （95% confidence interval （CI）, 1.78-8.47）. In addition, the homozygous MTRR 66A→G polymorphism was independently associated with a 5.2-fold increase in estimated risk （95% CI, 1.90-14.22）. The combined presence of both polymorphisms was associated with a greater risk of Down syndrome than the presence of either alone, with an odds ratio of 6.0 （95% CI, 2.058-17.496）. The two polymorphisms appear to act without a multiplicative interaction. Conclusion： MTHFR and MTRR gene mutation alleles are related to Down syndrome, and CT, TT and GG gene mutation types increase the risk of Down syndrome.     

Association of p53 codon 72 polymorphism with liver metastases of colorectal cancers positive for p53 overexpression

Objective： To evaluate the association between p53 codon 72 polymorphism （R72P） and the risk ofcolorectal liver metastases. Methods： The p53 R72P genotype was identified by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism （PCR-RFLP） method in 78 consecutive colorectal cancer patients with liver metastases and 214 age- and sex-matched cases with nonmetastatic colorectal cancer. Results： The R allele of the p53 R72P polymorphism was more frequently found in metastatic cases than in nonmetastatic cases （P=0.075）. Carriers of the 72R allele had a 2.25-fold （95% CI （confidence interval）=1.05-4.83） increased risk of liver metastases. On the stratification analysis, 72R-carrying genotype conferred a 3.46-fold （95% CI=1.02-11.72） and a 1.05-fold （95% CI=0.36-3.08） increased risk of liver metastases for p53 overexpression-positive and negative colorectal cancers, respectively. Conclusion： These results demonstrate for the first time that the 72R allele of the p53 polymorphism has an increased risk for liver metastases in colorectal cancers positive for p53 overexpression.     

Estrogen receptor a gene PvulI polymorphism and coronary artery disease： a meta-analysis of 21 studies

The association between the estrogen receptor a gene （ESR1） Pvull polymorphism （c.454-397T〉C） and coronary artery disease （CAD） is controversial. Thus, we conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the relationship. Data were collected from 21 studies encompassing 9926 CAD patients and 16710 controls. Odds ratios （ORs） with 95% confidence intervals （CIs） were used to assess the relationship between Pvull polymorphism and CAD. The poly- morphism in control populations in all studies followed Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. We found a significant association between ESR1 Pvull polymorphism and CAD risk in all subjects. When the data were stratified by region, a significant association between ESR1 Pvull polymorphism and CAD risk was observed in Asian populations but not in Western populations. The current study suggests that ESR1 Pvull polymorphism has an important role in CAD susceptibility.     

Investigation of stressful life events in patients with systemic sclerosis

Objective： To assess the occurrence of stressful life events in the year before the initiation of systemic sclerosis. Methods： A consecutive series of 40 patients with systemic sclerosis （mean age （56.3±11.9） years, mean disease duration （4.3±3.1） years; 32 females and 8 males）, including 28 with diffuse cutaneous scleroderma and 12 with limited cutaneous scleroderma, were evaluated, A control group of 40 healthy subjects free of systemic sclerosis also was included. Socioeconomic status was investigated and Paykel＇s interview for recent life events （a semi-structured research interview covering 64 life events） was conducted. Results： Patients with systemic sclerosis showed higher percentages of lower education （72.5%） and working class （82.5%）, and reported more stressful life events （P〈0.05）, such as exits （P〈0.05）, undesirable events （P〈0.01）, and uncontrolled events （P〈0.001）, when compared with the control. More events that had an objective negative impact （P〈0.001） were also reported in systemic sclerosis patients than in the control. These results are in accordance with a multifactorial model of pathogenesis in systemic sclerosis. Conclusion： We reported a strong relationship between stressful life events and the initiation of systemic sclerosis. Our findings are consistent with current understanding of the extensive links of behavioral responses to stress with neurophysiological and biochemical processes.     

A meta-analysis of the effects of statins on serum C-reactive protein in Chinese population with coronary heart disease or hyperlipidemia

There is little doubt that statins reduce cardiovascular events more than what the lipid lowering effect can account for. Additional mechanisms have been postulated including the anti-inflammatory effects manifested by reduced C-reactive protein （CRP）. It is not known, however, whether statins can decrease CRP in Chinese population. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of staUns on serum CRP in Chinese patients with coronary heart disease （CHD） or hyperlipidemia. Trials were retrieved through Medline （1980 to May, 2009）, bibliographies, and the author＇s reference files limited to English-language articles. Data were extracted and meta-analysis was performed. Analysis showed statistically significant reduction in CRP after statin treatment （weighted mean difference [WMD] = -0.73, 95% confidence interval [Cl] = [-0.80, -0.66], P 〈 0.00001） and lower CRP after statin treatment than non-statin routine treatment （[WMD] = -0.52, 95% Cl [-0.86, -0.18], P = 0.002）. In conclusion, statins significantly reduce serum CRP in Chinese population, which may contribute to statin-induced reduction in the cardiovascular risk in addition to the lipid lowering effect.     

OMOM capsule endoscopy in diagnosis of small bowel disease

Objective： To assess the diagnostic efficiency of OMOM capsule endoscopy （CE） in a group of patients with different indications. Methods： Data from 89 consecutive patients （49 males, 40 females） with suspected small bowel disease who underwent OMOM CE （Jinshan Science and Technology Company, review. The patients＇ indications of the disease consisted of the Chongqing, China） examination were obtained by retrospective following： obscure gastrointestinal bleeding （OGIB）, abdominal pain or diarrhea, partial intestinal obstruction, suspected inflammatory bowel disease, tumor of unknown origin, hypoproteinemia, constipation, weight loss, and elevated tumor markers. Results： CE failed in one patient. Visualization of the entire small bowel was achieved in 75.0%. Capsules were naturally excreted by all patients. The detection rate of abnormalities was 70.5% for patients with suspected small bowel disease, and the diagnostic yield for patients with OGIB was higher than that for patients with abdominal pain or diarrhea （85.7% vs 53.3%, P〈0.005）. Angiodysplasia was the most common small bowel finding. Active bleeding sites were noted in the small intestine in 11 cases. Conclusion： OMOM CE is a useful diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of variably suspected small bowel disease, whose diagnostic efficiency is similar to that of the Pillcam SB （small bowel） CE （Given Imaging, Yoqneam, Israel）.     

Case Report： Concurrent pulmonary thrombosis with systemic embolism： a case report

Based on different mechanisms of blood coagulation, coexistence of venous thromboembolism and arterial thrombosis in a single individual is extremely rare in clinical practice. Both antiplatelet and anticoagulation therapy should be adopted for patients with arteriovenous embolism. Balancing the risk of ischemia and hemorrhage is especially challenging in these patients in order to achieve an optimal clinical benefit. We report on a 55-year-old female with acute pulmonary embolism （PE）, subsequently diagnosed as having acute myocardial infarction （AMI） and a cerebral infarction. Examinations had been carried out, excluding potential arteriovenous shunts, cancer, an- tiphospholipid syndrome and other common hypercoagulable states. A combination of an anticoagulant drug （rivaroxaban, an Xa inhibitor） and an antiplatelet agent （clopidogrel, an ADP receptor inhibitor） was prescribed with a β-blocker and atorvastatin. The embolus was gradually shrunk during the next 10 months, and then it turned back into expanding. During the 16 months＇ follow-up, an aneurysm of left ventricular apex was found through an echocardiogram and an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor was administered. We conclude that combined anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy significantly relieved the symptoms and improved the prognosis in patients suffering from arteriovenous embolism without any major clinical bleeding events.     

Total thyroidectomy is safer with identification of recurrent laryngeal nerve

Objective： To investigate the effect of recurrent laryngeal nerve （RLN） identification on the complications after total thyroidectomy and lobectomy. Methods： Total 134 consecutive patients undergoing total thyroidectomy or thyroid lobectomy from January 2003 to November 2004 were investigated retrospectively. Patients were divided into two groups： RLN identified （Group A） or not （Group B）. The two groups were compared for RLN injury and hypocalcaemia. Results： The numbers of patients and nerves at risk were 71 and 129 in Group A, and 63 and 121 in Group B, respectively, RLN injury in Group A （0） was significantly lower than that in Group B （5 [7.9%]） patients, 7 [5.8%] nerves） for the numbers of patients （P=0.016） and nerves at risk （P=0.006）. Temporary hypocalcaemia was significantly higher in Group A than in Group B （14 [24.1%] vs 6 [ 10.3%], P=0.049）, Permanent complications in Group B were significantly higher than those in Group A （13 [20.6%] vs 4 [5.6%], P=0.009）. Conclusion： RLN injury was prevented and permanent complications were decreased by identifying the whole course and branches of the recurrent laryngeal nerve during total thyroidectomy,     

Active compounds-based discoveries about the differentiation and apoptosis of leukemic cells

Acute myeloid leukemia （AML） is a heterogeneous group of hematopoietic malignancies which are characterized by the blockage of hematopoietic cell differentiation with uncontrolled proliferation and/or impaired apoptosis. Over the past 20 years, there has been tremendous progress in the biological, molecular, and cytogenetic aspects of the disease, accompanied by significant advancements in the treatment of AML patients. For example, all-trans retinoic acid （ATRA） and arsenic trioxide （As2O3） have been used clinically for effective treatments of patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia （APL, a unique subtype of AML） through differentiation and/or apoptosis induction. More intriguingly, these active compounds-based chemical biological studies greatly accelerated our understanding on leukemogenesis and targeted therapy of AML patients. Based on some recent findings mainly from our group, this review attempts to summarize the related advances from Chinese researchers.     

Design of Rehabilitation Training Device for Finger-Tapping Movement Based on Trajectory Extraction Experiment

Patients with stroke, tendon injury and cardiovascular disease commonly have the sequelae of hand dysfunction which seriously affects the patients’ ability in daily life. Previous studies have found that the function of finger-tapping movement accounts for 80% of the hand function, and the recovery of the motor ability of the finger-tapping can greatly improve the patients’ self-care ability. Therefore, a rehabilitation training device to restore the finger-tapping movement is designed. In the s...     

Urban structure and the risk of influenza A （H1N1） outbreaks in municipal districts

Changsha was one of the most affected areas during the 2009 A （H 1N 1） influenza pandemic in China. Here, we analyze the spatial-temporal dynamics of the 2009 pan- demic across Changsha municipal districts, evaluate the relationship between case incidence and the local urban spatial structure and predict high-risk areas of influenza A （H1NI）. We obtained epidemiological data on all cases of influenza A （H1NI） reported across municipal districts in Changsha dur- ing period May 2009-December 2010 and data on population density and basic geographic characteristics for 239 primary schools, 97 middle schools, 347 universities, 96 mails and markets, 674 business districts and 121 hospitals. Spatial- temporal K functions, proximity models and logistic regres- sion were used to analyze the spatial distribution pattern of influenza A （H1N1） incidence and the association between influenza A （HINI） cases and spatial risk factors and predict the infection risks. We found that the 2009 influenza A （H 1N 1 ） was driven by a transmission wave from the center of the study area to surrounding areas and reported cases increased significantly after September 2009. We also found that the distribution of influenza A （H 1N1） cases was associ- ated with population density and the presence of nearest public places, especially universities （OR = 10.166）. The final pre- dictive risk map based on the multivariate logistic analysis showed high-risk areas concentrated in the center areas of the study area associated with high population density. Our find- ings support the identification of spatial risk factors and high- risk areas to guide the prioritization of preventive and miti- gation efforts against future influenza pandemics.     

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery （VATS） for bilateral primary spontaneous pneumothorax

Objective： To review our experience of the treatment of bilateral primary spontaneous pneumothorax （PSP） by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery （VATS）. Materials and methods： Retrospective chart review was followed by an on-clinic or telephone interview. Patients were cared for by one thoracic surgeon in four medical centers or community hospitals in Northern and Central Taiwan. Thirteen patients with bilateral PSP underwent bilateral VATS simultaneously or sequentially from July 1994 to December 2005. Results： Twelve males and one female, with age ranging from 15 to 36 years （mean 23.1 years）, were treated with VATS for bilateral PSP, under the indications of bilateral pneumothoracis simultaneously （n=4） or sequentially （n=9）. The interval between the first and second contra-lateral VATS procedure for non-simultaneous PSP patients ranged from 7 d to 6 years. Eleven of 13 patients （84.6%） had prominent pulmonary bullae/blebs, and underwent bullae resection with mechanical or chemical pleurodesis. The mean operative time was （45.6±18.3） min （range 25-96 min） and （120.6±28.7） min （range 84-166 min） respectively for the non-simultaneous （second VATS for the recurrence of contralateral side after first VATS） and simultaneous （bilateral VATS in one operation） procedures. There was no postoperative mortality. However, prolonged air leakage （〉7 d） occurred in one patient （7.7%） who recovered after conservative treatment. The mean duration of chest tube drainage was 3.1 d and the median follow up period was 3.4 years. Conclusions： VATS is a safe and effective procedure in the treatment of bilateral PSP. Bilateral VATS is only recommended for patients with simultaneously bilateral PSP, because the incidence of recurrence, even with visible bullae, was not so high in my group and in some previous literature. Bilateral VATS in a supine position should only be used in selective cases, because of possible pleural adhesion or hidden bullae on the posterior si     

Risk Assessment,Management and Application in Nuclear Power Plant Operation

To introduce the basic concepts of technical specification of nuclear power plant,a risk assessment and management technique based on the probabilistic safety analysis（ PSA） method was proposed. The risk-informed method was used,and an example was given to show how to use some specific risk metrics like CDF / LERF /ICDP / ILERP to analyze and manage the risk associated with activities in nuclear power plant operation. The advantage of this technique can be concluded from this paper,and this technique should be used more widely and deeply in nuclear industry.     

Distribution and risk factors of hand,foot, and mouth disease in Changchun,northeastern China

Hand, foot, and mouth disease （HFMD） is a public health problem, and there have been increasing numbers of outbreaks in mainland China since 2008. Over 17,000 HFMD cases have been reported in Changchun between 2008 and 2011. This study characterized the temporal and spatial distribution of the disease and iden- tified the risk factors for HFMD. The main findings were as follows： （i） there were significant differences in HFMD incidence among age groups, with 86.8 % of reported cases in children younger than 5 years old, and boys showed a higher incidence than girls （〈6 years）; （ii） The disease affected the whole region and spanned a large geographic area, but there was a higher incidence in urban areas （median = 242 per 10,000 persons） and urban-rural border areas （median = 135 per 10,000 persons）, compared with rural areas （median = 75 per 10,000 persons）; and （iii） the incidence of HFMD in Changchun was significantly asso- ciated with the distance to the nearest freeway, GDP per capita, and the type of township.     

Proteiomic patterns for endometrial cancer using SELDI-TOF-MS

Serum samples from endometrial cancer （EC） patients and healthy females were analyzed using surface-enhanced laser desorption-ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry （SELDI-TOF-MS） to discover the potential diagnostic biomarker for detection of EC. A preliminary training set of spectra derived from 40 E C patients and 30 healthy women were used to develop a proteomic model that effectively discriminated cancer patients from healthy women. The training set had a specificity of 100% and sensitivity of 92.5% in the EC detection. A blind test set, including 20 new cancer cases and 10 healthy women, was used to validate the sensitivity and specificity of this multivariate model, which had a corresponding results of 60% in specificity and 75% in sensitivity, respectively. The combination of SELDI-TOF-MS with bioinformatics tools could help find new biomarkers and establish the detection of EC with high sensitivity and specificity.     

Perfluorooctane sulfonate （PFOS） and related fluorochemicals in chicken egg in China

The ubiquitous occurrence of perfluorinated compounds （PFCs） in environmental samples has drawn much attention. Recent human exposure studies found relatively high perfluorooctane sulfonate （PFOS） concentrations in blood samples from several cities in China when compared with other countries. The objectives of the present study were： （1） to measure PFC concentrations and compositions in chicken egg samples from local markets in China; and （2） to conduct a preliminary human health risk assessment of egg consumption. Eight pooled egg samples from eight locations were analyzed for 11 PFCs. The results showed that close to 100% of the PFOS in the egg was distributed in egg yolk and PFOS was not detected in egg white （〈0.08 ng/g wet weight, w/w）. Of the perfluoroalkylsulfonates, only PFOS was detected in all egg samples, while of the perfluoroalkylcarboxylates, perfluoroundecanoic acid （PFUnDA） was detected in all samples, followed by perfluorooctanoate （PFOA） （75% occurrence） and perfluorodecanoic acid （PFDA） （50% occurrence）. PFOS concentrations in egg ranged from 45.0 to 86.9 ng/g w/w. The results suggested that current concentrations of PFOS in domestic chicken eggs are unlikely to cause immediate harm to Chinese populations.     

A measure for spatial heterogeneity of vegetation in the Center of Inner Mongolia

This study surveyed and analyzed the vegetation heterogeneity in the Center of Inner MoJagolia （CIM） by a new method based on the beta-binomial distribution for each kind of vegetation. As many as 190 large quadrats of 5mm×5mm （representing an area of 50 km x 50 km） （referred to as L-quadrats hereafter） were extracted from about an area of 475,000 km^2. Each L-quadrat was divided into four small quadrats （S-quadrat） of 2.5 mm×2.5 mm （equivalent to 25km×25kin） and the frequency of occurrence of each type of vegetation was recorded in each small quadrate. The weighted average heterogeneity from all of the vegetations composing a land-scape provides a measure at landscape level to determine the spatial intricateness of landscape composition. Our results indicated that each vegetation has its own distribution pattern and the degree of heterogeneity is different from one kind of vegetation to the other. The results proved that the beta-binomial distribution can be very useful for analyzing vegetation landscapes.     

Preparation of rAAV/hFⅨ by HSV/AAV hybrid helper virusand evaluation of its safety

Hemophilia B is a hemorrhagic disease resulting from Factor Ⅸ gene (hFⅨ) mutation as an X-linked recessive inherited trait. The incidence of this disease is 1 in 30000. Clinical treatments depend mainly upon blood transfusions or administration of prothrombin complex so that patients are at the risk of infections with the HIV and hepatitis viruses. Gene therapy offers an attractive alternative in the treatment of hemophilia B by eliminating those risks. In 1991, our lab conducted clinica…     

Spatial Heterogeneity of Vegetation in China

The spatial heterogeneity and ecological characteristics of 74 vegetation types and the lack of vegetation type within the 9.6 million km2 of Chinese territory were studied using data from the China vege- tation map. The analysis used 877 large quadrats 10 mm×10 mm (actual size 100 km×100 km), which cov- ered about 8.77 million km2. Each large-quadrat was divided into four small 5 mm×5 mm quadrats (actual size 50 km×50 km). The frequency of occurrence of all vegetation types was recorded in each small quadrat. The survey using the Shiyomi method of vegetation analysis based on the beta-binomial distribution was adopted to describe the frequency of occurrence and spatial heterogeneity for each kind of vegetation. The weighted average heterogeneity of all the vegetation types in the landscape provides a measure of the landscape level heterogeneity which describes the spatial intricacy of the existing vegetation composition. The maximum spatial vegetation heterogeneity was 0.8620 in the frigid-temperate coniferous forest of Larix (V1), which dominates cold moist northeast China. The minimum spatial heterogeneity with a low occurrence was the Caragana tibetica in the gravel desert in the western Yellow River Hetao area. The minimum occur- rence with a low spatial heterogeneity was the Monsoon rainforest on rock in Guangxi and Yunnan Provinces. The vegetation types on the Qing-Zang Plateau were found to be representative of Chinese vegeta- tion because of the very high occurrence and spatial heterogeneity of these vegetation types. The weighted average of the heterogeneity was 0.677, while the vegetation diversity index was 3.29.