ABSTRACT
This review summarised and compared the contents and methods of America,s Health Rankings (AHR)and the County Health Rankings(CHR)in the United States by using literature review.AHR and CHR are the currently widely used population health assessment index ranking systems in the United States,respectively,which provided an analysis of population health on a state-by-state basis and a county-by-county basis by evaluating a histori-cal and comprehensive set of health outcomes and health determinants data to determine the health benchmarks and state/county rankings.The selection criteria of each indicator take into account of reliability, availability, stability, and intervention.The determination of weights of each indicator took into considerations the literature review,a histori-cal perspective,weights used by other rankings,internal analyses of the variation in outcomes explained by each factor, and pragmatic issues involving communications and stakeholder engagement.By comparison, it was found that AHR and CHR have a higher level of accuracy in the classification as they are well -defined by population demographics and geography respectively.The evaluation of health cities and health villages and towns in China is more complicated. There are few studies on village and town health rankings systems.This article reviewed the evaluation methods of AHR and CHR with a view to providing a reference for research on the evaluation system of City Health Rankings and the Village and Town Health Rankings in China.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of Gli1 gene silencing by RNA interference (RNAi) on proliferation of K562 cells and its mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The small interference RNA (siRNA) was synthesized in vitro. K562 cells were transfected with Gli1 siRNA by the way of lipofection (lipofectamine 2000). Non-specific siRNA transfected cells were used as control. Transfection efficiencies of different siRNA concentrations were detected by flow cytometry and the best siRNA concentration was selected. The silencing effect of siRNA was demonstrated by real time PCR and Westem blot analysis. Cell proliferation was measured by MTT method, cell cycle by PI assay, c-myc and p21 mRNA level was detected by real time PCR analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Transfection efficiency of siRNA was increased in a dose-dependent manner when siRNA concentration was below 200 pmol, and the highest transfection efficiency reached (80.11 ± 5.63)%. Both the mRNA and protein level of Gli1 was down-regulated in Gli1 specific siRNA group, the mRNA level was (52.60 ± 3.57)% of that of control group after 24 h (t = 20.33, P < 0.01) and the protein level was (79.31 ± 5.58)% of that of control group after 48 h (t = 6.54, P < 0.01). The cell proliferation rate in Gli1 siRNA group was (94.41 ± 3.58)% (t = 2.40, P = 0.05) and (90.22 ± 3.34)% (t = 4.37, P < 0.01) of that of control group after 24 h and 48 h, respectively. G(2)/M cell cycle arrest was observed, the mRNA level of c-myc was down-regulated while p21 was up-regulated in Gli1 siRNA group after 24 h and 48 h (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Targeted silencing of Gli1 gene by RNAi inhibits the proliferation of K562 cells, which acts through the down-regulation of c-myc and up-regulation of p21 expression.</p>