Allelopathic effects of aqueous extracts from Panax notoginseng on three maize varieties (Zea mays) / 中国中药杂志

It has been showed that there were obvious obstacle effects of Panax notoginseng replanting. Crop rotation was the main effective technique to overcome the obstacle. To find a reasonable crop rotation system for P. notoginseng, aqueous extracts from root, stem and leaf of P. notoginseng were analyzed for allelopathic effect on three maize varieties (which are often grown in regions where P. notoginseng grown). The main results were as follows: (1) Allelopathic effect of P. notoginseng stem and leaf extracts on the three other tested plants was stronger than that of root extracts; (2) Corn was more vulnerable to the effects of allelochemicals at seedling stage than at germination stage, and the corn root was more sensitive than aerial part to allelochemicals; (3) Lusan No. 3 and Yunrui No. 1 showed resistance to P. notoginseng allelopathy, with respective comprehensive sensitivity indexes (M3) of - 0.089 3 and -0.159 2, while Bainuo No. 1 is sensitive at M3 = -0.261 0. It then can be concluded that Lusan No. 3 and Yunrui No. 1 may be an alternative rotation plants for overcoming P. notoginseng continuous cropping obstacle.

Correlation of plasma adiponectin and components of metabolic syndrome / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify the relationship of adiponectin and the components of metabolic syndrome (MS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Cluster random sampling was applied in two districts of Shanghai. Two communities were selected. After investigating and physical examination, 235 MS subjects were obtained. Correlation analysis and principle components regression analysis were used to analyze the relationship between adiponectin and components of MS (waist circumference, blood pressure, blood glucose and lipid).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Adiponectin in male was (2.82 +/- 1.73) microg/ml, lower than in female [(5.12 +/- 3.51) microg/ml] with statistical difference (Z = -5.25, P = 0.00). Adiponectin levels [(4.38 +/- 3.23) microg/ ml] correlated with abdominal obesity, including waist circumference [(93.37 +/- 7.76) cm] (r(s) = - 0.18, t(r) = -2.79, P = 0.01) and waist hip ratio (0.91 +/- 0.05) (r(s) = -0.28, t(r) = -4.44, P = 0.00), but did not correlate significantly with body mass index (BMI) [(26.85 +/- 3.10) kg/m2] (r(s) = -0.10, t(r) = - 1.45, P = 0. 15). Adiponectin correlated negatively with insulin resistance related indexes, including fasting glucose [(5.48 +/- 1.72) mmol/L] (r(s) = -0.13, t(r) = -2.00, P = 0.05), fasting insulin [(11.52 +/- 5.34) mU/L] (r(s) = -0. 15, t(r) = - 2.31, P = 0.02), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (2.90 +/- 2.07) (r(s) = -0.17, t(r) = -2.63, P = 0.01) and triglyceride [(2.11 +/- 1.24) mmol/L] (r(s) = -0.24, t(r) = -3.77, P = 0.00). The correlations were not observed between adiponectin with total cholesterol [(5.01 +/- 1.19) mmol/L] ( r(s) = -0.05, t(r) = -0.78, P = 0.44), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) [(1.21 +/- 0.32) mmol/L] (r(s) = 0.06, t(r) = 0.93, P = 0.36), systolic blood pressure [(131.40 +/- 14.93) mm Hg, 1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa] (r(s) = -0.02, t(r) = -0.34, P = 0.73) and diastolic blood pressure [(86.77 +/- 9.14)mm Hg] (r(s) = -0.02, t(r) = -0.27, P = 0.78).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Adiponectin should correlate negatively with abdominal obesity and insulin resistance, but not directly correlate with blood pressure in MS.</p>

Association of peroxisome proliferator-activated-receptors-gamma C161-->T gene polymorphism with metabolic syndrome and dietary predisposition / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the genotype frequencies of peroxisome proliferators-activated -receptors-gamma C161-->T gene and its possible association with the metabolic syndrome and dietary intakes.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The PCR-PFLP method was used to detect the polymorphism of PPARgammaC161-->T gene of 224 adults with metabolic syndrome and 224 normal adults in Shanghai. Their physical examinations, dietary investigation and the serum biochemistry were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The genotype frequencies of PPARgamma C161-->T CC, CT and TT were 32.4%, 49.6% and 18.0% respectively, which were in agreement with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. There was no significant difference in the distribution of genotypes or allele between the metabolic syndrome group and the control group, and the result was the same between male and female subjects. (2) The levels of body mass index,waist width and hip width were significantly different among three genotypes groups. Subjects of the CT genotype had the highest levels. (3) There was significant difference in the negative correlation with the intake of protein and serum TG levels in the metabolic syndrome group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results suggested PPARgamma gene C161-->T should be associated with body mass index, waist width and hip width. It might contribute to the heterogeneity in diet response to TG.</p>