Therapeutic observation of tuina manipulation for lumbar intervertebral disc herniation / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of balance-impact tuina therapy for lumbar intervertebral disc herniation (LIDH).Methods:A total of 118 eligible LIDH patients were randomized into an observation group and a control group by the random number table method,with 59 cases in each group.The observation group was intervened by balance-impact tuina therapy,while the control group was intervened by conventional tuina therapy,both for consecutive two weeks.The scores of visual analog scale (VAS),Oswestry disability index (ODI),quality of life questionnaire-core 30 (QOL-C30) were observed before and after treatment;the relapse rate was estimated at the sixth month and twelfth month following the treatment.The data were statistically analyzed.Results:After intervention,the total effective rate was 96.6％ in the observation group versus 91.5％ in the control group,and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).The VAS and ODI scores declined significantly after treatment in both groups (all P＜0.05),and the observation group was markedly lower than the control group (P＜0.05,P＜0.01).The QOL-C30 score increased significantly after treatment in both groups (both P＜0.05),and the observation group was markedly higher than the control group (P＜0.05).The relapse rates at the post-treatment sixth month and twelfth month in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Conclusion:Compared with the conventional tuina therapy,the balance-impact tuina therapy shows advantage in lessening pain,improving the function and enhancing the quality of life in the treatment of LIDH,and it has a lower relapse rate.Thus,this therapy is worth promoting in clinic.

MiR-214 Regulates the Human Hair Follicle Stem Cell Proliferation and Differentiation by Targeting EZH2 and Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Way In Vitro

miR-214 plays a major role in the self-renewal of skin tissue. However, whether miR-214 regulates the proliferation and differentiation of human hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) is unknown. Primary HFSCs were isolated from human scalp skin tissue, cultured, and identified using flow cytometry. An miR-214 mimic and inhibitor were constructed for transfection into HFSCs. The MTS and colony formation assays examined cell proliferation. Immunofluorescence detected the localization and expression levels of TCF4, β-catenin, and differentiation markers. Luciferase reporter and TOP/FOP Flash assays investigated whether miR-214 targeted EZH2 and regulated the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Western blot determined the expression levels of enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), Wnt/β-catenin signaling-related proteins, and HFSC differentiation markers in cells subjected to miR-214 transfection. miR-214 expression was remarkably decreased during the proliferation and differentiation of HFSCs into transit-amplifying (TA) cells. Downregulation of miR-214 promotes the proliferation and differentiation of HFSCs. Overexpression of miR-214 led to decreased expression of EZH2, β-catenin, and TCF-4, whereas downregulation of miR-214 resulted in increased expression of EZH2, β-catenin, and TCF-4 as well as TA differentiation markers. Immunofluorescence assay revealed that inhibiting miR-214 triggered the entry of β-catenin and TCF-4 into the nucleus. The luciferase reporter and TOP/FOP Flash assays demonstrated that miR-214 directly targets EZH2 and affects Wnt/β-catenin signaling. The miR-214/EZH2/β-catenin axis could be considered a candidate target in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine for HFSCs.

Dietary Exposure to Benzyl Butyl Phthalate in China / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) is a plasticizer used in food contact materials. Dietary exposure to BBP might lead to reproduction and developmental damages to human. The present paper was aimed to assess the health risk of BBP dietary exposure in Chinese population.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The BBP contents were detected in 7409 food samples from 25 food categories by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry operated in selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. The dietary exposures of BBP in different age and sex groups were estimated by combining the content data with food consumption data derived from 2002 China National Nutrient and Health Survey, and evaluated according to the tolerable daily intake (TDI) of BBP established by European Food safety Agency.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>It was found that BBP was undetectable in most samples and the highest level was 1.69 mg/kg detected in a vegetable oil sample. The average dietary exposure of BBP in people aged ⋝2 years was 1.03 μg/kg bw per day and the highest average exposure was found in 2-6 years old children (1.98 μg/kg bw per day). The BBP exposure in 7-12 months old children excessed 10% of tolerable daily intake (TDI) in worst scenario. .</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The health risk of BBP dietary exposure in Chinese population is low and, considering BBP alone, there is no safety concern.</p>

Trans Fatty Acid Levels in Foods and Intakes among Population Aged 3 Years and above in Beijing and Guangzhou Cities, China / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To understand the dietary intake levels of trans fatty acids (TFA) in a Chinese population and establish a basis for health risk assessment of trans fatty acids.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The TFA contents data of 2613 food items and food consumption data of 10,533 people aged 3 years and above in two large cities in China were matched and a simple assessment method was used to estimate the distribution of dietary TFA intake.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean content of TFA was highest in margarine (1.68 ± 0.83 g/100g), followed by chocolate and candy (0.89 ± 2.68 g/100g), edible vegetable oils (0.86 ± 0.82 g/100g), milk (0.83 ± 1.56 g/100g), and bakery foods (0.41 ± 0.91 g/100g). TFA intake accounted for 0.34%, 0.30%, 0.32%, and 0.29% of the total energy intake in the 3-6, 7-12, 13-17, and ⋝18 year age groups, respectively. Of the populations studied, 0.42% demonstrated TFA intakes (as percentage of energy intake) greater than 1%. The main sources of dietary TFA intake were edible vegetable oils, milk, mutton, and beef, and baked foods, which accounted for 49.8%, 16.56%, 12.21%, and 8.87%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The current intake of TFA among people in two cities did not appear to be of major health concern regarding the threshold of TFA intake as the percentage of total energy recommended by the World Health Organization. Because most TFA were derived from industrially processed foods, the government should reinforce nutrition labeling and regulate food producers to further reduce TFA in food and to provide scientific instruction for consumers to make sound choices.</p>

Methodology and application for health risk classification of chemicals in foods based on risk matrix / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

The method has been developed to accurately identify the magnitude of health risks and provide scientific evidence for implementation of risk management in food safety. It combines two parameters including consequence and likelihood of adverse effects based on risk matrix. Score definitions and classification for the consequence and the likelihood of adverse effects are proposed. The risk score identifies the intersection of consequence and likelihood in risk matrix represents its health risk level with different colors: 'low', 'medium', 'high'. Its use in an actual case is shown.

Endocrine disruption of cadmium in rats using the OECD enhanced TG 407 test system / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the endocrine disrupting effects of cadmium (Cd) using OECD enhanced TG407 test guideline.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into six groups and accordingly administered with 0, 1, 2.5, 5, 10, 20 mg/kg•BW/day of Cd by gavage for 28 days. Body weight, food consumption, hematology, biochemistry, sex hormone levels, urinary β2-microglobulin, organ weights and histopathology and estrous cycle were detected.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Cd could significantly decrease animals' body weight (P<0.05). Serum luteinizing hormone (LH) at 10-20 mg/kg•BW groups and testosterone (T) at 2.5 and 10 mg/kg•BW groups decreased significantly (P<0.05). However, no statistically significant change was found in urinary β2-microglobulin among Cd-treatment groups (P>0.05). Endpoints related to female reproduction including uterus weight and histopathological change at 10-20 mg/kg•BW groups showed significant increase (P<0.05). While among male rats in 2.5, 10, 20 mg/kg•BW groups, weight of prostate, thyroids, and seminal vesicle glands significantly decreased (P<0.05). Moreover, no histopathological change was observed in kidney.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Results suggested that Cd can cause endocrine disrupting effects in SD rats. Comparing with possible renal toxicity of Cd, its toxicity on endocrine system was more sensitive.</p>

Development of a model diets for consumers with high exposure to food chemicals / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To develop and verify a model diet for consumers with high exposure to food chemicals.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Based on the assumption that a person might consume average amounts of several different foods but only two or three at high levels, a model diet were put forward to calculate the high exposures to certain food chemical.Important parameters of this model were selected by comparing the outputs of this model with those of a reference model-semi-probabilistic model that is based on individual data. The concentration data of lead, cadmium and mercury (45 832, 43 862 and 25 243 samples respectively) from the national risk surveillance for chemical contaminations and harmful factors (2011), and the consumption data from the national survey on nutrition and health status in Chinese population (2002) were used in this model optimization process. The final model was verified using concentration data of eight chemical contaminations from national surveillance database of 2010.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>When 90, 95 and 97.5 percentile exposure being calculated under the conditions that 7, 12, 20 and 30 food categories was used respectively, the model containing two high consumption foods (2+x model) got results lower than the reference values (the relative deviation < 0) , the model containing three high consumption foods (3+x model) got results higher than the reference values (the relative deviation > 0 ),but the relative deviation of the two models were both within 20%. The verification results showed that the dietary exposure results of 8 food contaminations got from 3+x model were all higher than and(or) close to those got from semi-probabilistic model, and the relative deviations were between -5% and 25%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The 3+x model diet can fulfill the demands of "conservative" and "accurate" on exposure assessment model, and can give reliable estimations of high exposure to food chemicals occurred in various food categories.</p>

Applicability of thresholds of toxicological concern in the chronic dietary risk assessment of transformation products of pesticide active substance / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish the threshold of toxicological concern(TTC) approach and to apply it in the risk assessment of metabolites, degradation and reaction products of pirimicarb.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>TTC decision tree approach based on Cramer classification was established and Lazar software was used to predict the genotoxicity of the seven transformation products of pirimicarb, namely, R34836, R34885, R35140, R31805, R34865, R16210 and R16192. Dietary exposure in general population as well as in six age population groups was estimated by using data from the Chinese National Nutrition and Health Survey and pirimicarb residue data from national chemical surveillance data in 2011. TTC decision tree approach was used for risk assessment and the exposure was compared with the corresponding TTC values.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the seven transformations of pirimicarb active substance, namely, R34836, R34885, R35140, R31805, R34865, R16210 and R16192, the maximum dietary exposure of mean and large portion(P 97.5) were all belong to 2-6 age group. The mean exposures of the seven transformation products for 2-6 age group,were 0.0290, 0.0207, 0.0015, 0.0320, 0.0005, 0.6918 and 0.1274 µg/kg,respectively, and the corresponding P 97.5 exposures were 0.0817,0.0581,0.0042,0.0900,0.0014, 1.9459 and 0.3585 µg/kg. Besides, the mean and P 97.5 exposure of R16210 for 2-6 age group was the largest,which were 0.6918 and 1.9459 µg/kg, accounting for 46.12% and 129.73% of the TTC threshold,respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TTC decision tree approach is a useful tool for prior screening and primary risk assessment of the transformation products of pesticide active substance.</p>

Effect of muscle-tension-balance acupuncture therapy on the motor function and living ability of patients with drop foot and strephenopodia after stroke / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the difference between muscle-tension-balance acupuncture and conventional acupuncture in the impacts on motor function and living ability of patients with drop foot and strephenopodia after stroke.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy cases were randomly divided into a muscle-tension-balance acupuncture group (group A) and a conventional acupuncture group (group B), 35 cases in each one. In group A, firstly the acupuncture of weakening technique was applied to Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Taixi (KI 3) on the musculus extensor side; secondly, the strengthening technique was adopted at Jiexi (ST 41), Shenmai (BL 62) and Yanglingquan (GB 34) on musculus flexor side. In group B, the conventional needling technique was applied to Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Xuanzhong (GB 39), etc. The treatment was given once every day in either group, 10 treatments made one session and 3 sessions of treatment were required. The score of Fugl-Meyer motor function of the lower limb on the affected side and Barthel index score were assessed before and after treatment in two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treated for 3 sessions, Fugle-Meyer motor function score and Barthel index score of the patients all increased in two groups (all P < 0.01). The results in group A were better than those in group B (both P < 0.05). The improvements were apparent in the 2nd session of treatment in group A (both P < 0.01), which were superior to those in group B (both P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Either acupuncture therapy can improve the motor function and living ability of patients with drop foot and strephenopodia after stroke. The muscle-tension-balance acupuncture achieves the efficacy quickly and its efficacy is much better.</p>

Dietary iodine intake in the Chinese population / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate dietary iodine intake and its potential risks among the Chinese population.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Individual dietary iodine intake was calculated using food consumption data multiplying by iodine concentration in foods, table salt and drinking water, followed by summing, and then compared with the corresponding age-specific reference values, including Upper Intake Level (UL) and Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In areas with water iodine concentration (WI) lower than 150 μg/L, 80.8% of residents had iodine intake between the RNI and UL, 5.8% higher than UL, and the remaining (13.4%) lower than RNI if iodized salt was consumed. However, in the uniodized salt consumption scenario, only 1.0% of residents between RNI and UL, 1.4% higher than UL, and a large part of residents (97.6%) lower than RNI. In areas with WI higher than 150 μg/L, all residents had iodine intake between RNI and UL if iodized salt was consumed, except 10.5% and 24.9% of residents higher than UL in areas with WI at 150-300 μg/L and higher than 300 μg/L respectively. However, in the uniodized salt consumption scenario, only 1.5% and 1.7% of residents had higher iodine intake than UL respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The findings suggested that in general, the dietary iodine intake by the Chinese population was appropriate and safe at the present stage. People in areas with WI lower than 150 μg/L were more likely to have iodine deficiency. While people in areas with WI higher than 150 μg/L were more likely to have excessive iodine intake if iodized salt was consumed.</p>

Estrogen receptor α and β expressions in hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis in rats exposed lactationally to soy isoflavones and bisphenol A / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>This paper aims to investigate the uterotrophic activities of lactational exposure to combination of soy isoflavones (SIF) and bisphenol A (BPA) and to examine estrogen receptor α (ERα) and estrogen receptor β (ERβ) expressions in hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis and uterus.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Maternal rats that were breeding about 8 litters were randomly divided into four groups with seven dams in each group. Dams in different treatment groups received corn oil (control), 150 mg/kg BW of SIF, 150 mg/kg BW of BPA or combination of 150 mg/kg BW of SIF and 150 mg/kg BW of BPA, respectively, from postnatal day 5 to 11 (PND5-11) by gavage. On PND12 and PND70, 10 female litters were killed and hypothalamus, pituitary, ovary and uterus were collected. ERα and ERβ expressions in these organs were detected with Western blotting assay. And vaginal opening time and estrus cycle were examined in animals fed for PND70.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>On PND12, the relative uterine weight of rats treated with ISF or BPA or their combination was significantly higher than that of untreated rats (P<0.05). But the relative uterine weight of rats in the co-exposure group was slightly lower than that in the group only exposed to SIF or BPA. On PND 70, however, the relative uterine weight in each treatment group was not statistically different from that in the control group (P>0.05). Vaginal opening time and estrus cycle in groups treated with SIF or BPA or their combination were similar to those in the control group (P>0.05). Exposure to SIF or BPA or their combination could up-regulate or down-regulate ERα and ERβ expressions in hypothalamus, pituitary, ovary and uterus on PND12 and PND70. These regulation patterns for ERα and ERβ were different in different organs at different time points.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Lactational exposure to ISF or BPA or their combination could induce uterotrophic responses in neonate rats, which disappeared in later life. But these data fail to suggest a possibility for synergic actions between SIF and BPA. It was also demonstrated that the uterotrophic effects of SIF and BPA exposure might, at least, involve modification of ERα or ERβ expressions in the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis.</p>

Cardiovascular events in patients with chronic kidney disease / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Cardiovascular event is common and is an important cause of death for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The purpose of current study is to analyze the related risk factors of cardiovascular event in patients with CKD.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical data from 557 patients with CKD (stage III-V) who hospitalized in our hospital from Jan 2006 to Dec 2006 were retrospectively analyzed focusing on the risk factors of cardiovascular event and their impacts on death.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the 557 patients with CKD, 332 were male and 225 were female. There were totally 163 patients (163/557, 29.3%) suffered from cardiovascular events during hospitalization. The independent risk factors for cardiovascular event were age, history of coronary heart disease, anemia and fasting blood glucose level. The mortality was significantly higher in patients suffered from cardiovascular events than that in patients without cardiovascular events (9.82% vs. 2.28%, P<0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>For patients with CKD, anemia is another independent risk factor for cardiovascular events besides traditional risk factors and the mortality was significantly higher in CKD patients with cardiovascular events compared to CKD patients without cardiovascular events.</p>

The clinical features and outcomes of immunoglobulin light-chain amyloidosis with heart involvement / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the clinical features and outcomes of patients with immunoglobulin light-chain amyloidosis (AL) who had heart involvement.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical features and outcomes of AL amyloidosis patients with heart involvement in the past 7 years in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Cardiac involvement was seen in 36 out of the 60 AL patients (60%). The clinical manifestations of cardiac amyloidosis included heart failure (50%), low QRS voltage (47.2%) and pseudomyocardial infarction (33.3%) in electrocardiography, as well as thickening of ventricular wall (63.9%), echo of granular sparkling texture (11.1%), atria dilation (33.3%) and diastolic dysfunction (30.6%) in echocardiography. The prognosis was poor, with a median survival time of 13.9 months.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Patients of AL amyloidosis with cardiac involvement are not rare. Thickening of ventricular wall and diastolic dysfunction are the most common characteristics. Special attention should be paid to this disease.</p>

Effect of baicalin on HSP70 expression of hippocampal neurons in focal brain ischemia-reperfusion injury rats / 药学学报

<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate the effect of baicalin on the hippocampal neuronal apoptosis and the expression of HSP70 in rats with focal brain ischemia-reperfusion injury.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and twenty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups:sham operated group, ischemia-reperfusion group, nimodipine group and three baicalin groups,to which baicalin was administered at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg x kg(-1), separately. The models of focal brain ischemia-reperfusion injury induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) were used in this study. HE stain was used to observe the pathological changes. Flow cytometry (FCM) was used for determination of neuronal apoptosis. HSP70 protein expression of the neurons was detected with immunohistochemistry. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of the mRNA level of HSP70.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Baicalin can significantly relieve the pathological changes and inhibit apoptosis in hippocampus CA1 area, and at the same time increase the expression of HSP70 and HSP70 mRNA.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Baicalin can relieve brain damage induced by focal brain ischemia-reperfusion in rats, which may be related to inhibiting the process of the neuronal apoptosis. The mechanism of antiapoptosis effect of baicalin may be related to the promotion of transcription of HSP70 mRNA and increasing the expression of the protein.</p>

Polymorphism K469E of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 gene and restenosis after coronary stenting in Chinese patients / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Inflammation is a major cause of restenosis after coronary stenting. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is an important adhesion molecule that plays a key role in the tight adhesion between leukocytes and vascular endothelium. The object of this study was to investigate the association between the K469E polymorphism of the ICAM-1 gene and restenosis after coronary stenting in North Chinese population.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The ICAM-1 K469E polymorphism was genotyped using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method in 124 patients who had undergone coronary stenting and coronary angiography at least 3 months earlier. Information on clinical risk factors and procedure-related data were also collected.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of 124 enrolled patients in total, there were 72 cases of in-stent restenosis. The restenosis rate in this population was 58.1%. The frequencies of the three possible genotypes of the ICAM-1 K469E polymorphism were: KK genotype 50.8%, EE genotype 41.9%, and EK genotype 41.9%. Among restenosis patients, the frequency of the KK genotype was 58.3% and the frequency of E allele carriers was 41.7%. Among non-restenosis patients, the frequency of the KK genotype was 40.4%, and the frequency of E allele carriers was 59.6%. The distribution of these two genotype groups between restenosis and non-restenosis patients was significantly different (P = 0.049). Using multivariate logistic regression, the difference between the two groups was more apparent. The odds ratio of KK homozygotes vs E allele carriers was 2.6, with 95% confidence interval 1.2 - 5.8 (P = 0.018). After grading of risk factors, we found that the KK genotype was a stronger predictor of in-stent restenosis in obesity or hyperlipemia patients, with an odds ratio of 9.3 and 3.7, respectively (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In our study population, KK homozygotes of the ICAM-1 codon 469 mutation had a higher risk of restenosis after coronary stenting, especially in the case of obese or hyperlipemia patients.</p>