Treating non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients of Gan stagnation Pi deficiency syndrome by tiaogan lidi recipe: a randomized controlled clinical trial / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the efficacy and safety of tiaogan Lipi Recipe (TLR) in treating non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients of Gan stagnation Pi deficiency syndrome (GSP-DS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed. Totally 99 NAFLD patients of GSPDS were randomly allocated into two groups, 66 patients in the treatment group (treated with-TLR, one dose per day) and 33 patients in the control group (treated with placebos, one dose per day). The therapeutic course for all was 12 weeks. All patients received lifestyle interventions including moderate aerobic exercise, moderate caloric restriction, and dietary changes. Clinical symptoms, CT indices, liver functions and blood lipids were observed before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After 12 weeks of treatment, the total score of clinical symptoms decreased in the two groups (P <0. 01), and it was lower in the treatment group than in the control group (P <0. 05). Liver/spleen CT ratio increased in the treatment group (P <0. 01), and it was higher in the treatment group than in the control group (P <0. 01). After treatment levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) all decreased in the treatment group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01), while levels of ALT decreased in the control group (P <0. 05). Besides, all the 3 levels mentioned above were lower in the treatment group than in the control group (P <0. 05). Levels of total cholesterol (CHO) and triglyceride (TG) decreased in the two groups (P <0. 05), and they were lower in the treatment group (P <0. 05). Total effective rates of TCM syndrome, abdominal CT, liver functions, and blood lipids were 79. 69% (51/64 cases), 54. 69% (35/64 cases), 67. 65% (23/34 cases), and 67. 39% (31/46 cases) in the treatment group, while they were 56. 25% (18/32 cases), 25. 00% (8/32 cases), 33. 33% (6/18 cases), and 55. 56% (10/18 cases) in the control group. All were superior in the treatment group (P <0.05, P <0.01, respectively).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TLR combined with lifestyle intervention could safely and effectively improve clinical symptoms of NAFLD patients of GSPDS, elevate liver/spleen CT ratios, and play a role in liver protection, anti-inflammation, and lowering blood lipids.</p>

Memory dysfunction in type 2 diabetes mellitus correlates with reduced hippocampal CA1 and subiculum volumes / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Little attention has been paid to the role of subcortical deep gray matter (SDGM) structures in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)-induced cognitive impairment, especially hippocampal subfields. Our aims were to assess the in vivo volumes of SDGM structures and hippocampal subfields using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to test their associations with cognitive performance in T2DM.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 80 T2DM patients and 80 neurologically unimpaired healthy controls matched by age, sex and education level was enrolled in this study. We assessed the volumes of the SDGM structures and seven hippocampal subfields on MRI using a novel technique that enabled automated volumetry. We used Mini-Mental State Examination and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores as measures of cognitive performance. The association of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) with SDGM structures and neuropsychological tests and correlations between hippocampal subfields and neuropsychological tests were assessed by partial correlation analysis in T2DM.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Bilaterally, the hippocampal volumes were smaller in T2DM patients, mainly in the CA1 and subiculum subfields. Partial correlation analysis showed that the MoCA scores, particularly those regarding delayed memory, were significantly positively correlated with reduced hippocampal CA1 and subiculum volumes in T2DM patients. Additionally, higher HbA1c levels were significantly associated with poor memory performance and hippocampal atrophy among T2DM patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>These data indicate that the hippocampus might be the main affected region among the SDGM structures in T2DM. These structural changes in the hippocampal CA1 and subiculum areas might be at the core of underlying neurobiological mechanisms of hippocampal dysfunction, suggesting that degeneration in these regions could be responsible for memory impairments in T2DM patients.</p>

Amplitude of low-frequency oscillations in Parkinson's disease: a 2-year longitudinal resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Neuroimaging studies have found that functional changes exist in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the majority of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies in patients with PD are task-related and cross-sectional. This study investigated the functional changes observed in patients with PD, at both baseline and after 2 years, using resting-state fMRI. It further investigated the relationship between whole-brain spontaneous neural activity of patients with PD and their clinical characteristics.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventeen patients with PD underwent an MRI procedure at both baseline and after 2 years using resting-state fMRI that was derived from the same 3T MRI. In addition, 20 age- and sex-matched, healthy controls were examined using resting-state fMRI. The fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) approach was used to analyze the fMRI data. Nonlinear registration was used to model within-subject changes over the scanning interval, as well as changes between the patients with PD and the healthy controls. A correlative analysis between the fALFF values and clinical characteristics was performed in the regions showing fALFF differences.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared to the control subjects, the patients with PD showed increased fALFF values in the left inferior temporal gyrus, right inferior parietal lobule (IPL) and right middle frontal gyrus. Compared to the baseline in the 2 years follow-up, the patients with PD presented with increased fALFF values in the right middle temporal gyrus and right middle occipital gyrus while also having decreased fALFF values in the right cerebellum, right thalamus, right striatum, left superior parietal lobule, left IPL, left precentral gyrus, and left postcentral gyrus (P < 0.01, after correction with AlphaSim). In addition, the fALFF values in the right cerebellum were positively correlated with the Unified PD Rating Scale (UPDRS) motor scores (r = 0.51, P < 0.05, uncorrected) and the change in the UPDRS motor score (r = 0.61, P < 0.05, uncorrected).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The baseline and longitudinal changes of the fALFF values in our study suggest that dysfunction in the brain may affect the regions related to cortico-striato-pallido-thalamic loops and cerebello-thalamo-cortical loops as the disease progresses and that alterations to the spontaneous neural activity of the cerebellum may also play an important role in the disease's progression in patients with PD.</p>

Efficacy of Gastrosis No.1 compound on functional dyspepsia of spleen and stomach deficiency-cold syndrome: a multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the efficacy and safety of Gastrosis No.1 compound in the treatment of functional dyspepsia with Spleen (Pi) and Stomach (Wei) deficiency-cold syndrome.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed in 5 centers. Patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) of Spleen-deficiency and qi-stagnation syndrome (162 cases) were randomly assigned to groups given Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) Gastrosis No.1 compound or placebo in a 2:1 ratio. This trial included a 4-week treatment period and a 4-week follow-up period. The outcomes were the dyspepsia symptom scores (measured by total dyspepsia symptom scale and single dyspepsia symptom scale) and syndromes of traditional Chinese medicine score (measured by traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scale). The outcomes were noted at weeks 0, 4 and 8.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with patients in the placebo group, patients in the CHM group showed significant improvement in the dyspepsia symptom scores as rated by patients and investigators (P <0.01), and also showed improvement in syndromes of traditional Chinese medicine score (P <0.01). No serious adverse event was reported. Safety tests obtained after 4 weeks of treatment showed no abnormal values.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CHM Gastrosis No.1 compound was effective and safe in the treatment of functional dyspepsia with Spleen and Stomach deficiency-cold syndrome.</p>

An uncontrolled open-label, multicenter study to monitor the antiviral activity and safety of inhaled zanamivir (as Rotadisk via Diskhaler device) among Chinese adolescents and adults with influenza-like illness / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>It is the first multicenter clinical study in China to investigate zanamivir use among Chinese adolescents and adults with influenza-like illness (ILI) since 2009, when inhaled zanamivir (RELENZA(®)) was marketed in China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>An uncontrolled open-label, multicentre study to evaluate the antiviral activity, and safety of inhaled zanamivir (as Rotadisk via Diskhaler device); 10 mg administered twice daily for 5 days in subjects ≥ 12 years old with ILI. Patients were enrolled within 48 hours of onset and followed for eight days. Patients were defined as being influenza-positive if the real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) test had positive results.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 400 patients ≥ 12 years old were screened from 11 centers in seven provinces from March 2010 to January 2011. Three hundred and ninety-two patients who took at least one dose of zanamivir were entered into the safety analysis. The mean age was 33.8 years and 50% were male. Cardiovascular diseases and diabetes were the most common comorbidities. All the reported adverse events, such as rash, nasal ache, muscle ache, nausea, diarrhea, headache, occurred in less than 1% of subjects. Mild sinus bradycadia or arrhythmia occurred in four subjects (1%). Most of the adverse events were mild and did not require any change of treatment. No severe adverse events (SAE) or fatal cases were reported. Bronchospasm was found in a 38 years old woman whose symptoms disappeared after stopping zanamivir and without additional treatment. All the 61 influenza virus isolates (43 before enrollment, 18 during treatment) proved to be sensitive to zanamivir.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Zanamivir is well tolerated by Chinese adolescents and adults with ILIs. There is no evidence for the emergence of drug-resistant isolates during treatment with zanamivir.</p>

Effect of atorvastatin on MMP-9 and TIMP-1 levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and serum of rats with bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of atorvastatin on matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and the tissue inhibitor-1 of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP-1) levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and serum of rats with experimental pulmonary fibrosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Pulmonary fibrosis was induced by intratracheal administration of bleomycin in 30 female rats, which were further divided into two groups: Group M (without treatment) and Group A (treated with atorvastatin 10 mg/kg); control group (n = 5, Group C) was intratracheally administrated with same volume of saline. Five animals were sacrificed at 2 weeks (M2 and A2), 4 weeks (M4 and A4) and 6 weeks (M6 and A6) after model establishment, respectively. Lung tissue samples were harvested and prepared for HE and Masson's trichrome staining. Concentrations of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in BALF and serum were measured by ELISA.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The severity of inflammation and pulmonary fibrosis was significantly reduced in Group A than that in Group M, especially at week 6. No significant difference was noted in the serum concentrations of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 among the Group M, A and Group C. The BALF concentrations of MMP-9 in Group M2 and M6 were significantly higher than those in Group C (P < 0.01 and 0.05), whereas those in the atorvastatin groups (A2, A4 and A6) were lower than those in M2, M4 and M6. Although the MMP-9 was still higher in Groups A2 and A4 than in the Group C, there was no significant difference in MMP-9 between Group A6 and Group C. TIMP-1 levels in BALF were significantly higher in M4 and M6 than Group C (P < 0.01 and 0.05), there were no significant differences between Group M2 and Group C. The TIMP-1 levels in BALF of atorvastatin groups were significantly lower than those of model groups and control group (P < 0.01 and 0.05), which resulted in a significantly increased ratio of MMP-9 to TIMP-1 in the atorvastatin groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Atorvastatin inhibits the synthesis and release of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in the lung tissue of rats with bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis, and has no significant effect on circulating MMP-9 and TIMP-1, which may be associated with the attenuation of experimental pulmonary fibrosis in rats.</p>

Prevalence of sleep disorders among 3173 elderly in Taiyuan city:a cross-sectional study / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To investigate the prevalence rates of sleep disorders and the correlatives in the elderly from Taiyuan city.Methods All of the 3173 elderly (aged 60 years to 100 years) in Taiyuan city were investigated at home through questionnaires,regarding their sleep condition.Subjects with sleep disorders were then screened through questionnaires and reexamined/diagnosed by special doctors.Results (1) Among the 3173 elderly,2132 subjects complained of having sleep disorders.The total prevalence of sleep disorders was 67.2%.The prevalence rates of chronic insomnia,multi-dreams,habitual snoring and daytime drowsiness were 39.65%,38.58%,26.66% and 34.32% respectively.(2)In the male elderly,the prevalence rates of being awaken early,having more urination at night,daytime drowsiness,sleep-respiratory disturbance and indiscriminate sleep rhythm increased with age(P＜0.01).However,in the female elderly,the prevalence rates of being awaken early,having daytime drowsiness and indiscriminate sleep rhythm also had a tendency of increase (P＜0.01).(3) Living alone,emotional disorder,pain and nocturia (P＜0.01) were the risk factors of chronic insomnia in the male elderly while living alone,numbness/pruritus(P＜0.01),emotional disorder (P＜0.05),were the risk factors of chronic insomnia in the female elderly.Conclusion The prevalence rates of some sleep disturbances in the elderly in Taiyuan city were generally correspondent with prevalence rates reported elsewhere that called for more attention be paid to the effect of mood disturbance and diseases related to sleep condition among the eldexly.

The interventional effect of anti-basic fibroblast growth factor on the model of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of anti-basic jibroblast grouth factor (bFGF) on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats and its possible mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Pulmonary fibrosis was induced in Wistar rats by intratracheal instillation of bleomycin (model group, group M). Then the rats received anti-bFGF on 1, 2, 3, 8, 12, 19, 25 days intracavitary injection (group K), normal saline(group C) orally. Normal controls received normal saline both intratracheally and orally. Five rats in each group were sacrificed on 1.4 week after intratracheal instillation. Histological changes of the lungs were evaluated by HE stain and Massons trichrome stain. Lung expression of bFGF proteins was assessed by immunohistochemistry and the level of bFGF protein in serum and BALF was further measured by ELISA.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Pulmonary fibrosis of group M was higher than that of group C. bFGF in group M was higher than that in group C in lung, serum and BALF on 1.4 week. Pulmonary fibrosis of group K was lower than that of group M. bFGF in group K was lower than that in group M in lung, serum and BALF on 1.4 week.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Anti-bFGF alleviates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats. Inhibiting the expressions of bFGF in lung tissues may be one of the mechanisms.</p>

Inhalation of glucocorticosteroid in the rat model of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis and its impact on the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of inhalation of glucocorticoid on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats and its possible mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Pulmonary fibrosis was induced in Wistar rats by intratracheal instillation of bleomycin (group M, group B, group D). Group B inhaled glucocorticoid daily from the next day of received bleomycin. Group D intraperitoneal injection glucocorticoid daily from the next day of received bleomycin. Normal controls received normal saline both intratracheally. Five rats in each group were killed at 1, 4 week after intratracheal instillation. Histological changes of the lungs were evaluated by HE, Masson trichrome stain. Lung expression of bFGF proteins was assessed by immunohistochemistry and the level of bFGF protein in serum and BALF was further measured by ELISA.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Pulmonary fibrosis of group M was higher than that of group C, pulmonary fibrosis of group B, D was lower than that of group M at 1, 4 week. bFGF in group M was higher than that in group C, bFGF in group B, D was lower than that in group M in lung, serum and BALF on 1, 4 week.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Inhalation of glucocorticosteroid alleviates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats. The mechanism may be related to the changes that bFGF is degrade or prevent it step up.</p>

Pneumonectomy for 210 cases of lung cancer / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To summarize 210 cases of lung cancer that underwent pneumonectomy,and to study the therapy value of pneumonectomy for lung cancer.@*METHODS@#Between January 1993 and December 2004,210 patients (169 males and 41 females) with lung cancer underwent pneumonectomy in our hospital with the mean age of 54.77 years. Out of the 210 cases 144 had left pneumonectomy, and 66 had right pneumonectomy. Among them, 26 experienced intrapericardial pneumonectomy,1 inferior vena cava reconstruction, and 1 carina reconstruction. All bronchial stumps were closed by manual suture,and systemic node dissection was performed routinely.@*RESULTS@#No one died during the operation, but 59 patients (28.10%) experienced postoperative complications and 9 patients (4.28%) died within 30 days of operation. After exclusion of postoperative deaths, the 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year survival rates were 66.21%,36.13% and 24.26%, respectively. Only 1 out of the 12 patients with small cell carcinoma survived more than 3 years.@*CONCLUSION@#Mortality and morbidity were high in pneumonectomy.If we carefully and properly select the patients, enhance postoperative monitoring and perioperative treatment, and combine with chemo-and/or radiotherapy,pneumonectomy will surely be effective for patients with lung cancer.

Assessment of Left Ventricular Global Twist in Essential Hypertensive Heart by Speckle Tracking Imaging / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

The left ventdcular twist was evaluated by 2-dimensional ultrasound speckle-tracking imaging (STI) in 50 patients with hypertension with normal geometric left ventricle (LV) and 45 normal subjects as control group. The mean value of LV rotation was obtained at each plane using STI. LV twist and twist velocity were defined as apical rotation/rotation rate relative to the base re- spectively. To adjust the intersubject differences in heart rates, the time sequence were normalized. The results showed that peak twist developed near the end of systole. Peak LV twist was significantly higher in patients with hypertension than normal controls (P＜0.001). The diastolic untwisting mainly occurred in early diastole (≈38%). Compared with normal controls, untwisting rate (Untw R) in pa- tients with hypertension was significantly reduced (P＜0.001), and untwisting half-time (UHT) was significantly delayed (P＜0.05). This study demonstrated that STI has a potential ability to evaluate the early change of heart function in patients with hypertension by measuring the twist of LV.

Ultrasound Speckle Tracking Imaging Contributes to Early Diagnosis of Impaired Left Ventricular Systolic Function in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

To investigate the value of ultrasound speckle tracking imaging (STI) in the assessment of the short-axis and long-axis systolic function of the left ventricle (LV) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), 100 subjects with normal ejection fraction were studied, including 41 patients with DM only (DM group), 22 patients with both DM and left ventricular hypertrophy (DH group),and 37 healthy subjects (control group). Left ventricle systolic function in the long axis defined as longitudinal strain, and that in the short axis defined as radial strain, apical and basal LV rotations,and LV twist were assessed respectively. The results showed that average peak strain in the long axis at basal, middle and apical levels, and global peak strain were significantly decreased in the patient groups when compared with the control group (P<0.001 for each). The parameters in DH group were significantly lower than those in DM group (P<0.01 for each). There were no significant differences in average radial peak strain in the short axis at different levels, and global peak strain among the three groups (P>0.05). Apical and basal LV rotations, and LV twist were greater in the patient groups than in the control group (P<0.01 for each). Basal LV rotation and LV twist were greater in DH group than those in DM group (P<0.01). It was concluded that STI may be used to identify early abnormalities in patients with type 2 DM that have normal left ventricular systolic function.

The Value of Conventional Echocardiographic and Tissue Doppler Imaging in the Diagnosis of Cardiac Amyloidosis / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Transthoracic echocardiographic characteristics of 17 cases of cardiac amyloidosis (CA),a rare disease in China, were analyzed in order to improve the understanding of the disease. Seventeen cases of biopsy-proven CA, admitted to Wuhan Union Hospital from June 1994 to September 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. Twenty normal volunteers served as control group. Left atrial and ventricular functions and mitral inflow velocity were measured by two-dimensional, and Doppler echocardiography, and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI)-derived peak systolic wall motion velocities (Sv), peak early diastolic wall motion velocities (Ev), and peak late diastolic wall motion (Av) were measured at the septunm. Lateral, inferior and anterior comers of mitral annulus from the apical 4- and 2 chamber views. Compared with the control group, the interventricular septal thickness (IVSd), the left ventricular posterior wall (LVPWd), right ventricular transverse diameter (RVTDd) near the end of diastole and the interauricular septum thickness (IASs), left atrial anteroposterior diameter (LAADs), right atrial transverse diameter (RATDs) near the end of systole were increased significantly (all P<0.05) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) decreased (P<0.05) in the CA group.Compared with the control group, Sv, Ev at each wall and Av at almost all walls were significantly decreased in the CA group. In the CA group, Myocardial echoes of interventricular septum and free wall of left ventricle were enhanced evidently and distributed unevenly. The echoes presented as ground glass-like images, with some spotty hyper echoes. Both atria were enlarged, and LVEF decreased, with diastolic function impaired, and mild-moderate hydropericardium found in the CA group. It was concluded that echocardiography was a relatively sensitive and highly specific non-invasive method for the diagnosis of CA.

Effects of sinomenine on NO/nNOS system in cerebellum and spinal cord of morphine-dependent and withdrawal mice / 生理学报

To explore the effect of sinomenine on the nitric oxide (NO)/neural nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) system in the cerebellum and spinal cord of morphine-dependent and morphine-withdrawal Kunming mice, mice were subjected to injection of morphine with an increasing dose for 5 d, and then were treated with sinomenine (40 mg/kg, i.p.) for another 5 d. Naloxone was used to develop acute withdrawal, and the withdrawal syndromes, including teeth chattering, twisting, straightening, sneezing and ptosis, were investigated. nNOS mRNA expressions in the cerebellum and spinal cord were determined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. nNOS activity and NO level were determined by the chemistry-colorimetry and nitrate reductase-reduction, respectively. The results obtained were as follows: (1) Sinomenine restored the decrease in body weight and alleviated the signs of morphine-withdrawal in mice. (2) Sinomenine also reduced the increases in nNOS mRNA expression and nNOS activity resulting from morphine-dependence, and simultaneously attenuated the high level of NO in both tissues following morphine-withdrawal. (3) Administration of sinomenine alone did not develop physical dependence in mice. The results obtained indicate that sinomenine may attenuate morphine addiction and significantly alleviate morphine-withdrawal symptoms, and the mechanism may be associated with the effect of sinomenine on the NO/nNOS system in the cerebellum and spinal cord.

Allium vegetables and stomach cancer risk in China.

Although the incidence of stomach cancer has been declining, it remains the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Potential protective effects of allium vegetables against cancer have been reported by a few epidemiologic studies in Chinese populations, but the sample sizes of these studies were relatively small. We examined the associations between allium vegetable consumption and stomach cancer in a large population-based case-control study in Shanghai (750 cases and 750 age- and gender-matched controls) and Qingdao (201 cases and 201 age- and gender-matched controls). Epidemiological data were collected by a standard questionnaire, and odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using conditional logistic regression in SAS. After adjusting for matching variables, education, body mass index, pack-years of smoking, alcohol drinking, salt intake, and fruit and vegetable intake, inverse relationships with dose response pattern were observed between frequency of onion intake and stomach cancer in Qingdao (P for trend=0.02) and Shanghai (P for trend=0.04) populations. In Shanghai, negative dose-response relationships were observed between monthly intake of onions (P=0.03) or garlic stalks (P=0.04) and distal, but not cardia cancer. A negative association was also noted between intake of garlic stalks (often vs. never) and risk of stomach cancer in Qingdao (OR=0.30; 95% CI: 0.12-0.77). Our results confirm protective effects of allium vegetables (especially garlic and onions) against stomach cancer.