Therapeutic Window of Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) and its correlation with IVIG-resistant in Kawasaki Disease: a retrospective study

Abstract Objective: To investigate the optimal timing of initial intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment in Kawasaki disease (KD) patients. Methods: KD patients were classified as the early group (day 1-4), conventional group (day 5-7), conventional group (day 8-10), and late group (after day 10). Differences among the groups were analyzed by ANOVA and Chi-square analysis. Predictors of IVIG resistance and the optimal cut-off value were determined by multiple logistic regression analyses and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: There were no significant differences in IVIG resistance among the 4 groups (p = 0.335). The sensitivity analysis also confirmed no difference in the IVIG resistance between those who started the initial IVIG ≤ day 7 of illness and those who received IVIG >day 7 of illness (p = 0.761). In addition, patients who received IVIG administration more than 7 days from the onset had a higher proportion of coronary artery abnormalities (p = 0.034) and longer length of hospitalization (p = 0.033) than those who started IVIG administration less than 7 days. The optimal cut-off value of initial IVIG administration time for predicting IVIG resistance was >7 days, with a sensitivity of 75.25% and specificity of 82.41%. Conclusions: IVIG therapy within 7 days of illness is found to be more effective for reducing the risk of coronary artery abnormalities than those who received IVIG >day 7 of illness. IVIG treatment within the 7 days of illness seems to be the optimal therapeutic window of IVIG. However, further prospective studies with long-term follow-up are required.

Epidemiological characteristics and secular trend of the HIV/AIDS cases among 15-24 years old population in Hefei from 2004 to 2022 / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To investigate the characteristics of HIV/AIDS cases among 15-24 year old population reported in Hefei from 2004 to 2022, so as to provide insights into AIDS control among adolescents.@*Methods@#The epidemiological data regarding HIV/AIDS cases between 15 and 24 years old reported in Hefei from 2004 to 2022 were captured from the AIDS comprehensive prevention and control information system of Chinese disease prevention and control information system, and data regarding temporal distribution, population distribution, and routes of infections and detection were descriptively analyzed by descriptive epidemiological methods.@*Results@#From 2004 to 2022, 865 cases of HIV/AIDS were reported in Hefei among 15-24 years old youth, accounting for 21.80% of the total reported cases. Among the HIV/AIDS patients, males accounted for 92.60%(801 cases), the unmarried ones accounted for 93.41% (808 cases)，those with college degree or above accounted for 60.12% (520 cases)，and 25.78%(223 cases) of them were students. The proportion of student cases increased annually( χ 2 trends =47.67, P <0.01). Homosexual transmission accounted for 81.39%, both showed an increasing trend( χ 2 trends =51.23, P <0.01)．Totally 55.49% of cases were found through testing and consultation, and the proportion of cases increased by year( χ 2 trends =112.18, P <0.01). In 2004-2022，the number of newly reported cases among people aged 15-24 showed a rising trend at an average rate of 24.46% by year( Z=4.92, P <0.01), which was higher than the average rate of 21.54% for the entire population( Z=12.75, P <0.01).@*Conclusion@#The epidemic of HIV/AIDS among population aged 15-24 years is serious in Hefei. Comprehensive measures for HIV education and prevention intervention are desperately needed to be reinforced among targeted students.

Senile disease regulates aging-related secretion phenotype through cGAS-STING pathway / 中国药理学通报

Aging is one of the most important risk factors for human diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases, and many aging diseases are related to cellular aging. Cells show profound phenotypic changes during aging, which are driven by changes in metabolism, chromatin organizationand transcriptional activity. A significant feature of aging is the secretion of inflammatory mediators, including various cytokines, chemokines, extracellular matrix proteins and growth factors, collectively known as the aging-related secreted phenotype (SASP). By secreting SASP, senescent cells have important effects on many biological processes, such as wound healing, tissue repair, tumor formation, or in vivo reorganization. In addition, the inflammatory response associated with SASP is considered to be the basis of aging-related diseases, and the discovery of new targets to control the response of aging effects is crucial. Recent scientific advances have shown that innate immune responses, particularly those involving the cGAS-STING pathway, trigger SASP. In this article, we review the biological function and regulatory mechanism of SASP through the cGAS-STING signaling pathway in aging diseases.

Role of microRNAs in progress of liver Hbrosis / 中国药理学通报

Liver fibrosis is one of the main diseases with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. It is the common pathological results of several chronic irritant disease such as viral hepatitis ，alcohol abuse, autoimmune diseases, metabolic diseases and cholestatic liver diseases and will further develop into cirrhosis ，liver failure, portal hypertension and even death. The excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) that leads to disorder of liver structure is the main factor in the development of liver fibrosis. MicroRNAs are a class of 2225 nt endogenous noncoding small RNAs. Sufficient studies have shown that the abnormal expression of microRNAs is closely related to the progression of liver fibrosis. In this review, we summarize the regulatory effects of microRNAs discovered in recent years on the activation ，proliferation apoptosis and senescence of HSCs in liver fibrosisand the underlying mechanisms, putting forward the prospect.

Herbalogical study of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata(Fuzi) / 中国中药杂志

As a most important Chinese materia medica, Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata(Fuzi) had been widely used in China for thousands of years. This herbalogical study was systematically performed based on variation characteristics of the naming, habitat, harvesting, processing and properties. The sharp toxicity of Fuzi had been well known since the spring and autumn period in the history, which was much earlier than that its medical properties was understood and applied. Sichuan province was regarded as the geo-authentic region of Fuzi all along, where the best quality goods could be provided for clinic use. The study showed the harvesting time of Fuzi was changing in different periods, and the possible effects were of climate change and artificial planting. The perishable characteris-tics of Fuzi severely limited its storage period; therefore, different kinds of storage methods were effectively used since Tang Dynasty. For thousands of years, Fuzi had been processed with various accessories to reduce toxicity, while simultaneously the study on processing mechanism was on going all the time. Fuzi was widely used in clinical practice to cure Yang depletion syndrome, which was based on its function of enhancing Yang and removing cold. Along with the further study on quality evaluation standard, Fuzi will probably get a much wider range of applications.

Internal Marketing and Its Moderating Effects between Service-Oriented Encounter and Patient Satisfaction

Abstract Objective: To investigate how the internal marketing perception of nurses could have a significant positive moderating effect on the relationship between service-oriented encounter and patient satisfaction in nursing negligence. Methods: The subjects were nurses in the surgery units of hospitals at the regional level or higher in Taiwan. A total of 669 questionnaires were distributed and 609 questionnaires were recovered between December 2014 and January 2015, the number of valid questionnaires was 534 for a valid questionnaire recovery rate of 79.8%. Finally, we adopted the SPSS 18.0 analysis software for analysis and processing. Results: Results indicate that service-oriented encounter has a significant positive influence on patient satisfaction and internal marketing perception among nurses has a significant positive moderating effect on the relationship between service-oriented encounter and patient satisfaction. Conclusions: This study suggests that hospital managers need to recognize the importance of internal marketing for the more expressions toward service-oriented encounter, and further improve patient satisfaction. This kind of relationship is rarely discussed in the research literature, and it can be applied for human resources management of nursing staff. Hospitals must integrate the goal of patients first into the individual performance evaluation of nursing personnel by providing nursing personnel with information related to the evaluation standards of the organizations to help them understand and determine the job performance or service-oriented behavior expected by the organizations while acknowledging the objectivity and fairness of the performance evaluation system.

Osteomalacia and osteoporosis associated with primary intestinal lymphangiectasis / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

Primary Intestinal lymphangiectasia (PIL) is a common cause of protein losing enteropathy (PLE). It will affect enter-hepatic circulation of lipid-soluble vitamin, and absorption of electrolytes, cause malnutrition related osteomalacia or osteoporosis. While seldom health care workers noted to assess and treat osteomalacia or osteoporosis in PIL. Here we report a related case. We found increased parathyroid hormone, decreased 25(OH)D3, low bone mineral density, which indicated that the PIL patient had osteomalacia and/or osteoporosis. Adequate calcium and vitamin D supply can relieve the condition efficaciously. We should pay attention to osteomalacia and osteoporosis in PIL patients.

Expression of Ki-67, galectin-3, fragile histidine triad, and parafibromin in malignant and benign parathyroid tumors / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>It is widely recognized that the diagnosis of parathyroid carcinoma (PC) is often difficult because of the overlap of characteristics between malignant and benign parathyroid tumors, especially at an early stage. Our study aimed to investigate the differential expression of Ki-67, galectin-3, fragile histidine triad (FHIT) gene, and parafibromin in PC, parathyroid adenoma (PA), parathyroid hyperplasia (PH), and normal parathyroid (NP) tissues; then to assess these expression values for use in differential diagnosis of malignant and benign parathyroid tumors.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Data of 15 cases with PC, 19 PAs, and 8 PHs were retrospectively analyzed for their clinical characteristics. The expression of Ki-67, galectin-3, FHIT, and parafibromin were detected via immunohistochemistry in the above-mentioned specimens and 6 NPs as control.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Complete loss of parafibromin expression was seen in 9 of 15 (60%) carcinomas, and all normal parathyroid tissues and parathyroid benign tumors stained positive for parafibromin except for one (4%) adenoma. Galectin-3 staining was positive in 11 of 15 (73%) carcinomas, 5 of 19 (26%) adenomas, 1 of 8 (12%) hyperplasias, and 0 of 6 normal tissues. The Ki-67 proliferative index was high in 4 of 15 (27%) carcinomas, 1 of 19 (5%) adenomas, and none of the hyperplasia or normal tissues. FHIT expression did not differ appreciably among the tumor types. The combination of overexpression of galectin-3 or loss of parafibromin increased sensitivity for PC to 87%, while the specificity of both positive galectin-3 and positive Ki-67 could reach 100%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>These data suggested that loss of parafibromin and overexpression of galectin-3 and Ki-67 might help to distinguish parathyroid carcinoma from other parathyroid tumors. And the combination of two or three of these markers might produce better sensitivity and/or specificity for the diagnosis of parathyroid carcinoma.</p>

Benefit of infusions with ibandronate treatment in children with osteogenesis imperfecta / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a rare bone disease and its effective treatment is relatively deficient. We tried to assess the effects of new bisphosphonate, ibandronate on children with OI.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In this open-label, prospective, controlled study, 30 children with OI were enrolled. They received either infusions of ibandronate (2 mg) in every three months or oral calcitriol 0.25 µg daily for 24 months. All patients took 500 mg calcium plus 200 U vitamin D daily together. The endpoints were the change of annual new fracture rate (observed by case history and X ray films of spine), bone mineral density (BMD, measured by dual energy X-ray absortiometry), serum concentration of carboxy-telopeptide cross-links of type I collagen (CTX, bone resorption marker) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP, bone formation marker) during the follow-up.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After the cyclic infusions of ibandronate, the annual new fracture rate was significantly decreased from 1.9 to 0.13 time, obviously lower than that of calcitriol group, which decreased from 1.8 to 1.0 time after the treatment (P < 0.001). The significant increase of BMD at the lumbar spine, femoral neck, trochanter, total hip was found in the group of ibandronate by 59.0%, 42.0%, 47.5% and 36.6% in time dependent manner (compared with the baseline, P < 0.001). The increase of BMD in ibandronate group was greater than that of calcitriol group (P < 0.001). The concentrations of ALP and CTX were obviously decreased in ibandronate group, and the reduction of CTX was more significant than that of ALP (P < 0.001). The tolerance of the children to ibandronate was quite well. Mild fever and muscle pain were found in 9 cases within 1 - 3 days after the first infusion of ibandronate, which could relieve after 1 - 2 days without special management.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The benefits of cyclic infusions of ibandronate to children with OI are significant because ibandronate could significantly reduce annual bone fracture rate, increase lumbar and hip BMD, preserve vertebral morphometry of patients through inhibition of bone resorption.</p>

Attitudes of patients, visitors and healthcare workers at a tertiary hospital towards influenza A (H1N1) response measures

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>We sought to determine the opinions of patients, their visitors and healthcare workers regarding Influenza A (H1N1) response measures instituted within a tertiary hospital in Singapore.</p><p><b>MATERIALS AND METHODS</b>This questionnaire study was undertaken from 21 May 2009 to 31 August 2009.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were 92 respondents, ranging in age from 15 to 77 years. Of the 90 who identified their role, 35.6% were patients, 12.2% visitors and 52.2% health care professionals. About 23% of respondents disagreed that one could have H1N1 without fever or fl u-like symptoms, while 14.3% thought influenza could not be caught from an asymptomatic infected person. About 30% perceived the H1N1 death rate as high. From this study, 82.2% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that Singapore's H1N1 responses were essential, while 14.6% found it overdone. In particular, healthcare workers and doctors found their professional work to be inconvenienced. Although more than two-thirds of doctors held this view, an equal proportion agreed the outbreak response was essential.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>There was a high level of acceptance of response measures as essential, despite the perceived inconvenience. We propose that the success of containment measures requires unity of purpose and understanding among stakeholders at all levels.</p>

Levels and dynamic changes of serum fibroblast growth factor 23 in hypophosphatemic rickets/osteomalacia / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Hypophosphatemic rickets/osteomalacia is a group of diseases characterised by defective mineralization of bone due to hypophosphatemia and low 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D. To explore the role of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) in the regulation of phosphate homeostasis, we measured the circulating concentrations of this growth factor in healthy individuals and in patients with hypophosphatemic rickets/osteomalacia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Nineteen patients with hypophosphatemic rickets/osteomalacia were included in hypophosphatemic group (HP, 12 female and 7 male, mean age was 30 years), and 19 healthy age-matched individuals served as the control group. Full length FGF-23 fragments were measured by two-site enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Mean FGF-23 concentrations were significantly higher in the HP group ((87.4 +/- 43.6) pg/ml) compared with the control group ((19.2 +/- 6.16) pg/ml; P < 0.001). In 1 patient with tumour-induced osteomalacia, serum FGF-23 concentrations were 84.1 pg/ml; these concentrations were normalized 2 hours after a hemangiopericytoma resection (7.8 pg/ml). Subsequently, serum 1,25(OH)(2) vitamin D3 concentrations significantly increased from 21.3 pg/ml to 89.3 pg/ml, and serum phosphorus levels were normalized.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Serum FGF-23 concentrations were markedly elevated in patients with hypophosphatemic rickets. FGF-23 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of hypophosphatemic rickets/osteomalacia.</p>

Treatment of hypocalcemia caused by hypoparathyroidism or pseudohypoparathyroidism with domestic-made calcitriol: a prospective and self-controlled clinical trial / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Parathyroid hormone deficiency or resistance may cause hypocalcemia with related symptoms and signs. Lifelong treatment of calcium combined with vitamin D or its metabolites is always necessary for these patients. Here we reported a prospective and open-label trial to investigate the efficacy and safety of domestic-made calcitriol in treatment of hypocalcemia caused by hypoparathyroidism or pseudohypoparathyroidism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-four patients with confirmed hypoparathyroidism or pseudohypoparathyroidism aged (36.5 +/- 11.0) years old were studied. Among them, 16 patients had idiopathic hypoparathyroidism, 2 had pseudohypoparathyroidism and 6 had hypoparathyroidism secondary to cervical surgery. Serum calcium levels were lower than 1.88 mmol/L. Oral calcitriol was administered twice or three times with elemental calcium 1.2 g per day. All patients were followed every 4 weeks throughout the 12-week period. Dose adjustments of calcitriol were based on serum and urinary calcium levels and symptoms of hypocalcemia.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Twenty patients were included by the end of this study. Muscular weakness, cramps, extremity paresthesia, Chovestek's sign and Trousseau's sign were relieved in 76.9%, 100%, 94.4%, 93.3% and 78.9% of patients, respectively. Serum calcium, plasma ionized calcium and serum phosphorus levels were (1.54+/-0.25) mmol/L, (0.64+/-0.10) mmol/L and (2.00+/-0.46) mmol/L at baseline, and reached (2.20+/-0.20) mmol/L, (0.95+/-0.06) mmol/L and (1.68+/-0.25) mmol/L (P<0.01) at the 12th week of treatment, respectively. Eighty percent of patients were assessed as effective and 20% as partly effective. Three, four and eight patients had hypercalciuria at the 4th, 8th and 12th week of treatment, respectively, which were reduced by thiazide diuretics. The final dose of calcitriol was (1.09+/-0.50) microg/d.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Calcitriol combined with calcium can be used in treatment of hypocalcemia caused by hypoparathyroidism or pseudohypoparathyroidism effectively and safely. Serum and urinary calcium levels should be monitored during the course of the therapy.</p>

Effects of cultivation conditions on the optical purity of L(+)-lactic acid / 生物工程学报

The effect of cultivation conditions on the optical purity of L(+)-lactic acid produced by Rhizopus oryzae HZS6 was investigated. The isomeric composition of lactic acid was influenced by the supplementation of L(+)-lactic acid to fermentation medium. L(+)-isomer increased with the dosage, no D(-)-lactic acid was observed when the concentration of supplemented L(+)-lactic acid in matrix was > or = 1.5 g/L. However, the L(+)-lactic acid yield, biomass and glucose conversion rate decreased with the dosage. With the same method, the supplementation of L(+)-lactic to substrate had no influence on isomeric composition of lactic acid by Lactobacillus and Escherichia coli.

Effect of fibroblast growth factor 9 on Runx2 gene promoter activity in MC3T3-E1 and C2C12 cells / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Fibroblast growth factor 9 (FGF9), expressed in brain, kidney and developing skeletal tissues, can physiologically inhibit endochondral ossification; but little is known about how FGF9 affects osteoblasts and its detailed regulatory mechanism. Here we examined the effect of FGF9 on the activity of the murine Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) gene promoter in preosteoblast MC3T3-E1 and premyoblast C2C12 cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Plasmids containing the Runx2 promoter region were transfected into MC3T3-E1 and C2C12 cells and stably transfected cell lines were established. The method of luciferase reporter gene activation was used to examine the effects of FGF9 on the promoter activity.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>FGF9 (10 ng/ml) increased Runx2 promoter activity in MC3T3-E1 cells. When MC3T3-E1 cells were treated with FGF9 plus the various inhibitors or activator of the intracellular signaling transducation pathways, including 10 micromol/L U0126 (the inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase), 10 micromol/L SB203580 (the inhibitor of p38/mitogen activated protein kinase), or 1 micromol/L C6 ceramide (an activator of mitogen activated protein kinase), the luciferase expression did not change significantly compared with that of the cells treated with FGF9 only. However, when C2C12 cells were treated with 10 ng/ml FGF9, Runx2 gene promoter activity first decreased and then increased over a period of 1 to 5 days. Among the above inhibitors, only U0126 (10 micromol/L) completely blocked the effects of FGF9 on Runx2 gene promoter activity.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Our data showed that FGF9 can affect Runx2 gene promoter activity in MC3T3-E1 and C2C12 cells. The action of FGF9 appears to depend partly on the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways in C2C12 cells.</p>

RET gene cys 634 trp mutation in a multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A kindred / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify the genotype of RET gene in one multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN2A) kindred.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Genome DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leucocytes. The DNA sequence of gel-purified polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products was determined with the previously reported 6 pairs of primers of PCR amplification of 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, and 16 exons of RETgene.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No abnormalities were found in exon 10, 13, 14, 15, and 16. C to G replacement in nucleotide 14 996 of exon 11 was identified in DNA samples obtained from both peripheral blood of 2 affected brothers. This missense point mutation arisen in heterozygosity and caused a substitution of Cys to Trp residue at codon 634 ( Cys 634 Trp) in RET protein.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The genotype of the family is identified as Cys 634 Trp substitution of RET gene.</p>

Effects of different human parathyroid hormone 1-34 administration on SaoS-2 cells / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of different human parathyroid hormone 1-34 (hPTH1-34) administration on SaoS-2 cells, and explore the mechanism of bone formation improvement.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Each cycle covered 48 h. SaoS-2 cells were continuously or intermittently stimulated by 50 ng/ml hPTH1-34 for 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h in each cycle. Total RNA was extracted by Trizol kit. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteocalcin or bone Gla-containing protein (BGP) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels were measured by chemical method, radioimmunoassay and competitive protein binding method, respectively. c-fos gene expression was semi-quantified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>ALP level was time-dependently increased in 1, 3 and 6 h stimulation, especially in 3 and 6 h (compared with control, P < 0.01; P < 0.05 or P < 0.01 compared with continuous stimulation). The cAMP level was time-dependently increased in 3 and 6 h incubation (P < 0.05 compared with control and continuous stimulation). Intermittent hPTH1-34 stimulation had more effects on cAMP level than continous action (P < 0.001). hPTH1-34 intermittent stimulation of 1, 3, and 6 h enhanced c-fos gene expression time-dependently.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Intermittent hPTH1-34 stimulation has a stronger effect on osteoblast than continuous action, especially in 3, 6 h in each cycle intermittent stimulation. The synchronous responses of c-fos, ALP and cAMP to hPTH1-34 suggest that hPTH1-34 affect Saos-2 cells through cAMP dependent protein kinase A (PKA) pathway and c-fos gene paly an important role.</p>

Bone mineral and body composition analysis of whole body in 292 normal subjects assessed by dual X-ray absorptiometry / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To understand whole body bone mineral and body composition changes in normal subjects, and study the relationship between body composition and bone mineral.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>292 normal subjects aged 10-79 years old, including 140 males and 152 females, were selected to be measured bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density (BMD) lean and fat of whole body by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Individuals were divided into age-groups by every ten years and were analyzed by statistical methods.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In males, peak values of BMC, BMD, lean and fat were in the 30-39, 20-39, 30-39, 70-79 age-groups. In females, they were in the 30-39, 30-39, 30-49, 50-69 age-groups respectively. Peak values of BMC, BMD and lean were higher in males than that in females, but peak value of BMD was not significantly higher in males than that in females. Peak value of fat was higher in females than that in males. Loss of BMC and BMD for females were more pronounced than that for males. Loss of lean for males was more pronounced than that for females. There are significant positive correlation between lean, weight and bone mineral in males and females. Fat has significant effect on BMC in females only.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The normal bone mineral and body composition data of whole body for males and females, and the characteristic of changes with aging are provided for analyzing the relationship between bone mineral and body composition with ease.</p>

Association of polymorphisms of vitamin D receptor gene start codon and 3'-end region with bone mineral density in postmenopausal women / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine whether vitamin D receptor(VDR) gene start codon polymorphisms and 3'-end region polymorphisms exerted a combined influence on bone mineral density(BMD) in Han postmenopausal women in Beijing area.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The VDR Fok I and 3'-end region genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism in 110 unrelated postmenopausal women. BMD was measured at the lumbar spine (L(2-4)), femoral neck(Neck), Ward's triangle(Ward's) and trochanter (Troch) using duel-energy X-ray absorptiometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The frequencies distribution of Fok I, Apa I, Bsm I and Taq I alleles in this cohort all followed the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. No significant association of Fok I, Apa I or Taq I genotype with BMD in postmenopausal women was found when these polymorphisms were considered independently, except for Bsm I genotype. When a combined analysis of VDR gene Fok I and 3'-end region polymorphisms was carried out, cross-genotyping Fok I and Apa I polymorphisms was significantly associated with BMD at the L(2-4) (P<0.001), and cross-genotype of Fok I and Taq I was also significantly associated with BMD at the Neck and Troch sites (P<0.05). However, cross-genotyping Fok I and Bsm I polymorphisms was not significantly associated with BMD. Cross-genotyping Apa I and Bsm I or Taq I polymorphisms was not associated with BMD in postmenopausal women, either.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Although Fok I polymorphisms of VDR gene were not significantly associated with BMD in postmenopausal women, VDR gene Fok I and 3'-region polymorphisms (Apa I and Taq I) had a combined effect on the BMD in postmenopausal women.</p>

Steroids hormone and bone / 中国医学科学院学报

Bone is an active tissue in which the processes of remodeling are continuous to ensure normal bone integrity and strength. Steroids play an important role in regulating bone growth, development and remodeling. Glucocorticoids excess will induce bone damages especially osteoporosis. Otherwise, estrogen and androgen are bone protective steroids in both female and male. To develop a new selective steroid receptor modulator is one of the targets in future study to treat osteoporosis.