Research progress in drugs targeting 5-lipoxygenase for age-related diseases / 生理学报

With the acceleration of aging society, delaying aging or promoting healthy aging has become a major demand for human health. 5-Lipoxygenase (5-LOX) is a key enzyme catalyzing arachidonic acid into leukotrienes (LTs), which is a potent mediator of the inflammatory response. Previous studies showed that abnormal activation of 5-LOX and overproduction of LTs are closely related to the occurrence and development of aging-related inflammatory diseases. Therefore, inhibiting 5-LOX activation is a possibly potential strategy for treating age-related diseases. In this paper, the latest research progress in 5-LOX activation, 5-LOX in mediating aging-related diseases and its small molecule inhibitors is briefly reviewed to provide scientific theoretical basis and new ideas for the prevention and treatment of aging-related inflammatory diseases.

Observation on the Efficacy of Acupuncture plus Intradermal Needle in Treating Mild-to-moderate Post-stroke Depression / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus intradermal needle in treating mild-to-moderate post-stroke depression (PSD). Method Ninty patients with mild-to-moderate PSD were randomized into group A, B and C, with 30 cases in each group. All the groups were intervened by selecting Baihui (GV20), Shenting (GV24) and Yintang (GV29). Group A received acupuncture plus intradermal needle; group B, intradermal needle alone; group C, acupuncture plus sham acupuncture. Hamilton depression rating scale (HDRS) score and Barthel index (BI) score in the three groups were observed before and at the end of the treatment, and the clinical efficacies of the three groups were compared. Result The HDRS score and BI score showed a significant change after the treatment in the three groups (P<0.01). After the treatment, the HDRS score and BI score in the group A and group B was significantly different from those in group C (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 90.0％ in group A versus 86.7％in group B, and 73.3％ in group C; there was a statistically significant difference between group C and group A or B (P<0.01, P<0.05). Conclusion Both acupuncture plus intradermal needle and intradermal needle alone are effective approaches in treating mild-to-moderate PSD. The treatment efficacy of these two methods is similar.

Effect of occupational combined exposure of chromium and iron on erythrocyte metabolism / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of combined occupational exposure of chromium and iron on erythrocyte metabolism, and the possible mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 115 chromate production workers were selected in a chemical factory of Jinan as exposure group, Dec, 2008, and 60 healthy residents from a community which was far away from the factory were enrolled as control group. Environmental concentrations of chromium and iron were collected by filter membrane sampling and determined. The peripheral blood of subjects were collected for determination of chromium, iron, copper in whole blood and folate, vitamin B₁₂ in serum, mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and correlation analysis was conducted.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The median (quartile interval) concentration of air-chromium and air-iron in workplace were 9.0 (10.5) and 11.2 (10.1) µg/m³, respectively, which were significantly higher than that of the control (0.1 (0.1) and 7.2 (2.5) µg/m³) (all P values < 0.01). Blood-chromium and blood-iron of the exposed group were 15.5 (14.1) µg/L and (895.1 ± 90.2) mg/L, which were significantly higher than the counterpart of the control (3.6(2.0) µg/L, (563.7 ± 49.3) mg/L) (all P values < 0.01). Serum folate ((6.9 ± 2.5) µg/L), serum vitamin B₁₂ ((396.4 ± 177.0) µg/L) and blood copper ((777.6 ± 103.5) µg/L) of the exposed group were all significantly lower comparing to the control group ((558.0 ± 330.8), (8.1 ± 3.8), (812.1 ± 94.6) µg/L) (all P values < 0.05). The relationships between blood chromium and serum folate, serum vitamin B₁₂ were statistical significant (r = -0.319 and -0.293, P < 0.01). Both serum vitamin B₁₂ and blood copper correlated with mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) (r = -0.223, -0.242, -0.261, -0.292, all P values < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Combined chromium and iron exposure existed in the workplace. Adverse effect of Chromium on human erythrocyte may via folate and vitamin B₁₂ metabolism, while iron may via copper metabolism.</p>

The effects of occupational soluble chromate exposure on immunological function of T-cell / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the early changes of some immunological function of T-cell in chromate workers.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 115 workers exposed to different levels of soluble chromate were enrolled in exposed group; while 90 non-exposure workers who lived far away from the chromate plant were enrolled as control. The air concentration of soluble chromate was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. CD3(+), CD3(+)CD4(+), CD3(+)CD8(+) and CD4(+)/CD8(+) of T-cell were determined by flow cytometry analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The individual air chromate concentration in the exposed group was (27.51 +/- 33.25) microg/m(3), and the control group was (0.16 +/- 0.15) microg/m(3). The significant difference between the two groups was observed (z = 8.045, P < 0.01). The levels of the lymphocyte subsets (CD3(+), CD3(+)CD4(+), CD3(+)CD8(+) and CD4(+)/CD8(+)) in exposed group were (30.08 +/- 17.75)%, (1.04 +/- 1.73)%, (11.94 +/- 9.78)%, 0.10 +/- 0.14. While, those of control group were (63.00 +/- 13.57)%, (30.51 +/- 5.16)%, (14.82 +/- 4.59)%, 2.17 +/- 0.53, higher than that of the exposed group (z values were 4.484, 5.227, 1.976, -5.218, respectively, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>On the basis of individual air monitoring, the cellular immune function affected by soluble chromate is mainly based on T lymphocyte inhibition. The indicators CD3(+)CD4(+) mentioned above may be considered as efficient biomarkers in further research.</p>

The effect of inhalable titanium dioxide on the oxidative stress among occupational population / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the inhalable titanium dioxide exposure level and make an assessment of its oxidative effect on occupational exposed population.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 7 workers occupationally exposing to inhalable titanium dioxide were recruited into the study. The basic information and occupational history were collected by interview, while their blood sample (10 ml for each subject) were collected before and after the investigation, respectively. Pre- and post-work shift urine samples (60 ml for each subject) were collected for 29 days consecutively. The daily personal titanium dioxide exposure level, temperature and relative humidity were detected too. Urinary 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were detected by ELISA and latex immunoturbidimetric assay, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean concentration of air inhalable titanium dioxide was (1.194 ± 1.015) mg/m(3). Serum hs-CRP level before and after the investigation was (1.13 ± 1.08), (1.33 ± 1.01) mg/L, respectively. No statistical significance was observed between hs-CRP level before and after the investigation (t = -0.848, P = 0.425). Pre- and post-work shift urinary 8-OHdG was (3.51 ± 1.39), (3.65 ± 1.06) µmol/mol Cr, respectively. A positive correlation was found between the concentration of inhalable titanium dioxide and the changes of 8-OHdG level (r = 0.192, t = 2.09, P = 0.039). Linear mixed-effect models, adjusted by work shift, years of employment, age, body mass index, smoking status, temperature and relative humidity, showed no significant exposure-respond trend between the inhalable titanium dioxide concentration and 8-OHdG level (β = 0.288, t = 1.940, P = 0.055).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our findings do not support the potential link between occupationally exposure to inhalable titanium dioxide and high induction of DNA oxidative stress.</p>

Levels of transition on maternal transferred measles antibody in infants in 3 cities in China / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To understand the epidemiological characteristics of age distribution of measles and related policies on measles vaccines (live; MV) in infants through analyzing the antibody levels of comparison in maternal-infant pairs. Transition of immunity in infants was also studied to provide theoretic basis for measles immunization strategy and to reduce the incidence of month-old infants. Methods In cities of Ningbo, Harbin, and Jinan from Zhejiang, Heilongiiang and Shandong provinces, data was collected from 2004 to 2007 and analyzed regarding the epidemic situation of measles. Studies on maternal-transferred measles antibody were carried our sero-epidemiologically. Results Most of the measles cases were found among babies younger than 12 months,and the incidence of < 1 year olds had been increasing.The distribution was dominated by 5-8 month olds in infant measles cases. The positive rate and GRMT of measles antibody in newborns were 89.3 percent and 738.93. The positive rate of the measles antibody and GMRT of the 6-month infant were 6.9 % and 6.89, while 6.7 % and 3.69 in 8-month infant. There wasa declining trend of the positive rate of the measles antibody during the newborns to 8-month infant. The positive rate and GRMT of measles antibody in mothers were 84.3 percent and 516.94. Mother's measles antibodies mainly to be at low and moderate level, which accounted for 50.4 percent and 30.3 percent respectively, the correlation coefficient between mother and infant was 0. 840. Conclusion Maternal-transferred measles antibody decreased as the growth of infants. The positive rates of measles antibody were quite low in 6-month and 8-month olds which were the age range that needs most attention.