Acetylated Histone Expressions of the Primary Hippocampal Neurons in Rats Reduced by siCBP Lentivirus / 生物医学工程学杂志

This study aims to construct the recombinant lentivirus vector containing specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting rat CREB binding protein(CBP)gene and to identify its function of inhibiting the expressions of acetylated histone in primarily cultured hippocampal neurons. Firstly, we constructed four kinds of recombinant lentivirus siCBP. And then we used them to infect the primarily cultured hippocampal neurons, and performed real-time PCR, western blot respectively to detect the expressions of CBP. Afterwards, the most effective lentivirus siCBP was used to infect the primarily cultured hippocampal neurons, and then the HAT activity and protein expressions of acetylated histone Ac-H3, Ac-H4 of the neurons were examined. By using PCR, endonuclease cutting and gene sequencing, we confirmed that the target genes were correctly cloned in lentivirus vector. Besides, CBP mRNA and protein expressions in neurons were found to be with varying degrees of decreases after infections of the four kinds of lentivirus siCBP. Furthermore, the representative and most effective lentivirus GR806 could effectively inhibit the HAT activity and the protein expressions of Ac-H3, Ac-H4 in neurons. It provides the experimental basis for the subsequent application of siCBP to clarify the effects and corresponding molecular mechanism of the CBP-dependent histone acetylation on learning and memory function in hippocampus.

The comparison of wasting, stunting, low weight, and overweight rate in infants by using the World Health Organi-zation Child Growth Standards and China Growth Standards / 临床儿科杂志

Objectives To compare the 2006 World Health Organization (WHO) growth standards and the 2005 China national growth standards for identification of the wasting, stunting, low weight and overweight in infants. Methods Data were drawn from“Infants’feeding and growth”project. Weight-for-length, weight-for-age and length-for-age were derived in z-scores using the two growth references. Stunting was defined as having a length-for-age Z-score less than-2. Low weight was defined as having a weight-for-age Z-score less than-2. Wasting was defined as having a weight-for-length Z-score less than-2. Overweight was defined as having a weight-for-length Z-score more than+2. Results Data of a total of 3909 records from 959 health children aged from 2 to 12 months from June 2008 to May 2009 were analyzed. Of them, 53.88%(2106/3909)were from male and 46.12%(1803/3909)were from female. There was no difference in wasting rate and stunting rate between using two growth references. Fewer infants were identified as low weight by using WHO growth standard than using China growth stan-dard. The results were 0.57%at 0-3 months (0.85%vs.1.42), P>0.05, 0.72%at 4-6 months (0.39%vs. 1.11%) and 0.97%at 7-9 months (0.79% vs.1.76%), P0.05). Con-clusion Some differences were found in low weight and overweight rate by using two growth standards. Infant low weight rate was lower and overweight rate was higher by using WHO growth standard than that using China growth standard.

Effect of dietary vitamin A intake on plasma vitamin A concentration in preschool children of Banan district, Chongqing, China / 北京大学学报(医学版)

Objective:To study the relationship between dietary vitamin A intake and plasma vitamin A concentration , and establish the theoretical basis for dietary intake predicting vitamin A nutritional status . Methods:By using cluster sampling , 492 children aged 2-7 years in kindergartens in Banan district of Chongqing were selected .A cross-sectional nutrition and health survey was conducted , including the clinical examination , anthropometry , laboratory test and dietary survey .Results: Among the children surveyed, 229 were boys, and 263 girls, the mean age was (4.54 ±0.87) years, height (107.50 ± 7.20) cm, and weight (18.42 ±3.41) kg, the mean value of plasma vitamin A was (1.04 ±0.30)μmol/L.The prevalence of marginal vitamin A deficiency ( MVAD) was 43.5%.No cases of severe clinical vitamin A deficiency were found (plasma vitamin A≤0.35μmol/L).Clinical examination found no conjunctiva, corneaor skin abnormalities, and no Bitot’s spots.Prevalence of the last two weeks colds were 27.4% (135/492), no diarrhea and other gastrointestinal or digestive diseases were found .The proportion of insufficient dietary vitamin A intake ( <600 μg RE/d) was as high as 50.0%.By using correlation analysis, plasma retinol concentrations were related to dietary vitamin A intake (r=0.162, P<0.001), and to dietary energy intake (r=0.107, P=0.017).After adjustment for the effects of other non-dietary factors on vitamin A deficiency , the multivariate logistic regression showed that vitamin A-rich foods of liver intake=0 g/d (OR=1.95, 95% CI:1.05-3.61, P=0.034), vitamin A-rich fruits intake=0 g/d (OR =1.55, 95% CI: 1.03 -2.33, P =0.034), vitamin A-rich vegetables intake<200 g/d (OR=3.47, 95%CI:1.37-8.75, P=0.009) were important risk factors of vitamin A deficiency .But we had not found the correlation between the intake of meat , eggs and milk and vita-min A deficiency .Conclusion:Dietary factors may be the major risk factor of vitamin A deficiency in the three kindergartens .The dietary vitamin A intakes are significantly related to plasma retinol concentra-tions, and the vitamin A-rich foods intakes can predict the body ’ s vitamin A nutritional status .

Analysis of nutrition and health and mental situation on puerperal women in Chongqing / 中华医学教育探索杂志

Objective To investigate nutrition and health behavior situation and mental situation on puerperal women of Chongqing,in order to provide scientific basis on their pertinent health education. Methods 424 puerperal women were chosen to take health care questionnaire and anxiety self-test table,and investigated by interviewers who had been through professional training,and then doing statistical analysis. Results Women in puerperal in Chongqing had some unreasonable nutrition and health knowledge and mental situation,diet behavior inhibition and so on. Among them,only 49.51% needed calcium supplementation,only 79.37% held that they could have fruit during confinement in childbirth,as high as 66.02% went out after confinement,only 33.49% washed during puerperal,20.39% had over light anxiety. Conclusion It is necessary to reinforce health education and puerperal health guide to puerperal women in Chongqing to improve nutrition and health level and mental situation of puerperal women.

Interventional effects of biscuits fortified with different doses of vitamin A on the vitamin A status in children of 3-6 years old / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: Vitamin A deficiency disorders (VADD) is a healthy problem of children in the world, especially in the west of China and remote areas, and the nutritional intervention is needed.OBJECTIVE: To compare the improved effects of biscuits fortified with three different doses of vitamin A on the vitamin A status in children aged 3-6 years and explore ap ideal dose of vitamin A supplement for preventing VADD.DESIGN: Randomized controlled observation.SETTING: Health Surveillance Institute, Chongqing Municipal Health Bureau; Staff Room of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, College of Public Health, Chongqing University of Medical Sciences; Center for Children Nutrition, Children's Hospital, Chongqing University of Medical Sciences.PARTICIPANTS: The investigation was done between March and December 2002. 753 children aged 3-6 years from 8 kindergartens in Banan district of Chongqing city were enrolled with the agreement of their guardians. They were divided randomly into 4 groups: 30% recommended intake group, 100% recommended intake group, 20 000 international unit (IU) and 200 000 IU groups.METHODS: ① The biscuits fortified with 30% recommended intake of vitamin A (500 IU) were once given to people of the 30% recommended intake group (177 cases) every day. ②The biscuits fortified with 100% recommended intake of vitamin A (1666 IU) were once given to people of the 100% recommended intake group (173 cases) every day. ③The biscuits fortified with 20 000 IU of vitamin A were once given to people of the 20 000 IU group (209 cases) every week. ④The soft gelatin capsule with 200 000 IU of vitamin A were once given to people of the 200 000 IU group (194 cases).Height, body mass, serum retinal, prealbumin, haematoglobin and retinal binding protein of all children were measured before intervention and after intervention for 3 months. Above indexes were rechecked after supplement for 9 months in 87 children of 30% recommended intake groupMAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ①Prevalence rate of VADD before in-tervention and after intervention for 3 months in children of every group.② Serum retinal, serum prealbumin, serum retinal binding protein,haematoglobin, height and body mass of children before intervention and after interventional for 3 months in every group.RESULTS: Because of lose of samples and detective technology, only 580 children' examination results were got by rechecking. ①Comparison of the prevalence rate of VADD of children in every group: Three months supplementation later, the prevalence of VADD in every group all decreased sig nificantly [1.48%,1.42%,1.21%, 2.16% ;6.78%,6.54%,8.61%,8.25%(χ2=3.86-8.57, P ＜ 0.05-0.01 )]. ②Comparison of serum retinal, serum prealbumin, serum retinal binding protein, haematoglobin, height and body mass of children of every group: After supplement for 3 months, except prealbumin and haematoglobin in the 30% recommended intake group ,other indexes in each group all increased significantly (t=2.52-37.44, P＜ 0.05-0.01 ). The increase of serum vitamin A in the 20 000 IU group was larger than that in the other groups (F=4.62,P＜ 0.01 ). The increases of haematoglobin, prealbumin and height in the 30% recommended intake group were less than those in the other groups (F=5.04-7.78 ,P ＜ 0.01 ).After supplement for 9 months, the increases of haematoglobin and prealbumin in the 30% recommended intake group were larger than those in the other groups (F= 11.62,10.21 ,P ＜ 0.01). The increase of serum retinal was still lower than that in the 20 000 IU group (F=4.21 ,P ＜ 0.01 ).CONCLUSION: Supplement with biscuits fortified with 3 different doses of vitamin A and capsule with 200 000 IU of vitamin A can improve obviously the nourished status of vitamin A and the level of ferrohemoglobin, in which 30% recommended intake and 100% recommended intake have small risk, and everyday supplement can maintain stably the level of vitamin A. That may be suitable for the long-term supplement for children, and the effect of 30% recommended intake was better than that of 100% recommended intake.

Focusing on the Construction of Research Base in Western Universities / 中华医学教育探索杂志

Research base is one of the key factors for subject construction.The current situations of research bases in western universities are not satisfactory due to terrain and history.Recognizing and improvement of the problems are very important for making them better to fit the needs of their development.It is the right time to cope with it.

EFFECTS OF MARGINAL VITAMIN A DEFICIENCY ON HIPPOCAMPAL CA1 LONG-TERM POTENTIATION IN YOUNG RATS / 营养学报

Objective:To study the effects of marginal vitamin A deficiency (MVAD) on the hippocampal CA1 long-term potentiation (LTP) in young rats. Methods:Six female rats were divided into two groups at random, three in MVAD group, three in control group. The rats were fed VA deficient diet (400IU VA/kg) and VA sufficient diet (6 500IU VA/kg) respectively since 3 w before coitus. Serum VA was assessed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The young rats were killed at D49. The hippocampal CA1 LTP was detected by electrophysiological technique and the ultrastructure of synapses was observed by electron microscope. Results:The changes of field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSP) slope (25.4%?2.01%) in MVAD young rats aged 7 weeks were much lower than that in control group (57.5%?8.63%). The changes of slope of fEPSP induced by MVAD in young rats could be replenished after adding retinoic acid (P0.05). The curvature in synaptic interface of MVAD group was less than that of the MVAD supplemented RA group and the control. Conclusion:MVAD during embryonic and early postnatal period can directly impair the hippocampal CA1 LTP of young rats.

EFFECTS OF VITAMIN A DEFICIENCY ON BRAIN DEVELOPMENT, LEARNING AND MEMORY IN YOUNG RATS / 营养学报

Objective: To study the effects of vitamin A deficiency (VAD) on brain development, learning and memory ability in young rats. Methods: A model of VAD in female rats and the offsprings were established. The growth and development, learning and memory ability, protein content, cell proliferative cycle of cortex and hippocampus, and hippocampus cell ultrastructure changes under electron microscopy of young rats were detected. Results: (1) The weights gain in VAD rats were decreased compared with the control. (2) The learning and memory scores in VAD rats was significantly lower than those of the control. (3) The protein content of cortex and hippocampus in VAD rats were significantly lower than those of the control. (4) The cell proliferative index (PI) of cortex and hippocampus in VAD rats were higher than those of the control. (5) The synapses between hippocampus pyramidal cells and the small bubbles in synapses in VAD rats were significantly decreased compared with the control. The astrocytes of hippocampus in VAD rats were significantly increased. Degeneration was observed in many astrocytes in VAD rats. Conclusion: VAD can affect the brain development and the ability of learning and memory in young rats.