Weather and Birth Weight: Different Roles of Maternal and Neonatal GPR61 Promoter Methylation / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

Objectives@#It is unclear whether G protein-coupled receptor 61 (GPR61) affecting body weight, plays a role in the association between birth weight and weather. This study aimed to assess the effects of prenatal weather and GPR61 on birth weight.@*Methods@#A total of 567 mother-newborn pairs were recruited in Houzhai Center Hospital during 2011-2012. We detected the maternal and neonatal GPR61 promoter methylation levels, and obtained meteorological and air pollution data.@*Results@#A positive association was observed between maternal and neonatal GPR61 methylation levels, and both of them were affected by precipitation, relative humidity (RH) and daily temperature range (DTR). Birth weight was associated negatively with RH and positively with DTR ( P < 0.05). A significant association was observed between birth weight and neonatal GPR61 methylation. We observed that maternal GPR61 methylation seemed to modify associations between weather and birth weight ( P interaction < 0.10), while neonatal GPR61 methylation mediated the effects of RH and DTR on birth weight ( P < 0.05).@*Conclusions@#Our findings revealed the significant associations among prenatal weather, GPR61 methylation and birth weight. Maternal GPR61 methylation may modify the susceptibility of birth weight to prenatal weather conditions, while neonatal GPR61 methylation may be a bridge of the effects of prenatal RH and DTR on birth weight.

Fluoride Exposure, Follicle Stimulating Hormone Receptor Gene Polymorphism and Hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian Axis Hormones in Chinese Women / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

The effects of fluoride exposure on the functions of reproductive and endocrine systems have attracted widespread attention in academic circle nowadays. However, it is unclear whether the gene-environment interaction may modify the secretion and activity of hypothalamus-pituitary- ovarian (HPO) axis hormones. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore the influence of fluoride exposure and follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) gene polymorphism on reproductive hormones in Chinese women. A cross sectional study was conducted in seven villages of Henan Province, China during 2010-2011. A total of 679 women aged 18-48 years were recruited through cluster sampling and divided into three groups, i.e. endemic fluorosis group (EFG), defluoridation project group (DFPG), and control group (CG) based on the local fluoride concentration in drinking water. The serum levels of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and estradiol (E2) were determined respectively and the FSHR polymorphism was detected by real time PCR assay. The results provided the preliminary evidence indicating the gene-environment interaction on HPO axis hormones in women.

Experimental study on effect of Buchang Naoxintong containing serum for antagonizing hypoxia-induced apoptosis of cortical neurons / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of Buchang Naoxintong containing serum (BNCS) for antagonizing hypoxia-induced apoptosis of primary cultured cortical neurons with the sero-pharmacological method.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Primary cortical neurons from neonate rats (within 24 h) were cultured and induced into hypoxia model on the 7th day, which were then treated with different concentrations of BNCS. Cell apoptosis was detected qualitatively and quantitatively; and further verified by agarose gel electrophoresis through analyzing in-ternucleosomal DNA fragmentation of the neurons. Besides, neuron viability was tested by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and change of nuclear morphology was observed by Hoechst 33258 staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment with BNCS, the viability of the hypoxia neurons improved with significantly reduced neuron apoptosis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Buchang Naoxintong can protect cortical neurons from hypoxia-induced apoptosis.</p>

Clinical study on laser therapy of the venous malformations and hemangioma in oral and maxillofacial regions / 中华口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To try to find the best method of laser therapy for the management of venous malformation and hemangioma in oral and maxillofacial regions.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From June, 1999 to July, 2002, 2 481 cases of venous malformations and hemangiomas were treated by several kinds lasers in our department. The lesions included port-wine stains, venous malformations, telangiectasia and hemangioma. The lasers used were continuous wave CO(2), Nd:YAG and Krypton lasers, pulsed dye laser and ultra-pulsed CO(2) lasers. The treatment modalities were direct irradiation, irradiation after surgical flap raising and photodynamic therapy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Follow up between 2 - 5 years revealed the treatment results as follows: excellent is 79.24%, good is 14.31% and poor is 6.45%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Laser therapy is one of the best method to treat venous malformations and hemangiomas. The key point is to apply different lasers properly.</p>

Relationship between protein level and ? mRNA,? mRNA isoforms of glucocorticoid receptor and effect of intravenous injection of methylprednisolone effect in multiple sclerosis patients / 中华神经科杂志

Objective To investigate the expression of glucocorticoid receptor(GR), GR? mRNA and GR? mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC)of patients with multiple sclerosis(MS) and healthy controls and investigate the relationship between GR protein, GR? mRNA, GR? mRNA and intravenous injection methylprednisolone(IVMP)effect.Methods GR in PBMC was measured by radioligand assays in 20 patients with relapsing-remitting MS(RRMS), 6 with the second progressive MS (SPMS)and 26 healthy controls.Semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)was used to detect the expression of GR? mRNA and GR? mRNA in PBMC of patients with MS and healthy controls.The effect of IVMP was evaluated by the expanded disability status scale(EDSS). Results(1)Before IVMP, GR in PBMC of MS was significantly lower(RRMS:(3.8?0.2)?10~3 site/cell;SPMS:(1.6?0.2)?10~3 site/cell)than those of controls((4.2?0.8)?10~3 site/cell, P