[Association of single nucleotide polymorphisms of LEPR gene with essential hypertension among ethnic Mongolian and Han Chinese from Inner Mongolia region].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of leptin receptor (LEPR) gene with essential hypertension (EH) and body mass index (BMI) among ethnic Mongolian and Han Chinese from Inner Mongolia region. METHODS: In total 411 Han Chinese patients with EH and 480 healthy controls, together with 658 Mongolian patients with EH and 403 healthy controls, were collected. The SNPs of the LEPR gene were determined with ligase detection reaction (LDR). Logistic regression was used to analyze the association of the polymorphisms of each locus with EH and BMI. MDR software was used to analyze the interaction between above loci and environmental factors. RESULTS: Genotypic frequencies of LEPR gene rs7555955, rs1137100 and rs1137101 loci had differed significantly among ethnic Hans with EH and the control group (All P<0.05). While those of rs7555955, rs1805094, rs1137100, rs11579567, rs1805134 and rs6669354 loci had differed significantly among ethnic Mongolians with EH and the control group (All P<0.05). After adjustment for confounders, logistic regression analysis indicated that age (OR=2.97, 95%CI:1.94-3.99), BMI (OR=3.93, 95%CI:2.91-5.96), and rs1137101 (AA) (OR=3.96, 95%CI:1.32-11.90) were independent risk factors for EH among ethnic Hans, while age (OR=2.99, 95%CI:2.98-4.57), BMI (OR=3.03, 95%CI:1.05-1.27), rs7555955 (AG, AA) (OR=12.12, 95%CI:2.80-52.43; OR=6.35, 95%CI:1.44-27.94), and rs7555955 (GG) were independent risk factors for EH among ethnic Mongolians (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Age and BMI are independent risk factors for EH in both ethnic Han and Mongolian Chinese. rs1137101 locus is associated with EH among ethnic Hans, while rs7555955 locus is associated with EH among ethnic Mongolians.

Demographic and socioeconomic disparity in knowledge about tuberculosis in Inner Mongolia, China.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to evaluate the awareness status, attitudes, and care-seeking behaviors concerning tuberculosis (TB) and associated factors among the public in Inner Mongolia, China. METHODS: A five-stage sampling was conducted, in which counties as the primary survey units and towns, villages, and households as sub-survey units were selected progressively. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect TB information. Complex survey analysis methods, including the procedures of survey frequency and survey logistic regression, were applied for analysis of TB knowledge and associated factors. The sample was weighted by survey design, non-respondent, and post-stratification adjustment. RESULTS: Among 10 581 respondents, awareness that TB is an infectious disease was 86.7%. Knowing that a cough lasting ≥3 weeks is suggestive of TB was 26.9%. Knowledge about TB dispensaries in county administrative areas was reported by 68.3% of respondents, and knowledge about the free TB detection/treatment policy was reported by 57.5% of respondents. About 52.5% of participants would stigmatize TB patients. Compared with the majority Han ethnic group, Mongolians and other minorities were 1.52-2.18 times more likely to know about TB curability, TB symptoms, the free detection/treatment policy, and TB dispensaries' locations, but were less likely to know about the TB transmission mode (odds ratio, 0.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.65-0.84). The main sources of TB information were TV (65.6%) and other persons (47.2%). In the past year, 19.7% of TB knowledge was from acquaintances, and 16.1% was from TB institutes. CONCLUSIONS: Improvement in knowledge about TB risk (symptoms and transmission), the free treatment policy, and facilities is necessary and should be provided through effective multimedia for different target populations.

Rapid Identification of unstable acyl glucoside flavonoids of Oxytropis racemosa Turcz by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection-electrospray ionisation/multi-stage mass spectrometry.

INTRODUCTION: Oxytropis racemosa Turcz is an important minority medicine that is used mainly to improve children's indigestion, especially in inner Mongolia and Tibet. Previous studies indicated that the characteristic constituents of this plant are acylated flavonoids. OBJECTIVE: Rapidly identify the characteristic chemical constituents of O. racemosa by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection-electrospray ionisation/multi-stage mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS(n) ) and suggest a useful method to control the quality of this medicinal plant. METHODS: In the HPLC fingerprint, 32 flavonoids were tentatively identified by a detailed analysis of their mass spectra, UV spectra and retention times. Furthermore, 13 flavonoids were confirmed by comparison with previously isolated compounds obtained from O. racemosa. RESULTS: In total, 32 flavonoids, including 13 flavonoids with 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaric acid (HMG) moieties and four flavonoids with 3-malonyl moieties, were identified in the extract of O. racemosa. Among the compounds identified, 10 were characterised as new compounds for their particular acylated sugar moieties. CONCLUSIONS: The method described is effective for obtaining a comprehensive phytochemical profile of plants containing unstable acylated flavonoids. The method is also useful for constructing the chromatographic fingerprint of the minority medicine -O. racemosa Turcz for quality control.

3-Hydroxymethylglutaryl flavonol glycosides from a Mongolian and Tibetan medicine, Oxytropis racemosa.

Three new flavonol 3-O-glycosides, rhamnetin 3-O-[(S)-3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaroyl(1→6)]-ß-D-glucopyranoside (1), rhamnocitrin 3-O-[(S)-3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaroyl(1→6)]-ß-D-glucopyranoside (2), and isorhamnetin 3-O-[(S)-3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaroyl(1→6)]-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→2)-ß-D-glucopyranoside (3), along with 13 known compounds, were isolated from Oxytropis racemosa TURCZ. Their structures were deduced by means of spectroscopic methods and chemical evidence. 2 and 6 showed cytotoxic activities against HCT-8 (IC50 6.38 µM) and A549 (IC50 5.20 µM), respectively.

Flavonol glycosides and monoterpenoids from Potentilla anserina.

Potentilin A (1), a rare diflavonol ester of mu-truxinic acid and a new normonoterpenoid, 2,6-dimethyl-2,3-dihydro-4-oxo-4H-pyran-2-acetic acid (2), was isolated from Potentilla anserina, together with 19 known flavonol glycosides (3-21) and 2 known monterpenoids (22,23). Their structures were elucidated by means of UV, IR, HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data.

Valproate induces apoptosis by inducing accumulation of neutral lipids which was prevented by disruption of the SIR2 gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

We investigated the participation of HDACs in VPA induced apoptosis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. VPA (20 mM) induced apoptosis in several HDAC mutants, including PRD3 and HDA1-disrupted cells and SIR2 over expressing cells, as well as in wild-type cells but not SIR2-disrupted cells. Intracellular reactive oxygen species and neutral lipid content increased markedly in all kinds of HDAC mutant cells tested except for SIR2-disrupted cells. Thus, these results suggest that 20 mM VPA induces neutral lipid accumulation and apoptosis-like features in S. cerevisiae, and that VPA-induced apoptosis was evaded by deletion of SIR2.

[HLA-DRB1 polymorphism in the Ewenki Ethnic of Inner Mongolian].

OBJECTIVE: To study the HLA-DRB1 genetic polymorphism in the Ewenki of Inner mongolia. METHODS: HLA-DRB1 allele polymorphisms in 84 normal Ewenki were determined by PCR with sequencing based typing (SBT). RESULTS: Twenty-five HLA-DRB1 alleles were observed. The allele frequency of HLA-DRB1*03011(14.88%) is the highest; the allele frequencies of HLA -DRB1*09012 (13.69%), DRB1*07011(8.92%), DRB1*04011(9.52%) and DRB1*12011(8.33%) are lower. CONCLUSION: The distribution of HLA-DRB1 alleles frequencies in normal Ewenki from Inner Mongolia exhibits a unique profile, which is of important reference value for studies on anthropology and related illnesses in Ewenki population.

Effect of sodium acetate on cell proliferation and induction of proinflammatory cytokines: a preliminary evaluation.

We have studied the effect of sodium acetate exposure on the viability and proliferative activity of cultured human gastric adenocarcinoma epithelial (AGS) cells and changes in the release of proinflammatory cytokines. We evaluated the levels of IL-6, TNF-alpha, IL-8, and IL-1beta in cell culture supernatants using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and cytokine mRNA levels were measured in whole cells using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. We also measured cytokine levels in mice using immunohistochemistry. In vitro studies demonstrated that incubation with sodium acetate (up to 12.5 mM) for 72 h stimulated AGS cell viability and proliferation in a dose-dependent manner; however, incubation with >12.5 mM sodium acetate inhibited cell growth, also in a dose-dependent manner (the largest decrease in viability was >50%). Incubation with sodium acetate for 24 h increased the levels of IL-1beta, IL-8, and TNF-alpha protein and mRNAs (IL-6 was detected but its mRNA was not). The effect of sodium acetate on the expression of these cytokines in cell culture was verified in mice. Our data suggest that ingestion of high concentrations of sodium acetate in food has cytotoxic effects.

[Study of genetic polymorphism of 6 short tandem repeat loci in Nongqu Mongolian of inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in China].

OBJECTIVE: To get the genotype and allele frequency distribution of 6 short tandem repeat (STR) loci VWA, FGA, PENTAE, D6S1043, D2S1772, D7S3048 in NongQu Mongolia of China. METHODS: Two hundred and ninety-three unrelated individuals from Nongqu Mongolian were investigated. Polymerase chain reaction and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were used. RESULTS: Eighty alleles and 335 genotypes were detected, with frequencies ranging from 0.0017 to 0.2828. All the 6 loci met Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The statistical analysis of 6 STR loci showed the heterozygosity (H) >/= 0.7945, the discrimination power (DP) >/= 0.9160, the probability of paternity exclusion (PPE) >/= 0.5919, and the polymorphic information content (PIC) >/= 0.7617. CONCLUSION: These results could serve as valuable data to enrich the Chinese genetic database and play an important role in Chinese population genetic forensic medical application.

[Genetic polymorphism of 6 short tandem repeat loci in Mongolian population of China].

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the distribution of genetic polymorphism of D3S1358, D13S317, D5S818, D6S1043, D2S1772, D7S3048 loci of the Mongolian population in Ximeng pastoral area and construct the relevant genetic database. METHODS: Multiplex PCR and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were used to investigate the polymorphism of 6 short tandem repeat (STR) loci in 286 individuals of the Mongolian population. RESULTS: In this study, 6, 9, 8, 11, 14, 11 alleles were observed at the 6 STR loci respectively. The genotypes distributions in Mongolian population were in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P>0.05), the cumulative expected heterozygosities (H), discriminating probability (DP) and the polymorphism information contents (PIC) for the 6 loci were 0.9998, 09999, 0.9998 respectively. These data were compared with those of the Han population. The results showed there were significant difference in D3S1358, D13S317, D5S818, D2S1772, D7S3048 loci between the Mongolian population and Han population (P<0.05). However, no significant difference in D6S1043 locus was seen between the two populations (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate that these 6 STR loci can serve as genetic marks and provide valuable data which are beneficial to studying the population genetics and ethnology.

[Genetic polymorphisms of short tandem repeat loci D3S1358, D13S317, D5S818 from Nongqu Mongolia].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the allele structure and genetic polymorphism at D3S1358, D13S317, D5S818 short tandem repeats (STRs) loci in Nongqu Mongolian of China, and to construct a preliminary database. METHODS: The allele frequencies of the three STRs loci in 291 unrelated individuals from Nongqu Mongolian were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: Six, ten, and eight alleles were observed at D3S1358, D13S317, D5S818, respectively, and all 3 loci met Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The statistical analysis of 3 STR loci showed the heterozygosity >or=0.7332, the polymorphic information content >or=0.6884; the combined discrimination power and the probabilities of paternity exclusion were 0.9991 and 0.9806 respectively. CONCLUSION: All three of the loci in this study were found to have high heterozygosity and polymorphic information content, so they could provide useful markers for genetic purposes. These results could serve as valuable data to enrich the Mongolian genetic database and play an important role in Chinese population genetic application.