Joint Association of Metabolic Health and Obesity with Ten-Year Risk of Cardiovascular Disease among Chinese Adults / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

OBJECTIVE@#This study aims to investigate the association of metabolic phenotypes that are jointly determined by body mass index (BMI) or fat mass percentage and metabolic health status with the ten-year risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among Chinese adults.@*METHODS@#Data were obtained from a cross-sectional study. BMI and body fat mass percentage (FMP) combined with the metabolic status were used to define metabolic phenotypes. Multiple linear regression and logistic regression were used to examine the effects of metabolic phenotypes on CVD risk.@*RESULTS@#A total of 13,239 adults aged 34-75 years were included in this study. Compared with the metabolically healthy non-obese (MHNO) phenotype, the metabolically unhealthy non-obese (MUNO) and metabolically unhealthy obese (MUO) phenotypes defined by BMI showed a higher CVD risk [odds ratio, OR (95% confidence interval, CI): 2.34 (1.89-2.89), 3.45 (2.50-4.75), respectively], after adjusting for the covariates. The MUNO and MUO phenotypes defined by FMP showed a higher CVD risk [ OR (95% CI): 2.31 (1.85-2.88), 2.63 (1.98-3.48), respectively] than the MHNO phenotype. The metabolically healthy obese phenotype, regardless of being defined by BMI or FMP, showed no CVD risk compared with the MHNO phenotype.@*CONCLUSION@#General obesity without central obesity does not increase CVD risk in metabolically healthy individuals. FMP might be a more meaningful factor for the evaluation of the association of obesity with CVD risk. Obesity and metabolic status have a synergistic effect on CVD risk.

Study of Zero-Inflated Regression Models in a Large-Scale Population Survey of Sub-Health Status and Its Influencing Factors / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

Objective Sub-health status has progressively gained more attention from both medical professionals and the publics. Treating the number of sub-health symptoms as count data rather than dichotomous data helps to completely and accurately analyze findings in sub-healthy population. This study aims to compare the goodness of fit for count outcome models to identify the optimum model for sub-health study. Methods The sample of the study derived from a large-scale population survey on physiological and psychological constants from 2007 to 2011 in 4 provinces and 2 autonomous regions in China. We constructed four count outcome models using SAS: Poisson model, negative binomial (NB) model, zero-inflated Poisson (ZIP) model and zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) model. The number of sub-health symptoms was used as the main outcome measure. The alpha dispersion parameter and O test were used to identify over-dispersed data, and Vuong test was used to evaluate the excessive zero count. The goodness of fit of regression models were determined by predictive probability curves and statistics of likelihood ratio test. Results Of all 78 307 respondents, 38.53% reported no sub-health symptoms. The mean number of sub-health symptoms was 2.98, and the standard deviation was 3.72. The statistic O in over-dispersion test was 720.995 (P<0.001); the estimated alpha was 0.618 (95% CI: 0.600-0.636) comparing ZINB model and ZIP model; Vuong test statistic Z was 45.487. These results indicated over-dispersion of the data and excessive zero counts in this sub-health study. ZINB model had the largest log likelihood (-167 519), the smallest Akaike's Information Criterion coefficient (335 112) and the smallest Bayesian information criterion coefficient (335455), indicating its best goodness of fit. The predictive probabilities for most counts in ZINB model fitted the observed counts best. The logit section of ZINB model analysis showed that age, sex, occupation, smoking, alcohol drinking, ethnicity and obesity were determinants for presence of sub-health symptoms; the binomial negative section of ZINB model analysis showed that sex, occupation, smoking, alcohol drinking, ethnicity, marital status and obesity had significant effect on the severity of sub-health. Conclusions All tests for goodness of fit and the predictive probability curve produced the same finding that ZINB model was the optimum model for exploring the influencing factors of sub-health symptoms.

Prediction of ventilatory function in children and adolescents using backpropagation neural networks / 生理学报

The aim of this study is to develop backpropagation neural networks (BPNN) for better prediction of ventilatory function in children and adolescents. Nine hundred and ninety-nine healthy children and adolescents (500 males and 499 females) aged 10-18 years, all of the Han Nationality, were selected from Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and their heights, weights, and ventilatory functions were measured respectively by means of physical examination and spirometric test. Using the approaches of BPNN and stepwise multiple regression, the prediction models and equations for forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF), forced expiratory flow at 25% of forced vital capacity (FEF25%), forced expiratory flow at 50% of forced vital capacity (FEF50%), maximal mid-expiratory flow (MMEF) and forced expiratory flow at 75% of forced vital capacity (FEF75%) were established. Through analyzing mean squared difference (MSD) and correlation coefficient (R) of the ventilatory function indexes, the present study compared the results of BPNN, linear regression equation based on this work (LR's equation), prediction equations based on the studies of Ip et al. (Ip's equation) and Zapletal et al. (Zapletal's equation). The results showed, regardless of sex, the BPNN prediction models appeared to have smaller MSD and higher R values, compared with those from the other prediction equations; and the LR's equation also had smaller MSD and higher R values compared with those from Ip's and Zapletal's equations. The coefficients of variance (CV) for FEF50%, MMEF and FEF75% were higher than those of the other ventilatory function parameters, and their increasing percentages of R values (ΔR, relative to R values by LR's equation) derived by BPNN were correspondingly higher than those of the other indexes. In sum, BPNN approach for ventilatory function prediction outperforms the traditional regression methods. When CV of a certain ventilatory function parameter is higher, the superiority of BPNN would be more significant compared with traditional regression methods.

Spirometric Standards for Healthy Children and Adolescents of Korean Chinese in Northeast China

In China there are 1,923,842 Korean Chinese, who live mostly (92.27%) in the country's three northeast provinces. In spite of this sizeable number, no spirometric data are available at present on them. The present study investigated normal spirometric reference values for the Korean Chinese children and adolescents. Spirometry was performed in 443 healthy Korean Chinese children and adolescents aged 8-18 yr with measurements of forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF) and maximum mid-expiratory flow (MMEF). Reference equations for FEV1, FVC, PEF and MMEF were derived by using multiple regression analysis. All of the measured spirometric parameters correlated positively with height and age significantly (P < 0.001). The predicted values of FVC and FEV1 were higher than values obtained by using Caucasian and other Asian equations (P < 0.001). A set of spirometric reference equations has been derived using a relatively large, healthy, non-smoking young Korean Chinese population with a wide range of ages and heights, the results of which differ from those gained from several other reference equations. These reference equations should be used for evaluation of lung function in this population.

Relationship of body mass index, fat free mass index, and fat mass index with inspiratory capacity in adults with normal lung function / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the relationship of inspiratory capacity (IC) with body mass index (BMI), fat free mass index (FFMI), and fat mass index (FMI) in adults with normal lung function.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Based on a survey on the Chinese physiological constants conducted in Heilongjiang during 2008, we obtained the data of 2,050 adults (921 men and 1,129 women aged 19-81 years) with normal lung function and grouped them according to the standard of classification of body weight recommended by Working Group on Obesity of China. Statistical analysis was performed using Pearson correlation analysis, one-way analysis of variance,and multi-factor regression analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After the influences of age and gender were adjusted, IC was positively correlated with BMI, FFMI, and FMI in adults aged 19-81 years (all P= 0.000) (the correlation coefficients were 0.320, 0.303, and 0.204, respectively). The means of IC, FFMI, and FMI in obesity group were significantly higher than those in overweight group normal weight group, and underweight group, were significantly higher in overweight group than in normal weight group and underweight group, were significantly higher in normal weight group than in underweight group (all P = 0.000). Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that factors including age, gender, height, FFMI, and FMI influenced IC, and while height, FFMI, and FMI were positively correlated with IC, gender and age were negatively correlated with IC.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>BMI, FFMI, and FMI are positively correlated with IC in adults with normal lung function. The elevation of IC derived from BMI may attribute to FFMI and FMI, and FFMI has a higher influence on IC than FMI does.</p>

The relationship between body fat percentage, waist-hip ratio and pulmonary ventilatory function among the adult females in Heilongjiang, in 2008 / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To examine the effect of body fat mass and fat distribution on pulmonary ventilatory function among the adult females.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Based on the multistage cluster sampling principal, we selected 935 healthy adult females with ages of 19-81 years old in Heilongjiang province to conduct the study. Every 10-years old as a age group. Firstly obtain the basic situation through the questionnaire survey, and then measure the height, body weight, waistline, hip circumference, body composition and lung function. FVC, FEV1, PEF, FEF25%, FEF 50%, FEF 75% and MMEF were determined. This study also examined the relationships between percentage body fat (PBF), waist-hip ratio (WHR) and FVC, FEV1, PEF, FEF25%, FEF 50%, FEF 75%, MMEF.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>PBF of subjects with ages of 19 - 29 years old and over 60 years old were (16.89 ± 5.34)% and (24.39 ± 6.83)%, WHR were 0.77 ± 0.05 and 0.88 ± 0.06, respectively. PBF and WHR tended to increase with age (F = 50.11, P value < 0.01). PBF obesity rates of subjects with ages of 19 - 29 years old and over 60 years old were 3.23% (7/217) and 43.75% (28/64), WHR obesity rates were 19.35% (42/217) and 85.94% (55/64) respectively. PBF obesity rate and WHR obesity rate tended to increase with age (χ(2) = 161.66, P value < 0.01; χ(2) = 159.61, P value < 0.01). PBF obesity groups compared with the normal groups, the former pulmonary ventilation function reduced significantly, of which FEF 50%, FEF 75% and MMEF decreased 2.61%, 19.44%, 10.28%, respectively. WHR obesity groups compared with the normal groups, the former pulmonary ventilation function reduced significantly, of which FEF 50%, FEF 75% and MMEF decreased 7.61%, 23.15%, 12.04%. After adjustment of age, height and body mass index (BMI), PBF was negatively correlated with FVC, FEV1, PEF and FEF25% (r values were -0.14, -0.14, -0.07, -0.07, respectively, all P value s < 0.05); WHR was negatively correlated with FEV1 (r value was -0.07, P value < 0.05) after adjustment of age, height and BMI.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PBF augmentation and abdominal obesity among adult females may be the risk factors of pulmonary function impairment.</p>

Fat mass and fat free mass on ventilatory function in adults / 生理学报

This study is designed to probe for the effects of fat mass (FM) and fat free mass (FFM) on ventilatory function in adults. 1 307 healthy adults (372 males and 935 females) were selected from some localities of Heilongjiang province through random sampling by means of questionnaire and physical examination and measured for height, weight, waist to hip ratio (WHR), FM, FFM and ventilatory function. The data were analyzed by means of Pearson correlation analysis, independent-samples t test and multi-factors regression analysis. Regardless of sex, an independent positive correlation was found (P<0.001) between age and fat mass index (FMI). Regardless of sex, fat free mass index (FFMI) was found to be positively associated with forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF) and forced expiratory flow at 25% of forced vital capacity (FEF25%) (P<0.01), and FMI was significantly and negatively related to FVC, FEV1, FEF75% (P<0.05). In males FMI was significantly and negatively related to maximal mid-expiratory flow (MMEF) (P<0.05). Regardless of sex, the effect of FFMI on FVC was higher than that of FMI. For the males, the effect of FFMI on FVC was smaller than that of FMI, while the opposite was found in the females. Regardless of sex, FEF75% tended to decrease with increasing FMI, while FFMI was found to have no effects on FEF75%. MMEF tended to decrease with increasing FMI in the males, but no marked change was found in the females. The above results suggest that FM and FFM are independent factors influencing ventilatory function in adults. FM is negatively correlated with ventilatory function, but as a reflection of muscle mass, FFM is positively correlated with ventilatory function in adults. There is quantitative difference between the effects of FFM and FM on ventilatory function.

Relation between fat mass, fat free mass and ventilatory function in children and adolescents / 生理学报

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relation between fat mass (FM), fat free mass (FFM) and ventilatory function in children and adolescents. 1 174 healthy children and adolescents (583 males and 591 females) aged 10-18 years were selected from Heilongjiang Province through random sampling by means of questionnaire and physical examination, and measured for height, weight, waist to hip ratio (WHR), FM, FFM and ventilatory function. The data were analyzed by means of independent-samples t test, Pearson correlation analysis and multi-factors regression analysis. Regardless of sex, an independent positive correlation was found (P<0.001) between age and FFM index (FFMI). FM index (FMI) correlated negatively with age in males (P<0.001), but positively with age in females (P<0.001). Regardless of sex, FFMI correlated positively with forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF), forced expiratory flow at 25% of forced vital capacity (FEF25%), FEF50%, and maximal mid-expiratory flow (MMEF) (P<0.05), while negatively with FEV1/FVC (P<0.01). FFMI was correlated positively with FEF75% in males (P<0.05), but not correlated in females. In males, FMI correlated negatively with FEV1, FEV1/FVC, PEF, FEF25%, FEF50%, FEF75% and MMEF (P<0.05), but not correlated with FVC. No correlation was found between the ventilatory function indices and FMI in females. Except FEV1/FVC and FEF75% in males, the effect of FFMI in predicting ventilatory function was higher than FMI regardless of sex. Moreover, the predicting effect of FFMI was higher in males than that in females. Growth spurt of lung function occurred in the ages of 12-15 years in males, while in the ages of 12, 13 and 18 years in females. During the period of growth spurt of lung function, regardless of sex, the effect of FFMI in predicting the lung function was higher than that of age. In conclusion, regardless of sex, FFMI correlates positively with ventilatory function, as a reflection of muscle mass. The effect of FFM in predicting ventilatory function is higher in males than that in females. FM correlates negatively with ventilatory function in males, but not in females. The rapid growth of height and FFM are possibly the main reasons for growth spurt of lung function.

Comparison of the systemic vascular resistance and the correlative factors in Han and Korean populations of China / 生理学报

In the present study, the differences in systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and the correlated risk factors between Han and Korean residents were investigated. 1 647 Hans and 876 Koreans from Mudanjiang and Hailin areas of Heilongjiang Province were examined with BIOZ Cardio Dynamics Monitor. A series of factors were determined, including SVR, systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), cardiac output (CO), cardiac output index (CI) and heart rate (HR). The data were analyzed with SPSS 15.0 statistic software. When SVR/SVRI were compared between Han and Korean populations by t-test, it was shown that statistic difference existed in the following age and gender groups: (1) For SVR: male 41-50, 51-60, and 61-70 (P<0.001), 31-40 (P<0.01), 19-30 (P<0.05) age groups; female 15-18, 31-40, 51-60 (P<0.001), 41-50 (P<0.01), and 61-70 (P<0.05) age groups; (2) For SVRI, male 41-50, 51-60 (P<0.05) age groups; female 10-14, 51-60 (P<0.001), 15-18, 31-40 (P<0.01), and 41-50 (P<0.05) age groups. Covariance analysis suggests that, excluding the contributions of gender, age and body mass index (BMI), the differences in SVR/SVRI between the two populations are still significant (P<0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis reveals that SVR difference between Han and Korean populations is attributed to MAP, DBP, CI, SBP, HR; While SVRI difference between two populations is attributed to MAP, DBP, SBP, CI, HR, strongly to weakly, respectively. These results suggest the higher SVR and SVRI are possibly correlated with the relatively higher blood pressure of Korean, compared with that of Han population.

The relationship between percentage body fat, waist-hip ratio and cardiovascular function in the adult females of Heilongjiang province / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the relationship between body fat mass and distribution and cardiovascular function in the adult females of Heilongjiang province.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Based on the statistic variable random sampling principal, we selected 1903 healthy adult females with ages of 18 - 70 years old in Heilongjiang province to conduct the study. The height, body weight, waist, chest measurement and waist-hip ratio (WHR) were measured. Body components quota including fat weight, lean weight, percentage of body fat (PBF) were taken respectively; systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR), cardiac output (CO), cardiac index (CI), stroke volume (SV), stroke index (SI), left cardiac work (LCW) and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) were determined.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The PBF and WHR increased with aging, and the PBF of those with ages of 18-, 30-, 40-, 50- and 60 - 70 year's old were (16.86 +/- 5.37)%, (18.43 +/- 4.89)%, (20.99 +/- 5.79)%, (23.47 +/- 5.74)% and (25.77 +/- 6.38)%, respectively (F = 154.46, P < 0.01); and the WHR were 0.77 +/- 0.05, 0.80 +/- 0.05, 0.83 +/- 0.05, 0.85 +/- 0.06 and 0.89 +/- 0.07, respectively (F = 229.84, P < 0.01). The HR, CO, CI, SBP, DBP and LCW were (75.45 +/- 0.35) bpm, (4.42 +/- 0.02) L/min, (2.78 +/- 0.01) L * min(-1) * m(-2), (114.94 +/- 0.40) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa), (64.90 +/- 0.28) mm Hg, (4.57 +/- 0.03) kg * m/m(2) respectively in normal PBF groups; whereas the HR, CO, CI, SBP, DBP and LCW in the PBF obesity groups were (77.42 +/- 0.88) bpm, (4.54 +/- 0.05) L/min, (2.88 +/- 0.03) L * min(-1) * m(-2), (120.55 +/- 1.00) mm Hg, (66.56 +/- 0.71) mm Hg and (4.86 +/- 0.07) kg * m/m(2), respectively, F values were 3.182, 9.173, 8.478, 13.497, 2.637, and 10.631, respectively (all P values < 0.05) after the adjustment of age, height and weight, PBF was positively correlated with HR, CO, CI, SI, SBP, DBP and LCW (r values were 0.06, 0.11, 0.10, 0.11 and 0.12, respectively, all P values < 0.05); WHR was positively correlated with CI, SI, SBP, DBP, LCW and SVR (r values were 0.14, 014, 0.19, 0.18, 0.10 and 0.12, respectively, all P values < 0.01) after the adjustment of age, height and weight.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PBF augmentation and abdominal obesity in females can result in cardiac dysfunction such as cardiac overload, CO increasing and blood pressure rising.</p>

Tumor cell-tumor endothelial cell adhesion mediated by alphavbeta3 and alphavbeta5 molecules / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role of adhesion molecules alphavbeta3 and alphavbeta5 and their ligands Del-1 and L1 in the tumor-endothelial cell adhesion in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The expression of alphavbeta3, alphavbeta5 and ICAM-1 in liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSEC) and liver cancer endothelial cells (T3A) cultured under normoxia or hypoxia were analyzed by RT-PCR and fluorescent activated cell sorter (FACS). The expression of Del-1 and L1 in six tumor cell lines under normoxia or hypoxia were analyzed by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. The adhesion of dye-labeled tumor cells and endothelial LSEC and T3A cells was measured by a fluorescence plate reader after their culture.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression of alphavbeta3 and alphavbeta5 were higher in T3A cells than that in LSEC cells, and were upregulated under hypoxia, while the expression of ICAM-1 was lower in T3A cells than that in LSEC cells, and was upregulated under hypoxia only in LSEC. The expression of Del-1 and L1 molecules were obviously different in various tumor cell lines and were differentially regulated under hypoxia. The adhesion of tumor cells with Del-1 or L1 expression was higher in T3A cells than that in LSEC cells, and was significantly increased under hypoxia condition. Furthermore, the adhesion of tumor cells to T3A could be inhibited by antibodies against alphavbeta3 and alphavbeta5, or SiRNAs for beta3 and beta5.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>alphavbeta3 and alphavbeta5 and their ligands Del-1 and L1 may play an important role in tumor cell migration.</p>

Ultrasonic bone mineral density of calcaneus in 1 816 healthy subjects in Guangxi autonomous region / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the relationship between ultrasonic bone mineral density (BMD) of calcaneus and age, height, and body weight, and to establish the normal reference value for stiffness index (SI) of healthy subjects in Guangxi autonomous region and provide scientific foundation for the diagnosis and prevention of osteoporosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>SI of calcaneus in 1 816 healthy adults aged 11-90 years (775 men, 1 041 women) were measured with quantitative ultrasound. According to their ages, all the men and women were divided into 13 groups by 5-year age group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>SI reached peak values in 21-25 year group in men (range: 111.45 +/- 21.19) and in 16-20 year group in women (range: 101.26 +/- 17.51). Then the SI value began to decline with aging. The SI featured by a typical dual-peak curve in women and the decrease rate of SI was faster in women than in men over 61 years. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed significantly negative correlation between SI and age (P < 0.001), positive correlation between SI and body weight (P < 0.05 for men; P < 0.01 for women), and positive correlation between SI and height in women (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>SI correlates with age, height, and weight. The acquired SI value may provide a reference for the diagnosis of osteoporosis.</p>

Distribution of systemic vascular resistance disorders and its related factors in Hebei province / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the distribution features of systemic vascular resistance (SVR) disorder in healthy subjects in Hebei province.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>SVR and systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), pulse pressure (PP), heart rate (HR), cardiac output (CO), cardiac index (CI), stroke volume (SV), stroke index (SI), left ventricular ejection time (LVET), left cardiac work (LCW) and cardiovascular function were determined with Bioz. com Cardio Dynamics. Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and influencing factor were tested by automated hematology analyzer in 999 healthy subjects living in Hebei province.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>SVR disorder gradually increased with the ageing in healthy subjects and the prevalences of SVR disorders was higher among females than among males (P < 0.001). SVR was positively correlated with SBP, DBP, MAP, PP, LVET, body mass index (BMI), TC, and TG, and was inversely associated with HR, CO, CI, SV, SI, LCW, and arterial compliance (AC). CO and MAP were independent influencing factors with SVR.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>SVR disorder is associated with age, sex, and blood pressure in populations in Hebei province and may be a marker of vascular injury.</p>

Analysis of the levels of serum total calcium and inorganic phosphate of 2,342 children in Beijing / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the changes of serum total calcium (Ca) and inorganic phosphate (P) levels during children growth and related factors.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using a stratified-multi-steps-cluster sampling method, we selected 2,342 healthy children aged 10-18 years from urban and suburban areas of Beijing from September 2001 to December 2001 to test the levels of serum Ca and P. Their meal status was also surveyed to analyse the correlation of the leves of serum Ca and P with sex, age, height, weight, and diet on statistic basis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The Ca levels of Beijing children were (2.39 +/- 0.12) mmol/L, which had a positive correlation with age, height, and weight (P < 0.01). The Ca levels of female children were somewhat higher than those of male [male, (2.38 +/- 0.12) mmol/L; female, (2.39 +/- 0.12) mmol/L; P < 0.05]. The Ca levels of urban children were significantly higher than those of suburban children [urban, (2.40 +/- 0.13) mmol/L; suburban, (2.37 +/- 0.10) mmol/L; P < 0.001]. The P levels of Beijing children were (1.39 +/- 0.18) mmol/L, which had a negative correlation with age, height, and weight (P < 0.01). The P levels of male children were significantly higher than those of female [male, (1.43 +/- 0.18) mmol/L; female, (1.36 +/- 0.17) mmol/L; P < 0.001]. The P levels of urban children were significant higher than those of suburban children [urban, (1.41 +/- 0.19) mmol/L; suburban, (1.38 +/- 0.16) mmol/L; P < 0.001]. The Ca levels of Beijing children had a negative correlation with P levels (r=-0.141, P < 0.01). [Ca] x [P] (mmol/L) of Beijing children were 3.32 +/- 0.44. The value of [Ca] x [P] reached peak by 3.45 +/- 0.46 when Beijing children were of 13-14 years old, and then the value declined with increasing age.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The levels of serum Ca and P correlates with sex, age, growth, and diet. The level of serum Ca goes up while P goes down during the children growth.</p>

Testing and analyzing the lung functions in the normal population in Hebei province / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the lung function of the normal subjects living in Hebei province and its correlative factors such as living circumstance, age, height, and body weight.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The lung volumes and breath capacities of 1,587 normal subjects were tested by portable spirometers (Scope Rotry) from August to October in 2002. The influences of living circumstance, age, gender, height, and body weight on lung functions were observed and analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No significant difference was found between urban and rural areas in all indexes (P > 0.05); however, significant difference existed between male and female subjects (P = 0.000). The change trends of lung function in male and female subjects were similar. Growth spurt appeared at the age of 12-16 years in male subjects and 12-14 years in female subjects. Vital capacity (VC), forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) reached their peaks at the age of 26-34 years and then decreased with age. Peak expiratory flow (PEF), 25% forced expiratory flow (FEF50%), and 75% forced expiratory flow (FEF75%) appeared at the age of 18 and then went down with age. Both height and weight had a correlation with all the indexes of lung functions, although the influence of height is stronger than weight.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>All the indexes of lung function have correlations with age, height, and weight. Lung function changes with aging, therefore different expected values shall be available for the adolescence, young adults, and middle-aged and old people. This study provides reference values of lung function for normal population.</p>

Effect of AP-1 on expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in human vascular endothelial cells / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of nuclear transcription factor AP-1 on tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) or minimal modified low density lipoprotein (mmLDL)-induced expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in human vascular endothelial cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using gene recombination techniques, four luciferase reporter gene plasmids containing different length of human PAI-1 gene promoter were constructed. Through the transient transfection analysis, the roles of AP-1 element (from -823 bp to -553 bp) in PAI-1 promoter have been determined. In order to further verify the role of AP-1 element, the three site-directed mutants were recovered using PCR and sequencing assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The induction by TNF-alpha or mmLDL were decreased markedly when the three AP-1 elements in PAI-1 promoter had been mutated respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>These results indicate that the AP-1 element in PAI-1 promoter may have important role in PAI-1 gene transcriptions in endothelial cells induced by TNF-alpha or mmLDL.</p>

Effects of TNF-alpha or mmLDL on PAI-1 expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To demonstrate the changes of PAI-1 activity and mRNA expressions induced by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) or minimally modified low-density lipoprotein (mmLDL) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The PAI-1 activity in HUVECs culture medium was measured by chromogenic assay. The PAI-1 mRNA expressions were determined by Northern blot. The mitogen-activated protein kinase-kinase (MAPKK) inhibitor and protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor were used to intervene the inductions by TNF-alpha or mmLDL.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The PAI-1 activity and mRNA level were increased when HUVECs were exposed to TNF-alpha or mmLDL. The MAPKK inhibitor (PD98059, 60 mumol/L) could markedly inhibit PAI-1 activity and mRNA expression induced by TNF-alpha (100 U/ml) or mmLDL (50 micrograms/ml). But Staurosporine (10 nmol/L) and H7 (15 mumol/L), which were the PKC inhibitors, had no significant inhibition effect.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>(1) TNF-alpha or mmLDL could induce PAI-1 activity and mRNA expression in HUVECs. (2) Increase of PAI-1 activity induced by TNF-alpha and mmLDL was related to its mRNA expression. (3) The MAPK pathway may play a role in PAI-1 expression induced by TNF-alpha or mmLDL.</p>