Investigation on metal pollution in the sediment of Chongqing segment of Yangtse River.

Basing on experiment dada collected from 1995 to 2007 at Chongqing segment of Yangtse River, the pollution and the potential toxic effect of sediment were depicted and characterized by using the Index of Geoaccumulation (I(geo)) method and the Logistic Regression model respectively. Results showed that the sediment had been slightly polluted by metals and had possible adverse effect on aquatic life. According to the I(geo), the order of the analyzed metals, arranging from highest to lowest pollution degree, was Cd > Hg > Pb > Cu > Zn > As. Meanwhile, sediment contamination level had been obviously decreasing before the storing water of Three Gorge Reservoir.

[Evaluating the applicability of MoM in second trimester maternal serum to screening for Down's syndrome in Jiangsu province].

OBJECTIVE: To study the applicability of MultiCalc software to prenatal screening of Down's syndrome in Jiangsu province, China. METHODS: The gestational age-specific median of maternal serum marker was calculated by means of regression method. Regression functions for adjustment of Multiple of the Median (MoM) by weight were established for our own population. RESULTS: Before the adjustment by weight, the average level of alpha fetal protein(AFP) was 16% higher and the free beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (beta-hCG) was 14% higher than those of the Caucasian in MultiCalc software respectively. But when the AFP and free beta-hCG results were converted to weight-adjusted MoM levels, the values were 0.99 and 1.02 respectively. The median of MoM of AFP and the free beta-hCG were 1.00 through the regression model of gestational age and weight adjustment. CONCLUSION: There was no difference of average weight-adjusted MoM levels between the Jiangsu population and the Caucasian, and the MultiCalc software was applicable to maternal serum screening for Down's syndrome of Jiangsu.

[Metabolic disturbance and insulin resistance in patients with colorectal cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether insulin resistance exists in patients with colorectal cancer and its clinical significance. METHODS: A total of 135 patients with colorectal cancer were included as the study group, and 120 healthy subjects were included as the control group. Height, weight, and blood pressure were recorded. Fasting plasma glucose, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and insulin were measured. Insulin resistance index(lnHOMA-IR) was calculated. RESULTS: The lnHOMA-IR was 0.84±0.38 in the study group and 0.42±0.08 in the control group(P<0.05). The incidence of metabolic syndrome was 34.1%(46/135) in the study group and 22.5%(27/120) in the control group(P<0.05). Insulin resistance index did not differ between the groups according to metabolic syndrome(0.98±0.41 vs. 0.74±0.22, P>0.05). There were no significant associations between insulin resistance index and tumor differentiation, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, and TNM staging(P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Insulin resistance exists in colorectal cancer patients, and it is possibly associated with metabolic syndrome and the tumor.