[Orthogonal Experiment for Optimization of the Sample Pretreatment Conditions for the Serum Cholesterol and Markers Determination by GC-MS].

The objective is to use orthogonal experiment to optimize the pretreatment on the determination of serum cholesterol and its markers by GC-MS. And then the method is evaluated in a methodological perspective. The methodis to Use L16(211) orthogonal experiment design to observe the influence of three key steps，althogether seven factors of pretreatment, which are saponification (KOH ethanol solution concentration, temperature and time), extraction (dose) and derivatization (temperature , time and dose). As for the results，the conditions of optimal pretreatment are as follows：the ethanol solution is 1 mol·L-1 KOH, the saponification temperature is 70 ℃;the saponification time is 60 min;the Solvent quantity is 2 mL;the derivatization temperature is 70 ℃;the derivatization time is 60 min，and the derivatization agent is 100 µL. Through the optimization by orthogonal design and methodological evaluation, the determination of serum cholesterol and its markers by GC-MS is excellent in terms of accuracy and precision, and methodological evaluation indexes are better than those reported in other papers.

Willingness and SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination Coverage among Healthcare Workers in China: A Nationwide Study.

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 vaccine has been widely rolled out globally in the general populations. However, specific data on vaccination confidence, willingness or coverage among health care workers (HCWs) has been less reported. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted to specify the basic data and patterns of vaccination confidence, willingness and coverage among HCWs nationwide. Results: In total, 2386 out of 2583 (92.4%) participants were enrolled for analysis, and the rates of confidence in vaccine, professional institutes and government were 75.1%, 85.2% and 85.4%, respectively. The overall vaccination coverage rate was 63.6% which was adjusted as 82.8% for participants under current medical conditions or having contraindications. Confidence in vaccine safety was shown to be the most related factor to willingness among doctors, nurses, medical technicians and hospital administrators, while confidence in vaccine effectiveness as well as trust in government played the key role in formulating public health employees' willingness. 130 (7.1% of 1833) participants reporting willingness still not been vaccinated regardless of contraindications. Multivariate analysis among willingness participants showed that males, aged over 30 years, public health employees and higher vaccination confidence had significantly higher vaccination rates with ORs (95% confidence intervals) as 1.64 (1.08-2.49), 3.14 (2.14-4.62), 2.43 (1.46-4.04) or 2.31 (1.24-4.33). Conclusions: HCWs' confidence, willingness and coverage rates to the vaccine were generally at high levels. Heterogeneity among HCWs should be considered for future vaccination promotion strategies. The population's confidence in vaccination is not only the determinant to their willingness, but also guarantees their actual vaccine uptake.

Immunological effect of PM2.5 on cytokine production in female Wistar rats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the immunological effect of PM2.5 on cytokine production in female Wistar rats. METHODS: Female Wistar rats were given 0.3 mg, 0.75 mg, 2 mg, 5 mg of PM2.5 per 0.5 mL saline, respectively. Saline was used as the negative control. TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels in the branchoalveolar lavage were measured by ELISA, and mRNA expression levels in lung tissue were detected by RT-PCR. Alveolar macrophages were collected for testing phogacytic function. RESULTS: Exposure to PM2.5 stimulated TNF-alpha production in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05), However, no statistically significant difference was found. No time-dependent change in TNF-a and IL-6 production was found. TNF-alpha and IL-6 mRNA expressions were induced by PM2.5-exposure. The phagocytic rate (PR) was significantly decreased by PM2.5 treatment. CONCLUSION: PM2.5 exposure increases inflammation response of the lung in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, tissue injury induced by PM2.5 may be related to altered production of cytokines. PMz2.5 may impair the phagocytic activity of alveolar macrophages.

[Character study of content and correlativity of elements in Radix Astragali obtained from different regions].

OBJECTIVE: To study the characters of concentration of 42 elements in Radix Astragali and make an attempt at looking for relationship between the element concentration and regions where samplers are obtained. METHOD: Determining the content of elements in 40 Radix Astragali samples from 7 different provinces by ICP-MS, AFS and ASS. Analyzing the correlation of elements in Radix Astragali using statistic software (Spss). RESULT: Firstly, similar lines of element concentration have been acquired in our research. Secondly, it is observed that the content of elements in the samples shows regional diversity. Thirdly, there are 346 correlative element pairs in correlate analysis. And some of them indicate remarkable correlativity. CONCLUSION: With the aid of obtained results, it is concluded that element content in Radix Astragali display special distributing line. Remarkable correlation is presented in some element pairs. The quality of Radix Astragali gained from Neimeng, Shanxi and Gansu are better than those from other regions.

Association between B vitamins and schizophrenia: A population-based case-control study.

To explore the association between schizophrenia and six types of B vitamins, including choline, biotin, riboflavin, pyridoxamine, pyridoxine and nicotinamide, based on the hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography column (HILIC) Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) platform. We conducted the case-control study between November 2015 and September 2016 in Weifang, Shandong Province, China. Blood samples from 128 cases of schizophrenia and 101 controls were collected, and B vitamin were measured by LC-MS coupled with HILIC. The HILIC UPLC-MS based analysis of serum B vitamins levels from 128 cases (30 cases with first-episode, 98 cases with relapse) and 101 controls were performed. The results indicated that lower pyridoxine level and schizophrenia was related. (total cases versus controls: ß= -0.215, 95% CI: -0.271, -0.125, p < 0.001; first-episode cases versus controls: ß = -0.190, 95% CI: -0.277, -0.103, p < 0.001). Higher nicotinamide level was also associated with schizophrenia after adjusting confounders (ß = 0.343, 95% CI: 0.022, 0.664, p = 0.036). Other four B vitamins, including biotin, riboflavin, pridoxamine and choline, were showed no statistically difference in cases versus controls, first episode cases versus relapse cases. Two types of B Vitamins, pyridoxine and nicotinamide, show significant association with the schizophrenia.

Association on DISC1 SNPs with schizophrenia risk: A meta-analysis.

Schizophrenia is a major psychiatric disorder with complex genetic, environmental, and psychological etiologies. Although DISC1 gene has been shown as a risk factor for schizophrenia in some reports, there is a lack of a consensus. We therefore performed separate meta-analyses aiming to assess the associations between DISC1 SNPs and schizophrenia risk. We found that SNP rs821597 is significantly associated with schizophrenia risk in terms of both allelic and genotypic distribution, while SNP rs821616 is associated with schizophrenia in terms of genotypic distribution, especially in cases above 40 years old.

[Histopathology of lung of rats exposed to suspension of PM(2.5) with silver staining].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the histopathological changes of the lung of rats which exposed to the suspension of PM(2.5) and detect the effect of silver staining showing dust particles deposited in the lungs. METHODS: The dissociative PM(2.5) of Beijing city was collected to make suspension. The rats were divided into different groups and exposed to different dosage of PM(2.5) (0.3 mg/0.2 ml per rat, 0.75 mg/0.2 ml per rat, 2 mg/0.2 ml per rat) by intratracheal instillation every week. These rats were sacrificed at 4, 12 weeks and 24 weeks (total dosage: 7.2 mg per rat, 18 mg per rat, 48 mg per rat) after the treatment, and their lungs were sampled. The pathological varieties and the situation of these rats' lungs were observed macroscopically and using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, Warthin-Starry (WS) silver stain, as well as the transmission electron microscope (TEM). The dust particles in these rats' lungs were observed by x-ray spectrum chemical element analysis (X-RSA). The granulomatous lesion in the lungs of the rats was counted, and the deposition degree, integrated optical density (IOD) value and integrated area density (IAD) value of the dust particles deposited in the lungs were measured. The variance, least significance difference, and the unitary linear related and regression were analyzed. RESULTS: The number of the granulomatous lesion in the lungs of the rats became more and more with time. In WS staining the dust particles were dark brown and became clearer. The IOD and IAD value of these dust particles were much higher in WS staining than that in HE staining (P < 0.05). The IOD value of the dust particles was positively correlated with the number of the granulomatous lesion (R = 0.639, P < 0.01). The ultrastructure of the dust particles in the rats' lungs and the dissociative PM(2.5) was basically same in TEM. Their main compositions were similar, by X-RSA, and both of them were silicon. CONCLUSION: The suspension of PM(2.5) could result in the granulomatous lesion in the lung of rats. WS silver staining is a good method to show PM(2.5) phagocytized by macrophage, and is better than HE staining.

[Observation on therapeutic effect of cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type treated with both acupuncture and mild moxibustion].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical therapeutic effects on cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type treated with both acupuncture and mild moxibustion and investigate the mechanism of action. METHODS: Sixty cases were randomly divided into the combined therapy group of acupuncture and mild moxibustion (combined therapy group) and the acupuncture group, 30 cases for each group. In combined therapy group, Baihui (GV 20), Fengchi (GB 20) and cervical Jiaji (EX-B 2) were punctured, and Baihui(GV 20), Dazhui (GV 14), Mingmen (GV 4), Shenque (CV 8) and Guanyuan (CV 4) were treated with mild moxibustion; in acupuncture group, acupuncture was simply applied, the acupoints selection and manipulation were the same as those in the combined therapy group. The average velocity meter and the resistive index of vertebral and basal arteries were observed before and after treatment by TCD examination, the therapeutic effects and clinical symptom-sign scores were observed too. RESULTS: The total effective rate was 93.3% (28/30) in combined therapy group, and 73.3% (22/30) in acupuncture group. The therapeutic effect in combined therapy group was superior to that in acupuncture group (P < 0.05). The improvements of symptom-sign scores in two groups after treatment were more significant than that before treatment, and the score in the combined therapy group was superior to that in acupuncture group (P < 0.05). The average velocity meter and the resistive index of vertebral and basal arteries after treatment were improved in both groups, in which, the improvement in combined therapy group was more apparent (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The therapeutic effects on cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type treated with both acupuncture and mild moxibustion are preferable; by this therapy, the average velocity meter of vertebral and basal arteries are accelerated and the resistive index is decreased.