Predictive power of a body shape index and traditional anthropometric indicators for cardiovascular disease: a cohort study in rural Xinjiang, China.

BACKGROUND: A body shape index (ABSI) has been proven to be related to a population's CVD incidence. However, the application of this indicator has produced different results. AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the applicability of the ABSI in predicting the incidence of CVD in rural Xinjiang, China, and compare it with waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and body mass index (BMI). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 5375 people aged 18 years or older were included in the study. We used the Cox proportional hazard model to evaluate the relationship between WC, WHR, WHtR, BMI, and ABSI and the incidence of CVD, the area under the curve (AUC) to evaluate the predictive power of each anthropometric index for the incidence of CVD, and restricted cubic splines are used to analyse the trend relationship between anthropometric indicators and the incidence of CVD. RESULTS: After multivariate adjustment, standardised WC, WHR, WHtR, BMI, and ABSI all positively correlated with the incidence of CVD. WC had the highest HR (95% CI) value, 1.64 (1.51-1.78), and AUC (95% CI) value, 0.7743 (0.7537-0.7949). ABSI had the lowest HR (95% CI) value, 1.21(1.10-1.32), and AUC (95% CI) value, 0.7419 (0.7208-0.7630). In the sex-specific sensitivity analysis, the predictive ability of traditional anthropometric indicators for the incidence of CVD is higher than that of ABSI. CONCLUSIONS: In the rural areas of Xinjiang, the traditional anthropometric indicators of WC had better ability to predict the incidence of CVD than ABSI.

Metabolically healthy obesity and unhealthy normal weight rural adults in Xinjiang: prevalence and the associated factors.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to describe the prevalence of metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) and metabolically unhealthy normal weight (MUNW) rural adults in Xinjiang and to explore their influencing factors. METHODS: We selected 13,525 Uyghur, Kazakh and Han participants in Kashi, Yili and Shihezi areas in Xinjiang from 2009 to 2010. Weight status was classified according to body mass index. Metabolic phenotype was further defined based on the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. RESULTS: The prevalence of normal weight, overweight, and obesity were 51.6, 30.2, and 14.4%, respectively. The mean age of the population was 45.04 years. The prevalence of MHO was 5.5% overall and was 38.5% among obese participants. The prevalence of MUNW was 15.5% overall and was 30.1% among normal weight participants. A metabolically healthy phenotype among obese individuals was positively associated with females and vegetable consumption ≥4 plates per week. However, this was inversely associated with higher age, red meat consumption ≥2 kg per week, and larger waist circumference (WC). Conversely, a metabolically unhealthy phenotype among normal-weight individuals was positively associated with higher age, red meat consumption ≥2 kg per week, and larger WC; this was however inversely associated with vegetable consumption ≥4 plates per week. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of MHO among obese adults in Xinjiang is higher than that of Han adults, while the prevalence of MUNW among normal weight adults is lower than that among Han adults. In obese and normal weight participants, higher age, more red meat consumption, and larger WC increase the risk of metabolic abnormality, and more vegetable consumption reduces the risk of metabolic abnormality.

Dynamic anti-spike protein antibody profiles in COVID-19 patients.

OBJECTIVES: This study intended to investigate the dynamics of anti-spike (S) IgG and IgM antibodies in COVID-19 patients. METHODS: Anti-S IgG/IgM was determined by a semi-quantitative fluorescence immunoassay in the plasma of COVID-19 patients at the manifestation and rehabilitation stages. The immunoreactivity to full-length S proteins, C-terminal domain (CTD), and N-terminal domain (NTD) of S1 fragments were determined by an ELISA assay. Clinical properties at admission and discharge were collected simultaneously. RESULTS: The positive rates of anti-S IgG/IgM in COVID-19 patients were elevated after rehabilitation compared to the in-patients. Anti-S IgG and IgM were not apparent until day 14 and day ten, respectively, according to Simple Moving Average analysis with five days' slide window deduction. More than 90% of the rehabilitation patients exhibited IgG and IgM responses targeting CTD-S1 fragments. Decreased total peripheral lymphocytes, CD4+ and CD8+ T cell counts were seen in COVID-19 patients at admission and recovered after the rehabilitation. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-S IgG and IgM do not appear at the onset with the decrease in T cells, making early serological screening less significant. However, the presence of high IgG and IgM to S1-CTD in the recovered patients highlights humoral responses after SARS-CoV-2 infection, which might be associated with efficient immune protection in COVID-19 patients.

Association of total bilirubin and indirect bilirubin content with metabolic syndrome among Kazakhs in Xinjiang.

BACKGROUND: Some studies have shown that a high level of bilirubin is a protective factor against metabolic syndrome (MS), while a high level of transaminase is a risk factor for MS. However, the existing results are inconsistent and few cohort studies have been published. METHODS: Using an ambispective cohort study, 565 Kazakhs from Xinjiang, China were selected as the study subjects. The baseline serum bilirubin and transaminase levels of the subjects were divided into quartiles and the relationship between these values and the incidence of MS was analyzed. The definition of MS was based on the Joint Interim Statement (JIS) diagnostic criteria. RESULTS: The average follow-up time for the subjects was 5.72 years. The cumulative incidence of MS was 36.11% (204 of the 565 subjects), and the incidence density was 63.10/1000 person-years. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the levels of total bilirubin (TBIL) and indirect bilirubin (IBIL) were negatively correlated with the occurrence of MS, Compared to the lowest quartile level (Q1), the hazard ratios of MS the TBIL levels at the Q2-Q4 quartiles were: 0.47 (0.31-0.71), 0.53 (0.35-0.79), and 0.48 (0.32-0.72), respectively, while IBIL levels at the Q2-Q4 quartiles showed an MS hazard ratio of 0.48 (0.32-0.72), 0.54(0.36-0.81), and 0.52 (0.35-0.77), respectively, all at a 95% confidence level. However, no relationship was found between transaminase levels and the incidence of MS. CONCLUSION: Serum TBIL and IBIL levels were negatively correlated with the incidence of MS in a Kazakh population in China.

MEL endomorphins act as potent inflammatory analgesics with the inhibition of activated non-neuronal cells and modulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Effective treatment of inflammatory pain is a major clinical concern for both patients and physicians. Traditional analgesics such as morphine and coxibs are not effective in all patients and have various unwanted side effects. Accumulating evidence has suggested that endomorphins (EMs), particularly EM-1, possess potent anti-inflammatory effects. However, poor bioavailability and low resistance to enzymatic degradation impede their direct application in the treatment of inflammation. A series of novel peptides based on the structure of EM-1, with lower undesired effects than their parent compounds, called MEL-EMs were discovered and synthetized in our preceding studies. Here, we selected two (MEL-0614 and MEL-N1606) to further investigate their anti-inflammatory effects. This work showed that MEL analogs exerted potent analgesic effects with the inhibition of activated glial cells and macrophages in a CFA-induced inflammatory pain model. Furthermore, multiple-dose administration of MEL analogs did not prolong CFA-induced chronic inflammatory pain, in contrast to morphine. Together, our findings revealed that MEL analogs may serve as effective candidates for chronic inflammation treatment.

Use of Blood Lipid Indicators as a Screening Tool of Insulin Resistance among Individuals in Low-Income Country Sides of China: A Multiethnic Region Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study is aimed at evaluating the diagnostic value of blood lipid indicators (BLIs) for insulin resistance (IR) among major ethnic groups in Xinjiang, China, to identify the most valuable indicators and appropriate cut-off points for each ethnic group and to lay the foundation for the early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of metabolic diseases in remote rural areas. METHODS: Overall, 418 Uygurs, 331 Kazakhs, and 220 Hans were randomly included in our study. The homeostasis model assessment was the gold standard for identifying IR. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic value, and the nomogram was utilized to analyze the predictive value. The size of the area under the curve (AUC) reflected the accuracy of screening and prediction. RESULTS: Differences in races were observed in terms of IR and BLIs, and the Kazakhs had the highest IR level at 5.27 mmol/L. The correlation between IR and BLIs differed among the three races. For the Kazakhs and Hans, all BLIs, except total cholesterol (TC), were correlated to IR. However, for the Uygurs, only the triglyceride (TG) level, TG/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio, and TC/HDL-C ratio were associated with IR. After further adjustment of confounding factors, these indicators were still correlated to IR. BLIs that independently correlated to IR in the three nationalities had a certain diagnostic value for IR. In terms of the AUC size, the TG level was the highest in Uygurs, the TG/HDL-C ratio was the highest for Kazakhs and Hans, and the corresponding best cut-off points for IR were 1.515, 1.230, and 1.495 mmol/L, respectively. In addition, for each race, when the indicators with a certain diagnostic value were combined, the diagnostic value for IR was higher. CONCLUSION: BLIs had a certain diagnostic value for IR and could be used as a screening tool for IR among Uygurs, Kazakhs, and Hans in Xinjiang. These findings are extremely important for the prevention and treatment of IR and metabolic diseases in remote rural areas.

Predictive value of ultrasound-related scoring system on embryo development in early pregnancy after IVF/ICSI: An observation of embryonic quality.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the value of the ultrasound-related scoring system on pregnant patients receiving assisted reproductive technology (IVF/ICSI) and early pregnancy outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study included 208 pregnant women receiving assisted reproductive technology (IVF/ICSI). The following ultrasound parameters were measured: gestational sac size, the proportion of the embryo and gestational sac (embryo/gestational sac), yolk sac size, and fetal cardiac activity. The above data were assigned according to the ongoing pregnancy rate (up to 14 weeks), and the score increased parallel to the pregnancy rate. All patients were grouped according to their scores. RESULTS: Patients with a score of 4-5 had a low ongoing pregnancy rate of 14.29%, while patients with a score of 6-7 had an ongoing pregnancy rate of 55.56%. Surprisingly, patients with a score of 8-9 had an ongoing pregnancy rate of 97.22%. In addition, it was found that the ongoing pregnancy rate was 100% (36/36) in patients with a score of 9. Conversely, there was no ongoing pregnancy in patients with a score of 4. CONCLUSION: First, this scoring system is strongly associated with an ongoing pregnancy of over 14 weeks. Second, some reassurance can be given to patients with favorable ultrasound parameters, regardless of maternal age or previous pregnancy loss. Third, it would be meaningless to continue the pregnancy in patients with a score of 4, according to the scoring system. Fourth, patients without cardiac activity and embryos at days 33-35 after embryo transfer should discontinue the pregnancy, while patients with embryos should proceed with the pregnancy.

Expanded alleles of the FMR1 gene are related to unexplained recurrent miscarriages.

Up to 50% of recurrent miscarriage cases in women occur without an underlying etiology. In the current prospective case-control study, we determined the impact of CGG trinucleotide expansions of the fragile-X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene in 49 women with unexplained recurrent miscarriages. Case group consisted of women with two or more unexplained consecutive miscarriages. Blood samples were obtained and checked for the presence of expanded alleles of the FMR1 gene using PCR. Patients harboring the expanded allele, with a threshold set to 40 repeats, were further evaluated by sequencing. The number of abortions each woman had, was not associated with her respective CGG repeat number (P=0.255). The repeat sizes of CGG expansion in the FMR1 gene were significantly different in the two population groups (P=0.027). All the positive cases involved intermediate zone carriers. Hence, the CGG expanded allele of the FMR1 gene might be associated with unexplained multiple miscarriages; whether such an association is coincidental or causal can be confirmed by future studies using a larger patient cohort.

Visceral Adiposity and Anthropometric Indicators as Screening Tools of Metabolic Syndrome among Low Income Rural Adults in Xinjiang.

Most previous studies on metabolic syndrome (MetS) examined urban and high income settings. We thus investigated the prevalence of MetS among a multi-ethnic population living in a low income rural area and explored the use of visceral adiposity and anthropometric indicators to identify men and women with MetS. We recruited 10,029 individuals of nomadic Kazakhs, rural Uyghur and Han residents in Xinjiang, China. MetS was defined by the Joint Interim Statement criteria. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to compare the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of each index. The age-adjusted prevalence of MetS was 21.8%. The visceral adiposity index (VAI), lipid accumulation product (LAP), body adiposity index (BAI) and the waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were significantly associated with MetS, independent of ethnic, age, and other covariates. The AUC of VAI, LAP and WHtR were all greater than 0.7, and the LAP was the index that most accurately identified MetS status in men (AUC = 0.853) and women (AUC = 0.817), with the optimal cut-offs of 34.7 and 27.3, respectively. In conclusion, the prevalence of MetS in low income rural adults of Xinjiang was high and the LAP was an effective indicator for the screening of MetS.

Comparison of Anthropometric and Atherogenic Indices as Screening Tools of Metabolic Syndrome in the Kazakh Adult Population in Xinjiang.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the screening ability of various anthropometric and atherogenic indices for Metabolic syndrome (MetS) using three common criteria and to evaluate the validity of suitable parameters in combination for the screening of MetS among a Kazakh population in Xinjiang. METHODS: A total of 3752 individuals were selected using the stratified cluster random sampling method from nomadic Kazakhs (≥18 years old) in Xinyuan county, Xinjiang, China, which is approximately 4407 km away from the capital Beijing. MetS was defined by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) and Joint Interim Statement (JIS) criteria. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to compare the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of each index. The sensitivity, specificity, Youden's index and cut-offs of each index for the screening of MetS were calculated. RESULTS: According to the IDF, ATP III and JIS criteria, 18.61%, 10.51%, and 24.83% of males and 23.25%, 14.88%, and 25.33% of females had MetS. According to the IDF criteria, the waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) was the index that most accurately identified individuals with and without MetS both in males (AUC = 0.872) and females (AUC = 0.804), with the optimal cut-offs of 0.53 and 0.52, respectively. According to both the ATP III and JIS criteria, the lipid accumulation product (LAP) was the best index to discriminate between individuals with and without MetS in males (AUC = 0.856 and 0.816, respectively) and females (AUC = 0.832 and 0.788, respectively), with optimal cut-offs of 41.21 and 34.76 in males and 28.16 and 26.49 in females, respectively. On the basis of the IDF standard, Youden's indices of WHtR and LAP serial tests for the screening of MetS were 0.590 and 0.455 in males and females, respectively, and those of WHtR and LAP parallel tests were 0.608 and 0.479, accordingly. CONCLUSION: According to the IDF, ATP III and JIS criteria, both the WHtR and LAP were better indices for the screening of MetS. The WHtR and LAP parallel test was the most accurate.

[Changes in expression levels of PV, GAD67 and KCC2 in the brain tissue of rats with schizophrenia induced by MK-801].

OBJECTIVE: To study changes in the expression levels of parvalbumin (PV), glutamate decarboxylase 67 (GAD67) and K+-Cl- cotransporter 2 (KCC2) in the brain tissue of rats with schizophrenia (SZ) induced by dizocilpine (MK-801), and to investigate the mechanism involving gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) by which NMDA receptor blocker induces SZ in the perinatal period. METHODS: Thirty-six neonatal male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to two batches on postnatal day 6. Each batch was divided into normal control (treated by 0.9% normal saline), SZ-development model (treated by subcutaneous injection of 0.1 mg/kg MK-801 on postnatal days 7-10; bid), and SZ-chronic medication model groups (treated by intraperitoneal injection of 0.2 mg/kg MK-801 on postnatal days 47-60; qd). On postnatal day 63, the brain tissue of the first batch of rats was obtained and then fixed with paraform for histological sections; expression levels of PV and GAD67 in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and hippocampus CA1 were measured by immunohistochemistry. Simultaneously, the second batch of rats was sacrificed and the mPFC and hippocampus were obtained and homogenized; expression levels of KCC2 in the mPFC and hippocampus were measured by Western blot. RESULTS: Expression levels of PV and GAD67 in the mPFC and hippocampus CA1 were significantly lower in the SZ-development and chronic medication model groups than in the normal control group (P<0.05). Expression levels of KCC2 in the mPFC and hippocampus were significantly lower in the SZ-development model group than in the SZ-chronic medication model and normal control groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The expression changes of PV and GAD67 in SZ can be simulated using the SZ development model induced by MK-801, which might affect the development of the GABA system in the PFC and hippocampus by downregulating KCC2 expression.

Metabolomic analysis of biochemical changes in the plasma and urine of first-episode neuroleptic-naïve schizophrenia patients after treatment with risperidone.

Early findings propose that impaired neurotransmission in the brain plays a key role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Recent advances in understanding its multiple etiologies and pathogenetic mechanisms provide more speculative hypotheses focused on even broader somatic systems. Using a targeted tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS)-based metabolomic platform, we compared metabolic signatures consisting of monoamine and amino acid neurotransmitter (NT) metabolites in plasma/urine simultaneously between first-episode neuroleptic-naïve schizophrenia patients (FENNS) and healthy controls before and after a 6-week risperidone monotherapy, which suggest that the patient NT profiles are restoring during treatment. To detect and identify potential biomarkers associated with schizophrenia and risperidone treatment, we also performed a combined ultraperformance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomic profiling of the same samples, indicating a further deviation of the patients' global metabolic profile from that of controls. The NTs and their metabolites together with the 32 identified biomarkers underpin that metabolic pathways including NT metabolism, amino acid metabolism, glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, energy metabolism, antioxidant defense system, bowel microflora and endocrine system are disturbed in FENNS. Among them, pregnanediol, citrate and α-ketoglutarate (α-KG) were significantly associated with symptomatology of schizophrenia after Bonferroni correction and may be useful biomarkers for monitoring therapeutic efficacy. These findings promise to yield valuable insights into the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and may advance the approach to treatment, diagnosis and disease prevention of schizophrenia and related syndromes.

Abnormal plasma monoamine metabolism in schizophrenia and its correlation with clinical responses to risperidone treatment.

Abnormalities in plasma monoamine metabolism reflect partly the illness of schizophrenia and sometimes the symptoms. Such studies have been repeatedly reported but have rarely taken both metabolites and parent amines or inter-amine activity ratios into account. In this study, the monoamines, their metabolites, turnovers and between-metabolite ratios in plasma were measured longitudinally in 32 schizophrenic patients treated with risperidone for 6 weeks, to examine possible biochemical alterations in schizophrenia, and to examine the association between treatment responses and psychopathology assessed according to the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). The results showed lower level of plasma 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) in relapsed versus first-episode schizophrenic patients, higher norepinephrine (NE) turnover rate (TR) in undifferentiated in comparison to paranoid schizophrenic patients and relatively higher metabolic activity of dopamine (DA) to serotonin (5-HT) in first-episode versus relapsed schizophrenic patients. Risperidone treatment induced a decrement of plasma DA levels and increments of plasma DOPAC and DA TR in the total group of schizophrenic patients. The turnover rate of 5-HT was was reduced in undifferentiated and relapsed subgroups of schizophrenic patients. The linkages between 5-HT TR, DA/NE relative activity and clinical symptomatology were also identified. These findings are consistent with an involvement of these systems in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia as well as in the responses to treatment, and the usefulness of certain biochemical indices as markers for subgrouping.

Elevated plasma γ-aminobutyrate/glutamate ratio and responses to risperidone antipsychotic treatment in schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: γ-aminobutyrate (GABA) and Glutamate (Glu) are respectively two major inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitters in the central nervous system and recent theories propose that both of their signaling complexes are compromised in patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: The changes in plasma GABA, Glu and GABA/Glu ratio in schizophrenia have been studied and may be potential clinical markers. Here, we examined if plasma GABA, Glu and GABA/Glu ratio are altered in 32 schizophrenics, including a comprehensive investigation of their involvements with clinical course of a 6-week risperidone antipsychotic treatment. RESULTS: Plasma levels of GABA and Glu were significantly lower in patients than in controls, while plasma GABA/Glu ratio was significantly elevated. During treatment, a non-significant further decrease of plasma GABA, a significant increase of plasma Glu and a significant reduction of plasma GABA/Glu ratio were observed. The ratio returned to the control level at week 6 even though concentrations of GABA and Glu were still distant from normal. After the Bonferroni correction, partial correlation analyses showed that plasma GABA and GABA/Glu ratio were positively correlated with the dose of risperidone and plasma concentration of 9-hydroxyrisperidone. The reduction of plasma GABA/Glu ratio was positively correlated with the improvement of activation symptom cluster. CONCLUSIONS: The elevated plasma GABA/Glu ratio reinforces the idea of an abnormal GABA-Glu interaction in schizophrenia. The ratio may be a good peripheral state-like marker in schizophrenia research.

[Correlation between domestic violence in pregnancy and the levels of plasma amino acids and cortisol in the neonates].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the correlation between domestic violence in pregnancy and plasma glutamate (Glu), gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and cortisol levels in neonates. METHODS: By cross-sectional survey and domestic violence (DV) interview with Abuse Assessment Survey (AAS), 56 abused pregnant women were screened and 107 non-abused pregnant women served as controls. Blood from umbilical vein of neonatal were collected immediately after delivery. Levels of Glu, GABA in plasma were assayed by using high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection on samples. Levels of plasma cortisol were detected by with immunoradiometric assay. All variables of the two groups were compared. Chi-square, t/z-test, Spearman correlation, liner regression analysis were adopted. RESULTS: In the DV group, there were 49 women (87.5%) experiencing psychological abuse and 2 (3.6%) physical abuse during pregnancy. Moreover, 29 women (51.8%) experienced sexual abuse in the period of pregnancy. By comparison, our study showed higher levels of plasma Glu, GABA and cortisol in neonates of the DV group than those of the controls [(1509 +/- 339) pmol/L vs (811 +/- 270) pmol/L, (1460 +/- 369) pmol/L vs (707 +/- 296) pmol/L, (491 +/- 87) microg/L vs (392 +/- 108) microg/L, t = 14.326, t = 14.138, t = 5.916, P < 0.001]. Spearman correlation analysis showed significantly positive correlation between severity of psychological abuse and levels of Glu, GABA and cortisol (r = 0.705, 0.696, 0.425, P < 0.01) and positive correlation between the severity of sexual abuse and levels of Glu, GABA and cortisol (r = 0.471, 0.424, 0.274, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Domestic violence in pregnancy may alter the levels of some excitatory and inhibitory amino acids and change the endocrinic function in neonates.

[Effect of 5-HT and postsynaptic 5-HT1 A on the mood and recogniztion of the repeated restraint stress in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of 5-HT and postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptors in the stress adaptation. METHODS: p-PCA was used to deplete the 5-HT in rats. The 5-HT1A agonist 8-OH-DPAT and antagonist WAY100635 were used to determine the effect of postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptors on the ratso behaviors in the Elevated Plus-Maze test, the Forced Swimming test, and the Morris Water Maze test. RESULTS: Compared with the intact rats, the 5-HT depleted rats showed more seriously anxious behaviors in the Elevated Plus-Maze test and more obvious learned helplessness in the Forced Swimming test. After having been stressed the 5-HT depleted rats showed significantly impaired learning and memory compared with the intact rats according to Morris Water Maze test. Activation of postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptors by 8-OH-DPAT in the 5-HT depleted rats or the 5-HT depleted stress rats significantly decreased the symptoms of anxiety and learned helplessness behaviors which were prevented by the treatment of WAY100635. The 8-OH-DPAT and WAY100635 had no obvious effect on the 5-HT depletion or 5-HT depleted stress rats in the Morris Water Maze test. CONCLUSION: Deficiency of 5-HT in rats may suppress its ability to stress adaptation. Activation of post-synaptic 5-HT1A receptors can attenuate the anxiety and depressive behavior symptoms, and facilitate rats to adapt stress.

[Association study of sleep apnea syndrome and polymorphisms in the serotonin transporter gene].

OBJECTIVE: To identify polymorphisms of the serotonin transporter(5-HTT) gene and to find out whether there was relationship between any such polymorphisms and sleep apnea syndrome (SAS). METHODS: For two polymorphisms of 5-HTT target DNA gene was amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and 6% non-denaturing polyacrylamide gels electrophoresis. The frequencies of the different forms of the genotypes and alleles of 5-HTT gene were analyzed in 104 patients with SAS and 150 healthy controls. RESULTS: The frequencies of the S or L alleles and the S/S, S/L or L/L genotypes in promoter region of 5-HTT gene in SAS group were not significantly different to those in healthy controls (P > 0.05). However, the frequencies of 10/10, 12/10 genotypes of 5-HTT-VNTR in SAS patients were significantly higher than those in healthy control subjects (P < 0.05). Moreover, the frequency of the allele 10 of 5-HTT-VNTR in SAS patients was significantly higher than that in healthy controls (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The allele 10 of 5-HTT-VNTR might be a susceptible factor in the pathogenesis of SAS.

[Measurement of methane 13C/12C isotope ratio of slurry gas from oil wells by laser frequency-modulation absorption spectroscopy].

In this paper, we determined the ratio of C13/C12 of methane in slurry gas from oil wells by the method of laser frequency modulation absorption spectroscopy that has many advantages such as high precision, high spectroscopic resolution and rapidly and simply dealing with samples. This technique provided us with a subsidiary method for oil-gas source exploration. The method of laser frequency modulation absorption spectroscopy is based on the method of laser frequency absorption spectroscopy and is more accurate. And this method can be expanded to apply to others aspects easily. We only need change other appropriate laser and select right absorption peak, then we can determined the ration and concentration of diverse gases.