Evaluation of Adenosine Triphosphate-Binding Cassette Transporter A1 (ABCA1) R219K and C-Reactive Protein Gene (CRP) +1059G/C Gene Polymorphisms in Susceptibility to Coronary Heart Disease.

BACKGROUND This meta-analysis investigated the correlation of ABCA1 R219K and C-Reactive Protein Gene (CRP) +1059G/C gene polymorphisms with susceptibility to coronary heart disease (CHD). MATERIAL AND METHODS We searched PubMed, Springer link, Wiley, EBSCO, Ovid, Wanfang database, VIP database, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases to retrieve published studies by keyword. Searches were filtered using our stringent inclusion and exclusion criteria. Resultant high-quality data collected from the final selected studies were analyzed using Comprehensive Meta-analysis 2.0 software. Eleven case-control studies involving 3053 CHD patients and 3403 healthy controls met our inclusion criteria. Seven studies were conducted in Asian populations, 3 studies were done in Caucasian populations, and 1 was in an African population. RESULTS Our major finding was that ABCA1 R219K polymorphism increased susceptibility to CHD in allele model (OR=0.729, 95% CI=0.559~0.949, P=0.019) and dominant model (OR=0.698, 95% CI=0.507~0.961, P=0.027). By contrast, we were unable to find any significant association between the CRP +1059G/C polymorphism and susceptibility to CHD (allele model: OR=1.170, 95% CI=0.782~1.751, P=0.444; dominant model: OR=1.175, 95% CI=0.768~1.797, P=0.457). CONCLUSIONS This meta-analysis provides convincing evidence that polymorphism of ABCA1 R219K is associated with susceptibility to CHD while the CRP +1059G/C polymorphism appears to have no correlation with susceptibility to CHD.

MMP3 -1171 5A/6A Promoter Genotype Influences Serum MMP3 Levels and Is Associated with Deep Venous Thrombosis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the roles of MMP3 (matrix metalloproteinase-3) gene polymorphism and protein expression in deep venous thrombosis (DVT) among Chinese Han population. METHODS: A total of 280 subjects were included in this study and categorized as case group (144 DVT patients) and control group (136 healthy individuals). Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism was used to detect MMP3 promoter -1171 5A>6A genotype and allele frequencies. MMP3 serum levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. SPSS version 18.0 statistical software was used for data analysis. RESULTS: There was significant difference in genotype frequencies of MMP3 gene -1171 5A>6A between the case group and the control group (all P < 0.05). Furthermore, the 6A allele on MMP3 -1171 5A>6A may be associated with increased risk of DVT (odds ratio 1.961, 95% confidence interval 1.309-2.939, P < 0.01). The MMP3 serum level in DVT patients was markedly higher than the control group (case group: 28.45 ± 10.97 vs. CONTROL GROUP: 18.18 ± 9.03, P < 0.05). Serum MMP3 level in DVT patients carrying 5A/6A and 6A/6A genotypes was higher than the control group (P < 0.05). The bilateral calf circumference difference was significantly higher in DVT patients than the control group among all the genotypes at MMP3 gene -1171 5A>6A (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: MMP3 gene -1171 5A>6A polymorphism and upregulated protein expression may be associated with DVT risk in Chinese Han population.

Patch near-field acoustic holography: regularized extension and statistically optimized methods.

The patch holography method allows one to make measurements on an extended structure using a small microphone array. Increased attention has been paid to the two techniques, which are quite different at first glance. One is to extrapolate the pressure field measured on the hologram plane while the other is to use statistically optimized processing. A singular value decomposition formulation of the latter is proposed in this paper. The similarity of the two techniques is shown here. Both use a convolution of the measured pressure patch to obtain a better estimate of the wavenumber spectrum backward propagated on the structure. By using the Morozov discrepancy principle to compute the regularization parameter, the two methods lead to very close results.

On the statistical errors in the estimate of acoustical energy density by using two microphones in a one dimensional field.

It was recently shown that the statistical errors of the measurement in the acoustic energy density by the two microphone method in waveguide have little variation when the losses of coherence between microphones increase. To explain these intervals of uncertainty, the variance of the measurement is expressed in this paper as a function of the various energy quantities of the acoustic fields--energy densities and sound intensities. The necessary conditions to reach the lower bound are clarified. The results obtained are illustrated by an example of a one-dimensional partially coherent field, which allows one to specify the relationship between the coherence functions of the pressure and particle velocity and those of the two microphone signals.

Latest Progresses in Surgical Treatment of Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome / 中国医学科学院学报

Median arcuate ligament syndrome(MALS)is compression of the celiac trunk by the median arcuate ligament.Median arcuate ligament release is the corner stone for the surgical treatment of MALS.Open surgery,laparoscopic surgery,and robot-assisted surgery have been developed,among which laparoscopic surgery has been proposed as the preferred approach in view of its minimal trauma and short hospital stay.Auxiliary celiac plexus neurolysis could further alleviate the patient's discomfort.Moreover,vascular reconstitution is of vital importance in the case of persistent stenosis in the celiac artery despite of median arcuate ligament decompression.Vascular reconstruction has satisfactory long-term patency rate,while endovascular treatment is less invasive.This article aims to summarize the consensuses and advances and shed light on the surgical treatment of MALS.

Anxiolytic-like effect of succinic acid in mice.

The putative anxiolytic activity of succinic acid was examined in male mice by using a number of experimental paradigms of anxiety and compared with that of the known anxiolytic compound diazepam. Use of the elevated plus-maze test revealed that diazepam (1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 mg/kg, PO) or succinic acid (3.0 or 6.0 mg/kg, PO) increased the percentage of entries into open arms and of time spent on open arms. In novel food consumption test, succinic acid (3.0, 6.0, and 12.0 mg/kg, IP) caused significant increases in food intake during 5 min when compared with the vehicle. In the stress-induced hyperthermia test, 40 min after drug administration rectal temperature was measured, succinic acid at dose of 1.5 mg/kg, inhibited stress-induced hyperthermia. Thus, these findings indicated that, in contrast with diazepam, succinic acid exhibits anxiolytic-like effect.

The effects of angelica essential oil in three murine tests of anxiety.

The effects of angelica essential oil in three assays predictive of anxiolytic activity in male mice were studied, with diazepam as a positive anxiolytic control. In the elevated plus-maze test, compared to the positive control diazepam, angelica essential oil (30.0 mg/kg, PO) had a modest anxiolytic-like effect (increased the percentage of open-arm time and reduced the percent protected head dips). In the light/dark test, angelica essential oil (30.0 mg/kg) prolonged the time spent in the light area without altering the locomotor activity of the animals. In the stress-induced hyperthermia test, 60 and 70 min after drug administration, rectal temperature was measured twice, angelica essential oil at the dose of 30.0 mg/kg inhibited stress-induced hyperthermia. Thus, these findings indicate that angelica essential oil, as does diazepam, exhibits an anxiolytic-like effect. Further studies will be required to assess the generality of the present findings to other species and behavioural paradigms.

Peer victimization on early onset of breast development:mediation effects of morning cortisol and body fat / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To explore the relationship and potential mechanism between peer victimization and early onset of breast development in girls, and to provide new strategies for precocious puberty prevention.@*Methods@#A total of 950 girls aged (9.0±1.2) years participated in this survey in Ma anshan City in China. Revised Bully/Victim Questionnaire (BVQ) was used. Each girl was assessed on breast Tanner stage by one female pediatric endocrinologist. All the girls collected morning awakening saliva sample with Salivette at home. Body fat percentage (%BF) was derived from Bioelectrical Impedance Analyzer (BIA) measurements.The association between peer bullying and early breast development was analyzed by stepwise Logistic regression.The mediation coefficient was estimated using the Logistic regression.@*Results@#Totally 23.2% (220/950) of all the girls reported being victimized at school. More girls reported peer victimization had early breast onset (24.1%,53) compared with girls with no victimization experience ( 13.7 %,100). Logistic regression analyses indicated that peer victimization was associated with early onset of breast development ( OR=1.74, 95%CI =1.16-2.59) after body fat and awakening cortisol adjusted. Mediation analysis showed that high cortisol and high fat both had indirect effects in the association between peer victimization and early onset of breast development.Mediating analysis showed that both high cortisol level and high body fat rate had indirect effects between peer bullying and early breast development, and the mediating effect values were 0.37 and 0.45,respectively.@*Conclusion@#Peer victimization significantly correlated with early onset of breast development among girls, which might be mediated through HPA axis hyperactivity and high adiposity.