[Research on the features of DNA damage in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients of normal constitution and abnormal constitution and in high-risk population of nasopharyngeal carcinoma].

Objective: To explore the features of DNA damage in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients of normal constitution and abnormal constitution and in high-risk population of NPC.

Methods: Using single cell gel electrophoresis technique, the DNA damage of peripheral blood lymphocytes was detected in 28 healthy subjects, 27 in high-risk population of NPC, and 13 NPC patients at their first visits. The DNA damage was detected in the populations of normal constitution and of abnormal constitution.

Enhancements of skin cell proliferations and migrations via 6-dehydrogingerdione.

Human skin protects the body from mechanical and chemical damages, and skin wound healing is a costly procedure and worldwide issue. A Zingiber officinale compound, 6-dehydrogingerdione (6-DG), is presented as a novel biofunctional healing agent for human skin wound repair. The effectiveness on cell growth/migration, growth factor, collagen amount, and enzymatic activity was assessed.

Endothelin-1 stimulates suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 gene expression in adipocytes.

Endothelin (ET)-1 and suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS)-3 were respectively found to regulate energy metabolism and hormone signaling in fat cells. Although ET-1 can also regulate the expression of SOCS-3-stimulating hormones, it is still unknown whether ET-1 regulates SOCS-3 gene expression. This study investigated the pathways involved in ET-1's modulation of SOCS-3 gene expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Green tea epigallocatechin gallate inhibits insulin stimulation of adipocyte glucose uptake via the 67-kilodalton laminin receptor and AMP-activated protein kinase pathways.

Insulin and (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) are reported to regulate obesity and fat accumulation, respectively. This study investigated the pathways involved in EGCG modulation of insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 and C3H10T1/2 adipocytes. EGCG inhibited insulin stimulation of adipocyte glucose uptake in a dose- and time-dependent manner.

[Cluster analysis applied in the epidemiological stratification analysis].

Objective: To establish a new method on stratification analysis when the stratification limits of confounding factors was not clear or contradictory.

Method: Data on a study of diabetes mellitus in Guangdong province collected in the year of 1997 and 1998 was analyzed using cluster-stratification analysis.

Results: The efficiency of stratification analysis was improved and the confounding bias was effectively controlled with information bias avoided when the clusters-stratification analysis was applied.

Trends in road traffic crashes and associated injury and fatality in the People's Republic of China, 1951-1999.

The burden of road traffic injuries in the People's Republic of China is increasing as evidenced by trends since 1951. Data from the National Statistical Office, Ministry of Communications and the Traffic Administration Bureau were analyzed. Absolute numbers of crashes, fatalities, and injuries, as well as fatalities per 100,000 population and motorization (number of vehicles per 1000 population) were used as indices to measure trends.