Short communication: Upregulation of hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced Shc3 by downregulated miR-455-5p, suppresses trophoblast invasion and is associated with placental inflammation and angiogenesis in preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia is characterized by insufficient invasion of extravillous trophoblasts and is a consequence of failed adaption of extravillous trophoblasts to changes in the intrauterine environment developing embryo. Specific miRNAs are implicated in the development of preeclampsia (PE). miR-455-5p is present at low levels in PE but its role is not known.

Clinicopathological and Prognostic Roles of STAT3 and Its Phosphorylation in Glioma.

Glioma is defined as a common brain tumor which causes severe disability or death. As many genes are reported to relate with glioma's occurrence and development, their prognostic and therapeutic value still remains uncertain. This study aimed at investigating the association between STAT3/p-STAT3 and glioma prognosis.

Adiponectin administration prevents weight gain and glycemic profile changes in diet-induced obese immune deficient Rag1-/- mice lacking mature lymphocytes.

Background: Obesity is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation leading to insulin resistance and diabetes. Adiponectin is an adipokine that regulates inflammatory responses. The aim of our study was to investigate whether any effects of adiponectin against obesity and insulin-resistance may depend on the adaptive immune system.

Circulating alanine transaminase (ALT) and γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT), but not fetuin-A, are associated with metabolic risk factors, at baseline and at two-year follow-up: the prospective Cyprus Metabolism Study.

Objective: To comparatively evaluate traditional liver tests and fetuin A as predictors of cardiometabolic risk, we studied associations between serum alanine transaminase (ALT), γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and fetuin-A and anthropometric, metabolic, and cardiovascular parameters cross-sectionally at baseline, and prospectively, after 2-years of follow-up.

Research Design And Methods: 616 randomly enrolled young healthy participants in the Cyprus Metabolism Study, including all 93 subjects who participated in the follow-up study 2 years after baseline assessment, were included in this study.

Results: In the cross-sectional study, serum ALT and GGT were strongly correlated with anthropometric, cardiovascular, and metabolic variables, while serum AST was only correlated with waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio.

An epidemiological survey of skin damage on the dorsal hand in rural populations in northern and southern China.

To determine the extent of and the contributing factors in skin ageing in the Chinese population, we collected data on 691 participants in northern (high latitude region) and southern China (low latitude region). The skin damage of the participants was graded according to a Beagley-Gibson scoring system based on photographs of the dorsal hand skin. The results revealed that age was an important contributing factor for skin damage.

The relationship between the disability prevalence of cataracts and ambient erythemal ultraviolet radiation in China.

In Western countries, ultraviolet (UV)-induced skin cancer has been studied extensively regarding the high incidence of skin cancers in the white population; however, for people of color, cataracts are the main public health issue in relation to increased ambient ultraviolet radiation (UVR). To our knowledge, few studies have been conducted examining the relationship between cataracts and ambient UVR in China. In this study, we aimed to explore the relationship between and the factors influencing the disability prevalence of cataracts and annual ambient erythemal UVR exposure in 31 regions of China.

Solar UV exposure at eye is different from environmental UV: diurnal monitoring at different rotation angles using a manikin.

Solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) promotes pterygium and cataract development in the human eye. When outdoors, people are subject to varying ocular UVR exposure intensity depending on time of day and orientation to the sun. To assess this variability, a manikin eye was exposed to solar UVR at 12 rotation angles relative to the sun with a solar elevation angle (SEA) ranging from 24.

Ground-based observations of ultraviolet and total solar radiation in Shenyang, northeast China.

Objective: This work explores the diurnal variation of Solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and total solar radiation (TSR) in northeast China, using daily observations of UVR and TSR in Shenyang.

Methods: UVR and TSR measurements were carried out from March 1st, 2006 to December 31st, 2009 in Shenyang, Liaoning province, China (41°51' N, 123°27' E).

Results: Both TSR and UVR showed seasonal variation, reaching the highest levels in summer and the lowest in winter.

Circulating lipocalin 2 is associated with body fat distribution at baseline but is not an independent predictor of insulin resistance: the prospective Cyprus Metabolism Study.

Objective: Lipocalin 2 (LCN2 or NGAL), a protein derived from neutrophils, macrophages, adipocytes, and other cells, has been proposed to be a link between obesity and insulin resistance (IR), but animal and cross-sectional human studies have revealed conflicting results. We studied the association of serum lipocalin 2 with anthropometric, metabolic, and cardiovascular risk markers in young healthy men cross-sectionally and, for the first time, prospectively after 2 years of follow-up, with and without adjustment for potential confounders including serum creatinine.

Design: Two hundred and seventy-two participants were randomly selected from the Cyprus Metabolism Study (1056 men, 18 years), of whom 93 subjects participated in the follow-up study 2 years after baseline assessment.

Leptin is an effective treatment for hypothalamic amenorrhea.

Hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA) is associated with dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-peripheral endocrine axes, leading to infertility and bone loss, and usually is caused by chronic energy deficiency secondary to strenuous exercise and/or decreased food intake. Energy deficiency also leads to hypoleptinemia, which has been proposed, on the basis of observational studies as well as an open-label study, to mediate the neuroendocrine abnormalities associated with this condition. To prove definitively a causal role of leptin in the pathogenesis of HA, we performed a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of human recombinant leptin (metreleptin) in replacement doses over 36 wk in women with HA.

Soluble leptin receptor and leptin are associated with baseline adiposity and metabolic risk factors, and predict adiposity, metabolic syndrome, and glucose levels at 2-year follow-up: the Cyprus Metabolism Prospective Cohort Study.

We examined the relationship between serum levels of leptin-binding protein (soluble leptin receptor [sOB-R]) and leptin with metabolic parameters at baseline and prospectively at 2-year follow-up in young healthy men. A total of 916 eighteen-year-old men were examined at baseline, with a subgroup of 91 participants examined again 2 years later. Anthropometric and metabolic measurements were performed at baseline and at follow-up.

Diurnal variations in solar ultraviolet radiation at typical anatomical sites.

Objective: Solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation is an important environmental factor that affects human health. The understanding of diurnal variations of UV radiation at anatomical sites may be helpful in developing ways to protect humans from the harmful effects of UV radiation.

Methods: In order to characterize the diurnal variations, the UV exposure values were measured at 30 min intervals by using Solar-UV Sensors and a rotating manikin in Shenyang city of China (41 degrees 51'N, 123 degrees 27'E).

[Study on water processing conditions of Realgar].

Objective: To optimize the water processing (shui-fei) condition of Realgar.

Methods: The processing conditions were optimized by L9 (3)4 orthogonal design with three factors as water dose, process times and dryness temperature. The content of dissolved arsenic As(III) in Realgar was tested by High Performance Liquid Chromatography-hydride generation on-line coupled with atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HPLC-HG-AFS).

Occurrence of fumonisin B(1) in corn from the main corn-producing areas of China.

Fumonisin B(1) (FB(1)) is the most abundant of the fumonisin mycotoxins, mainly produced in maize by F. verticillioides and F. proliferatum.

[Development of monoclonal antibody against fumonisin B1 and ELISA-kit of quantitative analysis for fumonisin B1].

Objective: To detect the contamination level of fumonisin B1 in grain, and to develop rapid detection kit that possess patent of China.

Methods: Hybridoma cell line excreting monoclonal antibody against fumonisin B, was produced using B cell hybridoma technique and develop a rapid, sensitive, quantitative ELISA-kit for detection fumonisin B1.

Results: The monoclonal antibody used in the ELISA-kit were tested for subtype as IgG1 and its affinity constant was 8.

[Study on occupational respiratory diseases in fur-processing workers].

Objective: To study the respiratory system injury in fur processing environment.

Methods: Environmental fungal survey was conducted in the fur processing procedures. Investigation of respiratory symptoms and chest X-ray examination were also carried out in 138 fur processing workers and 40 control workers.