Optimal gestational weight gain in Chinese pregnant women by Chinese-specific BMI categories: a multicentre prospective cohort study.

Objective: To establish optimal gestational weight gain (GWG) in Chinese pregnant women by Chinese-specific BMI categories and compare the new recommendations with the Institute of Medicine (IOM) 2009 guidelines.

Design: Multicentre, prospective cohort study. Unconditional logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the OR, 95 % CI and the predicted probabilities of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Maternal and cord blood adiponectin levels in relation to post-natal body size in infants in the first year of life: a prospective study.

Background: Adiponectin is an adipocyte hormone involved in energy homeostasis and metabolism. However, its role in early infancy is poorly understood.

Methods: We recruited a total of 443 pregnant women and their children in this prospective study.

In vitro, ex vivo and in vivo anti-hypertensive activity of Chrysophyllum cainito L. extract.

Chrysophyllum cainito L., a traditional herbal medicine, could have the potential for management of hypertension due to presence of polyphenolic compounds. The extracts and fractions of the pulp of plant were evaluated for in vitro (inhibition of angiotensin I converting enzyme/ACE assay), ex vivo (isolated aorta relaxation assay) and in vivo (salt induced hypertensive rat assay).

Anti-inflammatory effect of soyasaponins through suppressing nitric oxide production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells by attenuation of NF-κB-mediated nitric oxide synthase expression.

The anti-inflammatory properties of soyasaponins (especially soyasaponins with different chemical structures) have scarcely been investigated. We investigated the inhibitory effects of five structural types of soyasaponins (soyasaponin A(1), A(2), I and soyasapogenol A, B) on the induction of nitric oxide (NO) and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) in murine RAW 264.7 cells activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

ROS-related enzyme expressions in endothelial cells regulated by tea polyphenols.

Objective: Elevation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), especially the level of superoxide is a key event in many forms of cardiovascular diseases. To study the mechanism of tea polyphenols against cardiovascular diseases, we observed the expressions of ROS-related enzymes in endothelial cells.

Methods: Tea polyphenols were co-incubated with bovine carotid artery endothelial cells (BCAECs) in vitro and intracellular NADPH oxidase subunits p22phox and p67phox, SOD-1, and catalase protein were detected using Western blot method.

[Relationship between serum levels of leptin and glucose, lipids in simple obese children].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between fasting serum levels of leptin, glucose, insulin resistance, lipids in simple obese children.

Methods: Fasting serum levels of leptin and insulin (Fins) were measured by RIA in 42 obese and 42 normally-weighted children matched on age, sex and height, and their total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) were analyzed with enzymatic methods. HOMA-IR and LDL-C were calculated.