Development of a cost-effective confocal Raman microscopy with high sensitivity.

Confocal Raman microscopy is a powerful technique for identifying materials and molecular species; however, the signal from Raman scattering is extremely weak. Typically, handheld Raman instruments are cost-effective but less sensitive, while high-end scientific-grade Raman instruments are highly sensitive but extremely expensive. This limits the widespread use of Raman technique in our daily life.

Oxidative stress and substance P mediate psychological stress-induced autophagy and delay of hair growth in mice.

Neuropeptide substance P (SP) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been demonstrated to play an important role in psychological stress-induced alteration of hair cycle, the underlying mechanism remains unknown. The present study aims to investigate possible contribution of SP and ROS in chronic restraint stress (CRS, a chronic psychological stress model) induced abnormal of hair cycle and induction of autophagy. Mouse CRS model was applied for 18 days with or without treatment antioxidant Tempol (a free radical scavenger) or SP receptor (NK1) antagonist (RP67580).

[Epidemiology of birth defects in high-prevalence areas of China].

Objective: To study the levels of prevalence and to describe the epidemiological features of birth defects in high-prevalence areas in China.

Methods: A population-based retrospective study was conducted in two counties of Shanxi province that including birth defects among fetuses and live births born after 20 weeks' gestational age in the study areas from 2002 through 2004.

Results: During 2002 - 2004, the prevalence of birth defects was 844.

[Study on the socio-economic risk factors on birth defects in Lvliang district of Shanxi province].

Objective: To study the risk factors in high prevalence district of birth defects (BD) to provide evidence for intervention development.

Methods: Quantitative analysis had been carried out based on the investigation at three counties in Shanxi province. 491 useable questionnaires had been collected with a response rate as 94.