Iodine Nutrition, Thyroid-stimulating Hormone, and Related Factors of Postpartum Women from three Different Areas in China: A Cross-sectional Survey.

Objective: Studies on the relationship between iodine, vitamin A (VA), and vitamin D (VD) and thyroid function are limited. This study aimed to analyze iodine and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) status and their possible relationships with VA, VD, and other factors in postpartum women.

Methods: A total of 1,311 mothers (896 lactating and 415 non-lactating) from Hebei, Zhejiang, and Guangxi provinces were included in this study.

Performance Verification of Alternative Quality Control Materials for Urine Albumin Assessment.

Background: Accurate detection of urine albumin is important for evaluating the progression of diabetic kidney disease. However, two levels of daily quality control may not be practically feasible in some small clinical laboratories owing to a small number of patient samples and high costs. We aimed to prepare homemade quality control material (HQM) to measure urine albumin and then verify its performance.

Remote ischemic postconditioning protects the brain from focal ischemia/reperfusion injury by inhibiting autophagy through the mTOR/p70S6K pathway.

Objective: Remote ischemic postconditioning (RIPostC) has been recognized as an applicable strategy for protecting against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. This study was performed to examine the effect of RIPostC on cerebral I/R and to explore its underlying mechanism.

Methods: Healthy male SD rats (N = 36) were assigned randomly into 3 groups of 12 each: sham group, I/R model group and RIPostC group.

Alanine aminotransferase is more sensitive to the decrease in hepatitis B virus-DNA load than other liver markers in chronic hepatitis B patients.

Background: A direct correlation between hepatitis B virus DNA (HBV-DNA) and liver markers has not been identified in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. However, the effect of HBV-DNA changes on liver markers remains unclear. We explored the association between decreased HBV-DNA and liver makers in CHB patients.

Interleukin-1B 31 C>T polymorphism combined with Helicobacter pylori-modified gastric cancer susceptibility: evidence from 37 studies.

Gastric cancer is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. Interleukin-1-beta (IL-1β) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine and potent inhibitor of gastric acid secretion. Some studies provided evidence of the association between IL-1B 31 polymorphism and gastric cancer risk while other studies did not.

PFOS Disturbs BDNF-ERK-CREB Signalling in Association with Increased MicroRNA-22 in SH-SY5Y Cells.

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), a ubiquitous environmental pollutant, is neurotoxic to mammalian species. However, the underlying mechanism of its neurotoxicity was unclear. We hypothesized that PFOS suppresses BDNF expression to produce its neurotoxic effects by inhibiting the ERK-CREB pathway.

Cyclooxygenase-2 genetic polymorphism and stroke subtypes in Chinese.

Background: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) catalyzes the formation of prostaglandins that contribute to the inflammation in atherosclerosis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between two polymorphisms (-1195G>A and -765G>C) in the COX-2 gene and subtypes of ischemic stroke in a Chinese population.

Methods: Genomic DNA of 224 patients with large artery atherosclerosis (LAA), 329 patients with small vessel occlusion (SVO), and 450 controls were genotyped for the COX-2 1195G>A (rs689466) and -765G>C (rs20417) polymorphisms using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism.

Cyclooxygenase 2 genetic polymorphism may increase the risk of developing leukoaraiosis in Chinese.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is a key enzyme involved in the conversion of arachidonic acid into prostaglandins, which are important mediators of inflammation. To clarify the role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of cerebral small vessel disease (SVD), we investigate the possible modulating effect of the functional COX-2 polymorphisms -1195G > A (rs689466) and -765G > C (rs20417) on the risk for development of cerebral SVD in a Chinese population. Genomic DNA of 116 patients with lacunar infarction (LI), 334 patients with leukoaraiosis (LA) and 450 control subjects was genotyped for the COX-2 -1195G > A and -765G > C polymorphisms using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism.

The haplotype of the TGFβ1 gene associated with cerebral infarction in Chinese.

Background: Transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFβ1) is a multifunctional cytokine involved in inflammation and pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between human TGFβ1 gene +869T>C (rs1800470), -509C>T (rs1800469) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and haplotypes and cerebral infarction (CI) in a Chinese population.

Methods: The genetic association study was performed in 450 Chinese patients (306 male and 144 female) with CI and 450 control subjects (326 male and 124 female).

[Changes of prostaglandin D2 receptor on T cells in peripheral blood of children with asthma].

Objective: Chronic airway inflammation is associated with the polarization of TH2 cells in asthma. Prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) plays an important role in the polarization of TH2 cells. This study aimed to investigate the changes of PGD2 receptors (DP1/CRTH2) on T lymphocytes and their significance in asthma.

Proteomic analysis of proteins differentially expressed in preeclamptic trophoblasts.

Aims: To identify differential trophoblastic proteins associated with preeclampsia (PE) by proteomic analysis.

Methods: We isolated and purified placental trophoblasts from normotensive pregnant women and patients with PE by a continuous Percoll gradient. The expression of proteins was determined by sliver staining after two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE).