Associations of ACE I/D and AGTR1 rs5182 polymorphisms with diabetes and their effects on lipids in an elderly Chinese population.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is generally accompanied by dyslipidaemia, but inconsistent relationships between lipid profiles and diabetes are noted. Moreover, genetic variations in insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphisms at angiotensin-converting enzyme gene (ACE) and T/C polymorphisms in the angiotensin type 1 receptor gene (AGTR1) are related to diabetes and lipid levels, but the associations are controversial. Thus, the current research aimed to explore the effects of ACE I/D, AGTR1 rs5182 and diabetes mellitus on serum lipid profiles in 385 Chinese participants with an average age of 75.

Coherent nanoscale cobalt/cobalt oxide heterostructures embedded in porous carbon for the oxygen reduction reaction.

Cost-effective and efficient electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are crucial for fuel cells and metal-air batteries. Herein, we report the facile synthesis of a Co/CoO/CoO heterostructure embedded in a porous carbon matrix by refluxing and annealing. This composite exhibits several structural merits for catalyzing the ORR: (1) the existence of metallic Co and graphitic carbon enhanced the electrical conduction; (2) the porous, loose carbon network facilitated the electrolyte permeation and mass transport; (3) more importantly, the nanosized coherent CoO/CoO heterojunctions with structural defects and oxygen vacancies enhanced the charge transport/separation at the interface and adsorption affinity to O, thus promoting the ORR kinetics and lowering the reaction barrier.

[Identification of HBV genotype-specific tag sequences].

Objective: To identify the HBV genotype-specific tag sequence.

Methods: The large S region sequences from 930 HBV genomes were aligned to identify the genotype-specific tag sequences. PCR was used to check the genotyping effect of these tags.

Three-dimensional reconstruction of digitized human liver: based on Chinese Visible Human.

Background: Comparing with two dimensional (2D) imaging, both in diagnosis and treatment, three dimensional (3D) imaging has many advantages in clinical medicine. 3D reconstruction makes the target easier to identify and reveals the volume and shape of the organ much better than 2D imaging. A 3D digitized visible model of the liver was built to provide anatomical structure for planing of hepatic operation and for realizing accurate simulation of the liver on the computer.

The use of virtual reality for the functional simulation of hepatic tumors (case control study).

Objective: To develop a technique for converting computed tomography (CT) data into a fully three-dimensional (3D) virtual reality (VR) environment. Preoperative simulation in 3D VR facilitates liver resection owing to the ability to view the tumor and its relative vessels.

Methods: 3D-reconstruction of the liver was restored from spiral CT data by using LiVirtue software and the Dextrobeam (Volume Interactions Pte Ltd, Singapore) was applied to view this 3D model in the VR environment.

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha receptor 1 polymorphisms and serum soluble TNFR1 in early spontaneous miscarriage.

Objectives: The study investigated the association of TNFR1 gene polymorphism with early recurrent spontaneous miscarriage (ERSM) in Chinese women, and soluble TNFR1 (sTNFR1) expression in ERSM women.

Study Design: Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located at -383 (AGA to AGC) in the promoter region and +36 (CCA to CCG) in exon 1 of TNFR1 were investigated in 188 non-pregnant ERSM Chinese women. The serum sTNFR1 was measured by the ELISA method.

[Analysis on the relative factors of trichomonal vaginitis in married childbearing age women in rural impoverished area].

Objective: To investigate the status and relative factors of trichomonal vaginitis among married childbearing age women in rural impoverished area of the northwestern part of China and hence identify the risk factors and provide a basis for the prevention and treatment of trichomonal vaginitis.

Methods: Questionnaire investigation, gynecological and laboratory examination were carried out in 480 women who had been selected by multi-stage cluster sampling in rural impoverished area of Bao Ji in ShannXi province. A case-control study was conducted to analyze the relative factors of trichomonal vaginitis and other reproductive tract infection (RTI) complications.