Prenatal methylmercury exposure through maternal rice ingestion: insights from a feasibility pilot in Guizhou Province, China.

Maternal hair and blood were investigated as biomarkers for prenatal methylmercury (MeHg) exposure among seventeen mothers recruited at parturition in Wanshan, Guizhou Province, China, where rice ingestion was the primary MeHg exposure pathway and atmospheric mercury (Hg) levels were elevated. For all three trimesters (n = 51), hair total Hg (THg) and MeHg concentrations ranged from 0.27 to 4.

Kinase gene haplotypes and gene-gene interactions in the Ras-Raf-MAPK signaling pathway: association with antidepressant remission.

Signal transduction has been reported to be involved in antidepressant treatment outcomes; however, its mechanisms remain unclear. The aims of this study were to explore the associations between antidepressant remission and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), haplotypes, and gene-gene interactions in the Ras-Raf-MAPK intracellular signaling pathway. A total of 302 inpatients with major depressive disorder (DSM-IV Axis I) were assessed using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale before and after 8 weeks of antidepressant treatment to determine the remission rate in the samples.

A longitudinal study of hand motor recovery after sub-acute stroke: a study combined FMRI with diffusion tensor imaging.

Previous studies have shown that motor recovery of stroke can be assessed by the cortical activity and the structural integrity of the corticospinal tract (CST), but little is known about the relation between the cortical activity and the structural integrity during motor recovery. In the present study, we investigated the changes in brain activities evoked by twenty days' functional electrical stimulation (FES) training in twelve sub-acute stroke patients with unilateral upper-limb disability. We compared cortex activity evoked by wrist movement of eleven stroke patients to that of eleven age-matched healthy subjects to figure out how cortex activity changed after stroke.

Induction of osteogenic differentiation of stem cells via a lyophilized microRNA reverse transfection formulation on a tissue culture plate.

MicroRNA (miRNA) regulation is a novel approach to manipulating the fate of mesenchymal stem cells, but an easy, safe, and highly efficient method of transfection is required. In this study, we developed an miRNA reverse transfection formulation by lyophilizing Lipofectamine 2000-miRNA lipoplexes on a tissue culture plate. The lipoplexes can be immobilized on a tissue culture plate with an intact pseudospherical structure and lyophilization without any lyoprotectant.

Volumetric magnetic resonance imaging classification for Alzheimer's disease based on kernel density estimation of local features.

Background: The classification of Alzheimer's disease (AD) from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been challenged by lack of effective and reliable biomarkers due to inter-subject variability. This article presents a classification method for AD based on kernel density estimation (KDE) of local features.

Methods: First, a large number of local features were extracted from stable image blobs to represent various anatomical patterns for potential effective biomarkers.

[Influence of lipid metabolism of germ free mice' by soy isflavones].

Objective: To study the role of the intestinal floras in the effect of soy isflavones (SI) on lipid metabolism by germ free (GF) mice.

Methods: GF mice were fed by high fat diet and different doses of SI. After 4 weeks, the indexes of blood lipid and oxidation and weigh livers, intestines and hearts were tested.

Regional covariance patterns of gray matter alterations in Alzheimer's disease and its replicability evaluation.

Purpose: To identify regional network covariance patterns of gray matter associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and to further evaluate its replicability and stability.

Materials And Methods: This study applied a multivariate analytic approach based on scaled subprofile modeling (SSM) to structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data from 19 patients with AD and 19 healthy controls (HC). We further applied the derived covariance patterns to examine the replicability and stability of AD-associated covariance patterns in an independent dataset (13 AD and 14 HC) acquired with a different scanner.

Serum lipid-improving effect of soyabean β-conglycinin in hyperlipidaemic menopausal women.

To evaluate the effect of treatment with β-conglycinin, a major soyabean protein, on blood lipids in menopausal women, we recruited 100 hyperlipidaemic women aged 40-60 years old. Participants were randomly allocated to three groups: placebo group (n 34, four casein tablets/d); low dose group (n 33, four tablets containing 2·3 g β-conglycinin/d); high-dose group (n 33, eight tablets containing 4·6 g β-conglycinin/d). The mean serum TAG concentration was significantly reduced after 6 and 12 weeks of β-conglycinin intervention by 0·44 (sd 0·20) and 0·78 (sd 1·03) mmol/l in the low-dose group, and by 0·46 (sd 0·17) and 1·25 (sd 1·06) mmol/l in the high-dose group, respectively.

Current situation of clinical trials in Beijing and Shanghai, China.

Objective: Global clinical trials are important because they facilitate rapid delivery of new and effective drugs to patients Assessment of the current situation of clinical trials conducted in Asia is critical for improving performance of global clinical trials. However, review reports from China or other Asian countries are not yet available. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to investigate the current quality of clinical trials conducted in Shanghai, as well as Beijing.

[Determination of doping in human urine by gas chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry].

A method was evaluated for determination of twenty-one doping (including nandrolone, boldenone and methandienone) in human urine by gas chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry. Samples were prepared by liquid-liquid extraction, concentrated, TMS derivatization and limit of detection at ng x mL(-1) by MID/GC/HRMS. According to the code of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), precision and recoveries of the procedure were evaluated by replicate analysis (n = 6), the recoveries in the range of 66%-103%, with the RSD below 10.

MicroRNA functionalized microporous titanium oxide surface by lyophilization with enhanced osteogenic activity.

Developing biomedical titanium (Ti) implants with high osteogenic ability and consequent rigid osseointegration is a constant requirement from the clinic. In this study, we fabricate novel miRNA functionalized microporous Ti implants by lyophilizing miRNA lipoplexes onto a microporous titanium oxide surface formed by microarc oxidation (MAO). The microporous titanium oxide surface provides a larger surface area for miRNA loading and enables spatial retention of the miRNAs within the pores until cellular delivery.

The anti-arthritic effects of Aconitum vilmorinianum, a folk herbal medicine in Southwestern China.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Aconiti Radix (AC) and Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix (AK) are two traditional Chinese medicines commonly used to treat joint pain and arthritis. In Southwestern China, Huangcaowu (AV), the root of Aconitum vilmorinianum Kom., has long been used as a local substitute for these herbs for analgesia and anti-inflammation.

Altered effective connectivity of the default mode network in resting-state amnestic type mild cognitive impairment.

Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) is the transitional, heterogeneous continuum from normal elderly to Alzheimer's disease (AD). Previous studies have shown that brain functional activity in the default mode network (DMN) is impaired in aMCI patients with saliently cognitive and memory decline. However, the effective connectivity among the spatially isolated, but functionally related areas within the DMN in aMCI patients remains largely unknown.

[Screen value of anthropometric indices for hyperglycemia].

Objective: The study was to examine whether waist-to-thigh ratio (WTR) performed better than waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist circumference (WC), or body mass index (BMI) in relation to hyperglycemia (fasting plasma glucose > or = 5.6 mmol/L) among government employee.

Methods: A cluster sampling was conducted in Beijing ShiJitan Hospital in August 2010.

Bone integration capability of a series of strontium-containing hydroxyapatite coatings formed by micro-arc oxidation.

Strontium-containing hydroxyapatites (Sr-HA) combine the desirable bone regenerative properties of hydroxyapatites (HA) with anabolic and anti-catabolic effects of strontium cations. In the present work, a series of Sr(y)HA [Sr(y)Ca(10-y)(PO4)6(OH)2; y = 0, 0.5, 1, 2] coatings on titanium are produced by micro-arc oxidation (MAO), and the effects of the in vivo osseointegration ability of the coatings are investigated by using a rabbit model.

A new phenolic glycoside from Chamaecyparis obtusa var. breviramea f. crippsii.

A new phenolic glycoside, 3-methoxyphenol 1-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)- O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), was isolated from the 90% acetone extract of the branches and leaves of Chamaecyparis obtusa var. breviramea f. crippsii along with another 10 known phenolics 2-11.

[Effects on the antibacterial activity of TiO(2) nanotubes with different diameters from ultraviolet ray-irradiation].

Objective: To study the effects of ultraviolet ray (UV)-irradiation on the surface characteristic and antibacterial activity of TiO(2) nanotubes with different diameters.

Methods: TiO(2) nanotubes with different diameters were fabricated on polished pure titanium (PT) samples by anodization at 5, 10 and 20 V with PT as control. The samples were exposed to UV-irradiation for 24 h, then the characteristic and antibacterial activity were analyzed and evaluated.

[A new monoterpenoid glucoside from the twigs of Chamaecyparis obtusa var. breviramea f. crippsii].

To investigate the chemical constituents of Chamaecyparis obtusa var. breviramea f. crippsii, various column chromatography and spectroscopic methods were used for the isolation and elucidation of compounds.

[Effects of soybean isoflavone on reproductive development in SD rats].

Objective: To assess the effects of soybean isoflavone on reproductive development in SD rats.

Methods: Forty 4 week-old SD rats (20 males and 20 females) were randomly divided into a control group and a soy isoflavone (SI) group according to their body mass, and were fed with normal diet or normal diet added with soy isoflavone (100 mg/kg BW), respectively. The body weight, daily food intake, estrous cycle, fertility index, pregnant index, gestation length, number of pups, blood hormone level, the weight of reproduction organ and the quality of sperm of the parental generation and the sex ratio, anogenital distance, vagina opening time, prepuce separation time of F1 generation were recorded.

The role of integrin-linked kinase/β-catenin pathway in the enhanced MG63 differentiation by micro/nano-textured topography.

Micro/nano-texturing is a promising approach to produce biomaterials with better tissue integration properties, but the underlying mechanisms are only partially understood. We propose that the integrin-linked kinase (ILK)/β-catenin pathway may play a role in mediating the signals of topographical cues to cells. To confirm the hypothesis, human MG63 osteoblasts are cultured on the micro/nano-textured topographies (MNTs) to assess the cell differentiation in terms of collagen secretion, extracellular matrix mineralization, and osteogenesis-related gene expression.

[Serum triacylglycerol-lowering effect of soybean beta-conglycinin in hyperlipidemic women].

Objective: Improving effects on serum triacylglyceride in women with hypertriacylglycerolemia by soybean beta-conglycinin.

Methods: A placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind study was conducted in 100 women aged 40-60 with TC > 6.22 mmol/L (or TG > 1.

[Safety assessment of milk on reproductive development by reproduction study].

Objective: Observe the influence of whole fat milk and high-dose soy isoflavones (SI, 1 g/kg) on reproductive development to assess the safety of milk.

Methods: Sixty Spraque-Dawley rats (30 male and 30 female) were randomly separated into milk group, S1 group and control group (10 male and female each) according to body weight and were fed with milk, the diet with 1 g/kg SI and basic diet, respectively. Intervention measures were implemented from 11 weeks before mating to sexual maturity of F1.