Association of adiponectin gene polymorphisms with the risk of ischemic stroke in a Chinese Han population.

Adiponectin is inversely associated with the risk of ischemic stroke through its anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic effects. Genetic variations in the adiponectin gene (ADIPOQ) have been shown to be associated with the risk of ischemic stroke in Caucasians and Japanese populations. However, it was unknown whether variations in the ADIPOQ gene were associated with the risk of ischemic stroke in Chinese population.

Cognitive deterioration rates in patients with Parkinson's disease from northeastern China.

Background/aims: Cognitive impairment (CI) is common in Parkinson's disease (PD), and the cognitive deterioration rate (CDR) is heterogeneous among PD patients. However, very few studies have reported on the association of PD features and risk factors with rapid CDR. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is considered to be a sensitive and reliable approach to detect mild CI.

CYP4F2 gene V433M polymorphism is associated with ischemic stroke in the male Northern Chinese Han population.

Background: CYP4F2 is a member of the cytochrome P450 enzymes and is responsible for metabolizing arachidonic acid to 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE); 20-HETE plays a role in the regulation of vascular tone in the cerebral, coronary, and renal circulation. The present study aimed to evaluate whether or not the CYP4F2 gene polymorphism V433M (rs2108622) is involved in ischemic stroke in the Northern Chinese Han population.

Methods: In a case-control study, the participants included 302 (193 males and 109 females) patients with ischemic stroke and 350 (212 males and 138 females) healthy subjects.

[The changes and significance of interleukin-16 and CXC chemokine receptor 3 expression in pulmonary artery of smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

Objective: To study the pathological characteristics of interleukin-16 (IL-16) and CXC chemokine receptor 3(CXCR3) in pulmonary artery of smokers with normal lung function and smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: We examined surgical specimens from three groups of subjects undergoing lung resection for localized pulmonary lesions: group NS (nonsmokers with normal lung function, n = 10); group S (smokers with normal lung function, n = 13); group COPD (smokers with stable COPD, n = 10). The clinical datas including blood gas analysis, pulmonary function, BMI, smoking index, BODE index, six-minute-walk distance (6MWD), Medical Research Council dyspnea scale (MRC), St.

Association of PDE4D and IL-1 gene polymorphism with ischemic stroke in a Han Chinese population.

Background: The single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) genes are associated with increased risk for the development of ischemic stroke (IS) in whites. However, little is known about whether this association could also occur in Han Chinese.

Method: A total of 371 patients with IS and unrelated healthy controls were recruited and the SNPs of the PDE4D (83T/C), (87T/C), IL-1 (-889C/T) and IL-1 (-511C/T) were characterized, respectively, by polymerase chain reactions-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).

[A comparative analysis of the clinical and laboratory characteristics in disseminated penicilliosis marneffei in patients with and without human immunodeficiency virus infection].

Objective: To study the differences in the clinical and laboratory characteristics of disseminated penicilliosis marneffei (PSM) in patients with and without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

Methods: The clinical data of 33 patients with PSM in our hospital from 2002 to 2007 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into 2 groups, an HIV infection group (n = 22) and a non-HIV infection group (n = 11).

A novel mutation of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor gene CHRNA4 in sporadic nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy.

Autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy (ADNFLE) is known to be partly caused by mutations in the transmembrane domain (TM) 1-3 of the genes of the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) alpha4-subunit (CHRNA4), beta2-subunit (CHRNB2) and alpha2-subunit (CHRNA2). The more common cases of sporadic nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy (NFLE) that are not differentiated from ADNFLE by phenotype have been found to be associated with the mutation of CHRNA4 reported in ADNFLE. In order to assess the genetic defects in NFLE, we performed a mutation screening in 33 unrelated patients with sporadic NFLE by amplifying and sequencing bidirectionally TM 1-3 of CHRNA4, CHRNB2 and CHRNA2 which contain the mutations reported in ADNFLE.

Suppression of oxidant-induced glutathione synthesis by erythromycin in human bronchial epithelial cells.

Background: Macrolide antibiotics have anti-inflammatory effects which are utilized for the treatment of chronic inflammatory airway diseases. Recently, their anti-inflammatory effects have been proposed to be beneficial in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Objectives: Since the molecular mechanisms of anti-inflammatory effects are associated with inhibition of activator protein 1 (AP-1) and nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB, and both are reported to be involved in the expression of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (gamma-GCS), we set out to determine if these drugs influence the oxidant-antioxidant balance in human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells.

[Study of OSL property of electron trapping material with differential absorption spectra].

A method, which makes use of difference of absorption in different stages of excitation process, is introduced to get more information about optical stimulated luminescence (OSL) properties of electron trapping materials (ETM). Absorption spectra of excited ETM contain all absorption of various traps (defects) together. So, the difference between absorption spectra before and after excitation (differential absorption) not only acts as the same as stimulation spectra, but also provides more information, such as holes stimulation, total volume of optical storage, etc.

[Effects of erythromycin on hydrogen peroxide-induced interleukin-8 synthesis and regulation of glutathione in human bronchial epithelial cells].

Objective: To study the effects of erythromycin on Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced interleukin-8 synthesis and regulation of glutathione in human bronchial epithelial cells.

Methods: Human bronchial epithelial (16HBE) growth curve was recorded by MTT, cells were divided into three groups (1) control (incubation for 24, 36, 48) (2) H2O2 (Pre-incubation for 24, 36, 48 h before adding H2O2 (3) H2O2 + EM (Pre-incubation EM for 24, 36, 48 h before adding H2O2). IL-8 levels were measured in culture supernatants by ELISA, activation of transcription factor NF-kappaB and AP-1 in HBE was evaluated by Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA).