Zinc Absorption from Representative Diet in a Chinese Elderly Population Using Stable Isotope Technique.

Objective: To determine the dietary zinc absorption in a Chinese elderly population and provide the basic data for the setting of zinc (Zn) recommended nutrient intakes (RNI) for Chinese elderly people.

Methods: A total of 24 elderly people were recruited for this study and were administered oral doses of 3 mg 67Zn and 1.2 mg dysprosium on the fourth day.

Radiosynthesis and in-vivo evaluation of [125I]IBT: a single-photon emission computed tomography radiotracer for α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor imaging.

Aim: The aim of this study was to develop several novel α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) radioligands for the early diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Patients And Methods: The study reported six compounds and studied the in-vitro receptor binding affinity, and selected the I-labeled IBT with good characteristics as a novel radioligand suitable for studying α7-nAChRs. After verifying the stability of the radiotracer [I]IBT, the biodistribution in vivo and regional brain biodistribution studies were carried out in mice.

Efficacy and Safety of an Herbal Therapy in Patients with Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment: A 24-Week Randomized Phase III Trial.

Objective: In the 24-week randomized, double-blind, double-placebo, parallel-controlled trial, we aimed to test the effects of herbal therapy with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI).

Methods: A total of 324 patients with aMCI entered a 2-week placebo run-in period followed by 24 weeks' treatment of either (a) herbal capsule (5 shenwu capsules/administration, 3 times/day) and placebo identical to donepezil tablets ( = 216) or (b) donepezil (5 mg/day) and placebo identical to herbal capsule ( = 108).

Results: Herbal therapy showed a significant improvement on the primary efficacy measure, measured by Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog), and showed a mean decrease from baseline of 4.

Genetically low vitamin D concentrations and myopic refractive error: a Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Myopia prevalence has increased in the past 20 years, with many studies linking the increase to reduced time spent outdoors. A number of recent observational studies have shown an inverse association between vitamin D [25(OH)D] serum levels and myopia. However, in such studies it is difficult to separate the effects of time outdoors and vitamin D levels.

Seroepidemiology of enterovirus D68 infection in China.

Human enterovirus 68 (EV-D68) is a rarely reported virus that has been linked to respiratory disease. In recent years, reports about EV-D68 infection have markedly increased worldwide. However, the epidemiological features of this emerging infection are not well understood.

Targeting YAP in malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that is resistant to current therapy. The poor prognosis of mesothelioma has been associated with elevated Yes-associated protein (YAP) activity. In this study, we evaluated the effect of targeting YAP in mesothelioma.

Gene-gene interaction between PPARG and CYP1A1 gene on coronary artery disease in the Chinese Han Population.

Aims: To observe the influence of the peroxisome proliferator-activator receptor-G (PPAR-G) gene and cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1) single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and interactions among several SNPs on coronary artery disease (CAD) risk.

Methods: A total of 1106 participants (including 583 males and 523 females) including 550 CAD patients and 556 control subjects were recruited in this study, and the mean age for these participants was 55.5 ± 11.

Efficacy and safety of escitalopram in treatment of severe depression in Chinese population.

Severe depression accounts for one-third of depressed patients. Increasing severity of depression usually hinders patients from achieving remission. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of escitalopram in acute-phase treatment of severe major depressive disorder (MDD).

Analysis of RP2 and RPGR Mutations in Five X-Linked Chinese Families with Retinitis Pigmentosa.

Mutations in RP2 and RPGR genes are responsible for the X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP). In this study, we analyzed the RP2 and RPGR gene mutations in five Han Chinese families with XLRP. An approximately 17Kb large deletion including the exon 4 and exon 5 of RP2 gene was found in an XLRP family.

Circulating endothelial microparticles and in acute myocardial infarction.

Microparticles (MPs) and miRNAs have been shown to play important roles in coronary artery disease (CAD) by monitoring endothelial dysfunction. The present study aims to investigate the diagnostic value of endothelial MPs (EMPs) and miRNAs ( or ) as biomarkers in distinguishing patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) from those with CAD. Plasma samples from 37 patients with AMI, 42 patients with stable CAD (SCAD), and 35 healthy adults were collected for investigation in the present study.

Danggui Buxue Tang (Astragali Radix and Angelicae Sinensis Radix) for menopausal symptoms: A review.

Background: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has contributed greatly to human health in past several thousand years. Today, the development of TCM is facing two obstacles: (i) quality control of herbal extract; and (ii) action mechanisms not known.

Objectives: Among thousands of complex TCM formulations, Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT) is the simplest one.

Macrophagic CD146 promotes foam cell formation and retention during atherosclerosis.

The persistence of cholesterol-engorged macrophages (foam cells) in the artery wall fuels the development of atherosclerosis. However, the mechanism that regulates the formation of macrophage foam cells and impedes their emigration out of inflamed plaques is still elusive. Here, we report that adhesion receptor CD146 controls the formation of macrophage foam cells and their retention within the plaque during atherosclerosis exacerbation.

Anesthetics inhibit extracellular signal-regulated Kinase1/2 phosphorylation via NMDA receptor, phospholipase C and protein kinase C in mouse hippocampal slices.

Background: Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) has been implicated in learning and memory; however, whether intravenous anesthetics modulate ERK1/2 remains unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of several intravenous anesthetics on the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in the hippocampus of adult mice.

Methods: Western blotting was used to examine cellular levels of phosphorylated and unphosphorylated ERK1/2 in mouse hippocampus slices, which were incubated with or without anesthetics including propofol, etomidate, ketamine and midazolam, a protein kinase C (PKC) activator or inhibitor, or phospholipase C (PLC) activator or inhibitor.

Predictive and Prognostic Value of High-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol in Young Male Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Background: The level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is an important risk indicator and used in risk factor counting and quantitative risk assessment; however, the effect of HDL-C in young male patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of HDL-C in young male patients.

Methods: We recruited 267 consecutive young male patients (≤44 years) diagnosed with AMI.

[QuEChERS pretreatment method for determination of organophosphate pesticide and raticide in whole blood].

To investigate the QuEChERS pretreatment method combined with on-line gel permeation chromatography-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GPC-GC/MS) for the determination of organophosphate pesticide and raticide in whole blood. The samples were pretreated with QuEChERS. A total of 1 ml acetonitrile was added to 1 ml whole blood sample for extraction, and 0.

YAP1 regulates ABCG2 and cancer cell side population in human lung cancer cells.

A small population of cancer cells called cancer-initiating cells or cancer stem cells (CSCs) are involved in drug resistance, metastasis, and cancer relapse. Finding pathways that regulate CSC is very important for clinical therapy. ATP-binding cassette sub-family G member 2 (ABCG2) plays a role in side population (SP) cell formation and contributes to chemotherapy resistance in common forms of cancer.

Aberrant Expression of miR-323a-5p in Patients with Refractory Epilepsy Caused by Focal Cortical Dysplasia.

Background: Epilepsy remains one of the most common clinical neurological disorders. About a third of patients with epilepsy are refractory to drug treatment, mainly as a result of focal cortical dysplasia (FCD). In this study, we analyzed the aberrant expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the cortex and plasma of FCD patients.

Expression of microRNA-129-2-3p and microRNA-935 in plasma and brain tissue of human refractory epilepsy.

Objective: Numerous microRNAs (miRNAs) are differentially expressed in specific diseases, suggesting possible use as diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers. The purpose of this study is to investigate the expression levels of miR-129-2-3p and miR-935 in cortical brain tissue and plasma samples from controls and refractory temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patients to evaluate the utility of these measures as diagnostic biomarkers.

Methods: The study was divided into three phases.

Effects of statin therapy on progression of mild noncalcified coronary plaque assessed by serial coronary computed tomography angiography: A multicenter prospective study.

Background: There are limited data assessing statin therapy in patients with nonobstructive coronary plaque on coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA).

Methods: Two hundred six consecutive patients with mild noncalcified plaque on CCTA were enrolled in this multicenter prospective observational study. Subjects were divided into 3 groups according to subsequent statin therapy: intensive statin therapy (n = 55), moderate statins (n = 85), and no statin (n = 66).

Synthesis and Evaluation of (18)F-labeled Pyridaben Analogues for Myocardial Perfusion Imaging in Mice, Rats and Chinese mini-swine.

This study reports three novel (18)F-labeled pyridaben analogues for potential myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). Three precursors and the corresponding nonradioactive compounds were synthesized and characterized. The radiolabeled tracers were obtained by substituting tosyl with (18)F.

The miR-449b polymorphism, rs10061133 A>G, is associated with premature ovarian insufficiency.

Objective: To determine if the miR-449b polymorphism, rs10061133 A>G, is associated with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) pathogenesis.

Methods: From January 2011 to December 2014, a total of 148 individuals with POI and 225 age-matched controls were collected from the Center for Reproductive Medicine, 1st Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University (Hefei, China). Genotyping of miR-449b rs1006113 was performed using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight-based mass spectrometry.

[Epidemiologic characteristics and risk factors for congenital hypothyroidism from 1989 to 2014 in Beijing].

Objective: To investigate the epidemiologic characteristics and risk factors for congenital hypothyroidism (CH) in Beijing between the years 1989 and 2014.

Methods: Information on neonatal screening, and diagnoses and treatment of CH from 1989 to 2014 were obtained from the database of the Beijing Neonatal Screening Center. The screening parameter was thyroid-stimulating hormone (thyrotropin; TSH), which was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) from 1989 to 1995, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) from 1996 to 2003, and time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay (DELFIA(®)) from 2004 to 2014.

[Determination of HVA and VMA in urine using high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry].

Objective: To establish a method for the determination of homovanillic acid (HVA) and vanil mandelic acid (VMA) in urine, using high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS/MS) detection.

Methods: A 200 μl volume of urine sample added with 20 μl chlorzoxazone internal standard was mixed in a centrifuge tube, then added 100μL methanol (containing 1% acetic acid) , vortex mixed and centrifuged at 13 000 rpm for 1 min. A 10 μl volume of the above supernatant solution was injected into HPLC/MS/MS system for quantitative analysis.

PTK7 overexpression in colorectal tumors: Clinicopathological correlation and prognosis relevance.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) has one of the highest mortality rates in the worldwide and its incidence has been increasing in recent years. Protein tyrosine kinase-7 (PTK7) is an inactive member of receptor protein tyrosine kinase (RPTK)-like molecules, which is involved in tumorigenesis of a variety of cancers. Our study aimed to investigate expression of PTK7 in colorectal tumors (including benign adenomas and malignant carcinomas), and its potential function in tumorigenesis and prognosis.