Factors associated with BMI, weight perceptions and trying to lose weight in African-American smokers

This study examined sociodemographic, behavioral and psychosocial factors associated with BMI, weight perceptions and trying to lose weight among African-American smokers (N=600, M=44.2 years, 70% female). Sixty-eight percent of the sample were overweight or obese (sample BMI M=28.0, SD=6.7). Three separate, simultaneous multivariable regression models were used to determine which factors were associated with BMI, weight perceptions and trying to lose weight. Poorer health, female gender and high-school education or higher were significantly associated with higher BMIs (p<0.05). Being female (OR=5.8, 95% CI=3.6-9.3) and having a higher BMI (OR=0.6, 95% CI=0.5-0.6) was associated with perception of overweight and smoking more cigarettes per day (OR=1.0, 95% CI=1.0-1.1), and perceiving oneself as overweight (OR=14.1, 95% CI=8.2-24.2) was associated with trying to lose weight. Participants somewhat underestimated their BMI in their weight perceptions. Those who perceived themselves as overweight were more likely to be trying to lose weight; therefore, increasing participant awareness of actual BMI status may lead to improved weight-control efforts in African-American smokers. Several expected associations with outcomes were not found, suggesting that BMI and weight constructs are not well-understood in this population.     

A prospective randomized comparison of levonorgestrel with the Yuzpe regimen in post-coital contraception

A prospective randomized study was conducted at the Family PlanningAssociation of Hong Kong to compare the efficacy of the Yuzperegimen and levonorgestrel (0.75 mg for two doses 12 h apart)in post-coital contraception. A total of 424 subjects were recruitedinto the Yuzpe group and 410 subjects into the levonorgestrelgroup; 77 subjects in the Yuzpe group and 79 subjects in thelevonorgestrel group had further acts of intercourse duringthe treatment cycle. Fifteen pregnancies (3.5%) occurred inthe Yuzpe group and 12 pregnancies (2.9%) in the levonorgestrelgroup. After excluding the patients who had further acts ofintercourse, the failure rates in the Yuzpe group and the levonorgestrelgroup were 2.6 and 2.4% respectively. The incidence of nausea,vomiting and fatigue in the Yuzpe group was significantly higherthan those in the levonorgestrel group. We conclude that levonorgestrelis an effective drug for post-coital contraception with a lowerincidence of side-effects than the Yuzpe regimen.     

The mast cell: distribution and maturation in the peritoneal cavity of the adult rat.

In the peritoneal cavity of the adult rat mast cells at the four stages of progressive maturation (and corresponding increase of sulphation of granules) are best demonstrated in free peritoneal fluid. Of the 0.1-0.2x10(6) cells in the free fluid, 26% are at stage 1 of maturation (all granules are stained by Alcian blue). 24% at stage 2 (majority of granules are stained by Alcian blue, minority by safranin), 20% at stage 3 (majority of granules are safranin-positive), and 30% at stage 4 (all granules are safranin-positive). Peritoneal washings yield a mean of about 1.3-1.8x10(6) mast cells of which 16% are at stage 1, 24% at stage 2, 34% at stage 3 and 26% at stage 4. The greater number recovered by washing, compared with the number in free peritoneal fluid, suggests that a substantial number of mast cells lie on the surface of the peritoneal membranes.     

Subtle translocation (18;21) confirmed by FISH in a patient with Down syndrome

The patient presented with the typical features of Down syndrome: hypotonia, brachycephaly, flattened occiput, bilateral prominent medical epican-thic folds, flat nasal bridge, protruding tongue, low-set dysplastic ears, short broad hands, bilateral clinodactyly and simian crease. The karyotype of this child was originally reported as normal. High-resolution chromosomes revealed extra material on the long arm of chromosome 18. The mother's karyotype showed a reciprocal translocation between the long arm of 18 and the long arm of 21 at band q23 and q22.1, respectively. FISH performed separately with two different 21q cosmid probes gave two signals on the mother's metaphases and three signals on the prob-and. These findings confirmed that the proband is trisomic for the long arm of chromosome 21 at loci D21S65 and D21S19.     

Evaluation of PCR-based assay for diagnosis of spotted fever group rickettsiosis in human serum samples

A nested PCR assay was developed for the detection of spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae in serum samples. The assay was based on specific primers derived from the rickettsial outer membrane protein B gene (rompB) of Rickettsia conorii. An SFG rickettsia-specific signal is obtained from R. akari, R. japonica, R. sibirica, and R. conorii. Other bacterial species tested did not generate any signal, attesting to the specificity of the assay. As few as seven copies of the rompB gene of R. conorii could be detected in 200 microl of serum sample. The assay was evaluated with a panel of sera obtained from patients with acute-phase febrile disease tested by immunofluorescent antibody assay (IFA). The SFG rickettsia-specific DNA fragment was detected in 71 out of 100 sera, which were proven to have immunoglobulin M antibodies against SFG rickettsial antigen by IFA. The results were further confirmed by restriction fragment length polymorphism and sequencing analysis of the DNA fragments. The results indicated that this PCR assay is suitable for the diagnosis of spotted fever group rickettsiosis in Korea.     

酵母双杂合系统AD端阴离子交换蛋白C-末端表达质粒的构建

利用PCR方法，从阴离子交换蛋白1（AE1）全长cDNA中扩增出约350bp c末端cDNA片段，测序后将其克隆至pGADT7载体上，用醋酸锂法构建好的pADT7-AE1-c末端转染酵母菌HA109，观察其在选择性培养基上的表达情况。结果表明，获得了530bp AE1c－末端cDNA,pGADT7-AE1-c末端对酵母无毒性，不能激活检测基因，可作为酵母双杂合系统中的靶基因。     

Changes of interleukin expression correlate with Helicobacter pylori infection and lymph node metastases in gastric carcinoma.

Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection induces expression of IL-8 and IL-10 in benign gastric epithelium. This study compared the expression of cytokines in CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocyte subsets of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), benign mucosal lymphocytes (ML), and tumor infiltrative lymphocytes (TIL) as well as in the benign and malignant epithelial cells of the same patient, with respect to the presence of HP infection, lymph node metastases, and tumor histologic type. The mRNA of the cytokines was measured by a semiquantitative RT-PCR method. The levels were ranked and compared using the Wilcoxon sign-ranked test. Compared with CD8+ ML, the CD8+ TIL expresses higher levels of IL-6 and IL-8 but lower level of IL-4 in patients with lymph node metastases. In patients with HP infection, expression of IL-8 and IL-10 was higher in the gastric carcinoma cells than in the benign epithelial cells while expression of IL-6 and IL-8 were higher in CD8+ TIL than CD8+ ML. Overexpression of IL-8 in HP associated gastric carcinomas suggested that they might have arisen from HP-infected epithelial cells.     

Molecular and genetic characterizations of five pathogenic and two non-pathogenic monoclonal antiphospholipid antibodies

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disease that is characterized by thrombosis, recurrent fetal loss and thrombocytopenia. Antiphospholipid antibodies, detected by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assays (aCL) and/or in vitro blood clotting assays (LAC) are strongly associated with APS. Both the molecular structures used by pathogenic antiphospholipid antibodies and the genetic mechanisms leading to their production are unknown. We describe here the variable region genes of seven IgG antiphospholipid antibodies derived from two APS patients. Of these, five are pathogenic as defined in a mouse model of thrombosis and two are not. Analyses of the expressed variable region genes show no preferential V gene usage. However, similar to anti-DNA antibodies, pathogenic antiphospholipid antibodies contain an increased number of arginine residues in the third complimentarity-determining region (CDR3) of their H chains. The increased accumulation of arginine residues in the V(H) CDR3 may act to enhance antigen binding, promote disease and point to the importance of the H chain in the pathogenic potential of certain antiphospholipid antibodies.     

bFGF在骨组织工程学中的研究进展

碱性成纤维细胞生长因子 (b FGF)是近年来研究较为广泛的生长因子之一 ,对骨组织有着广泛的生物学效应。本文就 b FGF的研究进展及其目前在骨组织工程学研究方面的应用做一综述