Epidemiological study on obesity and its comorbidities in urban Chinese older than 20 years of age in Shanghai, China

The aim of this work was to establish the prevalence of overweight and obesity and its associated comorbidities in a Chinese population older than 20 years of age. A group of 2776 randomly selected adults (20–94 years of age) living in the Huayang Community in Shanghai, China, were investigated between 1998 and 2000. Body weight, height, waist and hip circumferences and blood pressure were measured, as were fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin and lipid profile, as well as blood glucose 2 h after a glucose load, and a 75‐g glucose tolerance test was performed. The prevalence of overweight was 29.5% and obesity was 4.3%, with a greater number of women being obese than men. More than one‐third of the population had abnormal lipid levels. Impaired glucose regulation (IGR) occurred in 10.8%; and 9.8% of the population were classified as having type 2 diabetes mellitus. Hypertension was present in 58.4% of this population. About 21% and 29.3% of the population suffered from high total cholesterol and high triglyceride, respectively. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 10.2%. The prevalence of diabetes, IGR and metabolic syndrome increased progressively in association with a body mass index (BMI) of >23 kg m^?2. Hence, although the prevalence of obesity is low in this Chinese population, higher BMI and waist circumference values are clearly associated with an increasing prevalence of comorbidities. The absolute risk of having diabetes, IGR and metabolic syndrome is high in adults with a BMI of ≥23 kg m^?2.     

Posterior fossa hemangioblastomas: MR imaging

The magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings of 18 surgically proved posterior fossa hemangioblastomas (15 patients) were retrospectively analyzed and correlated with computed tomographic (ten patients) and angiographic (eight patients) findings. Thirteen tumors were located in the cerebellar hemisphere, three in the vermis, and two in the medulla with associated syrinxes. Three patients had von Hippel-Lindau disease, two of whom had multiple cerebellar hemangioblastomas. Seven hemangioblastomas appeared as solid tumors, six as solid masses with central cysts, and five as cysts with mural nodules. Abnormal tumor vessels, with characteristic signal void, were demonstrated in 13 tumors. Associated hemorrhage was present in four tumors. Although angiography is usually required for the diagnosis and preoperative assessment of this tumor, MR imaging demonstration of a posterior fossa mass with abnormal vessels should suggest the diagnosis of hemangioblastoma. Moreover, the combination of a peripheral posterior fossa cyst with a mural nodule supplied by enlarged vessels may be pathognomonic.     

人胚胎神经干细胞体外条件下对胶质瘤细胞的趋向性特点

目的:以Hs683、3T3成纤维细胞作为对照,探讨人胚胎神经干细胞在体外条件下对SHG44、C6胶质瘤细胞的趋向性。方法:①来源于怀孕子宫肌瘤切除术或流产的10～14周胚胎(西安市中心医院妇产科、西安交大二院妇产科、北方医院妇产科提供),产妇及其家属均签署知情同意书。Hs683成纤维细胞系由田晓峰博士馈赠,SHG44胶质瘤细胞系、C6胶质瘤细胞系、3T3成纤维细胞系均为本研究所冻藏。②将原代培养8d的人胚胎神经干细胞悬液离心、收集备用,最终神经球浓度达8×104 L-1。③将预先消毒的盖玻片(24mm×24mm)放置于培养皿内,将SHG44胶质瘤细胞系、C6胶质瘤细胞系、Hs683成纤维细胞系、3T3成纤维细胞系的4组细胞复苏后,加入含体积分数为0.1胎牛血清的DMEM培养基。当各组细胞爬片上的细胞贴壁达75%～85%时,取出盖玻片,与上述制备的人胚神经球悬浮液共同培养。④将预先制备好的SHG44胶质瘤细胞、C6胶质瘤细胞、Hs683成纤维细胞、3T3成纤维细胞爬片(各10张)从培养瓶取出,置于新的培养皿,分别与神经干细胞克隆球在含体积分数为0.01～0.02胎牛血清的DMEM培养液中共培养72h,观察并统计各细胞系每张爬片的克隆球数。上述4种细胞爬片周边3mm以外相同面积、无胶质瘤/成纤维细胞区域作为其各自空白对照。⑤分别将神经干细胞克隆球 C6胶质瘤细胞 3T3成纤维细胞、神经干细胞克隆球 SHG44胶质瘤细胞 Hs683成纤维细胞同法共培养72h,观察人胚神经干细胞在SHG44、Hs683、C6、3T3细胞爬片上的分布情况。结果:①人胚神经干细胞对SHG44、C6胶质瘤细胞的趋向作用:SHG44/C6胶质瘤细胞 人胚神经干细胞克隆球共培养72h后,胶质瘤细胞爬片上的神经克隆球体积均有所增大,且数量均明显高于外周无胶质瘤细胞的空白对照区(P均<0.05)。②人胚神经干细胞对Hs683、3T3成纤维细胞的趋向作用:Hs683/3T3成纤维细胞 人胚神经干细胞克隆球共培养72h后,成纤维细胞爬片上的神经克隆球数量与周围无成纤维细胞区基本相似(P均>0.05)。③人胚神经干细胞 SHG44/C6胶质瘤细胞 Hs683/3T3成纤维细胞共培养下的体外趋向作用:SHG44胶质瘤细胞 Hs683成纤维细胞 人胚神经干细胞共培养72h后,SHG44胶质瘤细胞爬片上的神经球数量明显多于Hs683成纤维细胞爬片(P<0.05)。C6胶质瘤细胞 3T3成纤维细胞 人胚神经干细胞共培养72h后,C6胶质瘤细胞爬片上的神经球数量明显多于3T3成纤维细胞爬片(P<0.05)。结论:人胚胎神经干细胞与胶质瘤细胞体外共培养后,神经球出现向胶质瘤细胞周围集聚的趋势,提示胶质瘤细胞可能分泌某种对神经干细胞有一定作用的活性因子。     

Volumetric self-sampling of cervicovaginal fluid to determine potential fertility: a multicentre pre-effectiveness study of the Rovumeter

The aim of this study was to assess how effectively the Rovumeter, designed for the volumetric self-sampling of cervicovaginal fluid (CVF), can be used to locate the minimum period of potential fertility (PPF) during ovulatory cycles. A multicentre, prospective study was undertaken of volunteers (attending natural family planning clinics) over three consecutive, apparently normal, menstrual cycles. All women collected daily samples of early morning urine and CVF and recorded the volumes (to the nearest 1.0 and 0.1 ml respectively). The concentrations of oestrone glucuronide (EG), luteinizing hormone (LH) and pregnanediol glucuronide (PG) were measured in all samples of early morning urine by immunoassay. A preliminary data set was used to optimize an algorithm to detect the start and end of potential fertility from the volumes of CVF. The end-points used were the normality of each menstrual cycle from its length, the length of luteal phase, and concentrations of EG, LH and PG, the start and end days of potential fertility from CVF volumes, and the minimum PPF, which was defined as the day of the LH peak minus 3 to day plus 2 inclusive. Overall, 72 women (median age 30 years, range 24-38) were recruited from three centres (23 from Birmingham, 24 from Milan, 25 from Santiago) and contributed data from 235 menstrual cycles (median length 28 days, range 23-44). The urinary LH peak was identified in 228 cycles (97%; median time, day 15 from day 1 of last menses, with range day 10 to day 35). The use of the Rovumeter gave start and end signals of potential fertility during 138 cycles (59%). The median length of the derived PPF was 8 days (range 4-18). The signals covered the defined, minimum PPF in 113 cycles [i.e. 50% of those with an LH peak; range 28% (Milan) to 62% (Birmingham)]. Overall 16/72 women (22%) had successful tests over three consecutive menstrual cycles [range 2/24 (8%; Milan) to 8/23 (35%; Birmingham)]. We conclude that signals from daily changes in the volume of CVF as determined by the use of the Rovumeter consistently locate the minimum period of potential fertility in only a small proportion of women.