The effects of NOS1 gene on asthma and total IgE levels in Taiwanese children,and the interactions with environmental factors

Wang T‐N, Tseng H‐I, Kao C‐C, Chu Y‐T, Chen W‐Y, Wu P‐F, Lee C‐H, Ko Y‐C. The effects of NOS1 gene on asthma and total IgE levels in Taiwanese children, and the interactions with environmental factors.
Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2010: 21: 1064–1071.
© 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S Asthma is a complex disorder, which is known to be affected by interactions between genetic and environmental factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the three microsatellite polymorphisms of GT repeats in intron 2, AAT repeats in intron 20, and CA repeats in exon 29 of the NOS1 gene in 155 asthmatic children and 301 control children, and the interaction with environmental factors in southern Taiwan. Total serum IgE, phadiatop test and genetic polymorphisms were measured. The genotype frequency of 14/14‐AAT repeats of the NOS1 gene was significantly higher in the asthmatic group (p = 0.01). Total IgE concentrations were higher in asthmatic children (p = 0.015) carrying the NOS1 14/14‐AAT genotype than in subjects with other polymorphisms. The gene and environmental interaction effects were 3.83‐fold, 6.86‐fold, and 8.04‐fold (all corrected p‐values <0.001) between subjects carrying at least one NOS1 14‐AAT allele and exposure to cockroaches, high levels of total IgE, and positive response against the phadiatop test in asthmatic children. The findings of this study provide strong evidence that NOS1 gene with 14‐AAT tandem repeats has a significant effect in asthmatic children. Environmental factors and atopic status will enhance the asthmatic risk for children who carry NOS1 susceptible allele.     

抗脑衰胶囊制剂HPLC指纹图谱建立及质量相关性研究

目的:以抗脑衰胶囊为对象,研究准确反映制剂内在整体质量的分析方法。方法:采用高效液相色谱分析法建立抗脑衰胶囊制剂的指纹图潜,指纹图谱中28个共有吸收峰为抗脑衰胶囊内在物质的指纹特征。通过成药、药材、标准物对照品及相应药材阴性的对比研究,确定了相对保留时间21.3 min 为葛根素专属吸收峰(9号),相对保留时间23.2 min 为芍药苷专属吸收峰(12号),相对保留时间36.7 min 为黄芩苷专属吸收峰(19号)。其 HPLC 指纹图谱条件为:天河 Kromasil ODS C_(18)柱(4.6 mm×250 mm,5μm);甲醇-0.6%醋酸水溶液系统梯度洗脱:流动相比例0 min,10:90;60 min,90:10;流速:0.9 mL·min~(-1);柱温25℃;检测波长:280 nm。利用2004年 A 版《中药色谱指纹图谱相似度评价系统》计算软件,对10批次制剂指纹图谱的相似度进行评价。结果:不同批号制剂的相似度有较大差异,其中010105、020523、020850三个批次制剂相似度低于0.8,说明这些批次制剂可能在原料药材选择、提取工艺及干燥过程中存在问题。结论:抗脑衰胶囊制剂的指纹图谱能够全面反映制剂的整体质量,是一种有效的中药制剂质量分析的方法。     

黑骨藤根挥发性成分研究

目的:研究黑骨藤根挥发性成分。方法:利用水蒸气蒸馏法提取黑骨藤根挥发性成分,用 GC-MS 进行分离测定,色谱柱为 SE-30弹性石英毛细管柱(30 m×0.25 mm×0.25μm),柱温50℃,保持2 min,然后以4℃·min~(-1)升温至230℃,保持5 min。载气为高纯度氦气99.999%;载气流量1.0 mL·min~(-1);分流比40:1。结合计算机检索技术对分离的化合物进行结构鉴定,应用色谱峰面积归一化法计算各成分的相对百分含量。结果:分离出26个成分,确定了21个化合物,占挥发油总量的95.61%。黑骨藤根挥发性成分大于1%的化学成分有5种,分别为:薁1.177%,α-雪松醇1.247%,芳樟醇1.248%,甲基萎叶酚2.297%,反式茴香脑83.013%。结论:本文对黑骨藤根挥发性成分的研究,为该类植物的进一步研究开发提供必要的试验数据。     

Reduction in admissions of patients with acute primary angle closure occurring in conjunction with a rise in cataract surgery in Taiwan

Purpose: Using 8 year nationwide administrative data, this study sets out to investigate the relationship between the total number of cataract operations undertaken in Taiwan and admissions for acute primary angle closure (APAC). Methods: Monthly cataract surgery and APAC admission rates, per 100 000 of the population, were provided by 1997–2004 inpatient and outpatient data obtained from the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database. The 3814 cases of APAC and 503 687 patients who had undergone cataract operations were categorized by age groups (40–49, 50–59, 60–69 and ≥70 years) and by gender. Spearman rank correlation coefficients were used to examine the direction and strength of the relationships. Results: Throughout the study period, the admissions for APAC showed a steady decline from 630 cases in 1997 to 351 cases in 2004, while the number of cataract operations revealed a gradual increase from 26 600 in 1997 to 77 924 in 2004. The Spearman rank correlation coefficients showed significant inverse relationships between monthly APAC admission rates and monthly cataract operation rates for the total group (r = ?0.407, P < 0.001), males (r = ?0.330, P < 0.001), females (r = ?0.444, P < 0.001), 40–49 year olds (r = ?0.335, P < 0.001), 50–59 year olds (r = ?0.497, P < 0.001) and 60–69 year olds (r = ?0.417, P < 0.001). No significant inverse relationship was observed for the ≥70 age group. Conclusion: Significant inverse relationships were noted between the monthly APAC admission rates and the monthly cataract operation rates. We recommend that data should be collected from other regions and ethnic groups to determine the inter‐relationships.     

2005年章丘市个体铸造厂卫生状况调查

[目的]了解章丘市个体铸造厂粉尘危害现状,保护劳动者身体健康。[方法]2005年10-11月对章丘市67家铸造厂粉尘危害进行基本情况调查,作业环境检测,接害作业人员职业健康查体。[结果]粉尘作业点合格率23.79%;职业病检出率0.64%,观察对象占4.33%,职业禁忌证占5.62%。[结论]章丘市个体铸造厂粉尘危害严重。     

亚慢性暴露于2,3,7,8-四氯二苯并二噁英对Wistar雌性大鼠生殖系统的影响

目的研究在亚慢性染毒的条件下,四氯二苯并二噁英(TCDD)对Wistar雌性大鼠生殖系统的影响。方法分别以250,25,2.5ng/kgbw TCDD剂量,对动物连续灌胃90d,用放射免疫法测定血清E2、LH、FSH浓度水平;摘取卵巢并称重,计算脏器系数。结果TCDD染毒后,与对照组比较,各染毒剂量组血清中雌二醇水平降低,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。与对照组比较,各染毒剂量组卵巢脏器系数减小,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论亚慢性染毒条件下,TCDD对Wistar大鼠雌性生殖系统具有一定的损害作用。     

Identification of signal transduction pathways that modulate dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate activation of stanniocalcin gene expression in neuroblastoma cells

Stanniocalcin (STC) is a new mammalian polypeptide hormone and appears to be a regulator of neuronal function. We have already shown that the induction of STC mRNA and protein expression by cAMP is integral to neuroblastoma cell differentiation, particularly neurite outgrowth. In this study, we examined the cAMP pathway in greater detail. Some common neuritogenic agents, euxanthone (PW1) and trans-retinoic acid (RA), were studied for possible interactions with the dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP)-mediated response. Our results showed that STC mRNA induction by dbcAMP was mediated by protein kinase A-cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) pathway, accompanied with phosphorylation of CREB and a reduction of p50, p65, and phosphorylated inhibitor kappaBalpha levels. Using a synthetic peptide nuclear factor-kappaB SN50, stimulation of dbcAMP-mediated STC expression was observed; indicating the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor kappaB might possibly repress STC expression. dbcAMP-induced STC mRNA expression was enhanced by PW1. In contrast, RA had highly suppressive effects. Cotreatment of cell with PW1 and cAMP provoked an increase in phosphorylated CREB (pCREB). Conversely, cotreatment with RA suppressed pCREB. The results highlighted the importance of phosphorylation of CREB in mediating STC gene expression. Taking a step further to dissect the possible regulatory pathways involved, with the aid of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate or ionomycin, additive effects on STC gene expression were observed. The induction was aided by further elevation of pCREB, which was completely abolished by G? 6976, a Ca2+-dependent protein kinase C (PKC) alpha and PKCbeta1 inhibitor. Our results indicated that cross-talk with PKC and/or Ca2+ signaling pathways might sensitize cAMP-mediated effects, on CREB phosphorylation and STC gene expression.     

High prevalence of hyperuricemia in adolescent Taiwan aborigines

OBJECTIVE: To explore the prevalence and related factors of hyperuricemia among adolescent Taiwan aborigines in tribes with a high prevalence of adult gout, compared with adolescents of low prevalence aboriginal and non-aboriginal tribes. METHODS: The participants were aborigines and non-aborigines in Taiwan, age 12 to 15 years and free of gout. Each participant provided information on sex, age, and parents' tribal background as well as body weight and height. Serum samples were analyzed for biochemical markers. A logistic regression model was used to study factors related to hyperuricemia. RESULTS: In total 940 adolescents participated. The hyperuricemia rate in tribes with high gout prevalence (57.7%) was higher than in non-aborigines (48.2%) and in aboriginal tribes with low gout prevalence (34.0%). Factors statistically significantly related to hyperuricemia were tribe, sex, obesity, creatinine, and cholesterol levels in preliminary analysis. After adjustment by the logistic regression model, obese boys with higher creatinine were most likely to have hyperuricemia. Adolescents whose parents originated from tribes with high gout prevalence had a tendency to have hyperuricemia, and those aborigines from tribes with low gout prevalence had a low prevalence of hyperuricemia compared to non-aborigines. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of hyperuricemia in aboriginal adolescents mirrors the incidence of adult gout, implying a predisposition for adult gout in childhood, with genetic and/or environmental components presumably contributing to the differences between tribes; this may be of potential benefit to preventive efforts.     

禁欲时间对人精子顶体酶活性精子密度和精子数的影响

目的:了解禁欲时间对人精子顶体酶活性、精子密度和精子数的影响。方法:分光光度比色法测定精子顶体酶活性。结果:禁欲1～5d时,顶体酶活性是稳定的,而禁欲10d时顶体酶活性明显下降,与禁欲1d时顶体酶活性比较差异有显著性(P<0.05)。精子密度和精子数随禁欲时间增加而增加,禁欲10d精子密度约为禁欲1d精子密度2倍,禁欲10d精子总数约为禁欲1d的4倍。结论:禁欲时间影响顶体酶活性、精子密度和精子数。