National Health and Family Planning Commission

About: National Health and Family Planning Commission is a government organization based out in Beijing, China. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Kashin–Beck disease. The organization has 2379 authors who have published 1440 publications receiving 20078 citations. The organization is also known as: Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of China.

miR-214 Down-Regulation Promoted Hypoxia/Reoxygenation-Induced Hepatocyte Apoptosis Through TRAF1/ASK1/JNK Pathway.

Abstract: This study investigated the role of miR-214 in the hepatocyte apoptosis induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury. In vivo hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (HIR) injury, mice model and in vitro HR model were established. miR-214, TRAF1, ASK1, and JNK expression levels were detected by qRT-PCR and western blot. The apoptosis of mouse hepatocyte AML12 was detected by flow cytometry analysis. The interaction between miR-214 and TRAF1 was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were elevated in HIR injury mice compared with sham mice. miR-214 expression was down-regulated in liver tissues of HIR and H/R-induced hepatocytes, whereas TRAF1, ASK1, and JNK expressions were up-regulated in HIR and H/R groups. H/R stimulation promoted the apoptosis of hepatocytes, and miR-214 overexpression inhibited the apoptosis of hepatocytes. Besides, TRAF1 was a target of miR-214 and negatively regulated by miR-214. miR-214/TRAF1 pathway involved in the modulation of H/R-induced apoptosis of hepatocytes. In vivo study proved miR-214 reduced hepatic injury of HIR mice. miR-214 overexpression reduces hepatocyte apoptosis after HIR injury through negatively regulating TRAF1/ASK1/JNK pathway.

Making hospitals in China smoke-free: a prospective study of implementing the new standard.

Abstract: OBJECTIVES In the run-up to all Chinese health care facilities becoming smoke-free, the feasibility of the new standard was assessed by monitoring its implementation in a sample of Chinese hospitals. METHODS Forty-one hospitals across 20 provinces were asked to ban smoking inside the hospital and provide advice and referral to stop-smoking treatment. Smoking status of more than 24,000 members of staff at 21 hospitals was surveyed at baseline (April 2009) and at follow-up (October 2010). Surveys monitored implementation of several specific aspects of the new standard to identify potential barriers to nationwide implementation. RESULTS All hospitals managed to implement the ban and most set up smoking cessation clinics. Routine recording of patients' smoking status proved more difficult to implement. The hospitals improved significantly in 8 out of 11 monitored policy parameters. Smoking prevalence among staff decreased from 14.8% to 10.7% (p < .001), suggesting an important collateral benefit of making hospitals smoke-free. Outdoor smoking areas facilitated the indoor ban. Staff education emerged as the key priority. CONCLUSIONS The smoke-free standard is feasible even in a country with a widespread acceptance of smoking inside health facilities. Several challenges need to be addressed when the new standard is disseminated across China.

Clinical and genetic characteristics of Pseudohypoparathyroidism in the Chinese population.

Abstract: SummaryBackground Pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) is caused by mutations and epimutations in the GNAS locus, and characterized by the possibility of resistance to multiple hormones and Albright's hereditary osteodystrophy. PHP can be classified into the forms 1A/C, sporadic 1B, and familial 1B. Objectives To obtain an overall view of the clinical and genetic characteristics of the Chinese PHP patient population. Methods From 2000 to 2016, 120 patients were recruited and studied using Sanger sequencing, methylation-specific multiple ligation-dependent probe amplification (MS-MLPA), and combined bisulfiterestriction analysis (COBRA). Of these patients, 104 had positive molecular alterations indicative of certain forms of PHP and were included in data analysis. Clinical and laboratory features were compared between PHP1A/C and PHP1B patients. Results Ten PHP1A/C, 21 familial PHP1B, and 73 sporadic PHP1B patients were identified. Four novel GNAS mutations were discovered in these patients, including c.1038+1G>T, c.530+2T>C, c.880_883delCAAG, and c.311_312delAAG,insT. The most common symptoms in this series were recurrent tetany (89.4%) and epilepsy (47.1%). The prevalence of weight excess increased with age for PHP1B (10-35%) and PHP1A/C (50-75%). Intracranial calcification had a prevalence of 94.6% and correlated with seizures (r=0.227, p=0.029). Cataracts occurred in 56.2% PHP patients, and there was a trend towards longer disease duration in patients with cataracts (p=0.051). Statistically significant differences (p<0.05) were observed when comparing certain clinical characteristics between PHP1B and PHP1A/C patients, including age of onset (10yr vs. 7yr), short stature (21.3 vs. 70%), rounded face (60.6 vs. 100%), brachydactyly (25.5 vs. 100%), ectopic ossification (1.1 vs. 40%), and TSH resistance (44.6 vs. 90%), respectively. Conclusions This study is the largest single-centre series of PHP patients and summarises the clinical and genetic features of the Chinese PHP population. While there was substantial clinical overlap between PHP1A/C and PHP1B, differences in disease progression were observed. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Association of Hippocampal Magnetic Resonance Imaging With Learning and Memory Deficits in HIV-1-Seropositive Patients.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between cognitive impairment and hippocampal morphological and functional changes in HIV-seropositive patients. METHODS Thirty HIV+ patients who complain of memory decrease and 15 healthy volunteers were recruited. Performances of learning and memory were assessed using Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R) and Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R). Bilateral hippocampal volume, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value, fractional anisotropy value, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy variables of bilateral hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus were detected by 3.0 T magnetic resonance scanner. RESULTS We found significant differences in all cognitive outcomes but one between HIV+ and HIV- patients. There was a difference in the ADC value of left parahippocampal gyrus between mild-impairment group and severe-impairment group (P = 0.018). We found differences in the choline (Cho), Cho/creatinine (Cr), and N-acetylaspartate/Cr of left hippocampus (P = 0.002, P = 0.008, P = 0.002) and the Cho/Cr of right parahippocampal gyrus (P = 0.023) between HIV+ and HIV- patients and in the myoinositol of left hippocampus (P = 0.003) and the glutamate and glutamine of right hippocampus (P < 0.001) between mild-impairment group and severe-impairment group. We found significant positive correlations between N-acetylaspartate/Cr of left hippocampus and outcomes of HVLT-R and BVMT-R. There were significant negative correlations between ADC values of hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus and outcomes of HVLT-R and BVMT-R and between Cho and Cho/Cr of hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus and outcomes of HVLT-R and BVMT-R. CONCLUSIONS The performance of verbal learning and visual memory was significantly decreased in HIV-1-seropositive patients. The cognitive impairment of HIV infection was associated with conductive function and metabolic changes of hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus in this study.

Commensal Microbes Affect Host Humoral Immunity to Bordetella pertussis Infection.

Abstract: As important players in the host defense system, commensal microbes and the microbiota influence multiple aspects of host physiology Bordetella pertussis infection is highly contagious among humans However, the roles of the microbiota in B pertussis pathogenesis are poorly understood Here, we show that antibiotic-mediated depletion of the microbiota results in increased susceptibility to B pertussis infection during the early stage The increased susceptibility was associated with a marked impairment of the systemic IgG, IgG2a, and IgG1 antibody responses to B pertussis infection after antibiotic treatment Furthermore, the microbiota impacted the short-lived plasma cell responses as well as the recall responses of memory B cells to B pertussis infection Finally, we found that the dysbiosis caused by antibiotic treatment affects CD4+ T cell generation and PD-1 expression on CD4+ T cells and thereby perturbs plasma cell differentiation Our results have revealed the importance of commensal microbes in modulating host immune responses to B pertussis infection and support the possibility of controlling the severity of B pertussis infection in humans by manipulating the microbiota