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.

IP3-Mediated Calcium Signaling Is Involved in the Mechanism of Fractalkine-Induced Hyperalgesia Response

Abstract: BACKGROUND Fractalkine is widely expressed throughout the brain and spinal cord, where it can exert effects on pain enhancement and hyperalgesia by activating microglia through CX3C chemokine receptor 1 (CX3CR1), which triggers the release of several pro-inflammatory cytokines in the spinal cord. Fractalkine has also been shown to increase cytosolic calcium ([Ca2+]i) in microglia. MATERIAL AND METHODS Based on the characteristics of CX3CR1, a G protein-coupled receptor, we explored the role of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) signaling in fractalkine-induced inflammatory response in BV-2 cells in vitro. The effect and the underlying mechanism induced by fractalkine in the brain were observed using a mouse model with intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of exogenous fractalkine. RESULTS [Ca2+]i was significantly increased and IL-1β and TNF-α levels were higher in the fractalkine-treated cell groups than in the farctalkine+ 2-APB groups. We found that i.c.v. injection of fractalkine significantly increased p-p38MAPK, IL-1β, and TNF-α expression in the brain, while i.c.v. injection of a fractalkine-neutralizing antibody (anti-CX3CR1), trisphosphate receptor (IP3R) antagonist (2-APB), or p38MAPK inhibitor (SB203580) prior to fractalkine addition yielded an effective and reliable anti-allodynia effect, following the reduction of p-p38MAPK, IL-1β, and TNF-α expression. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that fractalkine leads to hyperalgesia, and the underlying mechanism may be associated with IP3/p38MAPK-mediated calcium signaling and its phlogogenic properties.

Iodized salt consumption and iodine deficiency status in China: a cross-sectional study

Abstract: Objective: To monitor iodized salt consumption and evaluate iodine deficiency status in 2014 in China. Materials and Methods: In 2014, a nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted in 31 provinces (in this study, provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in Mainland China were named as provinces). Probability proportional to size sampling method was adopted to recruit children ages 8–10 and pregnant women. 47,467 children’s and 18,994 pregnant women’s urine samples were collected and 47,706 children’s thyroid volumes were examined. Iodine content in salt was determined with 46,900 edible salt samples from children’s households; urinary iodine concentration (UIC) was tested from children and pregnant women’s urine samples; thyroid volume of children was assessed by ultrasound. Results: The national coverage rate of iodized salt and consumption rate of qualified iodized salt were 96.3% and 91.5%, respectively. Median iodine content in iodized salt was 25.2 mg/kg. In 22 of 31 provinces, the provincial coverage rates of iodized salt were over 95%. And consumption rates of qualified iodized salt were more than 90% in 21 provinces. In this study, the national median urinary iodine concentration (MUIC) of children in China was 197.9 μg/L. At the provincial level, MUIC of children in 19 provinces was 100–199 μg/L, which in 12 provinces was 200–299 μg/L. The national MUIC of pregnant women in 2014 was 154.6 μg/L, slightly higher than the lower limit of the WHO criteria for adequate (150–249 μg/L). At the provincial level, MUIC of pregnant women in 18 provinces was 100–149 μg/L, which in 13 provinces was 150–249 μg/L. The national prevalence of goiter among children in 2014 was 2.6%, of which only Shandong province (5.6%) exceeded the national standard (5%). Conclusions: In China, iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) has been eliminated since 2005. And in 2014, the IDD-free status still remained.

Incidence of human rabies and characterization of rabies virus nucleoprotein gene in dogs in Fujian Province, Southeast China, 2002–2012

Abstract: Rabies is a global fatal infectious viral disease that is characterized by a high mortality after onset of clinical symptoms. Recently, there has been an increase in the incidence of rabies in China. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of human rabies and characterize the rabies virus nucleoprotein gene in dogs sampled from Fujian Province, Southeast China from 2002 to 2012. Data pertaining to human rabies cases in Fujian Province during the period from 2002 through 2012 were collected, and the epidemiological profiles were described. The saliva and brain specimens were collected from dogs in Quanzhou, Longyan and Sanming cities of the province, and the rabies virus antigen was determined in the canine saliva specimens using an ELISA assay. Rabies virus RNA was extracted from canine brain specimens, and rabies virus nucleoprotein gene was amplified using a nested RT-PCR assay, followed by sequencing and genotyping. A total of 226 human rabies cases were reported in Fujian Province from 2002 to 2012, in which 197 cases were detected in three cities of Quanzhou, Longyan and Sanming. ELISA assay revealed positive rabies virus antigen in six of eight rabid dogs and 165 of 3492 seemingly healthy dogs. The full-length gene fragment of the rabies virus nucleoprotein gene was amplified from the brain specimens of seven rabid dogs and 12 seemingly healthy dogs. Sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis revealed that these 19 rabies virus nucleoprotein genes all belonged to genotype I, and were classified into three genetic groups. Sequencing analysis showed a 99.7% to 100% intra-group and an 86.4% to 89.3% inter-group homology. This study is the first description pertaining to the epidemiological characteristics of human rabies cases and characterization of the rabies virus nucleoprotein gene in dogs in Fujian Province, Southeast China. Our findings may provide valuable knowledge for the development of strategies targeting the prevention and control of rabies.

Anti-GAPDHS antibodies: a biomarker of immune infertility

Abstract: Numerous investigations have focused on the detection of antisperm antibodies, which have a naturally occurring impact on male and female fertility. In this study, spermatogenic glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDHS) was considered to be a candidate biomarker of immune infertility. The concentrations of anti–GAPDHS antibodies in the sera of sterile individuals and fertile couples were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Sera were collected from immune infertile (n = 175) and fertile (n = 237) individuals and were screened by tray agglutination tests (TAT). Infertile sera were further divided into two groups according to the serum titers obtained by TAT (titers ≤ 1:8, n = 58; titers > 1:8, n = 117). The concentrations of anti–GAPDHS antibodies were significantly higher in the immune infertile group than in the fertile group and were much higher with regard to the increased degrees of sperm agglutination (titers > 1:8). Surprisingly, we found statistically significantly higher concentrations of antibodies in the sera of infertile men than in those of infertile women, and a similar statistical result was obtained in the sera when primary infertility was compared with secondary infertility. Thus, anti–GAPDHS antibodies seem to be a sensitive parameter in immune infertile detection and might be one of the main factors causing immune infertility. This factor might be valuable as an indicator in the clinical diagnosis and monitoring treatment of infertility.