A New Equation to Estimate Glomerular Filtration Rate in Chinese Elderly Population

Background

We sought to develop a new equation to estimate glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in Chinese elderly population.

Methods

A total of 668 Chinese elderly participants, including the development cohort (n = 433), the validation cohort (n = 235) were enrolled. The new equation using the generalized additive model, and age, gender, serum creatinine as predictor variables was developed and the performances was compared with the CKD-EPI equation.

Results

In the validation data set, both bias and precision were improved with the new equation, as compared with the CKD-EPI equation (median difference, −1.5 ml/min/1.73 m² vs. 7.4 ml/min/1.73 m² for the new equation and the CKD-EPI equation, [P<0.001]; interquartile range [IQR] for the difference, 16.2 ml/min/1.73 m² vs. 19.0 ml/min/1.73 m² [P<0.001]), as were accuracies (15% accuracy, 40.4% vs. 30.6% [P = 0.02]; 30% accuracy, 71.1% vs. 47.2%, [P<0.001]; 50% accuracy, 90.2% vs. 75.7%, [P<0.001]), allowing improvement in GFR categorization (GFR category misclassification rate, 37.4% vs. 53.2% [P = <0.001]).

Conclusions

A new equation was developed in Chinese elderly population. In the validation data set, the new equation performed better than the original CKD-EPI equation. The new equation needs further external validations. Calibration of the GFR referent standard to a more accurate one should be an useful way to improve the performance of GFR estimating equations.     

荧光银纳米团簇的生物合成及其在痕量六价铬检测中的应用

【目的】利用季也蒙毕赤酵母ZJC-1合成银纳米团簇并用于痕量Cr(Ⅵ)的检测。【方法】使用经耐银驯化的季也蒙毕赤酵母ZJC-1生物合成荧光银纳米团簇,并对其结构和荧光性能进行了表征,探究Cr(Ⅵ)对银纳米团簇荧光的选择性猝灭作用,建立了银纳米团簇荧光强度与Cr(Ⅵ)浓度的线性关系。同时还考察了体系p H和其他金属离子对Cr(Ⅵ)检测的影响。【结果】Cr(Ⅵ)浓度在一定的范围内(1–80μmol/L)与银纳米团簇荧光强度(F_0–F)/F_0有着良好的线性关系(R~2=0.9821),线性方程为(F_0–F)/F_0=0.0054×C_cr(Ⅵ)+0.1876,检测限为184 nmol/L(信噪比为3)。利用该方法检测实际水样(松花江、马家沟河)中的Cr(Ⅵ),回收率介于97.73%–102.88%之间。【结论】以季也蒙毕赤酵母ZJC-1为还原剂和稳定剂,制备了具有较好荧光性能的水溶性银纳米团簇,基于Cr(Ⅵ)对银纳米团簇荧光的选择性猝灭作用,建立了一种快速且灵敏检测痕量Cr(Ⅵ)的新方法,并成功地应用于松花江、马家沟河水样中Cr(Ⅵ)的测定,在分析检测领域中具有良好的应用前景。     

Three new synonyms of Macromitrium microstomum (Hook. & Grev.) Schwägr. (Bryophyta,Orthotrichaceae), with comments on its morphological variations

Macromitrium filicaule Müll.Hal., M. pacificum var. brevisetum Thér. and M. subnitidum Müll.Hal are placed in synonymy with Macromitrium microstomum (Hook. & Grev.) Schwägr. The morphological variations of M. microstomum branch leaves, perichaetial leaves and capsules are illustrated by digital images.     

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677TT genotype might be associated with an increased lung cancer risk in Asians

Background

The association between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677C > T polymorphism and lung cancer risk has been studied in various populations with conflicting results. The aim of this study was to assess the association strength by a meta-analysis of published studies.

Methods

We searched PubMed and Chinese Biomedical (CBM) databases for relevant literatures published by July 18, 2012. Pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated to assess the strength of the association.

Results

A total of 20 studies comprising 11,653 cases and 12,032 controls were included in the final meta-analysis. Using the random effect model, we found that MTHFR 677TT variant genotype was associated with an increased lung cancer risk (OR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.05–1.50, P = 0.011 for TT vs. CC; OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.03–1.37, P < 0.001 for TT vs. CC + CT; OR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.02–1.22, P = 0.017 for T allele vs. C allele). In the further stratified analyses, the increased lung cancer risk was found in Asian subjects (OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.01–1.71, P = 0.045 for TT vs. CC; OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.00–1.38, P = 0.048 for TT vs. CC + CT). There were no evidences for obvious publication bias in the overall meta-analysis and Asian subjects.

Conclusions

MTHFR 677TT genotype might increase the susceptibility of lung cancer, especially in Asians.     

The C161T polymorphism in the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma gene (PPARγ) is associated with risk of coronary artery disease: a meta-analysis

The researches attempting to associate the PPARγ C161T polymorphism with coronary artery disease (CAD) yielded complicated and contradictory results. We aimed for more precise estimate of the relationship and conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis. Publications written in English or Chinese were screened in MEDLINE, Embase, CNKI, Wanfang and CBM. Data on 11 studies including 3,020 cases and 2,853 controls were extracted. A random-effects model was available to synthesize the inconsistent outcomes of the individual studies, while addressing between-study heterogeneity and publication bias. The PPARγ C161T polymorphism followed Hard-Weinberg Equilibrium for all studies (P > 0.05).Overall, there was no evidence for a significant association under all genetic models but with distinct heterogeneity (T vs. C: P = 0.29, OR = 0.91, 95 %CI 0.77–1.08, P _{heterogeneity} = 0.004, I ² = 61.2 %). However, in the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, the T allele carriers showed a prominent 26 % risk reduction of CAD among Chinese (dominant genetic model: P = 0.03, 95 %CI 0.57–0.97, P _{heterogeneity} = 0.03, I ² = 56.1 %). After dividing into population source, the significance of CAD risk reduction was strengthened in hospital-based studies (allele comparison: P = 0.04, OR = 0.82, 95 %CI 0.67–1.00, P _{heterogeneity} = 0.04, I ² = 52.5 %; dominant model: P = 0.01, OR = 0.73, 95 %CI 0.57–0.92, P _{heterogeneity} = 0.05, I ² = 50.8 %). There was no obvious publication bias verified in the method of funnel plot and Egger’s linear regression test (t = ?0.11, P = 0.913). Taken together, our results revealed the PPARγ C161T polymorphism might play a moderate protective effect on developing CAD among Chinese, but not among Caucasians.     

Effect of mesenchymal stem cells on inhibiting airway remodeling and airway inflammation in chronic asthma

Previous studies proved that bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) could improve a variety of immune‐mediated disease by its immunomodulatory properties. In this study, we investigated the effect on airway remodeling and airway inflammation by administrating BMSCs in chronic asthmatic mice. Forty‐eight female BALB/c mice were randomly distributed into PBS group, BMSCs treatment group, BMSCs control group, and asthmatic group. The levels of cytokine and immunoglobulin in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were detected by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. The number of CD4⁺CD25⁺regulatory T cells and morphometric analysis was determined by flow cytometry, hematoxylin‐eosin, immunofluorescence staining, periodic‐acid Schiff, and masson staining, respectively. We found that airway remodeling and airway inflammation were evident in asthmatic mice. Moreover, low level of IL‐12 and high levels of IL‐13, IL‐4, OVA‐specific IgG1, IgE, and IgG2a and the fewer number of CD4⁺CD25⁺regulatory T cells were present in asthmatic group. However, transplantation of BMSCs significantly decreased airway inflammation and airway remodeling and level of IL‐4, OVA‐specific IgE, and OVA‐specific IgG1, but elevated level of IL‐12 and the number of CD4 + CD25 + regulatory T cells in asthma (P < 0.05). However, BMSCs did not contribute to lung regeneration and had no significant effect on levels of IL‐10, IFN‐Y, and IL‐13. In our study, BMSCs engraftment prohibited airway inflammation and airway remodeling in chronic asthmatic group. The beneficial effect of BMSCs might involved the modulation imbalance cytokine toward a new balance Th1–Th2 profiles and up‐regulation of protective CD4 + CD25 + regulatory T cells in asthma, but not contribution to lung regeneration. J. Cell. Biochem. 114: 1595–1605, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.