Altered TNF-Alpha, Glucose, Insulin and Amino Acids in Islets Langerhans Cultured in a Microgravity Model System

The present studies were designed to determine effects of a microgravity model system upon lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) activity and indices of insulin and fuel homeostasis of pancreatic islets of Langerhans. Islets (1726+/-1 17,150 u IEU) from Wistar Furth rats were treated as: 1) HARV (High Aspect Ratio Vessel cell culture) , 2) HARV plus LPS, 3) static culture, 4) static culture plus LPS. TNF-alpha (L929 cytotoxicity assay) was significantly increased in LPS-induced HARV and static cultures, yet the increase was more pronounced in the static culture group (p<0.05). A decrease in insulin concentration was demonstrated in the LPS stimulated HARV culture (p<0.05). We observed a greater glucose concentration and increased disappearance of arginine in islets cultured in HARVs. While nitrogenous compound analysis indicated a ubiquitous reliance upon glutamine in all experimental groups, arginine was converted to ornithine at a two-fold greater rate in the islets cultured in the HARV microgravity model system (p<0.05). These studies demonstrate alterations in LPS induced TNF-alpha production of pancreatic islets of Langerhans, favoring a lesser TNF activity in the HARV. These alterations in fuel homeostasis may be promulgated by gravity averaged cell culture methods or by three dimensional cell assembly

Socioeconomic and lifestyle factors associated with HPV infection in pregnant women: a matched case-control study in Beijing, China

Abstract Background Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection plays key role in the development of cervical cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate socioeconomic and lifestyle factors associated with HPV infection in pregnant women in Beijing, China. Methods An age matched case-control study designed with 66 women as the case group (HPV positive) and 132 women as the control group (HPV negative) was carried out in two hospitals in Beijing. Socioeconomic and lifestyle factors were obtained using a standard questionnaire. Cervical cells from study subjects were collected for HPV detection. An unconditional logistic regression model with backward stepwise selection was performed to predict the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the significant factors associated with HPV infection. Results The analyses of present data show that alcohol consumption during pregnancy was the strongest significant factor (OR = 3.35, 95% CI = 1.40–8.03, p = 0.007) when comparing the case (HPV positive) group with the control (HPV negative) group. There were no statistical differences observed in any of the socioeconomic factors when comparing the case and control groups. Conclusion The results of this study may help to prevent HPV infection in China by providing evidence to support improving the national policy on alcohol restriction and introducing public health interventions, especially for pregnant women in Beijing

Family-environmental factors associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in Chinese children: a case-control study.

BackgroundAttention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common psychiatric disorders, affecting an estimated 5 to 12% of school-aged children worldwide. From 15 to 19 million Chinese children suffer from ADHD. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between family-environmental factors and ADHD in a sample of Chinese children.MethodsA pair-matched, case-control study was conducted with 161 ADHD children and 161 non-ADHD children of matching age and sex, all from 5-18 years of age. The ADHD subjects and the normal controls were all evaluated via structured diagnostic interviews. We examined the association between family-environmental factors and ADHD using the conditional multiple logistic regression with backward stepwise selection to predict the associated factors of ADHD.ResultsHaving experienced emotional abuse and being a single child were both significant factors associated with children diagnosed with ADHD. ADHD subjects were more likely to have suffered from emotional abuse (OR = 11.09, 95% CI = 2.15-57.29, P = 0.004) and have been a single child in the family (OR = 6.32, 95% CI = 2.09-19.14, P = 0.001) when compared to normal controls. The results were not modified by other confounding factors.ConclusionOur findings provide evidence that family-environmental factors are associated with ADHD among children in China. These findings, if confirmed by future research, may help to decrease ADHD by increasing the awareness of the effects of childhood emotional abuse

Demographic and Distribution of Biological Factors of ADHD: Comparisons of ADHD Cases and Non-ADHD Control subjects.

<p>–, no data.</p><p>P-value and OR (95% CI) were obtained from the multivariate logistic regression model that simultaneously included biological factors.</p

Distribution of Family-Environmental Factors of ADHD: Comparisons of ADHD Cases and Non-ADHD Control Subjects.

<p>P-value and OR (95% CI) were obtained from the multivariate logistic regression model that simultaneously included family-environmental factors.</p

Distribution of Lifestyle Factors of ADHD: Comparisons of ADHD Cases and Non-ADHD Control Subjects.

<p>P-value and OR (95% CI) were obtained from the multivariate logistic regression model that simultaneously included lifestyle factors.</p

Associated Factors Identified in Backward Stepwise Logistic Regression Model.

<p>Variables entered into the Model: sex, age, maternal age at childbirth, maternal stress during pregnancy, pregnancy induced hypertension, maternal education, paternal education, single child, family structure, family conflicts, emotional abuse, domestic tobacco smoke, domestic alcohol consumption, physical activity, TV viewing, internet usage, accidental injury, and dietary supplement intake.</p>a<p>values are the estimated unstandardized regression coefficients.</p>b<p>OR indicates likelihood of an ADHD.</p