Sexual Knowledge, attitudes and behaviors among unmarried migrant female workers in China: a comparative analysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In recent years, many studies have focused on adolescent's sex-related issues in China. However, there have been few studies of unmarried migrant females' sexual knowledge, attitudes and behaviors, which is important for sexual health education and promotion.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A sample of 5156 unmarried migrant female workers was selected from three manufacturing factories, two located in Shenzhen and one in Guangzhou, China. Demographic data, sexual knowledge, attitudes and behaviors were assessed by self-administered questionnaires. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the factors associated with premarital sexual intercourse.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The average age of the unmarried female workers included in the sample was 20.2 years, and majority of them showed a low level of sex-related knowledge. Females from the west of China demonstrated a significant lower level of sex-related knowledge than those from the eastern or central provinces (<it>p </it>< 0.05). Approximately 13% of participants held a favorable attitude towards premarital sexual intercourse, and youths from the east/central were more likely to have favorable attitudes compared with those from the west (<it>p </it>< 0.05). About 17.0% of the unmarried female workers reported having engaged in premarital sexual intercourse, and females from the east/central were more likely to have experienced premarital sexual intercourse than those from the west (<it>p </it>< 0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that age, education, current residential type, dating, sexual knowledge, attitudes, and pattern of communication were significantly associated with premarital sexual intercourse.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The unmarried migrant female workers lack sexual knowledge and a substantial proportion of them are engaged in premarital sexual behaviors. Interventions aimed at improving their sexual knowledge and related skills are needed.</p

3D Protein structure prediction with genetic tabu search algorithm

Abstract Background Protein structure prediction (PSP) has important applications in different fields, such as drug design, disease prediction, and so on. In protein structure prediction, there are two important issues. The first one is the design of the structure model and the second one is the design of the optimization technology. Because of the complexity of the realistic protein structure, the structure model adopted in this paper is a simplified model, which is called off-lattice AB model. After the structure model is assumed, optimization technology is needed for searching the best conformation of a protein sequence based on the assumed structure model. However, PSP is an NP-hard problem even if the simplest model is assumed. Thus, many algorithms have been developed to solve the global optimization problem. In this paper, a hybrid algorithm, which combines genetic algorithm (GA) and tabu search (TS) algorithm, is developed to complete this task. Results In order to develop an efficient optimization algorithm, several improved strategies are developed for the proposed genetic tabu search algorithm. The combined use of these strategies can improve the efficiency of the algorithm. In these strategies, tabu search introduced into the crossover and mutation operators can improve the local search capability, the adoption of variable population size strategy can maintain the diversity of the population, and the ranking selection strategy can improve the possibility of an individual with low energy value entering into next generation. Experiments are performed with Fibonacci sequences and real protein sequences. Experimental results show that the lowest energy obtained by the proposed GATS algorithm is lower than that obtained by previous methods. Conclusions The hybrid algorithm has the advantages from both genetic algorithm and tabu search algorithm. It makes use of the advantage of multiple search points in genetic algorithm, and can overcome poor hill-climbing capability in the conventional genetic algorithm by using the flexible memory functions of TS. Compared with some previous algorithms, GATS algorithm has better performance in global optimization and can predict 3D protein structure more effectively

Genes encoding critical transcriptional activators for murine neural tube development and human spina bifida: a case-control study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Spina bifida is a malformation of the neural tube and is the most common of neural tube defects (NTDs). The etiology of spina bifida is largely unknown, although it is thought to be multi-factorial, involving multiple interacting genes and environmental factors. Mutations in transcriptional co-activator genes-<it>Cited2</it>, <it>p300</it>, <it>Cbp</it>, <it>Tfap2α</it>, <it>Carm1 </it>and <it>Cart1 </it>result in NTDs in murine models, thus prompt us to investigate whether homologues of these genes are associated with NTDs in humans.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data and biological samples from 297 spina bifida cases and 300 controls were derived from a population-based case-control study conducted in California. 37 SNPs within <it>CITED2</it>, <it>EP300</it>, <it>CREBBP</it>, <it>TFAP2A</it>, <it>CARM1 </it>and <it>ALX1 </it>were genotyped using an ABI SNPlex assay. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for alleles, genotypes and haplotypes to evaluate the risk for spina bifida.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Several SNPs showed increased or decreased risk, including <it>CITED2 </it>rs1131431 (OR = 5.32, 1.04~27.30), <it>EP300 </it>rs4820428 (OR = 1.30, 1.01~1.67), <it>EP300 </it>rs4820429 (OR = 0.50, 0.26~0.50, in whites, OR = 0.7, 0.49~0.99 in all subjects), <it>EP300 </it>rs17002284 (OR = 0.43, 0.22~0.84), <it>TFAP2A </it>rs3798691 (OR = 1.78, 1.13~2.87 in Hispanics), <it>CREBBP </it>rs129986 (OR = 0.27, 0.11~0.69), <it>CARM1 </it>rs17616105 (OR = 0.41, 0.22~0.72 in whites). In addition, one haplotype block in <it>EP300 </it>and one in <it>TFAP2A </it>appeared to be associated with increased risk.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Modest associations were observed in <it>CITED2</it>, <it>EP300</it>, <it>CREBBP</it>, <it>TFAP2A </it>and <it>CARM1 </it>but not <it>ALX1</it>. However, these modest associations were not statistically significant after correction for multiple comparisons. Searching for potential functional variants and rare causal mutations is warranted in these genes.</p

The E-cadherin repressor Snail is associated with lower overall survival of ovarian cancer patients

Epithelial ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death among female genital malignancies. Reduced expression of the cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin was previously shown to be associated with adverse prognostic features. The role of the E-cadherin repressor Snail in ovarian cancer progression remains to be elucidated. We analysed formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded specimens of 48 primary ovarian tumours and corresponding metastases for expression of E-cadherin and Snail by immunohistochemistry. We found a significant correlation between E-cadherin expression in primary cancers and their corresponding metastases (P<0.001). This correlation was found for Snail expression as well (P<0.001). There was a significant (P=0.008) association of reduced E-cadherin expression in primary ovarian cancer with shorter overall survival. Similarly, Snail expression in corresponding metastases (P=0.047) was associated with reduced overall survival of the patients. Additionally, the group of patients showing reduced E-cadherin and increased Snail immunoreactivity in primary tumours and corresponding metastases, respectively, had a significantly higher risk of death (P=0.002 and 0.022, respectively) when compared to the patient group with the reference expression profile E-cadherin positive and Snail negative. Taken together, the results of our study show that the E-cadherin repressor Snail is associated with lower overall survival of ovarian cancer patients

Sequestration of fatty acids in triglycerides prevents endoplasmic reticulum stress in an in vitro model of cardiomyocyte lipotoxicity

We used human cardiomyocyte-derived cells to create an in vitro model to study lipid metabolism and explored the effects of PPAR gamma, ACSL1 and ATGL on fatty acid-induced ER stress. Compared to oleate, palmitate treatment resulted in less intracellular accumulation of lipid droplets and more ER stress, as measured by upregulation of CHOP, ATF6 and GRP78 gene expression and phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2a (ElF2a). Both ACSL1 and PPAR gamma adenovirus-mediated expression augmented neutral lipid accumulation and reduced palmitate-induced upregulation of ER stress markers to levels similar to those in the oleate and control treatment groups. This suggests that increased channeling of non-esterffied free fatty acids (NEFA) towards storage in the form of neutral lipids in lipid droplets protects against palmitate-induced ER stress. Overexpression of ATGL in cells incubated with oleate-containing medium increased NEFA release and stimulated expression of ER stress markers. Thus, inefficient creation of lipid droplets as well greater release of stored lipids induces ER stress. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved