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Objective: To explore the peripheral leucocytic messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) gene in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Methods: Using TaqMan relative quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, we analyzed leucocytic gene expression of GSK-3β in 48 AD patients and 49 healthy controls. Clinical data of AD patients were also collected. Results: The mRNA expression level of the GSK-3β gene was significantly higher in the AD group (3.13 ± 0.62) than in the normal group (2.77 ± 0.77). Correlational analyses showed that the mRNA expression level of GSK-3β gene in AD patients was associated with the age of onset (P= 0.047), age (P= 0.055), and Behavioral Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease Rating Scale total score (P= 0.062) and subscores: aggressiveness score (P= 0.073) and anxieties and phobias score (P= 0.067). Through multivariate regression model, older age, higher anxieties and phobias score and aggressiveness score were associated with higher mRNA expression level of GSK-3β gene. Conclusion: In AD patients, the mRNA expression level of the GSK-3β gene is increased and may be related to age and behavioural pathology in AD.

A systematic evaluation on the levels of organochlorine pesticide residues (OCP) was conducted on four selected, authentic Chinese materia medica, namely: Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Radix Notoginseng, Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae and Radix Ginseng. Altogether ten representative batches of samples were analysed for each herb. Six batches were collected in the major cultivation areas of the Mainland whilst the remaining four batches were procured in the Hong Kong herbal market. All except Radix Angelicae Sinensis have been identified as containing quintozene and hexachlorocyclohexane in various levels. Hexachlorobenzene and lindane were also reported in samples of Radix Ginseng. The banned pesticide, DDT and its derivatives, was also observed in one of the Radix Notoginseng samples. The investigation will be continued for a target list of common used herbs in Hong Kong. All the results will be gathered and analysed for setting up regulatory permissible limits of OCP residues in Chinese materia medica used in Hong Kong.