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In this study, we aimed to assess the relationship of socioeconomic status and acculturation with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk profiles and CVD and examine the CVD risk factors associated with CVD. We used data from the 2010 China Chronic Disease and Risk Factor Surveillance surveys, which consisted of a nationally representative sample of women. The following prevalence was found: myocardial infarction (MI): 0.4%; stroke: 0.5%; abnormal cholesterolemia: 44.9%; overweight or obesity: 32.2%; hypertension: 31.7%; diabetes: 9.0%; and smoking: 2.5%. In total, 30.9% of Chinese women had no risk factors, but 13.3% had ≥3 associated risk factors. In multivariate-adjusted models, hypertension, diabetes, overweight or obese, and smoking were all directly associated with MI; For stroke, associations were positive with hypertension, abnormal cholesterolemia, diabetes, and overweight or obesity. Therefore, it can be concluded that CVD risk factors are common among Chinese women aged ≥18 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread planting of genetically engineered cotton producing the Cry1Ac toxin has led to significantly reduced pesticide applications since 1997. However, consequently, the number of green mirid bugs (GMB), Apolygus lucorum (Meyer-Dür) has increased. So far the GMB, instead of the cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), has become the major pest in the transgenic Bt cotton field and has influenced cotton yield. Disproportionately, only a few studies on GMB at molecular level have been reported. Libraries from both third instar nymphs and adults were sequenced using Illumina technology, producing more than 106 million short reads and assembled into 63 029 unigenes of mean length 597 nt and N50 813 nt, ranging from 300 nt to 9771 nt. BLASTx analysis against Nr, Swissprot, GO and COG was performed to annotate these unigenes. As a result, 26 478 unigenes (42.01%) matched to known proteins and 107 immune-related, 320 digestive-related and 53 metamorphosis-related genes were detected in these annotated unigenes. Additionally, we profiled gene expression using mapping based differentially expressed genes (DEGs) strategy between the two developmental stages: nymph and adult. The results demonstrated that thousands of genes were significantly differentially expressed at different developmental stages. The transcriptome and gene expression data provided comprehensive and global gene resources of GMB. This transcriptome would improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of various underlying biological characteristics, including development, digestion and immunity in GMB. Therefore, these findings could help elucidate the intrinsic factors of the GMB resurgence, offering novel pest management targets for future transgenic cotton breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To understand the associations of physical activity domains with metabolic syndrome among a middle-aged Chinese population. Methods In all, 3326 professional adults aged 35-64 years from Beijing and Zhejiang province were recruited with a cluster random sampling method. The Global Physical Activity Questionnaire was modified, and the recommended Asia-Pacific cut-offs of waist circumstance were introduced into the criteria for metabolic syndrome from the Adult Treatment Panel III. A binary logistic regression model was applied to examine the association of all physical activity domains with the risk of the syndrome. Results Participants who engaged in domestic activity for ≥1176 MET-min/week had a 41.6% less chance of having metabolic syndrome [odds ratio (OR), 0.584; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.480-0.710] than those without this activity. In adjusted models, adults who actively commuted for ≥33 MET-min/week but <528 MET-min/week had a 25% less chance of having the syndrome (OR, 0.750; 95% CI, 0.582-0.966) than those who did not. No interaction was detected between the two domains of activity and the syndrome. Conclusion This study highlighted the independently negative association of traffic and house activity with the prevalence of the syndrome in this sample with a generally low level of moderate activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND With the objective of finding novel valuable herbicidal candidates, a series of novel 4-(1 H-pyrazol-1-yl)-6-(alkynyloxy)-pyrimidine derivatives were synthesised and their herbicide activities were evaluated in vivo. RESULTS The results showed that many target compounds expressed bleaching activities. Among these, compound 5 h showed the best bleaching activity to gramineous weeds, being able to produce the highest inhibition of chlorophyll level in seedlings of Pennisetum alopecuroides L. ( IC50 = 3.48 mg L−1). Moreover, compound 5 h expressed good selective toxicity between gramineous P. alopecuroides L. and broadleaf plant Brassica campestris L. CONCLUSIONS The present work demonstrates that pyrimidine derivatives containing pyrazole can be used as potential lead compounds for developing novel pigment biosynthesis inhibitors. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated the effect of 131I gelatin microspheres (131I-GMSs) on human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) in nude mice (Balb/c) and the biodistribution of 131I-GMSs after intratumoral injection. The treatment group and control group animals received intratumoral injections of 1 mCi 131I-GMSs and GMSs unlabeled 131I, respectively. The size of the implanted tumor was measured once a week for 8 weeks, and the survival time was calculated from the day of injection to 64 days post-injection. Another 35 animals received intratumoral injections of 0.2 mCi 131I-GMSs and were subject to single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) on days 1, 8, 16, 24 and 32 post-injection. Samples of various organs were collected and used to calculate tissue concentrations on days 1, 4, 8, 16 and 24. Free thyroxine (FT4) in fetal bovine serum was tested to evaluate thyroid function. The tumors were collected for histological examination. 131I-GMSs produced a pronounced reduction in HepG2 tumor volume, and the overall survival was 73.3% in the treatment group and only 13.3% in the control group ( P < 0.001). Tissue radioactivity concentration measurements and SPECT demonstrated that the injected 131I-GMSs mainly accumulated within the tumors. The concentration of FT4 was stable during the observation period. The microspheres could be observed by histological methods on day 32. 131I-GMSs suppressed the growth of HepG2 in the nude mice and were retained in the tumor for a long period of time after injection. Direct intratumoral injection of 131I-GMSs offers a promising modality for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: The macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC/CCL22) is a prototypic Th2-type chemokine intimately involved in Th2-skewed allergic diseases, such as atopic dermatitis and asthma. The statins (3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors) have been demonstrated to relieve allergic inflammation. However, the immunological effects and mechanisms of statins against atopic dermatitis remain unknown, at least in vitro. This study aimed to define how different statins affect MDC expression in HaCaT cells, a human keratinocyte cell line.Experimental Approach: To measure the effects of statins on MDC expression in HaCaT cells, we used a cell viability assay, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blotting analyses.Key Results: Fluvastatin, but not atorvastatin or simvastatin, inhibited MDC expression induced by interferon (IFN)-gamma and NF-kappaB activation. A NF-kappaB inhibitor, but not a STAT1 inhibitor, suppressed MDC expression in HaCaT cells. Further, inhibition of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) significantly suppressed IFN-gamma-induced MDC expression and NF-kappaB activation. Interestingly, fluvastatin suppressed IFN-gamma-induced NF-kappaB activation in parallel with p38 MAPK phosphorylation.Conclusions and Implications: These results indicate that fluvastatin inhibited expression of the CC chemokine MDC induced by IFN-gamma in HaCaT cells, by inhibiting NF-kappaB activation via the p38 MAPK pathway. This blockade of a Th2 chemokine by fluvastatin may suppress the infiltration of Th2 cells into skin lesions and lessen the skin inflammation seen in atopic dermatitis, suggesting a potential therapeutic use of fluvastatin for this condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Equilibrium/near-equilibrium phase data is of great importance for the development and application of high entropy alloys. However, such results are still extremely limited. In this work, the phase constituent, microstructure and compositions of phases in three equimolar CoCrFeNiX (X = Cr, Mo, W) alloys after prolonged annealing were investigated. The as-cast alloys comprised two major phases. After homogenization, the BCC phase in CoCr 2 FeNi transformed to the sigma phase and the sigma phase in CoCrFeNiMo transformed to the R phase. Subsequent annealing at 500, 700 and 900 °C did not further change the major phases. Additionally, the formation of new minor phases during annealing is not as common as in other CoCrFeNiX alloys previously reported by the current authors. Existing phase formation theories were applied to the alloys and the results were almost entirely incorrect. This is associated with the type of intermetallic phases observed in these alloys – sigma and mu phases. The CALPHAD technique was also used to predict the phases in the alloys. The results show that the accuracy of CALPHAD prediction is directly associated with the fraction of assessed systems in the database. Together with previous and future parts of this systematic study, which investigated 22 CoCrFeNiX alloys with different X elements in total, we expect that the dataset can offer the foundation for new analyses and interpretations when looked at in its totality. • Phase constituents in three CoCrFeNiX (X = Cr, Mo, W) HEAs after prolonged annealing were investigated. • Homogenization leads to the transformation of major phases in CoCr 2 FeNi and CoCrFeNiMo. • Subsequent annealing does not change the type or fraction of the major phases. • Existing phase formation models basically mispredict the alloys to be simple solid solution alloys. • The accuracy of CALPHAD prediction is directly associated with the fraction of assessed subsystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]