Polymorphisms of the Vitamin D Receptor Gene and SexDifferential Associations with Lipid Profiles in Chinese Han Adults

Objective To explore the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)of the vitamin D receptor gene(VDR)with circulating lipids considering gender differences.Methods Of the Han Chinese adults recruited from a health examination center for inclusion in the study,the circulating lipids,25-hydroxyvitamin D(25OHD),and other parameters were measured.The VDR SNPs of Cdx2(rs11568820),Fok1(rs2228570),Apa1(rs7975232),and Taq1(rs731236)were genotyped with a qPCR test using blood DNA samples,and their associations with lipids were analyzed using logistic regression.Results In the female participants(n=236 with dyslipidemia and 888 without dyslipidemia),multiple genotype models of Fok1 indicated a positive correlation of B(not A)alleles with LDLC level(P<0.05).In the male participants(n=299 with dyslipidemia and 564 without dyslipidemia),the recessive model of Cdx2 and the additive and recessive models of Fok1 differed(P<0.05)between the HDLC-classified subgroups,respectively,and Fok1 BB and Cdx2 TT presented interactions with 25OHD in the negative associations with HDLC(P<0.05).Conclusion In the Chinese Han adults included in the study,the Fok1 B-allele of VDR was associated with higher LDLC in females,and the Fok1 B-allele and the Cdx2 T-allele of VDR were associated with lower HDLC in males.The interaction of VD and Fok1 BB or Cdx2 TT in males synergistically decreased HDLC levels.

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF ACUPOINT-CATGUT-EMBEDDING ON EEG OF EPILEPSY RATS

Aim: To observe the therapeutic effect of acupoint catgut embedding in the treatment of epilepsy rats. Methods: 40 Wistar rats were randomly and evenly divided into normal control, model, medication (Natrii Valproas syrup), and catgut embedding groups. Epilepsy model was established by intraperitoneal injection of sodium penicillin (0.4 mu/100 g), twice every week, continuously for 4 weeks. Electroencephalograph (EEG) was used as the index for assessing the effect of catgut embedding on epilepsy. Results: In epilepsy rats of model group, the amplitude and frequency of EEG increased significantly in comparison with control group (P<0.05). While the amplitude and frequency of EEG of catgut embedding group and medication group were all significantly lower than those of model group (P<0.05, 0.01). The frequency of EEG of catgut embedding group was significantly lower than that of medication group (P<0.05). These findings show that both acupoint catgut embedding and medication can apparently improve epileptic electrical activities of the brain in the rat, and the effect of catgut embedding is better than that of medication in lowering the frequency of EEG.