Comparison of nutrition education policies and programs for children in China and other selected developed countries

A double burden of overweight/obesity and malnutrition during childhood is a major concern in China.Dietary intakes in this critical period affect children’s physical and cognitive development,and also have health consequences in later life.Therefore,establishing healthy eating habits that will endure is crucial for children.Nutrition education is an effective way in improving nutrition knowledge and attitudes,and healthy eating behaviors.Diverse forms of nutrition improvement programs that targeting children,family,teachers,and school settings have been conducted in many developed countries.However,due to the differences of genetic background,household environment as well as dietary patterns between Chinese children and children from other countries,the existing nutrition education programs for children abroad might not be appropriate for children in China.Thus,nutrition education programs that consider Chinese nutrition-related policies and food supply as well as the local educational resources are required for Chinese children.This review summarized nutrition-related policies and legislations in China and developed countries.A series of evidence-based nutrition education programs that combined educational strategies and environmental supports conducted in the Southwest China Childhood Nutrition and Growth Study were presented.These programs can serve as example models for adopting nutrition interventions to improve nutrition and health status of children in different regions of China.

Identification of novel candidate genes in East Asian COPD patients by the functional summary-based imputation and the unified test for molecular signatures:a transcriptome-wide association study

To the Editor:Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD),a clinical syndrome encompassing a spectrum of chronic,progressive,and debilitating respiratory disorders,is increasingly recognized as a multisystemic heterogeneous disease.[1]Because the characteristics of East Asian COPD patients differ from those of Westerners,it would be practical to investigate whether variations in COPD genetic performance exist between East Asian and Western populations.

Neuroprotective effect of hydroxy-α-sanshool against β-amyloid-induced damage in differentiated PC12 cells

To the Editor:Alzheimer’s disease(AD)is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder that accounts for approximately 70%of global dementia cases and leads to cognitive and behavioral impairments.[1]Neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles are the pathological hallmarks of AD and are related to the accumulation of b-amyloid(Ab)peptides in cerebral tissues and cytoskeletal changes,which arise from the hyperphosphorylation of microtubule-associated tau proteins in neurons.Oxidative stress is among the earliest events in AD pathogenesis.The accumulation of Ab could promote the production of reactive oxygen species(ROS)and consequently lipid peroxidation,protein oxidation,and tau hyperphosphorylation,exerting toxic effects on synapses and neurons.In turn,oxidative stress could increase Ab production.Therefore,antioxidant therapy is becoming a popular strategy for treating AD.

Pathological BBB Crossing Melanin-Like Nanoparticles as Metal-Ion Chelators and Neuroinflammation Regulators against Alzheimer’s Disease

Inflammatory responses,manifested in excessive oxidative stress and microglia overactivation,together with metal ion-triggered amyloid-beta(Aβ)deposition,are critical hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease(AD).The intricate pathogenesis causes severe impairment of neurons,which,in turn,exacerbates Aβaggregation and facilitates AD progression.Herein,multifunctional melanin-like metal ion chelators and neuroinflammation regulators(named PDA@K)were constructed for targeted treatment of AD.In this platform,intrinsically bioactive material polydopamine nanoparticles(PDA)with potent metal ion chelating and ROS scavenging effects were decorated with the KLVFF peptide,endowing the system with the capacity of enhanced pathological blood–brain barrier(BBB)crossing and lesion site accumulation via Aβhitchhiking.In vitro and in vivo experiment revealed that PDA@K had high affinity toward Aβand were able to hitch a ride on Aβto achieve increased pathological BBB crossing.The engineered PDA@K effectively mitigated Aβaggregate and alleviated neuroinflammation.

The design,mechanism and biomedical application of self-healing hydrogels

Hydrogels are promising materials with outstanding characteristics such as tunable and reversible physical/chemical properties,stimuli-responsiveness,biomimetic,and biocompatibility.However,the structural and functional integrity of the hydrogels can be compromised by external mechanical forces or chemical erosion when used,especially in sophisticated in vivo environment.To address this problem,self-healing hydrogels which possess the intrinsic ability of self-repair have been developed to adapt to destructive factors.In this review,we focused on the current advances made in self-healing hydrogels.First,the testing methods for self-healing hydrogels were summarized.Then,we looked into the designing strategies of self-healing hydrogels and illustrated the self-healing mechanism.What＇s more,the biomedical application of self-healing hydrogels in vivo was discussed.

Low Expression of FGF23 and Its Effect on Rats with Intrauterine Growth Retardation

Objective:To explore the levels of fibroblast growth factor 23(FGF23)during pregnancy and its relationship with intrauterine growth restriction(IUGR).Methods:Pregnant rats were classified into an ad libitum rat chow group(ad libitum rat chow,AD group,n=25)and an undernutrition group(50%of their daily food requirement,UN group,n=25).The levels of maternal serum FGF23,tissue homogenate FGF23,and bone gla protein in fetal rats,and placental FGF23 mRNA and protein expression were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,real-time qPCR analysis respectively.Finally,the effect of recombinant FGF23 on the viability of MG-63 cells was determined by cell proliferation assay.Data were analyzed with independent two-tailed t test and one-way analysis of variance.Spearman rank-order correlation coefficients(continuous variables)was performed to determine the relationship of results.Results:The diet restriction induced IUGR in rat offsprings,and the UN group exhibited a significantly lower FGF23 level(P<0.05,n=5).The FGF23 level was increased and peaked in maternal serum on gestation day(GD)15,but peaked in fetal and placenta on GD20.Moreover,the tissue homogenate levels of FGF23 and bone gla protein in fetal rats in both groups were positively correlated(r=0.923,P<0.05;r=0.925,P<0.05,respectively,n=15),FGF23 was localized to both decidual and labyrinth zones,with remarkably higher expression on GD20,P<0.05,n=5.In vitro,recombinant human FGF23 enhanced MG-63 cell viability,P<0.05,n=5.Conclusion:Prenatal undernutrition could decrease the FGF23 expression in fetal rats caused by the mother through the placenta,and induced the IUGR and hindered the ossification.And the FGF23 levels are peaked on GD15 mother but peaked on GD20 placenta and fetuses,these might be associated with the over compensation of maternal placenta on GD20.

Butyrate acts as a G-protein-coupled receptor ligand that prevents high glucose-induced amyloidogenesis in N2a cells through the protein kinase B/glycogen synthase kinase-3β pathway

To the Editor:Alzheimer’s disease(AD)and type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)are major causes of morbidity and mortality in older individuals,and their epidemiological link generates substantial challenges for the management of these devastating diseases.Abnormal glucose metabolism,accompanied by inhibition of the protein kinase B(Akt)/glycogen synthase kinase-3b(GSK-3b)signaling pathway,is a key factor in amyloid precursor protein(APP)accumulation and amyloid b(Ab)formation in neuronal cells.[1-3]Therefore,activation of the Akt/GSK-3b pathway may be a promising target for AD treatment.

Prostasin gene polymorphism at rs12597511 is associated with severe preeclampsia in Chinese Han women

Background Preeclampsia,characterized by hypertension and proteinuria,is a multifactorial disease associated with shallow invasion of trophoblast cells and inadequate spiral artery remodeling.Trophoblast and tumor cells have similar invasion mechanism.Prostasin is closely related to tumor development,invasion and metastasis and influences blood pressure through activating epithelial sodium channel.The effect of prostasin on the pathogenesis of preeclampsia remains unclear.This study investigated the association of prostasin gene at rs12597511 with severe preeclampsia.Methods A single nucleotide polymorphism,rs12597511,was tested with polymerase chain reaction and restrictionfragment length polymorphism analyses in 179 severe preeclampsia patients and 222 normal pregnant women.Results The frequencies of TC ＋ CC genotypes were significantly higher in severe preeclampsia group compared with in control group （the adjusted odds ratio was 2.030,95% confidence interval 1.195-3.449,P=0.009）.The C allele of rs12597511 was present significantly more often among women with severe preeclampsia （P=0.001）.Genotyping analysis showed that the C allele of rs12597511 could confer a risk for severe preeclampsia.Conclusion The higher frequency of C allele of prostasin gene at rs12597511 is associated with severe preeclampsia.

Bioactive proteins in healthy pregnancies and preeclampsia： relevance to hypertension and proteinuria

Background Bioactive proteins, such as cytokines and chemokines, have not been systematically evaluated in healthy and preeclamptic pregnancies. We aimed to investigate the difference of these proteins between healthy and preeclamptic pregnancies in order to help clarify their potential roles in the pathogenesis of hypertension and proteinuria in preeclampsia. Methods Samples of amniotic fluid and maternal/umbilical cord blood were collected from normal pregnancies and women with preeclampsia for examination of bioactive proteins. Fifty-three pregnant women were enrolled in this study. Of them, 30 pregnant women were recruited as healthy controls, and 23 pregnant women were diagnosed with preeclampsia. An antibody array was used to screen for higher levels of cytokines and related proteins in amniotic fluid than in the blood samples, and these proteins were then selected for quantification by immunoassay. Results Interleukin-1 receptor 4, hepatocyte growth factor, and urokinase plasminogen activator receptor were significantly elevated in the blood of preec^ampsia patients. In particular, intedeukin-1 receptor 4 was 8-fold higher in preeclampsia patients than in the healthy pregnancies. Moreover, in cord blood samples hepatocyte growth factor and interleukin-8 were significantly higher in preeclampsia patients. Conclusions Because of the biologic activities, Interleukin-1 receptor 4, hepatocyte growth factor, urokinase plasminogen activator receptor and interleukin-8 in maternal and/or cord blood could play a role in the pathogenesis of hypertension and proteinuria in preeclampsia.

A Potential Role for CXCR2 in Early-onset Preeclampsia:Placental CXCR2 Expression is Related to Increased Blood Pressure and Serum LDH Levels

Objective:This study was aimed to determine the changes in CXCR2 expression in preeclampsia placenta and its correlation with clinical parameters.Methods:Sixty-four gravidas ranging in age from 25 to 42 years referred to the obstetrics unit of the West China Second University Hospital from April 2012 to October 2012 were recruited in this case-control study;women were diagnosed and divided into early-onset preeclampsia group(n=22),late-onset preeclampsia group(n=22),and healthy pregnancy group(n=20).After immunolocalized in human placenta,the levels of CXCR2 protein and messenger ribonucleic acid(mRNA)were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.Correlations between placental CXCR2 protein expression with systolic blood pressure and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)in early-onset preeclampsia were examined using Pearson or Spearman’s correlation coefficients.Results:Placental CXCR2 protein and mRNA expression in early-onset preeclampsia was significantly lower than it was in placentas from healthy pregnancy pregnancies and late-onset preeclampsia(P<0.05).The placental CXCR2 protein expression correlated negatively with systolic blood pressure and LDH in early-onset preeclampsia(r=-0.51,P<0.05;r=-0.43,P<0.05).Conclusion:Significant abnormal placental CXCR2 expression in early-onset preeclampsia,and its correlations with some clinical parameters(systolic blood pressure and LDH)were discovered,suggesting that CXCR2 may play a role in the pathogenesis of early-onset preeclampsia.

Normal sperm head morphometric reference values in fertile Asian males

Sperm head morphology is crucial for male factor infertility diagnosis and assessment of male reproductive potential.Severalcriteria are available to analyze sperm head morphology,but they are limited by poor methodology comparability and populationapplicability.This study aimed to explore comprehensive and new normal morphometric reference values for spermatozoa heads infertile Asian males.An automated sperm morphology analysis system captured 23152 stained spermatozoa from confirmed fertilemales.Of these samples,1856 sperm head images were annotated by three experienced laboratory technicians as“normal”.Weemployed 14 novel morphometric features to describe sperm head size(head length,head width,length/width ratio,and girth),shape(ellipse intersection over union,girth intersection over union,short-axis symmetry,and long-axis symmetry),area(head,acrosome,postacrosomal areas,and acrosome area ratio),and degrees of acrosome and nuclear uniformity.This straight-forwardmethod for the morphometric analysis of sperm by accurate visual measurements is clinically applicable.The measured parameterspresent valuable information to establish morphometric reference intervals for normal sperm heads in fertile Asian males.Thepresented detailed measurement data will be valuable for interlaboratory comparisons and technician training.In vitro fertilizationand andrology laboratory technicians can use these parameters to perform objective morphology evaluation when assessing malefertilization potential.