Aims To examine the association of Angiotensin I converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) gene polymorphisms and retinopathy in a Chinese type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) cohort. Methods A total of 743 T2DM participants were involved in this study including 408 female and 335 male cases. Female cases were divided into two groups: diabetes without retinopathy (DNR group, n ¼ 171) and with retinopathy (DR group, n ¼ 237), the latter was further subclassified into nonproliferative DR (NPDR group, n ¼ 121) and proliferative DR (PDR group, n ¼ 116). Male cases were assigned to DNR group (n ¼ 153) and DR group (n ¼ 182) which was further grouped into NPDR group (n ¼ 86) and PDR group (n ¼ 96). Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; rs2074192 and rs714205) in ACE2 gene were genotyped. Results In female cases, the frequency of genotypes TT in rs2074192 and CC in rs714205 were higher in DR and PDR group than in DNR group (Po0.05). The frequency of alleles T in SNP rs2074192 and C in SNP rs714205 was higher in DR group (Po0.05) and PDR group (Po0.05) than in DNR group. The frequency of allele T in SNP rs2074192 was higher in PDR group (P ¼ 0.04) than in NPDR group. The frequency of haplotype TC and CG was higher in DR and PDR groups, respectively (Po0.05). No positive results were found in male cases. Conclusions Our results revealed that SNPs rs2074192 and rs714205 in ACE2 gene were associated with the susceptibility of DR and PDR.

Carnosic acid is a strong dietary antioxidant derived from rosemary. Here, we have demonstrated that carnosic acid decreased viability of the human promyelocytic leukaemia cell line, HL-60, in dose- and time-dependent manners, and induced G(1) arrest and apoptosis. Carnosic acid also augmented these effects when induced by a low (physiological) concentration of arsenic trioxide, which was associated with upregulation of p27 and activation of caspase-9. These effects appeared to be mediated by the induction of phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) expression. These findings indicate that PTEN plays an important role in the coordinated induction of apoptosis and G(1) arrest by carnosic acid and arsenic trioxide. Carnosic acid may have potential as an adjuvant in arsenic trioxide-induced apoptosis therapy due to its anticipated safety and great potency in enhancing the apoptosis-inducing action of a low concentration of arsenic trioxide.

Background: In 2001, the Chinese Government published the Population and Family Planning Law which gave citizens the right to know the facts about, and to choose, methods of birth control. Since then, the percentage use of different contraceptive methods has changed. More and more women have been using male condoms for birth control, which has resulted in an increasing prevalence of induced abortions of unintended pregnancies in recent years. Objective: To investigate the relationship between choice of contraception methods and rates of induced abortion in the rural areas of Shandong. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire-based survey on contraceptive methods and abortions in women of reproductive age who married between January 1, 2002, and August 31, 2005, was carried out in 8 sampling communities of rural areas in Shandong Province.Results: 7,159 of 8,520 women of childbearing age took part in the survey, which gave a response rate of 84.0%. The accumulative abortion rate was 2.39% for intrauterine device (IUD) use and 5.46% for male condom use during the period of survey. A longer duration of marriage and a longer time of male condom use increased the rate of induced abortions, while longer periods of IUD use decreased the rate of induced abortions. Conclusion: The results indicated that an integrated program for family planning, especially one that better educates condom users, must be initiated in the rural areas of Shandong Province, China.