The relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) and Zn, Cu, Ca levels in the meal and hair of urban and rural elderly people were studied. 470 subjects above 60 years old (urban 205 and rural 265), 178 males with an average age of 65.70 ±3.48 and 292 females with an average age of 65.90±4.02, were inquired. The BMD and Zn, Cu, Ca levels in the meal and hair were measured. The detected BMD in urban and rural female old people was significantly lower than that of the males: The contents of Ca and Zn in the meal of the urban females were significantly lower than those of the urban males; The Ca, Zn in the meal and Zn in the hair of the rural females were significantly lower than those of rural males (P<0.05 or 0.01). The BMD, Ca intakes, Ca and Zn in the hair of the rural old people were significantly lower than those of the urban old people (P<0.05 or 0.01). There was a correlation between BMD with the Ca, Zn of the hair and dietary Ca, Zn, Cu or between dietary Zn with Ca, Zn in the hair and Ca, Cu intakes. The Zn, Cu and Ca levels in the meal nutrients were correlated with BMD to some degrees. Lack of Ca and Zn in the meal can cause the reduction of BMD.

To determine the (tttta)_n repeat polymorphisms at the promoter region ofCYP11α gene, and study its linkage to hyperandrogenism of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in Chinese women, a case-control study was conducted in the Reproductive Medical Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University (Zhengzhou, China). 96 PCOS patients and 78 healthy control women were included.CYP11α (tttta)_n repeat-polymorphism genotyping analysis was performed by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Serum pituitary hormone and total testosterone levels were measured by ELISA. 4 differentCYP11α (tttta)_n allelles were identified, corresponding to 4-, 6-, 8-, and 9-repeat-unit alleles. The frequency and distribution of these alleles are 0.16, 0.33, 0.38, and 0.13 respectively in PCOS patients, as compared with 0.20, 0.34, 0.35, and 0.11 respectively in healthy controls. There were no significant differences between these two groups. Moreover, no correlation between the polymorphism ofCYP11α gene and serum testosterone level of patients with PCOS and controls was observed. It is concluded that microsatellite polymorphism (tttta)_n of geneCYP11α exists in Chinese women and the polymorphism ofCYP11α gene does not play an important role in the pathogenesis of Chinese patients with PCOS, especially in patients with hyperandrogenism.

The expression of CH50 polypoptide in bladder cancer cell line BIU-87 and the effects on the invasion ability of BIU-87 were investigated. The eukaryotic expressing vector pCH510 of polypeptide CH50 was introduced into BIU-87 cells by gene transfectionin vitro. The expression of CH50 polypeptide was detected by using immunobistochemical S-P method. The expression of the transfected gene was identified by RT-PCR. Cell invasion assay kit was applied to detect the effect of CH50 polypeptide on the invasion ability of BIU-87. The results showed that the BIU-87 cells transfected with pCH510 could express the CH50 polypeptide, while in the control group, no CH50 polypeptide was detectable. In the transfection group, the invasion ability of BIU-87in vitro was lower than in control group (P<0.05). It was concluded that CH50 polypeptide was successfully expressed in BIU-87 cells by gene transfection, by which thein vitro invasion ability of BIU-87 was inhibited.

To study the bioequivalence of a kind of progesterone sustained release suppository, a randomized cross-over study was conducted in 12 rabbits. A single rectal dose of 2.75 mg/kg progesterone sustained released suppository (tested formulation, T) and progesterone suppository (reference formulation, R) was administered; a multiple dose of 2.75 mg/kg was given up to seven times with an interval of 8 h. Concentrations in serum were determined by a competitive enzyme immunoassay. The main parameters of T were: for single and multiple doses, C_max was 48.8±11.8 ng/mL and 43.5±9.4 ng/mL, T_max was 0.5±0.3 h and 0.4±0.3 h, AUC_{(0–24 h)} was 362.4±143 ng·h·mL⁻¹ and 310.6±70.3 ng·h·mL⁻¹, respectively. The relative bioavailability of T to R were (104.2±13.4)% and (111.4±19.1)%, respectively. Statistical analysis showed that the two formulations were bioequivalent and T had sustained released feature.