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C Liu

Publications and source records attributed to C Liu.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2006

Differential expression of membrane-associated heparan sulfate proteoglycans in the skeletal muscle of turkeys with different growth rates.

Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG) are key components of the cell membrane and extracellular matrix of skeletal muscle cells. Two major groups of membrane-associated HSPG found in skeletal muscle are syndecans (SYN) and glypicans (GPC), both of which can regulate growth factor activities and, thus, modulate cell proliferation and differentiation. In the current study, the mRNA expression of a group of membrane-associated HSPG (SYN 2 through 4 and GPC 1) was investigated in embryonic pectoralis major muscle [embryonic days (ED) 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24] and myogenic satellite cells isolated from males of a turkey genetic line selected for increased 16-wk BW (F line) and an unselected randombred control (RBC2 line) from which the F line was developed. The mRNA expression was measured by a real-time quantitative PCR approach. The SYN 2 and SYN 4 expression exhibited a similar pattern during embryonic p. major muscle development, which remained constant from ED 14 to ED 22 and declined sharply from ED 22 to ED 24 to a very low level. In contrast, the SYN 3 and GPC 1 expression showed a continuous decline from ED 14 to ED 24. The F line had higher SYN 2 (ED 14, 18, 20, 22), SYN 3 (ED 22), and SYN 4 (ED 22) expression than the RBC2 line. In myogenic satellite cells, initiating differentiation resulted in a decrease in SYN 2 expression and an increase in GPC 1 expression. Both SYN 3 and SYN 4 expression stayed almost constant through both the proliferation and differentiation stages. The proliferating satellite cells from the F line displayed higher SYN 4 expression than those from the RBC2 line. Collectively, the results from the current study suggest that membrane-associated HSPG are differentially expressed in both embryonic p. major muscle tissue and satellite cells isolated from F-line and RBC2-line male turkeys, implying their distinct roles in myogenesis and differing influence on muscle growth properties.

Aging↗
PubMed2006

The inhibitory effects of oxytocin on distal colonic contractile activity in rabbits are enhanced by ovarian steroids.

AIMS: To study the effects of oxytocin on isolated rabbit distal colon and the regulation of ovarian steroids by its action. METHODS: Muscle strips parallel to either the circular or the longitudinal fibres were excised and suspended in tissue chambers containing 5 mL Krebs solution (37 degrees C) and bubbled continuously with 95% O(2) and 5% CO(2). The effects of oxytocin on isometric spontaneous contractile responses were recorded. The effects of atosiban, tetrodotoxin, Mg(2+), progesterone and oestradiol on the oxytocin-induced response were also examined. RESULTS: Oxytocin (1, 10 and 100 nmol L(-1)) dose dependently decreased the area under the contraction curve of distal colonic smooth muscle strips. The oxytocin receptor antagonist atosiban blocked the oxytocin (10 nmol L(-1))-caused responses in a dose-dependent manner. Tetrodotoxin (10 micromol L(-1)) had no effect on the oxytocin-induced response. Mg(2+)-free Krebs solution attenuated the oxytocin-induced response, but oestradiol (0.1 micromol L(-1)) or progesterone (0.1 micromol L(-1)) increased the oxytocin-induced response. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that oxytocin inhibits the contractile motility of the distal colon, which is regulated by Mg(2+) and ovarian steroids.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Efficacy of electrolysed oxidizing water in inactivating Vibrio parahaemolyticus on kitchen cutting boards and food contact surfaces.

AIM: To determine the efficacy of electrolysed oxidizing (EO) water in inactivating Vibrio parahaemolyticus on kitchen cutting boards and food contact surfaces. METHODS AND RESULTS: Cutting boards (bamboo, wood and plastic) and food contact surfaces (stainless steel and glazed ceramic tile) were inoculated with V. parahaemolyticus. Viable cells of V. parahaemolyticus were detected on all cutting boards and food contact surfaces after 10 and 30 min, respectively, at room temperatures. Soaking inoculated food contact surfaces and cutting boards in distilled water for 1 and 3 min, respectively, resulted in various reductions of V. parahaemolyticus, but failed to remove the organism completely from surfaces. However, the treatment of EO water [pH 2.7, chlorine 40 ppm, oxidation-reduction potential 1151 mV] for 30, 45, and 60 s, completely inactivated V. parahaemolyticus on stainless steel, ceramic tile, and plastic cutting boards, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: EO water could be used as a disinfecting agent for inactivating V. parahaemolyticus on plastic and wood cutting boards and food contact surfaces. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Rinsing the food contact surfaces with EO water or soaking cutting boards in EO water for up to 5 min could be a simple strategy to reduce cross-contamination of V. parahaemolyticus during food preparation.

Ceramics↗
PubMed2006

Incontinence after brain injury: prevalence, outcome and multidisciplinary management on a neurological rehabilitation unit.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence, outcome and multidisciplinary management of incontinence in patients with acquired brain injury. DESIGN: Retrospective case notes review. SETTING: Regional neurological rehabilitation unit. SUBJECTS: Two hundred and thirty-eight patients with acquired brain injury. MAIN MEASURES: Bladder and bowel subscores of the Barthel Index and Functional Independence Measure; number of multidisciplinary goals addressing bladder and bowel function. RESULTS: Fifty per cent of patients (n=112) had impaired bladder or bowel subscores on admission. Significant improvement was seen at discharge but 36% of patients (n=77) still had some degree of impairment. Over 90% of patients were set multidisciplinary goals addressing self-care (n=213) and mobility (n=205) but only 3.5% (n=8) were set multidisciplinary goals addressing bladder and bowel function. CONCLUSIONS: Incontinence was common in patients with brain injury on a neurological rehabilitation unit. Significant improvement was seen following rehabilitation. Bladder and bowel management was not well incorporated into the multidisciplinary management process.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Adenoviral vectors encoding tumor necrosis factor-alpha and FasL induce apoptosis of normal and tumoral anterior pituitary cells.

Our previous work showed that tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and FasL induce apoptosis of anterior pituitary cells. To further analyze the effect of these proapoptotic factors, we infected primary cultures from rat anterior pituitary, GH3 and AtT20 cells with first-generation adenoviral vectors encoding TNF-alpha, FasL or, as a control, beta-galactosidase (beta-Gal), under the control of the human cytomegalovirus promoter. Successful expression of the encoded transgenes was determined by immunocytochemistry. Although we observed basal expression of TNF-alpha and FasL in control cultures of anterior pituitary cells, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) cell cycle analysis showed that the overexpression of TNF-alpha or FasL increases the percentage of hypodiploid lactotropes and somatotropes. Nuclear morphology and TUNEL staining revealed that the cells undergo an apoptotic death process. We detected strong immunoreactivity for TNFR1 and Fas in the somatolactotrope cell line GH3. TNF-alpha, but not FasL, was expressed in control cultures of GH3 cells. The infection of GH3 cells with adenovirus encoding TNF-alpha or FasL increased the percentages of hypodiploid and TUNEL-positive cells. TNF-alpha or FasL immunoreactivity was not observed in the corticotrope cell line AtT20. However, adenovirus encoding TNF-alpha or FasL efficiently transduced these cells and increased the percentages of hypodiploid and TUNEL-positive cells. The expression of beta-Gal was detected in all these cultures but did not affect cell viability. In conclusion, these results suggest that death signaling cascades triggered by TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1) and Fas are present in both normal and tumoral pituitary cells. Therefore, overexpression of proapoptotic factors could be a useful tool in the therapy of pituitary adenomas.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed2006

Enhancement of dissolution of cyclosporine A using solid dispersions with polyoxyethylene (40) stearate.

A solid dispersion containing cyclosporine A (CyA) and polyoxyethylene (40) stearate (PS) was prepared by the solvent-melt method and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), hot-stage microscopy (HSM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and dissolution studies. The crystalline peaks of CyA disappeared in the PXRD spectra of solid dispersions but were seen in those of physical mixtures, demonstrating the amorphous state of the drug in solid dispersions. The solubility of CyA in aqueous solutions of PS was increased linearly with increasing amount of PS in water. Dissolution of the drug from solid dispersions and physical mixtures was dramatically enhanced compared to the drug powder alone in water at 37 degrees C.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2005

Ciliary tissue transplantation in the rabbit.

Irreversible damage of the ciliary body can be responsible for prolonged ocular hypotony and phthisis bulbi, which, currently, cannot be treated. The aim of this study was to achieve survival of morphologically normal ciliary tissue (CT) transplants in the anterior chamber of a rabbit's eye. Outbred female New Zealand albino rabbits received CT allografts, which were placed on to the surface of the host iris. We evaluated the influence of ciclosporin (CsA), VEGF and donor perfusion on graft survival. Operated eyes were assessed clinically and histologically, and revascularization of the grafts was determined by fluorescein angiography. All grafts became dark and ischemic during the first five to seven days after transplantation. Reperfusion of the grafted tissue was complete at approximately ten days after transplantation. In untreated animals, transplants became infiltrated by inflammatory cells, which led to destruction of the tissue. This was prevented by systemic use of CsA. Transplants treated with VEGF prior to transplantation had fewer ischemic areas but epithelial cell survival was not improved. Whole body donor perfusion prior to preparation of the grafts resulted in less inflammation and, histologically, in a better quantity and quality of the epithelial cells in the CT transplants. Ciliary tissue can be successfully transplanted but the ciliary epithelium suffers from ischemia and in untreated animals the whole transplant is rejected in the classical fashion. If the donor is perfused and the host immunosuppressed, histologically normal ciliary epithelium can be preserved together with rapid revascularization, minimal inflammation and good survival of the transplant, although fibrosis continued to occur during the two months after transplantation.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

The -174 IL-6 GG genotype is associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in a family sample from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: We evaluated the -174 IL-6 gene polymorphism as a risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus in a family-based analysis. METHODS: We tested for associations between the -174 IL-6 G/C promoter polymorphism and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and type 2 diabetes in a sample of 1,428 individuals from the largest 182 families in the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study population. RESULTS: A significant association was found with FPG (p=0.01) and log (FPG) (p=0.005) using a modified family-based transmission disequilibrium test, the family-based association test (FBAT). The association between IL-6 genotype and FPG (p=0.035) and log (FPG) (p=0.03) was also found in the subset of families that were informative in FBAT using a mixed-effects regression model and strengthened after adjustment for potential confounders (p=0.008 for log [FPG]). The mean glucose level estimated from models with log (FPG) as the dependent variable for the GG genotype in the informative families was significantly lower (5.20+/-0.06 mmol/l) than for the GC (5.41+/-0.06 mmol/l) and CC (5.38+/-0.06 mmol/l) genotypes (p=0.03 for contrast between GG and GC genotypes). In the subset of informative families, the risk of type 2 diabetes associated with the GG genotype was lower relative to the GC and CC genotypes combined (potential confounder-adjusted, mixed-effects odds ratio 0.35, 95% CI 0.14-0.88, p=0.026, unaffected n=391, affected n=32). CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: These results are consistent with a protective role for the -174 IL-6 G allele against type 2 diabetes and warrant further analysis of this polymorphism.

Blood Glucose↗
PubMed2005

Sulfasalazine for ankylosing spondylitis.

BACKGROUND: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown cause and belongs to a group of diseases known as spondyloarthropathies (SpA), which includes reactive arthritis, arthritis/spondylitis in inflammatory bowel disease, psoriatic arthritis/spondylitis and undifferentiated SpA. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been the main treatment for AS. For those refractory or intolerant to NSAIDs, the disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) have been used as a second line approach. Sulfasalazine (SSZ) is the best studied DMARD in AS, but its efficacy remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of sulfasalazine for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis. SEARCH STRATEGY: Relevant randomised and quasi-randomised trials in any language were sought using the following sources: CENTRAL (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Issue 2, 2003), MEDLINE (1966 to June Week 4 2003), EMBASE (1980 to 2003 Week 26), CINAHL (1982 to June Week 3 2003) and the reference section of retrieved articles. SELECTION CRITERIA: We evaluated randomised and quasi-randomised trials examining the efficacy of sulfasalazine on ankylosing spondylitis. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Unblinded trial reports were reviewed independently by two reviewers according to the selection criteria. Disagreements on the inclusion of the studies were resolved, where necessary, by recourse to a third reviewer. The methodological quality of included trials were independently assessed by the same reviewers on randomization, concealment, blindness (participants, care providers and outcome investigators), description of withdrawals and drop-outs and intention-to-treat analysis. The same reviewers independently entered the data extracted from the included trials, using RevMan double entry facility. Results were combined using weighted mean difference or standardised mean difference for continuous data, and relative risk for dichotomous data. MAIN RESULTS: Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria but only eleven were included in the data analysis. The pooled analysis showed that the difference between intervention groups was significant only in erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (WMD -4.79, 95% CI -8.80 to -0.78) mm/h) and morning stiffness VAS-100 mm (visual analogue scale 100 mm, where 0 = no stiffness and 100 = severe) (WMD -13.89, 95% CI -22.54 to -5.24), favouring SSZ over placebo. The trial with the largest sample (Clegg 1996) and that with the longest treatment duration (Kirwan 1993) had similar results. Both trials found that SSZ showed evidence of benefit in the occurrence of peripheral joint symptoms and peripheral responses in patients with peripheral arthritis. Nissila 1988 is the only trial in which SSZ showed benefit in primary outcome analyses, including back pain, chest expansion, occiput-to-wall test and patient's general well being. Compared with other trials, the patients in this trial had the shortest disease duration and the highest level of baseline ESR and contained the greatest proportion of patients with peripheral arthritis. Significantly more withdrawals for side effects (RR 1.50, 95% CI 1.04 to 2.15, NNH 23, 95% CI 10 to 288) and for any reason (RR 1.33, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.73, NNH 17, 95% CI 8 to 180) were found in SSZ compared with placebo group although severe side effects were rare (1 of the 469 patients taking SSZ). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Across all AS patients, SSZ demonstrated some benefit in reducing ESR and easing morning stiffness, but no evidence of benefit in physical function, pain, spinal mobility, enthesitis, patient and physician global assessment. Patients at early disease stage, with higher level of ESR (or active disease) and peripheral arthritis might benefit from SSZ.

Antirheumatic Agents↗
PubMed2005

Endothelin receptor antagonists for pulmonary arterial hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a devastating disease, which leads to right heart failure and premature death. Pulmonary arterial hypertension can be classified into two categories: 1) sporadic primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) or familial PPH and 2) PAH secondary to collagen vascular diseases, congenital systemic to pulmonary shunts, portal hypertension, HIV infection, drugs or toxins, and persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn. They have identical pathologic features, a similar clinical course. Endothelin receptor antagonists (ERAs) are a class of potent vasodilators, which could specifically dilate the pulmonary arterial system. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of endothelin receptor antagonists in pulmonary arterial hypertension. SEARCH STRATEGY: A search was carried out using the CENTRAL (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials), MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the reference section of retrieved articles. Searches are current as of August 2004. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or quasi-randomised controlled trials involving patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) were selected by two reviewers. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two reviewers independently selected studies; assessed study quality; and extracted data. We analysed outcomes as continuous and dichotomous data. MAIN RESULTS: We identified three RCTs of short duration (12-16 weeks), recruiting a total of 423 participants. Two studies compared a non-selective ERA (bosentan) with placebo and one compared a selective ERA (sitaxsentan) with placebo. Over a 12-16 week period ERAs improved exercise capacity, improve Borg dyspnoea score, some measures of cardiopulmonary haemodynamics (pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance, and cardiac index) in symptomatic patients with PAH. The most severe side effect, hepatic toxicity, was not common. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: ERAs in conjunction with conventional therapy over 16 weeks can improve exercise capacity, Borg dyspnoea scores and several cardiopulmonary haemodynamics variables in PAH patients. Longer studies are required.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Clostridium clostridioforme: a mixture of three clinically important species.

Clostridium clostridioforme shows much variability in phenotypic and antimicrobial susceptibility tests, suggesting it may be more than a single species even though all strains share unique morphology. This study was designed to determine if there are multiple species and, if so, to demonstrate the differences that exist between them. A total of 107 strains of C. clostridioforme were investigated by sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, phenotypic studies, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. In addition, clinical data from patients whose infections yielded an organism identified as C. clostridioforme was reviewed. Data from the above studies revealed three principal species in what has been called C. clostridioforme: Clostridium bolteae, C. clostridioforme, and Clostridium hathewayi. Each species may be distinguished by certain phenotypic tests. All three species were involved in infections, including bacteremia. C. clostridioforme appears to be associated with more serious or invasive human infections than the other two species in the group. Resistance to penicillin G is common and is due to beta-lactamase production. Resistance to clindamycin and moxifloxacin is also seen. The three species differ in terms of virulence and antimicrobial resistance. "C. clostridioforme" actually represents three distinct species that are different in terms of 16S rRNA sequences, phenotypic characteristics, and antimicrobial susceptibility. It is important for microbiology laboratories to distinguish between these species and for clinicians to be aware of the differences between them.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2005

The effect of temperature on the nucleation of corrosion pits on titanium in Ringer's physiological solution.

This paper describes the effect of temperature on the nucleation of corrosion pits on titanium microelectrodes in Ringer's physiological solution. The results are shown for potentials far below the pitting potential, and describe breakdown of passivity with no permanent propagation of pits. Nucleation events could be observed at all the temperatures used, although they were very rare events at 20 degrees C. The frequency of breakdown rises significantly with increase in temperature. Examples are shown of current transients due to both pit nucleation and to metastable pit propagation, the latter being rare events. Analysis shows that these events constitute a significant fraction of the passive corrosion rate of titanium.

Biocompatible Materials↗
PubMed2005

The impact of gastrocnemius muscle cell changes in chronic venous insufficiency.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the pathological and metabolic changes in the gastrocnemius muscle in patients with chronic vein insufficiency (CVI). METHOD: Thirty-six patients with varicose veins were investigated by ambulatory venous pressure (AVP) and duplex ultrasonography. Twelve age and height-matched controls were used for comparison. Patients and controls consented to participate in this study. Twenty-one patients with primary vein varicose (group AI) and 15 patients (group AII) with primary deep venous valve incompetence (DVI) underwent biopsies of the gastrocnemius muscle during operation. Adductor biopsies obtained from the same limbs served as a control group (group B) and specimens from controls subjects without venous disease served as the second control group (group C). All the specimens were investigated by superoxide dismutase (SOD), nitric oxide (NO), Na+-K+-ATPase, Ca2+-ATPase and lactic acid (LD) determinations. Samples were subjected to light and electron microscopy following H & E staining, special ATPase, cytochrome oxidase/succinate dehydrogenase (COX/SDH) stains. RESULTS: Normal muscle architecture was seen following H & E, ATPase and COX/SDH staining and normal cell metabolism was observed in specimens of groups B and C. In group A, pathological changes were encountered in the gastrocnemius muscle including disseminated myofibril atrophy, cell denaturation and necrosis, inflammatory cell infiltration, proliferation and dilation of interfascicular veins. ATPase staining (pH 9.4) demonstrated grouping of atrophic fibres, especially type I myofibril grouping, accompanied by moderate to severe atrophy of type II muscle fibres. However, no patient had selective type I fibre atrophy. Enhanced enzymatic activity in single or multiple myofibrils was demonstrated by COX/SDH staining in approximately half of the specimens in group AII. In group AII, electron microscopy showed swelling, myelin figure denaturation of mitochondria, disruption of the myofibrils and increased lipid droplets in the gastrocnemius muscle. Increased concentration of LD was found in most specimens from group A patients. There were also reductions of SOD, NO, biochemical activity of Na+-K+-ATPase, Ca2+-ATPase with increasing concentration of LD in these patients, most prominently in group AII. We found correlation between AVP assessments and the biochemical measurements as well as morphological appearances of the gastrocnemius muscle. CONCLUSION: Venous hypertension results in pathophysiological changes in the gastrocnemius muscles of patients with DVI, associated with decreased calf pump function.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Ischemic preconditioning prevents protein aggregation after transient cerebral ischemia.

Transient cerebral ischemia leads to protein aggregation mainly in neurons destined to undergo delayed neuronal death after ischemia. This study utilized a rat transient cerebral ischemia model to investigate whether ischemic preconditioning is able to alleviate neuronal protein aggregation, thereby protecting neurons from ischemic neuronal damage. Ischemic preconditioning was introduced by a sublethal 3 min period of ischemia followed by 48 h of recovery. Brains from rats with either ischemic preconditioning or sham-surgery were then subjected to a subsequent 7 min period of ischemia followed by 30 min, 4, 24, 48 and 72 h of reperfusion. Protein aggregation and neuronal death were studied by electron and confocal microscopy, as well as by biochemical analyses. Seven minutes of cerebral ischemia alone induced severe protein aggregation after 4 h of reperfusion mainly in CA1 neurons destined to undergo delayed neuronal death (which took place after 72 h of reperfusion). Ischemic preconditioning reduced significantly protein aggregation and virtually eliminated neuronal death in CA1 neurons. Biochemical analyses revealed that ischemic preconditioning decreased accumulation of ubiquitin-conjugated proteins (ubi-proteins) and reduced free ubiquitin depletion after brain ischemia. Furthermore, ischemic preconditioning also reduced redistribution of heat shock cognate protein 70 and Hdj1 from cytosolic fraction to protein aggregate-containing fraction after brain ischemia. These results suggest that ischemic preconditioning decreases protein aggregation after brain ischemia.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Surgical management of iris defects with prosthetic iris devices.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of surgical implantation of prosthetic iris devices in patients with iris deficiency. METHODS: Nine patients with traumatic iris defects, congenital aniridia or iris coloboma, and surgical or optical iridectomies were included in a noncomparative case series. Cataract surgery with intraocular lens and prosthetic iris implantation was performed in 10 eyes. The visual acuity, subjective degree of glare disability, postoperative anatomic results, and intraoperative and postoperative complications were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 17.75 months (range 4-48 months). Best-corrected visual acuity improved in nine of 10 eyes (90%) and remained unchanged in one eye. Glare subjectively improved in four of five eyes (80%) of patients complaining of glare preoperatively. All eyes achieved the desired anatomic result. Intraoperative complications included one anterior capsular tear. Postoperative complications included a short period of mild postoperative anterior uveitis in four eyes. Secondary glaucoma was absent. CONCLUSION: In patients with iris deficiency, implantation of prosthetic iris device, and intraocular lens implant following cataract surgery appears to be safe and effective in reducing glare disability and improving visual outcomes.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Effects of perceived peer isolation and social support availability on the relationship between body mass index and depressive symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: To examine relationships between body mass index (BMI) and psychological correlates in Chinese school adolescents during the period of economic transition. DESIGN: Baseline data of 1655 Chinese adolescents aged 11-15 y were retrieved from a longitudinal smoking cessation and health promotion program in Wuhan, China. Assessments of body weight and height, depressive symptoms, perceived peer isolation (PPI) and perceived availability of social support (PASS) were collected. RESULTS: Based on the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) age-and sex-specific BMI cutoffs, 12.5% of boys and 9.2% of girls were overweight. In girls, high BMI was significantly related to higher self-reported depressive symptoms, and was dominantly mediated by PPI. On the contrary, high BMI boys reported significantly lower levels of PPI although high PPI level aggravated depressive symptoms. For both girls and boys, the observed effect of PPI on the relationship between BMI and depressive symptoms was sustained only in low PASS boys and girls. CONCLUSIONS: The present study revealed different effects of PPI on the association of BMI and depressive symptoms between boys and girls, which were buffered by levels of PASS. The findings of this study may contribute to our understanding of the influences of psychological correlates in pediatric overweight in the Eastern cultural environment.

Adolescent↗