Objective To study the follow-up management strategies after improving stoves for controlling coal-burning type endemic fluorosis in Guizhou and to provide a scientific basis for exploring the follow-up management measures.Methods In 2006 - 2009,three counties of Puding,Bijie and Liuzhi with improved stoves in 2005 and implemented follow-up management measures for subsequent three years were chosen,3 towns were chosen randomly in each chosen county,2 villages were selected randomly in each chosen town,10 households were investigated randomly in each chosen village,and 20 students were investigated of the knowledge of fluorosis control.The investigation included also the usage of the stoves,dehydration methods of grain and related conditions.Results ①The head of the family and student awareness of fluorosis control were 82.6％(743/900)and 91.7％ (1650/1800),respectively,and 35.0％ ( 385/1100 ) and 61.0％ (6605/10 835 ),respectively,before the test,and the difference was statistically significant( x2 =33.04,1189.12,all P ＜ 0.01 ).②The rates of chimney out of the house were 88.5％(69/78) and 100.0％(102/102),respectively,compared with those before the trial[74.4％(2125/2856) and 2.1％(104/4984),respectively],the difference was statistically significant(x2 =720.56,4295.38,all P ＜ 0.01).The iron stove and the table stove's airtight utilization rates were 85.9％(67/78) and 100.0％(102/102),respectively.③The corn and the hot pepper's correct drying rates were 100.0％(180/180).Compared with those[27.2％(49/180) and 32.2％(58/180),respectively]before the trial,the difference was statistically significant(x2 =26.68,37.38,all P ＜ 0.01 ).The corn and the hot pepper's washing rates before eating were 95.0％(57/60) and 98.3％(177/180),respectively.Compared with those[85.0％(153/180) and 77.8％(140/180)]before the trial,the difference was statistically significant(x2 =135.00,490.82,all P ＜ 0.01 ).Conclusions The target population's awareness and knowledge of fluorosis prevention and related behavior are significantly elevated and enhanced after implementation of the three years post-management,which has reached the desired goal.The strategies of the follow-up management suits Guizhou province and widespread application is suggested.

Objective To evaluate the effects of implementing the health education in the Central Fund Program to control endemic fluorosis in Guizhou.Methods The samples were randomly surveyed to evaluate knowledge awareness in students and households as well as the habit formation after implementing the integrated program which mainly consisted of installing the improved stoves,supported by the Central Funds and health education in 5 counties.Results After health education,the rates of knowledge awareness in the students and the households were 94.80%(15 562/16 415)and 88.23%(4482/5080),respectively,and increased significantly compared with those before intervention[44.20%(26 364/59 645),22.81%(3082/13 510)],the difference being significant(χ2=13 324.05,6546.24,P＜0.01).The rates of drying corn and chili with the coal fire were 5.61% (57/1016)and 5.41%(55/1016),respectively,and decreased significantly compared with those before intervention [77.41%(1076/1390),78.92%(1097/1390)],the difference being significant(χ2=1214.49,1270.92,P＜0.01).The rates of washing corn and chili were 99.51%(1011/1016)and 94.59%(961/1016),respectively,and increased significantly compared with those before intervention[84.60%(1176/1390),76.55%(1064/1390)],the difference being significant(χ2=154.80,143.32,P＜0.01).The rates of using the uncovered and unventilated iron stoves and table stoves were 4.71%(38/807)and 8.37%(60/717),respectively,and decreased significantly compared with those before intervention[29.99%(14 483/48 299),98.33%(95 070/96 685)],the difierence being significant(χ2=243.51,25 282.99,P＜0.01).Conclusions Implementing the health education is the basis for the integrated measures for controlling the endemic fluorosis in the endemic regions.The consciousness and activity of the target people have been enhanced greatly.The good behaviors in the target people are forming,the expected goal is reached.

Aged ; Female ; Heart Atria ; parasitology ; pathology ; Heart Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Humans ; Myxoma ; diagnosis ; pathology

Objective To prepare T-helper cell(Th)epitnpe-modified human soluble B cell activating factor belonging to the tumor necrosis factor family(BAFF)mutants and evaluate their immune response in vaccinated mice.Methods Recombinant cDNAs were cloned and ligated into the prokaryotie expression vec- tor pQE-80L respectively.The recombinant proteins were induced to express by IPTG in E.coli DH5?and purified with Ni-NTA chromatography.BALB/c mice were immunized with recombinant proteins respectively and the titres of the antibodies that were cross-reactive with BAFF in sera were analyzed by ELISA.Inhibiting ability of the antibodies in sera was analyzed by MTT assay.Results The recombinant proteins were highly expressed in E.coli DH5?.After purification,the purity of recombinant proteins was more than 90%.BALB/c mice immunized with recombinant proteins produced high levels of BAFF-specific antibodies.Cell proliferation assay showed that the sera of immunized mice could inhibit the proliferation-inducing activity of recombinant sBAFF and natural sBAFF.Conclusion The immune inhibitors of human BAFF which can induce polyclonal antibodies that are cross-reactive with BAFF are successfully prepared.These results may provide the basis for further study of their therapeutic effects.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of preoperative factors on the function of the cervical spine after Bryan artificial disc replacement.

METHODSFifty patients who underwent cervical disc replacement from December 2003 to January 2006 were investigated. The preoperative factors such as long course of disease, lose of motion or disc height at the operation level were evaluated for their effects on the motion of the operated disc and clinical results at the time of final follow-up. There were 35 males and 15 females. Thirty-nine patients received one-level disc replacement, 11 patients received two-level disc replacement. The age of patients was from 25 to 73 years, average was 49 years.

RESULTSUntil January 2009, 50 cases of all the 53 patient who got operation for more than 3 years were followed up. The follow up period was from 36.0 to 55.6 months, which showed a skewed distribution, with a median of 41.9 months. The patients, who got neural syndrome for more than 3 years, would have worse JOA recovery rate through the surgery compared with the patients who got neural syndrome less than 3 month. As for radiographic results, the preoperative range of movement (ROM) at the implanted disc spaces was 10.4 degrees +/- 5.0 degrees which had significant correlation with the most recent follow-up ROM which was 8.6 degrees +/- 4.8 degrees (r = 0.325, P < 0.05). The group which height ratio of the operative disc and the adjacent discs was less than 0.87 would have worse JOA recovery rate and range of motion at operated level at the most recent follow-up than the group more than 0.87 with statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONSFor the patients with cervical spondylosis or cervical disc herniation who get nervous syndrome for more than 3 years, will have worse JOA recovery rate through the surgery, so the patient should get the operation in time to achieve better improvement. When the operated level is severe degenerated, the motion of the replaced disc and the clinical results is dissatisfied at the time of final follow-up, so it is the relative contraindications for the cervical disc replacement.

Adult ; Aged ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the relationship between uric acid (UA) and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in Chinese patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).

METHODSUA levels and PAD were evaluated in 3251 Chinese hospitalized patients with CHD (age > or = 50 years). PAD was diagnosed when the ankle-brachial index was < 0.9 but patients with an ankle-brachial index of > 1.4 were excluded because of false negative rate. Potential confounding variables with P < 0.10 were adjusted for multivariate analysis.

RESULTSIn univariate analysis, UA levels were higher in patients with PAD than in those without PAD (349.80 micromol/L +/- 128.45 micromol/L vs. 323.00 micromol/L +/- 110.72 micromol/L, P < 0.001). Rate of hyperuricemia in patients with PAD and without PAD were 31.62% and 22.48% (P < 0.001) respectively. Prevalence rates of PAD for quintiles of UA level were 23.2%, 27.4%, 36.1%, 43.2% and 72.7%, respectively (P-trend < 0.05). With UA level as a continuous variable, the multivariate-adjusted odds ratio for PAD was 1.002 (95% confidence interval: 1.001 - 1.002) (P < 0.001). The optimal cut-off point for UA as determined by the receiver operating characteristic curve, was 227.2 micromol/L. The sensitivity and specificity at this cut-off point were 84.6% and 20.3%, respectively. The area under curve was 0.521 (95% confidence interval: 0.504 - 0.547) and the multivariate-adjusted odds ratio for PAD for UA above this level was 1.292 (95% confidence interval: 1.047 - 1.596) (P < 0.01). The results, however, after exclusion those cases who used diuretics, were similar.

CONCLUSIONElevated uric acid level seemed a significant and independent risk factor for PAD in Chinese hospitalized patients with CHD (age > or = 50 years).

Analysis of Variance ; Ankle Brachial Index ; China ; Coronary Disease ; blood ; complications ; Humans ; Hyperuricemia ; complications ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Peripheral Vascular Diseases ; etiology ; Prevalence ; ROC Curve ; Risk Factors ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Uric Acid ; blood

Objective To elucidate association between the mutation of nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 ( NFATC1 ) gene in IPT-NFAT region and simple congenital heart disease (CHD) in children. Method We used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the sequencing reaction to detect the mutations on the patients and their parents and (or) siblings. Results PCR amplification of the exon 7 region showed that 2 bands are obtained in 58% of patients with CHD and in 74% of their healthy parents and (or) siblings. Sequencing of the 2 bands revealed that both are amplicons of the exon 7 region, and that the additional band harbors an additional 44 nucleotides segment in the intronic region. The homozygous form of this allele was only present in patients with ventricular septal defect (2/24), atrial septal defect (3/18) and bicuspid aortic valve (1/4) in which G to A transition at nucleotide 17 of the third 44 bps was found. Neither the unrelated non-CHD individuals nor the ones with other CHD showed positive presence for the homozygous form of this allele. Conclusions There is a differential amplification of a tandem repeat region in intron 7 of NFATC1 and homozygous form of this allele in patients with ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect and bicuspid aortic valve. NFATC1 gene may be an a susceptibility marker for ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect and bicuspid aortic valve.

Objective To observe the prevalence, awareness, treatment and control rate of hypertension and to evaluate the 10-year absolute risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and ischemic cardiovascular disease (ICVD) in Chinese cardiovascular physicians. Methods A total of 4032cardiovascular physicians (28 to 79 years old) from 386 hospitals in 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities were randomly selected and received an epidemiologic survey of prevalence, awareness, and control of hypertension and evaluations of CHD and ICVD risk. Results The prevalence of hypertension in Chinese cardiovascular physicians was 13.1%. The awareness rate of hypertension in Chinese cardiovascular physicians was 81.7%. Hypertension treatment rate was 69. 6% and blood pressure control rate was 44. 6%. The prevalence of hypertension was higher in male physicians than in female physicians before the age of 55 years old. Ten-year absolute risk of CHD and ICVD was 0. 08 and 0. 03 in hypertensive physicians compared to 0. 03 and 0. 01 in non-hypertensive physicians. Conclusions The results show suboptimal awareness, treatment and control rate in Chinese cardiovascular physicians for their own hypertension status. Physicians suffering from hypertension face higher risk for cardiovascular disease. It is therefore necessary to improve the self-monitoring of blood pressure in Chinese cardiovascular physicians.

Tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO), or oncogenic osteomalacia (OOM), is a rare acquired paraneoplastic disease characterized by renal phosphate wasting and hypophosphatemia. Recent evidence shows that tumor-overexpressed fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) is responsible for the hypophosphatemia and osteomalacia. The tumors associated with TIO are usually phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor mixed connective tissue variants (PMTMCT). Surgical removal of the responsible tumors is clinically essential for the treatment of TIO. However, identifying the responsible tumors is often difficult. Here, we report a case of a TIO patient with elevated serum FGF23 levels suffering from bone pain and hypophosphatemia for more than three years. A tumor was finally located in first metacarpal bone by octreotide scintigraphy and she was cured by surgery. After complete excision of the tumor, serum FGF23 levels rapidly decreased, dropping to 54.7% of the preoperative level one hour after surgery and eventually to a little below normal. The patient's serum phosphate level rapidly improved and returned to normal level in four days. Accordingly, her clinical symptoms were greatly improved within one month after surgery. There was no sign of tumor recurrence during an 18-month period of follow-up. According to pathology, the tumor was originally diagnosed as "lomangioma" based upon a biopsy sample, "proliferative giant cell tumor of tendon sheath" based upon sections of tumor, and finally diagnosed as PMTMCT by consultation one year after surgery. In conclusion, although an extremely rare disease, clinicians and pathologists should be aware of the existence of TIO and PMTMCT, respectively.
Bone Neoplasms ; blood ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factors ; blood ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypophosphatemia ; blood ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; pathology ; surgery ; Mesenchymoma ; blood ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Metacarpal Bones ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms, Connective Tissue ; blood ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Osteomalacia ; blood ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; pathology ; surgery ; Phosphates ; blood ; Radiography

Animals ; COS Cells ; Female ; Genetic Therapy ; Interleukin-12 ; genetics ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; immunology ; therapy ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology