This report overviewed the national endemic status of schistosomiasis in China in 2008. During the whole year of 2008, a total of 412 927 cases of schistosomiasis were estimated and 57 acute cases were reported, among which one acute case infected with Schistosoma mansoni was imported from overseas. The reduction rates of total cases and acute cases were 19.97% and 32.53% when comparing to those in 2007, respectively. A total of 21 222 advanced cases were treated in 2008 with an increase rate of 15.04% comparing with that in 2007. About 372 263. 11 hm~2 of areas infested with Oncomelania snails were found in 2008, and about 1 197. 89 hm~2 newly detected areas were found in non-infested areas with Oncomelania snails, in historical records. There were 1 468 669 head of the cattle with its infection rate of 1.34% in schistosomiasis transmission regions, with reduction rates of 1. 86% and 36.79% , respectively, comparing to those in 2007. However, cattle were still remaining as the main infectious source for the transmission of schistosomiasis. Six provinces including Jiangsu, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, and Yunnan reached the national criteria of infection control. Sichuan Province reached the national criteria of transmission control. The country achieved the mid-term goal of schistosomiasis control written in the document ofOutline of mid- and long-term national programme on control and prevention of schistosomiasis (2004 -2015).

Acupressure ; methods ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Cervical Vertebrae ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Spinal Curvatures ; pathology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the habituation of seasickness in non marine subjects during a long voyage.

METHODSA crew of 106 staffs of the Hospital Ship Ark Peace was included in this study. There were 59 male and 47 female with an age ranged from 23 to 53 years (mean 37.2 years). They all took part in the Mission Harmony 2011 for medical service in four countries around the Caribbean Sea. Questionnaires and visual analogue scales (VAS) were used to investigate the prevalence and degree of the seasickness in different periods.

RESULTSThe prevalence of seasickness was 72.64% in the initial period of voyage. The prevalence and degree of seasickness in female and in staff with motion sickness history were higher and more severe than that in male and in staff without motion sickness history(P < 0.05). After two weeks, the prevalence and degree of seasickness decreased, which meant habituation of seasickness occurred. With the voyage going longer, the prevalence and degree of seasickness were further decreased, but the severe sea condition make the prevalence and degree of seasickness worse. The rate of habituation of seasickness was 62.33%, and the habituation rate of seasickness in male (76.92%) was higher than that in female (47.37%) (χ(2) = 7.161, P = 0.007).

CONCLUSIONSThe habituation of the seasickness occurred after two weeks in a long voyage. Male are easier to get habituation of seasickness than female. The severe sea condition influences the prevalence and degree of seasickness.

Acclimatization ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Motion Sickness ; physiopathology ; Naval Medicine ; Sex Factors ; Young Adult

Bone Diseases ; therapy ; Bone and Bones ; physiology ; Humans ; Martial Arts ; education ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Religious Philosophies

Objective To Analyze the change trend of the incidence and mortality of breast cancer in Chinese women from 2005 to 2013 in the Chinese Cancer Registry Annual Report in order to provide references for the implement of the prophylaxis and treatment of breast cancer. Methods Extracted all the records of the incidence and mortality of breast cancer in Chinese women from 2005 to 2013, applied the Joinpoint regression model to analyze the change trend of the incidence and mortality of breast cancer in Chinese women. Results The incidence levels of breast cancer among urban women in China was higher than that in rural from 2005 to 2013, the change trend of urban incidence was stable(t=-0.2, P=0.828), the rural incidence showed an increasing trend(t=7.8, P<0.001). The peaks of urban and rural incidence were in the age group of 50- and the age group of 45- respectively.The mortality of breast cancer among urban women in China was higher than that in rural from 2005 to 2013, the change trend of urban mortality was stable(t=0.8, P=0.458), and the rising trend of rural mortality was obvious(t=3.3, P=0.014). The mortality of urban women began to rise after the age of 30, accelerating to rise after the age of 75, the mortality of rural women began to rise after the age of 30, the change tended to be stable at the age of 55-69, and began to rise after the age of 70 again. Conclusions The incidence and mortality of breast cancer among urban women in China were all higher than that in rural from 2005 to 2013, the rising trend of the incidence and mortality of breast cancer among rural women was obvious, so the prophylaxis and treatment measures of breast cancer should be actively formulated and perfected.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effects of Pizhen for the treatment of supraclavicular nerve-entrapment syndrome.

METHODSFrom March 2004 to April 2006, among the 200 patients of supraclavicular nerve-entrapment syndrome, 100 patients (75 patients were male and 25 patients were female, ranging in age from 25 to 65 years, with an average of 45 years)were treated with Pizhen, 100 patients (60 patients were male and 40 patients were female, ranging in age from 16 to 63 years, with an average of 35 years) were treated with Acupuncture. The therapeutic effects of the two groups were compared.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up and the duration ranged from 6 to 12 months, 9.6 months in average. Among the patients in Pizhen group, 79 patients got an excellent result, 12 good, 8 fair, and 1 poor, and the tension exponent of soft tissues decreased from preoperative 3.56 +/- 0.35 to postoperative 2.11 +/- 0.41. In the control group, 43 patients got an excellent result, 21 good, 17 fair, and 19 poor, the tension exponent of soft tissues decreased from preoperative 3.61 +/- 0.21 to postoperative 3.13 +/- 0.56. The therapeutic effects and tension exponent of soft tissue in the two groups had statistical differences (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe clinical effect of Pizhen is better than the the acupuncture for the treatment of supraclavicular nerve-entrapment syndrome. The therapy of Pizhen is safe, good and easily to practice.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Brachial Plexus ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Compression Syndromes ; therapy

Adult ; Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbosacral Region ; Male ; Manipulation, Chiropractic ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Stenosis ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effects of Pizhen for the treatment of thoracic lateral cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome.

METHODSFrom March 2004 to April 2008, among the 320 patients with thoracic lateral cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome, 160 patients (105 patients were male and 55 patients were female, ranging in age from 26 to 66 years, with an average of 46.00 +/- 0.79 years) were treated with Pizhen for 3 to 7 days, and 160 patients (98 patients were male and 62 patients were female, ranging in age from 19 to 64 years,with an average of 47.00 +/- 0.35 years) were treated with massage for 1 to 2 months. The therapeutic effects of the two groups were compared based on changes of tension test of local soft tissues, local pain and tenderness.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up and the duration ranged from 7 to 12 months, averaged in 10.3 months. Among the patients in Pizhen group, 119 patients got an excellent result, 27 good, 12 fair, and 2 poor, and the tension test of local soft tissues decreased from preoperative (3.68 +/- 0.28) to postoperative (2.13 +/- 0.35). In the control group, 73 patients got an excellent result, 38 good, 40 fair, and 9 poor, the tension test of local soft tissues decreased from preoperative (3.59 +/- 0.22) to postoperative (3.17 +/- 0.19). The therapeutic effects and tension test of local soft tissue in the two groups had statistical differences (P < 0.01). The therapeutic effects of Pizhen group was better than that of the control group, and the postoperative tension test of local soft tissues of patients in Pizhen group was lower than that of the control group.

CONCLUSIONThe clinical effect of Pizhen is better than the massage for the treatment of thoracic lateral cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome. The Pizhen is effective to decrease the pressure around nerve, relax the adhesion, so as to eliminate the stimulation and compression of sensory nerve endings to relieve the pain quickly. But massage need longer course of treatment. So Pizhen therapy is safe, good and easily to practice, which is better than massage therapy.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Massage ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Compression Syndromes ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effects of internal fixation with double endobutton for the treatment of acromioclavicular joint dislocation of Tossy Grade III.

METHODSFrom 2007.7 to 2008.12, 27 patients with acromioclavicular joint dislocation of Tossy Grade III were fixed with double endobutton. Among the patients, 17 patients were male and 10 patients were female, with an average age of (35.0 +/- 1.3) years (ranged from 23 to 60 years). Fourteen patients were injured by traffic accident, 6 patients were work-related injuries, 4 patients were sports injuries, and 3 patients were injured by falling down. Sixteen patients had injuries in the left, and 11 patients in the right. All the patients were Tossy III type dislocation without clavicle fracture. The therapeutic effects were evaluated by Karlsson criteria based on range of motion of acromioclavicular joint, pain, muscle force and postreduction X-ray.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up for 6 to 14 months, mean 10.2 months. According to the Karlsson score criteria, 24 patients obtained an excellent result, 2 fair and 1 poor.

CONCLUSIONFixation with double endobutton is to be a new method for the treatment of acromioclavicular joint dislocation, which has the advantages of minimal trauma, reliable fixation, early functional rehabilitation and so on.

Acromioclavicular Joint ; injuries ; surgery ; Adult ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; Shoulder Dislocation ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDOsteopontin (OPN) is a secreted phosphoglycoprotein (SSP) that is overexpressed in a variety of tumors and was regarded as a molecular marker of tumors. In this study, we intended to demonstrate the role of OPN in human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231.

METHODSRecombinant plasmid expressing small interfering RNA (siRNA) specific to OPN mRNA was transfected into MDA-MB-231 cells to generate the stable transfected cell line MDA-MB-343, and the empty plasmid tansfected cells (MDA-MB-neg) or wildtype MDA-MB-231 cells were used as control cells respectively. Expression of OPN, hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) proteins was analyzed by Western blotting analysis. The radiosensitivity of cells was determined by detecting cell apoptosis, cell proliferation and cell senescence.

RESULTSHIF-1 and VEGF proteins in MDA-MB-343 cells were significantly downregulated upon the efficient knockdown of OPN expression under either hypoxia or normoxia environment. Moreover, expression of OPN protein was upregualted upon hypoxic culture. Stable OPN-silencing also decreased cell invasion, increased cell apoptosis and cell senescence, as well as reduced clonogenic survival, resulting in increase radiation tolerance.

CONCLUSIONSSuppression of OPN gene expression can enhance radiosensitivity and affect cell apoptosis in breast cancer cells. OPN seems to be an attractive target for the improvement of radiotherapy.

Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; genetics ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Osteopontin ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Radiation Tolerance ; genetics ; physiology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism