Objective To determine urinary iodine level among babies and infants aged 0-30 months in Ningxia, and to provide scientific evidence for strengthening iodine supplement or decreasing salt iodine level in special population. Methods One thousand four hundred and eighty-three babies and infants were selected randomly from 664 administrative villages of 22 counties (city or district) by two-stage sampling method. Urinary iodine was tested with the arsenic cerium catalysis spectrophotometric method and related influencing factors were analyzed. Results Urinary iodine median was 216.5 μg/L of the whole autonomous region, and the value that was lower than 100 μg/L, accounted for 19.1%(283/1483), 100 - 300 μg/L accounted for 49.3%(731/1483), higher than 300 μg/L, accounted for 31.6% (469/1483). Urinary iodine median was in 130.6 - 328.4 μg/L of all counties, which was higher than 100 μg/L. The urinary iodine median of men(223.2 μg/L) was slightly higher than that(210.2 μg/L) of female, no significant difference was observed(Z = - 1.76, P > 0.05). Urinary iodine level changed little when child was younger than one year old(Z = - 0.624, P > 0.05). Then the value dropped gradually after one year old(χ2 = 13.59, P < 0.05), decreased with age by month, and the proportion of the value smaller than 100 μg/L was increased gradually. Urinary iodine level(257.5 μg/L) of child whose mother had taken iodine oil pills was higher than that (221.2 μg/L) of child whose mother had significant difference was observed(Z = - 2.54, P < 0.05). The urinary iodine level (239.1 μg/L) of child who received breast feeding was higher than that (204.2 μg/L) of child without breast feeding among one year old and younger infants and babies, significant difference was observed (Z = - 2.74, P < 0.05). Conclusions Current iodine level in iodized salt is probably higher than suitable in Ningxia, and the value could be decreased. It is unnecessary to strengthen iodine supplement procedure in special population other than people in Xiji county.

Objective To investigate the iodine nutritional level of 5 special groups (newly married women,pregnant women, lactating women, babies and infants, and students) in Ningxia, and to provide the basis for formulating prevention and control strategies. Methods Clustering and random sampling method were used. In 2008 and 2009, in the 22 counties investigated, in every county with 9 townships or more, nine townships were randomly selected according to their sub-area positions of east, west, south, north and center; four villages were randomly selected in each chosen township, four people with special needs and 2 infants were randomly selected for urine samples collection in each chosen village. In every county with 9 or less townships, one township was randomly selected respectively in east, west, south, north and center sub-areas; four villages were randomly sampled in each chosen township, eight people with special needs and 3 infants' urine samples were randomly collected in each chosen village. In the 22 counties, one township was randomly selected respectively in east, west,south, north and center sub-areas, one village elementary school was randomly sampled in each chosen township,twenty students aged 8 - 10 were randomly selected to collect their urine samples in each school. The iodine concentration was determined by arsenic-cerium contact method. Results A total of 6894 copied of urine samples from newly married women, pregnant women, lactating women, babies and infants, and students were examined, the urinary iodine medians were 209.3, 187.4, 184.0, 216.5, 216.3 μg/L, respectively. From low to high in the order was lactating women, pregnant women, newly married women, students, babies and infants. The level of urinary iodine of babies and infants, pregnant women and lactating women were appropriate, the one of newly married women and students were higher than appropriate. The proportion of less than 100 μg/L of urinary iodine of the 5 kinds special groups were 11.1% (53/475), 35.4% (308/871), 35.4% (659/1863), 19.1% (283/1483), 8.4%(185/2202), respectively, while the urinary iodine of the pregnant women and lactating women were relatively high. The urinary iodine medians of the 5 special groups were also very different among counties. Conclusions The urinary iodine of the 5 special groups in Ningxia presents obvious differences between populations and regions.Current iodized salt is sufficient to ensure iodine nutrition needs for the 5 special groups. But married women and students have higher levels of iodine nutrition, indicating that the salt iodine concentration of Ningxia residents have cut space, full consideration of the 5 special groups and regional differences should be taken.

OBJECTIVE: To access application value of multi-slice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) and coronary artery calcium scoring (CACS) in investigation the coronary artery disease (CAD), and to explore the effective way of virtual autopsy to evaluate the sudden death due to CAD. METHODS: Nine cases of sudden cardiac death were collected to analyze MSCT before the autopsy. The quantitative analysis of the degree of coronary artery calcium was made by Agatston's method. The CACS of all the subjects were calculated based on the diagnostic criteria for CAD, in which calcium scoring was more than 400. The results of CACS were compared with that of the autopsy. RESULTS: Only 2 cases got the high calcium scoring which were more than 400 in the 9 cases died of CAD confirmed by the autopsy. The prediction rate of CACS for CAD was only 22.2%. Pulmonary edema of different severity was found in both autopsy and MSCT. There was a higher morbidity rate in the left anterior descending of coronary artery than the other branches. CONCLUSION Obvious calcification of coronary artery can be detected by MSCT and calculating CACS. To detect subtle calcification needs other technologies such as postmortem angiography.
Autopsy ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease/diagnostic imaging* ; Death, Sudden/pathology* ; Humans ; Multidetector Computed Tomography/methods* ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Vascular Calcification/diagnostic imaging*

Adult ; Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Hemangioendothelioma, Epithelioid ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Male

OBJECTIVETo detect the level and dynamic change of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-coronavirus-specific IgG antibody in conavalescent SARS patients, and to provide information for prevention and vaccine development.

METHODSIgG antibody against coronavirus was detected by ELISA in the blood of 311 convalescent SARS patients for every 2 - 4 weeks. Stata 7.0 statistics software was used to analyse the results.

RESULTSIgG antibody was detected positive on each testing of all the convalescent patients and its peak appeared 35 days after recovery. IgG antibody level showed a 35.8% decrease within one year.

CONCLUSIONData showed that all the SARS convalescent patients had generated high level of specific IgG antibody against coronavirus in the early stage of recovery, but the antibody level declined along with the progress of convalescence, suggesting that the detection of the IgG antibody should go on until it disappeared.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Convalescence ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; SARS Virus ; immunology ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; immunology

Variant pulmonary vein anatomy (PVA) has been reported to influence the recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after radiofrequency ablation.However,the effects of PVA on AF in patients undergoing cryoballoon ablation (CBA) remain unknown.The present study aimed to examine the impact of PVA on the long-term outcome of CBA for AF.A total of 78 patients (mean age 60.7±10.9 years,64.1％ males) with symptomatic and drug-refractory paroxysmal AF were enrolled in the study.Left atrium (LA) and PVA acquired at computed tomography angiography (CTA) were reconstructed with CARTO(R) 3 SYSTEM.Patients were routinely evaluated by 24-hour Holter monitoring following CBA.Cox regression was used to detect the predictors of AF recurrence after CBA.The results showed abnormal PVA in 30 patients (38.5％) and 18 patients (23.1％) had left common PV (LCPV).Electrical pulmonary vein isolation was achieved in all patients.After a mean follow-up of 689.5±103.8 days,it was found that patients with abnormal PVA had similar AF recurrence rate to those with normal PVA (26.7％ vs.25.0％,P=0.54),and there was no significant difference in AF recurrence rate between LCPV patients and non-LCPV patients (33.7％ vs.23.3％,P=0.29).Cox regression analysis showed that AF duration (72.9±9.0 vs.42.3±43.2 months,HR 1.001;95％CI 1.003-1.014;P＜0.001) and cryo-applications of right-side PVs (3.0±1.6 vs.4.7±1.7,HR 0.661;95％ CI 0.473-0.925;P=0.016) were independent predictors of freedom from AF,but PVA was not identified as a predictor of long-term success.In conclusion,the variant PVA cannot significantly influence the long-term outcome of AF patients undergoing CBA;longer AF duration and less cryo-applications of right-side PVs are associated with higher AF recurrent rate.

The aim of this study was to investigate the best method to preserve human bone marrow cells and the effectiveness of long term cryopreservation at -80 degrees C. The human bone marrow cells in 20 samples were firstly frozen by a programmed freezer or -80 degrees C refrigerator, and then were preserved in liquid nitrogen with DMSO-AuP (10% dimethylsulfonamide, 10% autologous plasma) or DMSO-HES-HuA (5% dimethylsulfonamide, 6% hydroxyethyl starch, 4% human serum albumin) as cryoprotectant for 21 to 25 years. They were thawed in 38 degrees C. The cell sample frozen in -80 degrees C refrigerator was frozen at a low frozen speed of 1 degrees C/min which was the same as the programmed freezer before -30 degrees C. Before detection the bone marrow cells were taken from liquid nitrogen and were thawed in 38 degrees C, then the suspension of bone marrow cells was prepared for detection. The cell morphology and recovery rate of erythrocytes, nucleocytes and platelets; the recovery rate of hematopoietic stem progenitors cells, as well as mesenchymal stem cells were determined. The results showed that the protective effectiveness of DMSO-HES-HuA was better than DMSO-AuP. The mature erythrocytes were destroyed lightly [(3.5 +/- 1.5)% versus (12.6 +/- 4.8)%], the hemolysis rate was lower [(3.3 +/- 1.6)% versus (23.1 +/- 5.1)%]. Osmotic fragility of erythrocytes in the former was not changed, but was dropped in the latter. The recovery rates of red cell, platelet, granulocyte-macrophage colony forming units and long term culture-initiating cells were higher in the former than that in the latter [(96.1 +/- 1.8)%, (70.0 +/- 9.5)%, (49.2 +/- 10.9)%, (54.2 +/- 13.8)% versus (76.3 +/- 5.6)%, (52.7 +/- 8.1)%, (43.5 +/- 12.3)%, (47.2 +/- 13.6)% respectively]. With each kind of cryoprotectant or frozen method, the frozen MSC could keep the original growth properties. With the same cryoprotectant and different frozen method, the cryopreservative effectiveness was not different. The influence of the cryoprotectant prescriptions and the frozen methods on the cryopreservative effectiveness was little. It is concluded that the human bone marrow cells with DMSO-AuP or DMSO-HES-HuA as cryoprotectant, frozen by a programmed freezer or -80 degrees C refrigerator, could be then preserved in liquid nitrogen for long time. When the preserving time was as long as 21 to 25 years, the morphology, the recovery rate and the activity of various kinds of cells were still good. The method of freezing by -80 degrees C refrigerator with 5% DMSO-6% HES-4% HuA and preserving in liquid nitrogen would be convenient, cheap and easily-manipulated for preservation of the human bone marrow cells.
Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Survival ; Colony-Forming Units Assay ; Cryopreservation ; methods ; Cryoprotective Agents ; Humans ; Nitrogen ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to observe the association between the occurrence of esophageal cancer lesions and esophageal mucosa fold (white ridges), and further identify where is the initial origin of esophageal cancer lesions in the esophagus mucosa.

METHODSThis was a cohort study which recruited 551 subjects underwent endoscopic examination in a high risk area of esophageal cancer in Linxian, Henan Province in 1987. 339 subjects with esophageal white ridges, and with red area or erosion lesion at the surface of the white ridges, was studied as exposure group. Other 212 subjects whose esophagus had no white ridges and pathological diagnosis was negative, was studied as control group. The endpoint was occurrence of pathologically confirmed esophageal cancer. After a 15-year follow-up, the results were compared between two groups.

RESULTSAmong the 551 subjects, there were 339 cases with esophageal mucosal white ridges in the exposure group. During the period of 15 year follow-up, the incidence of esophageal cancer was 11.8% (9/76) in 76 case with simple mucosal white ridges, 33.5% (88/263) in 263 subjects with white ridges and red area, or erosions on the surface of white ridge. While only 8.0% of subjects (17/212) developed esophageal cancer after the 15-year follow up in the control group. There was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONEsophageal mucosal white ridge, especially white ridge with red area or erosions is closely associated with subsequent esophageal cancer occurrence in the esophageal cancer high risk area in China. It is suggested that esophageal mucosa with white ridge may be the initial origin of esophageal cancer. Further investigations focused on this spot are required.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; epidemiology ; pathology ; China ; epidemiology ; Cohort Studies ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; pathology ; Esophagoscopy ; Esophagus ; pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; pathology ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mouth Mucosa ; pathology ; Precancerous Conditions ; epidemiology ; pathology ; Prospective Studies

To explore the hematopoiesis inhibition mechanisms of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), the effects of IFN-gamma on the expression of the cyclin D in the umbilical cord blood hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells were observed. In the experiments the CD34(+) cells were isolated from the cord blood with MIDI-MACS system; semi-solid methylcellulose culture technique was used to measure the formation of CFU-GM; the expression levels of cyclin D isoforms were assayed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR, after the hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells were incubated with IFN-gamma. The results indicated that IFN-gamma could inhibit the formation of CFU-GM and down-regulate the expression of cyclin D2 and cyclin D3 at the mRNA level. It is concluded that the IFN-gamma could inhibit the proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells and down-regulate the expression of cyclin D, that may be one mechanism underlying the hematopoietic inhibition of IFN-gamma.
Cyclin D ; Cyclins ; genetics ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; G1 Phase ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; pharmacology ; Protein Isoforms ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis

BACKGROUNDInflammation and immunity play a vital role in the pathogenesis of early brain injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) regulates many genes essential for inflammation and immunity and is activated by toll-like receptor (TLR). This study aimed to detect the expression of the toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-kappa B (TLR4/NF-kappaB) signaling in the rat brain after early SAH.

METHODSThe rats were decapitated and their brains were removed at 0, 2, 4, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours after a single injection of blood into the prechiasmatic cistern. mRNA expression of TLR4 was measured by Taqman real-time RT-PCR, and protein expression by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. NF-kappaB activity and concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSTaqMan real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting identified a biphasic change in TLR4 expression in both mRNA and protein: an initial peak (2 - 6 hours) and a sustained elevation (12 - 48 hours). Immunohistochemical staining showed the inducible expression of TLR4-like immunoreactions predominantly in glial cells and vascular endothelium. A similar biphasic change in the activation of NF-kappaB subunit p65 as well as the production of NF-kappaB-regulated proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6) were detected by ELISA.

CONCLUSIONSThese data suggest that experimental SAH induces significant up-regulation of TLR4 expression and the NF-kappaB signaling in early brain injury. Activation of the TLR4/NF-kappaB signaling may regulate the inflammatory responses after SAH.

Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Cytokines ; analysis ; Male ; NF-kappa B ; physiology ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; physiology ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; immunology ; metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; analysis ; genetics ; physiology