OBJECTIVETo investigate the current status of disabled children and prevalence of disabilities in children aged 0-6 years and their risk factors, and to provide scientific evidence for making relevant policies for disabled children.

METHODSIn a community-based cross-sectional study, multi-phase, stratified, unequal proportional and cluster sampling was adopted to survey 60 124 children aged 0-6 years. All the investigated children were screened for disabilities, and those with positive screening tests were further diagnosed by various specialties.

RESULTSA total of 819 children were diagnosed as disabled with an overall prevalence of 1.362%, 0.155% for hearing disability, 0.160% for visual disability, 0.931% for intelligent disability, 0.424% for limb disability, and 0.101% for mental disability. Prevalence of disability in children was higher in rural areas, and in families with two or more children, low educational level or in divorced families.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of disability can be reduced by economic development, improvement of health care and quality of population, as well as harmonious familial relationship, early prevention of disability, and preschool education for disabled children.

Blindness ; epidemiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Disabled Persons ; Hearing Loss ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Intellectual Disability ; epidemiology ; Limb Deformities, Congenital ; epidemiology

OBJECTIVETo study the combined effect of fluoride and arsenate on the expression of SD rat osteoblastic osteoclast differentiation factor (ODF) mRNA and osteoprotegerin (OPG) mRNA.

METHODSOsteoblasts were obtained by enzymatic isolation from newborn SD rats. A factorial experiment was performed. Osteoblasts were exposed to NaF (0.5 mmolF/L, 4 molF/L) and Na3AsH2 (12.5 micromolAs/L and 200 micromolAs/L) separately or F plus As and cultured for 48 h. The gene expression of osteoblastic ODF and OPG was observed by RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe expression of ODF mRNA increased in F0.5, F4 groups compared with control group and two groups of F0.5As200, F4As200 compared with As200 group, and decreased significantly in groups of F4Asl2.5, F0.5As200, and F4AS200. The expression of OPG mRNA decreased in groups of F4, As200, F4As12.5, F0.5AS200, and F4AS200.

CONCLUSIONThe joint effect of fluoride and arsenate on the gene expression of ODF is antagonistic, while the combined effect on the gene expression of OPG is synergistic. F4, F4As12.5, and F0.5As200 promote bone resorption of rat osteoclasts, whereas F0.5As12.5 inhibits osteolytic effect of rat osteoclasts.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Arsenates ; pharmacology ; Bone and Bones ; drug effects ; Cariostatic Agents ; pharmacology ; Fluorides ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Hazardous Substances ; pharmacology ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; Osteoprotegerin ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RANK Ligand ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo analyze the structure of bacteria in drinking water by molecular biological techniques.

METHODSDNA of bacteria in drinking water was directly extracted without culture. 16S ribosomal DNA fragments, including V-6, -7, and -8 regions, were amplified with universal primers (EUBf933GC and EUBr1387) and analyzed by DGGE.

RESULTSDGGE indicated that amplification products could be separated. The results showed that DGGE could be used in the separation of different microbial 16SrRNA genes extracted from drinking water. Though there were special bacteria in different water samples, the predominant bacteria were essentially the same. Three sequences of the reclaimed specific bands were obtained, and phylogenetic tree of these bands was made.

CONCLUSIONBacterial diversity in drinking water is identified by molecular biological techniques.

Bacteria ; enzymology ; Biodiversity ; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel ; methods ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; analysis ; Water Microbiology

OBJECTIVETo screen the antimalarial compounds of daphnetin derivatives against Plasmodium falciparum in vitro.

METHODPlasmodium faciparum (FCC1) was cultured in vitro by a modified method of Trager and Jensen. Antimalarial compounds were screened by microscopy-based assay and microfluorimetric method.

RESULTSDA79 and DA78 showed potent antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum cultured in vitro.

CONCLUSIONThough the relationship between the structures of daphnetin derivatives and their antimalarial activities has not been clarified yet, this study may provide a new direction for discovery of more potential antimalarial compounds.

Animals ; Antimalarials ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; Plasmodium falciparum ; drug effects ; Umbelliferones ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the reduction of chlorination by-products (CBPs) precursors using the fluidized-bed biofilm reactor (FBBR).

METHODSReduction of total organic carbon (TOC), ultraviolet absorbance (UV254), trihalomethane (THM) formation potential (THMFP), haloacetic acid (HAA) formation potential (HAAFP), and ammonia in FBBR were evaluated in detail. Results The reduction of TOC or UV254 was low, on average 12.6% and 4.7%, respectively, while the reduction of THMFP and HAAFP was significant. The reduction of ammonia was 30%-40% even below 3 degrees C, however, it could quickly rise to over 50% above 3degrees C. Conclusions The FBBR effectively reduces CBPs and ammonia in drinking water even at low temperature and seems to be a very promising and competitive drinking water reactor for polluted surface source waters, especially in China.

Biofilms ; Chlorine ; Water Purification

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether overweight and obesity might cause oxidative stress and potential oxidative damage in overweight and obese children, and to explore its possible mechanism.

METHODSEighty-five overweight and obese children (OOC), and eighty-five age-matched healthy children (HC) were recruited in this case-control study. The present study analyzed spectrophotometrically vitamin C (VC), vitamin E (VE), and 3-carotene (P-CAR) in plasma, as well as the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in erythrocytes.

RESULTSCompared with those of VC, VE, P-CAR, SOD, CAT and MDA in the HC group, the average values of VC, VE, 3-CAR, SOD, and CAT in the OOC group were significantly decreased (P<0.001), while the average value of MDA in the OOC group was significantly increased (P<0.001). The regression analysis demonstrated that VC, VE, P-CAR, SOD, and CAT were negatively correlated (P<0.05-0.01), and MDA was positively correlated with BMI (P<0.05). Fitting to the model of multiple stepwise regression of BMI on VC, VE, P-CAR, SOD, CAT, and MDA in 85 OOC was Y= 27.0041 + 0.2541MDA - 2.1448beta-CAR - 0.0090CAT, where F= 43.8088, P<0.001, r = 0.7866, r(2)= 0.6187, adjusted r(2)= 0.6046. The findings from the reliability analysis for VC, VE, P-CAR, SOD, CAT, and MDA used to reflect increased oxidative stress and potential oxidative damage in the OOC showed that the reliability coefficients (alpha, 6 items) = 0.7231, P<0.0001, and that the standardized item alpha = 0.9207, P<0.0001.

CONCLUSIONThe present study suggests that there exists an increased oxidative stress in overweight and obese children.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo characterize the immune reaction in SD rats exposed to trichloroethylene (TCE) and to identify the gene expression profiles involved in skin after TCE exposure.

METHODSFifteen percent of TCE was injected intradermally into the rat back (100 microL/120 g) at intervals of 7 days. Whole blood was collected 24 h after the fifth or seventh intradermic administration of TCE. The percentages of CD4+ and CD8+ of T lymphocytes were measured by a flow cytometer. The concentrations of IFN-gamma and IL-4 in the serum were semi-quantified by ELISA. Total RNAs of skin samples at 3 h or 24 h after the seventh dose of TCE in SD rats were extracted, and gene expression profiles of these tissues were analyszed by rat toxicology U34 array of Affymetrix.

RESULTSObvious decline of CD4+ in T lymphocytes was observed in the TCE-administer group. No significant concentration differences in IFN-gamma and IL-4 were found between TCE-treated and control rats. Gadd45a and Mel were significantly up regulated in skin tissue 24 h after TCE exposure. The expression regulation of immune response factors was as active as proteins associated with lipid metabolism and synthesis process in these skin samples of SD rats exposed to TCE.

CONCLUSIONT-helper type 1 cells mediate immune response can not be elicited in TCE-treated SD rats, but certain immune disorder can be induced.

Animals ; Female ; Gene Expression ; immunology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skin ; immunology ; Trichloroethylene ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo study the mechanism of lactose intolerance (LI) by cloning the mouse lactase cDNA and recombining a vector. METHODS Total murine RNA was isolated from the small intestine of a 4-week-old BALB/c mouse (d). Gene-specific primers were designed and synthesized according to the cDNA sequences of lactase-phlorizin hydrolase (LPH) in human, rat, and rabbit. A coding sequence (CDS) fragment was obtained using RT-PCR, and inserted into a clone vector pNEB-193, then the cDNA was sequenced and analyzed using bioinformatics.

RESULTSThe cDNA from the BALB/c mouse with 912 bp encoding 303 amino acid residues. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence using bioinformatics revealed that this cDNA shared extensive sequence homology with human LPH containing a conserved glycosyl hydrolase family 1 motif important for regulating lactase intolerance.

CONCLUSIONBALB/c mouse LPH cDNA (GenBank accession No: AY751548) provides a necessary foundation for study of the biological function and regulatory mechanism of the lactose intolerance in mice.

Animals ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; Humans ; Lactase-Phlorizin Hydrolase ; genetics ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C

OBJECTIVETo study the potential risk factors for severe acute respiratory syndromes (SARS)-related deaths in Beijing.

METHODSEpidemiological data were collected among the confirmed SARS patients officially reported by Beijing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (BCDC), and information was also supplemented by a follow-up case survey. Chi-square test and multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis were performed.

RESULTSOld age (over 60 years) was found to be significantly associated with SARS-related deaths in the univariate analysis. Also, history of contacting SARS patients within 2 weeks prior to the onset of illness, health occupation, and inferior hospital ranking as well as longer interval of clinic consulting (longer than 1 day) were the risk factors for SARS-related deaths. Multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis found four risk factors for SARS-related deaths.

CONCLUSIONOld age (over 60 years) is the major risk factor for SARS-related deaths. Moreover, hospital health workers, the designated hospitals for SARS clinical services and the interval of consulting doctors (less than 1 day) are protective factors for surviving from SARS.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Risk Factors ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; epidemiology ; mortality

OBJECTIVETo investigate the differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) into neuron-like cells and to explore their potential use for neural transplantation.

METHODSBMSC from rats and adult humans were cultured in serum-containing media. Salvia miltiorrhiza was used to induce human BMSC (hBMSC) to differentiate. BMSC were identified with immunocytochemistry. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was used to examine mRNA expression of neurofilamentl (NF1), nestin and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in rat BMSC (rBMSC). Rat BMSC labelled by Hoschst33258 were transplanted into striatum of rats to trace migration and distribution.

RESULTSrBMSC expressed NSE, NF1 and nestin mRNA, and NF1 mRNA and expression was increased with induction of Salvia miltiorrhiza. A small number of hBMSC were stained by anti-nestin, anti-GFAP and anti-S100. Salvia miltiorrhiza could induce hBMSC to differentiate into neuron-like cells. Some differentiated neuron-like cells, that expressed NSE, beta-tubulin and NF-200, showed typical neuron morphology, but some neuron-like cells also expressed alpha smooth muscle protein, making their neuron identification complicated. rBMSC could migrate and adapted in the host brains after being transplanted.

CONCLUSIONBone marrow stromal cells could express phenotypes of neurons, and Salvia miltiorrhiza could induce hBMSC to differentiate into neuron-like cells. If BMSC could be converted into neurons instead of mesenchymal derivatives, they would be an abundant and accessible cellular source to treat a variety of neurological diseases.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Brain ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Male ; Neurons ; cytology ; drug effects ; Plant Extracts ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; Stromal Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; transplantation