OBJECTIVETo study the hazards of gem dusts and the epidemiological features of the occurrence of gem worker's silicosis (GWS).

METHODSEpidemiological investigation in a gem factory in Guangdong province was carried out.

RESULTSThe average dusts concentration in workshop was 2.3 mg/m(3), average free silica content was 94.64%. There were 47 patients diagnosed as silicosis. The prevalence of GWS was 4.58% (47/ 1,027). The age of patients suffering from silicosis and the duration of dust exposure were (27.04 +/- 3.25) years and (4.67 +/- 1.17) years respectively. Chest radiographic examination showed mainly small round opacities "q". The incidences of GWS complicated by pulmonary tuberculosis, spontaneous pneumothorax and pulmonary emphysema were 10.64%, 10.64%, 44.68% respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe hazards of gem dust to workers might be serious. Higher incidence, younger age suffered from silicosis, shorter duration of dust exposure, more complications, and poorer prognosis in gem workers appeared to be the main epidemiological features of GWS in Guangdong.

Adult ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; poisoning ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Silicosis ; epidemiology ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the incidence of welder's pneumoconiosis in container manufacturing industries in Guangdong province and present some preventive and curative strategy.

METHODSOccupational epidemiology study methods were used to study the incidence of welder's pneumoconiosis in two container manufacturing enterprises (enterprise A and enterprise B).

RESULTSBefore 2004, the rate of up-to-standard of weld fume concentration in the workplaces was relatively low (< or = 40%), and the maximum value of time weighted average (TWA) was 26.7 mg/m(3). After 2004, with the system of dust control, the rate of up-to-standard was 85% in the enterprise A. Of the 813 weld workers examined, 19 were diagnosed as welder's pneumoconiosis (stage I was 15, while I (+) was 4 ) and the incidence was 2.34% (19/813). The age of electric welders suffering from welder's pneumoconiosis and the duration of dust exposure were (33.45 + 4.64) and (8.04 + 1.97) years respectively. Chest radiographic examination showed mainly small round opacities "p". The value of MVV, FEF25%, FEF50% and FEF75% in lung function tests were significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe main features of welder's pneumoconiosis in container manufacturing industries are the short duration of dust exposure, and small round opacities "p" in the chest radiographs. Therefore, it should be the key point of the prevention and treatment of occupational diseases in this industry to control the harmful weld fume.

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Dust ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Pneumoconiosis ; epidemiology ; Welding

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical phenotype of six pedigrees affected with osteogenesis imperfecta and their genetic basis. METHODS: Peripheral blood or abortic tissues of the six pedigrees were collected for the extraction of genomic DNA. Next generation sequencing (NGS) was carried out to detect pathological variants in the genome. Sanger sequencing was used for validating suspected variant among the six pedigrees and 100 healthy controls. RESULTS: In pedigree 1, the proband and his daughter both carried a heterozygous c.1976G>C variant of COL1A1. The probands in pedigrees 2 to 6 respectively carried heterozygous variants of c.2224G>A of COL1A2, c.2533G>A of COL1A1, c.2845G>A of COL1A2, c.2532_2540del of COL1A1, and c.1847G>A of COL1A2. The same variants were not detected in their parents and the 100 healthy controls. CONCLUSION Variants of COL1A1/2 gene probably underlie the pathogenesis for osteogenesis imperfecta in these pedigrees. Discovery of the nevol variants has enriched the spectrum of COL1A1/2 gene variants and facilitated genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis for the affected pedigrees.
Collagen Type I ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Osteogenesis Imperfecta ; genetics ; Pedigree ; Phenotype ; Pregnancy

Objectives:To explore the possible mechanisms of ischemic postconditioning on alleviating myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, focusing on the inflammatory-thrombus related mechanisms. Methods:Rats were randomly divided into six groups (n=10 each):sham group, ischemia-reperfusion injury group, postconditioning group, SB203580 group, anisomycin+postconditioning (Ani+postconditioning) group and anisomycin (Ani) group. After establising the model of myocardial ischemia reperfusion in rats, the levels of myocardial injury markers troponin I (TnI) and creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB), level of leukocyte-platelet aggregation (PLA) were detected by flow cytometry at different time points, myocardial infarction area was measured by using TTC staining and the level of phosphorylation of p38 MAPK (P-p38 MAPK) was determined by Western blot. Results:Compared with the I/R group, the levels of CK-MB, TnI, the infarct size and the expression of PLA at 60 min and 3 h reperfusion were significantly reduced in the postconditioning group and SB203580 group (P＜0.05). Compared with the postconditioning group, the levels of above parameters were significantly higher in the SB203580 group, Ani+postconditioning group and Ani group (P＜0.05). Compared with the I/R group, the expression of P-p38 MAPK in the postconditioning group, SB203580 group, Ani+postconditioning group was significantly reduced (P＜0.05), while it was significantly upregulated in the Ani group (P＜0.05). Furthermore, compared with the postconditioning group, the expression of P-p38 MAPK in the Ani+postconditioning group and Ani group was significantly upregulated (P＜0.05). SB203580 group presented the similar protection effect as the postconditioning group. Cardioprotective effects of postconditioning was partially reduced in the Ani+postconditioning group. Conclusions:Ischemia postconditioning can reduce the expression of PLA during reperfusion by inhibiting the phosphorylation of p38MAPK, thereby attenuating myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.

italic>Artemisia argyi is a traditional Chinese medicine in China, which is used as medicine with its leaves. The leaves of A. argyi mainly contain flavonoids, phenolic acids, volatile oils and other compounds, and have a variety of pharmacological activities. AP2/ERF transcription factors are abundant in plants and are mainly involved in plant growth and development, abiotic stress response and secondary metabolite biosynthesis regulation. However, there are few reports on the AP2/ERF gene family and its functions in A. argyi. In this study, we systematically identified the AP2/ERF gene family in A. argyi genome, and analyzed its phylogenetic tree, protein physicochemical properties, subcellular localization, conserved motifs, promoter elements, and expression patterns. The results showed that a total of 204 AP2/ERF transcription factors were identified in A. argyi genome, encoding proteins consisting of 88-483 amino acids with a relative molecular mass of 10-52.94 kDa and a theoretical isoelectric point of 4.62-9.88. Subcellular prediction showed that the majority of AP2/ERFs were located in the nucleus, cytoplasm, and the minority of them is located in the membrane and chloroplasts. According to the Arabidopsis AP2/ERF family classification, A. argyi AP2/ERF proteins were divided into four subfamilies: Soloist, AP2, ERF (B3, B4, B5, B6), and DREB (A1, A2, A4, A5, A6), among which DREB family accounted for the largest proportion, and the same subfamily had similar conserved motifs. cis-Acting element analysis showed that AP2/ERF promoters have a large number of elements responding to light and abiotic stress. Expression pattern analysis showed that most of the genes of the AP2/ERF family were dominantly expressed mainly in roots and stems, of which 19 were dominantly expressed in leaves, 77 would be induced to be expressed by methyl jasmonate, of which 16 genes were both dominantly expressed in leaves and induced to be expressed by methyl jasmonate, and these AP2/ERF genes may be the key regulatory genes for the synthesis of active ingredients in A. argyi leaves.This study lays the foundation for the functional study of AP2/ERF family genes and their regulating roles in the active components biosynthesis in A. argyi leaves.

OBJECTIVETo observe the morphology of hypertrophic scar tissue and explore the expressions and distribution of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor beta activated kinase 1(TAK1 )in these tissues.

METHODHematoxylin-eosin staining, Masson staining,immunofluorescence,and real-time polymerase chain reaction were used to detect the localization and expression of VEGF and TAK1 in 15 hypertrophic scar tissues and 10 normal skin tissues.

RESULTSMorphological observation showed that the dermal fibroblasts in hypertrophic scar were disorderly and densely arranged (compared to the normal skin). Immunofluorescence displayed that the expressions of VEGF and TAK1 in hypertrophic scar tissue were higher than in normal skin tissues. Real-time polymerase chain reaction showed the mRNA expressions of both VEGF and TAK1 were significantly higher in hypertrophic scar tissue than in normal tissue (P<0.01, P<0.05,respectively).

CONCLUSIONSHypertrophic scar tissue has higher collagen fibrosis degree and higher TAK1 and VEGF expressions than the normal skin. VEGF and TAK1 can be used as the reference indicators for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of hypertrophic scar and serve as new therapeutic targets.

Cell Shape ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; Collagen ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

Two new ursane triterpenoids along with twelve known compounds were isolated from 80% ethanol extract of Agastache rugosa (Fisch. et. Mey.) O. Kuntze by using silica gel column, MCI column, ODS column and HPLC. The structures of the new compounds were identified as 2α,3α-dihydroxy-24-nor-urs-4(23),12(13)-dien-28-oic acid (1) and 2α,3α-dihydroxy-24-nor-urs-4(23),12(13),20(30) -trien-28-oic acid (2) by HR-ESI-MS, NMR and ECD spectral data, named agasursacid A and agasursacid B. In addition, compounds 3, 4, 6, 8 showed anti-coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) activities with a IC₅₀ as 4.77, 1.59, 11.11 and 25.87 μmol·L^-1, resepectively.