OBJECTIVETo analyze the relationship between pesticide exposure and adverse pregnancy outcomes in famers.

METHODSA search was conducted to collect the articles about the relationship between pesticide exposure and adverse pregnancy outcomes published worldwide from 1990 to February 2012. Meta-analysis was performed on the collected articles using RevMan 4.2 software.

RESULTSTwelve articles were collected. Compared with the controls, the pesticide-exposed famers showed a combined odds ratio (OR) for spontaneous abortion of 1.52 (95%CI: 1.04 ∼ 2.21; P = 0.03), a combined OR for premature birth of 1.33 (95%CI: 1.09 ∼ 1.61; P = 0.005), a combined OR for dead fetus of 1.22 (95%CI: 1.16 ∼ 1.29; P < 0.01), a combined OR for stillbirth of 1.90 (95%CI: 0.58 ∼ 6.28; P = 0.29), a combined OR for birth defect of 2.02 (95%CI: 0.84 - 4.69; P = 0.12), a combined OR for low birth weight of 1.62 (95%CI: 0.60 ∼ 4.39; P = 0.34), a combined OR for neonatal death of 2.18 (95%CI: 0.54 ∼ 8.88; P = 0.28), and a combined OR for delayed conception of 1.43 (95%CI: 0.93 ∼ 2.18; P = 0.1). Pesticide exposure increased the risks for spontaneous abortion, premature birth, and dead fetus, but was not significantly associated with stillbirth, birth defect, low birth weight, neonatal death, and delayed conception.

CONCLUSIONPesticide exposure can cause adverse pregnancy outcomes in farmers, increasing the risks of spontaneous abortion, premature birth, and dead fetus.

Agriculture ; Female ; Humans ; Maternal Exposure ; Pesticides ; adverse effects ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Rural Population

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of brucine on secretion of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-4 and proliferation of T lymphocytes in patients with aplastic anemia (AA), and to explore its mechanism. Peripheral blood T lymphocytes from 10 patients with AA and 10 healthy volunteers were isolated, purified and cultured. T lymphocytes from the patients were divided into 0, 100, 200 and 400 µg/ml brucine-treated groups. T lymphocytes from healthy volunteers were used as control group. After being cultured for 72 hours, the levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-4 in the supernatant of cultured T lymphocytes from AA patients were detected by ELISA, and the proliferation of T lymphocytes from AA patients was detected by MTT. The results showed that compared with the normal control group, the levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ in the culture supernatant significantly increased, and IL-4 was significantly decreased. The levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ in the culture supernatant of brucine treated groups were lower, and were dependent on the concentration of brucine. However, the levels of IL-4 were found to be not obviously changed. The inhibition rate of T lymphocytes in 100, 200 and 400µg/ml brucine-treated groups were (13.61 ± 4.31)%, (14.28 ± 4.31)% and (15.12 ± 4.56)% respectively, among which the differences were not statistically significant. It is concluded that the brucine can reduce the levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ through inhibiting the proliferation of T lymphocytes in AA patients, which provides experimental basis for therapy of AA patients.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Anemia, Aplastic ; immunology ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Strychnine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; secretion ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo describe the prevalence of body overweight and obesity and its changes among Chinese people during 1992-2002, and to provide scientific basis for developing intervention strategies for obesity in China.

METHODSThe data from "1992 China third National Nutrition Survey" (78,704 subjects, 38,323 male and 40,381 female) and from "2002 China National Nutrition and Health Survey" (209,849 subjects, 101,377 male and 108,472 female) were used in this study. The overweight and obesity were defined by using WHO Z-score criteria for children younger than 7 years old, Chinese age-, sex-specific BMI criteria for children aged 7-17 years, and Chinese BMI criteria for adults.

RESULTSThe overall prevalence of overweight and obesity of Chinese people was increased by 38.6% and 80.6%, respectively during the period of 1992-2002. The prevalence of overweight and obesity of Chinese people aged 0-6 years, 7-17 years, 18-44 years, 45-59 years and above 60 years was increased 31.7%, 17.9%, 66.7%, 45.2% and 43.7%, respectively. The increase of the prevalence of overweight and obesity was higher in girls younger than 6 years than their male counterparts, while among other age groups, that were higher in boys than girls. The prevalence of overweight and obesity among people living in rural areas was lower than that of their urban counterparts, while the increment of overweight and obesity prevalence among rural people was greater than that of their urban counterparts. It was estimated that another 70 million overweight and 30 million obese Chinese people emerged in China from 1992 to 2002.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of overweight and obesity of Chinese people was increased rapidly in the past decade, which had affected 260 million Chinese people. It would continue to increase in the near future if effective intervention measures have not been taken.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; epidemiology ; Overweight ; epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Rural Population ; statistics & numerical data ; Urban Population ; statistics & numerical data ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical features of non-epileptic seizures associated with cerebral palsy (CP) in children.

METHODSA total of 1 198 children with CP (age: 9 months to 6 years) were enrolled. The children with paroxysmal events were monitored by 24 hrs video-EEG (VEEG) to make sure the seizures were epileptic or non-epileptic. The symptoms, age, CP types and EEG features were observed in children with non-epileptic CP.

RESULTSFive hundred and seventy-eight children (48.24%) presented paroxysmal events. The seizures were epileptic in 231 children (19.28%) and non-epileptic in 322 cases (26.88%). In the 322 cases of non-epileptic CP, the paroxysmal events were of various kinds, including non-epileptic seizure tonic, seizure shake head, shrug shoulder or head hypsokinesis, cry or scream, panic attacks, sleep myoclonic and stereotyped movement. One hundred and fifty-eight (49.1%) out of the 322 children demonstrated nonspecific EEG abnormalities. One hundred and eleven children (34.5%) were misdiagnosed as epilepsy in primary hospitals. The CP children less than one year old showed higher frequency of non-epileptic seizures than the age groups over 1 year and 3 to 6 years. The frequency of non-epileptic seizures was the highest in children with spastic CP (168 cases, 52.2%), followed by dyskinetic CP (69 cases, 21.4%) and mixed type CP (65 cases, 20.2%).

CONCLUSIONSThe paroxysmal events in children with CP partially are non-epileptic seizures and it is important to differentiate non-epileptic from epileptic seizures. The frequencies of non-epileptic seizures may be associated with a child's age and CP type.

Cerebral Palsy ; Diagnostic Errors ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Seizures ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the correlation between T2* relaxation time and the pathological changes in the knee joint of patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and analyze the changes of T2* relaxation time in early cartilage injury.

METHODSSixty-two patients with OA in different phases underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the knee and the articular cartilage T2* relaxation time was recorded, with 20 young healthy volunteers as the control group.

RESULTSPatients with mild OA showed significantly different T2* relaxation time for most of the articular cartilage from that of the healthy volunteers (P<0.05), but no such difference was found between serious OA group and the healthy volunteers. The change of T2* relaxation time of the cartilage was also associated with age, weight and body height, and the potential effects of other factors could not be excluded.

CONCLUSIONThe articular cartilage shows no obvious morphological changes in early OA of the knee, a stage characterized mostly by alterations of the tissue structure and compositions. Cartilage pathologies can be the most obvious on the weight-bearing surface of the medial condyle of the femur or in the patella. T2* relaxation time measurement can be helpful in the detection of early cartilage pathologies.

Adult ; Aged ; Cartilage, Articular ; pathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Image Enhancement ; methods ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; pathology ; Patella ; pathology ; Young Adult

To investigate the apoptosis-induction effect of brucine on human chronic myeloid leukemia cell line K562 cells, K562 cells were exposed to various dosages of brucine. MTT method was used to assayed the growth inhibition effect of brucine on K562 cells. The apoptosis of K562 cells was detected by acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) double staining, Annexin-V/PI double labeling method and DNA agarose gel electrophoresis. The results showed that brucine could remarkably inhibit the K562 cell growth in a concentration-dependent and time-dependent manners at the range of 50 to 400 µg/ml, and its most significant inhibition was observed at 400 µg/ml for 72 hours and the inhibition rate was 94.0%. Staining of cells with AO-EB revealed that brucine induced nuclear chromatin condensation. After the K562 cells were treated with the brucine of 400 µg/ml for 72 hours, the most of the nucleus were orange stained and condensation-like or bead-like showing apoptotic morphology. The K562 cells treated with brucine of different concentrations (50, 100, 200, 400, 800 µg/ml) for 72 hours, Annexin-V/PI detection showed brucine could induce apoptosis of K562 cells, and apoptosis rate increased gradually with increasing concentration of drugs. The K562 cells treated with brucine of 400 µg/ml for 72 hours displayed typical ladder strap in DNA gel electrophoresis. It is concluded that brucine can efficiently inhibit cell growth and induce apoptosis of K562 cells with dose-dependent manner in concentrations of 50 - 400 µg/ml.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Strychnine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology

BACKGROUND: As a bioactive substance, Biodentine has good compressive strength, bonding strength and less micro-leakage. It has been successfully applied to a variety of clinical indications. However, much less is known about whether Biodentine can promote osteogenesis. OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of Biodentine of different concentrations on proliferation and osteogenesis of MG-63 cells. METHODS: The extracts of Biodentine with different concentration gradients (1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16) were prepared. MG-63 cells were cultured in six groups, with the addition of minimum essential medium (control group) and five concentrations of Biodentine extracts. Cell proliferation was detected by cell counting kit-8 assay at 1, 3, 5 and 7 days, and then the best concentration of Biodentine extract was screened. Another MG-63 cells were cultured in minimum essential medium (blank control group) and Biodentine extract of the optimal concentration (experimental group). The expression of osteogenic factor Runx2 mRNA in MG-63 cells was detected by real-time PCR at 1, 3, 5 and 7 days of culture. Then alizarin red staining was used to observe calcified nodules in MG-63 cells at 10 and 14 days of culture. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) At 1 and 3 days of culture, the number of viable cells in different concentration groups was similar to that in the control group (P ＞ 0.05). At 5 days of culture, compared with the control group, the number of viable cells in MG-63 cells was significantly lowered in the 1 concentration group, showed no significant changes in the 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 concentration groups (P ＞ 0.05), and was significantly increased in the 1/16 concentration group (P ＜ 0.05). Therefore, the 1/16 concentration of Biodentine extract was used for further experiment. (2) Runx2 mRNA expression of the experimental group at 1, 3, 5 and 7 days of culture was 1.14, 5.29, 1.08 and 2.11 times that of the control group, respectively (all P ＜ 0.05). (3) At 10 days of culture, both the experimental group and blank control group showed no mineralized nodules; at 14 days of culture, mineralized nodules were observed in the two groups, and larger and darker nodules were seen in the experiment group. To conclude, Biodentine at certain concentrations can promote the proliferation and osteogenic activity of human osteosarcoma cell line MG-63.

Objective To investigate the association between the anti-atherosclerotic effects of amlodipine and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in elderly essential hypertensive (EH) patients.Methods A total of 220 EH patients were treated with amlodipine (2.5-10 mg,once daily) for twelve months and complete data were obtained from 208 patients with genotypes of Ⅱ(n=90),ID (n=91) and DD (n=27).The indices ofcarotid arterial were compared before and post amlodipine treatment in patients with identical genotype and among different ACE genotypes and each genotype post therapy.Results The carotid mean intimal-medial thickness (MIMT) wag slightly decreased in EH patients with ID and DD genotypes and significantly decreased in EH patients with Ⅱgenotype (0.96 4±0.12 VS.0.92±0.13,P<0.01) compared to pre-treatment values.The decreased degree of MIMT (AMIMT) in Ⅱ genotype was significantly higher in Ⅱ genotype than those in ID or DD genotype (0.05±0.03 VS.0.01±0.02,0.01±0.03 respectively,P<0.01).The post treatment plaque score (PS) in patients with Ⅱ genotype was significantly reduced(4.85±2.51 vs.3.90 ± 2.36,P<0.05).Multivariate linear regression analysis showed the baseline SBP,the decreased degree of SBP (ASBP) and the Ⅱ genotype were the major factors affecting the △MIMT.Conclusion Hypertensive patients carrying Ⅱ genotype ACE genotype are the best responders for the anti-atherosclerotic effects of amlodiping.

Objective:To investigate the prognostic value of serum adenosylhomocysteinase (AHCY) in patients with hepatitis E virus acute liver failure (HEV-ALF).Methods:From 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2022, 100 patients each with HEV-ALF and acute hepatitis E (AHE) from the First Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Zhejiang University and Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were included in this case-control study. The HEV-ALF group was 58.56±11.16 years old, including 71 men. The AHE group was 56.04±14.30 years old, including 61 men. All serum samples were obtained before the patient had an acute onset and were obtained without treatment. Firstly, the serum AHCY levels in patients with HEV-ALF and AHE were analyzed by ELISA. Secondly, the serum AHCY levels in HEV-ALF patients with different organ failure and disease condition were compared. According to the number of organ failure, 100 HEV-ALF patients were divided into organ failure number=2 group ( n=58), number=3 group ( n=24) and number>3 groups ( n=18). According to the disease condition, 100 patients were divided into improvement group ( n=49), disease fluctuation group ( n=37), and deterioration group ( n=14). Thirdly, the survival times between the high serum AHCY level group ( n=50) and the low serum AHCY level group ( n=50) were compared. Finally, the independent risk factors to predict mortality using the multivariate Logistic regression analysis, and evaluated the predictive and decision-making abilities of serum AHCY levels were explored using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and decision curve analysis (DCA). Results:Serum AHCY levels in HEV-ALF patients were significantly higher than those in AHE patients [326.92 (295.37-385.84) pg/ml vs. 222.88 (188.04-246.78) pg/ml, Z=-12.217, P<0.001]. Serum AHCY levels in group 2 were significantly lower than those in group 3 [303.44 (284.40-330.15) pg/ml vs. 335.36 (306.30-385.84) pg/ml, Z=-3.353, P=0.001]. Serum AHCY level in group 3 were significantly lowerthan those in group>3 [335.36 (306.30-385.84) pg/ml vs. 549.89 (423.35-660.22) pg/ml, P<0.001]. The serum AHCY levels in the fluctuation group were lower than those in the deterioration group [322.17 (283.92-423.74) pg/ml vs. 458.26 (374.66, 593.89) pg/ml, Z=-4.016, P=0.009]. The survival time of high serum AHCY level group was significantly lower than that of low serum AHCY level group [23.11 (20.25-25.96) days vs. 29.49 (28.79-30.20) days, Z=-2.596, P<0.001]. The multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the levels of serum AHCY and total bilirubin were independent risk factors to predict mortality in HEV-ALF patients [AHCY, OR (95% CI): 1.008 (1.002-1.015), P=0.008; total bilirubin, OR (95% CI): 1.011 (1.005-1.018), P=0.001]. Serum AHCY level predicting the area under the curve (AUC) of 30-day mortality in HEV-ALF patients was 0.912, with a sensitivity of 90.00% and a specificity of 93.75%. DCA results demonstrated that serum AHCY level had good decision-making power for predicting 30-day mortality in HEV-ALF patients. Conclusion:Serum AHCY has an important prognostic value for HEV-ALF patients. Higher serum AHCY levels indicate the worse prognosis of HEV-ALF patients.

China ; epidemiology ; Encephalitis, Japanese ; epidemiology ; Laboratories ; standards