Objective To determine the urinary iodine level of people in Yunyang and Bishan County of Chongqing and explore into its influencing factors. Methods Using multistage cluster stratified simple random sample method, Yunyang and Bishan County were chosen as research spots, then thirty children aged 8-10 in each 3 primary school of the 2 counties were selected using stratified randomization sampling method to inspected their urine and household salt for iodine and the iodine content in drinking water. Results Five hundred and seventy-one urine samples were inspected and the urinary iodine median was 261.47 μg/L. 5.78% (33/571) and 37.48%(214/571) of samples had an urinary iodine median less than 100 μg/L and more than 300 μg/L. The urinary iodine median of Yunyang County was higher than that of Bishan (H = 7.42, P < 0.01). The iodine salt coverage rate, the qualified rate and edible qualified iodine salt rate respectively were 99.64%(554/556), 94.22% (522/554) and 93.88% (522/556) in 556 samples of family table salt. Eighty-seven samples of drinking water were inspected, resulting an averaged iodine content of 8.81 and 2.97 μg/L, respectively in the 2 counties. Conclusions The 2 counties are all the area of iodine deficiency. The urinary iodine level, although meeting the demand of eliminating iodine deficiency diseases, is a little bit higher given that iodized salt of present doage has been taken for a long time. The content of iodized salt should be adjusted accordingly.

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of Chaoyi Qingfei Xiegan Tang on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and the regulatory effect on inflammatory markers and intestinal flora. Method: One hundred and twenty-two patients were randomly divided into control group (65 cases) and observation group (67 cases) by random number table. Patients in control group got metformin hydrochloride, 0.25 g/time, 2-3 times/day, and the dose was regulated based on glycemic control. In addition to the therapy in control groups, patients in observation group were also given Qingfei Xiegan Tang, 1 dose/day. A course of treatment was 2 months. Before and after treatment, levels of fasting blood glucose (FPG), 2 h-postprandial plasma glucose (2 h PPG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting insulin (FINS), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HLD), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were detected. And insulin sensitivity index (ISI), HOMA insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) and intestinal flora were detected. And scores of TCM symptoms were graded. Result: By rank sum test, the clinical efficacy of disease in observation group was better than that in control group (P<0.01). After treatment, levels of FPG, 2 h PG, HbA1c, FINS, HOMA-IR, TC, TG, LDL-C, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α and CRP were lower than those in control group (P<0.01), and levels of ISI, HDL-C were higher than those in control group (P<0.01). And the number of intestinal aerobic bacteria (enterobacter, enterococcus and yeast) was less than that in control group (P<0.05), and intestinal anaerobic flora (bacteroides, bifidobacterium and lactobacillus) were higher than those in control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Qingfei Xiegan Tang can ameliorate 2 h PG, regulate levels of glucose, lipid and intestinal flora, relieve clinical symptoms, and inhibit inflammatory response, with a better clinical efficacy than that of pure western medicine.

Objective To investigate epidemiologieal characteristics of hypothyroidism and factors influencing its outcome in the areas with different iodine intakes.Methods An epidemiologic follow-up study of thyroid diseases was performed in Panshan (iodine deficient),Zhangwu [mild iodine deficiency before universal salt iodination (USI) and more than adequate iodine intakes after USI ] and Huanghua ( iodine excessive) in China.A total of 3 761 subjects were investigated in 1999,and 3 018 (80.2% ) of them were followed up in 2004.FT_4,FT_3,TSH,thyroid autoantibodies and urinary iodine concentration were determined and thyroid B ultrasound was performed in all participants.Results Five-year cumulative incidence of overt hypothyroidism was 0.23%,0.47% and 0.35% in Panshan,Zhangwu and Huanghua,respectively.Twenty patients with autoimmune- induced overt hypothyroidism did not comply with the physician's orders to take thyroxine.Thyroid function spontaneously turned to normal in 55% of them,turned to subclinical hypothyroidism in 20% and maintained overt hypothyroidism in 25%.Five-year cumulative incidence of subclinical hypothyroidism in Zhangwu (2.60%) and Huanghua (2.89%) were significantly higher than that in Panshan(0.23% ) (both P＜0.01 ).One hundred patients with subclinical hypothyroidism were followed up,and 5% of them developed overt hypothyroidism,66% turned to euthyroidism and 29% maintained subclinical hypothyroidism.Raised serum TSH (＞6 mU/L) in the original survey ( OR = 3.4),positive thyroid autoantibodies in the follow-up study ( OR = 5.3 ) and more than adequate iodine supplementation in the mild iodine-deficient population ( OR = 8.0) were risk factors influencing outcome of subclinical hypothyroidism.Conclusion More than adequate iodine supplementation among a population in the mildly iodine-deficient area may increase the incidence of overt and subolinical hypothyroidism, and also influence outcome of subclinical hypothyroidism.

Objective To perform a follow-up survey about thyroid disorders in three rural communities with different iodine intakes in China,observe the incidences and natural outcomes of positive thyroid autoantibodies in euthyroid population,and also explore the influence of iodine intakes on these outcomes and autoantibodies.Methods In 1999,a cross-sectional study on thyroid disorders was performed in three rural communities of Pansan ( mild iodine deficient area),Zhangwu ( more than adequate iodine intake area) and Huanghua (excessive iodine intake area) in China.The 5-year follow-up study was performed in 2004.Both in 1999 and 2004,serum levels of TSH,thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) and thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) were measured with the same method.Iodine in urine and B ultrasound on thyroid were also examined.Results Among the euthyroid subjects with normal TSH level in 1999,an increased prevalence of positive TPOAb in Zhangwu and an increased prevalence of positive TgAb in Hnanghua were observed in 2004 (both P＜0.05 ).Most of euthyroid subjects with positive TPOAb or positive TgAb in 1999 remained positive thyroid antibodies in 2004. The percentage was even higher in those with high levels of antibodies.Thyroid dysfunction was more frequent in subjects with positive TPOAb and/or TgAh than in those without thyroid antibodies (14.44% vs 3.11%,P＜0.01).For those with positive antibodies in 1999,the incidence of hypothyroidism in 2004 was 1.32%,8.46% and 15.38% in Pansan,Zhangwu and Huanghua,respectively (P＜0.05).The 5-year cumulative incidences of positive TPOAb (≥50 U/ml) and TgAb (≥40 U/ml) were 2.81% and 3.82%,respectively.The incidence of positive TPOAb was the highest in Zhangwu ( 3.84% ).The incidence of positive TgAb was the highest in Huanghua (5.07%),significantly higher than those in other two areas (P＜0.05).Conclusion The incidence of thyroid dysfunction is higher in subjects with positive antibodies than that in those with negative antibodies.The high iodine intake is a risk factor of hypothyroidism in subjects with positive thyroid antibodies.Sustained excessive iodine intake increases the incidence of positive thyroid antibodies.

Objective To evaluate the relationship between iodine intake level and the occurrence and development of thyroid diseases.Methods During the period of 1999-2004,a cross-sectional survey in 1999 and a 5-year follow-up survey were conducted in the 3 communities with different iodine intake levels in China:Panshan (mild deficiency),Zhangwu (more than adequate) and Huanghua (iodine excess).A total of 3 761 subjects were included in 1999 and 80.24% of them participated in the 5-year follow-up survey in 2004.The levels of serum thyroid hormones and thyroid autoantibodies were measured,and thyroid B ultrasound was performed.Results (1) The prevalence of overt hypothyroidism in 1999 in Zhangwu and Huanghua was 3.5 and 7.3 times,and that of subclinical hypothyroidism was 3.2 and 6.6 times as high as in Panshan,respectively.The 5-year cumulative incidence of subclinical hypothyroidism was 11.3 and 12.6 times as high as in Panshan,but no difference of incidence of overt hypothyroidism was found.(2) The prevalence of autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) in 1999 in Zhangwu and Huanghua was 3.8 and 6.2 times,and the S-year cumulative incidence of AIT was 4.4 and 5.5 times as high as in Panshan.(3) During the 5-year follow-up period,the incidences of hypothyroidism in subjects with positive thyroid peroxidase antibody and euthyreidism in Zhangwu and Huanghua were 4.2 and 10.3 times as high as in Panshan.(4) No significant differences in both prevalence in 1999 and 5-year cumulative incidence of overt hyperthyroidism were found in the 3 communities.(5) The incidence of thyroid cancer was 19.37/100 000 per year in Huanghua,and all of the cases were papillary thyroid cancer,and no thyroid cancer was found in Zhangwu and Huanghua.Conclusion More than adequate or excessive dietary iodine intake may induce and promote the occurrence and development of hypothyroidism and AIT,therefore,median urinary iodine excretion (MUI)more than 200?g/L in the population appears not safe.The observation that a higher incidence of thyroid cancer occurred in the iodine excessive areas with MUI 600?g/L deserves further investigation.

57 rubella virus strains were isolated using Vero cell line or Vero/SLAM cell line from patients' throat swabs during rubella outbreaks and sporadics in 10 provinces of China from 2003 to 2007. Fragments of 1107 nucleotides of E1 genes of the isolates were amplified by RT-PCR, the PCR products were directly sequenced and analyzed. The phylogenetic analysis based on 739 nucleotides showed that out of 57 Chinese rubella virus strains, 55 belong to a distinguish branch of 1E genotype when comparing with 1E genotype rubella strains from other countries, and the other 2 Chinese rubella virus strains belong to 2B genotype. Most of the nucleotide mutations of 57 rubella viruses were silent mutations, and the amino acid sequences were highly conserved. Except one amino acid change (Thr212 --> Ser212) in two rubella viruses at the hemagglutination inhibition and neutralization epitopes, there had no change found at the important antigenic epitope sites of the other rubella viruses. 1E genotype rubella viruses isolated from 10 provinces of China from 2003 to 2007, and two imported 2B genotype rubella viruses from Vietnam suggested that 1E genotype was the predominant genotype in this period of time. The rubella virus genotypes circulated during 2003 to 2007 were different from that circulating during 1979 to 1984 and 1999 to 2002, the rubella prevailed in recent years was mainly caused by 1E genotype rubella viruses with multi-transmission routes.
Genotype ; Mutation ; Phylogeny ; Rubella virus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Time Factors

Objective:To discuss the clinical efficacy of Qingfei Xiegantang on chronic inflammation and endothelial function of people of Taiyin constitution with metabolic syndrome （MS）. Method:Patients （162 cases） were divided into control group （80 cases） and observation group （82 cases）. Both groups got lifestyle intervention and treatment with lipid regulation， blood pressure reduction and hypoglycemia according to MS. Patients in observation group got Qingfei Xiegantang， 1 dose/day. Patients in control group got placebo granules of Qingfei Xiegantang. The treatment lasted for 4 months. Before and after treatment， weight， height， waist （WC）， hip， body mass index （BMI） and waist hip ratio （WHR） were calculated. Levels of triglyceride （TG）， total cholesterol （TC）， high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C）， low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）， fasting blood glucose （FBG）， 2-hour postprandial blood glucose （2 hPG）， glycosylated hemoglobin （HbA1c） and fasting insulin （FINS） were measured. Insulin resistance index （HOMA-IR）， insulin sensitivity index （ISI） and islet beta cell function index （HOMA-β）， systolic blood pressure （SBD）， diastolic blood pressure （DBP）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， leptin （LP）， adiponectin （ADP）， nitric oxide （NO）， endothelin-1 （ET-1）， endothelial nitric oxide synthase （eNOS） and inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS） were detected and recorded. Then the safety was evaluated. Result:Levels of body mass， BMI， WHR， TG， TC， LDL-C， FBG， 2 hPG， HbA1c， HOMA-IR， SBD， DBP， TNF-α， IL-6， LP， ET-1 and iNOS were all lower than those in control group. Levels of HDL-C， InISI， HOMA-β， ADP， NO and eNOS were higher than those in control group （P<0.01）. And score of syndrome differentiation of Taiyin people was lower than that in control group （P<0.01）. The compliance rate of BMI in observation group was 70.27% （52/74）， which was higher than 53.42% （39/73） in control group （χ²=4.421， P<0.05）. The compliance rate of blood pressure was 95.95% （71/74）， was higher than 84.93% （62/73） in control group （χ²=5.171， P<0.05）. The compliance rate of blood fat was 87.84% （65/74）， which was higher than 72.60% （53/73） （χ²=5.386， P<0.05）. Conclusion:Qingfei Xiegantang can regulate the obesity， blood pressure， blood glucose and blood lipid components of MS， relieve clinical symptoms， improve IR， insulin sensitivity and islet β cell function， reduce inflammatory reaction， and increase vascular endothelial function of people of taiyin constitution with metabolic Syndrome.

BACKGROUNDShensong Yangxin (SSYX), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, has long been used clinically to treat arrhythmias in China. However, the mechanism of SSYX on atrial fibrillation (AF) is unknown. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the effect of SSYX on the progression of paroxysmal AF is correlated with the regulation of autonomic nerve activity.

METHODSEighteen mongrel dogs were randomly divided into control group (n = 6), pacing group (n = 6), and pacing + SSYX group (n = 6). The control group was implanted with pacemakers without pacing; the pacing group was implanted with pacemakers with long-term intermittent atrial pacing; the pacing + SSYX group underwent long-term intermittent atrial pacing and SSYX oral administration.

RESULTSCompared to the pacing group, the parameters of heart rate variability were lower after 8 weeks in the pacing + SSYX group (low-frequency [LF] component: 20.85 ± 3.14 vs. 15.3 ± 1.89 ms 2 , P = 0.004; LF component/high-frequency component: 1.34 ± 0.33 vs. 0.77 ± 0.15, P < 0.001). The atrial effective refractory period (AERP) was shorter and the dispersion of the AERP was higher after 8 weeks in the pacing group, while the changes were suppressed by SSYX intake. The dogs in the pacing group had more episodes and longer durations of AF than that in the pacing + SSYX group. SSYX markedly inhibited the increase in sympathetic nerves and upregulation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 expression in the pacing + SSYX group. Furthermore, SSYX suppressed the decrease of acetylcholine and α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor protein induced by long-term intermittent atrial pacing.

CONCLUSIONSSSYX substantially prevents atrial electrical remodeling and the progression of AF. These effects of SSYX may have association with regulating the imbalance of autonomic nerve activity and the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway.

Acetylcholine ; blood ; Animals ; Atrial Fibrillation ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Autonomic Pathways ; drug effects ; Blotting, Western ; Dogs ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Electrophysiology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Heart Rate ; drug effects ; Immunohistochemistry ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Models, Animal ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor ; blood

OBJECTIVE: Mental disorders of the elderly population in China deserve attention. Social health is significantly associated with depression. This study aimed to evaluate the rate of depressive symptoms and to test the relationships between social health and depressive symptoms among a large sample of community-dwelling elderly adults. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study among community-dwelling adults aged 60 years or above in Zhejiang Province, China. Face-to-face interviews were used to complete a structured questionnaire for all participants. We used the Social Health Scale for the Elderly (SHSE) to evaluate social health status and used the short form of the Geriatric Depression Scale to evaluate depressive symptoms. Multivariate logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between social health status and depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Of the total of 3757 participants included, 1887 (50.23%) were female, and the mean±standard deviation (SD) age was (70.0±8.3) years. The rate of depressive symptoms was 25.92%. The social health score was higher in non-depressed participants than in depressed participants (raw score 50.7 vs. 48.3, P<0.001). Participants with "moderate" or "good" social health had a significantly lower risk of depressive symptoms than those with "poor" social health (odds ratio (OR)=0.55, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.46-0.66 for moderate social health; OR=0.45, 95% CI: 0.35-0.60 for good social health). The association between social health and depressive symptoms was consistent across several subgroups. CONCLUSIONS Social health is significantly inversely associated with depressive symptoms. The SHSE may serve as an efficient screener to identify those elderly adults with social health deficits, but systematic assessment to guide intervention merits further investigation.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Depression/epidemiology* ; Female ; Health Status ; Humans ; Independent Living ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged