Environmental Monitoring ; Humans ; Occupational Diseases ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Occupational Health Services ; organization & administration ; Population Surveillance ; methods ; Risk Assessment ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; standards

Objective To investigate the distribution of high-arsenic drinking water in Honghu city of Hubei province in order to provide a scientific basis for prevention and control of endemic arsenic disease.Methods Investigations were made in 22 townships(towns,districts),68 natural villages of the drainage areas of the Dongjing River,the Neijing River and the Yangtse River in 2006 and 2007,with the townships(towns,districts)around Shahu town in Xiantao city as the focal point.1000 water samples were drawn each year,which was 10% of all the wells in every natural village.Using sampling investigation,water arsenic Was determined by half-quantitative fast reagent kit.All samples of water with arsenic exceeding the standard(≥0.03 mg/L)were re-determined according to state standard.Surveys on the disease was carried out in the villages(brigades)where arsenic exceeded the standard.Results A total of 2000 samples were surveyed from 68 natural villages,of which there were 401 samples from 48 villages exceeding the standard in a rate of 20.05%(401/2000).The highest arsenic content Was 0.71 mg/L.The high arsenic water sources were distributed mainy in the drainage areas of the Dongjing River and the Neijing River,but no patients with endemic arsenic disease were found.Conclusions The high arsenic water sources are distributed mainly in the drainage areas of the Dongjing River and the Neijing River.It is suggested that the interrelated government departments should take precise measures to impmve the quality of drinking water and ensure safe water to the residents in high arsenic areas.

OBJECTIVETo explore whether there is phenotypic modulation of mesangial cells in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats and study the effect of Tujian Mixture (TJM) on it.

METHODSSD rats were divided into the normal control group (NC group, n = 8), the unilateral nephrectomized control group (QC group, n = 8), the STZ induced diabetes mellitus with unilateral nephrectomy model group (DM group, n = 8), the Valsartan treated group (VT group, n = 8) and the TJM treated group (ZY group, n = 9), rats in the latter two groups were modeled as in the DM group and treated with Valsartan (20 mg/kg.d) and TJM (20 g/kg.d) respectively for 12 weeks. The expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) in rats glomeruli were observed by immunohistochemistry assay, and the ratio of alpha-SMA and TGF-beta 1 positive area/total glomerule tuft area (SMA/GT and TGF/GT) were analyzed using computer-assisted image analysis software.

RESULTSIn the NC and the QC groups, only trace of alpha-SMA positive staining was found. But there was prominant alpha-SMA positive staining in glomeruli of the DM group, with SMA/GT and TGF/GT increased significantly (P < 0.01), and marked increase of 24 hrs proteinuria excretion (P < 0.01). As compared with the DM group, the three indexes were all significantly lower in the VT and ZY groups (P < 0.01), and the lowering of proteinuria was more significant in the ZY group than that in the VT group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of alpha-SMA in glomeruli in STZ induced diabetic rats with unilateral nephrectomy is pronounced, indicating that phenotypic modulation of mesangial cells involvement in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. TJM and Valsartan can reduce 24 hrs proteinuria excretion, inhibit the phenotypic modulation of mesangial cells and the expression of TGF-beta 1 in glomeruli of diabetic rats, and the effect of TJM is more potent than that of Valsartan in lowering urinary protein excretion.

Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Glomerular Mesangium ; metabolism ; pathology ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Male ; Nephrectomy ; Phenotype ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo analyze the Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome pattern of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) and the relationship of CM patterns with the different blood glucose levels controlled and the incidences of diabetic chronic complications.

METHODSCM syndromes in 557 DM2 patients were sorted into 7 patterns, A: the Fei-Wei yin-deficiency with exuberant heat pattern; B: the Pi-qi deficiency pattern; C: the Shen-qi deficiency pattern; D: the Pi-Shen qi-deficiency pattern; E: the Gan-Shen yin-deficiency pattern; F: the both qi-yin deficiency pattern; and G: the both yin-yang deficiency pattern, the concurrent or accompanied excessive syndromes were not taken as the indication for sorting. The blood glucose level, duration of illness and incidence of diabetic chronic complications in patients of different patterns were compared.

RESULTSThe CM syndrome patterns commonly encountered in mostly of the 557 patients was pattern F (in 264 patients, accounting for 47.4%); the next was pattern C (95 patients, 17.1%) and E (92 patients, 16.5%). The concurrent syndromes appeared in most patients was blood stasis (501 patients, 89.9%), Gan-qi stagnation was the second (225 patients, 40.4%), and the portion of damp-heat syndrome was also rather large (180 patients, 32.3%). The duration of diabetes mellitus for patients with various patterns was significantly different (P < 0.01), the longest appeared in patients of pattern G, followed by pattern D, C, F, and E in sequence, and patients of pattern A and B had a rather shorter duration. Level of fasting blood glucose was rather higher in patients of pattern A, C, D, F, and G than in those of pattern B and E. Level of glycosylated hemoglobin in patients of pattern G was the highest and in pattern A the second, while in pattern B and E was rather lower. Incidences of diabetic chronic complications, including diabetic peripheral neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic nephropathy, cerebral infarction, and atherosclerosis in patients of pattern A and B were lower than in those of other 5 patterns (P < 0.05); but the highest incidence of multiple chronic complications revealed in pattern D and G, and that of coronary heart disease revealed in pattern C and G, all showed significant different as compared with other patterns (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe most commonly encountered CM syndrome patterns in DM2 patients of early stage are pattern A and B; and those of middle stage are pattern C, D, E and F, various diabetic chronic complications may reveal in this stage; pattern G could be found in patients accompanied with multiple chronic complications and with uncontrolled blood glucose for a long time.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; Diabetes Complications ; epidemiology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; classification ; diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Qi ; Yin Deficiency ; Young Adult

Objective To improve the conventional method of quantitative assessment of regional cerebral blood flows(rCBF)by a perfusion CT study based on maximal slope model at the general infusion rate(

OBJECTIVETo discuss the clinical results of hook plate internal fixation for the treatment of distal traumatic injuries of clavicle,and to analysis the mechanism of the complications.

METHODSFrom 2001.9 to 2008.2, 36 patients with fresh distal clavicle fractures of Neer type II and 14 patients with dislocation of Acromioclavicular joint of Tossy type III were treated with hook plate internal fixations. Among the patients, 36 patients were male and 14 patients were female, ranging in age from 19 to 77 years, with an average of 43 years. After the operation, the range of motion of shoulder joint was measured and the complications were studied. The Karlsson and Constant-Murley criteria were used to evaluate the therapeutic effects.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up with a mean duration of 12 months (7 to 18 months). All the patients could move shoulder joint actively 1 week after operation, and recover to the normal ROM at the 6th week after operation. According to Karlsson criteria, 44 patients got an excellent result, 6 good. According to Constant-Murley criteria, the average score of wound shoulder was (73.8 +/- 8.3) before operation, and (59.6 +/- 6.7) after operation, and the postoperative score was higher than preoperative score. No incision infections were found and 5 patients with complications were cured. No re-dislocation of acromioclavicular joint occurred.

CONCLUSIONIt is advocated that hook plate for the treatment of distal clavicular fractures of Neer type II and acromioclavicular dislocation of Tossy type III could provide sufficient stability to allow early functional rehabilitation, and to decrease the rate of complications.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Plates ; Clavicle ; injuries ; surgery ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; instrumentation ; methods ; Fractures, Bone ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the anti-tumor effect of adenovirus-mediated Bcl-XL shRNA on colon cancer cells in vitro.

METHODSA recombinant Bcl-xl adenovirus was constructed, amplified, and purified. The effect on mRNA expression of Bcl-XL was assessed by RT-PCR, and the effect on apoptosis-induction of colon cancer(Lovo cell line) in vitro was assessed by MTT assay and cell clonogenic assay.

RESULTSRT-PCR showed that Ad/Bcl-XL shRNA significantly down-regulated the mRNA expression of Bcl-XL in Lovo cells. Ad/Bcl-XL shRNA suppressed the proliferation of Lovo cells in a dose-dependent as well as a time-dependent manner compared with Ad/GFP (P<0.05). Treatment with Ad/Bcl-XL shRNA dramatically suppressed the colony formation of Lovo cells in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). Ad/Bcl-XL shRNA showed no effect on normal human fibroblast.

CONCLUSIONAd/Bcl-XL shRNA exhibits cytotoxic effect on Lovo cells and may have the potential value in the treatment of colon cancer.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Colonic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; bcl-X Protein ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo examine the influence of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) in controlling the growth of an experimental osteosarcoma in mice by performing retrovirus-mediated sFlt-1 gene modification.

METHODSFrom March to October 2010 human osteosarcoma G-292 cells were in vitro infected with retroviral vectors encoding soluble Flt-1 or LacZ gene before transplanted into proximal tibiae of immune deficient SCID mice to establish experimental orthotopic osteosarcoma. Daily observation and biweekly microCT were performed to monitor tumor development and progression till sacrifice at 8 weeks after tumor cell inoculation for histological and molecular analyses.

RESULTSSuccessful transgene expression was confirmed in the culture media of sFlt-1 transduced G-292 cells using ELISA, and with positive X-gal staining of the LacZ transduced cells. Noteworthy tumors were grown in all mice on the tibiae receiving G-292 cell inoculation, with clear detection on microCT images starting 2 weeks after inoculation. Over the time period, tumors derived from sFlt-1 transduced G-292 cells were distinctively smaller in size compared to the ones from wide-type G-292 and G-292-LacZ cells. Histology showed typical osteosarcoma characteristics including severe cellular pleomorphism, bone erosions, and neo-vascularization. Real-time polymerase chain reaction indicated significantly higher sFlt-1 expression in sFlt-1 transduced groups than the wild-type G-292 or LacZ treated groups. Strong expression of oncogenes c-myc and c-fos were also obvious, along with the expression of VEGF in the primary tumor tissue.

CONCLUSIONRetrovirus-mediated sFLT-1 gene modification decelerates the osteosarcoma tumor growth in this murine model.

Animals ; Bone Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Lac Operon ; Mice ; Mice, SCID ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Osteosarcoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Retroviridae ; genetics ; Transgenes ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression dynamics and significance of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) membrane type-matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MT-MMP-2) in hepatic fibrosis and its reversal counterpart.

METHODSAn experimental CCl4 induced hepatic fibrosis rat model was established by intraperitoneal administration of carbon tetrachloride for 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 weeks, and normal rats were used as a control group. The immunohistochemical methods and in situ hybridization were used to detect MMP-2,MT-MMP-2 mRNA and related antigens in the liver.

RESULTSMMP-2,MT-MMP-2 mRNA and related antigens were expressed in mesenchymal cells and parts of hepatocytes besides active pathological changes, especially in the fibrous septum and portal area. Expression of MMP-2,MT-MMP-2 mRNA and related antigens were increased in hepatic fibrosis and decreased gradually in its reversal counterpart.

CONCLUSIONThis study suggested that mesenchymal cells are the main cellular origins of MMPs. The levels of MMP-2 and MT-MMP-2 antigens and gene expression were closely related to hepatic fibrosis. MMP-2 and MT-MMP-2 may play important roles in hepatic fibrosis and its reversal counterpart.

Animals ; Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; Hepatocytes ; enzymology ; Liver ; enzymology ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; enzymology ; etiology ; pathology ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Matrix Metalloproteinases, Membrane-Associated ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; enzymology ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Qiangjing Tablets (QJT) on the semen quality and Fas/FasL signaling pathway in male SD rats with infertility.

METHODSModels of infertility were made in 50 male SD rats by intragastric administration of Tripterygium (GTW) for 3 weeks, and another 20 rats were taken as blank controls. Then 40 successfully established rat models were randomly divided into four groups, model control, low-dose QJT, medium-dose QJT, and high-dose QJT, the latter three groups treated intragastrically with QJT at 58 mg, 105 mg, and 233 mg per kg of the body weight per day, respectively. After 4 weeks of medication, the rats were killed for examination of semen quality and determination of the expression of the apoptosis factor FasL in the testis tissue.

RESULTSCompared with the blank controls, the model rats showed significant decreases in sperm concentration ([71.99 ± 9.72] vs [10.94 ± 3.58] x 10⁶/ml, P < 0.01), motility ([48.95 ± 4.10] vs [9.31 ± 5.79]%, P < 0.01), and viability ( [82.06 ± 6.16] vs [24.03 ± 6.93]%, P < 0.01). In comparison with the model controls, the rats in the QJT groups exhibited remarkably increased sperm concentration, motility, and viability, more significantly in the high-dose group ([59.66 ± 4.53] x 10⁶/ml, [35.45 ± 5.21] %, and [61.97 ± 9.75]%) and medium-dose group ([40.89 ± 4.90] x 10⁶/ml, [24.41 ± 4.79]%, and [60.06 ± 10.62]%) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The expression of FasL was markedly reduced in the low-, medium-, and high-dose QJT groups (0.5215 ± 0.0189, 0.5371 ± 0.0364, and 0.4556 ± 0.0215) as compared with that of the model controls (0.5989 ± 0.0448 ) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBy upregulating the Fas/FasL signaling pathway, Tripterygium glycosides may induce the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells and reduce sperm concentration, motility and viability, resulting in infertility. The Chinese medicine Qiangjing Tablets can improve the reproductive function of male rats by decreasing the expression of the apoptosis factor FasL in the testis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fas Ligand Protein ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Germ Cells ; Glycosides ; Infertility, Male ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Semen ; drug effects ; Semen Analysis ; Signal Transduction ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Tablets ; Testis ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Tripterygium