OBJECTIVETo investigate the occupational exposure levels of dust in new suspension preheated dry process (NSP) cement production line and put forward rectification measures for dust-exposed posts, and to provide ideas for the modern cement production enterprises in dust control and occupational health management.

METHODSOccupational health field investigation combined with field test were used to measure the time-weighted average concentration (C(TWA)) of the dust in the workplace. Rectification measures were taken for the dust-exposed posts with unqualified dust concentration, and the protective effects of dustproof facilities in the rectified workplace were evaluated.

RESULTSThe field investigation revealed incompletely closed dustproof facilities, improperly set dust hoods, excess of dust leakage points, and other problems in the dust-exposed posts of an NSP cement production line before rectification, and the dustproof facilities could hardly exert dust removal effect. The field test showed that the vast majority of dust-exposed posts had the dust concentrations exceeding the occupational exposure limits (OELs), with a qualified rate as low as 31.8%. A series of rectification measures were taken for these posts. After the rectification, the dust-exposed posts demonstrated dramatically dropped C(TWA), and the qualified rate of dust concentration in the dust-exposed posts rose to 90.9%.

CONCLUSIONThe dust hazards in NSP cement production line cannot be ignored. Taking appropriate protective measures are critical for curbing dust hazards in modern cement production.

Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Construction Materials ; Dust ; analysis ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis ; prevention & control ; Workplace

Adult ; Diaphragm ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Male ; Mediastinal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Neurilemmoma ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the quantitative and qualitative changes of TCRVα24(+)Vβ11(+) natural killer T (NKT) cells from bone marrow (BM) of aplastic anemia (AA) after in vitro stimulation of α-galactosylceramide (α-Galcer).

METHODSNKT cells in the bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNCs) from either AA patients or healthy controls were enumerated with flow cytometry. BMMNCs were cultured in RPMI1640 medium supplemented with either α-Galcer and rhIL-2 or α-Galcer, rhIL-2 and rhG-CSF. The proliferative capacity of NKT cells was determined by NKT cell numbers before and after in vitro culture. Expression of intracellular IFNγ and IL-4 in activated NKT cells was analyzed with flow cytometry.

RESULTSIn AA group, the percentage of NKT cells in BMMNCs was (0.19 ± 0.09)%. Addition of rhG-CSF into the α-Galcer/rhIL-2 culture medium resulted in significantly reduced expansion of NKT cells (67.45 ± 29.42-fold vs 79.91 ± 40.56 fold, P < 0.05). Meanwhile, addition of rhG-CSF reduced IFNγ positive NKT cells \[(37.45 ± 7.89)% vs (62.31 ± 14.67)%, P < 0.01\] and increased IL-4 positive NKT cells \[(55.11 ± 12.13)% vs (27.03 ± 9.88)%, P < 0.01\]. In healthy control group, the percentage of NKT cells in BMMNCs was (0.25 ± 0.12)%. Addition of rhG-CSF into the α-Galcer/rhIL-2 culture medium also significantly reduced expansion of NKT cells (97.91 ± 53.22-fold vs 119.58 ± 60.49-fold, P < 0.05), reduced IFNγ positive NKT cells \[(28.65 ± 10.63)% vs (50.87 ± 12.66)%, P < 0.01\], and increased IL-4 positive NKT cells \[(66.53 ± 14.96)% vs (31.11 ± 10.07)%, P < 0.01\].

CONCLUSIONCompared to those from healthy controls, BMMNCs from AA patiants have a reduced fraction of NKT cells, which possesses a decreased potential to expand in vitro in response to α-Galcer stimulation, and produce more IFNγ(+) NKT1 cells. rhG-CSF, in combination with α-Galcer, confers polarization of NKT cells towards IL-4(+) NKT2 subpopulation.

Anemia, Aplastic ; metabolism ; Bone Marrow ; metabolism ; Humans ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Killer Cells, Natural ; cytology ; Natural Killer T-Cells

The disorders of DNA and histone methylation have a close relationship with the development and progression of tumors. Epigenetic regulation is critical in maintaining the stability and integrity of the expression profiles of different cell types by modifying DNA methylation and histone methylation. However, the abnormal changes of methylation often result in the development and progression of tumors. This review summarized the theory of tumor genomic and histone methylation, detection methods of methylation and their applications, and the clinical application of methylation as biological markers and drug targets.
DNA Methylation ; Histones ; metabolism ; Humans ; Methylation ; Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism

As the most homologic homologue of silent information regulator 2 of yeast, Sirt1 gene is extensively expressed in mature tissues, and is rich in early embryo and reproductive cells. It is involved in the regulation of gene transcription, energy metabolism and cell aging. It promotes fat mobilization in adipocytes and glucose production in liver and regulates insulin secretion in islet beta cell. Furthermore, Sirt1 gene is an essential endogenous apoptosis inhibitor. In future, it may be used as new drug targets or applied in other disease management modalities.
Animals ; Humans ; Sirtuin 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology

OBJECTIVESTo explore MICM classification and adverse prognostic factors in adolescents with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

METHODSThe MICM classification, clinical characteristics of 80 adolescents with ALL admitted to our hospital from January 1998 to December 2002 were retrospectively analyzed. Survival data were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and the prognostic factors were analyzed with the COX regression model.

RESULTSIn the 80 patients, B-ALL and T-ALL accounted for 69.12% and 26.47%, respectively. The percentage of Ph(+)ALL was 18.37% (9/49), and that of hyperdiploidy was 4.08%. Patients at diagnosis with high leukocyte counts (> 50 x 10(9)/L) accounted for 27.94%. Among the 78 cases treated with VDP(L) or CODP(L) regimens, 73 (91.03%) obtained CR in 4 weeks. After a median follow-up of 24 months, the estimated 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates of patients receiving chemotherapy or allo-HSCT were (32.55 +/- 16.50)% and (69.58 +/- 8.72)%, respectively (P < 0.05). In COX analysis, high initial leukocyte counts (> 50 x 10(9)/L) and Philadelphia chromosome positivity were adverse prognostic factors for long-term survival.

CONCLUSIONSMICM classification has important clinical and prognostic significance in the risk-directed therapy of adolescents with ALL. The adverse prognostic features for these patients were high leukocyte counts, less incidence of chromosome hyperdiploidy and Ph chromosome positivity.

Adolescent ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Karyotyping ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; classification ; genetics ; therapy ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical effect of Chinese drugs administered by both oral intake and retention enema on inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).

METHODSAdopting a randomized controlled design, 78 patients were assigned to three groups: 26 patients in group A treated with Chinese drugs given by both oral intake and retention enema, 27 in group B with Chinese drugs given by retention enema only, and 25 in group C with given Western medicine. The changes before and after a 30-day treatment of the patients' symptoms (including diarrhea, abdominal pain, mucous or pus-bloody stool), colonoscopic examination scores and histopathology of the colonic membrane were observed.

RESULTSGroup A showed the best outcomes in all the aspects of clinical comprehensive effectiveness. Improvements in the main symptoms, colonoscopic scores and histopathology of the colonic membrane were significantly different from those in groups B and C, respectively (P<0.05). Meanwhile comparisons between groups B and C showed insignificant differences (P>0.05); group B was better in ameliorating tenesmus (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThrough the use of Chinese drugs administered by both oral intake and retention enema to treat IBD, which combined external-internal therapies for both overall regulation and local management, it was confirmed that the Chinese medicine could embody the therapeutic principle of attending to both disease-diagnosis and syndrome-differentiation.

Administration, Oral ; Adult ; Colon ; drug effects ; pathology ; Colonoscopy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Enema ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of activated brain regions in Parkinson's disease (PD) during tactile stimulation.

METHODSTwenty-one patients with early PD[mean age (60.43 +/-9.65)y] and twenty-two age-matched healthy controls [mean age (59.23 +/-11.12)y] were enrolled in the study. All the patients were tested by the United Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) as the evaluation of the disease severity. A block design was used when the finger tactile stimulation was given to the subjects. The hypoactive and hyperactive regions of PD patients were confirmed first, which were identified as regions of interest (ROI). ROI analysis was performed to quantify BOLD signal changes when subjects were under tactile stimulation. The correlations of signal changes with disease severity, and correlations of hyperactive with hypoactive regions were analyzed.

RESULTSRight primary sensory and motor cortex, right supplementary motor area (SMA), bilateral caudates, bilateral precuneus, bilateral occipital visual cortex and left middle temporal gyrus were hypoactivated in PD, while right prefrontal cortex (PFC) and right caudate were hyperactivated. The hypoactivation of right SMA was negatively correlated with disease severity. All the hypoactive and hyperactive regions were positively correlated with activation of caudates. There was a positive correlation between hyperactive PFC and hypoactive regions.

CONCLUSIONSThe signal change of SMA is directly related to disease severity in early PD, and caudates may play a significant role in PD tactile processing. The hyperactivation of PFC may be not a compensation but a pathophysiological change related to PD neural dysfunction.

Aged ; Brain ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mechanoreceptors ; physiology ; Middle Aged ; Parkinson Disease ; physiopathology ; Severity of Illness Index ; Time Factors ; Touch ; physiology ; Touch Perception ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo examine the age, sex, and hemispheric differences in volume of the striatum by MRI in healthy adults.

METHODSThe volumes of the bilateral caudate nucleus and putamen were measured on MR images in 100 healthy right-handed adults (18-70 y).

RESULTSThe volume of bilateral caudate nucleus and putamen in healthy adults was (8.42 +/-0.88) cm(3) and (8.90 +/-0.89) cm(3), which were decreased with aging (for caudate nucleus r=-0.727, P<0.001; for putamen r=-0.709, P<0.001). The average annual shrinkage rate was 0.52 % in the caudate nucleus and 0.50 % in the putamen. There were no gender differences in the volume of the striatum, however, the age-related shrinkage of the striatum was more evident in men than that in women. The volume of the left caudate nucleus (t=4.43, P<0.001) and the putamen (t=4.88, P<0.001) was greater than that of its right counterpart.

CONCLUSIONBilateral age-related shrinkage of the striatum is found in healthy adults, which is more evident in men than that in women. In both sexes, significant leftward asymmetry in volume of the caudate nucleus and the putamen is found.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; China ; Corpus Striatum ; anatomy & histology ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reference Values ; Sex Factors ; Young Adult

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Hemorrhagic Fevers, Viral ; epidemiology ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged