OBJECTIVETo investigate the occurrence and associated factors for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in rescuers and firefighters.

METHODSThe PTSD of 264 rescuers and firefighters who had participated in rescue was evaluated using the self-designed fireman general situation questionnaire and PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C). The factors associated with the occurrence of PTSD were also analyzed.

RESULTSThe incidence rate of PTSD in the subjects was 8.3%. The PTSD rate of special service corps (12%) was significantly higher than that of other subjects (P<0.05). The incidence of PTSD was highest in the rescuers and firefighters above the third rank, but without significant differences (P>0.05). The PTSD rate of married rescuers and firefighters was significantly higher than that of unmarried subjects (P<0.05). The PTSD rate of subjects addicted to drinking was significantly higher than that of non-drinking subjects (P<0.05). Subjects with more frequent attendance were more susceptible to PTSD compared with those with less attendance.

CONCLUSIONThe incidence rate of PTSD is high in rescuers and firefighters who have attended rescues. It is necessary to implement both short-term and long-term counseling programs for stress management and intervention in order to reduce the psychological trauma after rescue and improve the mental health of rescuers and firefighters.

Firefighters ; psychology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic ; diagnosis ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective To survey and analyze characteristics of brucellosis epidemic in Weinan city of Shaanxi province for the purpose of setting up prevention and control measures for the disease. Methods According to "The Executing Plan for the Work of Surveying Brucellosis Disease in Shaanxi Province", 35 villages(towns) of designated monitoring locations and 24 villages (towns) of randomized monitoring locations in five countries of Weinan were chosen to survey brucellosis disease. The five countries were Chengcheng, Dali, Heyang, Tongguan and Hancheng. High risk populations with a history of contacting livestock and livestock products aged between 7 and 60 underwent clinical and serology examination[rose bengal plate agglutination test(RBPT) and standard tube agglutination test(SAT)]. All manipulation methods and judging standards were in accord with the "Diagnostic Standard for Brucellosis" (WS 269-2007). Results In the designated monitoring location, a total of 8664 people at high risk were investigated, among whom 1407 people were tested by RBPT test and 27 people were positive,the positive rate was 1.92%(27/1407); 27 people were tested by SAT test and 27 people were positive, the positive rate was 100% (27/27); 25 people were diagnosed and the diagnosis rate was 92.59%(25/27). In the randomized monitoring location, a total of 3464 people at high risk were investigated, among whom 411 people were tested by RBPT test and 3 people were positive, the positive rate was 0.73%(3/411 ), 3 people were tested by SAT test which were all positive and made a definite diagnosis. Twenty-eight new cases were made a definite diagnosis and its incidence was 2.06 in a hundred thousand(28/1 361 618). Conclusions The infection of human brucellosis in Weinan city stays at higher level. The governments should increase input for the monitoring,investigating and disinfecting to prevent the disease from increasing and outspreading.

Acupressure ; Adult ; Cervical Vertebrae ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Manipulation, Spinal ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Spondylosis ; therapy

AIMTo study whether store-operated Ca2+ channel (SOC) is present in rat colonic smooth muscle cells.

METHODSIntracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) changes induced by thapsigargin- or caffeine-activated SOC channel were measured in enzymatically dissociated rat colonic smooth muscle cells with the fluorescent indicator Fura-2/AM.

RESULTSIn the absence of external Ca2+ , the sarco-endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pump inhibitor thapsigargin (1 micromol/L) and ryanodine receptor (RyR) activator caffeine both transiently elevated [Ca2+]i from (68.32 +/- 3.43) nmol/L to (240.85 +/- 12.65 ) nmol/L, (481.25 +/- 34.77) nmol/L. A subsequent reintroduction of Ca2+ into the extracellular solution resulted in [Ca2+]i further elevated to (457.55 +/- 19.80) nmol/L, (1005.93 +/- 54.62) nmol/L; (643.88 +/- 34.65) nmol/L, (920.16 +/- 43.25) nmol/L, respectively. And the elevated response was blocked by lanthanum (1 mmol/L), but was insensitive to L-type voltage calcium channels blocker verapamil and membrane depolarization.

CONCLUSIONSOC activated by store depletion are present in rat colonic smooth muscle cells. And we further prove the existence of such Ca2+ channels in excitable cells.

Animals ; Caffeine ; pharmacology ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Calcium Channels ; physiology ; Colon ; cytology ; Fura-2 ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Thapsigargin ; pharmacology

Animals ; History, 20th Century ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; genetics ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; history ; immunology ; virology ; Russia ; epidemiology

Animals ; Global Health ; History, 20th Century ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; pathogenicity ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; history ; virology ; Spain ; epidemiology ; Viral Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To observe the curative effect of Fuzhengxiaojia decoction on precancerous lesion of gastric cancer (PLGC).Methods We randomly divided 44 patients with PLGC in our hospital into control group (n=22)and treatment group (n=22).The control group was given 4 Weifuchun tablets each time and three times per day and while the treatment group was given one Fuzhengxiaojia decoction of 400 mL besides the medication of the control group.They were treated for two courses,one course lasting for one month.Results Superoxide dismutase (SOD),malondialdehyde (MDA),glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px),IgG,IgM and IgA in the two groups had no significant differences before treatment (P＞0.05).After treatment,compared with those in the control group,SOD (t=2.144,P=0.044)and GSH-Px (t=2.322,P=0.030)increased,while MDA(t=3.096, P=0.005),IgG(t=2.421,P=0.025),IgM(t=3.377,P=0.003)and IgA (t=2.521,P=0.020)decreased. The main symptom scores in the two groups did not significantly differ before treatment (P＜0.05).After treatment, compared with those in the control group,the scores for main symptoms like reduced food intake (t=3.924,P＜0.001),stomach noise (t=4.161,P＜0.001)and gastric or hypochondriac swelling (t=2.881,P＜0.009) decreased in the treatment group.The rate of effective cases was higher than that in the control group (χ2=4.539, P=0.033).Conclusion The effect of Weifuchun combined with Fuzhengxiaojia prescriptions in treating PLGC is better than Weifuchun alone,which is related to improving redox and immunoglobulin.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between the number and activity of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), insulin resistance and severity of coronary lesions in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

METHODSPatients with coronary angiography evidenced CAD were divided in insulin resistance group (IR, n = 25) and insulin sensitive group (IS, n = 44) according to insulin level, 25 health volunteers served as control. Circulating EPCs were marked as KDR/CD133+ cells via fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis. EPCs were also isolated from peripheral blood and cultured in vitro for 7 days, identified by DiI-acLDL uptake and lectin staining methods. EPCs migration activities were determined by modified Boyden chamber assay, EPCs proliferation activities were determined by MTT assay.

RESULTCirculating EPCs number was significantly lower in IR group compared with IS group [(0.34 +/- 0.08) per thousand vs. (0.47 +/- 0.09) per thousand, P < 0.01] and control group (P < 0.05). Both insulin resistance index (r = -0.291, P = 0.01)and Gensini score (r = -0.3984, P = 0.006)were negatively correlated with number of circulating EPCs. Proliferation and migration capacities of EPCs were also significantly lower in IR group compared to those in IS group (all P < 0.05) and control group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSInsulin resistance/hyperinsulinemia could aggravate severity of coronary artery lesions via reducing the number and activities of circulating EPCs in patients with CAD.

Aged ; Blood Cell Count ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; blood ; pathology ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stem Cells ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P) and genetic polymorphism of MTHFR C677T and A1298C in Chinese population.

METHODSCase-control study design was employed. MTHFR genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism techniques (PCR-RFLP).

RESULTSAs to MTHFR C677T, 48 heterozygous parents with an affected child were analyzed through case-parental control study using TDT (chi2 = 0. 02, P > 0.05). The genotype frequency and allele frequency of 76 NSCL/P cases and 60 controls were analyzed through case-control study (chi2 = 9.91, P < 0.05). As to MTHFR A1298C, 27 heterozygous parents with an affected child were analyzed through case-parental control study using TDT (chi2 = 4.00, P < 0.05). The genotype frequency and allele frequency of 76 NSCL/P cases and 60 controls were analyzed through case-control study (chi2 = 4.42, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe genetic polymorphism of MTHFR C677T is associated with the development of NSCL/P, and the genetic polymorphism of MTHFR A1298C is a risk factor for NSCL/P in the Chinese population.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Cleft Lip ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic

Contraction of smooth muscle cells is triggered by an increase in cytosolic Ca(2+) upon agonist stimulation. Ca(2+) influx across the plasma membrane constitutes a major component of the agonist-induced response in smooth muscle cells. Traditionally, voltage-operated Ca(2+) channel (VOCC) is considered as the channel mediating the Ca(2+) entry. However, this view has been challenged by recent discoveries, which demonstrated that other types of ion channels, such as store-operated and/or receptor-operated Ca(2+) channels (SOCC and/or ROCC), also participate in Ca(2+) response induced by agonists in smooth muscle cells. SOCC is defined as the channel activated in response to the depletion of the internal Ca(2+) stores, an event secondary to G protein coupled receptor or receptor tyrosine kinase stimulation. The Ca(2+) flow mediated by SOCC is termed as capacitative Ca(2+) entry (CCE). Previous study from other group has demonstrated that VOCC played a predominant role in ACh-induced contraction of distal colon smooth muscle in guinea pig. However, whether SOCC participates in the agonist-induced contractile response in this particular tissue is unknown. The present study was performed to investigate the role of CCE in ACh-induced mechanical activity of distal colon smooth muscle in rats. The contractile function of the smooth muscle was assessed by measuring isometric force of isolated rat distal colon rings. We showed that both high extracellular K(+) (40 mmol/L) and ACh (5 mumol/L) evoked striking contraction of the smooth muscle. The contractile responses were almost abolished by removal of extracellular Ca(2+) with ethylene glycol-bis(2-aminoethylether)-N,N,N',N' tetraacetic acid (EGTA), suggesting a critical contribution of extracellular source of Ca(2+) to the contraction. Verapamil (5 mumol/L), an L-type VOCC blocker, significantly attenuated, but didn't completely eliminate the high K(+)- and ACh-induced contraction (74% and 41% for high K(+) and ACh, respectively), indicating that additional channels might be involved in the contractile mechanism. Furthermore, ACh only induced transient contractions in the absence of extracellular Ca(2+). Readmission of Ca(2+) into the extracellular compartment resulted in a significant and sustained increase in the tension of the smooth muscle. This response was not affected by verapamil (5 mumol/L) and Cd(2+) (5 mumol/L), both of which efficiently block VOCC at the doses. However, La(3+), a known inhibitor of SOCC, significantly suppressed the Ca(2+) readdition-induced contraction in a dose-dependent manner. On the basis of these results, we conclude that contraction of smooth muscle in the distal colon is regulated by multiple Ca(2+) channels. In addition to VOCC-mediated Ca(2+) influx, SOCC-mediated CCE participates in agonist-induced contractile response of distal colon smooth muscle in rats.
Acetylcholine ; physiology ; Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Calcium Channels ; physiology ; Colon ; physiology ; Female ; Male ; Muscle Contraction ; physiology ; Muscle, Smooth ; physiology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Verapamil ; pharmacology