The objective of the current study is to discuss the problems related to how data is used to calculate Years Lost with Disability (YLD) with the method recommended by the World Bank. The study includes collecting useful data, estimating disease duration and average age of disease onset,adjusting incidence and prevalence data by means of a software programme, DISMOD ( Harvard University Incidence & Prevalence Model), and assessing the importance of YLD calculation for different diseases.Remission and fatality rates of 3 diseases were estimated by experts at 2 round consultations.Incidence rates, disease duration and average age of disease onset were calculated and adjusted by DISMOD. YLD due to schizophrenia is the highest among 4 diseases in two regions. YLD is18.88% in disability adjusted life year for 4 diseases in Xiacheng District, and 19.97% in Fuyang County.Available data can be used for the calculation of YLD after being adjusted. DISMOD is a useful instrument to test the internal consistency of incidence, prevalence, remission and fatality rate. The adjusted data are acceptable to experts and DISMOD. To get rational remission and fatality rates, we can use a cohort method through expert consultations. To reflect overall burden of disease, YLD calculation should be used.

The present study is to investigate the quality changes of ginseng stems and leaves before and after frost. The contents changes of ginsenoside, free amino acid, and total phenolic compounds, as well as DPPH radical scavenging effect before and after frost were measured. The content of 9 ginsenoside monomer in ginseng stems was decreased except for Rg, and Re after frost, but in ginseng leaves was all decreased. The total content of amino acids was decreased in ginseng stems after frost, while increased in ginseng leaves. The content of phenolic compounds in ginseng stems and leaves were both decreased after frost while the ability of DPPH radical scavenging was improved. The factor of frost has great impact on the quality of ginseng stems and leaves.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Ecosystem ; Freezing ; Panax ; chemistry ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Quality Control

AIMTo establish a simple and effective method for RBCs labeling and survival assays, and the qualities of rabbit RBCs preserved in GMA solution at 4 degrees C were verified.

METHODSThe bloods were taken through the ear arteries of the rabbits. The RBCs were labeled by fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), and were reinjected to the same rabbit through ear veins. The percentage of FITC labeled RBCs was assayed by FACS at a series of times after injection. The SAS software was employed to analyze the data and establish the regression equations. The 24-hour recovery and the half-life span of the labeled RBCs were calculated according to the equations.

RESULTSThe 24-hour recovery and the half-life span of the labeled RBCs in the control group were 93.76% +/- 5.40% and 22.50% +/- 4.37 days respectively, which was in agreement with the previous papers. The 24-hour recovery and the half-life span of the labeled RBCs in the GMA group were 89.13% +/- 7.10% and 11.41% +/- 1.63 days respectively, which was coincident with the infusion conditions.

CONCLUSIONCompared with other methods of RBCs labeling in vivo, FITC labeling was thought to be easier and cheaper to use, which could facilitate the analysis of the biological character of the labeled cells, and could be used to trace the fate of labeled cells.

Animals ; Blood Preservation ; methods ; Erythrocyte Aging ; physiology ; Erythrocyte Count ; Erythrocytes ; physiology ; Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate ; Rabbits ; Software

OBJECTIVETo study the activity of esterases, including butyrylcholinesterase (BchE), carboxylesterase (CarbE), paraoxonase (PonE) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and to explore the effect of genetic polymorphism on the activity of esterase for workers exposed to organophosphorus pesticides (OPs).

METHODSTwo hundred and forty-one long term OPs directly exposed workers and 151 indirectly exposed workers in the same factory were taken as study group. One hundred and sixty unexposed persons were taken as control group. The activity of serum enzymes was measured and the polymorphic distribution was detected using 7900 genotype detecting system and CMOS Chip technique. The effect of long-term exposure to organophosphorus pesticides was analyzed.

RESULTSThe activities of BchE, CarbE and PonE were independent on the gender or age in control group. Average values of Carb and BchE activities of directly and indirectly exposed workers were lower than those in control group respectively. PonE activity in directly exposed group was lower than that in control group. AChE activity in directly exposed group was lower than that in indirectly exposed group. All the differences were significant (P < 0.01). In the direct exposure group, the frequency of three variants of butyrylcholinesterase gene K (BCHE-K) polymorphism was 74.3%, 24.1% and 1.6% for UU, UK and KK respectively. Frequency of allele U and K was 0.863 and 0.137 respectively in the same group. Frequency of three variants of PON192 polymorphism was 15.0%, 45.5% and 39.5% for AA, AB and BB respectively in direct exposure group. Gene frequency of low activity (PON*A) and high activity (PON*B) was 0.378 and 0.622 respectively. Frequency of three variants of PON55 polymorphism was 96.2%, 3.8% and 0% for MM, LM and LL respectively in direct exposure group. Frequency of allele M and L was 0.981 and 0.019 respectively in the same group. The activity of PON was different in various genotypes of PON192 and PON55.

CONCLUSIONThe long-term exposure to OPs could inhibit the activities of CarbE, BchE, PonE and ACh E in different level. The genetic polymorphisms of PON192 and PON55 affect the activity of PonE, which is related to the detoxification of OPs and health impact.

Acetylcholinesterase ; metabolism ; Adult ; Alleles ; Aryldialkylphosphatase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Butyrylcholinesterase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Carboxylesterase ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; Organophosphorus Compounds ; adverse effects ; Pesticides ; adverse effects ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

To study effect of pre-freezing temperature and lyophilizer shelf temperature on recovery of human red blood cells after lyophilization and determine solidifying temperature of this lyophilization system, the protective solution composed of 7% DMSO, 40% polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and isotonic buffer were adopted to lyophilize red blood cells at different pre-freezing temperatures or shelf temperatures. At first, fresh whole blood was centrifugated, washed and equilibrized to prepare concentrated red blood cells. Then concentrated red blood cells were mixed with the protective solution at 1:3 and pre-freezed at different temperature (-20, -35, -45, -80 or -196 degrees C) before lyophilization in lyophilizer. To study effect of shelf temperature on lyophilization of red blood cells, red blood cells were lyophilized at different shelf temperature after pre-freeze at -80 degrees C. After lyophilization, the samples were quickly rehydrated by 37 degrees C rehydration solution. The results showed the recovery rate of red blood cells and hemoglobin after pre-freeze at different temperature and lyophilization were > 85% and > 75%, there was not significant difference among these groups, but the concentration of free hemoglobin in -196 degrees C group was significantly higher than that in other groups (P < 0.01). With decreasing of shelf temperature, the lyophilizing time was also prolonged. When shelf temperature was > or = -25 degrees C, samples were not fully lyophilized; when shelf temperature was < or = -30 degrees C, the recovery rate of red blood cells and hemoglobin after lyophilization and rehydration were above 90%; after washed to isotonic state, the recovery rate of hemoglobin of the four groups was similar to each other. In conclusion, only when pre-freezing temperature is between -20 and -80 degrees C and the lyophilizer shelf temperature is < or = -30 degrees C, the effect of lyophilization is better, but the effect of excessively low pre-freezing temperature may even be worse.
Blood Preservation ; Erythrocytes ; cytology ; Freeze Drying ; Hemoglobins ; analysis ; Humans ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo obtain a detailed pattern of the dynamic evolution and interactions among MMP-13, TIMP-1, type I and III collagen during experimental liver fibrosis.

METHODSWistar rats were randomly allocated into a normal group, and a model group. To induce liver fibrosis, rats were intraperitoneally injected with dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) three consecutive times in the first week, then two consecutive times per week, totally for 6 weeks. In the normal control group, rats were treated with saline by the same means. Animals were sacrificed 1, 4, 10, 17, 28, 42, 56 days after starting DMN injections. Conventional histological examinations were performed after hematoxylin and eosin, and Masson stain. Fibrosis stages were classified into 0 to 4. Hydroxyproline contents were determined after liver tissues were hydrolyzed in HCl at 160 degrees C for 2 h and then measured with spectrometry at 560 nm wavelength. mRNA levels of MMP-13, TIMP-1, type I and III collagen were determined by semi-quantitive RT-PCR.

RESULTSIn the model group, hepatic type I pro-collagen mRNA expression started to increase on the 10th day after DMN administration (t = 2.85, P < 0.05), type III started to increase on the 28th day (t = 4.16, P< 0.01), and TIMP-1 mRNA expression started to increase on the 4th day (t = 2.60, P < 0.05). They all remained much higher than in the normal group throughout the remaining study period. Hepatic MMP-13 mRNA expression started to increase on the 17th day after DMN administration and remained at a higher level than in the normal group until he 28th day (t = 4.08, P < 0.01), then gradually returned to normal level at the end of the study period.

CONCLUSIONAlthough hepatic MMP-13 expression transiently increased during liver fibrosis, enhanced expression of TIMP-1 from the early periods of liver fibrosis inhibited the collagen degrading ability of MMP-13, therefore, over-expressed collagen accumulated in the liver. Thus, it is hypothesized that TIMPs play a pivotal role in liver fibrosis.

Animals ; Collagen Type I ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Collagen Type III ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Collagenases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Dimethylnitrosamine ; Female ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 13 ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo discuss the diagnostic value of an ultrasonic assessing system for detecting the severity of hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

METHODSUltrasonographic variables were analyzed in 110 CHB patients. An ultrasonic semi-quantitative scoring system using seven ultrasonic morphologic parameters, a Fisher discriminating function and three quantitative ultrasonic parameters was developed. The performance of these methods was also studied and compared.

RESULTSThe areas under the curve of the scoring system for different liver fibrosis stages were >or= S2: 0.946, >or= S3: 0.914, and S4: 0.915. The total score was well correlated with the histological stage of fibrosis (r=0.824, P < 0.001). There was a significant difference between the stages of fibrosis. The accuracy of the Fisher discriminating function for identifying three study endpoints was 76.5%, 78.2% and 67.3%. Combining the ultrasonic scoring system and the discriminating function, the specificity was 85%-90% and the accuracy was 77%-84%.

CONCLUSIONOur ultrasonic semi-quantitative scoring system is a noninvasive method for quantitating liver fibrosis. If it is used together with a discriminating function, the accuracy of diagnosing liver fibrosis can be significantly increased.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color ; Young Adult

The objective of the present study was designed to evaluate lyophilized red blood cells of the ultrastructure. Blood was drawn from healthy adult. In group 1, sample was fresh blood; in group 2, sample was added 35% glycerine, stored at -80 degrees C for 24 hours; in group 3, red blood cells stored at 4 degrees C for 5 hours, then were lyophilized for 16 hour. The sample was resuspended for measurements of count and electron microscopy study. The result showed that lyophilized red blood cells possessed relative integrated structure, red blood cell recovery was 53%. The mean diameter, optical density and integral optical density of red blood cell were 4.7 +/- 0.4, 0.14 +/- 0.03 and 1.58 +/- 0.46 in group 1; 4.6 +/- 0.7, 0.14 +/- 0.02 and 2.35 +/- 0.64 in group 2; 4.4 +/- 0.4, 0.17 +/- 0.05 and 2.35 +/- 0.46 in group 3, respectively. There was no significant difference in lyophilized and frozen group, but there was significant difference in lyophilized group and normal group. In conclusion, human red blood cells could be successfully lyophilized and possess relative integrated structure. The mean diameter, optical density and integral optical density of lyophilized red blood cells were similar to that of cryopreservation red cells.
Blood Preservation ; Erythrocytes ; ultrastructure ; Freeze Drying ; Humans

Objective The aim of this study is to explore the effect of CXCL12/CXCR4 biological axis on biological behavior of pancreatic cancer cells through the detection of mRNA expressions.Methods Pancreatic cancer cells (Miapaca-2) were cultured in vitro and divided into the control group,CXCL12 group and AMD3100 group.(1)RT-PCR was applied to detect the mRNA expressions of CXCL12,CXCR4,matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2),MMP-9 and human urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) ; (2) CCK-8 methods was used to detect the proliferation of cells; (3) Transwell invasion assay was applied to detect the invasive ability of pancreatic cancer cells among groups respectively.Results The mRNA expression of CXCL12 was not found,while the mRNA expression of CXCR4 was observed in pancreatic cancer cells.There was a tendency of decreasing on the mRNA expressions of MMP-2,MMP-9 and uPA among three groups,and there was statistically significant difference (P ＜ 0.05).The proliferative and invasive ability of pancreatic cancer cells showed an enhanced trend in CXCL12 group,while in AMD3100 group was effectively inhibited.There was statistically significant difference among three groups (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions CXCL12/CXCR4 biological axis plays an important role in proliferation and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells.

OBJECTIVES: Diabetes and obesity each increases mortality, but recent papers have shown that lean Asian persons were at greater risk for mortality than were obese persons. The objective of this study is to determine whether an interaction exists between body mass index (BMI) and diabetes, which can modify the risk of death by cardiovascular disease (CVD). METHODS: Subjects who were over 20 years of age, and who had information regarding BMI, past history of diabetes, and fasting blood glucose levels (n=16 048), were selected from the Korea Multi-center Cancer Cohort study participants. By 2008, a total of 1290 participants had died; 251 and 155 had died of CVD and stroke, respectively. The hazard for deaths was calculated with hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) by Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: Compared with the normal population, patients with diabetes were at higher risk for CVD and stroke deaths (HR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.33 to 2.56; HR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.20 to 2.76; respectively). Relative to subjects with no diabetes and normal BMI (21 to 22.9 kg/m2), lean subjects with diabetes (BMI <21 kg/m2) had a greater risk for CVD and stroke deaths (HR, 2.83; 95% CI, 1.57 to 5.09; HR, 3.27; 95% CI, 1.58 to 6.76; respectively), while obese subjects with diabetes (BMI > or =25 kg/m2) had no increased death risk (p-interaction <0.05). This pattern was consistent in sub-populations with no incidence of hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that diabetes in lean people is more critical to CVD deaths than it is in obese people.
Aged ; Blood Glucose/analysis ; *Body Mass Index ; Cardiovascular Diseases/etiology/*mortality ; Cohort Studies ; Diabetes Complications ; Diabetes Mellitus/*pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Risk Factors ; Stroke/etiology/mortality