OBJECTIVETo study the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of a case-finding program on tuberculosis (TB) in richer rural areas.

METHODSScreening was implemented every three months for a total period of 9 months, in rural areas with high case notification rates. Three villages, each with ten thousand population, were selected to carry out a household screening program. A suspect was defined as who coughed for more than 3 weeks. The suspect was then referred to further diagnosis in county TB dispensary to undergo chest X-ray and sputum test.

RESULTSOf the 86,168 community population screened, 26 TB patients were identified with 7 of them were smear positive. The ratio of effectiveness vs. cost decreased on the second but slightly increased on the third screening program. The direct costs for the 3 screening programs were 6,312,397 and 1637 RMB respectively. Of total direct cost, 5.9% was paid by TB patients, whereas 35.9% was through financing of the county itself.

CONCLUSIONThe community household screening program could achieve higher case detection rate than passive case-finding approach which could be used in richer areas with low case detection rate in China.

China ; Chronic Disease ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Cough ; etiology ; Family Characteristics ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; economics ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Rural Health ; Sputum ; microbiology ; Tuberculosis ; complications ; diagnosis

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Spearmint oil on inflammation, oxidative alteration and Nrf2 expression in rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).

METHODSCOPD model was induced by intratracheal instillation of Klebsiella pneumonia and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 12 weeks in rats, and COPD rats were treated with Spearmint oil for 3 weeks. After COPD was induced, the pathological changes, changes in leucocyte number in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), MDA in lung homogenate and Nrf2 expression were observed. The effects of Spearmint oil on these changes were determined.

RESULTSpearmint oil 100 mg*kg(-1)significantly reduced leucocyte numbers in BALF, and attenuated bronchiolitis, pulmonary interstitial inflammation and inflammation cell infiltration. Spearmint oil 30-300 mg*kg(-1)decreased the destruction of pulmonary alveolus and the thickness of bronchioles walls, and inhibited goblet cell proliferation. Spearmint oil significantly reduced MDA in lung homogenate, and decreased the expression of Nrf2 protein in lung tissues.

CONCLUSIONSpearmint oil has protective effect on lung injury in COPD rats, since it improves pulmonary inflammation,oxidative alteration, and enhances Nrf2 protein expression.

Animals ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Male ; Mentha spicata ; chemistry ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2 ; metabolism ; Oils, Volatile ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; drug therapy ; etiology ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of synthetic drug QTY06 on chronic airway inflammation and mucoprotein expression induced by intratracheal (i.t) instillation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

METHODSChronic airway inflammation was induced by i.t instillation of LPS in rats. Phospholipids content and the number of leucocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), pathological and immunochemical changes were examined 3 weeks after LPS instillation. The effect of QTY06 on chronic airway inflammation was observed.

RESULTAfter treatment with QTY06, phospholipids in BALF was significantly increased, and the percentages of neutrophils and lymphocytes were decreased as well as the total number of leucocytes. Compared with the model group, pathological examination showed that tracheitis, bronchitis and pulmonary interstitial inflammation in QTY06 groups were significantly attenuated; epithelial damage was alleviated, infiltration of inflammatory cells reduced and the number of goblet cells decreased. QTY06 significantly decreased MUC5ac expression in trachea and bronchiole epithelium, and reduced the optical density and mucins area (%) as detected by image analysis in rats with chronic airway inflammation.

CONCLUSIONQTY06 can reduce and inhibit the chronic airway inflammation induced by LPS in rats, and increase the content of phospholipids in pulmonary surfactant and inhibit the hypersecretion of airway mucins.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Bronchitis ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Male ; Mucin 5AC ; secretion ; Phospholipids ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Respiratory Mucosa ; drug effects ; secretion

OBJECTIVETo observe the distribution of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in rats' respiratory tract. To study the influence of LPS and Eucalyptus globulus oil on the distribution of TMR4.

METHODThe Sprague-Dawley rats were intratracheally instilled with lipopolysaccharide (LPS,2 mg x kg(-1) per day) for two days to induce acute lung injury. The rats were sacrificed at 72 hours after LPS instillation. Lung morphology was studied. Leukocytes in Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured and TLR4 were detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTThe result of immunohistochemistry showed that TLR4 distributed widely in common rats' respiratory tract. In the group of acute lung injury, the number of leucocyte in BALF was increased apparently, the inflammation in bronchus and bronchioles was more apparently than that of the control group in morphology. And the expression of TLR4 was reinforced in main bronchus and bronchioles. In the group of E. globules oil (300 mg x kg(-1)), the leucocyte number was decreased apparently in BALF, the inflammation was lightened and the expression of TLR4 decreased as compared with the group of models.

CONCLUSIONThe expression of TLR4 distributes widely in rats' respiratory tract. The stimulation of LPS can reinforce the expression of TLR4. The E. globules oil can reduce the increase of TLR4 induced by LPS in bronchioles.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Bronchi ; metabolism ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; cytology ; Eucalyptus ; chemistry ; Leukocyte Count ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Lung ; pathology ; Male ; Oils, Volatile ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the genotype of swines isolated from humans and their relationships with hepatitis E virus (HEV) in the rural areas of southern China.

METHODSSpecimens collected from normal people with HEV-IgM positive, acute hepatitis E patients and from swine in the same area were detected for HEV RNA using RT-nPCR with ORF2 primers. The positive PCR products were cloned and sequenced.

RESULTS13 out of the 132 samples from swine stool, 4 of 26 HEV-IgM positive sera of normal people and 1 of 4 acute hepatitis E patients' stool sample and sera were tested positive for HEV RNA. Data from sequence analysis showed that the identity at nucleotide level was 89.3%-100.0% among the 10 isolates which shared 78.7% - 84.7%, 83.3% - 85.3%, 76.0% - 80.0% and 84.7% - 95.3% nucleotide sequence identity with HEV genotype I, II, III and IV respectively in the region (nt6317- 6466).

CONCLUSIONHEV circulating in humans and swine in the area belonged to genotype IV.

Animals ; China ; Cloning, Molecular ; Feces ; virology ; Genes, Viral ; Genotype ; Hepatitis E ; veterinary ; virology ; Hepatitis E virus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; blood ; RNA, Viral ; blood ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rural Health ; Swine ; Swine Diseases ; virology

OBJECTIVETo explore the risk factors of low back pain among the Chinese occupational population in several major industries.

METHODSA total of 7200 subjects (3600 cases and 3600 controls) were randomly sampled from a cross-sectional study, and they were investigated for individual and occupational factors of low back pain. The potential risk factors were first selected by using chi-square tests. Secondly, collinearity diagnosis proceeded by using the Kendall's rank correlation. Finally, binary logistic regression model was used for multi-factor analysis.

RESULTSCollinearity diagnosis showed that there was a severe collinearity problem among the potential risk factors of low back pain. Logistic regression model included 20 variables with statistical significance. Bending neck forward or holding neck in a forward posture for long periods (OR=1.408) was the most important risk factor inducing low back pain in this study, followed by bending heavily with the trunk (OR=1.402), carrying out identical work almost for the whole day (OR=1.340). Additionally, sufficient normal break was a protective factor of low back pain.

CONCLUSIONLow back pain among the Chinese occupational population was associated with body height, occupation, work organization, physical work, working posture, and others. All these risk factors could be regarded as the indicators of low back pain, and some relevant preventive measures should be taken to reduce low back pain risk.

Adolescent ; Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; epidemiology ; Male ; Occupations ; Posture ; Risk Factors ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo determine the seasonal prevalence of genotype-IV hepatitis E virus (HEV) in swine herds in Eastern China and explore the phylogenetic relationship between swine HEV and human HEV in the situation that zoonotic features of HEV had been confirmed.

METHODSFrom September 2007 to June 2008, a total of 1200 swine bile specimens were collected from three slaughter houses located in Zhejiang, Anhui and Jiangsu, the Eastern China, and detected for HEV RNA by using nested RT-PCR. The positive PCR products were sequenced. Then the swine HEV were phylogenetically determined with human HEV isolated in Eastern China.

RESULTSThe positive rate for HEV RNA in swine herds was 4.5% totally. Significant differences of HEV detection were not observed among seasonal pattern (Sep - Oct: 6%, Dec - Jan: 4.33%, Mar - Apr: 4.33%, May - Jun: 3.33%) but in geographic distribution (Jiangsu: 6%, Anhui: 5%, Zhejiang: 2.5%). Regardless of isolation from different areas,swine and human genotype-IV HEV shared a high similarity. Phylogenetically, there were 80% - 100% and 96% - 100% identities within swine genotype-lV HEV at the nucleotide and amino acid levels respectively. Between swine HEV and human HEV, there were also similarities of 76% -99% and 95% - 100%. It was noted that some human and swine isolates were clustered with bootstrap values of > 90%.

CONCLUSIONGenotype-IV HEV is widely prevalent in swine herds in Eastern China and original common ancestor of evolution and transmission was implied. The sustaining prevalence within swine herds should have a probable influence on the epidemic situation of hepatitis E in human beings.

Animals ; China ; epidemiology ; Genotype ; Geography ; Hepatitis E ; epidemiology ; Hepatitis E virus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Phylogeny ; Prevalence ; Seasons ; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid ; Swine ; Swine Diseases ; epidemiology ; genetics ; virology

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of eucalyptus globulus oil on the activity of nuclear factor-kappaB(NF-kappaB) in THP-1 cell line.

METHODSTHP-1 cells were cultured with or without eucalyptus globulus oil at different concentrations (1, 10, 100 mg x L(-1), 30 min) before being stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 mg x L(-1), 30 min). The location of NF-kappaB p65 subunit (NF-kappaB/p65) in THP-1 cells was detected by indirect immunofluorescence and laser scanning confocal microscope. The expression of NF-kappaB/p65 in nuclei was measured by Western-blot analysis.

RESULTThe FITC-label NF-kappaB/p65 was mainly located in the nuclei after THP-1 cells were stimulated with LPS. Whereas, no fluorescence were seen in the nuclei of cells pretreated with eucalyptus globulus oil. This effect on NF-kappaB/p65 nuclear translocation was in a concentration dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONEucalyptus globulus oil inhibits the nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB induced by LPS in THP-1 cells.

Active Transport, Cell Nucleus ; drug effects ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Eucalyptus ; chemistry ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; NF-kappa B ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Plant Oils ; pharmacology ; Tosyllysine Chloromethyl Ketone ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Eucalyptus globulus oil on bronchiolitis and mucin hypersecretion in chronic bronchitis induced by lipopolysaccharide in rats.

METHODRat model was established by intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide 0.2 mg. Pathological changes, alteration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and immunohistochemistry characters were examined after 3 weeks and the effect of E. globulus oil was observed.

RESULTCharacters of pathological manifestations of chronic bronchitis were found after instillation of LPS. Inflammatory cell infiltration and bronchiolitis severity were significantly reduced after administration of E. globulus oil. Especially in 300 mg x kg(-1) treated rats, there were significant decreases of mucin content in BALF and MUC5ac expression in trachea and bronchiole epithelium. Optical density and mucins area% detected by image analysis system were apparently lower than those in model group.

CONCLUSIONE. globulus oil has the anti-inflammatory effect on chronic bronchitis induced by lipopolysaccharide in rats and the inhibitio effect on hypersecretion of airway mucins.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; pharmacology ; Bronchitis, Chronic ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; Eucalyptus ; chemistry ; Male ; Mucins ; secretion ; Oils, Volatile ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley