OBJECTIVETo isolate viruses from mosquitoes in the south of Xinjiang and identify these viruses primarily.

METHODSA total of 13 491 mosquitoes were collected in the south of Xinjiang from Jul to Aug, 2005. These mosquitoes were divided into 130 groups and grinded respectively. The supernates were inoculated in C6/36 and Vero cells. Viruses isolated were detected, the genomic nucleic types by electrophoresis of viral genomes and the morphologies observed under electronmicroscope.

RESULTSAll 42 viruses were isolated, which caused CPEs on C6/36 but not on Vero cells. 27 viruses showed similar genomic profiles with 12 dsRNA segments. 1 virus displayed genomic profile with 10 dsRNA segments. 5 viruses took on similar genomic profiles with about 4 kbp DNA band. 9 viruses did not get any taxonomy information. Electromicroscopic pictures of these viruses revealed that above four types of viruses had distinguished morphologies indicating different virus species.

CONCLUSIONThere should be several virus species in the mosquitoes in the south of Xinjiang. dsRNA virus with 12 genomic segments should play analysis a predominant role in the south of Xinjiang.

Animals ; Bluetongue virus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; China ; Culicidae ; virology ; Dengue Virus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Genome, Viral ; Insect Viruses ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; RNA, Double-Stranded ; genetics ; RNA, Viral ; genetics ; Reassortant Viruses ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Vero Cells

OBJECTIVETo investigate the time trends of cancer mortality among residents in Kaifeng county, Henan province.

METHODSData on cancer mortality from the vital registration system in Kaifeng county from 1988 to 2005 was analyzed. A total of 9543 death records (5974 males and 3567 females) due to malignant tumors were studied. A two-year-period age-specified standardized mortality rates were directly adjusted by the world standard population, and the annual percentage change (APC) of mortality were estimated by a linear logarithm regression.

RESULTSThe crude cancer death rate for male was 95.09/100,000 and its age-standardized death rate was 117.41/100,000. While, the crude cancer death rate for female was 59.13/100,000 and the age-standardized death rate was 57.15/100,000. There was a significant growth tread for lung cancer (APC: 6.54%), liver cancer (5.07%) in males and breast cancer (7.04%) in females in the groups aged over 18. On the contrary, the decreasing treads for esophageal cancer in both of sexes (-7.09%, -13.53%) were also observed in this study. Meanwhile, there was no other significant changes in the trend, either in the tumor sites or mortality, was observed.

CONCLUSIONIn the past two decades, there has been a significant increasing trend for cancer mortality in Kaifeng county, of Henan Province. Hence, it is necessary to enhance epidemiological survey to identify risk factors at the earlier stages.

China ; epidemiology ; Death Certificates ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mortality ; trends ; Neoplasms ; mortality ; Rural Population

BACKGROUNDAlleviation of microcirculation disorders in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) can improve survival rates, and low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) is well known to have potent ameliorative effect on microcirculation disorders caused by anti-coagulant activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of LMWH on pancreatic microcirculation in SAP in rats.

METHODSSD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham operation (S) group, SAP group, and LMWH treatment (LT) group. The concentrations of serum amylase, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), endothelin-1 (ET-1), pancreatic ultrastructure were examined at 24 hours after the models were set up in each group.

RESULTSCompared with S group, the concentration of serum amylase, ET-1, and TNF-alpha in SAP group were significantly increased (P < 0.001); After LMWH treatment, the concentration of serum amylase, ET-1, TNF-alpha were decreased significantly compared with SAP group (P < 0.001, 0.01, 0.001, respectively). On electron microscopy, the microthrombosis in LT group was significantly less than that in SAP group. The 3-day survival rate in SAP group (25.0%) was significantly lower than that in S group (100.0%, P < 0.05) and in LT group (87.5%, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe disorder of pancreatic microcirculation may be involved in the inflammatory response of rats with SAP. LMWH can effectively improve the survival rate of SAP, and alleviate the severity of microcirculation disorders through its antithrombin effects and down-regulate the levels of serum ET-1 and TNF-alpha.

Acute Disease ; Animals ; Anticoagulants ; pharmacology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Endothelin-1 ; blood ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight ; pharmacology ; Microcirculation ; drug effects ; Microscopy, Electron ; Pancreas ; blood supply ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Pancreatitis ; blood ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Survival Rate ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

OBJECTIVETo analyze the application of vertebral pedicle screw fixation in the treatment of burst fracture of thoracolumbar vertebrae.

METHODSA total of 48 cases (31 males and 17 females, aged from 18-72 years, mean: 41.3 years) with thoracolumbar vertebrae burst fracture were treated by pedicle screw system since January 2004. According to the AO classification of thoracolumbar vertebrae fracture, there are 36 cases of Type A, 9 of Type B and 3 of Type C.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up for 6-25 months (average 12 months), no secondary nerve root injury, spinal cord injury, loosening or breakage of pedicle screw were observed. The nerve function of 29 patients with cauda equina nerve injury was restored to different degrees. The vertebral body height returned to normal level and posterior process angle was rectified after operation.

CONCLUSIONSThe vertebral pedicle screw internal fixation was technologically applicable, which can efficiently reposition and stabilize the bursting fractured vertebrae, indirectly decompress canalis spinalis, maintain spine stability, scatter stress of screw system, reduce the risk of loosening or breakage of screw and loss of vertebral height, and prevent the formation of posterior convex after operation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; injuries ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries

OBJECTIVETo determine whether Betahistine mesilate is effective in treating tinnitus.

METHODSRandomized, prospective, double-blind, controlled trial was used in our study. The study group consisted of 60 adult patients who consulted our outpatient clinic complaining of subjective tinnitus, excluded objective tinnitus and the patients who had tinnitus caused by obvious diseases, such as outer and middle ear diseases. Thirty patients were given Betahistine mesilate and Flunarizine Hydrochloride as an experimental group, 30 patients were given Vitamin B6 and Flunarizine Hydrochloride as a control group. After a week of treatment the efficacy of the medicines in two groups was observed. Tinnitus questionnaire was performed before the treatment, and pure tone audiogram, tinnitus pitch and loudness matching were performed both in the beginning and at the end of the treatment.

RESULTSCompletion of treatment, tinnitus loudness matching assessment showed that the efficacy of the Betahistine mesilate group was better then the control group. The efficacy of treatment was respectively 65.5% by per protocol (PP) and 63.3% by intend to treat (ITT) in the Betahistine mesilate group and 39.3% by PP and 36.7% by ITT in the control group. The difference of tinnitus loudness improvement rate between the experimental group and control group was statistically significant. But the subjective tinnitus improvement rate showed no difference between two groups. There were not serious side effects in the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSBetahistine mesilate can be a choice for tinnitus treatment clinically. Further studies of larger series and placebo-controlled trial are needed.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Betahistine ; therapeutic use ; Double-Blind Method ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Flunarizine ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Tinnitus ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the indoor environmental factors associated with the prevalence of asthma and related allergies among school children.

METHODSA cluster sampling method was used and the ISAAC questionnaire was conducted. A total of 4612 elementary students under Grade Five of 7 schools were enrolled in the survey for the impact of indoor environmental factors on the prevalence of asthma and related allergies in several urban and suburban schools of Beijing.

RESULTSA total of 4060 sample were finally analyzed including 1992 urban and 2068 suburban. The prevalence of wheeze, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and atopic eczema in the past 12 months was 3.1% (61/1992), 5.3% (106/1992), 1.1% (22/1992) among urban children while 1.3% (27/2068), 3.1% (65/2068), 1.0% (22/2068) among suburban children respectively. The prevalence of wheeze and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis of the past 12 months in urban were both significantly higher than that in suburban (χ(2) = 14.77, 11.93, P < 0.01). The incidences of having asthma and eczema ever among urban children (5.3% (105/1992), 29.4% (586/1992)) were significantly (χ(2) = 39.03, 147.22, P < 0.01) higher than that among suburban (1.7% (35/2068), 13.8% (285/2068)). Although the distributions of indoor environmental factors were similar in both areas, passive smoking and interior decoration had different influence on the prevalence of asthma and related allergies among school children in the two areas. The significant impact of passive smoking on having asthma ever among suburban children was observed (OR = 2.70, 95%CI = 1.17 - 6.23) while no significant result in urban (OR = 1.06, 95%CI = 0.71 - 1.58); the percentage of interior decoration was 84.0% (1673/1992) among urban children and 80.0% (1655/2068) among suburban children, there was significant impact of interior decoration on the prevalence of having eczema ever among urban children (OR = 1.57, 95%CI = 1.17 - 2.10) but no significant results were found in suburban sample (OR = 1.06, 95%CI = 0.76 - 1.48).

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of asthma and related allergies among school children is much higher in urban areas than that in suburban areas and the indoor environmental factors such as passive smoking and interior decoration may differently explain the prevalence of asthma and related allergies in the two areas.

Adolescent ; Air Pollution, Indoor ; analysis ; Asthma ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Cities ; Environmental Exposure ; Female ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Male ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Students ; Suburban Population ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Urban Population

OBJECTIVE: To explore the postmortem changes of cornea thickness measured by ultrasonic pachymetry. METHODS: Eleven rabbits were randomly divided into two groups: one group with intact corneal epithelium and another group without intact corneal epithelium. In the later group, the corneal epithelium of the rabbit was scraped using mechanical elimination method. The corneal thickness was monitored continuously by ultrasonic pachymetry at several postmortem interval points in rabbits of the two groups. The changes of corneal thickness and postmortem interval were explored by relative regression analysis. RESULTS: The thickness of the cornea showed a strong non-linear correlation with the postmortem interval in the group with intact corneal epithelium. The group with intact corneal epithelium showed the correlation coefficient 0.922 and the group without intact corneal epithelium showed the correlation coefficient 0.822, respectively. CONCLUSION The corneal thickness measured by ultrasonic pachymetry shows a potential value for estimating early postmortem interval. The intact corneal epithelium is a crucial factor for the measurement of cornea thickness by ultrasonic pachymetry.
Animals ; Cornea/pathology* ; Corneal Topography/methods* ; Epithelium, Corneal/ultrastructure* ; Female ; Forensic Pathology/methods* ; Male ; Postmortem Changes ; Rabbits ; Regression Analysis ; Reproducibility of Results ; Time Factors ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo investigate the anti atherosclerosis effect and related mechanisms of total flavone of radix puerariae (TFRP) on atherosclerotic plaques in apoE gene deficiency (apoE-/-) mice.

METHODSapoE-/- mice were treated with saline, TFRP 15 mg . kg(-1). d(-1) or TFRP 85 mg . kg-1. d-1 (n = 8 each group) respectively per gavage for 12 weeks. The apoptotic cells in atherosclerotic plaques were then detected by TUNEL analysis, transmission electron microscope (TEM). The expression of CD-68, SMA and Caspase-3 were determined by immunochemical methods.

RESULTSEarly macrophage apoptosis signs were observed under TEM, TUNEL-positive and CD-68 positive cells were found in lipid cores of atherosclerotic plaques. TFRP significantly reduced the number of apoptotic cells in a dose-dependent manner [(0.38 +/- 0.17)%, (1.95 +/- 1.02)%, (10.50 +/- 5.89)%, respectively, P < 0.01] in atherosclerotic plaques. TFRP treatment also significantly reduced the immune expression of Caspase-3 protein in a dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONTFRP significantly attenuated the development of advanced atherosclerotic plaques in a dose-dependent manner which might related to down-regulated expression of Caspase-3 protein and reduced macrophage apoptotic cells in atherosclerotic plaques post TFRP treatment.

Animals ; Apolipoproteins E ; genetics ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Atherosclerosis ; genetics ; pathology ; Caspase 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Flavones ; pharmacology ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Macrophages ; cytology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; Pueraria ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the therapeutic effect of comprehensive therapeutic protocol of electroacupuncture combined with active-blood-and-dissolve-stasis herbs and rehabilitation training for cerebral infarction.

METHODSA multi-center randomized controlled trial was done, three hundred and twenty cases were divided into four groups: electroacupuncture combined with active-blood and dissolve-stasis herbs and rehabilitation training group (group A), electroacupuncture combined with rehabilitation training group (group B), herbs combined with rehabilitation training group (group C) and rehabilitation training group (group D), 80 cases in each group. The following two groups of acupoints were used alternatively in electroacupuncture treatment: the first group including Vasomotor Area, Jianyu (LI 15), Biguan (ST 31), Hegu (LI 4) and Taichong (LR 3); the second group including Motor Area, Quchi (LI 11), Yanglingquan (GB 34) and Shenshu (BL 23). 20 mL Xiangdan injection and 250 mL 5% glucose injection or 250 mL 0.9% sodium chloride injection were used by intravenous drip in herbs treatment once a day. The rehabilitation training was performed by the professional physical therapist. Each group was treated with corresponding treatment protocol. The therapeutic effect was evaluated by index of the mortality or disability rate 3 months after the onset of disease. The intention to treat analysis (ITT) was used in data.

RESULTSThe mortality or handicap rate 3 months after the onset of disease of four groups were 17.5% (14/80) in group A, 22.5% (18/80) in group B, 40. 0% (32/80) in group C, and 31.3% (25/80) in group D, respectively. The group A has a best therapeutic effect (vs group C, group D, both P<0.05), and there was no adverse event.

CONCLUSIONThe combined application of electroacupuncture, active-blood and dissolve-stasis herbs and rehabilitation training is a better treatment for cerebral infarction in clinic.

Adult ; Aged ; Cerebral Infarction ; drug therapy ; rehabilitation ; therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

BACKGROUNDThe morbidity and mortality of prostate cancer have been increasing rapidly in recent China. There were few studies investigating prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values ranges in the healthy Chinese population. We performed this study to determine the distribution of serum PSA in a large healthy Chinese population.

METHODSFrom January 2001 to May 2008, 11 150 healthy Chinese men aged 30 - 79 years came to our hospital for routine health check-up. All subjects without a previous diagnosis of prostate cancer, a history of prostate surgery, or urogenital tract infection were proposed to undergo systematic serum PSA measurement and digital rectal examination (DRE). Men with normal DRE and PSA ≤ 4.0 ng/ml and those PSA > 4.0 ng/ml or abnormal DRE but without adverse findings on prostate biopsy were included (n = 9358). Age and serum PSA concentration were recorded and correlated through Logistic regression analysis.

RESULTSThe 95th percentile serum PSA concentration was 1.89 ng/ml for men aged 30 to 39 years, 2.19 ng/ml for men aged 40 to 49 years, 2.88 ng/ml for men aged 50 to 59 years, 4.42 ng/ml for men aged 60 to 69 years, and 6.52 ng/ml for men aged 70 to 79 years. The serum PSA concentration correlated with age (P < 0.0001) with an annual increase of 0.97% for men in 40 years, 1.58% for men in 50 years, 3.04% for men in 60 years, and 3.99% for men in 70 years.

CONCLUSIONSThe serum PSA level correlates directly with age in Chinese men older than 40 years, not in Chinese men younger than 40 years old. Chinese men have lower PSA level compared with white men above 60 years of age, not in those under 60 years of age.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; blood ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; blood ; epidemiology