Objective To evaluate the effects of rebuilding stove and health education on preventing coal-burning fluorosis and arsenic poisoning in Shaanxi in 2005.Methods According to "Scheme of Impmving Stove in Preventing Coal-burning Fluorosis and Arsenic Poisoning of Shaanxi in 2005",the initial meeting was convened,while liability contracts were signed,leading and technical guiding groups were established,professional training was carried out.On the basis of the epidemiologic data,stoves were improved in 7 chosen counties in Ankang and Hanzhong City where the health education in several modalities was carried out.The project was checked and accepted when the work was completed.Thirty children in fourth grade were randomly selected in one primary school of each county.Fifleen adults aged 16 years old were chosen randomly in each village in each country.They were asked to answer the questionnaire about the health knowledge.Results There were 955 322 stoves improved in 7 countries in Ankang and Hanzhong City accounting for rebuilding stove was 100%(95 322/95 314).The awareness rates of health knowledge were 88%(444/508)in the adults and 100%(210/210)in children.Conclusions The government mangement leadership,the cooperation between the related departments, the participation of residents and the assufance of fund are the essentials in long lasting control of endemic diseases.

Objective To approach the normal manifestations of the hypopharynx of the adults at the level of cricoid cartilage as seen on CT images, and to evaluate their clinical value. Methods Eighty-four CT images of the normal hypopharynx were reviewed. The hypopharynx was divided into three regions:(1) the piriform sinus, (2) the retropharynx area, and (3) the postcricoid region. The postcricoid region of hypopharynx was subdivided into three levels as follows : (1) the upper margin slice of the cricoid cartilage at the cricoarytenoid joint level, (2) the middle portion slice of the cricoid cartilage, and (3)the inferior margin slice of the cricoid cartilage. The anteroposterior and transverse diameters, and anterior and posterior wall thicknesses in the postcricoid region were measured. Depiction of the layers of the musculature and adjacent fat planes was evaluated. Statistical comparisons of measured results were made by using ttest and x2 test. Results The posterior wall tended to be (0. 9±0. 4) mm thicker than the anterior wall. The average transverse extension of the postcricoid musculature was (4. 5±0. 3)mm shorter in female than that in male at CT images. There were statistically significant differences related to sex (at the upper margin level of the cricoid cartilage : the transverse extension was (38. 6±3. 3)mm in male, (34. d±2. 5) mm in female, t = 6. 26,P < 0. 05 ; at the middle portion level of the crieoid cartilage: (33.6±3. 6) mm in male,(28.9±2.8) mm in female t =6.36, P <0.01;at the inferior margin level of the cricoid cartilage:(28.6 ±3. 1) nun in male, (24. 0 ±2. 1) mm in female, t = 7.52, P <0. 01). The transverse diameter tended to taper (10. 1±2. 4) mm from the upper cricoid slice level to the lower cricoid slice levelDemonstration of the intramural fat planes of the postcricoid region decreased from the upper [ 81.0%(68/84)] to the lower region [23.8% (20/84)] of the cricoid cartilage. In fat planes around the postcricoid region at all levels, the posterior fat plane was seen least frequently, and the left-sided fat plane was seen most frequently. There was a statistically significant difference at every level(at the upper margin level of the cricoid cartilage, the visibilities of the left-sided, the right-sided, and the posterior fat plane around the postcricoid region were 77.4% (65/84), 72. 6% (61/84), and 28. 6% (24/84) ,x<'2> =24. 64,P <0.01 ; at the middle portion level of the cricoid cartilage, the visibilities were 89.3% (75/84), 75.0%(63/84), and 34.5% (29/84) ,x<'2> =24. 76, P <0. 01 ; at the inferior margin level of the cricoid cartilage:the visibilities were 95.2% (80/84), 88. 1% (74/84), and 52. 4% (44/84), x<'2> = 13.59, P < 0. 01.Conclusion Knowledge of the normal appearances and variations of the hypopharynx at the level of cricoid cartilage is essential in detecting abnormalities in this area.

The population of bacterial physiological groups in tomato with different resistant to Ralstonia solanacearum was studied. The results suggested that endophytic bacterial communities and population in tomato variety changed with different resistant cultivars, different stages of tomato and seasons. It was con-ducted that the amount of ammoniation bacteria was the highest among the seven physiological bacterial groups. There were more ammoniation bacteria in high resistant tomato cultivars than that in high suscepti-ble cultivars. It may indicate that ammoniation bacteria played a key role in the occurrence of tomato bacte-rial wilt. In addition, the total amount of physiological bacteria in resistant cultivars was more than that in susceptible cultivars in different stages of tomato, and the tendency of changing displayed fluctuation. The average level of quantities of the ammoniation bacteria, nitrifiers bacteria, erobic nitogenfixing bacteria and desulphate reducer bacteria in summer were higher than that in winter, while the population of the sulphate reduced bacteria in winter was higher than that in summer. Furthermore, the amount of anaerobic bacteria was the least among them.

Objective To evaluate the condition of rebuilding stove for preventing coal-buming fluorosis in Ankang City of Shaanxi Province in 2006.Methods Guided by local health administration department in Shaanxi.five counties-Zhengping,Langao,Hanyin,Ziyang,Shiquan-were chosen as rebuilding stove regions in Ankang City.Fifteen housewives were chosen randomly in each village in each county,they were quizzed for the knowledge of health.Fifty students were chosen randomly in each school in each county,they were quizzed for the knowledge of health too.Data of rebuilding stove were refferred.Results Ninty-seven point two per cent(243/250)of the ovens were appropriately sealed,96.8%(242/250)were efficiently exhausted,the rate of oven correctly used was 97.2%(243/250),the awareness rates of healthful knowledge were 85.6%(214/250)in adults and 97.8%(485/496)in children.Data of rebuilding stove were documented systemically,completely and precisely.ConelusionFive model counties in Ankang City have fulfilled the demand.

AIM:To investigate the effect of sodium hydrosulfide(NaHS)on cardiac function and activity of renin-angiotensin(Ang)-aldosterone(ALD)system(RAAS)in the rats with chronic heart failure(CHF).METHODS:The CHF rat model was established by abdominal aortic coarctation.SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group,model group,low dose of NaHS group and high dose of NaHS group(n=6).The left ventricular end-diastolic di-ameter(LVEDD), left ventricular end-systolic diameter(LVESD)and left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)were measured before and after treatment by echocardiography in each group.The levels of renin,AngⅡand ALD in the plasma were measured by ELISA.The expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme(ACE)and angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor (AT1R)at mRNA and protein levels in the myocardium tissues was determined by qPCR and Western blot,respectively. RESULTS:After treatment with NaHS,compared with model group and before treatment,LVEDD and LVESD in low dose of NaHS group and high dose of NaHS group were decreased significantly, while LVEF was increased significantly(P<0.05).Compared with low dose of NaHS group,LVEDD and LVESD were decreased,while LVEF was increased in high dose of NaHS group(P<0.05).Compared with sham operation group,the levels of renin,AngⅡand ALD in the plasma of model group were significantly increased(P<0.05),and the expression of ACE and AT1R at mRNA and protein levels in the myocardium tissues of model group were significantly increased(P<0.05).Compared with model group,the plas-ma levels of renin,AngⅡand ALD in low dose of NaHS group and high dose of NaHS group were significantly decreased (P<0.05),and the myocardial expression of ACE and AT 1R at mRNA and protein levels was significantly down-regulated (P<0.05).The plasma levels of renin,AngⅡand ALD,and the myocardial expression of ACE and AT 1R at mRNA and protein levels in high dose of NaHS group were significantly lower than those in low dose of NaHS group(P<0.05). CONCLUSION:NaHS inhibits the activation of RAAS,thus improving the cardiac function of CHF rats,and the effect of high-dose NaHS is better than that of low-dose NaHS.

Ureteral stents play an important role in the treatment of ureteral strictures. It supports the narrow urethra and ensures the smooth flow of urine, thus alleviating the impact of ureteral stricture on kidney function. Traditional ureteral stents are prone to complications such as stones, bacterial infections, inflammation, and restenosis when indwelling in the body. This paper reviews the performance requirements of ureteral stents, introduces ureteral stents of different structures, functions, materials, and preparation as well as processing techniques, and analyzes the key problems and future research directions of ureteral stents, which provides a reference basis for the research of ideal ureteral stents.

OBJECTIVETo investigate optimal time for early escharectomy after severe scald in minipigs.

METHODSMinipigs inflicted with 35% TBSA full thickness burn were employed in the study, and they were randomly divided into A (n = 7, with escharectomy at 6PSH), and B (n = 7, with escharectomy at 24 PSH) groups. The hemodynamics indices, hemorrheology, and the serum levels of cytokines in the two groups were determined before burns and at 6, 8, 16, 24 and 72PSH.

RESULTSThe hemodynamics indices in A group obviously improved compared with those in B group. The cardiac output (CO, 2.28 +/- 0.03 L/min) and right arterial pressure (RAP, 4.54 +/- 0.04 mmHg) in A group recovered to the pre-injury levels at 48 PSH. There was no difference of the hemorrheology indices between the two groups (P > 0.05). The serum contents of cytokines in A group declined to the pre-injury level on 1 PBW, while those in B group were significantly higher than those before injury and those in A group (P < 0.05 or P > 0.01).

CONCLUSIONEscharectomy during 6 PBH might be safe and feasible, thus preventing long-term complications effectively.

Acute-Phase Reaction ; Animals ; Atrial Function, Right ; Burns ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Cardiac Output ; Cytokines ; blood ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hemorheology ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature

PURPOSE: Cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen (CLA)-expressing CD8+T cells have been known to play an important role in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD). However, the mechanisms underlying the loss of self-tolerance remain unclear. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a key role in the development of homeostasis in the immune system. We, therefore, hypothesized that a reduced ability of Tregs to inhibit autologous CD8+CLA+T cells might be underlying mechanism in AD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CD8+CLA+T cells and Tregs were obtained from the peripheral blood of AD patients and control volunteers. The frequencies of CD8+CLA+T cells were evaluated. The proliferative responses of CD8+CLA+T cells were assessed by flow cytometry, and the levels of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in culture supernatants were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Our results revealed higher frequency and increased expression of perforin and granzyme-B in peripheral CD8+CLA+T cells in AD, and lower inhibitory ability of Tregs on proliferation of CD8+CLA+T cells in AD. Meanwhile, the levels of TGF-beta1 produced by Tregs were significantly lower in AD, and anti-TGF-beta1 abolished such suppression. CONCLUSION: The attenuated inhibitory ability of Tregs on hyper-activated autologous CD8+CLA+T cells, mediated by TGF-beta1, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of AD.
Adult ; Aged ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/drug effects/*immunology ; Case-Control Studies ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Separation ; Dermatitis, Atopic/*immunology/pathology ; Female ; Granzymes/metabolism ; Humans ; Interleukin-10/metabolism ; Lymphocyte Count ; Male ; Perforin/metabolism ; Skin/*immunology/pathology ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/drug effects/immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/drug effects/*immunology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1/pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of overexpression of Smad7 gene on cell proliferation in human bronchial epithelial cell lines.

METHODSHuman bronchial epithelial cell lines, BEP2D and BERP35T2 cells, were cotransfected with the mammalian expression vectors PCISmad7.neo and pMyc-SEAP, the latter was ac-myc cis-acting enhancer element fused with alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) reporter gene. Expression of c-myc, p15 and p21 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR before and after stable transfection of Smad7 into BEP2D and BERP35T2 cells in order to study the regulation of TGF-beta-mediated growth inhibition.

RESULTSAfter BEP2D and BERP35T2 cells transfected with Smad7, the transcriptional activity of c-myc was significantly increased. Smad7 overexpressing cells showed upregulation of c-myc expression and downregulation of p15 and p21 expression, which contributed to the loss of TGF-beta responses in these cells.

CONCLUSIONOverexpression of Smad7 may facilitate cell proliferation by antagonizing TGF-beta-mediated antiproliferative gene responses.

Bronchi ; cytology ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Cells, Cultured ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p15 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Signal Transduction ; Smad7 Protein ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transfection ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effects of Chinese medicine (CM) on acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with a prospective cohort study.

METHODSA total of 334 AMI patients from January 2007 to March 2009 were consecutively enrolled, and were assigned to a treatment group (169 cases) treated with combined therapy (CM for at least one month and Western medicine) and a control group (165 cases) with Western medicine alone. Clinical data including age, gender, smoking, medical history, infarction area, heart functional classification, CM syndrome scores, blood-stasis syndrome score, primary end-point (death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and revascularization) and secondary end-point (ischemic stroke, rehospitalization due to angina, heart failure and shock), were collected. CM syndrome scores, blood-stasis syndrome score, primary end-point and secondary end-point were collected during the 6-month follow-up. Kaplan-Meier method was used for the survival analysis. The multifactor analysis was analyzed by Cox proportional hazards regression.

RESULTSAt the end of 6-month the CM syndrome score and bloodstasis syndrome score in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.01), especially the symptoms of chest pain, spontaneous perspiration and insomnia. Rehospitalization rate due to angina during the 6-month follow-up in the treatment group (2.96%) was lower than that in the control group (7.88%, P<0.05). Kaplan- Meier survival curve showed that event-free cumulated survival of rehospitalization due to angina during the 6-month follow-up in the treatment group was higher than that in the control group (Log rank 4.700, P=0.03). Cox regression analysis showed that heart dysfunction [hazard ratio (HR)=1.601, 95% CI=1.084-2.364, P=0.018] and diabetes mellitus (HR=1.755, 95% CI=1.031-2.989, P=0.038) were hazard factors to end-point, whereas CM (HR 0.405, 95% CI=0.231-0.712, P=0.002), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI, HR=0.352, 95% CI=0.204-0.607, P<0.001) and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (HR=0.541, 95% CI=0.313-0.936, P=0.028) were protective factors.

CONCLUSIONSCM therapy could decrease CM syndrome scores and blood-stasis syndrome score, reduce the rehospitalization rate during 6-month follow-up due to angina. Heart dysfunction and diabetes mellitus were hazard factors to end-point, whereas CM, PCI and ACE inhibitors were protective factors.

Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Hematologic Diseases ; complications ; epidemiology ; Hospitalization ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; adverse effects ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; complications ; epidemiology ; therapy ; Prospective Studies ; Research Design ; Syndrome ; Treatment Outcome