Carcinogens ; Carcinogens, Environmental ; Retrospective Studies ; Threshold Limit Values

ObjectiveTo investigate the concentration of water fluoride and the application of water defluoridation projects in Suizhou,and to provide a basis for water improvement and prevention of the disease.MethodsCross-sectional study was carried out to investigate completely the water defluoridation projects built between 1986 and 2009 in the area under Suizhou's jurisdiction; 3 source water and terminal water samples of the projects in use were collected,respectively; 1 water sample was collected,respectively in the 3 projects with out-ofcommission or discarded water sources that used to be major water supply,for detection of fluoride,chloride,total hardness,heavy metals and other indicators.ResultsA total of 21 projects were investigated,14 projects were in normal use (66.7％),7 projects were out of order and abandoned (33.3％).Of the 14 projects normally used,13projects with water fluoride concentration ≤ 1.0 mg/L(92.9％)and 1 project with water fluoride concentration higher than 1.0 mg/L(7.1％),the concentration of water fluoride in the 7 abandoned projects was higher than 1.0 mg/L(100％).Arsenic and lead levels of all the water samples were normal.There were two water samples with iron content exceeded the standard,and one total hardness of water samples exceeded the standard in the normally used 14 peripheral water sources.One chloride content exceeded the standard,one manganese content exceeded the standard,two iron content exceeded the standard and three total hardness exceeded the standard in the seven abandoned projects.ConclusionsSome defluoridation projects are stopped using and abandoned in Suizhou,and the water fluoride exceeds the standard.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; epidemiology ; Dementia, Vascular ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Stroke ; epidemiology ; ethnology

OBJECTIVEThe SSR information in the transcriptome of Erigeron breviscapus was analyzed in this study, in order to further develop new functional genes SSR markers laid a solid foundation.

METHODSSR loci were searched in all of 52,060 unigenes by using est_timmer. Perl program and SSR primers were designed by Primer3. Furthermore, 36 pairs of primers were randomly selected for the polymorphism analysis on 13 Erigeron breviscapus plants collected from different places.

RESULTA total of 3639 SSRs were found in the transcriptome of Erigeron breviscapus, distributed in 3260 unigenes with the distribution frequency of 6.99%. Di-nucleotide repeat was the main type, account for as much as 34.41% of all SSRs, followed by mono-nucleotide (31.41%) and tri-nucleotide repeat motif (28.08%). The di-nucleotide repeat motifs of AT/AT and AC/GT were the predominant repeat types (28.71%). The tri-nucleotide repeat motifs of AAT/AT was the predominant repeat types (7.94%). For validation the availability of those SSR primers, we randomly selected 36 pairs of primers for PCR amplification. Among them, 34 pair primers (94.44%) produced clear and reproductive bands, 19 pair primers showed polymorphism (52.78%), and 13 Erigeron breviscapus plants were divided into 2 groups.

CONCLUSIONThere are numerous SSRs in Erigeron breviscapus transcriptome with high frequency and various types, this will provide abundant candidate molecular markers for genetic diversity study and genetic map in this plant.

China ; DNA Primers ; genetics ; Erigeron ; classification ; genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Transcriptome

Objective To investigate the effect of leptin on the tolerance of cultured rat brain astrocytes to ischemia and hypoxia.Methods The brain astrocytes isolated from neonatal SD rats,after purification and identification,were incubated in serum-and glucose-flee medium in the presence of 5%CO2+95%N2 for 90 min to induce isehemic and hypoxic injury. RT-PCR was performed to detect the expressions of the leptin receptors Ob-Ra and Ob-Rb in the cells, and colorimetry was used to measure the content of malonaldehyde(MDA) and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) activity in the cell supematant.The expression level ofglial fibrillary acidicprotein(GFAP)in the cells was detected with fluorescence immunocytochemistry.Results Ischemic and hypoxic exposure of the cells induced obvious cell necrosis.Compared with the cells without the exposure,significantly decreased Ob-Rb expression(0.52±0.01 vs 1.32±0.01,P<0.05)and increased MDA,LDH and GFAP levels(709.68±47.16 vs 516.13±29.08,3.94±0.36 vs 1.81±0.21,and 0.122±0.016 vs 0.057±0.006,respectively,P<0.05) occurred after the exposure,whereas the expression level of Ob-Ra underwent no significant changes(3.87±0.13 vs 3.96±0.24,P>0.05). Compared with the exposed cells,the leptin-treated cells showed a significant reduction in MDA levels(3.94±0.36 vs 3.19±0.25,P<0.05) with significantly increased GFAP expression(0.057±0.006 vs 0.109±0.008, P<0.05)after the exposure, and the cells maintained basically intact cell morphology.Conclusion With neuroprotective effects against ischemic neuronal injuries,leptin canimprove the tolerance of rat brain astrocytes to ischemia and hypoxia.

Objective:This study aims to evaluate the impact of Diagnosis-Related-Groups(DRGs)payment on the average total cost,length of stay,service volume,effectiveness,and characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)hospitals.Methods:A national medical center specializing in TCM was selected as the research subject.The Difference-in-Difference Model(DID)was utilized to analyze the differences in various indicators between insured patients(intervention group)and uninsured patients(control group)before and after the implementation of the payment reform policy.The reliability and stability of the model were verified through parallel trend tests and placebo tests.Results:The coefficients of DID interaction terms for eleven indicators including average total hospitalization cost,number of cases,length of stay,proportion of medical service revenue,and proportion of herbal medicine revenue were significant(P<0.05).The DID interaction term coefficients for four indicators including herbal medicine usage rate and proportion of non-pharmacological TCM therapy revenue were not significant(P>0.05).Conclusion:DRG payment significantly reduced the per-admission cost,with significant decreases in consumables and medical technology expenses,optimizing cost structure,and a slight decrease in the proportion of herbal medicine costs.It is necessary to further expand the sample size,track policy impacts,and comprehensively evaluate the effects of DRG payment on TCM hospitals in China.

Objective To observe the possible association of serum adiponectin level with testosterone level in patients with isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism(IHH).Methods The diagnosis of IHH was made,based on clinical presentations,laboratory examinations of hormones and GnRH stimulation test.Serum adiponeetin and testosterone levels were measured in 23 IHH patients and 15 normal men.Results After matched for weight,blood pressure and waist-to-hip ratio,serum testosterone level in IHH group was significantly lower than that in control group [(0.23?0.18 vs 4.20?1.90)?g/L,P

OBJECTIVETo observe the mechanical properties of the prefabricated connective tissue tube as blood vessel substitute and its changes after implantation at the femoral artery.

METHODSThe acellular matrix tube of 8-12 cm in length with a silicone rod inside it was implanted into dog peritoneal cavity. 3 weeks later, a new formed tube around the silicone rod was transferred to the femoral artery as blood vessel substitute. The mechanical properties and histological examination of the blood vessel substitute were assessed and compared to those of the carotid artery and vein. 6 months after transfer, the patency of the blood vessels substitute was observed. The histological change was studied by light microscopy, scanning and transmitting electron microscopy.

RESULTS(1) The mechanical properties of blood vessel substitute was not as strong as artery, but better than the vein. (2) There were elastic and collagen fibers with many fibroblasts around the tube wall, but few mesothelial cells around the inner wall. All of the blood vessel substitutes (n = 6) were found to keep patency and the structure of the blood vessels substitutes became similar to femoral artery 6 months after they had been grafted to the femoral artery.

CONCLUSIONSThese results suggest that tissue engineering in vivo is a good approach to construct vessels substitute. The tissue tubes made in dog's peritoneal cavity have good condition when it is used as a blood vessel substitutes.

Animals ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis ; Blood Vessels ; transplantation ; Carotid Arteries ; surgery ; Dogs ; Extracellular Matrix ; Tissue Engineering ; methods

OBJECTIVETo summarize the mid-term effectiveness of Coflex non-fusion internal fixation treatment of degenerative lumbar disease.

METHODSFrom October 2008 to December 2010, a retrospective analysis was carried out on 39 patients (29 males and 10 females) diagnosed as degenerative lumbar disease and treated with Coflex interspinous dynamic device, who had been followed up for 1 year at least, the average age was 45.5 years (range, 23 - 67 years). The results were assessed by Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scores, visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, Oswestry disability index (ODI) scores and SF-36 scores; and the range of mobility (ROM), intervertebral disc height of the responsible and adjacent segments were measured on X-film before the operation and at last follow-up. Observed the therapeutic effect of the patients and compared the effect on the patients of different body mass index (BMI) and different age by the One-way analysis of variance and paired t test.

RESULTSThe 39 patients were followed up for 30.9 months (range, 12 - 37 months). At the last follow-up, JOA, ODI, VAS and SF-36 scores were improved by 70% ± 12%, 54% ± 12%, 77% ± 10% and 51% ± 9%, and were statistically significant (t = -33.289, 26.448, 26.596 and -20.772, P = 0.00). Patients with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m(2) had lower improvement rates in the scores than those with BMI < 25 kg/m(2) (F = 10.561, 5.850, 5.651 and 6.519, P < 0.05). The patients were 50 years older or younger couldn't affected the improvement rates in the scores statistically (P > 0.05). There were no significant difference in remaining disc height (P > 0.05), except that the intervertebral disc height of L4-5 increased slightly compared with the preoperative (t = -2.819, P = 0.008). In addition to the ROM of L3-4, L5-S1 and L1-S1 were not significantly different from the preoperative(P > 0.05), the ROM of L4-5 were decreased (t = 12.598, P = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONSThe mid-term effectiveness of Coflex non-fusion interspinous fixation in treatment of degenerative lumbar disease is worthy of recognition, and Coflex combined with Isobar has advantages in the treatment of multi-segment degenerative lumbar disease.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Stenosis ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and its association with the prognosis of postoperative patients.

METHODSSurgical specimens were obtained from 102 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma undergoing radical resection in our hospital from 1996 to 2006. Immunochemistry was employed to examine EZH2 protein expressions in the specimens, including 102 carcinoma tissue specimens, 30 adjacent tissue specimens and 30 normal esophageal tissue specimens. The expression levels of EZH2 were analyzed in relation to the clinicopathological parameters of the patients including gender, age, tumor differentiation, TNM, and lymph node metastasis. The postoperative patients were followed up to analyze the association of EZH2 expression with the clinical outcomes.

RESULTSThe esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissue showed a higher EZH2 expression than the adjacent and normal esophageal tissues. EZH2 expression was higher in poorly differentiated carcinoma than in well differentiated tissue, and also higher in cases with lymph node metastasis than those without; the expression was higher in TNM stage II/III patients than in stage I patients but lower than in stage IV patients. The patients with low EZH2 expression was found to have a longer survival time than those with high EZH2 expression (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONEZH2 plays an important role in the differentiation and metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and a high EZH2 expression is associated with a poor outcome in the the postoperative patients.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 ; metabolism ; Postoperative Period ; Prognosis