Objective To investigate the current prevailing status of endemic fluorosis in the Yellow River basin of Shandong Province and to provide the scientific evidence for making strategies in prevention and control.Methods Nine counties were chosen to carry out the epidemiological investigation.The content of fluoride in drinking water was determined by F-ion selective electrode and dental fluorosis of children aged 8～12 years old was diagnosed by Deans method.Results Water fluoride content was determined in 1761 fluorosis villages,among which 606 villages had water fluoride content≤1.00 mg/L,accounting for 34.41%(606/1761);1155 villages had water fluoride content＞1.00 mg/L,which accounted for 65.59%(1155/1761).The highest water fluoride content was 11.33 mg/L.Water fluoride content of 618 water-improving and defluoridation projects had been determined,among which 449 projects had water fluoride content≤1.00 mg/L and accounted for 72.65%(449/618),169 projects had water fluoride content＞1.00 mg/L and accounted for 27.35%(169/618),the highest water fluoride content was 5.85 mg/L.The total rate of dental fluorosis of children aged 8～12 years old was 45.03%(25 579/56 804) and the index of dental fluorosis was 0.80. Conclusions In the Yellow River basin in Shandong Province,up to 50.00%in the villages the water fluoride content exceeds the county standard(≤1.00 mg/L).The prevalence of endemic fluorosis in the basin hasn't been effectively controlled.So the counterrneasures for endemic fluorosis should be carried out as soon as possible.

Objective： To investigate the effect of c ytokines (IFN-γ，TNF and IL-1) on the expression of CD40 and CD40 ligand (CD4 0L) in monocytes/macrophages. Methods： The mRNA expression of C D40 and CD40L was measured by RT-PCR and the CD40，CD40L expression on the mono cytes/macrophages were detected by flow cytometric analysis. Results： IFN-γ，TNF and IL-1 could not only significantly up-regulate the mRNA levels of CD40 and CD40L in cultured monocytes/macrophages, but also increase t he expression of CD40 and CD40L. Antioxidant VitE could reduce the expression o f CD40 and CD40L induced by IFN-γ，TNF and IL-1. Conclusion： IFN-γ，TNF and IL-1 can stimulate high expression of CD40 and CD40L . Antio xidant VitE can partially inhibit the expression of CD40 and CD40L induced by cy tokines in cultured monocytes/macrophages.

Objective To determine the prevalences and risk factors of hyperuricemia(HUA)and gout among residents aged≥20 years in Shandong coastal areas.Methods A random stratified cluster sampling was conducted,and 5003 inhabitants were investigated for prevalences of HUA and gout in Qingdao,Yantai,Weihai, Rizhao and Dongying.Results (1)The prevalence of HUA was 13.19%,after standardization according to the Shandong population in 2000,standardized rate was 13.27%,in which the prevalence in males was 18.32% and females 8.56%.The prevalence of gout was 1.14% and the standardized rate was 1.10%,in which the prevalence in males was 1.94% and females 0.42%;(2)Serum uric acid was(343.4?84.5)?mol/L in normal males and (258.9?70.9)?mol/L in normal females.Serum uric acid was(469.4?48.1)?mol/L in males with HUA and (399.7?104.9)?mol/L in females with HUA.In gout group,serum uric acid in males and females was respectively(502.4?106.8)?mol/L and(403.5?52.7)?mol/L;(3)The prevalence of gout in patients with HUA was 8.64%;(4)Non-conditional logistic regression analysis showed that frequency and quantity of alcohol intake were independent risk factors for males in the HUA group,while HDL-C and farming were protective factors. As for females,age and hypertension were independent risk factors of HUA.Similarly,HDL-C was a protective factor;(5)In HUA patients,65% had hypertension,53% hyperlipidemia,30% glucose metabolic disorder,48% overweight and 10% obesity.In gout patients,57% had hypertension,61% hyperlipidemia,20% glucose metabolic disorder,56% overweight and 7% obesity.Conclusion The prevalences of HUA and gout are significantly increased in Shandong coastal areas in recent years.Restricting the intake of sea foods rich in purine such as seashell,reducing the intake of alcohol especially beer,reducing body weight and abdominal obesity, correcting lipid metabolic disorder and controlling hypertension are important measures in preventing and treating hyperuricemia and gout.

To investigate the cell-killing effect and its possible mechanism of rClone30-hDR5 in combination with TRAIL on human hepatic carcinoma (HCC) cell line, first of all, recombinant plasmid pee12.4-hDR5 was introduced into HepG2 cells by liposome transfection. After five rounds of screening by flow cytometry, HepG2 cells expressing high levels of DR5 on cell surface were isolated. The cytotoxicity of TRAIL to selected cells was higher than that of TRAIL to HepG2 cells by MTT method (P < 0.01). The result suggested that the cloned hDR5 gene had biological activity. MTT assay showed that, rClone30- hDR5 in combination with TRAIL more efficiently inhibited the tumor growth of HepG2 cells compared to rClone30-hDR5 or TRAIL in vitro. The results of Annexin V-FITC/PI staining and Quantitative Real-time PCR indicated that rClone30-hDR5 in combination with TRAIL significantly increased the mRNA levels of caspase 3 and caspase 8, and induced the apoptosis of tumor cells. HepG2 cells were infected with rClone30-hDR5 or rClone30 at MOI of 1. The expression of hDR5 on tumor surface increased significantly by rClone30-hDR5 compared to that by rClone30, which contributed to the sensitivity to TRAIL. In conclusion, rClone30-hDR5 in combination with TRAIL has potential application value in cancer treatment.
Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Caspase 8 ; metabolism ; Drug Synergism ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand ; pharmacology ; TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand ; pharmacology ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo evaluate quality of surveillance and emendate rates of birth and death of population of the Three Gorges area.

METHODSData on the two samples collected were designed based on principle of capture-recapture method. An investigation of missing report of birth and death was conducted in 7061 families selected through stratified random sampling method. We collected and registered the data of birth and death in every family investigated and checked with correlative records reported in disease surveillance system of the Three Gorges area. The missing report rates and the 95% confidence intervals of birth rate and death rate were calculated.

RESULTSThe underreporting rates of birth and death were 13.91% and 15.60% and death of infant was 33.33%. The emended birth rate was 8.92 per thousandth and the 95% confidence interval of birth rate was 8.38 per thousandth-9.45 per thousandth. The emended report rate of death was 6.88 per thousandth and the collectivity 95% confidence interval was 6.37%-7.38 per thousandth.

CONCLUSIONResults showed that the quality of birth and death in the disease surveillance reporting system of Three Gorges area was competent to the quality level of the standard set for national disease surveillance system. The birth and death rates of population in the Three Gorges area were under 10.00 per thousandth.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Birth Rate ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Mortality ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mortality ; Population Surveillance ; methods

Adult ; Aged ; Asthma ; complications ; Chronic Disease ; Cough ; etiology ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Respiratory Sounds ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective To investigate the status of endemic fluorosis in Boxing County in Shandong Province at present,and to provide the scientific evidence for making strategies in prevention and control.Methods Children aged 8-12 years old and adults above 30 years old were selected from 8 endemic fluorosis villages in 2 fluorosis of children aged 8-12 years old were diagnosed by Dean method and skeletal fluomsis diagnosed by clinic and X-Rays.Results Eight villages in 2 towns were chosen underwent epidemiological investigation.Eight villages had water fluoride content＞4.50 mg/L.the highest water fluoride content was 5.78 mg/L.The total rate of dental fluorosis of children aged 8-12 years old WaS 90.70%(195/215),the index of dental fluorosis was 2.15 and the rate of dental damage was 24.65%(53/215).The rate of skeletal fluorosis detected by clinic and X-rays in adults older than 30 years old were 30.71%(78/254)and 16.54%(42/254),respectively.The averaged fuoride level in urine wa8 over 1.50 mg/L in 98.95%(189/191)of children aged 8-12 years old and in 97.92%(235/240)adults older than 30 years old,with the highest respectively being 14.50 mg/L and 17.99 mg/L.Conclusions In Boxing County in Shandong Province,endemic fluorosis is not effectively controlled.So endemic fluorosis control mfist be strengthened.

Heishui county, located in northwest Sichuan province, southwestern China, is an endemic area of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and is the most intractable area. VL is never destroyed in it. Asymptomatic dogs (Leishmania parasites have been diagnosed but clinically healthy) are considered to be a potential reservoir host in zoonotic VL area, and most can lead to infection of individuals, that is a new challenge for controlling VL in humans. The present study aimed to assess the Leishmania infection rate of asymptomatic dogs in Heishui county. Total 105 asymptomatic domestic dogs were gathered from 4 districts in Heishui county to investigate the infection rate with serological and molecular methods based on ELISA and kinetoplast minicircle DNA(kDNA) PCR, respectively. Out of 105 dogs, 44 (41.9%) were positive by more than 1 method; 21 (20.0%) were positive by ELISA, and 30 (28.6%) were positive by kDNA-PCR. Our study showed that Leishmania infection of domestic dogs which is clinically healthy is prevalent in the studied district, and the asymptomatic dogs infected by Leishmania may be the primary reason for the prevalence of visceral leishmaniasis in the area.
Animals ; China* ; Dogs* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; Leishmania* ; Leishmaniasis, Visceral* ; Methods ; Parasites ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical significance of virulence genes exo U and exo S of type III secretion system (TTSS) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA).

METHODSOne hundred and eighty-nine clinical isolates of PA were collected from five hospitals. The incidence of virulence genes exo U and exo S in PA were determined with PCR. Minimum inhibitory concentration of anti-bacterial drug for PA was determined with microdilution method. The clinical features and outcomes of 60 hospitalized patients colonized or infected with exo U+/exo S- positive or exo U-/exo S+ positive PA isolated from sputum were analyzed retrospectively. Data were processed with chi-square test.

RESULTSAmong the 189 PA isolates, 85.2% (161/189) harbored TTSS genes, including exo U-/exo S+ type (120 isolates), exo U+/exo S- type (31 isolates), exo U-/exo S- type (7 isolates), and exo U+/exo S+ type (3 isolates). 72.0% (72/100) isolates from sputum and 81.5% (44/54) isolates from blood belonged to exo U-/exo S+ genotype. Compared with those of TTSS-negative isolates, the antimicrobial resistance of TTSS-positive isolates to cefoperazone/sulbactam, ceftazidime, amikacin, and cefepime were lower (with χ² value respectively 10.1, 16.1, 9.3, 33.8, P values all below 0.01). The antimicrobial resistance to all examined drug between exo U-/exo S+ type and exo U+/exo S- type isolates was close (with χ² values from 0.08 to 2.04, P values all above 0.05). Patients detected with exo U+/exo S- positive PA isolated from sputum were significantly associated with PA infection, and they usually had history of tracheal intubation, ICU hospitalization, and combined use of drugs for anti-infection treatment. Patients detected with exo U-/exo S+ positive PA isolated from sputum were significantly associated with PA colonization, which had basic lung disease and better outcome than the former infection type.

CONCLUSIONSThe TTSS exists in most clinical isolates of PA. Detection of exo U or exo S of PA isolated from sputum is helpful for the analysis of clinical features and outcome of patients.

ADP Ribose Transferases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Bacterial Secretion Systems ; genetics ; Bacterial Toxins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Genes, Bacterial ; Humans ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Pseudomonas Infections ; microbiology ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; pathogenicity ; Retrospective Studies ; Virulence

OBJECTIVETo conduct the anatomical study about the posterior coaxial portals via posterior tibial tendon (PTT) sheath for ankle arthroscopy.

METHODSCoaxial portals were established in 20 ankles by K-wires which were left in place for distance measurement between them and the posterior nerves, tendons and vessels. Ankle arthroscopy was performed in 5 fresh ankles using 2.7 mm 300 arthroscopy with the same portals as mentioned above. The maximum visible scope were recorded and the distance between the arthroscopy and the posterior nerves, tendons and vessels was also measured.

RESULTSThe medial portal was located 5 - 12 mm (average, 8 mm) above the tip of medial malleolus, and the lateral portal was located 8 - 24 mm (average, 15 mm) above the tip of lateral malleolus. The coaxial portals, which traversed the PTT sheath and passed posterior to the fibular, not only separated the arthroscopy and instrument from the posterior nerves, tendons and vessels by posterior capsule but also enlarged their distance. The medial and lateral malleolus articular gap, the posterior capsule could be viewed by these portals with as much as 1/2 - 2/3 posterior articular surface of talus. Not only the tibiotalar articular gap but also the dynamic movement between the mortise and the talus were clearly observed. Arthroscopic operation could be performed by instrument through the posterolateral portal.

CONCLUSIONSThe posterior coaxial portals via PTT sheath for ankle arthroscopy have such advantages as easy maneuverability, superior safety, clear vision and larger operation field under arthroscopy.

Ankle Joint ; anatomy & histology ; surgery ; Arthroscopy ; methods ; Humans