AIM: To investigate the incidence of trachoma in children aged 1 to 9y in Hainan Province and determine high-risk trachoma endemic and non-endemic areas in Hainan, and thus provide evidence for developing trachoma control and prevention therapy.METHODS:The areas of investigation were chosen on the basis of past literatures, expert interviews and survey on the spot.In 2013, Hainan Provincial Office of Blindness Prevention carried out the survey in 7 counties including Dongfang City, Wuzhishan City, Ledong County, Baisha County, Baoting County, Lingao County and Changjiang County.In these districts, 356 pupils including 192 boys and 164 girls were examined, their age ranging from 1 to 9 and their average age being 7 years old.The targeted students received the trachoma rapid assessment by the adoption of simplified trachoma classification system which was recommended by the World Health Organization.RESULTS: No case of active trachoma was found among the 356 students.CONCLUSION:The prevalence rate of trachoma in children under 9 years is less than 5% in Hainan Province.Active trachoma is not a public health issue in Hainan Province.

Objective To investigate the possible role of interstitial cell of Cajal (ICE)in the pathogenesis of diabetic gastroparesis and the protective effect of"Xiaopi prescription (消痞方)".Methods Fifty healthy male Spregue-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (each n=10):normal, model,and 3 Xiaopi prescription groups:low,middle and high dosages.Diabetes was induced by intravenous injection of alloxan,and equal amount of normal saline was intravenously injected in the normal group.Gastric lavage method was used to administer the traditional Chinese medicine decoction of Xiaopi prescription in corresponding amount (5,10 and 20 g?kg~(-1)?d~(-1)) in respective low,middle and high dosage groups.In the normal control group and diabetic model group,only equal amount of normal saline was administered into the stomach.Gastric emptying rate was measured by method of nutritious semisolid paste;c-kit positive cells of ICC were quantitatively measured with immunohistochemistry assay and computer image analysis system;c-kit mRNA positive cells were quantitatively measured with in situ hybridization and computer image analysis system.Results①Gastric emptying rate:The rate was significantly lower in the model group than that in the normal control group (P0.05),but higher than those in the model group and the low dosage group (all P0.05).②c-kit immmunohistochemistry:c-kit positive cell presented yellow in color,and its membrane was stained yellow,this kind of cells primarily were distributed around the neural plexus in the inter-space between the circular and longitudinal muscular fibers, and around the ganglionic cells forming"sheath-like"structure.The results of numbers of c-kit positive cells in the various groups:the number of the cells in the model group was significantly lower than that in the normal group (P0.05),but the numbers in the former two dosage groups were obviously higher than those in the model group (all P0.05),being significantly lower than that in the normal group,middle and high dosage groups (all P0.05),but obviously higher than those in the model group (all P0.05),being significantly lower than that in the normal,middle and high dosage groups (all P

Objective To anderstand the metagenesis of Oncomelania snails in the mountainous regions so as to control the spread of snails and the epidemics of schistosomiasis.Methods Observation spot was established at a typical snail habitat close to Puge county,Sichuan province from February 2008 to July 2009.Random sampling was applied to determine the place of each frame during the observation.All the snails in each frame were collected and numbers counted in the laboratory,with the number of mating pairs in each frame also observed.Snails being collected were measured for the body indices and the dissection was carried out to identify gender composition.survival status and the number of live snails in each frame counted.Line graphs of the body indices.mating pairs in each observed months,bar graphs of the snail density,proportions of gender together with the maturity of the snails in each month were drawn.Results The number of live snail existed the whole year and its density fluctuated.All the three kinds of body indices showed the same time trend and a dynamic circulation.The young snail existed all year around and arose constantly in proportion from May,becoming the dominant snailin October to replace the adult snails.The young and adult snails also showed a dynamic alternative.The gender composition showed no significant difference during each month.The number of the mating pairs was more on April.May and June annually,when were the snail's main multiplying stage.Conclusion In mountain area.the young snails existed through all the year while adult snails appeared to be dominantin each month except for October.Oncomelania snail showed a circular process of metagenesis which started in May and finished in October.The snail population presented a dynamic equilibrium.It was concluded that ecological studies on Oncomelania snail were extremely relevant,either to optimally apply the existing control measures or to develop alternative measures for snail control,ecologically or biologically.

Objective To analysis the spatial autocorrelation on the small-scale distribution of the genetic variation in the population of Oncomelania hupensis in Puge county, Sichuan province, using simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker. Methods 5 pairs of SSR primer were used to amplify the genomic DNA of Oncomelania hupensis, and the alleles with frequency ranging from 15% to 85% were used to calculate Moran' s I spatial autocorrelation coefficients in 14 distance band based on equal numbers of paired samples. Results A total of 274 alleles were scored by 5 pairs of SSR primer, the average polymorphic information content of the 274 alleles were 0.965 which indicated a high level of genetic diversity. 39 alleles showed different patterns of positive spatial autocorrelation of genetic variation, which was non-random spatial structure. When the distance band increased, the spatial auto-correlativity decreased based on the average Moran' s I value at 14 distance band. The alleles which showed a negative spatial autocorrelation were not found in any distance band. Conclusion The spatial distribution of the genetic variation of SSR showed positive spatial autocorrelation in the population of Oncomelania hupensis, and the spatial auto-correlativity decreased with the increase of distance band.

Objective To explore the relationships between micro-ecological environmental factors and the density of Snails so as to provide information for the elimination of Snails and control of Schistosomiasis disease,under ecological methods.Methods A bottomland close to Junshan Park in Yueyang city,Hunan province was selected as the field for survey during 10,2007-10,2008,and a systematic sampling method was applied to determine the specific sites of Snail investigation.All the Snails in each frames were collected and the soil surface temperature and vegetation coverage in several frames were measured.30 g soil sample in each selected frames were also collected simultaneously.The number of live Snails in each frame was counted by dissection,and soil measured pH value and soil moisture were tested in the laboratory.The distribution of Snails and microecological environmental factors,fitted general additive model for the relationship of these factors and the Snail density were described.Results 104 frames were surveyed,with pH value as between 4.70-7.92,vegetation coverage as in 1% to 96%,soil surface temperature as in 14.5-32.7℃,the soil moisture as in 0.07-2.00.Under General additive model,data showed that there was no significant difference for vegetation coverage.However,other factors were all significantly different(P＜0.001).It was found that a nonlinear relationship was existing between these factors and the Snail density.Conclusion Smoothing function relationship was noticed between the Snail density and micro-ecological environmental factors.It's suggested to fit general additive model to study the relationship between the distribution of Snails and its influencing factors,so as to adopt appropriate measures to change the related ecology to control the diffusion and reproduction of Snails.

The thinking and experience of professor
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Meridians ; Moxibustion ; Torticollis/therapy*

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; epidemiology ; Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; HIV Infections ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Poverty Areas ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility of tracheal reconstruction with a prosthesis made of memory alloy coated with collagen sponge in mongrel dogs.

METHODThe basic skeleton of the prosthesis was knitted with Ni-Ti memory alloy wires. The tubular mesh was sealed with polyurethane membrane and then inner and external walls of the lumen were coated with collagen sponge. Cervical trachea segmental reconstruction was performed in 8 mongrel dogs with these prostheses. The efficacy of the implanted prostheses were periodically evaluated after operation using x-ray, tracheoscopy and specimen microscope examinations.

RESULTSOne dog died of prosthesis dislocation 10 days after operation, another was killed 45 days later because of anastomotic stenosis. 6 dogs survived more than 90 days and the longest one lived for 150 days. Its implanted prosthesis was completely incorporated with the recipient tissue, where re-epithelialization occluded on anastomotic sites. The tracheal lumen was patent.

CONCLUSIONThis memory alloy tracheal prosthesis has been proved useful for reconstruction of large, circumferential tracheal defects, although its long-term safety and efficiency need to be confirmed.

Alloys ; Animals ; Artificial Organs ; Collagen ; Dogs ; Prosthesis Design ; Trachea

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

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the protective efficacy of plague subunit vaccine, BALB/c mice, guinea pigs and rabbits were used in this study.

METHODSGroups of mice (10 per group), guinea pigs (14 per group) and rabbits (6 per group) were immunized with F1 + rV270 vaccine, EV76 vaccine and alum adjuvant by intramuscular route, respectively. Serum antibody titres of mice, guinea pigs and rabbits were determined by ELISA and the immunized animals were challenged with 10(6) CFU of Y. pestis strain 141 at the 8th week after the primary immunization.

RESULTSThe immunized mice, guinea pigs or rabbits with subunit vaccine developed anti-F1 IgG titre of 41 587.3 +/- 2.1, 11 543.7 +/- 2.1 or 522.4 +/- 22.4 and elicited statistical anti-F1 IgG titre difference among them (F = 17.58, P < 0.01). The immunized mice, guinea pigs or rabbits with subunit vaccine had anti-rV270 IgG titre of 15 748.7 +/- 1.6, 12.6 +/- 1.4 or 1648.0 +/- 5.0 and induced statistical anti-rV270 IgG titre difference among them (F value was 16.34, P < 0.01). There was significant anti-F1 IgG titre difference among mice, guinea pigs and rabbits immunized with EV76 vaccine that developed anti-F1 IgG titre of 913.4 +/- 4.5, 937.0 +/- 2.0 or 342.0 +/- 12.0 (F = 23.67, P < 0.01), whereas the immunized mice, guinea pigs and rabbits with EV76 vaccine developed anti-rV270 IgG titre of 12.0 +/- 1.0, 447.0 +/- 10.0, 40.0 +/- 11.0 and there was no anti-rV270 IgG titre difference between them (F = 2.20, P = 0.1314). The immunized mice with subunit vaccine developed significantly higher anti-F1 IgG titres than immunized guinea pigs and rabbits (q value was 30.57 and 19.04, respectively, P < 0.01), and there were no anti-F1 IgG titre differences between the immunized guinea pigs and rabbits (q = 0.04, P = 0.8485). The immunized mice with subunit vaccine developed significantly higher anti-rV270 IgG titres than immunized guinea pigs and rabbits (q value was 27.10 and 19.49, respectively, P < 0.01), and there were no anti-rV270 IgG titre differences between the immunized guinea pigs and rabbits with the subunit vaccine (q = 0.25, P = 0.6187). The immunized mice with EV76 elicited higher anti-F1 IgG titres than immunized guinea pigs and rabbits (q value was 40.67 and 29.10, respectively, P < 0.01), whereas there was no difference of F1 IgG titer between immunized guinea pigs and rabbits (q = 0.06, P = 0.8098). The immunized mice, guinea pigs and rabbits with subunit vaccine provided 100% (10/10), 86% (12/14) and 100% (5/5) protection against 10(6) CFU Y. pestis of challenge, respectively. The immunized mice, guinea pigs and rabbits with EV76 vaccine gave 100% (6/6), 93% (13/14) and 100% (6/6) protection against 10(6) CFU Y. pestis of challenge respectively.

CONCLUSIONBALB/c mice is the best small animal model for valuation of protective efficacy of plague subunit vaccine. The guinea pigs showed a high individual variation for this purpose. The rabbits can be used as an alternative model for evaluating plague subunit vaccine.

Animals ; Antibodies, Bacterial ; blood ; Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic ; Female ; Guinea Pigs ; Immunization ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Models, Animal ; Plague ; prevention & control ; Plague Vaccine ; immunology ; Rabbits ; Vaccines, Subunit ; immunology