Objective To evaluate the running status of the water-improving projects in Gansu Province in order to further improve the supervising mechanism and raise the efficiency of defluoridation in drinking water.Methods The water-improving projects,either being normal,or intermittent,or discarded and the cause of abnormal running in 33 counties in Gansu Province were surveyed with unified standard method.Fluoride content in water was determined by F-ion selective electrode.Results 993 water improving projects covering 3389 fluorosis villages were surveyed,682 projects worked well[68.68%(682/993)]and had supplied water with normal fluoride contents to 2174 villages[64.15%(2174/3389)]and benefited 116.56 hundred thousand populations.And the rest 311[31.32%(311/993)]projects worked abnormally or supplied unqualified fluoride water.The main causes were the exceeded lasting life,insufficiency of water resources,high fluoride content in water and unqualified administration.Conclusions Most of the water-improving projects in Gansu Province are basically running normally,but about 1/3 of the projects do not function well,so the management of the projects must be improved and consummated.

Background Placement of an orbital implant is a main way to prevent orbital atrophy with aging.But its mechanism is under clear.Researchs showed that bone growth factors play important role during the development and repair of bone,especially transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1).Objective Present study was to investigate the expression of TGF-β1 protein in orbital bone after enucleation or enucleation with placement of an orbital implant and its function in the mechanisms of preventing and treating the orbital malformed development after enucleation with placement of an orbital implant.Methods Twenty-one age- and weight-matched New Zealand white young rabbits were randomly divided into the enucleation,implant and control groups,and each group including seven rabbits.Eyeball nucleation surgery was performed in the left eyes of 7 1-month-old rabbits,and a spherical orbital implant was inserted after enucleation of the left in matched rabbits in implant group.The left eye of normal rabbits served as controls.The rabbits were sacrificed in 1 month after surgery.The expression of TGF-β1 protein in the left orbital bone was detected using enzyme immunoassay and FITC labelling immunoassay technique in the sections of zygomatic bones.The content of TGF-β1 protein in the left orbital bone tissue was measured by ELISA method.This use of animals complied with the Regulations for the Administration of Affair Concerning Experimental Animals by State Science and Technology Commission.Results The height and width of orbital in enucleation group were significantly lower than those of implant and normal control groups(height:P=0.00,P=0.00;width:P =0.00,P=0.00).The positive bone cells of both enzyme immunoassay and FITC staining were increased in the implant and control groups in comparison with enucleation group,but the positive response intensity for TGF-β1 was resembled between implant group and control group.ELISA result revealed that the content of TGF-β1 protein in bone tissue was significantly lower in the enucleation group than in implant and control groups(P=0.00,P=0.00).The expression and content of TGF-β1 protein in bone tissue is similar between the implant group and the control group(P=0.41). Conclusion The experiment results indicate that TGF-β1 protein participate in the orbital development.TGF-β1 played important role in the prevention and treatment of enucleation-induced orbital malformation in the eye with placement of an orbital implant.

AIMThe clinical manifestation of chronic mountain sickness (CMS) is polycythemia, pulmonary hypertension and mionectic blood. However, the pathogenesis of it is not identified now. So it is necessary to investigate the effects of the angiogenic growth factors on the pathophysiologic development of CMS.

METHODSThe serum levels of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in 13 healthy Tibetan natives (Native), 17 healthy people in Xining (control group) and 35 CMS patients were determined by quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay. Meanwhile, the levels of Hb, Hct and SaO2 were determined.

RESULTSThe serum levels of bFGF (107.26 +/- 7.86) ng/L, PDGF (630.18 +/- 9.89) ng/L and VEGF (543.74 +/- 6.76) ng/L in CMS were significantly higher than those in Natives (37.01 +/- 9.16; 292.16 +/- 6.88; 125.51 +/- 7.26) ng/L, and in control group (40.58 +/- 5.34; 287.68 +/- 8.33; 76.26 +/- 4.60) ng/L, respectively (P < 0.01). There was no difference between the natives and the control group in bFGF and PDGF (P > 0.05), while there was predominant difference between the Natives and the control group in VEGF (P < 0.01). There was a predominant positive correlation between the serum levels of bFGF, PDGF or VEGF and hemoglobin concentrations in CMS respectively (P < 0.01). And there were positive relations between angiogenic growth factors each other.

CONCLUSIONThe serum levels of bFGF, PDGF and VEGF in patients with CMS significantly increase, these angiogenic growth factors may play important role on the pathophysiologic development of CMS; the VEGF level likely contributes to the adaptation to plateau hypoxia in healthy Tibetan natives; the elevated bFGF, PDGF and VEGF levels are likely associated with excessive erythropoiesis in CMS.

Adult ; Altitude Sickness ; blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Chronic Disease ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; blood

OBJECTIVETo explore the dynamic postburn changes in rat hepatic function and the effects of hyperoxic Ringer's solution resuscitation on the function.

METHODSOne hundred and ninety Wistar rats of both sexes with body weight of 250 - 300 g were employed as the model and were divided into 6 groups as A, B, C, D, E and F groups as follows: normal control (A, n = 10), early resuscitation with Ringer's solution (B, n = 40), delayed resuscitation with Ringer's solution (C, n = 30), early resuscitation with hyperoxic Ringer's solution (D, n = 40), delayed hyperoxic Ringer's solution resuscitation (E, n = 30) and burn control (F, n = 40). Blood samples were drawn from the injured rats under anesthesia at 6, 12, 24 and 48 postburn hours (PBHs), and the serum contents of ALT, AST and MDA in these blood samples were determined. Hepatic tissue samples were also harvested at the same time and served histologically.

RESULTSThe plasma ALT level at 6 PBH in all groups was higher than that in A group (P < 0.05). There was significant difference of plasma ALT levels between hyperoxic Ringer's solution treatment group an other treatment groups (P < 0.05). And there was evident difference of plasma ALT levels between hyperoxic Ringer's solution treatment groups and other treatment groups (P < 0.05). The dynamic change in plasma AST was almost similar to that of ALT. The plasma MDA level was increased obviously after injury, especially in F group (highest level). Furthermore, the MDA level in C group was higher than that in B group. The plasma MDA levels in D and E groups were evidently lower than that in all other groups (P < 0.05). It was revealed by histological examination that there were different degrees of degeneration an necrosis of hepatocytes during early postburn stage, but less so in D group.

CONCLUSIONFluid resuscitation during early postburn stage with hyperoxic Ringer's solution could inhibit the production of oxygen free radicals and blunt lipid peroxidation, and it could also enhance the host tolerance to hypoxia and prevent hepatocytes from injury, thus hepatic function was protected.

Animals ; Burns ; metabolism ; therapy ; Fluid Therapy ; Hepatocytes ; drug effects ; pathology ; Isotonic Solutions ; therapeutic use ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Oxygen ; administration & dosage ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Shock, Traumatic ; metabolism ; therapy

This study examined the prevalence of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) among residents aged &ge;50 years living in Yongchuan district of Chongqing. Stratified cluster sampling was employed in random selection to estimate the prevalence of glaucoma from April to June, 2005. Twenty-nine villages or neighborhood communities were randomly selected in urban area (Zhongshan Road), suburban area (Shanjiao Town) and exurban area (Zhutuo Town) of this district. All the respondents underwent detailed ophthalmic examinations. The examinations included questionnaire investigation, visual acuity test, naked-eye examination, measurement of peripheral anterior chamber depth (Van Herrick's technique), detection of intraocluar pressure (IOP) with a Perkins hand-held applanation tonometer (HA-2) and examination of the optic disc by using a 78 diopters (D) lens (including the cup-disc ratio, cup/disc ratio asymmetries, horizontal and vertical diameter, notching and optic disc hemorrhages). A total of 5938 residents were actually examined, and the response rate was 85.19%. The crude prevalence of POAG was 0.86% (n=51/5938, 95% CI 0.64%-1.11%). There were 24 males and 27 females in the glaucoma group. The glaucoma prevalence was not significant different in case number between the male and female subjects (P=0.4900). Furthermore, no association between age or schooling and POAG was noted (P=0.8030, 0.0734). Out of 51 subjects with POAG, unilateral glaucoma-related blindness occurred in 38 subjects (74.5%) and bilateral glaucoma-related blindness was found in 7 subjects (13.7%). This study exhibited that the prevalence of POAG was 0.86% among residents aged &ge;50 years living in Yongchuan District of Chongqing. The vision loss caused by POAG in this population was obviously higher than that previously reported in other studies. Glaucoma management, detection of affected persons and handling of the burden of glaucoma should be the priorities of the agenda of local health authorities of Western China.
Aged ; Blindness ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; Gonioscopy ; methods ; Health Surveys ; methods ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Vision Disorders ; diagnosis ; epidemiology

OBJECTIVEData accumulated over the past years have led to widespread recognition that neurogenesis, the emergence of new neurons, persists in the hippocampal dentate gyrus of the adult mammalian brain, and can be increased by seizures in multiple models. Also, aberrant reorganization of dentate granule cell axons, the mossy fiber sprouting, occurs in human temporal lobe epilepsy and rodent epilepsy models. However a number of studies suggest that the immature brain is less vulnerable to the morphologic alteration of hippocampus after seizures. The goal of this study was to determine whether the seizures can induce dentate granule cell neurogenesis and mossy fiber sprouting in the immature rat.

METHODSSeizures was elicited by unilateral microinfusion of kainic acid (KA, 1 micro g) into the amygdula at postnatal day 15 (P15). Rat pups were given bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) intraperitoneally on day 5 after KA administration and killed 7 d or 21 d later. The brains were processed for BrdU mitotic labeling combined with double-label immunohistochemistry using neuron-specific, early differentiation marker TuJ1 (betaIII tubulin) or granule-specific marker CaBP (calcium-binding protein calbindin D28k) as well as glia-specific marker GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein). Mossy fiber sprouting in intermolecular layer and CA3 subfield was assessed in Timm-stained sections both 1 month and 3 months after KA administration by using a rating scale and density measurement.

RESULTSThe dentate BrdU-immunoreactive cells of the KA-treated rats increased significantly compared with those of control rats on day 7 and 21 after BrdU administration (7 d: 244 +/- 15 vs. 190 +/- 10; 21 d: 218 +/- 19 vs. 133 +/- 12, P < 0.05). Approximately 80.2% and 78.7% of BrdU-labeled cells coexpressed TuJ1 in KA-treated rats and control rats on day 7 after BrdU respectively (P > 0.05). On 21 d after BrdU, 60.2% and 58.2% of dentate BrdU-labeled cells coexpressed GaBP in KA-treated rats and control rats respectively (P > 0.05). GFAP colocalized with 3%-5% dentate BrdU-labeled cells in the rats of both groups on day 7 and 21 after BrdU. It was also demonstrated that status epilepticus at P15 did not result in any detectable mossy fiber sprouting within the hippocampus both 1 month and 3 months after KA administration.

CONCLUSIONSKA induced seizures can increase granule cell neurogenesis in the immature rat. Most of newly appeared cells migrate from subgranular proliferation zone (SGZ) into granule cell layer, the hilus as well as the molecular layer, and there they can differentiate into granule neurons. These observations also indicate that there is an early developmental resistance to seizure-induced mossy fiber sprouting in the immature brain.

Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Dentate Gyrus ; cytology ; physiopathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists ; adverse effects ; Kainic Acid ; adverse effects ; Mossy Fibers, Hippocampal ; physiopathology ; Neurogenesis ; physiology ; Rats ; Seizures ; chemically induced ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVES: The number of metastatic lymph nodes (LNs) and the ratio between the number of metastatic LNs and the total number of retrieved LNs (the LN ratio [LNR]) have been proposed as risk factors for recurrence of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). However, the significance of the number of LNs and the LNR in patients with clinically node negative PTC has not been clearly determined. The purpose of this study is to evaluate their significance. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 382 patients with PTC who had undergone total thyroidectomy with prophylactic central neck dissection (CND) between January 2000 and December 2010. We excluded patients with lobectomy, concurrent lateral compartment neck dissection, a follow-up period less than at least 2 years, number of harvested central LNs less than or equal to one, clinically positive LN, distant metastasis, recurrent cancer or other types of malignancy. The correlations between recurrence and various clinicopathologic characteristics including tumor size, extrathyroidal extension (ETE), stage, number of metastatic central LNs, and the LNR were investigated. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up period of 82.2±26.4 months, recurrence occurred in 14 patients (3.7%). Tumor size ≥20 mm, maximal ETE, presence of central LN metastasis, number of metastatic LNs ≥2, and LNR ≥0.31 correlated with recurrence in the univariate analysis. However, tumor size ≥20 mm, maximal ETE, number of metastatic LNs ≥2, and LNR ≥0.31 were significantly associated with recurrence in the multivariate analysis (hazard ratio=6.61, 7.17, 3.43, and 11.23, respectively). CONCLUSION: The LNR and the number of metastatic LNs are independent prognostic risk factors for recurrence in patients with clinically node negative PTC, and these factors can be used to guide postoperative adjuvant therapy and follow-up strategy after prophylactic CND.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes* ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neck Dissection ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroidectomy

Experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) animal model was established in female SD rats fed with high iodine diet.The concentrations of FT_3 and FT_4 were increasing in order of normal control group, iodine excess control group,EAT control group and EAT iodine excess group (Pl＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Semi- quantitative RT-PCR and Western-blotting results showed that the expression of TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) existed in thyrocytes of each group,while the expression was increasing in order of normal control group,iodine excess control group,EAT control group and EAT iodine excess group (P＜0.01).The results suggested that high iodine diet might induce thyrocytes' apoptosis by increasing the expression of TRAIL and hence influencing functional and pathologic changes of thyroid grand.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the outbreak patterns of acute schistosomiasis in Anhui province in 2003.

METHODSThe criteria of emergency event for schistosomiasis issued by the Ministry of Health were applled in this study. Epidemiological data of acute schistosomiasis outbreak in Anhui province in 2003 were collected, checked and analyzed.

RESULTSIn 2003, there were 6 episodes of acute schistosomiasis outbreaks in Anhui which had met the criteria of being emergency events, issued by the Ministry of Health. The preplanning was initiated in 5 outbreaks to respond to the outbreaks of acute schistosomiasis. All of the acute schistosomiasis cases received timing treatment, except those misdiagnosed cases coming from the non-endemic areas. There were no deaths or follow-up cases during the outbreaks. Health education, preventive treatment for people living in high risk villages were conducted in order to timely control the epidemics of schistosomiasis.

CONCLUSIONThe implementation of preplanning has played an important role in early cases-finding, timing report and response to the outbreaks of acute schistosomiasis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Animals ; Cattle ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Disease Reservoirs ; Female ; Health Education ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Schistosomiasis japonica ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Snails ; parasitology

OBJECTIVETo probe rational indices suitable for ecological surveillance on breeding ground for Oncomelania hupensis snails in areas prevalent with islet-type schisitosomiasis using remote sensing technology.

METHODSThree adjacent islets, prevalent with islet-type schistosomiasis, along the Yangtze River within the boundaries of Dongzhi County, Anhui Province were selected as study field for remote sensing analysis. Multi-spectral data were composed and non-supervisedly classified in computer with Idisi software for remote sensing analysis. Values of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), green vegetation index (GVI), bright index (BI), which reflect the greenness and brightness of landscape, were also calculated. Finally, all the results were comprehensively analyzed, combined with data from the field investigation.

RESULTSNDVI, GVI and BI could depict characteristics of the landscape quantitatively. Values of NDVI, BI and GVI were varied in different types of landscapes, and 95% confidence interval of these values suitable for breeding of snails was 0.0522 approximately 0.3566, 2.4162 approximately 28.2672 and 29.3404 approximately 40.3135, respectively. Classification of NDVI showed that type 5 anf type 6 were main breeding ground for snails, and type 4 with values of NDVI from 0 to 0.1 was potential areas for snail propagation. Classification of GVI showed that types 5, 6 and 7 were main breeding ground for snails, and also type 4 with values of GVI from 2 to 10 was potential areas for snail propagation. Both NDVI and GVI showed type 2 and type 3 were temporarily not suitable for snail breeding.

CONCLUSIONIndex figures of NDVI and GVI re-formed by reasonable classification could reflect not only breeding ground for snails and range of the areas for snail propagation in islets, but also their evolving rules, i.e., status of new marshland formation and vegetation growth.

Animals ; Breeding ; Ecology ; Satellite Communications ; Schistosomiasis ; transmission ; Snails ; parasitology ; physiology