Objective To survey the highly risk iodine deficiency regions of Shandong Province and to provide reference basis for further executing urgent iodine supply. Methods The annual document of cretinism in Licheng District in Jinan City and Shouguang City, the two iodine deficiency regions, were referred. Forty children aged 8-10 years of 2 targeted schools from 3 towns out of every targeted region underwent palpation, ultrasonography and As3+-Ce4+catalyzing speetrophotometry for ultra iodine examination. Twenty women aged 18-40 years from 2 villages sampled from every targeted town received ultra iodine examination and edible salt examination of iodine with direct titration. Results No new cretinism and suspected cretinism was found since 1995 in the regions. The goiter rates of children of the two regions detected with palpation and ultrasonography were 7.5% (18/241),6.2% (15/241) and 5.0% (13/259), 1.2% (3/259), respectively. Two hundred forty and 249 urine samples were respectively collected in school children, in which the median urinary iodine was 226.3,282.7 μg/L. One hundred twenty urine samples were respectively collected from the two group of women, resulting a median urinary iodine of 187.2,321.7 μg/L. Eight and 2 salt samples were free of iodine in 120 salt samples collected each region, respectively. The rate of qualified iodized salt was 100%. Conclusions It is not necessary to urgently implement iodine supply in Shouguang City and Licheng District. However, reinforcement of supervise on salt industry and eliminating the hazard from non-iodized and disqualified iodized salt remains in need.

Objective To investigate the danger of iodine excess for people in the downstream area of Yellow River in Shandong Province by describing the distribution of iodine excess water and the gorer of children Methods Water samples were collected from 5 villages of every town of Yuncheng,Jiaxiang and Dongchangfu Counties to determine the iodine of the water using arsenic cerium oxidation reduction method.In the 5 towns having water iodine in the range of 150～300μg/L,200 students aged from 8～10 years received the paJpation of thyroid,half of them were also measured of urinary iodine with As3+-Ce4+ catalytic spectrophotometry using ammonium persulfate digestion method,and 50 of the 100 students further underwent thyroid B-ultrasound.Results Three counties all have high iodine towns.The medium of urinary iodine of 30 town8 in 56 towns was higher than 150μg/L Urinary iodine and sign detection were performed in 13 towns,where water iodine was between 150～ 300μg/L;the medium ofurinary iodine of 11 towns were higherthan 400μg/L,and 3 of the 11 towns were higher than 800μg/L.In all 13 towns,the goiter rate of the students aged 8 to 10 years exceeded 5%by palpation in 11 towns:exceeded 5% by B-ultrasound method in 9 towns.Conclusions There are areas of iodine excess in drinking water and iodine-excess endemic goiter prevails in downstream area of the Yellow River in Shandong Province.It indicates that iodine excess in drinking water has done severe harm in these areas. Active management should be taken to control this endemic disease.

OBJECTIVETo observe clinical therapeutic effect of acupuncture on poststroke deglutition disorders.

METHODSSixty-eight inpatients of moderate and severe deglutition disorders were treated by the activating brain function to cause resuscitation needling method.

RESULTSTwenty-six cases were cured, 24 were remarkedly effective, 16 were effective, with a total effective rate of 97.06%.

CONCLUSIONThis needling method has a markedly therapeutic effect on poststroke moderate and severe deglutition disorders.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Brain ; Deglutition Disorders ; therapy ; Humans ; Resuscitation ; Stroke

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of whole lung lavage (WLL) on the pulmonary function and exercise capacity in patients with pneumoconiosis.

METHODSForty-one patients with pneumoconiosis who quit dust-exposed work not more than 6 months before underwent WLL. Clinical symptom assessment, pulmonary function test, and cardiopulmonary exercise test were performed before and one week after WLL, and the results were compared.

RESULTSThe patients with pneumoconiosis showed no significant changes in clinical symptoms after WLL. At one week after WLL, the patients with pneumoconiosis showed nonsignificant increases in forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1.0), and percent predicted FEV1 (P > 0.05); peak oxygen uptake (peak VO₂) increased from 2140.6 ± 353.2 ml/min before WLL to 2374.6 ± 362.4 ml/min after WLL, percent predicted peak VO₂ increased from 82.2 ± 13.7% before WLL to 91.0 ± 14.0% after WLL, peak VO₂/kg increased from 30.6 ± 3.5 ml/min×kg before WLL to 34.2 ± 3.7 ml/min×kg after WLL, and ventilatory equivalent for carbon dioxide decreased from 30.6 ± 3.1 before WLL to 26.1 ± 2.7 after WLL (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONWLL can remarkably improve the oxygen uptake and ventilatory efficiency in patients with pneumoconiosis during exercise, so it can improve the exercise capacity of these patients.

Adult ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Exercise Tolerance ; Humans ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Pneumoconiosis ; physiopathology ; therapy

Aim To investigate the molecular mecha-nisms of the Wenyang Huazhuo Tongluo formula in in-hibiting endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition(En-doMT)of pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells and improving pulmonary microvascular injury in sys-temic sclerosis(SSc).Methods Pulmonary micro-vascular endothelial cells were cultured with serum from SSc patients to establish SSc pulmonary microvas-cular endothelial cells.A hypoxia model was estab-lished in SSc pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells using liquid paraffin sealing,and the cells were treated with the Wenyang Huazhuo Tongluo formula or HIF-1a inhibitor KC7F2.Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of VE-cadherin,CD31,vimen-tin,HIF-1α,Foxm1,smad3,Tie-1,and vWF.ELISA was used to measure the concentrations of E-selectin and ICAM-1 in cell culture medium.The luciferase re-porter gene system was used to detect the promoter ac-tivity of the Foxm1 gene.Results Compared to the control group,the levels of VE-cadherin,CD31,HIF-1α,Foxm1,smad3,Tie-1,and vWF significantly de-creased under hypoxic condition,while the levels of vi-mentin,E-selectin,and ICAM-1 significantly in-creased.In addition,the cell morphology exhibited a distinct"spindle-like"myoblast morphology.Treat-ment with the Wenyang Huazhuo Tongluo formula or KC7F2 reversed these changes in protein expression levels and cell morphology induced by hypoxia.Con-clusion The Wenyang Huazhuo Tongluo formula im-proves pulmonary microvascular injury in SSc by inhib-iting the HIF-1a/Foxm1/smad3 pathway-mediated En-doMT of pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells.

Objective To analyse the retrobulbar haemodynamic changes after vitrectomy in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). Methods Color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) was used for measurement of blood flow velocities including peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EVD) and resistive indexes (RI) of the ophthalmic artery (OA), posterior ciliary arteries (sPCA) and central retinal artery (CRA) in 50 eyes of 50 patients with RRD. In them 22 eyes were filled with silicone oil, 28 eyes were filled with 12%C3F8 and 22 eyes were operated to remove silicone oil after filled with silicone oil for 2-4 months, and then CDFI parameters were obtained. The contralateral eyes were used as control eyes before and after the operation. Results There were no significant differences in CRA and sPCA, and PSV, EDV and RI before treatment between RD and OA eyes and control eyes (P>0.05). PSV and EVD of CRA were significantly increased 3 months after surgery, RI were decreased significantly (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in blood flow parameters of OA and sPCA before and after surgeries (P>0.05). No changes were found in control eyes 3 months after surgery. Conclusion VRS might increase the velocity of CRA, decrease RI and improve ocular blood supply postoperatively.

Objective To look into the current distribution of iodine deficiency area in Shandong province and to guide the re-defined iodine deficiency area and to supplement iodine scientifically. Methods In 2008, 100 iodine deficiency counties(cities, districts), designated in Shandong province's "to supplement iodized salt to eliminate the hazard of iodine deficiency management regulations", were selected in the study. One to three samples were collected from water source which was used by the majority of local residents in the 100 iodine deficiency places and iodine concentration was tested by As3+-Ce4+ catalyzing spectrophotometry. Results A total of 65 716 water samples were collected. Sample recovery efficiency reached 99.8%(65 572/65 716). The median water iodine was 5.57 μg/L, with 82.05%( 1097/1337 ) of the township(town) met criteria for the classification of iodine deficiency areas(water iodine ＜ 10 μg/L), 17.43%(233/1337) of the township (town) water iodine moderate(water iodine 10 - 150 μg/L), and 0.52%(7/1337)of the township(town) should be defined high iodine areas(water iodine ＞ 150 - 300 μg/L). Conclusions The iodine deficiency areas should be redefined because water iodine concentrations of iodine deficiency areas have changed. We suggest that the smallest place to supply salt with different range of iodine content is set to the township(town).

Objective To learn the iodine nutritional status of the vulnerable population with different iodine level under the current level of iodized salt in Shandong province and to offer prevention and cure measures.Methods Five groups of vulnerable population including school children aged 8 - 10, pregnant, lactation women, infants and women of childbearing age from mountain areas ( Daiyue, Mengyin counties ) , plain ( Luxian,Gaomi counties ) and coastal (Zhaoyuan county ) of five different iodine deficient areas were investigated in 2007.The thyroids of children aged 8 - 10 were checked by palpation and B ultrasound, their edible salt iodine level was detected by direct titration. The lever of urinary iodine of vulnerable population was examined by arsenic and cerium speetrophotometry. Results The goiter rates of 8 - 10 year-old were 1.8%(9/514) and 1.2%(6/514), respectively by palpation and B-ultrasonic. The mean iodine of 501 edible salt samples was 30.95 mg/kg. The coverage rate of iodized salt was 94.6% (474/501). The rate of qualified iodized salt was 90.4% (453/501). The median of urinary iodine was 216.7 μg,/L. The urinary iodine of school children aged 8 - 10, pregnant, lactation women, infants and women of childbearing age were 234.0, 165.5, 162.4, 257.5, 233.0 μg/L, respectively. Conclusions Current iodine nutritional level is basically appropriate in all groups of vulnerable people. The current iodine content of iodized salt could meet the needs of population from different iodine deficient areas of Shandong province.

OBJECTIVETo search for an effective therapy for aorto-arteritis of arterial type in the head and arm.

METHODSEighty cases were randomly divided into an acupuncture and moxibustion group and a medication group, 40 cases in each group. Renying (ST 9), Taiyuan (LU 9), Jiquan (HT 1) and other acupoints were selected in the acupuncture group, and the medication group were treated with intravenous dripping of Fufang Danshen Liquid. Their therapeutic effects were observed.

RESULTSThe clinical cured rate and the total effective rate were 15.0% and 95.0% in the acupuncture group, and 0 and 75.0% in the medication group, respectively, with a very significant difference between the two groups in the therapeutic effect (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture and moxibustion has a definite therapeutic effect, which is significantly superior to that of the routine medication for aorto-arteritis of arterial type in the head and arm.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Arm ; Arteritis ; Humans ; Moxibustion

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Large cohort studies on relationship between family history of stroke (FHS) and stroke risk are lacking in Asians. We aimed to systematically evaluate the association of FHS with stroke risk in a cohort study of 0.5 million Chinese adults. METHODS: Information about FHS was self-reported. The median follow-up time was 7.16 years and the end-point of follow-up was incident stroke, which was entered directly into the China Kadoorie Biobank system. Multivariate analyses were performed with Cox proportional hazards model, and interaction analyses were carried using likelihood-ratio tests. RESULTS: Compared with participants without FHS, the hazard ratio (HR) (95% confidence interval, CI) of stroke for participants with FHS was 1.50 (1.46-1.55). The HRs increased with the number of first degree relatives with stroke (HRs=1.41, 1.98 and 2.47 for 1, 2 and ≥3 relatives, respectively, P(trend) <0.001). The HRs were 1.57 (95% CI: 1.50-1.66) and 1.49 (95% CI: 1.45-1.54) for sibling history and parental history, respectively. Similar associations with offspring stroke risk were observed between paternal history (HR=1.48, 95% CI: 1.43-1.54) and maternal history (HR=1.49, 95% CI: 1.43-1.55). Moreover, significant interactions were detected between FHS and health-risk behaviors (tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking). CONCLUSIONS: FHS is an independent risk factor for stroke in Chinese. The more first degree relatives are affected by stroke, the higher are individuals’ risk of suffering from stroke. The management of the health-risk behaviors for reducing stroke should be highlighted, especially for the individuals with FHS.
Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; China* ; Cohort Studies* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Parents ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Risk Factors ; Siblings ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stroke*