OBJECTIVETo examine patterns of abuse before, during, and after pregnancy and the possible factors related to abuse.

METHODSA community-based face-to-face survey of a representative group of women having a child aged 6 to 18 months in 32 communities of Tianjin, Liaoning, Henan and Shaanxi provinces was carried out between November 1, 2001 and February 28, 2002.

RESULTSThe prevalence rate of domestic violence (emotional, sexual and physical) occurred in any period (before, during and after pregnancy) against women was 12.6%. The prevalence of domestic violence against women during the approximate 9 months of pregnancy (4.3%) was relatively lower than that during the 12 months before pregnancy (9.1%) and during the mean 11 months postpartum period (8.3%). Domestic violence against women before pregnancy was a strong risk factor for abuse during and post pregnancy. Abused women and perpetrators were more likely to be in lower social class were smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol. Abused women were more likely to be witnessing violence in the past and having poor relationship with partner.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of domestic violence against women was high which called for in-depth training and improving awareness for all health professionals.

China ; Domestic Violence ; statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Humans ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Risk Factors ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Time Factors

AIMTo investigate the effects of simulated microgravity on dilatory responsiveness and NOS expression of abdominal aorta in rats.

METHODSTwenty male healthy SD rats, which body weight ranged from 300 g to 330 g, were divided into control group and simulated microgravity group randomly. After 4 weeks, using isolated arterial rings from rats, arterial dilatory responsiveness of abdominal aorta were examined in vitro. And the expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), including endothelial NOS (eNOS) and inducible NOS (iNOS), were observed by Western blot.

RESULTSDilatory responses of arterial rings to L-Arginine (10(-8)-10(-3) mol/L), and Acetylcholine mol/L) were decreased in simulated microgravity rats compared with that of controls; but dilatory responses of isolated aortic rings to sodium nitroprusside (mol/L) and 8-bromo-cGMP(mol/L) were similar in both simulated microgravity rats and control rats. The expression of both eNOS and iNOS had not showed significant differences between two groups.

CONCLUSIONThe data indicate that endothelium dependent vasorelaxation in abdominal aortic rings are decreased by 4-week simulated microgravity, and this change may be result from altered NOS activity in endothelium.

Animals ; Aorta, Abdominal ; metabolism ; Arginine ; metabolism ; Cyclic GMP ; metabolism ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Weightlessness Simulation

OBJECTIVETo optimize the combined extraction methods of Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis and Fructus Ligustri Lucidi.

METHODThe extraction effects of three processes (SFE CO2, alcohol-extraction, water-extraction) were compared by the contents of deoxyschizandrin, the dried extraction yield and production feasibility.

RESULTThe method of alcohol-extraction was the best of the three methods, and the extraction conditions were optimized by orthogonal design as follows: sixfold 90% alcohol for two times and each for one hour.

CONCLUSIONThe extraction method is steady and feasible, which can be used for reference for the extraction process of Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis and Fructus Ligustri Lucidi.

Alcohols ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Chromatography, Supercritical Fluid ; Cyclooctanes ; isolation & purification ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Lignans ; isolation & purification ; Ligustrum ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polycyclic Compounds ; isolation & purification ; Schisandra ; chemistry ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

OBJECTIVETo understand the knowledge and prevalence of domestic violence (DV) among married women in rural China.

METHODSProportional to Population Size(PPS) sampling method was conducted to select 3998 women aged 18 years old and above from Jilin, Anhui and Chongqing. All the women were interviewed using a standardized questionnaire during Nov. 2004-Jan. 2005.

RESULTSThe prevalence of spousal violence against women was 64.8 % in a lifetime and 42.6% in the past 12 months before the survey. Psychological violence was the most common type, followed by physical violence and sexual abuse. The prevalence rates for psychological, physical and sexual violence in a life time were 58.1%, 29.7%, 16.7%, while 37.2%, 14.0%, 7.7% in the past 12 months before the survey. All the total DV, psychological violence and sexual violence were more commonly seen in Jilin province, while physical violence was more prevalent in Chongqing city. The prevalence rate of violence was different among people with different social-demographic characteristics. Sexual abuse became more common with the improvement of education. In total, about 1/3 women suffered two or three categories of violence at the same time. Most sexually abused women suffered one kind of violence, while half of the physically and psychologically abused women suffering two and more kinds of violent behaviors at the same time. Married women had relatively little knowledge on domestic violence and 75.2 % of the women did not even know what domestic violence was referring to and some women suffered from DV themselves but knowing nothing about its implication. In general, physical violence was better understood among interviewed women while the knowledge about psychological violence was relatively poor. Conclusion Domestic violence, psychological violence in particular, was very common in rural China, while the knowledge of DV among married women was poor, effective actions should be taken to stop DV at no time.

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Data Collection ; Domestic Violence ; psychology ; statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Marriage ; Prevalence ; Rural Population

BACKGROUNDSome researchers found that partner-perpetrated physical violence increased in frequency and severity during the postpartum period compared with the antenatal period, however, limited data exists describing abuse of women in China. The purpose of this study was to examine patterns of abuse in China before, during, and after pregnancy, and explore possible factors related to abuse.

METHODSA community-based face-to-face survey of a representative group of women who had a child aged 6 to 18 months in 32 communities of Tianjin, Liaoning, Henan, and Shaanxi provinces was carried out between November 1, 2001 and February 28, 2002.

RESULTSThe prevalence of domestic abuse (emotional, sexual, or physical) occurring in any period (before, during, or after pregnancy) was 12.6%. The prevalence of abuse during the approximate 9 months of pregnancy (4.3%) was relatively lower compared with the prevalence of abuse during the 12 months before pregnancy (9.1%) and after delivery (8.3%) during the mean 11-month postpartum period studied. Abuse before pregnancy was a strong risk factor for abuse during pregnancy and abuse after pregnancy, and abuse during any previous period was a strong risk factor for subsequent abuse. Many women who suffered abuse of any kind generally experienced multiple acts over time and most acts were not severe. The results of logistic regression analysis showed that the factors associated with abuse during pregnancy included women previously witnessing domestic violence, a poor relationship with the partner, socioeconomic level, alcohol consumption, and smoking.

CONCLUSIONSIt is necessary to do in-depth training and to raise awareness of partner abuse among all health professionals. Routine screening of abuse in maternity clinics is advocated to decrease the adverse impact of abuse on women and fetuses.

China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Prevalence ; Spouse Abuse ; statistics & numerical data

To acquire epidemiological data on the bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) and identify cattle persistently infected (PI) with this virus, 4,327 samples from Holstein dairy cows were screened over a four-year period in Beijing, China. Eighteen BVD viruses were isolated, 12 from PI cattle. Based on genetic analysis of their 5'-untranslated region (5'-UTR), the 18 isolates were assigned to subgenotype BVDV-1m, 1a, 1d, 1q, and 1b. To investigate the innate immune responses in the peripheral-blood mononuclear cells of PI cattle, the expression of Toll-like receptors (TLRs), RIG-I-like receptors, interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha), IFN-beta, myxovirus (influenza virus) resistance 1 (MX1), and interferon stimulatory gene 15 (ISG15) was assessed by qPCR. When compared with healthy cattle, the expression of TLR-7, IFN-alpha, and IFN-beta mRNA was downregulated, but the expression of MX1 and ISG-15 mRNA was upregulated in PI cattle. Immunoblotting analysis revealed that the expression of interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF-3) and IRF-7 was lower in PI cattle than in healthy cattle. Thus, BVDV-1m and 1a are the predominant subgenotypes in the Beijing region, and the strains are highly divergent. Our findings also suggest that the TLR-7/IRF-7 signaling pathway plays a role in evasion of host restriction by BVDV.
Animals ; Cattle* ; China* ; Diarrhea* ; Immunity, Innate* ; Immunoblotting ; Interferon Regulatory Factor-3 ; Interferon-alpha ; Interferons ; Orthomyxoviridae ; RNA, Messenger ; Toll-Like Receptors

Objective To investigate the relationship between drinking-water type of endemic arsenicosis and adult carotid artery atherosclerosis. Methods In 2009, 285 participants aged over 40 from drinking-water type of endemic arsenism areas and 293 residents aged over 40 from control areas were investigated in Yingxian county,Shanxi province. Portable-type B mode color ultrasound was used to examine the carotid artery of all participants.The carotid atherosclerosis were diagnosed and graded through the ultrasonograms. Content of water arsenic and hair arsenic of 10 people randomly selected in every villages were detected. Results A total of 5 villages with drinkingwater type of endemic arsenicosis as observation group and 5 villages without drinking-water type of endemic arsenicosis as control group were investigated. The prevalence rates of adult carotid atherosclerosis within observation group were 35.09%(20/57), 55.74%(34/61), 38.46%(20/52), 36.51%(23/63) and 46.15%(24/52), respectively,and standardized prevalence rates were 32.5%, 33.8%, 34.9%, 46.2% and 47.3%, respectively and the prevalence rates of adult carotid atherosclerosis within control group were 18.18%(10/55), 30.77%(16/52), 20.00%(10/50),18.67% (14/75) and 21.31% ( 13/61 ), respectively; the standardize prevalence rates were 22.4%, 17.7%, 10.7%,24.6%, 18.9%, respectively. The standardize prevalence rates were higher in observation group [39.50%(113/285) ]than that in control group[39.50%(113/285), T = 26, P ＜ 0.01 ]. The severity of adult carotid atherosclerosis (composition of 4 - 7 scores ) was compared between observation group [ 17.70%(20/113 )] and control group [ 14.06% (9/64) ], and the difference was insignificant(x2 = 0.26, P ＞ 0.05). Conclusions The prevalence rate of carotid atherosclerosis in drinking-water type of endemic arsenicosis areas is higher than that of the control areas.The study provides evidence that arsenic poisoning can cause atherosclerosis.

OBJECTIVETo understand the perception on roles of gender and decision-making regarding family affairs among married women and its impact on the utilization of perinatal care.

METHODSClustering sampling was conducted to select 1227 married women with at least a child aged from 0 to 7 years old, from Hebei, Hubei and Sichuan provinces. All women were interviewed using a uniform questionnaire during Nov.-Dec. 2004.

RESULTSThe overall proportion of women who had relatively poor perception of gender role was 65.1%. 59.3% of the women agreed that "husband's health is more important than wife's in the family" versus 39.7% of interviewed women agreed that "man is more suitable for leadership than woman". In 46.2% of the families, wife and husband shared the responsibility of decision making on family affairs. In 16.2% of the families women played a decisive role, while 67.1% of interviewed women had to get the approval of her husband when spending money on daily necessities. When there were different opinions between the couples, husband usually made the final decision in 20.5% of all the families versus 17.4% of families where wife made the final decision. In total,the proportion of women who had somehow rights on family affairs was 64.1%. The coverage rate of antenatal care was 91.0%, and 65.3% women who received antenatal care got the first antenatal visit during the first trimester and the proportion of women who had at least five antenatal visits was 39.7%. The institutional delivery was 59.3% among all the women. Perception of gender role was not a predictor for antenatal care utilization, but it was predictive of institutional delivery. Education was quite a significant predictor on perinatal care utilization.

CONCLUSIONEfforts should be strengthened to improve women's awareness and to increase their perception on gender role in the families so that more women could achieve quality perinatal care.

Adult ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Decision Making ; Family Health ; Female ; Gender Identity ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Marriage ; Perinatal Care ; utilization

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of the improved plastic and reconstruction of the anus in situ.

METHODSImproved plastic and reconstruction of anus in situ was performed in 38 cases of low rectal cancers operated while Miles radical operation. Improvement includes: (1) The internal sphincter was rebuilt with 4 layers of muscle layer of the endmost of colon. (2) The last of gracilis was divided into 2 parts to reconstruct the superficial part and deep part of external sphincter muscle. (3) The rectum cape improvement is to firmly stitch the levator ani outside the external sphincter muscle in front of the colon. (4) The rectum valve is improved into three artificial rectum valves.

RESULTSThe form and function and their long term survival rate were good, the rate of superior anus function was 94.73%.

CONCLUSIONIt mains the results of improved plastic and reconstruction of anus in situ is near that of normal persons.

Adult ; Aged ; Anal Canal ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Rectum ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of Dangua Recipe (DGR) on glycolipid metabolism, serum reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) positive expression and its mRNA expression level in the thoracic aorta of diabetic rats with atherosclerosis, thus revealing its partial mechanisms for intervening chronic diabetic complications.

METHODSRecruited 40 Goto-Kakisaki (GK) Wistar rats were fed with high fat forage containing metabolic inhibition Propylthiouracil, and peritoneally injected with endothelial NOS inhibitor N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester to establish a high fat diabetes model with atherosclerosis. The modeled GK rats were stratified by body weight, and then, by blood glucose level from high to low, randomly divided into the DGR group (at the daily dose of 8 mL/kg), the metformin group (MET, at the daily dose of 150 mg/kg), the simvastatin group (SIM, at the daily dose of 2 mg/kg), and the model group (MOD, fed with pure water, at the daily dose of 8 mL/kg) according to the random number table, 10 in each group. Another 10 Wistar rats of the same ages and comparable body weight level were recruited as the normal control group. All the interventions lasted for 24 weeks by gastrogavage. The fasting blood glucose (FBG) and body weight were monitored. The HbA1c, TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, TG, serum ROS were determined. The aortic NF-kappaB level was analyzed with immunohistochemical assay. The expression of NF-kappaB (P65) mRNA in the aorta was detected with Real-time PCR.

RESULTSThe body weight in the normal control group was eventually heavier than others (P < 0.01). There was no difference among the four groups of GK modeled rats (P > 0.05). The FBG in the four GK modeled groups were higher than that in the normal control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the blood glucose level at the first visit and at the baseline among the GK modeled groups (P > 0.05). The last FBG level was obviously lower in the MET and DGR groups than in the MOD group (P < 0.01) and the SIM group (P < 0.05). Twenty-four weeks after intervention, the level of FBG, HbA1c, TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, and NF-kappaB positive expression rate of the thoracic aorta of the four groups of GK modeled rats, and NF-kappaB mRNA expression in the thoracic aorta in the MOD group, the MET group, and the DGR group were significantly higher than those in the normal control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The TG level, serum ROS in the MET, DGR, and SIM groups, and the NF-kappaB mRNA expression level in the thoracic aorta in the SIM group were significantly lower than those in the normal control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The levels of FBG, TC, LDL-C, serum ROS, NF-kappaB mRNA expression level in the thoracic aorta in three drug intervention groups, and NF-kappaB positive expression rate in the DGR and MET groups, and the levels of HbA1c, TG in the DGR group were significantly lower than those in the MOD group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The level of FBG in the MET and DGR groups were lower than that in the SIM group (P < 0.05). The level of NF-kappaB mRNA expression in the thoracic aorta of the SIM and DGR groups, and the levels of TC and LDL-C in the DGR group were significantly lower than those in the MET group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONDGR played a role in preventing and treating chronic diabetic complications by comprehensively regulating blood glucose and serum lipids, as well as down-regulating oxidative stress.

Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; metabolism ; Atherosclerosis ; complications ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Diabetic Angiopathies ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Lipid Metabolism ; Male ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; blood