Objectives To investigate the relationship between fluorosis polymorphisms in collagen type Ⅰ alpha 2 (COL1A2) and osteocalcin (OC) gene, and serum calciotropic hormone levels. Methods The children between 8 and 12 years of age in Kaifeng and Tongxu cities of Henan Province were chosen to be the object of observation. Accoding to situation of dental fluorosis, they were divided into three groups: dental fluorosis group, non-dental fluorosis group from high fluoride areas, and control group form the control areas. The Pvu Ⅱ and Rsa Ⅰ markers of COL1A2 gene as well as HindⅢ marker of OC gene were genotyped by PCR-RFLP procedure. Calcitonin and osteocalcin levels in serum were measured using radioimmunassays. Results The frequency distribution of COL1A2 PvuⅡ genotype was pp 49.3%(37/75), Pp 32.0%(24/75), PP 18.7%(14/75) in children with fluorosis; pp 43.5% (30/69), Pp 52.2% (36/69), PP 4.3%(3/69) in children without fluorosis from high fluoride areas; and pp 43.8% (42/96), Pp 40.6% (39/96), PP 15.6% (15/96) in the children without fluorosis from control areas respectively. Childrens with the homozygous genotype PP of COL1A2 Pvu Ⅱ had a significantly increased risk of dental fluorosis(OR=4.85, 95%CI: 1.22-19.32) compared to children with the homozygous genotype pp in anendemic fluorosis area. The frequency distribution of COLIA2 Rsa Ⅰ genotype was rr 50.7% (38/75), Rr 36.0% (27/75), RR 13.3%(10/75) in children with fluorosis; rr 46.4%(32/69), Rr 46.4%(32/69), RR 7.2%(5/69) in children without fluorosis from high fluoride areas, and rr 45.8% (44/96), Rr 45.8% (44/96), RR 8.3% (8/96) in the children without fluorosis from control areas respectively. There were no significant differences in the three groups (P>0.05). The frequency distribution of OC Hind Ⅲ genotype was hh 48.0% (36/75), Hh 34.7% (26/75), HH 17.3% (13/75) in children with fluorosis; hh 43.5% (30/69), Hh 43.5% (30/69), HH 13.0% (9/69) in children without fluorosis from high fluoride areas, and hh 47.9%(46/96), Hh 40.6%(39/96), HH 11.5%(11/96) in children without fluorosis from control areas respectively. There were no significant differences in the three groups (P>0.05). Additionally, fluoride levels in urine and OC levels inserum were found to be significantly lower in controls from non-endemic areas compared to cases(P<0.05). However, the differences in urine fluoride and serum OC levels were not observed when cases were compared to controls from high fluoride areas(P>0.05). Conehlsions This study provides the evidence of an association between polymorphisms in the COL1A2 gene with dental fluorosis in populations exposed to high fluoride. There were no correlation between OC Hind Ⅲ genotype and the dental fluorosis.

Objective To explore the prevalence of weight misperception and related influencing factors among adult residents in Guangdong province so as to provide information for prevention and control on weight misperception.Methods A multi-stage stratified random sampling method was used to select the sample.Forty-two streets/villages were selected from 21 counties/districts through randomly sampling.Four communities were then chosen from every selected town or district,followed by 40 families chosen from every village or community.Questionnaire was used to collect data on weight perception and its related risk factors.SPSS 16.0 was used for data analysis.Results There were 6625 respondents participating in the study.Out of them,50.2％ participants misperceived their weight status,among which 35.9％ of them underestimated while 14.3％overestimated their weights.Females aged 15-24 were more likely to overestimate weights than males in the same age group (38.6％ vs.18.5％),while males were more likely to underestimate weights than females (25.8％ vs.8.5％ ).The prevalence of underestimation on weights increased with the increase of age in both males and females but the prevalence of overestimation on weights decreased.Data from multivariate results from logistic analysis showed that rural residents,males,being elderly,residents with low education level,manual occupations (agriculture,forestry,animal husbandry and fishery),low family income and with anxiety were the major risk factors on underestimation of weight.However,factors as being urban residents,females,adolescents,minority and never having received weight measurement etc.were the major risk factors of overestimated on weight.Conclusion Misperceptions of weight status in Guangdong province exhibited a high prevalence with complicated influencing factors,calling for more psychological research to be carried out to prevent and reduce the misperceptions on weight status.

BACKGROUNDHigh fluoride exposure can result in dental fluorosis. Fluoride and iodine are coexistent in the drinking water of areas in China and may affect the prevalence of dental fluorosis and osteogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum calciotropic hormone level, and dental fluorisis in children exposed to different concentrations of fluoride and iodine in drinking water.

METHODSA pilot study was conducted in three villages located in the Kaifeng and Tongxu counties of Henan Province, China in 2006. Children aged 8 to 12 years, born and raised in the three villages were recruited. The fluoride levels in the samples of urine from these children were detected by fluoride ion selective electrode. Calcitonin and osteocalcin levels in the serum, and serum calcium were measured by radioimmunassay and flame atomic absorption spectrometry, respectively.

RESULTSFluoride levels in urine were significantly lower in children from control area (CA) as compared with those from the high fluoride & iodine areas (HFIA) and the high fluoride area (HFA) (P < 0.05 respectively), and no statistically significant difference was found between the children from HFIA and HFA. Additionally, calcitonin levels in the serum were significantly lower in children from CA and HFA as compared with that from HFIA (P < 0.05 respectively), and osteocalcin levels in the serum was lower in children from CA than those from HFIA (P < 0.05). No statistically significant difference in serum osteocalcin concentrations was found between children from HFA and HFIA.

CONCLUSIONThis study provides an evidence that iodine exposure may modify the serum calciotropic hormone levels related to fluorine exposure.

Calcitonin ; blood ; Child ; Female ; Fluorides ; administration & dosage ; Fluorosis, Dental ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Iodine ; administration & dosage ; Male ; Osteocalcin ; blood ; Pilot Projects ; Prevalence ; Water Supply ; analysis

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Hypercalcemia ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Hyperparathyroidism ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parathyroid Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis(HLH)and quantify the diagnostic value of various indexes in patients with elevated soluble interleukin-2 receptor(sCD25),so as to construct a diagnostic prediction model of HLH.Methods:The clinical characteristics of 121 patients with elevated sCD25(≥ 2 400 U/ml)in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University were analyzed retrospectively.The patients were divided into HLH group and non-HLH group according to the diagnostic criteria of HLH.The patients with HLH were divided into infection group,tumor group,macrophage activation syndrome(MAS)group and unknown etiology group according to their etiology.The basic data and treatment of the patients were collected for univariate and multivariate logistic analysis to establish a diagnostic prediction model of HLH.Results:Among the 121 enrolled patients with elevated sCD25,68 were diagnosed as HLH.The proportion of patients using vasopressors,the incidence rate of disseminated intravascular coagulation(DIC),and the HScore in the HLH group were higher than those in the non-HLH group(P＜0.05).Hepatomegaly,splenomegaly,and hemophagocytosis were more common in HLH patients(P＜0.05).Compared with the patients in non-HLH group,patients in HLH group had lower levels of neutrophils,platelets,fibrinogen,IgG,and IgM,while the levels of triglycerides,ferritin(FER),sCD25,serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase(SGOT),alkaline phosphatase(ALP),total bilirubin(TBil),lactate dehydrogenase(LDH),and D-dimer were higher(P＜0.05).In subgroup analysis,the level of sCD25 in tumor group was higher than that in infection group.The level of sCD25/ferritin in tumor group was higher than that in infection group and MAS group.Compared with HLH patients in the tumor group,the procalcitonin(PCT)level,proportion of patients using vasopressors,positive rate of hemophagocytosis,and incidence rate of DIC were all higher in the infection group,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).The results of multivariate analysis showed that fever,splenomegaly,hemophagocytosis,cytopenias,IgM,M.sCD25[multiple of sCD25 detection value relative to the diagnostic threshold(2400 U/ml)],fibrinogen,and triglycerides were independent predictive factors for HLH(P＜0.05).The diagnostic prediction model H constructed based on temperature,splenomegaly,hemophagocytosis,cytopenias,IgM,M.sCD25,fibrinogen,triglycerides showed good predictive accuracy.The optimal cutoff value of H was 39.45,the sensitivity of the model was 94.12％,the specificity was 83.02％.Conclusion:sCD25,sCD25/FER,PCT,hemophagocytosis,hemodynamic instability and DIC could help to distinguish the underlying etiology of HLH.The prediction model H has high discrimination and calibration,which could be used as a relatively accurate clinical diagnostic tool for HLH.

BACKGROUNDCerebral alveolar echinococcosis (CAE) grows infiltratively like a malignant tumor, causing great harm to the human body. It is possible to display mass lesions of CAE using various imaging systems, but regarding the infiltrating proliferation active regions, it is difficult to evaluate its actual range using conventional magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI). This research focused on proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)HMRS) techniques to find the mass and infiltration zone of CAE. We explored the marginal zone (MZ) of CAE nearly close to the actual infiltrating scope, to provide reliable images for clinical purposes, to overcome shortcomings of cMRI, to formulate beneficial clinical surgical plans and assess prognosis.

METHODSBetween September 2005 and May 2011, 15 patients who were suffering from CAE (36 effective lesions altogether) were examined by (1)HMRS at the first affiliated hospital of Xinjiang Medical University. Multi-voxel (1)HMRS was acquired with a 1.5T MRI scanner. Concentrations and the ratios of the metabolites of CAE were calculated. Furthermore, changes in the concentrations of the metabolites containing N-acetyl-aspartic-acid (NAA), choline (Cho), creatine (Cr), lipids and lactate (Lip + Lac) and the ratios of Cho/Cr, NAA/Cr, (Lip + Lac) /Cr were compared in the substantial region, 0 - 10 mm MZ, and 11 - 20 mm MZ of the infiltration zone, as well as the corresponding contralateral part of the normal brain parenchyma area (control group).

RESULTSIn this study, the ratios of Cho/Cr in the substantial region, 0 - 10 mm MZ of infiltration zone and the control group were 1.78 ± 0.70, 1.90 ± 0.54, and 0.78 ± 0.15, respectively; the ratios of NAA/Cr were 1.60 ± 0.20, 1.80 ± 0.42, 2.24 ± 0.86, respectively; the ratios of (Lip + Lac)/Cr were 25.69 ± 13.84, 25.18 ± 16.03, and 0.61 ± 0.15, respectively. From the control group, 11 - 20 mm MZ to 0 - 10 mm MZ and the substantial region of CAE, the concentrations of the metabolites showed that NAA and Cho decreased gradually and markedly. But (Lip + Lac) increased gradually and markedly. The ratios of Cho/Cr and NAA/Cr, (Lip + Lac)/Cr were statistically significant (P < 0.0083) between the substantial region and the control group, as well as between the 0 - 10 mm MZ and the control group. The ratios of Cho/Cr and NAA/Cr, (Lip + Lac)/Cr displayed no statistically significant differences (P > 0.0083) between the substantial region and the 0 - 10 mm MZ.

CONCLUSIONSThere was a pathological spectrum surrounding the infiltration zone of CAE. Multi-voxel 1HMRS has great clinical value for discerning the main lesion and the infiltration zone of CAE.

Adult ; Central Nervous System Infections ; pathology ; Echinococcosis ; pathology ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the antibacterial activity of Ciprofloxacin, Amikacin in combination with beta-lactams against Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains in vitro, to optimize treatment regime for antibiotics on the basis of pharmacokinetics (PK)/pharmacodynamics (PD) and drug sensitivity tests. Methods With checkerboard titration method, the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of a combination of antibiotics in different concentrations for 33 clinically isolated Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains were determined by broth dilution. Fractional inhibitory concentrations (FIC) were calculated for judging synergic effect of antibiotics.

RESULTSThe combination of Amikacin and Ceftazidime showed synergic effects (accounting for 57.6%). The combinations of Ciprofloxacin with Ceftazidime, Cefepime, Imipenem/Cilastatin, Meropenem showed synergic or additive effect. In the study with PK/PD, C(max)/MIC was the principal parameters for evaluation of aminoglycoside and fluoroquinolone antibiotics, while T > MIC was the principal parameter to be used to evaluate beta-lactams antibiotics.

CONCLUSIONWhen antibiotics are used in combination, MICs can be reduced significantly and antibacterial activities are enhanced remarkably. The combination of antibiotics results mainly in synergic or additive effect, and no inhibitory effect is observed. PK/PD analysis plays an important role in planning optimal combination regime to raise clinical efficacy.

Amikacin ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; Burn Units ; Ciprofloxacin ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; beta-Lactams ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology

57 rubella virus strains were isolated using Vero cell line or Vero/SLAM cell line from patients' throat swabs during rubella outbreaks and sporadics in 10 provinces of China from 2003 to 2007. Fragments of 1107 nucleotides of E1 genes of the isolates were amplified by RT-PCR, the PCR products were directly sequenced and analyzed. The phylogenetic analysis based on 739 nucleotides showed that out of 57 Chinese rubella virus strains, 55 belong to a distinguish branch of 1E genotype when comparing with 1E genotype rubella strains from other countries, and the other 2 Chinese rubella virus strains belong to 2B genotype. Most of the nucleotide mutations of 57 rubella viruses were silent mutations, and the amino acid sequences were highly conserved. Except one amino acid change (Thr212 --> Ser212) in two rubella viruses at the hemagglutination inhibition and neutralization epitopes, there had no change found at the important antigenic epitope sites of the other rubella viruses. 1E genotype rubella viruses isolated from 10 provinces of China from 2003 to 2007, and two imported 2B genotype rubella viruses from Vietnam suggested that 1E genotype was the predominant genotype in this period of time. The rubella virus genotypes circulated during 2003 to 2007 were different from that circulating during 1979 to 1984 and 1999 to 2002, the rubella prevailed in recent years was mainly caused by 1E genotype rubella viruses with multi-transmission routes.
Genotype ; Mutation ; Phylogeny ; Rubella virus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Time Factors

To explore the threshold effect of body mass index (BMI) on bone mineral density (BMD) in Chinese women living in the fluorosis area, we conducted a cross-sectional study and recruited 722 women in rural areas in Henan Province, China. After detection and analyses, we found that compared with the normal BMI group, the risk of osteoporosis in the overweight and obese groups were reduced by 32% and 69%, respectively. Threshold effect analysis showed that BMD was positively correlated with BMI when BMI was 16.8-31.2 kg/m 2; while when BMI was greater than 31.2 kg/m 2, the correlation reached saturation. The correlation observed between low-to-moderate fluoride exposure and BMD in rural women was not significant.

To explore the threshold effect of body mass index (BMI) on bone mineral density (BMD) in Chinese women living in the fluorosis area, we conducted a cross-sectional study and recruited 722 women in rural areas in Henan Province, China. After detection and analyses, we found that compared with the normal BMI group, the risk of osteoporosis in the overweight and obese groups were reduced by 32% and 69%, respectively. Threshold effect analysis showed that BMD was positively correlated with BMI when BMI was 16.8-31.2 kg/m 2; while when BMI was greater than 31.2 kg/m 2, the correlation reached saturation. The correlation observed between low-to-moderate fluoride exposure and BMD in rural women was not significant.