Objective To determine the contents of methylophiopogonanone A (MOA) and methylophiopogonanone B (MOB) in Radix Ophiopogonis and its extracts. Methods An HPLC-UV method was used for determining the contents of MOA and MOB in all samples. Analytical column was Kromasil C18 (250 mm?4.6 mm, 5 ?m). Mobile phase was acetonitrle-water (55∶45) and detection wavelength was 298 nm. The flow rate of mobile phase was 1 mL/min, and temperature was 30 ℃. Results The contents of MOA in Radix Ophiopogonis cropped in Sichuan and Zhejiang Provinces were 0.004 0%-0.009 6%, 0.006 7%-0.013 4%, and the contents of MOB were 0.002 1%-0.006 2%, 0.015 9%-0.028 2%, respectively. The contents of MOA in the extract of Radix Ophiopogonis cropped in Sichuan and Zhejiang Provinces were 0.007 5%-0.008 8%, 0.011 2%-0.012 6%, and the contents of MOB were 0.003 8%-0.005 1%, 0.020 7%-0.023 8%, respectively. Conclusion The contents of MOA and MOB in Radix Ophiopogonis cropped in Zhejiang Province and its extracts are more than those in Sichuan Province and its extrouts. The method can be used for the purpose of the quality control of Radix Ophiopogonis and its extracts.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVEStudies of passive smoking exposure in China however are of particular interest, because of the high lung cancer rate in people who are mostly non-smokers. The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between passive smoking and lung cancer among non-smoking Chinese.

METHODSBy searching Medline, PubMed, CENTRAL (the Cochrane central register of controlled trials), CBM, CNKI and VIP, et al, we collected both domestic and overseas published documents between 1987 and 2007 on passive smoking and lung cancer among non-smoking Chinese. Random or fixed effect models were applied to conduct meta-analysis on the case control study results, and the combined odds ratio (OR) and the 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated as well.

RESULTSSixteen documents were included into the combined analysis, which indicated that there was statistical significance between passive smoking and lung cancer (OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.05-1.21, P = 0.001). It was significant of lung cancer among non-smoking subjects associated with amount of tobacco passively smoked more than 20 cigarettes daily, with life period in adulthood passive smoking exposure, with gender female, and with exposure to workplace. The P value, OR and 95% CI were P = 0.0003, OR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.30-2.43; P = 0.0001, OR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.23-1.83; P = 0.000 7, OR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.19-1.90; P < 0.0001, OR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.19-1.66; respectively. And there was no significant difference between passive smoking and lung cancer with amount of tobacco passively smoked within 20 cigarettes daily, with life period in childhood passive smoking exposure, with gender male and with exposure to spouse and parents.

CONCLUSIONPassive smoking is an important risk factor of lung cancer among non-smoking Chinese, and for non-smoking women who expose to environment tobacco smoke in a long period of time have a close relationship with lung cancer risk.

China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; etiology ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution ; adverse effects ; statistics & numerical data

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to characterize the difficulty index of the items in the skills test components of the class I and II Korean emergency medical technician licensing examination (KEMTLE), which requires examinees to select items randomly. METHODS: The results of 1,309 class I KEMTLE examinations and 1,801 class II KEMTLE examinations in 2013 were subjected to analysis. Items from the basic and advanced skills test sections of the KEMTLE were compared to determine whether some were significantly more difficult than others. RESULTS: In the class I KEMTLE, all 4 of the items on the basic skills test showed significant variation in difficulty index (P<0.01), as well as 4 of the 5 items on the advanced skills test (P<0.05). In the class II KEMTLE, 4 of the 5 items on the basic skills test showed significantly different difficulty index (P<0.01), as well as all 3 of the advanced skills test items (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: In the skills test components of the class I and II KEMTLE, the procedure in which examinees randomly select questions should be revised to require examinees to respond to a set of fixed items in order to improve the reliability of the national licensing examination.
Emergencies* ; Emergency Medical Technicians* ; Humans ; Licensure*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVEFourty years ago, Tokuhata and Lilienfeld provided the first epidemiologic evidence of familial aggregation of lung cancer. Familial aggregation and increased familial risk for lung cancer have been reported in several studies, subsequently. But the results are not consistent with each other. The aim of this study is to further explore the relationship between family history of lung cancer and lung cancer risk.

METHODSBy searching PubMed, CENTRAL, CBM, CNKI and VIP, we collected both domestic and overseas published documents before November, 2009 on family history of lung cancer and lung cancer risk. RevMan version 4.2 was used to perform meta-analysis on the case-control study results, the combined odds ratio (OR) and the 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated as well.

RESULTSTwenty-eight publications were included into the combined analysis, which indicated that the lung cancer risk of the probands' first-degree relatives was 1.88 times higher than that of their controls' (P < 0.001). In the sub-study, compared with the controls' father mother and siblings, the OR of the probands' father mother and siblings was 1.62 (P < 0.001), 1.96 (P < 0.001) and 1.92 (P < 0.001), respectively. For smoking status, lung cancer risk in first-degree relatives of smoking probands was 1.73 (P < 0.001) times higher than that of their corresponding controls'. And for non-smoking subjects the lung cancer risk was 1.42 (P = 0.02) times higher in proboands' first-degree relatives. For gender categories, lung cancer risk in first-degree relatives of female probands was 1.89 (P < 0.001) times higher than that of their corresponding controls'. And for male subjects, the lung cancer risk was 1.99 (P < 0.001) times higher in proboands' first-degree relatives.

CONCLUSIONLung cancer risk was increased in probands' first-degree relatives, and obvious familial aggregation of lung cancer was observed in this study.

Family ; Female ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Male ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVEThe relationship between myeloperoxidase G-463A genetic polymorphisms and lung cancer susceptibility has been studied extensively. However, the outcomes are not consistent. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between myeloperoxidase genetic polymorphisms and lung cancer susceptibility by meta analysis.

METHODSDocuments published were retrieved through databases associated with the study. Taking into account the possibilities of heterogeneity of the studies, a statistical test for heterngeneity was performed. The odds ratio and 95% CI were used to evaluate the risks. The meta analysis was applied with RevMan software 4.2, and the forest plot and funnel plot of meta analysis were worked out.

RESULTSA total of 5 381 cases and 5 827 controls from studies for Caucasian and a total of 1 558 cases and 1 755 controls from studies for East Asians were included. For Caucasian the pooled OR was 0.91 (95% CI: 0.81-1.02); For East Asians, the pooled OR is 0.83 (95% CI: 0.63-1.09). Publication bias exits in the study for Caucasian, but not for East Asians.

CONCLUSIONThe results of this study indicated that the polymorphism of myeloperoxidase G-463A was not significantly associated with the lung cancer risk for Caucasian or East Asians. However, further studies for the East Asians is needed for the few subjects.

Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Peroxidase ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics