Objective: To understand the prevalence of major human parasitic diseases and related factors in Henan province. Methods: This stratified sampling survey was carried out according to the requirement of national survey protocol of major human parasitic diseases, 2014-2015. The prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths infection, taeniasis and intestinal protozoiasis were surveyed in 104 sites selected from 35 counties (districts) and the prevalence of clonorchiasis was surveyed in 62 sites selected from 37 townships. In each survey spot, 250 persons were surveyed. A total of 26 866 persons and 15 893 persons were surveyed. Modified Kato-Katz thick smear was used to detect the eggs of intestinal helminthes. Tube fecal culture was used to identify the species of hookworm. The Enterobius eggs were detected in children aged 3 to 6 years by using adhesive tape. The cyst and trophozoite of intestinal protozoa were examined with physiological saline direct smear method and iodine stain method. Results: The overall infestation rate of intestinal parasites was2.02% in Henan, and the worm infection rate was higher than protozoa infection rate. Fourteen kinds of intestinal parasites were found, including nematode (5 species), trematode (2 species), and protozoan (7 species). The infection rate of Enterobius vermicularis was highest, and Qinba Mountain ecological area had the highest infestation rate of intestinal parasites in 4 ecological areas of Henan. There was no significant difference in intestinal parasite infection rate between males and females (χ(2)=3.630, P=0.057), and the differences in intestinal parasite infection rate among different age groups had significance (χ(2)=124.783, P=0.000 1). The infection rate reached the peak in age group ≤9 years and the major parasite was Enterobius vermicularis. Furthermore the overall human infection rate of parasite showed a downward trend with the increase of educational level of the people (χ(2)=70.969, P=0.000 1), the differences had significance (χ(2)=120.118, P=0.000 1). For different populations, the infection rate of intestinal parasites was highest among preschool children. The infection of intestinal helminth was mainly mild, only 2 severe cases were detected. The infection rate of Clonorchis sinensis in urban residents was only 0.006%. Logistic regression analysis showed that being preschool children (χ(2)=15.765, P=0.000 1) and drinking well water (χ(2)=45.589, P=0.000 1) were the risk factors for intestinal parasite infection, and annual income per capita of farmers was the protective factor against intestinal parasite infection. The infection rates of protozoa and intestinal parasites decreased sharply compared with the results of previous two surveys, and the rate of intestinal helminth infection also dropped sharply compared with the second survey. The numbers of protozoa, helminth and intestinal parasites detected in this survey were all less than the numbers found in the previous two surveys. Conclusions: Compared the results of three surveys in Henan, the infection rate of protozoa and intestinal parasites showed a downward trend. The prevention and treatment of Enterobius vermicularis infection in children should be the key point of parasitic disease control in the future.
Animals ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Clonorchiasis/epidemiology* ; Farmers ; Feces/parasitology* ; Female ; Helminthiasis/epidemiology* ; Helminths ; Humans ; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/parasitology* ; Male ; Prevalence ; Protective Factors ; Risk Factors ; Rural Population ; Soil Microbiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Taeniasis/epidemiology* ; Trematode Infections/parasitology* ; Urban Population ; Water Wells

Disinfection ; Escherichia coli ; isolation & purification ; Hospitals ; Medical Waste ; Sewage ; Waste Products ; Water Microbiology

Various forms of complementary and alternative medicine are used in psoriasis. Among these, herbal medicines are frequently used as systemic and/or topical interventions either as a replacement for or in conjunction with conventional methods. The benefit of such use is unclear. This review is to provide an up-to-date review and discussion of the clinical evidence for the main kinds of herbal therapies for psoriasis. Searches of the biomedical databases PubMed (including MEDLINE), EMBASE and CINAHL were conducted in December 2011 which identified 32 clinical studies, all published in English. Twenty of these primarily tested topical herbal medicines and were thus excluded. The 12 studies that evaluated systemic use of herbal medicines were included in the review. Four were case series studies and the other 8 were controlled trials. In terms of interventions, 4 studies tested the systemic use of plant oils combined with marine oils and 8 studies tested multi-ingredient herbal formulations. The clinical evidence for plant and animal derived fatty acids is inconclusive and any benefit appears to be small. For the multi-herb formulations, benefits of oral herbal medicines were shown in several studies, however, a number of these studies are not controlled trials, a diversity of interventions are tested and there are methodological issues in the controlled studies. In conclusion, there is promising evidence in a number of the studies of multi-herb formulations. However, well-designed, adequately powered studies with proper control interventions are needed to further determine the benefits of these formulations. In addition, syndrome differentiation should be incorporated into trial design to ensure effective translation of findings from these studies into Chinese medicine clinical practice.
Administration, Oral ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Plant Oils ; therapeutic use ; Psoriasis ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVEFurther studies have been conducted to evaluate the roles of Ngn3 in adult islet maintenance and renewal.

METHODSIslets were isolated from 6 - 8 week old male C57BL/6 mice. After common bile duct cannulation, the pancreas was resected and digested in collagenase V (2.5 mg/ml). Islets were then handpicked and 10 - 12 islets were plated in 60 mm culture dish and cultivated with RPMI-1640, which contained 12.5 mmol/L HEPES, 5.2 mmol/L glucose and 2% fetal bovine serum (FBS). Islet cells were analyzed by immunocytochemistry methods for A6, insulin, glucagon, nestin, Ngn3 and 5-bromo-2'-deoxy-uridine (BrdU).

RESULTSThe results of these studies indicated that less than 15 percent of proliferated islet cells were Ngn3 expressing cells, in which about one third of the Ngn3 positive cells co-expressed A6. The existence of Ngn3 in cultured islet cells is consistent with the results from other's findings both in embryogenesis and adult islet studies. A significant finding of our study is that the existence of A6 and Ngn3 co-expressing cells in the cultured islet. A6 is a marker for identifying bile duct epithelial cell oriented hepatic progenitor cells. Islet-derived A6 cells are possibly born in the adult pancreatic duct and migrate into islets. A6 cells co-express Ngn3 when these cells commit to endocrine lineage within the islets. More interestingly, islet-derived A6 positive cells have the potential to transdifferentiate into hepatic cells.

CONCLUSIONThe presence of Ngn3(+) and A6(+) cells in the cultured islets suggests that the four established islet cell types arise from a common endocrine lineage residing within the adult islets. A6 and Ngn3 are useful markers for understanding intra-islet adult stem cell lineages in our future studies. This approach may allow for significant advances in understanding the IPC proliferation and differentiation, and open the possibility of using intra-islet adult stem cells for diabetes treatment.

Animals ; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Lineage ; Cells, Cultured ; Islets of Langerhans ; cytology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Microfilament Proteins ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; biosynthesis ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism

Background/Aims: To assess the effectiveness and feasibility of a brief session of hypnosis to reduce distress in children with functional constipationundergoing anorectal manometry (ARM). Methods: A partially-blinded randomized controlled pilot trial was conducted in children 4-18 years old scheduled for ARM. Children were randomized to receive a brief session of hypnosis prior to ARM or standard care. Non-blinded and blinded observers rated the child’s level of distress using the Observation Scale of Behavioral Distress and a 4-point-Likert scale, respectively. Differences between groupswere analyzed using Fisher’s exact test or Mann-Whitney U test as appropriate. Results: Data from 32 children (15 hypnosis and 17 standard care) were analyzed. Prior to insertion of the catheter, the observed mean levels of distress were lower in the hypnosis group according to both the non-blinded observer (median 0.0 [interquartile range {IQR} 0.0-0.3] vs 1.4 [IQR 0.3-2.4]; P = 0.009) and the blinded observer (median 0.0 [IQR 0.0-0.0] vs 0.5 [IQR 0.0-1.0]; P = 0.044). During ARM, observed and reported levels of distress did not differ significantly. In the hypnosis group, 92.9% of parents and childrenreported that hypnosis helped the child to relax. There were no significant differences in resting pressure, squeeze pressure, or duration of the procedure between both groups. Conclusion A brief session of hypnosis for children before ARM is an easily incorporable intervention that lowers distress levels prior to theprocedure and is positively perceived by children and parents.

Objective: To understand the dynamic variation of BMI and influencing factors among HIV/AIDS patients receiving highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) in Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (Guangxi). Methods: HIV/AIDS patients receiving HAART for the first time since 1 January 2013 were selected. Data on BMI was analyzed among patients receiving HAART at baseline,6 months and 12 months after treatment. By using the general linear model repeated measures of analysis of variance, BMI dynamic variations and influencing factors were described and analyzed. Results: The average BMI of 2 871 patients at baseline, 6th months and 12th months appeared as (20.65±3.32), (20.87±3.22) and (21.18±3.20), respectively, with differences all statistically significant (F=18.86, P<0.001). BMI were increasing over time with treatments (F=37.25, P<0.001). Main influencing factors were noticed as: age, sex, marital status, baseline data of CD(4)(+)T cells and the WHO classification on clinical stages. Conclusions: Higher proportion of BMI malnutrition counts was seen among patients before receiving HAART in Liuzhou. BMI of the patients that were on HAART seemed being influenced by many factors. It is necessary to select appropriate treatment protocols on different patients so as to improve the nutritional status of the patients.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; Body Mass Index ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; China/epidemiology* ; HIV Infections/drug therapy* ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Marital Status ; Nutritional Status ; T-Lymphocytes

Objective: To explore the features of distribution on HIV-1 gene subtypes among newly reported HIV/AIDS cases in the border areas of Yunnan province. Methods: A total of 233 newly reported HIV/AIDS cases aged 18 or more were consecutively included in the border counties of Dehong Dai and Jingpo autonomous prefecture (Dehong prefecture), Honghe Hani and Yi autonomous prefecture (Honghe prefecture) of Yunnan province from November 2015 to October 2016. HIV-1 RNA was extracted with pol and env genes amplified. HIV-1 gene subtypes were determined through phylogenetic analysis. Results: A total of 146 out of 233 specimens were genotyped successfully. HIV-1 was found to have had 8 gene subtypes in Dehong prefecture, with the unique recombinant forms (URFs) as the predominant (52.8%, 57/108) type, including 56.8% (21/37) of the cases with Chinese ethnicity and another 50.7% (36/71) were Myanmar citizens. Four HIV-1 gene subtypes were detected in Honghe prefecture, with CRF01_AE as predominant (71.1%, 27/38), including 81.0% (17/21) Vietnamese and 58.8% (10/17) Chinese. Differences on the distribution of HIV-1 gene subtypes were seen statistically significant between Dehong prefecture and Honghe prefecture (χ(2)=61.072, P<0.001). Conclusions: The distribution of HIV-1 gene subtypes showed big difference in the two border areas of Yunnan province, suggesting that both Chinese or non- Chinese citizens living in the area should be taken good care of, in terms of HIV/AIDS prevention and control.
Adolescent ; Adult ; China/epidemiology* ; Female ; Genotype ; HIV Infections/virology* ; HIV-1/genetics* ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myanmar/ethnology* ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Viral/genetics* ; Young Adult

To understand the mutational characteristics of ATP7B gene of hepatolenticular degeneration in Xinjiang region. 24 cases were diagnosed as hepatolenticular degeneration and the exon of ATP7B gene was detected in some of their siblings and parents. A total of 45 ATP7B gene mutations (93.75%) were detected in 24 cases, of which 14 cases were homozygous mutations or compound heterozygous mutations, six cases were heterozygous mutations and four cases were no mutations. A total of 24 gene mutations and 14 SNPS were detected, including 8 new mutations: c.251C > A, c.121A > c, c.2945C > A, c.2194C > T, c.2947T > c, c.3626T > A, c.3662_3664del, c.3557G > T. The most common mutations were c.2621C > T (p.A874V) [16.7% (4/24)] and c.2333G > T (p.R778L) [12.5% ​​(3/24)]. A total of 4 cases were diagnosed as pre-symptomatic. In this study, the most common mutation in the ATP7B gene is A874V. The most common genetic mutations in Han and Uyghur patients were different. The most common mutation in Han and Uyghur patients is R778L and A874V. Exon 11 is the gene mutations hot spot for patients with hepatolenticular degeneration in Xinjiang region, and is one of the priority exons to be detected when screening patients with suspected hepatolenticular degeneration.

Objective: To investigate the risks of pre-pregnancy overweight, excessive gestational weight gain on macrosomia. Methods: We conducted one hospital-based cohort study, focusing on pregnant women from January 2015. All pregnant women attending to this hospital for maternal check-ups, were included in our cohort and followed to the time of delivery. Data related to general demographic characteristics, pregnancy and health status of those pregnant women, was collected and maternal pre-pregnant BMI and maternal weight gain were calculated. Logistic regression was used to explore the risk difference of pre-pregnancy BMI, excessive gestational weight gain on macrosomia. Results: The overall incidence of macrosomia in our cohort appeared as 6.6% (149/2 243). After adjusting the confounding factors including age and histories on pregnancy, pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity was associated with higher risks of macrosomia (OR=3.12, 95%CI: 1.35-7.22, P=0.008; OR=2.99, 95%CI: 1.17-7.63, P=0.022) when comparing to those with normal pre-pregnancy weight. Cesarean delivery and sex of the offspring were associated with higher risk of macrosomia, while excessive gestational weight gain showed no significant difference (OR=1.41, 95%CI: 0.96-2.09, P=0.084). Our data showed that Macrosomia was statistically associated with gestational weight gain (P=0.002). After controlling parameters as age, history of pregnancy and related complications of the pregnant women, results from the logistic regression showed that women with gestational inadequate weight gain having reduced risks to deliver macrosomia, when compared to those pregnant women with adequate weight gain (OR=0.52, 95%CI: 0.30-0.90, P=0.019). Conclusion: Pre-pregnancy overweight and obesity were on higher risks to macrosomia.
Body Mass Index ; Cesarean Section/statistics & numerical data* ; China/epidemiology* ; Female ; Fetal Macrosomia/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Logistic Models ; Obesity/epidemiology* ; Overweight/epidemiology* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications/epidemiology* ; Prospective Studies ; Weight Gain

Objective: To explore the influencing factors related to thyroid carcinoma. Methods: Matched by sex, age and original residential areas, 659 pairs of cases and controls were recruited and studied. Methods including both single factor analysis and multivariate conditional logistic regression analysis were carried out to identify the influencing factors. Results: Multivariate conditional logistic regression analysis showed that higher education, being diabetic, alcohol intake, tea drinking, occupational physical activity and the frequency of eating fishes/eggs etc., were potentially protective to thyroid carcinoma. Depression, personal history of CT examination and less salt intake seemed to be risk factors on thyroid carcinoma. For males, factors as alcohol intake, tea drinking, occupational physical activity and frequent egg-eating appeared protective. For females, higher education, diabetes, tea drinking, occupational physical activity, frequent consumption of fishes/eggs, short duration of menstruation appeared as possibly protective. Conclusion: Higher education, diabetes, alcohol intake, tea drinking, occupational physical activity, frequent consumption of fishes/eggs, depression, personal history of CT examination and less salt intake served as potential influencing factors to thyroid carcinoma.
Alcohol Drinking ; Animals ; Case-Control Studies ; China/epidemiology* ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Tea ; Thyroid Neoplasms/etiology*