Objective: To explore the association between the consumption of chemical fertilizers and the risk of low birth weight (LBW), to provide references for prevention programs on LBW and to improve the birth outcomes. Methods: Stratified multivariate logistic regression method was used in this study involving 153 preterm LBW infants, 179 term LBW infants and 204 normal control infants that were randomly selected from the birth monitoring data between October 2007 and September 2012 in Pingding county, Shanxi province. Associations between the risk of LBW and maternal exposure to chemical fertilizers during pregnancy were identified. A normal control group was set up to compare results between preterm and term LBW groups. Results: Totally, 18 749 infants were born between 2007 and 2012, with the total incidence rates of LBW as 48.5‰, preterm LBW as 19.4‰, and term LBW as 29.1‰. Concerning the case control study on preterm LBW, after adjustment for confounding factors, the risk of preterm LBW appeared 2.51 (95%CI: 1.05-5.99) times higher in villages with annual consumption of chemical fertilizer ≥100 tons than those villages that using chemical fertilizer less than 50 tons. No significant statistical associations were found between the amounts of household chemical fertilizer consumption and the risks of preterm LBW. Regarding the case control study on term LBW, after adjustment for confounding factors, in villages with ≥100 tons annual consumption of chemical fertilizers, the risk of term LBW was 4.03 (95%CI: 1.63-9.92) times of the risk in villages where the annal use of chemical fertilizers was less than 50 tons. There was no significant association between household consumption of chemical fertilizers and the risk of term LBW. Conclusions: Maternal exposure to chemical fertilizers during pregnancy was associated with the risk of LBW. Our findings suggested that the amount of chemical fertilizer consumption in rural areas seemed also associated with the risks of other adverse pregnancy outcomes. Women should avoid the chance of exposure to chemical fertilizers during pregnancy and the consumption of chemical fertilizers should be carefully managed.
Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Environmental Exposure/adverse effects* ; Female ; Fertilizers/adverse effects* ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Maternal Exposure ; Pregnancy ; Premature Birth/epidemiology* ; Random Allocation ; Risk Factors

Objective: To understand the molecular characteristics of hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) as well as the disease risk of influenza virus A H7N9 in Guizhou province. Methods: RNAs were extracted and sequenced from HA and NA genes of H7N9 virus strains obtained from 18 cases of human infection with H7N9 virus and 6 environmental swabs in Guizhou province during 2014-2017. Then the variation and the genetic evolution of the virus were analyzed by using a series of bioinformatics software package. Results: Homology analysis of HA and NA genes revealed that 2 strains detected during 2014-2015 shared 98.8%-99.2% and 99.2% similarities with vaccine strains A/Shanghai/2/2013 and A/Anhui/1/2013 recommended by WHO, respectively. Two strains detected in 2016 and 14 strains detected in 2017 shared 98.2%-99.3% and 97.6%-98.8% similarities with vaccine strain A/Hunan/02650/2016, respectively. Other 6 stains detected in 2017 shared 99.1%-99.4% and 98.9%-99.3% similarities with strain A/Guangdong/17SF003/2016, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all the strains were directly evolved in the Yangtze River Delta evolution branch, but they were derived from different small branch. PEVPKRKRTAR↓GLF was found in 6 of 24 strains cleavage site sequences of HA protein, indicating the characteristic of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus. Mutations A134V, G186V and Q226L at the receptor binding sites were found in the HA. All the strains had a stalk deletion of 5 amino acid residue "QISNT" in NA protein, and drug resistance mutation R294K occurred in strain A/Guizhou-Danzhai/18980/2017. In addition, potential glycosylation motifs mutations NCS42NCT were found in the NA of 9 of 24 strains. Conclusions: HA and NA genes of avian influenza A (H7N9) virus showed genetic divergence in Guizhou province during 2014-2017. The mutations of key sites might enhance the virulence of the virus, human beings are more susceptible to it. Hence, the risk of infection is increasing.
Animals ; Base Sequence ; Birds ; China/epidemiology* ; Genome, Viral ; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus/immunology* ; Hemagglutinins/genetics* ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H7N9 Subtype/isolation & purification* ; Influenza in Birds ; Influenza, Human/virology* ; Neuraminidase/genetics* ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Viral/genetics* ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

Objective: To analyze the relationship between medication taken during pregnancy and congenital heart disease of the newborns. Methods: A large cross-sectional survey was conducted between August and November 2013. A questionnaire survey was conducted among the childbearing aged women, selected through multistage stratified random sampling in Shaanxi from 2010 to 2013. All of the childbearing aged women under study were in pregnancy and with definite pregnancy outcomes. Multivariable Poisson regression was conducted for data analyses. Results: A total of 28 680 cases were included in this study. The proportion of medication taken at any time during pregnancy was 16.0%, and the prevalence of congenital heart disease among the newborns was 67.9/10 000. After adjustment for factors as general demographic characteristic, history of heart disease and drug allergy and the situation of disease during pregnancy of these women, results from the multivariable Poisson regression showed that, factors as taking drugs (RR=1.95, 95%CI: 1.42- 2.68), cold medicine (RR=1.68, 95%CI: 1.07-2.64), antibiotics (RR=1.90, 95%CI: 1.25-2.90), salicylates (RR=5.01, 95%CI: 1.84-13.64) and antifungal drugs (RR=10.22, 95%CI: 3.25-32.19) during pregnancy were all related to congenital heart disease, and with the history of taking cold medicine (RR=1.90, 95%CI: 1.01-3.61), antibiotics (RR=2.18, 95%CI: 1.17-4.06), salicylates (RR=6.07, 95%CI: 1.45-25.41), antifungal drugs (RR=21.01, 95%CI: 4.17-105.87) and other drugs (RR=2.31, 95%CI: 1.19-4.47) during early pregnancy. These factors were with higher risks for congenital heart disease. Conclusion: Women of childbearing age who took cold medicine, antibiotics, salicylic acid drugs, antifungal drugs and other drugs during early pregnancy would increase the risks related to congenital heart diseases.
Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Drug Therapy ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; Female ; Heart Diseases/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective: To understand the epidemiological and etiological characteristics of mumps in Fujian province, 2005-2017. Methods: All the reported mumps cases were collected through the National Notifiable Disease Information Management System, 2005-2017. Active search and interviews were conducted to collect the information on vaccination of mumps. Throat swab specimens were collected for cells culture, genotyping and gene sequence analysis on mumps virus (MuV). Results: A total of 83 959 cases of mumps were reported in Fujian province from 2005 to 2017, with an average annual incidence of 17.6 per 100 000. Since 2007, the incidence appeared increasing but then decreasing, reaching the lowest level (7.5 per 100 000), after the setup of a monitoring program. Annually, the onset time of mumps showed an obvious two seasonal peaks, one from April to July, with a weakening trend, and the other from October to January with a rising trend. Most of the mumps cases occurred among students, kindergarten and scattered children (89.2%, 5 814/6 517), children aged 5-9 years (38.8%, 2 527/6 517), with cases reported from every region. Program from the pathogen surveillance showed that the transmission chain of G genotype mumps virus did exist in Fujian. Data from the sequence analysis revealed that mutations in the nucleotide of G genotype strain in 2015 had led to mutation of 6 amino acid sites in the SH gene coding region, resulting in the differences appearing in both nucleotide and amino acid homology with type A vaccine strain. Conclusions: The incidence of mumps decreased annually, in Fujian. Prevention programs should focus on primary and secondary school students. In Fujian province, we also noticed the transmission chain of mumps G genotype with some amino acid mutations in the SH gene coding region. Monitor programs on both epidemiologic and etiology, should be strengthened.
Child ; Child, Preschool ; China/epidemiology* ; Genotype ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mumps/epidemiology* ; Mumps virus/pathogenicity* ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis

Purinergic P2Y Receptor Antagonists ; Consensus ; Cardiovascular System ; Cardiology ; Asia

Objective: To analyze the characteristics of super-antigen (SAg) of group A Streptococcus pyogenes (GAS), isolated from patients with scarlet fever or pharyngeal infections in Beijing between 2015-2017. Methods: Throat swab specimens from patients with scarlet fever or pharyngeal infections were collected and tested for GAS. Eleven currently known SAg genes including SpeA, speC, speG, speH, speI, speJ, speK, speL, speM, smeZ and ssa were tested by real-time PCR while M protein genes (emm genes) were amplified and sequenced by PCR. Results: A total of 377 GAS were isolated from 6 801 throat swab specimens, with the positive rate as 5.5%. There were obvious changes noticed among speC, speG, speH and speK in three years. A total of 45 SAg genes profiles were observed, according to the SAgs inclusion. There were significant differences appeared in the frequencies among two of the highest SAg genes profiles between emm1 and emm12 strains (χ(2)=38.196, P<0.001; χ(2)=72.310, P<0.001). There also appeared significant differences in the frequencies of speA, speH, speI and speJ between emm1 and emm12 strains (χ(2)=146.154, P<0.001; χ(2)=52.31, P<0.001; χ(2)=58.43, P<0.001; χ(2)=144.70, P<0.001). Conclusions: Obvious changes were noticed among SAg genes including speC, speG, speH and speK from patients with scarlet fever or pharyngeal infections in Beijing between 2015-2017. SAg genes including speA, speH, speI and speJ appeared to be associated with the emm 1 and emm 12 strains. More kinds of SAg genes profiles were isolated form GAS but with no significant differences seen in the main SAg genes profiles, during the epidemic period.
Antigens, Bacterial/genetics* ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins ; Bacterial Proteins ; Beijing/epidemiology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Exotoxins ; Female ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; Pharyngitis/microbiology* ; Pharynx/microbiology* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/microbiology* ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Scarlet Fever/microbiology* ; Streptococcal Infections ; Streptococcus pyogenes/isolation & purification* ; Superantigens/genetics*

Objective: To understand the related risk behaviors, knowledge and status of HIV/AIDS infection among rural adults of Derung minority, to provide relevant messages for the development of HIV/AIDS intervention strategy in this minority group. Methods: We used system sampling method to conduct a cross-sectional survey in 6 administration villages of Derung Township, Gongshan Derung and Nu Autonomous County in Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan Province, with a sample size estimated as 383. Adult residents with Derung minority in six villages of Gongshan County were involved, with relevant information collected through door-to-door visit. HIV antibody was tested and SPSS 17.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results: Information on 394 valid respondents was collected, with age as between 18 and 65 (34.39±9.74), 80.7% (318/394) as married, 54.0% (213/394) having had primary school education, 13.2% (52/394) as migrant workers. In this population, the overall HIV infection rate appeared as 0.5% (2/400), mainly through sexually transmission. The rate of awareness on HIV/AIDS was 69.8% (275/394), mainly through free publicized materials 50.0% (197/394). Rates on premarital sexual behavior on multiple sexual partners in the past year, on temporary sexual partners in the past year, having commercial sexual experiences in the past year and ever used condoms when engaging in casual sex, were 6.4% (60/366), 18.0%(66/366), 5.7%(21/366), 1.9%(7/366) and 8.0%(25/311), respectively. Conclusions: Few numbers of HIV infections were identified among the migrating workers with Derung minority, with sexual transmission as the major route, along with the increased number of rural migrant workers and the low rates both on AIDS knowledge and condom use, accompanied by the high risk sexual behavior appeared in this rural adult residents of Derung minority. Relative strategies on HIV/AIDS intervention and control should be developed.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; Adult ; China/epidemiology* ; Condoms ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; HIV Infections/epidemiology* ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Infections ; Risk-Taking ; Rural Population/statistics & numerical data* ; Sexual Behavior ; Sexual Partners ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Transients and Migrants

Objective: To understand the effect of interpregnancy interval (IPI) of childbearing aged women on the birth weight of single live birth neonates in Shaanxi province. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted among the childbearing aged women selected through multistage stratified random sampling in Shaanxi during 20l0-2013, all the childbearing aged women had definite pregnancy outcomes. The interpregnancy interval of the childbearing aged women and the birth weight of the newborns were used as the independent variables and dependent variables respectively in multiple linear regression model and quantile regression model, and confounding factors were controlled. Results: A total of 13 063 women at childbearing age and their infants were investigated. The incidence of low birth weight and macrosomia was 3.54% and 7.62% respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that there was no significant difference in birth weight among different IPI group and control group. Quantile regression analysis showed when birth weight was at 5 percentiles, the difference in birth weight between newborns whose mothers had short interpregnancy interval (<12 months) and those in control group was significant, when the birth weight was ≥90 percentiles, the birth weights of newborns whose mothers had long interpregnancy interval (60-119 months) were higher than those in control group, the difference was significant. As the increase of the percentiles of birth weight, the extent of changes gradually increased. Conclusion: The analysis indicated that both short (<12 months) and long (60-119 months) interpregnancy interval would had negative effects on birth weights of newborns. Therefore, planning for pregnancy is important for having a good perinatal outcome.
Birth Intervals ; Birth Weight ; Female ; Fetal Macrosomia/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Live Birth ; Macrolides ; Male ; Maternal Age ; Mothers ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Adult ; Cities ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Quality of Life ; Risk Factors ; Silicosis

Aging is by far the most prominent risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), and both aging and AD are associated with apparent metabolic alterations. As developing effective therapeutic interventions to treat AD is clearly in urgent need, the impact of modulating whole-body and intracellular metabolism in preclinical models and in human patients, on disease pathogenesis, have been explored. There is also an increasing awareness of differential risk and potential targeting strategies related to biological sex, microbiome, and circadian regulation. As a major part of intracellular metabolism, mitochondrial bioenergetics, mitochondrial quality-control mechanisms, and mitochondria-linked inflammatory responses have been considered for AD therapeutic interventions. This review summarizes and highlights these efforts.