Cells, Cultured ; Comet Assay ; DNA Damage ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; Styrene ; adverse effects

Adult ; Blood Donors ; Hepacivirus ; drug effects ; genetics ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; virology ; Humans ; Interferons ; pharmacology ; Middle Aged ; Viral Load

OBJECTIVETo study the potential aging effect on workers exposed to acrylonitrile (ACN).

METHODSThe deletion rates of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in peripheral blood nucleate cells of 47 exposed workers and 47 non-exposed workers (as control), as well as 12 old people and 12 young people were measured with polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

RESULTSThe positive rates of mtDNA deletion in peripheral blood nucleate cells were 17.02% in the workers exposed to ACN and 25.00% in group of old people. However, the mtDNA deletion was not detected in the control group and young people.

CONCLUSIONSACN could induce mtDNA deletion in peripheral blood nucleate cells of the exposed workers. There may be a potential molecular effect of occupational ACN exposure on workers' aging.

Acrylonitrile ; toxicity ; Adolescent ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aging ; drug effects ; Blood Cells ; drug effects ; ultrastructure ; DNA Damage ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; drug effects ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the role of buccal-fat-pad flap in the lined coverage of the maxillary bone graft for the maxillary reconstruction after the tumor excision.

METHODSBased on the cadaver anatomical observation of the buccal-fat-pad, 38 patients with the maxillary tumors were undertaking the treatment in this paper. Under general anesthesia, the buccal-fat-pad flap was elevated and transferred to the anterior or nasal cavities as a line of the sinus after the tumor was immediately excised through an intro-oral or external approach. The bone from the ribs was then grafted in the place for the maxillary support.

RESULTSAfter the anatomical evaluation, 38 patients were carried out the operation successfully. All of the grafted bones were well covered without bone exposure. The aesthetic appearance was achieved.

CONCLUSIONBone graft lined by the pedicled buccal fat pad flap may be a safe and good method for reconstruction of the maxilla with a lower rate of re-absorption and sequestration.

Adipose Tissue ; transplantation ; Aged ; Bone Transplantation ; methods ; Cheek ; Humans ; Maxilla ; surgery ; Maxillary Neoplasms ; surgery ; Oral Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Ribs ; transplantation ; Surgical Flaps

Objective To evaluate the condition of rebuilding stove for preventing coal-buming fluorosis in Ankang City of Shaanxi Province in 2006.Methods Guided by local health administration department in Shaanxi.five counties-Zhengping,Langao,Hanyin,Ziyang,Shiquan-were chosen as rebuilding stove regions in Ankang City.Fifteen housewives were chosen randomly in each village in each county,they were quizzed for the knowledge of health.Fifty students were chosen randomly in each school in each county,they were quizzed for the knowledge of health too.Data of rebuilding stove were refferred.Results Ninty-seven point two per cent(243/250)of the ovens were appropriately sealed,96.8%(242/250)were efficiently exhausted,the rate of oven correctly used was 97.2%(243/250),the awareness rates of healthful knowledge were 85.6%(214/250)in adults and 97.8%(485/496)in children.Data of rebuilding stove were documented systemically,completely and precisely.ConelusionFive model counties in Ankang City have fulfilled the demand.

OBJECTIVETo use randomized controlled clinical research method to assess therapeutic effect of picking therapy on cervical spondylosis.

METHODSOne hundred and fifty-eight cases were randomly divided into a picking therapy group (n=56), a routine acupuncture group (n=55) and a local anesthesia group (n=47). They were treated respectively with picking therapy, routine acupuncture and local anesthesia at Jing bailao (EX HN 15), Dazhui (GV 14), Jianjing (GB 21), etc. Brief McGill Pain Questionaire was used for score, which was combined with clinical symptoms and signs to analyze the therapeutic effect.

RESULTSThe cured rate was 57.1% in the picking therapy group, better than 23.6% in the acupuncture group and 14.9% in the local anesthesia group (P < 0.01), and adverse reaction was basically not found in the picking therapy group.

CONCLUSIONPicking therapy is a highly effective and safe therapy for cervical spondylosis.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Pain Measurement ; Research Design ; Spondylosis ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of autologous tumor vaccines in preventing recurrences of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSFrom March 1999 to June 2003, 80 patients with HCC undergoing resections were randomly assigned into a tumor vaccine group (n=40) and a control group (n=40). Tumor vaccines, consisting of formalin-fixed HCC tissue fragments, biodegradable sustained-releasers of granulocyte-macrophage-colony stimulating factor, interleukin-2, and an adjuvant, were developed. Every vaccine group patient received 3 vaccinations at a 2-week interval and the control group just received the adjuvant. Delayed-type-hypersensitivity (DTH) test and recurrent rates were analyzed.

RESULTSEight patients of the vaccine group and five patients of the control group were lost in the follow-up. Thirty-two patients completed the tumor vaccine procedure and no essential adverse effects occurred. 23/32 patients developed DTH responses against the fragments of HCC. The follow-up averaged 34.3 months (from 15 to 55 months). 1-, 2-, 3-year recurrence rates of the vaccine group were 12.6%, 35.9% and 54.0%, respectively; 1-, 2-, 3-year recurrence rates of the control group were 31.6%, 61.3% and 72.1%, respectively. The recurrent rate was significantly better in the tumor vaccine group than in the control group (P = 0.037).

CONCLUSIONSAutologous tumor vaccine is a promising adjunctive modality to prevent recurrence of human HCC.

Adult ; Aged ; Cancer Vaccines ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; surgery ; therapy ; Female ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 ; therapeutic use ; Liver Neoplasms ; surgery ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; prevention & control ; Postoperative Period ; Vaccination

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the incidence of precore mutation in HBeAg negative HBV infected patients and the therapeutic effect of the immune therapy (levamisole + HBV vaccine + dipyridamole) on patients chronically infected by HBV with precore mutation.

METHODSThe precore region of HBV from the HBeAg (-) chronic hepatitis patients was sequenced and the patients suffered from HBV with precore mutation were treated with immune therapy.

RESULTSThe precore mutation rate was 10/12. The therapeutic effect of the immune therapy on the precore mutation patients (5/7) was better than that on the HBsAg(+), HBeAg(+) patients (2/11), P less than 0.05.

CONCLUSIONThe precore mutation rate was quite high in the HBsAg(+), HBeAg(-) patients we studied. The immune-therapy has some therapeutic effects on the patients with precore mutation. But the number of cases was too small, further study is needed.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Combined Modality Therapy ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Dipyridamole ; therapeutic use ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; therapeutic use ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Lamivudine ; therapeutic use ; Levamisole ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Mutation

OBJECTIVESTumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) may play an important role in host's immune response to mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) infection. This study was to investigate the association of TNF-alpha gene polymorphism with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) among patients with coal worker's pneumoconiosis (CWP).

METHODSA case-control study was conducted in 113 patients with confirmed CWP complicated with pulmonary TB and 113 non-TB controls with CWP. They were matched in gender, age, job, and stage of pneumoconiosis. All participants were interviewed with questionnaires and their blood specimens were collected for genetic determination with informed consent. The TNF-alpha gene polymorphism was determined with polymerase chain reaction of restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Frequency of genotypes was assessed for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium by chi-square test or Fisher's exact probability. Factors influencing the association of individual susceptibility with pulmonary TB were evaluated with logistic regression analysis. Gene-environment interaction was evaluated by a multiplicative model with combined OR. All data were analyzed using SAS version 8.2 software.

RESULTSNo significant difference in frequency of the TNF-alpha-308 genotype was found between CWP complicated with pulmonary TB and non-TB controls (chi2 = 5.44, P = 0.07). But difference in frequency of the TNF-alpha-308 A allele was identified between them (chi2 = 5.14, P = 0.02). No significant difference in frequencies of the TNF-alpha-238 genotype and allele (P = 0.23 and P = 0.09, respectively) was found between cases and controls either, with combined (GG and AA) OR of 3.96 (95% confidence interval of 1.30-12.09) at the -308 locus of the TNF-alpha gene, as compared to combination of the TNF-alpha-238 GG and TNF-alpha-308 GG genotypes. Multivariate-adjusted odds ratio of the TNF-alpha-238 GG and TNF-alpha-308 GA genotypes was 1.98 (95% CI of 1.06-3.71) for risk for pulmonary TB in patients with CWP. There was a synergic interaction between the TNF-alpha-308 GG genotype and body mass index (OR = 4.92), as well as an interaction between the TNF-alpha-308 GG genotype and history of BCG immunization or history of TB exposure. And, the interaction of the TNF-alpha-238 GG genotype and history of BCG immunization or TB exposure with risk for pulmonary TB in them was also indicated.

CONCLUSIONSTNF-alpha-308 A allele is associated with an elevated risk for pulmonary TB, whereas TNF-alpha-238 A allele was otherwise.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anthracosis ; complications ; Case-Control Studies ; Environmental Exposure ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; genetics ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical therapeutic effect of acupuncture on depressive neurosis.

METHODSWith a multi-center randomized controlled study, 440 cases were randomly divided into an acupuncture group, a prozac group, a non-acupoint needling group. In the acupuncture group, Hegu (LI 4) and Taichong (LR 3) were selected, and the Prozac group were treated with administration of 20 mg/d and the non-acupoint needling group were treated with needling the points deviating from the acupoints. The therapeutic effect was evaluated by HAMD score reduction rate, and Asberg's anti-depressant side-effect rating scale (SERS) and severe adverse reaction were used for safety evaluation, and the data were analyzed with ITT.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 86. 4% in the acupuncture group, which was better than 59.1% in the non-acupoint needling group and 72.7% in the prozac group; HAMD score in the acupuncture group was similar to that in the Prozac group, which was better than that in the non-acupoint needling group; the SERS scores in the acupuncture group and the non-acupoint needling group were significantly lower than that in the Prozac group, with no severe side-effects found for acupuncture.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture is an effective and safe therapy for depressive neurosis; therapeutic effect of acupuncture on depressive neurosis possibly is better than or similar to that of Prozac, but with less side-effects.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Depressive Disorder ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged