1.Analysis of monitoring results of coal-burning-borne endemic arsenism in Shaanxi Province from 2015 to 2020
Rong ZHOU ; Xiaoqian LI ; Zhongxue FAN ; Chengbao CUI ; Aimei BAI ; Ying DENG ; Meixuan LU ; Xiong GUO ; Xi WANG ; Yujie NING
Chinese Journal of Endemiology 2023;42(1):30-35
Objective:To learn about the changes of the condition of coal-burning-borne endemic arsenism, the use of improved stoves and the formation of health-related behaviors in Shaanxi Province, and evaluate the effect of prevention and control measures.Methods:From 2015 to 2020, according to the "Implementation Plan for Monitoring Coal-burning-borne Endemic Arsenism in Shaanxi Province", regular field surveys were carried out in 4 natural villages, 2 counties in Ankang City and Hanzhong City, Shaanxi Province, to learn about the basic prevention and control situation in the monitoring village. Using the simple random sampling method, 10 families in each village were selected to investigate the use of stoves and the formation of health-related behaviors, and 5 of these families were selected to collect coal samples for arsenic content determination in accordance with the "Determination of Arsenic in Coal" (GB/T 3058-2008). According to the "Diagnosis of Endemic Arsenicosis" (WS/T 211-2015), the condition of the people exposed to high arsenic coal in the monitoring village was investigated. Urine samples of 30 adult patients (half males and half females) with arsenic poisoning were collected, the content of arsenic in urine was determined by the "Urine-Determination of Arsenic-Silver Diethyldithiocarbamate-Triethanolamine-Spectrophotometric Method" (WS/T 28-1996).Results:A total of 240 households were monitored in the past 6 years, and the quality conformance and correct utilization rates of improved stoves in the households monitored in the disease areas remained at 100.00% in 2018 - 2020. The utilization rate of clean energy increased from 75.00% (30/40) in 2015 to 100.00% (40/40) in 2018 - 2020 (χ 2trend = 25.5, P < 0.001). The 73.75% (177/240) of households using a variety of clean energy. From 2018 to 2020, the correct drying, storage and pre-processing washing rates of corn and pepper continued to reach 100.00% (40/40). The arsenic content of coal ( n = 120) in the disease areas was (118.09 ± 57.91) mg/kg, ranging from 16.70 to 280.94 mg/kg. The detection rate of arsenic poisoning decreased from 6.34% (231/3 646) in 2015 to 2.90% (109/3 754) in 2020 (χ 2trend = 121.8, P < 0.001), and no skin cancer or Bowen's disease was detected. The geometric mean of arsenic content in urine ( n = 720) was 0.038 1 mg/L, ranging from 0.000 5 to 0.312 9 mg/L. Conclusions:The condition of coal-burning-borne endemic arsenism areas in Shaanxi Province has reached the national elimination standard. The quality and correct utilization rate of improved stoves and the rate of using clean energy have increased. The healthy-related behaviors the people in the endemic areas have been basically formed. The prevention and control work has achieved good results.
2.Analysis of monitoring results of coal-burning-borne endemic arsenic poisoning in Shaanxi Province in 2023
Qiongjie DING ; Xiaoqian LI ; Rong ZHOU ; Zhongxue FAN ; Binbin CHEN ; Panhong ZHANG ; Ying DENG ; Meixuan LU ; Min YANG
Chinese Journal of Endemiology 2024;43(6):456-460
Objective:To learn about the monitoring indicators and patient management in coal-burning-borne endemic arsenic poisoning areas in Shaanxi Province, and provide a basis for consolidating and improving the prevention and control achievements.Methods:From March to December 2023, in accordance with the requirements of the "Notice of the Office of Shaanxi Provincial Health Commission on Issuing of the Monitoring Plan for Key Endemic Diseases Such as Kashin-Beck Disease" and "The Monitoring Plan for Endemic Fluorosis and Arsenic Poisoning in Shaanxi Province", a basic situation investigation was conducted in the affected villages of all counties (districts) with coal-burning-borne endemic arsenic poisoning in Shaanxi Province, and on-site visits were conducted to check the management of high arsenic coal mines. Using the simple random sampling method, 30 families in each village were selected to investigate the use of stoves and the formation of health-related behaviors. A survey on arsenic poisoning was carried out among all populations in the affected villages. According to the requirements of the provincial monitoring program, 720 people were randomly selected from 12 affected villages in 3 monitoring counties to measure their urinary arsenic level. The determination was based on the "Guidelines for the Safety of Urinary Arsenic in Population" (WS/T 665-2019). The evaluation for elimination of disease areas was carried out in accordance with the "National Health Commission Issued the Evaluation Approach for Control and Elimination of Priority Endemic Diseases (2019 edition)".Results:A total of 2 cities, 8 counties (districts), 99 townships, and 1 414 affected villages were monitored. All 53 high arsenic coal mines had stopped mining. The rate of qualified improved stoves was 99.97%; the correct utilization rate of qualified improved stoves, and the correct drying rate of corn and chili peppers provided for human consumption in the affected villages were 100.00%. A total of 2 064 138 people were examined, and 2 682 cases of arsenic poisoning were detected, all of whom were historical patients. There were no new cases of arsenic poisoning or skin cancer. There were currently 2 682 arsenic poisoning patients who had received family doctor contract services and implemented follow-up management. The geometric mean of urinary arsenic was 0.016 7 mg/L, which was lower than the safety guideline value for human urinary arsenic (0.032 mg/L).Conclusions:The monitoring indicators in the coal-burning-borne endemic arsenic poisoning areas in Shaanxi Province have reached the elimination standards. In the future, we should continue to strengthen the management of high arsenic coal mines, implement comprehensive prevention and control measures mainly focused on furnace and stove renovation and health promotion, and do a good job in patient management to continuously consolidate and improve the prevention and control achievements.
3.Traditional Chinese Medicine Regulates Tumor-associated Macrophages in Colorectal Cancer: A Review
Meixuan GUO ; Yuxing LIN ; Mengyuan CAI ; Aling SHEN ; Wen LU ; Li LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(22):279-288
Colorectal cancer (CRC), a most common malignant tumor of the digestive tract, is often manifested by abdominal pain, changes in stool quality, blood in the stool, and weight loss, with rising morbidity and mortality year by year. The onset and development of CRC involve a variety of mechanisms, in which tumor microenvironment (TME) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) have received increasing attention. TAMs influence the tumor development via immune escape and angiogenesis promotion and are associated with the prognosis of tumors. In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been widely researched and applied in the treatment of cancers. Studies have discovered that TCM mainly exerts the therapeutic effects on CRC by inhibiting the proliferation, metastasis, and angiogenesis, promoting the apoptosis, and inducing autophagy of tumor cells and boosting the immune function. TCM as an effective treatment approach can regulate TAMs to inhibit tumor growth. Moreover, the active components and targets of TCM can be taken as new research directions of immunotherapy. This review describes TAMs and their roles in CRC progression and summarizes the molecular targets and mechanisms of different active components, compound prescriptions, and novel preparations of TCM against CRC, aiming to provide a mechanism reference for the clinical treatment of CRC with TCM and give new insights into the in-depth research on the prevention and treatment of CRC-related diseases with TCM.