Objective:To assess the periodontal diseases as a possible risk factor for preterm and low birth weight. Methods: A population-based, cross-sectional study was carried out in Hubei. The samples were chosen randomly by the rule of admittance. Socio-demographic information relating to health and maternal habits was collected through a questionnaire. The clinical parameters were debris index-simplified (DI-S), sulcus bleeding index (SBI), probing pocket depth (PD) and clinical attachment loss (CAJ). The birth time and weight were recorded. The result was analyzed with chi-square test and logistic regression analysis.Results: The incidence of preterm low birth weight was 12.3%. The gingivitis and periodontitis were diagnosed in 86.6% and 64.2% of preterm low birth weight cases. The odds ratio of having gingivitis and preterm low birth weight was 1.30(95%confidence interval: 0.53-3.22). The odds ratio of having periodontitis and preterm low birth weight was 2.69(95%confidence interval: 1.37-5.27). Conclusion: The periodontal diseases of pregnancy can be regarded as an important risk factor for preterm low birth weight.

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this survey was to assess dental knowledge and behaviors of the teachers and mothers of school children.

METHODSAll data was collected from 1365 mothers of first grade students and 215 schoolteachers in Yichang, Hubei by using questionnaires and, analyzed using SPSS software.

RESULTSThe level of dental knowledge was higher among schoolteachers than among mothers; the mothers were mostly informed through television/book (62.4%/51.5%), while teachers received information from various sources, including the dentists (75.3%). Most of the children (94.0%) didn't have practical support from their parents in daily tooth cleaning. Only 18.9% of them visited the dentist at least once per year.

CONCLUSIONThis finding suggested that we should emphasize oral healthy education among mothers and schoolteachers, in order to promote school-based oral health education program.

Adult ; Attitude to Health ; Child ; China ; Dental Care for Children ; statistics & numerical data ; Dental Caries ; prevention & control ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Health Education, Dental ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Male ; Mothers ; Periodontal Diseases ; prevention & control ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Teaching ; Toothbrushing ; statistics & numerical data

OBJECTIVETo construct a fusion anti-caries DNA vaccine pGLUA-P carrying GLU fragment from gtfB gene of Streptococcus mutans GS-5 and A-P fragment including the A region and P region of PAc protein from a DNA anti-caries vaccine pCIA-P, and to investigate its expression in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

METHODSThe sequence of GLU fragment in pGLU plasmid was testified by DNA sequencing. The fusion anti-caries DNA vaccine was constructed by ligating A-P fragment from pCIA-P to pGLU. The expression of GLUA-P fusion protein in E. coli BL21 (DE3) was induced by IPTG and checked by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis. pGLUA-P was transfected in vitro to cultured rat primary muscle cells by cation liposome Dosper, and immunohistochemical method was used to test the expression of GLUA-P fusion protein in cells.

RESULTSGLU sequence was identical with relative sequence of GTF-I (GS-5 strain) in Gene Bank. Recombinant eukaryotic expression plasmid pGLUA-P was confirmed to have both GLU and A-P fragment. After pGLUA-P was transferred into E. coli (DE3), it could express a new 115 000 protein by the induce of IPTG. Specific brown products could be found in the cytoplasm of cultured rat primary muscle cells transfected by pGLUA-P.

CONCLUSIONSFusion anti-caries DNA vaccine pGLUA-P is successfully constructed and confirmed by sequencing and enzymes digestion. Fusion GLUA-P protein can be correctly expressed in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Cloning, Molecular ; Dental Caries ; prevention & control ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; Glucosyltransferases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; Muscle, Skeletal ; cytology ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Streptococcal Vaccines ; genetics ; immunology ; therapeutic use ; Streptococcus mutans ; genetics ; immunology ; Transfection ; Vaccines, DNA ; genetics ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo investigate the hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection rate among general population in Jiangsu province and to analyze the main risk factors for HCV infection.

METHODSSubjects in 3 counties were surveyed by stratified cluster random sampling in the National Major Science and Technology Projects demonstration area in Jiangsu province. Interview was carried out with uniformly- designed questionnaires. Blood samples were collected and anti-HCV tested. Data were analysed under SPSS 13.0. Case-control study was conducted on two groups with subjects under 1:4 matching by sex, age, village of residence and status of HCV infection. Cox's proportional hazards regression analysis was then performed to analyze the risk factors for HCV infection.

RESULTSThe positive rate of anti-HCV was higher in females (0.965%, 95%CI:0.899%-1.035%) than in males (0.572%, 95%CI:0.517%-0.632%). Significant differences were noticed among the positive rates of anti-HCV in the three counties (0.131%, 95%CI:0.103%-0.164%;0.316%, 95%CI: 0.268%-0.370%; 2.173% , 95% CI:2.039%-2.315% , respectively). Peak prevalence of anti-HCV (1.577%, 95%CI:1.425%-1.740%) was observed among persons at 50-59 years of age. Bottom rate (0.161%, 95%CI:0.125%-0.204%) was observed below 30 years of age. High anti-HCV positive rate was detected in people with lower education background or belonged to 'floating population'. Factors as having histories of hospitalization (OR = 3.049, 95% CI:1.322-7.036), blood transfusion (OR = 14.319, 95%CI:2.318-88.459) or sharing razor (OR = 3.604, 95%CI:1.096-11.851) were risk factors of HCV infection in the area with the lowest anti-HCV positive rate. In another county, factor as having histories of 'blood products transfusion' (OR = 7.202, 95% CI:1.170-44.310) appeared important while in the third county, having history of 'blood donation' (OR = 7.496, 95%CI:6.121- 9.180); 'blood transfusion' (OR = 2.305, 95%CI:1.578-3.369) and 'invasive physical examination' (OR = 1.258, 95% CI:1.021-1.549) appeared to be important. Age seemed a risk factor for HCV infection. "Sharing razor" was a specifically important risk factor among the 30- year-olds. "Having received acupuncture" was noticed a risk factor only among people at 50-59 years of age while "Having received invasive physical examination" was important in the 50-59 and 60-69 year-olds.

CONCLUSIONHigh anti-HCV positive rate was observed in people at middle of aged population, as well as in those with poor education or under 'floating'. Unsafe blood donation or having received blood-product transfusion might be the risk factors in the last decades. Factors as sharing razor, having received acupuncture or invasive examination might be specifically risky in different populations.

Blood Donors ; Blood Transfusion ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Hepacivirus ; Hepatitis C ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Prevalence ; Regression Analysis ; Risk Factors