OBJECTIVETo investigate the current cognition of occupational exposure to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the personal occupational protection awareness in healthcare workers in Liuzhou, China.

METHODSA total of 270 healthcare workers were selected from 10 hospitals in Liuzhou by stratified random sampling for a cross-sectional study. And a self-administered questionnaire of occupational exposure to HIV was designed to conduct a survey. The descriptive analysis of data was carried out by Excel. And a logistic regression analysis was done to analyze the effects of different factors on healthcare workers' cognition of occupational exposure to HIV using the statistical analysis software SPSS 19.0.

RESULTSA total of 260 usable questionnaires (96.3%) were returned. Among them, 220 healthcare workers (84.6%) had received the trainings on occupational exposure to HIV; 223 healthcare wofkers (85.8%) were aware of the rules and regulations on prevention of occupational exposure to HIV and the operation procedures in their hospitals. The healthcare workers who had not received the trainings or had not known the rules and regulations and the operation procedures were mainly from primary or secondary hospitals. A total of 106 healthcare workers (40.8%) had directly contacted patients' blood or body fluids; 154 healthcare workers (59.2%) were injured by sharp instruments, and most were hollow needle stick injuries (98/154, 63.6%). A total of 168 healthcare workers (68.08%) had better cognitive awareness of occupational exposure to HIV, and 76 healthcare workers (29.2%) had moderate cognitive awareness. Some healthcare workers had poor knowledge in the common sense of AIDS/HIV and occupational exposure to HIV, the personal protection awareness of occupational exposure, or the disposal measures after occupational exposure. The univariate analysis using chi-square test showed that occupation and professional title were significantly correlated with the cognition (P<0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the doctors (OR3.8; P<0.05), nurses (OR3.04, P<0.05), and laboratory technicians (OR=9.51, P<0.05) had better awareness compared with the others. The healthcare workers with a primary or lower professional title had poorer awareness compared with the healthcare workers with a higher professional title (OR=0.47, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONHealthcare workers have the risk of occupational exposure to HIT. They do not have comprehensive and systematic knowledge related to occupational exposure to HIV, and they have a high demand for training.

Awareness ; China ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; HIV Infections ; prevention & control ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Health Personnel ; Humans ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional ; prevention & control ; Laboratory Personnel ; Needlestick Injuries ; Nurses ; Occupational Exposure ; prevention & control ; Physicians ; Risk ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo study the molecular biological effects of Guilin Watermelon Frost (GWF) on the mRNA expressions of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in patients with uterine uterine cervical columnar ectopy.

METHODSOne hundred and sixty patients with uterine cervical columnar ectopy were assigned to two groups by the random digit table. Patients in the treatment group were treated with local spray of GWF, while those in the control group were local applied with bFGF-collagen sponge. The mRNA expressions of bFGF of the uterine tissue were detected in the two groups before and after treatment using RT-PCR.

RESULTSBefore treatment the mRNA expression of bFGF in the uterine cervical columnar ectopy was 0.55 +/- 0.10 in the treatment group and 0.58 +/- 0.13 in the control group, without insignificant difference (P > 0.05). After treatment it significantly increased in the two groups, being 0.82 +/- 0.17 and 0.78 +/- 0.15 respectively, showing statistical difference from before treatment (P < 0.01). But no statistical difference existed between the two groups after treatment (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONGWF showed enhancement on the mRNA expressions of bFGF in patients with uterine cervical columnar ectopy.

Adult ; Cervix Uteri ; cytology ; Citrullus ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Epithelium ; drug effects ; Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo establish a rapid and convenient method of reverse dot blot (RDB) analysis for detecting the point mutations of non-deletion alpha-thalassemia in Chinese.

METHODSLabel biotin to primers and amplify human alpha2 globin gene selectively, then hybridize PCR products with a set of oligonucleotide probes immobilized on strips, and develop colour to detect non-deletion alpha-thalassemia defects.

RESULTSThe PCR system using biotin-labeled primers could specifically amplify a 1085 bp fragment of human alpha2 globin gene which encompasses all six alpha-thalassemia mutations. After being hybridized with sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes and colour development, it could simultaneously identify all six types of non-deletion alpha-thalassemias encountered in Chinese.

CONCLUSIONThis method does not need semi-nested PCR, and the products amplified by biotinylated primers can be used directly to hybridize with the probes on strips under the identical conditions of hybridization. So, it is a specific and multiplex detection assay for screening non-deletion alpha-thalassemia defects in Chinese.

Humans ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; methods ; Point Mutation ; Reproducibility of Results ; alpha-Globins ; genetics ; alpha-Thalassemia ; diagnosis ; genetics

The effects of two different sample labeling methods on background signal intensities for high-density 60mer oligonucleotide microarray were investigated. Peripheral blood samples from five disease and five control subjects were collected. Total RNA targets from peripheral blood mononuclear cells were extracted and labeled with RD-PCR protocol, which were hybridized to Agilent Human 1B oligonucleotide microarrays in a two-color comparative format. The positive control targets were labeled with the directly incorporated fluorescently-labeled dNTP labeling. The SPSS program was performed to test normality of the dataset, variance homogeneity between the groups, coefficients of variation (CV) and analysis of variance. The results showed that the background signal intensities of Cy3 channel were higher than those of Cy5 channel. The differences of background signal intensities between the RD-PCR approach and the directly incorporated fluorescently-labeled dNTP labeling were extremely significant (P- Cy3

Objective To investigate the value of restriction display PCR (RD-PCR) as a novel and expedient sample labeling method for high-density 60-mer oligonucleotide microarray. Methods Peripheral blood samples from three volunteers were collected and the total RNA was extracted from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells and labeled with RD-PCR protocol,followed by hybridization with Agilent Human 1B oligonucleotide microarrays in a two-color comparison format. The RNA from the same subject was divided into two aliquot and labeled with Cy3 and Cy5 respectively. The spots with significant difference between the foreground and local background intensities and those without significant difference between Cy5 and Cy3 signal intensities were selected for analysis. SPSS software was used to perform the statistical tests and plot generation.VSN packages were used under R language to remove the systematic array and dye biases. Results Totally 8744 common spots of the 3 microarrays were evaluated. The results demonstrated that RD-PCR could be a promising novel method for efficient labeling of microarray samples. Further analysis indicated the presence of adjustable biases derived from the array and incorporated dye in the labeling processes. The RD-PCR labeling showed better performance than the conventional approaches in regards to reproducibility of the quantitative signals for gene intensity and capability to label RNAs of lowly expressed genes. Conclusion Given the evidence of the feasibility of using RD-PCR labeling in the field of high-density long oligonucleotide microarray, further optimization of the protocol may unleash the full potential of this novel labeling method.

Objective To investigate the value of restriction display PCR (RD-PCR) as a novel and expedient sample labeling method for high-density 60-mer oligonucleotide microarray. Methods Peripheral blood samples from three volunteers were collected and the total RNA was extracted from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells and labeled with RD-PCR protocol,followed by hybridization with Agilent Human 1B oligonucleotide microarrays in a two-color comparison format. The RNA from the same subject was divided into two aliquot and labeled with Cy3 and Cy5 respectively. The spots with significant difference between the foreground and local background intensities and those without significant difference between Cy5 and Cy3 signal intensities were selected for analysis. SPSS software was used to perform the statistical tests and plot generation.VSN packages were used under R language to remove the systematic array and dye biases. Results Totally 8744 common spots of the 3 microarrays were evaluated. The results demonstrated that RD-PCR could be a promising novel method for efficient labeling of microarray samples. Further analysis indicated the presence of adjustable biases derived from the array and incorporated dye in the labeling processes. The RD-PCR labeling showed better performance than the conventional approaches in regards to reproducibility of the quantitative signals for gene intensity and capability to label RNAs of lowly expressed genes. Conclusion Given the evidence of the feasibility of using RD-PCR labeling in the field of high-density long oligonucleotide microarray, further optimization of the protocol may unleash the full potential of this novel labeling method.

OBJECTIVETo discuss the impacts of moxibustion for regulating spleen and stomach function on the survival quality of the patients of end stage renal disease (ESRD) with maintenance hemodialysis (MHD).

METHODSOne hundred and nine cases of uremia with MHD from 3 hemodialysis centers were randomized into an observation group (58 cases) and a control group (51 cases). The regular hemodialysis and conventional medication were used in the two groups. In the observation group, on the basis of the common treatment, moxibustion was applied to Zusanli (ST 36) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6), 2-3 times a day, the treatment of 4 weeks made one session. Totally, 3 sessions were required and the follow-up lasted for 3 months. KDQOL-SF (kidney disease quality of life short form,KDQOL-SFTM 1. 3) was adopted for the questionnaire investigation on survival quality before treatment, after treatment and at the end of follow-up separately in the two groups.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the survival quality scores in terms of physical functioning (83.62+/-13.27 vs 79.32+/- 22. 17), general health (58. 88+/- 20.24 vs 48.82+/-20.89) and vitality (77.07+/-15.56 vs 70. 59+/-22.61) in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (all P<0. 05). In comparison before and after treatment in the same group, the survival quality scores in terms of physical functioning, general health, vitality and symptoms/problems were all improved in the observation group (all P<0. 05). At the end of follow-up, the survival quality scores in terms of physical functioning, general health, mental health, social functioning, vitality, effects of kidney disease and cognitive function were higher in the observation group as compared with those in the control group (all P<0. 05). In comparison of the results at the end of follow-up with those before treatment, the survival quality scores in terms of vitality, symptoms/problems and cognitive function in the observation group were improved (all P< 0. 05). The differences were not significant in all of the 19 fields of survival quality evaluation before and after treatment, and after follow-up in the control group (all P>0. 05).

CONCLUSIONMoxibustion for regulating spleen and stomach function improves the survival quality of the patients with hemodialysis in terms of physical functioning, general health and vitality, which benefits the psychological condition of the patients, resulting in the improvements of the survival quality in the fields of mental health, social functioning, effects of kidney disease and cognitive function.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Quality of Life ; Renal Dialysis ; Spleen ; physiopathology ; Stomach ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of sleep deprivation on intelligence development in primary school students.

METHODSBetween June 2009 and April 2010, 316 grade 5 students aged 10-11 years were selected from four primary schools in four administrative districts of Changsha, China by stratified random sampling. The intelligence characteristics of children with varying degrees of sleep deprivation were investigated using the Chinese Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children.

RESULTSA total of 286 valid questionnaires were received, with a response rate of 90.5%. The survey was comprised of a sleep deprivation group (sleep time <8 hours per night; n=180) and a control group (sleep time ≥8 hours per night; n=106). The sleep deprivation group had significantly lower subtest scores, verbal intelligence quotient (IQ) (VIQ), performance IQ (PIQ) and full scale IQ (P<0.05) and significantly lower verbal comprehension factor score and memory/attention factor score compared with the control group (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the moderate sleep deprivation subgroup had significantly decreased VIQ and full scale IQ as well as verbal comprehension factor score and memory/attention factor score (P<0.05), and the severe sleep deprivation subgroup showed decreases in all scores (P<0.05). The sleep deprivation group and moderate and severe sleep deprivation subgroups had significantly higher proportions of children with VIQ-PIQ imbalance than the control group.

CONCLUSIONSSleep deprivation adversely affects intelligence development, especially VIQ, in primary school students, and the adverse effects of sleep deprivation are mainly seen in students with moderate and severe sleep deprivation.

Child ; Female ; Humans ; Intelligence ; Male ; Sleep Deprivation ; psychology

OBJECTIVETo probe the effect of moxihustion on the quality of life in the end-stage renal failure patients in hemodialysis.

METHODSSeventy-one hemodialysis patients were randomly divided into 2 groups, and the quality of life of all the patients was evaluated with the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form (KDQOL-SF). The Control group were treated with routine comprehensive therapy (including hemodialysis and medication), and the observation group with the routine comprehensive therapy and moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36), Guanyuan (CV 4), Sanyinjiao (SP 6). Changes of the quality of life in the patients before and after hemodialysis were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTSAfter treatment there were significant differences between the two groups in DSF, RE and GH (P<0.05), and 7 fields including RE, BP, QSI and others significantly improved in the both groups (P<0.05). Additionally, the 4 fields including RP, EB, VT and WS significantly improved in the observation group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONMoxibustion can improve physical strength and mood in the quality of life of the hemodialysis patients; to evaluate the quality of life of hemodialysis patients should consider effects of society, climate and geographical condition and other factors.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Quality of Life ; Renal Dialysis ; psychology

To study the molecular epidemiological characteristics of norovirus gastroenteritis outbreaks in Guangdong, we collected fecal and anal swabs specimens from 24 outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis from 2005 to 2008 to detect norovirus. Specimens were detected by RT-PCR and then sequenced. The descriptive data were also collected. According to our research, 19 of 24 outbreaks of gastroenteritis were positive for norovirus. The occurrence time was from October to next February mainly. The strains in 2005 belonged to G II-3 genotype and all outbreaks occurred in kindergarten and school. But from autumn of 2006, the outbreaks were all caused by G II-4/2006b variant and occurred in universities and community. The number of outbreaks in 2007 increased greatly and covered all over province. The nucleotide sequences of Guangdong strains in some sites showed high regional identity. Our results showed that with the shift of genotype from G II-3 to G II-4, occurrence of norovirus outbreaks increased greatly. The outbreaks of norovirus caused by G II-4/2006b variant spreaded widely and the involved population covered children and adult, indicating the strong invasiveness of this variant.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Base Sequence ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases ; genetics ; Disease Outbreaks ; Gastroenteritis ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Norovirus ; classification ; enzymology ; genetics ; Phylogeny ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Young Adult