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

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

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

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 analyze the relation between the genotype and phenotype in a Chinese patient with thalassemia intermedia and its implications for prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling of thalassemia intermedia caused by co-existence of Hb H disease and beta; thalassemia major.

METHODSPhenotypic analysis was performed using standard hematological tests to measure red blood cell parameters and Hb concentration. Genotyping of beta thalassemia mutations and alpha thalassemia deletion were conducted using reverse dot-blot (RDB) assay and gap-PCR, respectively. We investigated the pathogenesis of this case by genotype-phenotype correlation analysis based on screening of the patient's family members. Prenatal diagnosis for a high-risk fetus in this family was performed by amniotic fluid DNA analysis.

RESULTSThe proband was identified as a patient with severe thalassemia intermedia caused by co-existence of Hb H disease (--(SEA)/-alpha (4.2)) and beta-thalassemia major (beta (CD17A)>T/beta (IVS2-654C)>T), whose father was heterozygous for beta thalassemia (beta (CD17A)>T/beta (N)) and alpha-thalassemia trait (--(SEA)/) and the heterozygous for beta thalassemia (beta (IVS2-654C)>T / beta (N)) and silent alpha-thalassemia (-alpha (4.2)/). The result of prenatal diagnosis showed co-existence of beta thalassemia major and silent alpha thalassemia in the high-risk fetus, and the parents requested termination of pregnancy after genetic counseling.

CONCLUSIONWe report for the first time a rare thalassemia intermedia case resulting from 4 complex alpha/beta thalassemia combination and the molecular pathogenesis of thalassemia intermedia is updated in the Chinese population. The practice of prenatal diagnosis in this case may also provide reference for diagnosis of similar cases.

Adult ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; methods ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; methods ; alpha-Thalassemia ; complications ; diagnosis ; genetics ; beta-Thalassemia ; complications ; diagnosis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the pathogens of acute respiratory infection (ARI) in Guangzhou from 2006 to 2009.

METHODSA total of 1554 cases of ARI patients in Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College from September 2006 to September 2009, were recruited in the survey. The sample of throat and pharyngeal swab were collected from each patient.11 types of virus including influenza A (FluA), influenza B (FluB), adenovirus (ADV), human rhinovirus (HRV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), parainfluenza virus type 1, type 2, type 3 (HPIV1, HPIV2, HPIV3), human metapneumovirus (MPV) and human coronavirus (HCoV) type 229E, type OC43 were detected by Fluorescence Quota PCR method. The epidemic feature and clinical characteristic of each virus were then analyzed.

RESULTSVirus were found in 1024 samples in total, accounting for 65.9% (1024/1554). RSV was the most common virus, which was found in 261 samples (16.8%); and followed by HRV as 13.9% (216/1554), FluA as 11.6% (181/1554), MPV as 6.5% (101/1554), FluB as 6.4% (99/1554), HPIV as 4.9% (76/1554), ADV as 3.5% (55/1554) and HCoV as 2.3% (35/1554). HPIV and HCoV shared a similar infection ratio among different age groups. The infection ratio of FluA and FluB was highest among 15-24 years old group, accounting for 16.5% (29/176) and 7.4% (13/176) respectively. MPV, RSV and HRV were the main pathogens caused infection among children under 4 years old, accounting for 9.7% (49/503), 21.7% (109/503) and 18.9% (95/503). The infection ratio of ADV was 6.0% (19/318), which was the most common pathogen among 5-14 years old patients. The incidence rate of HPIV and HRV showed no obvious seasonal features; while the prevalence of FluA, FluB, RSV, ADV, MPV and HCoV changed significantly in different seasons.22.2% (227/1024) ARI patients co-infected other respiratory virus.90.1% (163/181) FluA patients, 88.9% (88/99) FluB patients and 92.7% (51/55) ADV patients had high fever symptoms.

CONCLUSIONRSV was the main pathogen of ARI, and the new-found virus MPV was also another crucial pathogen. Some pathogens' incidence rate were related to the season and patient's age. Co-infections of other respiratory virus were also detected in parts of ARI patients.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Metapneumovirus ; isolation & purification ; Middle Aged ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses ; isolation & purification ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; epidemiology ; virology ; Young Adult

Prolonged thrombocytopenia is a puzzling problem following umbilical cord blood (CB) transplantation. It might be the result of inadequate megakaryocyte progenitors and the arrest in the megakaryocyte maturation. It is an important method to solve the problem by transfusing ex-vivo expanded CB megakaryocyte progenitor cells into the patients to shorten the duration of platelet recovery. However, the most optimal condition of expansion has not been established so far. In the study, cord blood mononuclear cells (MNC) were cultured in serum-free medium with TPO, IL-3, SCF and IL-6. The numbers of MNC, CFU-MK and CD41(+) cells were measured at 0, 6, 10 and 14 days, in order to find the best cytokine combination and optimal harvest time point for clinical use. The results showed that the megakaryocyte progenitors most efficiently expanded with the cytokine combination including TPO, IL-3, SCF and IL-6. The time point of maximal CFU-MK growth is day 10. At 10 days, the numbers of CFU-MK and CD41(+) cells expanded by 6.8- and 8.8-fold respectively. In conclusion, in vitro, the cytokine cocktail including TPO, IL-3, SCF and IL-6 was the most optimal cytokine combination which stimulates the ex vivo expansion of megakaryocyte progenitors in CB MNC and serum-free medium. The maximal CFU-MK colonies were harvested at 10 days, that may be an optimal harvest time for clinical transfusion.
Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; Cell Division ; Culture Media, Serum-Free ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Interleukin-3 ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-6 ; pharmacology ; Megakaryocytes ; cytology ; Platelet Membrane Glycoprotein IIb ; analysis ; Stem Cell Factor ; pharmacology ; Thrombopoietin ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the presence of Cosmc gene mutation in children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) and the association between Cosmc gene mutation and the susceptibility to HSP.

MESULTSEighty-four children who were diagnosed with HSP between March 2014 and December 2015 were selected as the HSP group. Fifty-eight healthy volunteers matched for age and sex were enrolled as the control group. Fasting venous blood (5 mL) from the two groups was collected in EDTA anticoagulated tubes, followed by the isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) through density gradient centrifugation. Genomic DNA was extracted from PBMCs according to the manufacturer's protocol, and the whole exon region of Cosmc gene was amplified by touch-down polymerase chain reaction (touch-down PCR). The PCR products were identified by 1% agarose gel and sequenced in order to further examine the association between Cosmc gene mutation and the susceptibility to HSP.

RESULTSSequencing results showed two mutations (c.393T>A and c.72A>G) of Cosmc gene in children with HSP. There were no significant differences in the genotype and allele frequencies at the two loci between the HSP and control groups, and this distribution was not associated with sex.

CONCLUSIONSThe mutations c.393T>A and c.72A>G in the exon region of Cosmc gene in children with HSP are not associated with the onset of HSP.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Chaperones ; genetics ; Mutation ; Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch ; etiology ; genetics