1.Three siblings with neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 7 and 2 novel mutations in their MFSD8 gene
Hui DONG ; Dongxiao LI ; Yi LIU ; Ruo MO ; Ying JIN ; Jinqing SONG ; Yao ZHANG ; Yanling YANG
Chinese Journal of Applied Clinical Pediatrics 2018;33(20):1550-1553
Objective The neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (CLN are a group of severe lysosomal storage diseases.The patients present with clinically and genetically heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorders.This study aims to investigate the clinical characteristics and the gene mutations of a rare Chinese family with 3 siblings affected by CLN7.Methods The proband,a 5-year-old girl,visited us because of intermittently seizures and mental retardation for 2 years and a half in December,2015.Clinical investigation,brain magnetic resonance imaging(MRI),biochemical and the gene analysis were performed for the etiological study.Results The proband had seizures at the age of 2 and a half years,with the progressive motor deterioration,speech disturbance,mental regression and vision loss.Her brain MRI showed diffusive cerebral atrophy.The blood aminoacids,acylcarnitine and urine organic acid profiles were normal.Lysosomal palmitoyl protein thioesterase and tripeptidyl peptidase activities of peripheral leukocytes were normal.A compound heterozygous mutation of c.1351-1G > A and c.300T > G was detected on her MFSD8 gene,supporting the diagnosis of CLN7.Both of the 2 mutations were novel.Each of her parents carried one of the mutations.Two brothers of the proband had similar clinical process.Her elder brother died at the age of 7 due to severe encephalopathy of unknown etiology.The younger brother showed dyskinesia from the age of 2 years and seizures from the age of 4 years.A compound heterozygous mutation on MFSD8 gene,c.1351-1G > A and c.300T > G,was found from the younger brother,as same as the proband.Conclusions CLN7 is a rare disorder of CLN.In this study,the diagnosis of the 3 siblings with similar clinical process were much delayed.Gene analysis was key for the diagnosis.Two novel mutations were found on MFSD8 of the family.There is still no effective treatment for neurol ceroid lipofuscinosis.The prognosis is poor.Based on the mutation diagnosis,prenatal diagnosis for the next sibling is possible to the prevention of the disease.
2.Effects of thyroid hormone on myocardial T-type calcium channels at mRNA and protein levels in rats
Run-Xi FU ; Ruo-Song YANG ; Xue-Qin HUANG ; Wen-Ming HE ; You-Yan YU ; Deng-Ming WEI
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology 2018;34(6):996-1001
AIM:To observe the effect of thyroxine on the expression of T-type calcium channels Cav3. 1, Cav3. 2 and Cav3. 3 in rat myocardium, and to explore the possible biological mechanism between the changes of the ex-pression of T-type calcium channels and the arrhythmia in hyperthyroid heart disease. METHODS:Healthy SD rats (n=20) were randomly divided into normal control group (n=10) and hyperthyroid heart disease group (n=10). The animal model was established by intraperitoneal injection of levothyroxine for 35 d. The contents of T3 and T4 in serum, the heart-to-body weight ratio, the diameter of cardiac myocytes and electrocardiograph were measured to evaluate hyperthyroid heart disease. Moreover, the mRNA and protein expression levels of T-type calcium channels in the myocardium were measured by RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and Western blot. RESULTS:After intraperitoneal injection of levothyroxine for 35 d, compared with the normal control group, the serum contents of T3 and T4, the heart-to-body weight ratio and the diameter of cardiac myocytes were significantly increased in hyperthyroid heart disease group (P<0.05), and arrhythmia occurred in hyperthyroid heart disease group. By immunohistochemistry and Western blot, the protein expression of Cav3. 1 in-creased significantly (P<0.05), while the protein expression of Cav3.2 decreased significantly (P<0.01). However, no change of the Cav3. 3 protein was observed. The results of RT-PCR were the same as immunohistochemistry and Western blot. CONCLUSION:Thyroxine promotes the expression of Cav3. 1 in the myocardium but inhibits the expression of Cav3. 2 at mRNA and protein levels, which might be involved in arrhythmia in hyperthyroid heart disease.
3.Intrauterine infections and birth defects.
Xiao-Ying ZHENG ; Ting ZHANG ; Yi-Fei WANG ; Chen XU ; Gong CHEN ; Ruo-Lei XIN ; Jia-Peng CHEN ; Xu-Mei HU ; Qing YANG ; Xin-Ming SONG ; Li-Hua PANG ; Ying JI ; Hong-Mei SUN ; Lei ZHANG ; Ju-Fen LIU ; Yan-Ling GUO ; Yan ZHANG
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2004;17(4):476-491
Intrauterine infection is an important cause of some birth defects worldwide. The most common pathogens include rubella virus, cytomegaloviurs, ureaplasma urealyticum, toxoplasma, etc. General information about these pathogens in epidemiology, consequence of birth defects, and the possible mechanisms in the progress of birth defects, and the interventions to prevent or treat these pathogens' infections are described. The infections caused by rubella virus, cytomegaloviurs, ureaplasma urealyticum, toxoplasma, etc. are common, yet they are proved to be fatal during the pregnant period, especially during the first trimester. These infections may cause sterility, abortion, stillbirth, low birth weight, and affect multiple organs that may induce loss of hearing and vision, even fetal deformity and the long-term effects. These pathogens' infections may influence the microenvironment of placenta, including levels of enzymes and cytokines, and affect chondriosome that may induce the progress of birth defect. Early diagnosis of infections during pregnancy should be strengthened. There are still many things to be settled, such as the molecular mechanisms of birth defects, the effective vaccines to certain pathogens. Birth defect researches in terms of etiology and the development of applicable and sensitive pathogen detection technology and methods are imperative.
Animals
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Congenital Abnormalities
;
etiology
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Female
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Humans
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Infant, Newborn
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Placenta Diseases
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complications
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Pregnancy
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Pregnancy Complications, Infectious
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Pregnancy Outcome
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Pregnancy Trimester, First
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Rubella
;
complications
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Toxoplasma
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pathogenicity
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Ureaplasma urealyticum
;
pathogenicity
4.Correlation between birth defects and dietary nutrition status in a high incidence area of China.
Bao-Yuan ZHANG ; Ting ZHANG ; Liang-Ming LIN ; Fang WANG ; Ruo-Lei XIN ; Xue GU ; Yu-Na HE ; Dong-Mei YU ; Pei-Zhen LI ; Qing-Shan ZHANG ; Jin ZHAO ; Yu-Fu QIN ; Xiu-Feng YANG ; Gong CHEN ; Ju-Fen LIU ; Xin-Ming SONG ; Xiao-Ying ZHENG
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2008;21(1):37-44
OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between birth defects and dietary nutrient intake in a high risk area of China.
METHODSA dietary survey was performed and serum folic acid was measured in women whose pregnancy was affected by neural tube defects (NTDs) or unaffected by any birth defects (BDs) in Zhongyang and Jiaokou Counties in Shanxi Province of China.
RESULTSThe local average consumption of foods including dark green vegetables, fruits, fat and meat, and nutrient intake (e.g., energy, protein, retinol, riboflavin, vitamin E, and selenium) were lower than the national average level. In women of childbearing age, these regions, the intake of nutrients was much lower than the recommended nutrient intake (9%-77%). The case-control dietary nutrition study of women whose pregnancy was affected by BDs (including NTDs and congenital heart defects) demonstrated that, in early pregnancy, adequate nutrition (i.e., eating meat, fresh vegetables, fruit more than once a week) was a protective factor, while eating germinated potatoes was a risk factor. The geometrical mean (p5-p95) of serum folic acid in women with NTD birth defects was 9.6 nmol/L (3.6, 23.03), which was significantly lower than that in normal women (14.03 nmol/L).
CONCLUSIONWomen of childbearing age in the two counties of Shanxi Province, China, have a marked insufficient intake of some nutrients, especially folic acid, zinc, vitamins A and B12. This nutrient deficiency may be an important risk factor for the high prevalence of birth defects in these regions. Therefore, adequate dietary nutrition in early pregnancy can prevent BDs.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Folic Acid ; blood ; Humans ; Incidence ; Middle Aged ; Neural Tube Defects ; epidemiology ; Nutritional Status ; Surveys and Questionnaires
5.Protective effects of Lycium ruthenicum Murr. juice on alcoholic liver injury in rats.
Ge HU ; Jian-Min CAO ; Hai-Tao ZHOU ; Jing ZHANG ; Yi-Ming TIAN ; Ying-Yang SONG ; Ruo-Yu JIANG
Chinese Journal of Applied Physiology 2022;38(3):241-246
Objective: To study the protective effects of Lycium ruthenicum Murr. juice on alcoholic liver injury in rats and explore the regulatory mechanism of toll-like receptors 4 (TLR4)/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) signaling pathway in this process. Methods: Sixty male SD rats were randomly divided into control group (C), model group (M), low-dose Lycium ruthenicum Murr. juice group (LLM), medium-dose Lycium ruthenicum Murr. juice group (MLM) and high-dose Lycium ruthenicum Murr. juice group (HLM), 12 rats in each group. The group M, LLM, MLM and HLM were treated with 20 ml/kg (8 g/(kg·d)) ethanol (400 g/L) intragastrically and the gavage was divided into two sessions, group C was treated with an equal volume of distilled water at the same time point. Four hours before the first alcohol gavage session, rats in each dose group of Lycium ruthenicum Murr. juice were administered with 2.4, 4.8, 9.6 ml/(kg·d) Lycium ruthenicum Murr. juice respectively, and the other groups were given equal volume of distilled water at the corresponding time points. Four weeks later, the rats were sacrificed 24 hours after the end of the last experiment, blood and liver were collected. The liver index was calculated. The morphology of the liver was observed by HE staining. The expressions of hepatic TLR4, p38 MAPK and phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-p38 MAPK) were detected by immunohistochemistry. The activities of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were detected by colorimetry. The levels of hepatic tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Compared with group C, the alcoholic liver injury model was established successfully in Group M. Compared with group M, related indicators in each dose group of Lycium ruthenicum Murr. juice were improved, the improvement of hepatic morphology in group HLM was the most significant, the liver index, the levels of serum ALT, AST and hepatic TLR4, p38 MAPK/p-p38 MAPK ratio, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-18 were decreased (P< 0.05 or P<0.01), while the level of hepatic IL-10 was increased (P<0.01). Comparison among the dose groups of Lycium ruthenicum Murr. juice, the levels of liver index, serum AST and hepatic TLR4, p38 MAPK/p-p38 MAPK ratio, TNF-α, IL-18 in HLM were lower than those in LLM (P<0.05 or P<0.01); the level of hepatic IL-10 in HLM was higher than that in LLM and MLM (P<0.05 or P<0.01); the other indicators in each dose group had no statistical difference (P>0.05). Conclusion: Lycium ruthenicum Murr. juice can improve the inflammatory stress by regulating TLR4/p38 MAPK signaling pathway, relieve alcoholic liver injury in rats, and the effect of high-dose group is better than the others.
Animals
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Fruit and Vegetable Juices
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Interleukin-10
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Interleukin-18
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Liver/metabolism*
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Liver Diseases, Alcoholic/therapy*
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Lycium/chemistry*
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Male
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Rats
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Toll-Like Receptor 4
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
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p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism*
6. Effect of Isopimpinellin on Expression of Inhibitory Neurotransmitter and Receptor Genes in Primary Hippocampal Neurons
Yu-meng HAO ; Ruo-yu WANG ; Qi-ming ZHONG ; Li-guo TONG ; Mei-qing SONG ; Qian YANG ; Ma-li FENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2019;25(14):93-98
Objective:To observe the effect of isopimpinellin on primary hippocampal neuron cells γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and receptor genes expressions, in order to explore its hypnotic mechanism. Method:The primary hippocampal neurons of neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats were cultured in vitro. And subsequent experiments were conducted in the optimal state of cell growth, and the purity was identified by immunohistochemistry of neuron-specific enolase. Hippocampal neurons were randomly divided into five groups, namely blank control group, diazepam group (25 mg·L-1), and low-dose (5 mg·L-1), moderate-dose (10 mg·L-1) and high-dose (20 mg·L-1) isopimpinellin groups. Early apoptosis of hippocampus neuron cells were detected using flow cytometry technique after 24 h administration, and the changes in the levels of GABA and 5-HT were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent. The changes in mRNA expressions of receptor genes relating to gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor(GABAA) genes GABRA1,GABRA5,GABBR1, gamma-aminobutyric acid type B receptor genes (GABAB) GABRB2, 5-hydroxytryptamine 1A receptor (5-HT1A)5-HT1A(A),5-HT1A(B),5-HT1A(C) were detected by real-time quantitative PCR(Real-time PCR). Result:On the 7th day, the hippocampal neurons grew in a good condition, and the purity was above 90%. Apoptosis rates of hippocampal neurons in the low-dose and moderate-dose groups were significantly lower than that in the blank control group (P<0.01). The level of GABA secreted by hippocampal neurons in the high-dose isopimpinellin group were significantly higher than that in the blank control group (P<0.01). The mRNA expression levels of GABRA1,GABRA5,5-HT1A(A),5-HT1A(C) in the moderate-dose and high-dose isopimpinellin groups were significantly higher than those in the blank control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). The mRNA expression levels of GABBR1,5-HT1A(B) in the low-dose, moderate-dose and high-dose isopimpinellin groups were significantly higher than those in the blank control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusion:The hypnotic mechanism of isopimpinellin may be related to the inhibition of hippocampal neuron apoptosis, the increase of the content of inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, and the up-regulation of GABA and 5-HT-related receptor genes.
7.Mechanism of Guishenwan on Thin Endometrium Rats Based on Network Pharmacology
Zhi-ruo SHAO ; Yong-ge GUAN ; Yang SONG ; Yan LIU ; Yue LI ; Yan LYU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2021;27(17):168-177
Objective:This study explores the key core targets of Guishenwan in the treatment of thin endometrium and related signaling pathways through the method of network pharmacology,and further uses animal experiments to verify the obtained targets and verify that Guishenwan are effective for thin endometrium. Method:Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP) was used to retrieve the effective chemical components,active component targets and target abbreviations of the eight Chinese medicines in Guishenwan,the GeneCards database and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man(OMIM)database were used to retrieve thin endometrial related targets gene.Use Wayne software to take the intersection of the drug target of Guishenwan and the disease target of the thin endometrium,and import the intersection target into the STRING database and Cytoscape 3.7.2 software for visual analysis to obtain the "drug-disease" protein protein interaction(PPI) network, then input the intersection target into Enrichr database and DAVID database for gene ontology(GO) enrichment analysis and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG) enrichment analysis. Using the obtained possible core and key targets as the theoretical basis,a thin endometrial model in rats was established. After Guishenwan and estrogen intervention for 21 days,the endometrial thickness of rats was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining(HE) staining. Western blot and quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction(Real-time PCR) detect the protein and mRNA expression levels of the four core key targets of epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR),matrix metalloproteinase 9(MMP9),interleukin-1beita(IL-1
8.A Ten-year Retrospective Study of Invasive Candidiasis in a Tertiary Hospital in Beijing.
Zhi Hui YANG ; Ying Gai SONG ; Ruo Yu LI
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2021;34(10):773-788
Objective:
This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiological, clinical and mycological characteristics of invasive candidiasis (IC) in China.
Methods:
A ten-year retrospective study including 183 IC episodes was conducted in a tertiary hospital in Beijing, China.
Results:
The overall incidence of IC from 2010-2019 was 0.261 episodes per 1,000 discharges. Candidemia (71.0%) was the major infective pattern; 70.3% of the patients tested positive for
Conclusion
The incidence of IC has declined in the recent five years.
Adolescent
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Adult
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Aged
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Aged, 80 and over
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Antifungal Agents/pharmacology*
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Candidiasis, Invasive/microbiology*
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Child
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Child, Preschool
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China/epidemiology*
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Drug Resistance, Fungal
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Female
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Humans
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Infant
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Infant, Newborn
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Retrospective Studies
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Tertiary Care Centers/statistics & numerical data*
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Young Adult
9.Triaging patients in the outbreak of COVID-2019
Guo-Qing HUANG ; Wei-Qian ZENG ; Wen-Bo WANG ; Yan-Min SONG ; Xiao-Ye MO ; Jia LI ; Ping WU ; Ruo-Long WANG ; Fang-Yi ZHOU ; Jing WU ; Bin YI ; Zeng XIONG ; Lu ZHOU ; Fan-Qi WANG ; Yang-Jing TIAN ; Wen-Bao HU ; Xia XU ; Kai YUAN ; Xiang-Min LI ; Xin-Jian QIU ; Jian QIU ; Ai-Min WANG
Chinese Journal of Infection Control 2023;22(3):295-303
In the outbreak of COVID-19,triage procedures based on epidemiology were implemented in a local hospital in Changsha to control the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and avoid healthcare-associated infection.This re-trospective study analyzed the data collected during the triage period and found that COVID-19 patients were en-riched 7 folds into the Section A designated for patients with obvious epidemiological history.On the other side,nearly triple amounts of visits were received at the Section B for patients without obvious epidemiological history.8 COVID-19 cases were spotted out of 247 suspected patients.More than 50%of the suspected patients were submi-tted to multiple rounds of nucleic acid analysis for SARS-CoV-2 infection.Of the 239 patients who were diagnosed as negative of the virus infection,188 were successfully revisited and none was reported as COVID-19 case.Of the 8 COVID-19 patients,3 were confirmed only after multiple rounds of nucleic acid analysis.Besides comorbidities,delayed sharing of epidemiological history added complexity to the diagnosis in practice.The triaging experience and strategy will be helpful for the control of infectious diseases in the future.
10.Relevant factors to female human papillomavirus infection in city and rural areas of Shenzhen.
Ling-Yun LIANG ; Hui DU ; Wei ZHANG ; Yun CHEN ; Bo WU ; Xin-Feng QU ; Chun WANG ; Bin YANG ; Ruo-Song WU ; Jerome L BELINSON ; Rui-Fang WU
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2013;34(8):796-799
OBJECTIVETo study the differences of relevant factors to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection between urban and rural women.
METHODS10 000 sexually active women from Shenzhen city and rural areas were interviewed with questionnaire on risk factor to HPV infection and screened for cervical cancer, using 3 kinds of HPV test.
RESULTSAverage age of the study population was 38.9, with prevalence rates of HPV infection among the total population, people in SSEZ (Shenzhen Special Economic Zone), out of SSEZ, and rural areas were 33.3%, 35.8%, 30.2%, and 33.8% respectively. Relevant factors to HPV infection in SSEZ were those mainly having had history of abortion,having more sexual partners in lifetime and husbands who work outside the area. Relevant factors to HPV infection out of SSEZ were those mainly having had more episodes of abortion, more sexual partners in lifetime and using condom more than other contraceptives. Relevant factors to HPV infection in rural area were: having more abortions and smoking behavior.
CONCLUSIONThere were some differences of relevant factors to HPV infection between urban and rural women. In urban area, having had more sexual partners in lifetime played a very important role in contracting HPV infection while condom use for contraception seemed to be a protective factor. In the rural areas, smoking was a risk factor for HPV infection, to some extent. Having had more episodes on abortion showed as a common risk factor to both urban and rural females, on HPV infection.
Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Papillomaviridae ; Papillomavirus Infections ; epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Rural Population ; Urban Population