Objective To explore the relationship between first trimester pregnancy infection and congenital malformation in the cardiovascular system.Methods A hospital-based study was conducted from June 2014 to June 2016.Totally 1618 mothers of infants with cardiovascular system malformation and normal infants were interviewed through a face-to-face questionnaire survey.A propensity score-matched study was conducted to investigate the association between first trimester pregnancy infection and congenital malformation in the cardiovascular system.Results All important covariates were balanced after matching.First trimester pregnancy infection increased the risk of congenital malformation in the cardiovascular system,single congenital malformation in the cardiovascular system and multi-congenital malformation in the cardiovascular system.After matched,the OR values were 1.65 (95％ CI:1.21-2.24;P=0.001),1.50 (95％ CI:1.02 2.20;P=0.037),and 1.90 (95％ CI:1.18-3.06;P=0.008),respectively.Conclusion First trimester pregnancy infection increases the risk of congenital malformation in the cardiovascular system.Avoiding infectious diseases during the first trimester in pregnancy is important in decreasing the incidence of congenital malformation in the cardiovascular system.

Objective To explore the relationship of four kinds of lifestyle factors,namely,prenatal passive smoking,hair dyeing or perming,exposure to noise,living in a house renovated in the past one year,with congenital heart disease.Methods A hospital-based case-control study was conducted.Totally 270 mothers in the case group and 1633 mothers in the control group were interviewed through a face-to-face questionnaire survey.A generalized linear model was employed to investigate the association between congenital heart disease and prenatal lifestyle factors.Results Both in Model 1 and Model 2,prenatal hair dyeing or perming had no association with congenital heart disease.On the other hand,prenatal passive smoking,exposure to noise and living in a house renovated in the past one year all increased the risk of congenital heart disease.After adjustment for all confounders,the OR values were 1.771 (95％ CI:1.079-2.909),2.079 (95％ CI:1.310-3.298),and 2.494 (95％ CI:1.511-4.116),respectively.Conclusion Prenatal passive smoking,exposure to noise and living in a house renovated in the past one year are the risk factors for congenital heart disease.It is very important to avoid such factors during pre-pregnancy and pregnancy.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Cholinesterase Reactivators ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hemoperfusion ; Humans ; Insecticides ; poisoning ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Organophosphate Poisoning ; Poisoning ; therapy

To compare the differences on current ethical issues in the areas of epidemiological practice between China and America,to identify the major ethical problems existing in the epidemiological studies in China.Through searching and reviewing papers published on Chinese Journal of Epidemiology and American Journal of Epidemiology from Jan.2006 to Dec.2010,we made a comparison on ethical issues involved in the original studies that focusing on human beings.In total,749 Chinese articles and 1221 American articles were recruited,with the following findings: (1)The proportion with announcements of “Informed consent by the subjects” was 29.24％ in Chinese literature and 38.08％ in the Americans (x2=16.02,P＜0.001 ).The proportion with “having had approvals from the ethic committees” was 29.24％ in Chinese,while 38.08％ in American ( x2=604.40,P＜ 0.0001 ).(2) Both in China and America,there had been an increase of ethical issues in the last 5 years.(3)Articles derived from trial studies had better involvement on ethics than those from observational studies.(4) The level on ethical issues in the American Research Institutes exceeded those in China (5)American studies also had showed better ideas on Ethic issues on biological specimens collection and privacy protection,than those in Chinese studies.Among the studies on Chinese Journal of Epidemiology,the proportion of ‘informed consent' was higher than in ethical review,but both ethical review and awareness on ‘informed consent' had left far behind than the American Journal of Epidemiology.This could be seen at the institution level of the writers,during specimen collection and privacy protection,as well as at the overall level.The results reminded us that the Departments of Technology Management should spend more efforts on the improvement of public education regarding ethics for researchers and to update the process of edition for Journals as well as to reinforce the rules of ethics in epidemiological research.

Eleven flavonol glycosides were isolated from the ethanol extract of Lysimachia clethroides by a combination of various chromatographic techniques including column chromatography over silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, and reversed-phase HPLC. Their structures were identified as astragalin (1), isoquercitrin (2), isorhamnetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), quercetin-3-O-β-D-6"-acetylglucopyranoside (4), quercetin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (5), prunin (6), 2-hydroxynaringin-5-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (7), kaempferol-3-O-rutinonoside (8), kaempferol-3-O-robinobioside (9), rutin (10) and kaempferol-3,7-di-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (11). Among them, compounds 4, 7 and 11 were obtained from the Lysimachia genus for the first time, while compounds 3, 5 and 9 were firstly reported from this plant. In the preliminary assays, compounds 2, 6 and 8 possessed significant inhibition against aldose reduc- tase, with IC50 values of 2.69, 1.00, 1.80 μmol · L(-1), respectively; none of compounds 1-11 exhibited obvious cytotoxic activity (IC50 > 10 μmol · L(-1)).
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Flavonols ; chemistry ; Glycosides ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Primulaceae ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the surgical results of one-stage total en bloc spondylectomy (TES) and reconstruction via a single posterior approach for thoracic symptomatic vertebral hemangioma associated with spinal cord dysfunction and evaluate its curative effect.

METHODSA total of 9 patients treated with one-stage TES (7 cases) and total vertebrectomy (2 cases) by posterior approach from March 2006 to January 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. The cases included 2 males and 7 females with a median age of 33.6 years (range 14 to 77 years), and with 1 case of Grade A, 3 cases of Grade B, 3 cases of Grade C, 2 cases of Grade D according to Frankel grade system. All patients suffered from moderate to severe pain and neurological deficit with an average symptom duration of 14.4 months (range 3 - 24 months) MRI revealed severe spinal cord compression. The spinal reconstruction was obtained by titanium mesh filled with autograft and posterior internal fixation with rod-screw system.

RESULTSThe operation time was 210 minutes on average (180 - 270 minutes) and the average blood loss was 1800 ml (1000 - 5000 ml). The follow-up period lasted from 18 months to 5 years. All cases with preoperative pain relieved after operation. The visual analogue scale pain scores decreased to 1.1 from 8.3 at 3 months after surgery. No disruption of dural mater, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, iatrogenic spinal cord injury and major vessel damage occurred. Up to now, there was no local recurrence in all cases. Significant neurological function improvement was achieved in all patients with one to three grades in Frankel grade system. Fusion of the autograft was well achieved and no internal fixation failure in all patients.

CONCLUSIONSOne-stage TES and spine reconstruction by a single posterior approach is feasible, safe and effective to this disease. It is favourable in decreasing the hemangioma recurrence and improvement of the neurological function.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemangioma ; complications ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paraplegia ; etiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Neoplasms ; complications ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between Fc gamma receptor IIA gene polymorphism and susceptibility to chronic periodontitis in Chinese Han nationality.

METHODSDNA samples were collected with buccal swabs from 63 patients with severe chronic periodontitis(CP), 103 patients with mild to moderate CP and 80 healthy individuals as control. Polymorphism in Fc gamma receptor IIA gene cluster was analyzed with PCR-SSP. The genotype distribution and allele frequency among different groups were compared.

RESULTSIt was found that the frequency of Fc gamma RIIA-R/R131 genotype was significantly higher in patients with severe CP (19.05%) compared to that of the healthy controls (P < 0.0125).

CONCLUSIONThe Fc gamma RIIA-R/R131 genotype may be one of the contributors for the increased susceptibility to severe CP in Chinese Han nationality.

Adult ; Antigens, CD ; genetics ; China ; ethnology ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Periodontitis ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, IgG ; genetics

AIMTo study the expression and regulation of Smad1, Smad2 and Smad4 proteins (intracellular signaling molecules of transforming growth factor-b family) in rat testis during postnatal development.

METHODSThe whole testes were collected from SD rats aged 3, 7, 14, 28 and 90 (adult) days. The cellular localization and developmental changes were examined by immunohistochemistry ABC method with the glucose oxidase-DAB-nickel enhancement technique. Quantitative analysis of the immunostaining was made by the image analysis system. The Smads proteins coexistence in the adult rat testis was tested by the double immune staining for CD14-Smad4 and Smad2-Smad4. The protein expression of Smad during rat testicular development was examined by means of Western blots.

RESULTSSmad1, Smad2 and Smad4 were present throughout testicular development. The immunostaining of Smad1 and Smad2 were present in spermatogenic cells. A positive immunoreactivity was located at the cytoplasm, but the nucleus was negative. Smad1 was immunolocalized at the d14, d28 and adult testes, while Smad2, at the d7, d14, d28 and adult testis. There was positive immunoreaction in the Sertoli cells and Leydig cells as well. The immunolocalization of Smad4 was exclusively at the cytoplasm of Leydig cells and the nuclei were negative throughout the testicular development. No expression was detected in the germ cells. The results of image and statistical analysis showed that generally the expression of Smad1, Smad2 and Smad4 in the testis tended to increase gradually with the growth of the rat.

CONCLUSIONThe present data provide direct evidences for the molecular mechanism of TGF-bgr action in rat testes during postnatal development and spermatogenesis.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; analysis ; biosynthesis ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; physiology ; Smad Proteins ; Smad1 Protein ; Smad2 Protein ; Smad4 Protein ; Testis ; chemistry ; growth & development ; physiology ; Trans-Activators ; analysis ; biosynthesis

BACKGROUNDVolumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) can only be implemented on the new generation linacs such as the Varian Trilogy® and Elekta Synergy®. This prevents most existing linacs from delivering VMAT. The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using a conventional linear accelerator delivering constant dose rate and constant angular spacing intensity-modulated arc therapy (CDR-CAS-IMAT) for treating cervical cancer.

METHODSTwenty patients with cervical cancer previously treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) using Varian Clinical 23EX were retreated using CDR-CAS-IMAT. The planning target volume (PTV) was set as 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions. Plans were evaluated based on the ability to meet the dose volume histogram. The homogeneity index (HI), target volume conformity index (CI), the dose to organs at risk, radiation delivery time, and monitor units (MUs) were also compared. The paired t-test was used to analyze the two data sets. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 19.0 software.

RESULTSCompared to the IMRT group, the CDR-CAS-IMAT group showed better PTV CI (0.85 ± 0.03 vs. 0.81 ± 0.03, P = 0.001), clinical target volume CI (0.46 ± 0.05 vs. 0.43 ± 0.05, P = 0.001), HI (0.09 ± 0.02 vs. 0.11 ± 0.02, P = 0.005) and D95 (5196.33 ± 28.24 cGy vs. 5162.63 ± 31.12 cGy, P = 0.000), and cord D2 (3743.8 ± 118.7 cGy vs. 3806.2 ± 98.7 cGy, P = 0.017) and rectum V40 (41.9 ± 6.1% vs. 44.2 ± 4.8%, P = 0.026). Treatment time (422.7 ± 46.7 s vs. 84.6 ± 7.8 s, P = 0.000) and the total plan Mus (927.4 ± 79.1 vs. 787.5 ± 78.5, P = 0.000) decreased by a factor of 0.8 and 0.15, respectively. The IMRT group plans were superior to the CDR-CAS-IMAT group plans considering decreasing bladder V50 (17.4 ± 4.5% vs. 16.6 ± 4.2%, P = 0.049), bowel V30 (39.6 ± 6.5% vs. 36.6 ± 7.5%, P = 0.008), and low-dose irradiation volume; there were no significant differences in other statistical indexes.

CONCLUSIONSPatients with cervical cancer treated with CDR-CAS-IMAT using Varian Clinical 23EX can get equivalent or superior dose distribution compared to those treated with IMRT. CDR-CAS-IMAT has a less treatment time and MU, which can reduce the uncertainty factor and patient discomfort in treatment.

Female ; Humans ; Particle Accelerators ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated ; methods ; Software ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA4) gene and susceptibility to cervical cancer.

METHODSOne hundred patients and 100 healthy controls from Hubei province were genotyped for 20 polymorphic loci using Sequenom.

RESULTSThe frequency of rs11571316 G allele and rs5742909 T allele, which are localized in the promoter region, and rs11571319 A allele, which is downstream of the gene, were significantly higher in patients than in controls. Luciferase assay showed that, as the previously reported rs5742909 T allele, rs11571316 G allele could significantly increase the expression of the reporter gene.

CONCLUSIONSNPs in the promoter region of (CTLA4) gene might increase the susceptibility to cervical cancer by increasing (CTLA4) gene expression.

Adult ; Aged ; Alleles ; Antigens, CD ; genetics ; CTLA-4 Antigen ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; genetics ; Young Adult