OBJECTIVETo study the status of spontaneous abortion among reproductive Tibetan women aged 15 - 49 years.

METHODSA cross-sectional survey was conducted on reproductive history of Tibetan women and the sample was chosen under the stratified multistage cluster random sampling technique.

RESULTSA total number of 3741 women were studied with a total number of 10,245 pregnancies. There were 386 spontaneous abortions reported with an incidence rate of 3.9%. Women living in the urban area had a higher rate than living in the rural areas. Women living in area where altitudes were above 4500 m, had a 2-time risk of having spontaneous abortion than those living in areas below 3500 m. The risk of having spontaneous abortion increased among women aged > or = 35 and those with more than 3 pregnancies.

CONCLUSIONSHigh altitude could contribute to the increase of spontaneous abortions incidence, suggesting that improvement of maternal care and nutrition and reduction of the frequency of pregnancy had important roles to play in reducing the incidence of spontaneous abortion among Tibetan women. Despite the fact that retrospective study on reproductive history could underestimate the incidence of spontaneous abortion, the incidence rate among Tibetan women might not be much higher than women living in the lowland areas.

Abortion, Spontaneous ; epidemiology ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Altitude ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Maternal Age ; Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Middle Aged ; Parity ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Care ; Risk Factors ; Rural Population ; statistics & numerical data ; Tibet ; epidemiology ; Urban Population ; statistics & numerical data ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo understand the feeding status of Tibetan children aged below three years old.

METHODSCross-sectional study and randomly sampling were used. The information on complementary food was obtained through the recollection from mother of the child. Data of complementary food of Tibet children was compared with those of the children from the surveys of nine cities in China and 40 poor counties in western China.

RESULTSOne thousand six hundred and fifty-five children were studied. The findings indicated that the age of introduction of Zanba (a kind food of mixture of highland barley flour and butter) was 1.98 months after birth and the age of introduction of egg and meat was about 8 - 9 months. Boys were fed with Zanba earlier than girls but there was no significant difference in the introduction of other complementary food between sexes. Urban children were introduced with complementary food earlier than rural children, and children in the agricultural region earlier than those in the pasturing region. The proportion of no introduction of any complementary food by the age of 4 months was about 10.6% for urban children, but 21.7% for rural children while 14.2% for children in the agricultural region and 30.9% for children in the pasturing region. The proportion of no introduction of complementary food was 11.5% for Tibetan children compared with 45.2% for the children of 40 poor counties in western China. The proportions of introduction of the following complementary foods were 89.1% for Zanba, 22.1% for egg, 29.1% for fresh milk, 23.5% for meat, 17.5% for vegetable, 0.75% for bean products, 1.03% for fish and 3.35% for chicken respectively.

CONCLUSIONSThe main complementary foods for Tibetan children included Zanba, milk, mutton and beef. There was a small amount of vegetable in diet. The introduction of bean, chicken and fish was not common. Early and monotony seemed to be the character of introduction of complementary food for Tibetan children. Improving introduction of complementary food is important in enhancing the nutritional status of Tibetan children.

Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Child, Preschool ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Food ; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Male ; Nutrition Surveys ; Sampling Studies ; Tibet

OBJECTIVETo understand the prevalence of anemia in children living in poor rural villages in western China and to find out related factors affecting hemoglobin level of children so as to search for proper intervention.

METHODS3747 children under 3 years old and their families were studied using stratified random sampling in 40 counties in western China. Databases were set up, and data logically checked by Epi 6.0 software. All the data were input with duplication method and analyzed by SPSS 10.0 software.

RESULTSThe prevalence of anemia of children under 3-year-old was 32.7% in 40 counties with significant difference among provinces with the highest in Guizhou province (43.5%). The lowest was in Ningxia and Qinghai provinces, which was 20%. The prevalence of anemia of children was relatively high in 6 and 18 months of age after birth, but declining when children grew older. Many factors were associated with children's anemia, viz. feeding pattern, age, diarrhea, family income, nationality, mother with anemia and drinking clean water etc.

CONCLUSIONInterventions as popularizing knowledge of appropriate feeding, drinking clean water and decreasing the prevalence of common diseases including diarrhea would decrease the prevalence of anemia of local children.

Age Factors ; Anemia ; epidemiology ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Hemoglobins ; analysis ; Humans ; Infant ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors

Objective To evaluate the clinical significance of epithelial cellular adhesion molecule (Ep-CAM)expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(SCC).Methods The Ep-CAM expression was immunohistochemically investigated in 70 normal esophageal mucosas,SCCs and 72 lymph nodes.Results Ep-CAM expression was observed in 94.3% of the tumors,but no expression in the normal mucosa.The Ep- CAM expression was not significantly different between different tumor scales and tumors invading depths,its expression level was relevant with the tumors differentiation and lymph node metastases(P

Objective To work out the suitable iodine content in iodized salt among general population in Enshi Autonomous prefecture,Hubei province by determination of the iodine content in salt.Methods The method of direct titration was used to determine the iodine content in salt samples collected from residents in natural villages sampled from four directions of east,west,south and north in each township which was sampled from five directions of east,west,south,north and center in each city(county) in Enshi Autonomous prefecture,and salt samples were collected in Hubei Salt Industry Group Co.,Limited.Enshi Branch in 2011.The method of three-days weighing was used to estimate the resident's daily per capita intake of iodized salt.The appropriate iodine content for general population in salt was worked out according to the iodine content in salt from households and enterprises in Enshi Autonomous prefecture,the amount of iodine loss in iodized salt,the amount of per capita daily intake of iodized salt and the national iodine nutrition monitoring results.Results The median of iodine content in salt from residents and the production enterprises in 2011 was 33.5 mg/kg and 34.7 mg/kg,respectively.The residents' per capita salt intake was 10.9 g,actual intake of iodine wss 335.0 μg/d.Iodine content in iodized salt was 20 mg/kg ±30％ for the general population,actual intake of iodine was 149.4-250.4 μg/d.Conclusions The residents iodine intake is higher in Enshi Autonomous prefecture.Considering the comprehensive factors,including food iodine,water iodine,and iodine cooking loss,that affect the intake of salt iodine,the appropriate iodine content in iodized salt is 20 mg/kg ± 30％ for the general population.

Objective To observe protective effects on rat serum cardiac enzymes and the antioxidant capacity of selenium and vitamin E.Methods According to body weight and 2 × 2 factorial design,eighty male Wistas rats were randomly divided into four groups:low selenium and low vitamin E group(feed containing 23.42％ of the low selenium yeast,excluding vitamin E),low selenium and adequate vitamin E group (feed containing 23.42％ of the low selenium yeast and vitamin E 160 mg/kg),adequate selenium and low vitamin E group(feed containing 46.84％ of the low selenium yeast and sodium seleni 0.25 mg/L in water,excluding vitamin E),adequate selenium and adequate vitamin E group(feed containing 46.84％ of the low selenium yeast,vitamin E 160 mg/kg and sodium selenite 0.25 mg/L in water),20 rats every group.Rats were feed with synthetic feed,and given intraperitoneal anesthesia after 26 weeks of feeding.Blood was collected to observe the impact of selenium and vitamin E on rat cardiac enzymes and myocardial antioxidant capacity and their interactions.Serum creatine kinase (CK) was measured using the continuous monitoring method,creatine kinase isozymes (CK-MB) and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH ) using the immune suppression method,the whole blood GSH-Px assay using the dithiobis nitrohenzoic acid(DTNB) method,serum superoxide dismutase(SOD) using the xanthine oxidase method,total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) using the complex colorimetry method,the content of propylene glycol (MDA) using the thiobarbituric acid colorimetric method,and reactive oxygen species(ROS) using the colorimetric method.Results Group differences of serum CK,CK-MB,LDH,whole blood GSH-Px activity,serum T-AOC vitality,MDA and ROS content were statistically significant(F=9.797,17.041,48.399,3.744,224.900,49.384,5.045,all P＜ 0.05).Compared with the two low selenium groups and one adequate selenium group,the vitalities of CK,CK-MB,LDH and the contents of MDA[(1577.75 ± 451.87),(1239.15 ± 344.99),(884.25 ± 133.84)U/L,(5.688 ±1.169) × 103 nmol/L; (1474.21 ± 398.38),(1014.84 ± 215.40),(523.00 ± 98.05)U/L,(4.035 ± 0.487 ) × 103 nmol/L and (1180.10 ± 245.51),(948.75 ± 173.68),(676.70 ± 193.63)U/L,(3.406 ± 0.146) × 103 nmol/L]increased significantly in adequate selenium and adequate vitamin E group[( 1056.80 ± 250.98),(721.70 ±129.98),(404.65 ± 72.49)U/L,(3.010 ± 1.270) × 103 nmol/L,all P ＜ 0.05) ].The activity of GSH-Px was obviously increased in the two adequate selenium groups[ (96.611 ± 8.238) × 103,(103.024 ± 8.217) × 103 U/L,all P ＜ 0.05],compared with the two low selenium groups[ (60.356 ± 8.179) × 103,(63.117 ± 8.281) × 103 U/L].Selenium affected the activities of CK,CK-MB and LDH(F =27.09,31.58,29.66,all P＜ 0.01 ),and vitamin E affected the activities of CK-MB and LDH(F=18.9,11.2.all P＜ 0.01 ),but both selenium and vitamin E had no interactions on the activities of CK,CK-MB and LDH (F=0.02,0.001,2.22,all P＞0.05).Selenium affected the activity of GSH-Px and the content of MDA(F=6.74,95.68,all P＜ 0.05),vitamin E affected the activity of T-AOC,the contents of MDA and ROS(F=6.42,36.73,8.43,all P＜0.05),but selenium and vitamin E had interactions only on the content of MDA(F =13.82,P＜ 0.05).Conclusions Long-term selenium or vitamin E deficiency,can reduce the body's antioxidant capacity,leading to the occurrence of myocardial injury.Selenium and vitamin E can improve the body's oxidation capacity,playing a role in myocardial protection.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression feature of peroxiredoxin III in cervical lesions and to further understand the mechanism for cervical cancer development/progression.

METHODSExpression of peroxiredoxin III was immunohistochemically detected in cervical cancer. In addition, cervical epithelia were transfected with recombinant adeno-associated virus vector containing human papillomavirus 16 E6/E7 and peroxiredoxin III expression was detected by quantitative real time PCR and Western blotting.

RESULTSPeroxiredoxin III was significantly up-regulated in cervical cancer tissues. Nevertheless, expression of peroxiredoxin III remained unchanged in cervical epithelial cells after transfection.

CONCLUSIONIt seems that Prx III is not related to cervical cancer initiation. Up-regulation of peroxiredoxin III in cervical cancer might be an active response to oxidative stress in malignant cells, which protects against oxidatiton-induced apoptosis.

Cervix Uteri ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Human papillomavirus 16 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Oncogene Proteins, Viral ; genetics ; metabolism ; Papillomavirus E7 Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Peroxiredoxins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Repressor Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; virology

Objective To explore the ethnic differences on nutritional status of children under three years old,in the western areas of China and to indentify the affecting factors.Methods 14 072children under the age of three years and their mothers were recruited,using the proportion population sampling method in 45 counties in the western areas of China.Height and weight were used as the measurement on nutrition of children.Results Height and weight of children with Han,Uyghur,Tibetan and Zhuang ethnicities were all lower than the WHO standards and with differences on height and weight among them.There were also ethnic differences on the status of malnutrition.Prevalence rates of stunting were 14.7％,20.3％,26.9％ and 26.5％ for Han,Uyghur,Tibetan and Zhuang ethnicities,respectively.Prevalence rates of underweight were 6.1％,10.7％,6.8％ and 15.5％ among the Han,Uyghur,Tibetan and Zhuang ethnicities,respectively.The prevalence rates of wasting were 4.2％,5.3％,2.9％,8.9％,and of under nutrition were 19.2％,25.5％,30.3％ and 36.5％ for the Han,the Uyghur,the Tibetan and the Zhuang ethnicities,respectively.When factors as family size,years of schooling of parents,family numbers,sex,age (months),mother' s height and weight,ways of feeding and sources of family income etc.were adjusted,children with Uyghur,Tibetan,Zhuang and other ethnicities were still presented more malnutrition than the children with Han ethnicity.Conclusion There were differences on malnutrition status of children under the age of three years among the studies on different ethnicities.Undemutrition was less than nutritional status,seen in children of the Han nationality than other minority ethnicites.Ethnicity seemed to be related to differences in the nutritional status of children in western China while children of the Han nationality would be better than other minorities on nutritional status if they were in same living conditionals.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of intensive antiplatelet therapy for patients with high on-treatment platelet reactivity (HPR) after coronary stent implantation.

METHODSBetween March 2009 and February 2011, a total of 3316 consecutive acute coronary syndrome patients undergoing drug-eluting stent implanting from 3 hospitals were enrolled. Among them, 840 patients (25.3%) were identified as HPR (defined as 20 µmol/L adenosine diphosphate induced platelet aggregation of ≥ 55% at 24 hours after administration of 300 mg clopidogrel loading dose and 300 mg aspirin). The HPR patients were randomly assigned to receive standard (aspirin 300 mg/d and clopidogrel 75 mg/d, n = 280) or intensified (n = 560) antiplatelet therapy by the ratio of 1:2. Patients in the intensive group were initially treated with a double maintenance dose of clopidogrel (150 mg/d) and aspirin (300 mg/d). After 3 days, patients with unsolved HPR received additional cilostazol treatment (50 - 100 mg, bid). The reversion rate of HPR and clinical events were observed.

RESULTSIn the intensive group, HPR reversed in 304 out of 560 patients (54.3%) at 3 days post therapy and the remaining 256 patients with HPR were treated with additional cilostazol regimen for another 3 days and the total reversion rate of HPR was 81.1% (454/560). The reversion rate of HPR at 30 days in the intensified group was significantly higher than that of the standard group (69.9% vs. 55.7%, P = 0.000). At 30 days after percutaneous coronary intervention, 1 patient suffered from subacute stent thrombosis (0.2%) in intensified group and no stent thrombosis was observed in standard group (P = 1.000). There were no death, major or minor bleeding in both two groups. Minimal bleeding was also similar in the two groups (intensive: 4.28% vs. standard: 2.14%, P = 0.166).

CONCLUSIONSThe intensified antiplatelet therapy regimens could significantly increase the reversion rate of HPR in acute coronary syndrome patients undergoing coronary stenting without increasing the risk of bleeding. The clinic impact of this strategy needs to be elucidated by long term follow-up outcome studies.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Aspirin ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Blood Platelets ; drug effects ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Platelet Aggregation ; drug effects ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Tetrazoles ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Ticlopidine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use

The Cry1Ab differs most significantly from the other related ICPs by its absence of a carboxyl terminus of 28 amino acids including four cysteines; consequently it is less stable. We report that the helper protein P20 plays a role in the expression and crystallization of Cry1Ab. Three Cry1Ab expression plasmids pT1B, pP1B, and pDP1B, were constructed based on the shuttle vector pHT3101. The vector pT1B does not contain the p20 gene, pP1B carries p20, and pDP1B contains p20 with cry1A(c) promoter. Transformants were obtained by electroporating the plasmids into Bacillus thuringiensis acrystalliferous mutant CryB. Western blot demonstrated that crylAb was expressed as a 130 kD protein in all the transformants, and some of the protein was partially degraded into a 60 kD peptide. Quantitative protein analysis indicated that the amount of the 130 kD protein varied in the transformants and was in the ratio of 1:1.4:1.5 for PT1B, pP1B and pDP1B respectively. For the 60 kD proteins, the ratio was 1:1.1:1.6. Microscopic examination revealed that the size of the typical pyramidal crystals in the three transformants was in the order of T1B < P1B < DP1B. Bioassay showed that T1B, P1B and DP1B were all toxic to the larvae of Helicoverpa armigera with similar LC50. This study suggested that P20 plays a role in the expression and crystallization of Cry1Ab.
Animals ; Bacillus thuringiensis ; genetics ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Biological Assay ; methods ; Blotting, Western ; Electroporation ; Endotoxins ; genetics ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Hemolysin Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Moths ; drug effects ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics