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 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

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

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.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVEX-ray stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) is one of the effective treatments for brain metastases (BM). This study was to evaluate the efficacy of SRT on BM, and investigate prognostic factors.

METHODSBetween July 1999 and December 2004, a total of 122 intracranial lesions in 78 patients with BM were treated using SRT in our Center. Forty-nine patients had a solitary lesion and 29 had multiple (2-6) lesions. The median SRT dose was 15 Gy (11-24 Gy) in single fraction for 38 lesions, and 24 Gy (11-40 Gy) in 2-6 fractions for 84 lesions. SRT was combined with whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) of 30-40 Gy for 39 patients. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated by Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed by the log-rank test and Cox model, respectively.

RESULTSThe median survival time was 12.9 months (1.7-77.4 months). The 1-year intracranial PFS rate was 87.4%. The 1-and 2-year OS rates were 53.9% and 25.8%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that the 1-year OS rates were higher in the patients with pretreatment KPS of >/= 70, extracranial lesions controlled, or SRT combined with WBRT than in those with KPS of < 70 (60.7% vs. 29.4%, P = 0.002), extracranial lesions uncontrolled (69% vs. 44.9%, P = 0.005), or SRT alone (64.1% vs. 43.4%, P = 0.03). The benefit of treating with WBRT in combination was mainly achieved in the patients with extracranial lesions controlled or with more than one intracranial lesion. Multivariate analysis showed that KPS score and status of extracranial lesions were independent prognostic factors for OS.

CONCLUSIONSSRT is an effective and safe modality for BM. SRT combined with WBRT may prolong the survival time of the patients with extracranial lesions controlled or multiple intracranial lesions. Independent prognostic factors for OS are KPS score and status of extracranial lesions.

Adult ; Aged ; Brain Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; secondary ; surgery ; Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; Cranial Irradiation ; methods ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Karnofsky Performance Status ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial ; radiotherapy ; secondary ; surgery ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Radiosurgery ; methods ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Survival Rate

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of selenium,protein and vitamin E deficiency on mRNA expression of rat cardiac selenoprotein,and their relation with myocardial injury.MethodsForty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups:low selenium low protein low vitamin E group(group A),low selenium low protein adequate vitamin E group(group B),adequate selenium adequate protein low vitamin E group(group C),and adequate selenium adequate protein adequate vitamin E group (group D),10 rats in each group.The activity of whole blood glùtathione peroxidase(GSH-Px ) was measured using dithiobis nitrobenzoic acid (DTNB) at the end of sixth month experiment.The levels of mRNA expression of glutathione peroxidase 1(Gpx1),phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase 4(Gpx4),thioredoxin reductase(TrxR),selenoprotein P(Se-P) and selenoprotein W(Se-W) were determined by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR at the end of sixth month.Histopathological changes of myocardial injury were observed with light microscope.ResultsThe activity of GSH-Px was (44.6 ± 3.1 ),(45.5 ± 1.6),(86.6 ± 2.2),(85.6 ± 1.2)U/L,respectively,in the above four groups at the end of sixth month,and the difference was statistically significant(F =100.7,P ＜ 0.01 ) ; the activity of GSH-Px of groups C and D was higher than that of groups A,B(all P ＜ 0.05).mRNA expression of myocardial tissue of the four groups was as follows,Gpx1(0.099 ± 0.312,0.054 ± 0.007,0.386 ± 0.067,0.340 ± 0.085),Gpx4(1.005 ± 0.089,0.810 ± 0.229,0.895 ± 0.084,0.922 ± 0.399),and Se-W(0.188 ± 0.080,0.119 ± 0.069,0.574 ± 0.167,0.570 ± 0.383),and the difference was statistically significant(F =112.1,3.76,22.8,all P ＜ 0.05) ; the mRNA levels of Gpx1,Se-W of groups C,D were significantly higher than that of groups A,B(all P ＜ 0.05).The mRNA expression of Gpx4 of group A was higher than that of group C(P ＜ 0.05).The mRNA expression of TrxR(0.130 ± 0.037,0.127 ± 0.038,0.134 ± 0.021,0.120 ± 0.014) and Se-P(0.446 ± 0.155,0.413 ± 0.152,0.385 ± 0.041,0.408 ±0.208 ) was not statistically different among the four groups (F =0.91,1.75,all P ＞ 0.05).Pathological changes of myocardial tissue were mainly as foci of coagulative necrosis.The necrosis detection rate of the four groups was 8/10,4/9,2/10,and 1/10,respectively,and the difference was significant statistically(Fisher exact test,P =0.0067).ConclusionsLong-term selenium,protein and vitamin E deficiency will reduce body antioxidant capacity and lead to myocardial injury.The mRNA levels of Gpx1 and Se-W and selenium level are closely related.The mRNA levels of Gpx4,TrxR and Se-P remain relatively stable.