Adolescent ; Adult ; Anxiety ; epidemiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Interior Design and Furnishings ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Health ; statistics & numerical data ; Quality of Life ; Young Adult

Accidents, Occupational ; Humans ; Work Schedule Tolerance

OBJECTIVETo investigate the curative effect and therapeutical mechanism of composite salvia injection (CSI) in treating ischemic cerebral infarction in the respect of oxygen free radical and apolipoprotein.

METHODSSixty-eight cases of ischemic cerebral infarction within the first 72 hrs after onset were divided randomly into the CSI group (treated with CSI) and the control group (treated with Xueshuantong). Serum lipid peroxide (LPO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured by colorimetry and apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) and ApoB100 were measured with unidirectional immune diffusion method.

RESULTSSerum levels of LPO and ApoB100 were obviously lower, and levels of SOD and ApoA1 significantly higher in the CSI group than those in the control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The total effective rate of CSI in treating cerebral infarction was 88.24%, which was significantly higher than that of the control (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCSI shows definite effect in treating cerebral infarction, to reduce the oxygen free radical damage and regulate the apolipoprotein metabolism possibly was the important therapeutical mechanism.

Aged ; Apolipoprotein A-I ; blood ; Cerebral Infarction ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Free Radical Scavengers ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood

OBJECTIVETo explore the biological effects of infrasound on the polygonal cells in adrenal cortex zona fasciculation in mice.

METHODSThe biological effects of infrasound on the activities of 3beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3-betaHSDH) and acid phosphatase(ACP) of the polygonal cells in adrenal cortex zona fasciculate were observed when exposure to 8 and 16 Hz infrasound at 80, 90, 100, 110, 120 and 130 dB for 1 day, 7 days and 14 days or 14 days after the exposure.

RESULTSWhen exposure to 8 Hz infrasound, the enzyme activities of 3-betaHSDH increase as the sound pressure levels increase. Only when the sound pressure levels reach 130 dB, the enzyme activities began to decrease exceptionally. When exposure to 16 Hz, 80 dB infrasound, no significant difference between the treatment and control group in the activities of 3-betaHSDH could be observed, but the injury of the polygonal cells had appeared. When exposure to 16 Hz, 100 dB infrasound, the activities of 3-betaHSDH started to increase. The cell injury still existed. When exposed to 16 Hz, 120 dB infrasound, the local tissue damage represented. Fourteen days after the mice exposure to 8 Hz, 90 dB and 130 dB infrasound for 14 days continuously, the local tissue injury of the adrenal cortex zona fasciculation began to recover at certain extent, but the higher the exposure sound pressure level, the poorer the tissue recovery.

CONCLUSIONThe biological effects of infrasound on the polygonal cells in adrenal cortex zona fasciculation response to the frequency of the infrasound are found at certain action strength range, but this characteristic usually is covered by the severe tissue injury. When exposure to infrasound is stopped for a period of time, the local tissue injury of the adrenal cortex zona fasciculation could recovers at certain extent, but the higher the exposure sound pressure level, the more poorer the tissue recovery.

17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases ; metabolism ; Acid Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Adrenal Cortex ; cytology ; enzymology ; Animals ; Environmental Exposure ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Noise ; Zona Fasciculata ; enzymology ; Zona Reticularis ; enzymology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the psychosocial status and related factors among university students during severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic in Beijing.

METHODSBy means of stratified cluster sampling, symptom checklist-90 (SCL-90) and questionnaire on general information were applied among 6800 students in three universities in Beijing.

RESULTSThere were 6280 valid questionnaires gathered. In order to control and prevent SARS, strict management was conducted in three universities which providing various social supports. Out of the 6280 students, 460 had SCL-90 positive symptoms with a rate of 7.3%. Risk factors of SCL-90 positive symptom were found as follows: major in arts (OR = 2.00), misconception on the control and prevention of SARS (OR = 1.91), considering measures non-effective (OR = 2.25), and do not believe that SARS can be under control (OR = 3.57). Protective factors of SCL-90 positive symptom would include as: being female (OR = 0.77), being graduate students (OR = 0.38), and being not much influenced on study and daily life during the period of strict management (OR = 0.54).

CONCLUSIONPsychosocial status of students was influenced by their knowledge and attitude on SARS. Various social supports might keep the university students to having a healthy psychosocial status.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Awareness ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Outbreaks ; prevention & control ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Male ; Quarantine ; methods ; organization & administration ; psychology ; Risk Factors ; Sampling Studies ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Time Factors ; Universities

BACKGROUNDStatins improve arterial stiffness in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Hypertension is a predominant contributor of arterial stiffening. However, the influence of hypertension on the effect of statins for improving arterial stiffness in CAD patients has seldom been investigated. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the relationships between statin use and arterial stiffness in normotensive and hypertensive CAD patients.

METHODSBrachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (ba-PWV) was measured in 437 patients, including 220 hypertensive CAD patients (121 used statins, 99 did not) and 217 normotensive CAD patients (105 used statins, 112 did not). The normotensive and hypertensive CAD patients were matched according to age, sex, and body mass index (BMI).

RESULTSIn the normotensive and hypertensive CAD patients, lipid profiles were significantly improved in the statin group compared with the non-statin group. No significant differences in the administered statins (i.e., atorvastatin, simvastatin, rosuvastatin, and pravastatin) and statin therapy duration were found between normotensive and hypertensive CAD patients (all P > 0.05). No significant correlation of ba-PWV and statin therapy duration was found in all CAD patients, normotensive CAD patients, or hypertensive CAD patients (all P > 0.05). ba-PWV in the statin group was significantly lower than that in the non-statin group in normotensive CAD patients ((1331.68 ± 167.52) cm/s vs. (1468.61 ± 244.54) cm/s, P = 0.002) but not in hypertensive CAD patients (P > 0.05). In multiple linear regression analyses, statin therapy was significantly associated with ba-PWV after adjusting for confounding variables in normotensive CAD patients (P = 0.018) but not in hypertensive CAD patients (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSStatins may significantly improve arterial stiffness in CAD patients, and hypertension may probably influence the effectiveness of statin therapy in improving arterial stiffness in this population. Further studies are required to investigate the effect of statins on arterial stiffness in normotensive and hypertensive CAD patients.

Aged ; Ankle Brachial Index ; Coronary Artery Disease ; physiopathology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Hypertension ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulse Wave Analysis ; Vascular Stiffness ; drug effects ; physiology

The relationship between T cell immunoglobulin domain and mucin domain protein 3 (Tim-3)/Galectin (Gal)-9 pathway and recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) was studied. Thirty-one pregnant women with RSA and 27 normal early gravidas were investigated to detect the levels of Tim-3 and Gal-9 in villi and deciduas by Western blotting. Meanwhile, the concentration of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-12 in peripheral blood plasma was determined by ELISA in 25 healthy fertile non-pregnant controls, the normal early gravidas and pregnant women with RSA mentioned above, respectively. It was found that the relative expression levels of Tim-3 and Gal-9 in villi and deciduas were significantly increased in pregnant women with RSA as compared with those in the normal early gravidas. The concentration of IL-4 in peripheral blood plasma of pregnant women with RSA was lower than that of the normal early gravidas (P<0.05) and healthy fertile non-pregnant controls (P<0.05), but that of IL-2 in pregnant women with RSA was significantly higher than that of the normal early gravidas (P<0.05) and healthy fertile non-pregnant controls (P<0.05). It was suggested that the overexpression of Tim-3/Gal-9 pathway may be related to the pathogenesis of RSA.

AIMTo investigate the effects of RLI on plasma nitric oxide (NO) and NO synthase (NOS) isoforms of healthy humans.

METHODS30 healthy human subjects (aged from 40 - 70 years old) were recruited. RLI was induced by five 5 min cycles of ischemia of non dominant arm (200 mmHg, 5 min interval). Blood pressure, heart rate, and the feelings of ischemic arm were continuously monitored. Venous plasma was collected in contralateral arm at Pre, Post-0 h, Post-4 h, and Post-24 h. Plasma level of NO was measured by Griess reaction, and NOS was measured by chemical method.

RESULTSBlood pressure and heart rate varied in normal range. The uncomfortable feeling was decreased with the increasing numbers of ischemic cycles. Plasma level of NO, and iNOS in plasma were significantly increased at Post-0 h, Post-4 h, and Post-24 h compared to Pre (P < 0.05). tNOS was also significantly increased at Post-0 h and Post-4 h compared to Pre (P < 0.05). No significant change in plasma cNOS was shown at following three time points than Pre.

CONCLUSIONThese findings suggest that RLI can elevate plasma level of NO, tNOS, and iNOS in healthy humans. RLI might be a safe method as a rIPC, and it would have important possibility to be performed in clinic.

Adult ; Aged ; Arm ; blood supply ; Female ; Humans ; Ischemia ; blood ; physiopathology ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; blood ; metabolism ; Reperfusion Injury ; physiopathology ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo study the characteristics of infrasound and its effects on the workers at power plants.

METHODSThe audible noise and infrasound in three thermoelectricity plants were measured and by using Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90), the subjective sensation, and the physiological indices were compared between exposed workers and controls.

RESULTSThe infrasound levels were different at different measure sites of the three thermoelectricity works ranging from 40 to 98 dB. There was still 40 approximately 80 dB infrasound even when the soot blower stopped running. Different apparatus produced different infrasound levels with the highest ranging from 62 to 115 dB. A single frequency (16 Hz) infrasound was produced in certain department during working hour with sound pressure levels of 110 to 120 dB, but the audible noise sound pressure level was less than 70 dB. There was no significant difference in the indices representing vision fatigue and neurobehaviour function between exposed workers and controls. Workers at certain department experienced evident subjective sensation of neurobehavioral dysfunction, and the scores of somatization, depression, hostility, phobic anxiety, and psychotism in the SCL-90 were significantly higher in the exposed group than in the control and the norm in China (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONInfrasound is ubiquitous in the working environment, but usually, the noise levels are less than 120 dB. In some special production department, there is persistent infrasound above 110 to 120 dB. No obvious health effects are found among those who are exposed to infrasound below 100 dB. However, the workers who are chronically exposed to infrasound above 110 to 120 dB present notable subjective sensation of autonomic neurobehavioral dysfunction, and their psychological health status is not as good as those in the control and those in the domestic normal pattern.

Adult ; China ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Power Plants ; Sound ; adverse effects ; Workplace

OBJECTIVETo establish a method of the quantitative determination of acetylharpagide in Ajuga decumbens.

METHODThe chromatographic conditions were as follows: a Phenomenex Luna C18 column was used, the mobile phase was composed of acetontrile-water (15:85), the flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1) and the UV absorbance detection was set at 197 nm.

RESULTLinearity of acetylharpagide was in the range of 0.6-3.6 microg (r = 0.9993), and the average recovery and RSD were 99.13% and 2.48%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe contents of acetylharpagide ranged 0.40%-6.39% in A. decumbens. The method was simple, accurate and sensitive.

Ajuga ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Pyrans ; analysis ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity