Automobiles ; China ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure ; Risk Assessment

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of human vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) fragment (3 approximately 4 exon) in E. coli on anti-angiogenesis.

METHODSThrough RT-PCR amplification, endonuclease cut and DNA sequence analysis identification, hVEGF fragment cDNA was inserted into E. coli expression vector pTrcHis2A. The prokaryotic expression plasmid pTrcHis2A/VEGF(3 approximately 4) was constructed and transformed into TOP10F.

RESULTSAfter 8hr isopropy-beta-D-thiogalactoside (IPTG) induction, VEGF fragment was expressed in 15% of total proteins through sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The expressed protein was highly antigenic and specific. The VEGF fragment was further purified by affinity, which could inhibit HUVEC proliferation and neovascularization of the chick chorioallantoic membrane.

CONCLUSIONVEGF fragment is anti-angiogenetic, which may potentially be used in oncologico-biological targeting therapy.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cloning, Molecular ; Endothelial Growth Factors ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Isopropyl Thiogalactoside ; pharmacology ; Lymphokines ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Peptide Fragments ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors

Objective:To investigate the normal range of fetal ventricles and posterior cranial fossa development in the second and third trimesters and their variations with gestational age using quantitative MRI analysis.Methods:This retrospective study enrolled 675 pregnant women who underwent prenatal MRI examination with an average gestational week of 29.0±8.5 in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from January 2016 to January 2020. MRI data of all the subjects were collected and analyzed, including left lateral ventricle trigonometric width (LLVTW) and right lateral ventricle trigonometric width (RLVTW), third ventricle width (TVW), fourth ventricle width (FVW), the anterior-posterior diameter of the fourth ventricle (APDFV), cavum septum pellucidum width (CSPW), cisterna magna width (CMW), etc. Spearman, Pearson correlation analysis, and t-test were used for the statistical analysis. Results:(1) Totally 675 fetuses were recruited, including 392 female and 283 male fetuses. No statistical difference of gestational weeks at MRI was found between male and female fetuses. (2)The mean value of TVW and CMW of the female fetuses were significantly higher than those of male fetuses [(0.60±0.05) vs (0.63±0.04) cm, t=－5.059; (0.57±0.14) vs (0.67±0.15) cm, t=－7.445; both P<0.001]. Spearman correlation analysis showed that TVW and CMW were negatively correlated with fetal gender ( r=－0.179 and－0.312, both P<0.001). (3)Pearson correlation analysis showed that LLVTW, RLVTW, TVW, FVW, APDFV, CSPW, and CMW were all positively correlated with gestational weeks ( r=0.310, 0.267, 0.205, 0.801, 0.829, 0.216 and 0.284, all P<0.001). FVW and APDFV were significantly linearly correlated with gestational weeks (r=0.801 and 0.829, both P<0.001). (4) There was no significant change in LLVTW and RLVTW in the second trimester, but a slight increase was found in the third trimester. TVW showed a scattered distribution in the second and third trimesters and increased slightly with the gestational week at 26 to 27 +6 gestational weeks. FVW and APDFV increased linearly while. CSPW increased slowly with gestational weeks in the second and third trimesters. CMW increased slightly with gestational weeks in the second and third trimesters but showed little change in the third trimester. Conclusions:The development of fetal ventricles and posterior cranial fossa in the second and third trimesters show a growth trend of varying degrees with the increase of gestational weeks. TVW and CMW are significantly negatively correlated with the fetal gender.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of intragastric administration of human interferon-α (hIFN-α)-transformed Bifidobacterium on immune functions of mice.

METHODSThe E.coli-Bifidobacterium shuttle expression vector containing hIFN-α gene was constructed and transformed into Bifidobacterium. The hIFN-α-transformed Bifidobacterium suspension (1010 /ml) was prepared after induction with 0.2% L-arabinose for hIFN-α expression and administered intragastrically in male Balb/C mice at the dose of 0.1 ml every other day for 2 weeks, with the mice receiving empty vector-transformed Bifidobacteria as the negative control and those having an equal volume of saline as the blank control. The percentages of mononuclear cell subsets in the thymus, spleen and blood were detected in the mice by flow cytometry, and the serum levels of IL-4, IL-12, IFN-γ and TNF-α were assayed using mouse cytokine FlowCytomix Kit.

RESULTSThe percentages of CD3⁺CD8⁺ and CD4⁺CD8⁺ cells in the thymus, CD3⁺CD4⁺, CD3⁺CD8⁺ and CD4⁺CD8⁺ cells in the spleen, and CD3⁺CD8⁺ cells in the blood all increased significantly in IFN group as compared with those in the negative and blank control groups (P<0.01 or 0.05). The serum level of IFN-γ also increased significantly (P<0.05) while IL-4 level remained unchanged in IFN group compared with those in the two groups.

CONCLUSIONIntragastric administration of hIFN-α-transformed Bifidobacterium promotes lymphocyte proliferation and maturation and increases the serum levels of Th1 cytokines in mice.

Animals ; Bifidobacterium ; Cell Proliferation ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; pharmacology ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-12 ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Lymphocyte Activation ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology ; Spleen ; cytology ; Th1 Cells ; cytology ; Thymus Gland ; cytology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of dust exposure and smoking on mortality.

METHODSBased on the Guangzhou Occupational Health Surveillance Record System established in 1989-1992, 61,648 factory workers, aged > or = 30, occupationally exposed to dust and non-exposure to dust or any other hazardous substances(controls), were included in a prospective cohort study.

RESULTS(1) 28 were lost to follow-up. Malignant neoplasm was most common among 1,186 deaths. (2) Most subjects were male workers, aged 35 to 44, with secondary education, and married. 42.2% had ever smoked and 32.8% were ever-drinkers. (3) To compare with non-exposure, non-smoking + non-smoking and non-exposure respectively, the adjusted RR of death from all causes, malignant neoplasm and respiratory diseases were 1.24, 1.34 and 1.96 respectively for dust exposed workers(compared to control, P < 0.01), 1.16, 1.37 and 1.63 respectively for those smoking(compared to non-smoker except RR of death from respiratory diseases, P < 0.01), and 1.48, 1.85 and 3.12 respectively for those smoking and dust exposure, which were far greater than those either smoked or exposed to dust alone(P < 0.01). (4) The influence of dust exposure on death was mainly showed in occupational exposure to silica dust and wood dust.

CONCLUSIONBoth dust exposure and smoking may increase the mortality, and they had synergistic effect.

Adult ; Cohort Studies ; Dust ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Prospective Studies ; Silicon Dioxide ; Smoking ; mortality ; Wood

OBJECTIVETo study the main causes of death in workers from different industries in Guangzhou.

METHODSThe industrial systems in Guangzhou were classified into six categories according to the Chinese Public Health Inspection Statistical Report. Baseline data on 79,547 workers, age > or = 35, were retrieved from individual health records under the Guangzhou Occupational Health Surveillance Record System established in 1989-1992. In this prospective cohort study, the workers' vital status and causes of death were followed up until 31 December 1998. Using SPSS 10.0, crude death rates were calculated and relative risks(RR) (95% CI) were estimated using Cox proportional-hazard models.

RESULTS(1) Among 79,547 workers were 49,355 men and 30,192 women, with mean age of (43.8 +/- 6.5) years, and 64% were aged 35-44. The mean age difference of workers in different industries was +/- 1 year. At baseline, 41% had been exposed to occupational hazards. Exposure was most prevalent in petroleum chemical industry(53.9%), followed by metallurgical industry, and the lowest exposure was in mechanical industry (30.2%). (2) The mean follow-up period was (8.0 +/- 1.3) years with 633,510 person-years. 1,577 workers had died with a total death rate of 248.9 per 100,000 person-years. The death rate in rubber industry was the highest, followed by metallurgical and petroleum chemical industries. Malignant neoplasms, vascular and respiratory diseases were most common, constituting 80.3% of all causes of death. (3) For all causes of death and the three main categories, the top three crude death rates were observed in rubber and petroleum chemical industries, and in the metallurgical industry except for vascular causes. The rubber industry had the highest crude death rate for all and vascular causes, and the metallurgical industry for malignant neoplasms and respiratory causes. (4) With the light industry as a reference (RR = 1.0), the metallurgical industry had the highest adjusted relative risks (RR) (95% CI) of 1.62(1.20-2.18) and 7.42(3.38-16.31) for malignant neoplasms and respiratory causes, respectively. The rubber industry had the highest RR of 1.69(1.40-2.04) for all causes. A significant RR of 2.03(1.43-2.88) for vascular causes was observed only in the rubber industry.

CONCLUSIONSThe main causes of death varied from industry. Malignant neoplasms and respiratory diseases were the leading causes in metallurgical and petroleum chemical industries. In rubber industry, vascular and respiratory causes were most common. Preventive measures for disease control should be tailor-made for each industry.

Adult ; Aged ; Cause of Death ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Industry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; mortality ; Occupational Exposure ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Prospective Studies

Objective: To explore the mediating effect of hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (HCT) on the association between alcohol consumption and blood pressure, and provide evidence for the prevention and control of alcohol-attributed hypertension. Methods: 1 091 male (age >50 years old) participants with drinking habit were selected from the Guangzhou biobank cohort study (GBCS). Mediation analysis was used to evaluate the mediating effect of Hb and HCT on the association of alcohol consumption (unit/day) with systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure(DBP), pulse pressure(PP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP). Results: After adjusting for age, body mass index, education level, personal annual income, smoking, occupation and physical activity, the associations of alcohol consumption with SBP, DBP, PP and MAP were partly mediated by Hb, the proportion of mediating effect was 11.8% (95%CI 4.8%-24.7%), 15.3% (95%CI 6.5%-32.0%), 8.4% (95%CI 2.2%-22.5%) and 13.5% (95%CI 5.9%-27.5%), respectively. The associations of alcohol consumption with SBP, DBP, and MAP were also partly mediated by HCT, the proportion of mediating effect was 6.3% (95%CI 1.0%-16.0%), 8.7% (95%CI 1.4%-21.4%), and 7.5% (95%CI 1.0%-18.6%), respectively. Conclusion There is a significant mediating effect of Hb and HCT on the association between alcohol consumption and blood pressure. Besides efforts on alcohol control, the potential effects of alcohol-induced increase on Hb and HCT, which might also increase the blood pressure, need to be considered to achieve optimal monitoring and prevention of alcohol-related hypertension.

OBJECTIVE:To explore the incidence,clinical manifestations and influential factors of ADR induced by Xuebi-jing injection,and to provide reference for safe and rational use of it. METHODS:The inpatients who used Xuebijing injection in our hospital during Jan. 2012 to Dec. 2016 was registered and monitored centrally,and analyzed statistically in respects of clinical characteristics,occurrence time of ADR,clinical manifestation,outcome,etc.RESULTS:A total of 3 300 patients records were in-cluded,involving 81 ADR cases with incidence of 2.45%. There was no correlation between ADR and gender. The incidence of ADR was in high level in the patients with age over 60 years(6.53%),history of allergy(72.84%),original diseases as respirato-ry disease(3.33%),blood system disease(3.11%)and central nervous system disease(3.03%),and receiving combination of TCM injection(34.57%),antibiotics(25.93%)and immune enhancer(14.81%). Single-day culmulative amount with no more than 50 mL had relatively higher proportion(36.67%),and there was no statistical significance in the ADR with different sin-gle-day culmulative amounts(P>0.05). 38.27% of ADR occurred within 30 min after first medication. Organs/systems involved in ADR were mainly skin and its appendants(37.04%),cardiovascular system(19.75%)and gastrointestinal system(14.81%). To-tally 15 cases had severe ADR,which were mainly anaphylactic shock(33.33%,5/15)and systemic rash(20.00%,3/15). All ADR were recovered after drug withdrawal or symptomatic treatment. CONCLUSIONS:ADR induced by Xuebijing injection are mainly anaphylactic type. The incidence of ADR is higher in patients with primary respiratory disease,blood system disease,drug combination,allergic history and advanced age. The part of them are not mentioned in drug package inserts.Manufacturers are sug-gested to collect ADR information and improve drug package insets in time.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the ratio of signal intensity of fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR)sequence lesion side／contralateral side and the onset time of acute ischemic stroke. Methods Forty-three consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke admitted to the Department of Neurology,Dongguan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from November 2016 to January 2018 were enrolled retrospectively. They were all first onset and were diagnosed by MRI,and the onset time was 0. 5 to 6. 0 h. According to the time window of effective rescue of the penumbra,43 patients were divided into a ≤4. 5 h group (n＝19)and a ＞4. 5-6. 0 h group (n＝24). The signal intensity values of FLAIR, diffusion-weighted imaging,signal intensity of apparent diffusion coefficient sequence on the lesion side and contralateral brain tissue in the two groups of patients were measured respectively,and the relative signal intensity (RSI)was calculated and compared between the two groups. Taking RSI as the dependent variable and onset time as the independent variable,a general linear regression analysis was performed. Results (1)In FLAIR sequence,the signal intensity value and RSI value of patients in the≤4. 5 h group were lower than those in the ＞4. 5-6. 0 h group. There were significant differences between the 2 groups (disease side signal intensity value:531 ± 109 vs. 681 ± 306,t ＝2. 04;RSI value:1. 19 ± 0. 13 vs. 1. 45 ± 0. 18,t＝5. 29,all P＜0. 05). There was no significant difference in the signal intensity values on the contralateral sides between the two groups (P＞0. 05). (2)In diffusion weighted imaging and apparent diffusion coefficient sequence,there were no significant differences in the signal intensity value and RSI value on the disease side and the contralateral side between the the≤4. 5 hours group and the ＞4. 5-6. 0 h group (all P＞0. 05). (3)In the FLAIR sequence,with the prolongation of the time of the disease,RSI gradually increased,and was positively correlated (r＝0. 756,P＜0. 01). Conclusions The quantitative measurement of the disease side／contralateral side of FLAIR sequence might reflect the onset time of acute ischemic stroke. Its RSI value increased with the prolonged onset time.

Objective To examine the association of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and serum uric acid (SUA) in middle and elderly Chinese. Methods 10 413 Guangzhou residents aged ≥50 were included in the present study. Information on personal history,physical examination and biochemical parameters were collected. Subjects were grouped by the FPG level,association between FPG and SUA. Levels of hyperuricemia(HUA)were evaluated. Results The SUA levels and the incidence of HUA showed trends of increasing,with the increasing FPG levels in women,with statistically significant differences seen among all the FPG groups(P value for trend<0.05). While the statistical differences of SUA levels and the incidence rates of HUA among diabetes group(DM group)and impaired fasting glucose(IFG)groups were non-significant(P>0.05)but it was higher than normal FPG group in men (P<0.05). Logistic regression models were built between various FPG groups and HUA. After adjusting for age,smoking status,drinking status,physical activity, hypertension,body mass index and the levels of triglyceride and creatin. When compared to the normal FPG group,the risk of women suffering from HUA increased by 40%(95%CI:1.19-1.64) under the FPG in the range of 6.1-6.9 mmol/L. Compared to those non-diabetic individuals,the risk of diabetic patients suffering from HUA also increased by 44%(95%CI:1.15-1.79) in women. However,the risk of suffering from HUA did not relate to the increase of FPG in men. Conclusion The SUA level and the incidence of HUA tended to increase along with the increasing levels of FPG in middle and elderly Chinese women and the increase of FPG might also increase the risk of HUA,but not in men.