OBJECTIVETo study the effect of smoking and rush-mat dust exposure on pulmonary function.

METHOD122 rush-mat dust exposed workers and 118 controls without dust exposure were selected. Questionnaire and FEVY1.0 measurement were performed on them.

RESULTSFor dust exposure, FEV1.0% of cases (81.8% +/- 13.9%) was statistically lower than controls (95.9% +/- 15.3%) (t = -7.49, P < 0.01), the abnormal rate of FEV1.0% was 46.7% (57/122) for cases, statistically higher than controls (8.5%, 10/118), chi2 = 43.6, P < 0.01. For smoking, FEV1.0% of cases (82.02% +/- 12.9%) was statistically lower than controls (93.33% +/- 12.4%), t = -5.18, P < 0.05, the abnormal rate of FEV1.0% is 55.9% for cases, statistically higher than controls (16.7%), chi2 = 22.2, P < 0.05. The exposing ages of workers has negative correlation with FEV1.0% (R(S1) = -0.299, P = 0.0008). Exposure and smoking could affect FEV1.0% (Fe = 259.06, P < 0.01, F(s) = 42.42, P < 0.01), and their interactive effect on FEV1.0% was greater than single ones (F = 34.70, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONRush-mat dust exposure, smoking and their interaction have influence on FEV1.0%.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Dust ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Lung ; physiology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Smoking ; adverse effects

A simple and cost-effective indirect competitive enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ic-ELISA) was developed to rapidly screen the content of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in lotus seeds, and the results were confirmed by ultra-fast liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry( UFLC-MS/MS). Matrix-matched calibration expressed a good linearity ranging from 0. 171 to 7. 25 µg · L(-1) for AFB, with R2 > 0.978. The medium inhibitory concentration( IC50 ) for AFB1 was 1.29 µg · L(-1), the recovery for AFB1 was 74.73% to 126.9% with RSD < 5%, and the limit of detection (IC10) was 0.128 µg · L(-1). The developed ic-ELSIA method was applied to rapid analysis of AFB, in 20 lotus seeds samples and the results indicated that the contents of AFB, in samples 1-15 were in the range of 1. 19- 115. 3 µg · kg(-1) and in 40% of the samples exceeded the legal limit(5 µg · kg(-1)), while the contamination rate of AFB, in samples 16-20 was 40%. Pearson correlation coefficient(r) reached 0.997 for AFB1 content in the samples detected by ic-ELSIA and UFLC-MS/MS methods. The results proved that the developed ic-ELISA method is simple, sensitive and reliable, and can be used for rapid and high-throughput screening of AFB1 in lotus seeds
Aflatoxin B1 ; analysis ; Drug Contamination ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; methods ; Loteae ; chemistry ; Seeds ; chemistry

Objective To investigate the relationship between findings of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy(~1H-MRS)and tumor proliferative potential in patents with astrocytoma.Methods Thirty four patients of astrocytomas proved by surgery and pathology were examined by MRI and ~1H-MRS,among them 26 were of grade Ⅰ or Ⅱ(low grade)and 8 of grade Ⅲ or Ⅳ(high grade).Twenty one eases of astrocytomas(17 low-grade and 4 high grade respectively)were homogeneous type.Expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA)was detected by immunohistochemical method of streptavidin- biotin-peroxidase(SP).Results The Cho/NAA and Cho/Cr ratios of high-grade astrocytomas(M=4.895, 4.845 respectively)were significantly higher than those of low-grade astrocytomas(M=2.920, 2.000 respectively)in the 21 homogeneous astrocytomas(Z=-2.597,P=0.009;Z=-2.687,P= 0.007 respectively),and the ratios were found to be significantly correlated to the expression of PCNA(A= 7.880)(r=0.607,P=0.003;r=0.457,P=0.038 respectively).However,the differences of Cho/NAA、 Cho/Cr ratios between the high-grade and low-grade astrocytomas were not significant when 34 cases were included,and no relationship was found between Cho/NAA(M=3.965,2.890 respectively)、Cho/Cr(M= 3.080、1.960 respectively)ratios and the expression of PCNA(A=8.100)(r=0.060,P=0.738;r= 0.125,P=0.480 respectively).Conclusion By measuring the Cho/NAA and Cho/Cr ratios,~1 H-MRS may be a valuable method for presurgical in invo prediction of the malignant degree,tumor proliferative potential and prognosis of homogeneous-type astrocytomas.

Epithelial membrane protein 3 (EMP3) is a trans-membrane signaling molecule with important roles in the regulation of apoptosis, differentiation and invasion of cancer cells, but the detailed is largely still unknown. We analyzed the mRNA levels and methylation statuses of EMP3 in 63 primary breast carcinomas and assessed their correlations with clinicopathologic variables. The expression of EMP3 mRNA in primary breast carcinomas was significantly higher than the expression of 20 normal breast tissues (p<10(-7)). EMP3 overexpression in breast carcinomas was significantly related to histological grade III (p=3.9X10(-7)), lymph node metastasis (p= 0.003), and strong Her-2 expression (p=3.3X10(-6)). Hypermethylation frequencies of EMP3 were detected in 36.5% of breast carcinomas by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. However, no significant correlations were found between methylation status of EMP3 and mRNA expression levels as well as other clinical parameters. In conclusion, EMP3 may be a novel marker of tumor aggressiveness. Overexpression of EMP3 in primary breast carcinoma is not associated with DNA methylation.
Adult ; Breast Neoplasms/*genetics/pathology ; Carcinoma/*genetics/pathology ; DNA Methylation ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Membrane Glycoproteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism ; Receptor, erbB-2/genetics/metabolism ; Severity of Illness Index

OBJECTIVE1) To estimate annual direct medical costs of coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke attributable to hypertension among Chinese adults aged 35-74 years in China, 2) to analyze the correlation between the hypertension awareness and hypertension treatment rate.

METHODS2003 National Health Services Survey (n = 93 018) was used to derive direct medical costs including costs for outpatient visits, physician services, inpatient stays, rehabilitation services, nurses fees, and medications. The medical costs of CHD and stroke attributable to hypertension were estimated by multiplying population attributable risk proportion by corresponding disease costs. Using 2002 National Nutrition and Health Survey (n = 148 804), the prevalence of hypertension awareness and hypertension treatment rate in 132 survey sites were calculated. Correlation was used to analyze the correlation between the two variables.

RESULTSThe direct medical costs of hypertension, CHD and stroke were 20.2, 15.7 and 24.3 billion Yuan, respectively. The medical costs attributable to hypertension were estimated at 19.1 billion Yuan (RMB), accounting for 47.7% of the total medical costs of the two chronic diseases. The prevalence of hypertension awareness is highly correlated with hypertension treatment rate (r = 0.9777, P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONThe economic burden of CHD and stroke attributable to hypertension is very high, reaching about 50% of the total medical costs of the two diseases. The prevalence of hypertension awareness could be used as an important indicator to evaluate the effectiveness of hypertension prevention and control at community level.

China ; Coronary Disease ; economics ; etiology ; Cost of Illness ; Data Collection ; Health Care Costs ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; Stroke ; economics ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo examine the association of dietary patterns with chronic diseases and their indicators.

METHODSUsing the data from 2002 National Nutrition and Health Survey, we divided the subjects into clusters according to their dietary patterns classified by different percentage of energy intake from cereal foods, carbohydrate and fat, respectively. The analysis of variance was used to identify the difference in chronic disease prevalence across clusters of subjects while controlling for age, gender and geographic regions. Logistic regression analysis was applied to calculate the odd ratios (OR) for association of chronic disease and each dietary pattern, after adjusted for age, gender, region, energy intake, leisure time.

RESULTSThe higher percentage of energy intake from cereals was significantly associated with lower body mass index (BMI), lower total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). While it was significantly associated with lower risk for overweight/obesity, hypertension, high total cholesterol, high triglyceride (TG) and high LDL-C, but the prevalence of underweight was significantly higher in the cluster of subjects with cereal energy share more than 75%. The higher percentage of energy intake from fat was significantly associated with higher BMI, higher total cholesterol and higher LDL-C, which accordingly, was significantly associated with higher risk for overweight/obesity, hypertension, high total cholesterol, triglyceride and high LDL-C.

CONCLUSIONOur study confirmed the important role of dietary pattern in chronic disease control; in particular, appropriate percentage of energy intake from fat and cereals/carbohydrates are beneficial to control and prevention of chronic diseases.

China ; epidemiology ; Chronic Disease ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Diet ; Dietary Carbohydrates ; Dietary Fats ; Humans ; Nutrition Surveys ; Odds Ratio

OBJECTIVETo examine the association between fetal nutritional status and overweight and obesity in their adulthood and to provide evidence for formulation of the strategy on preventing low birth weight.

METHODSUsing data from 2002 Nationwide Nutrition and Health Survey to set up a case-control method in order to compare body mass index(BMI), prevalence of overweight and obesity as well as to calculate odds ratio of overweight and obesity of case group compared with control group. Three case groups were selected from those who were born in 1959, 1960,1961 respectively, and the controls were those who were born in 1964.

RESULTSThe health consequence of being famines on adulthood was evident in women. Means of BMI in women were significantly higher in three case groups than that in control group(P<0.01). After adjustment on geographic regions, the prevalence of overweight in women was significantly higher in three case groups than that in control group(P< 0.01). The prevalence rates of obesity were significantly higher in 1959, 1960 groups than 1964 group(P< 0.05). The odds ratios of overweight of women in three case groups were 28.9% (95% CI:1.063-1.565), 37.2% (95% CI:1. 136-1.658) and 35.2% (95% CI: 1. 103-1.657) respectively, all higher than that in the control group. The odds ratios of obesity of women born in 1959, 1960 groups were 46.5% (95% CI: 1.088-1.972) and 39.6% (95% CI: 1.039- 1.876) respectively, higher than that in the 1964 group. However, such differences were not found in men.

CONCLUSIONHigher risks of overweight and obesity in women were caused by malnutrition during their fetal lives. A strategy on preventing low birth weight should be formulated by the government to prevent the chronic disease in adulthood.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Nutritional Status ; Obesity ; epidemiology ; Overweight ; epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Risk

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of gestational isoflurane exposure on postnatal memory and learning and growth-associated protein-43 (GAP-43), neuropeptide Y(NPY) expression in the hippocampus of pups.

METHODSTwelve maternal Sprague-Dawley rats at gestation d 18(E18) were randomly divided into isoflurane group (n=6) and control group (n=6). Rats in isoflurane group were exposed to 1.3 % isoflurane for 6 h. For control group, animals breathed in 30 % oxygen and air mixed gas at the same condition. Spatial learning and memory of the offspring were determined with the Morris Water Maze(MWM) after postnatal 4 weeks. The changes of GAP-43 and NPY expression in the hippocampal CA1 region of the pups were determined by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSIn MWM training, the escape latency to platform of the pups in isoflurane group was significantly longer, and the time spent in the third quadrant and times of original platform crossing were less than those of control animals (P<0.05). The number and optical density of GAP-43 and NPY positive neurons in the hippocampus of pups decreased significantly in the isoflurane group compared with the controls (P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONIsoflurane exposure in pregnant rats significantly impairs the spatial memory and learning of their pups at a juvenile age, which may be associated with the down-regulation of GAP-43 and NPY in the hippocampus.

Animals ; Female ; GAP-43 Protein ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Isoflurane ; pharmacology ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Neuropeptide Y ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To study the effect of Carthamin Yellow (CY) on cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion ability of breast cancer and its related molecular mechanisms. Methods CCK-8 assay was used to detect cell viability of MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells by different concentrations of CY at different time;flow cytometry was used to test the apoptosis rate of MDA-MB-231 cells treated by different concentrations of CY and transwell assay was used to investigate the effect of various concentrations of CY on MDA-MB-231 cell migration and invasion.After the intervention of different concentrations of CY on MDA-MB-231 cells, apoptosis-related protein Cleaved-Caspase-3, survival protein p-Akt and metastasis-related protein MMP2 were detected by western blot. Results (1) CY could inhibit the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells in a dose-and-time-dependent manner. (2) CY significantly promoted the apoptosis of breast cancer cells ( <0.01) . (3) CY could decrease the expression of p-Akt and increase the expression of Cleaved-Caspase-3. (4) CY impaired migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells ( <0.01), and can inhibit the expression of MMP2. Conclusion CY could promote the apoptosis of breast cancer cells through activation of apoptosis signaling, and can inhibit breast cancer cell metastasis by suppressing MMP2. And CY may be a potential therapeutic drug for human breast cancer.

Objective To study the characteristics of mouse-desktop and wrist-desktop contact pressure distributions during different mouse operations, and investigate the influence of desktop on the mouse and wrist during mouse operations, so as to obtain biomechanical references for musculoskeletal disorders of the hand and wrist. Methods The laser scanner and TekScan pressure measurement system were employed to measure contact area and contact pressure of the mouse and wrist during different mouse operations. Results The contact pressure, contact area, and contact force varied with time, and the peak contact pressure of the mouse and wrist with desktop were obtained. The peak contact pressure of the mouse in single clicking of left, right key and scrolling of middle key was 62.87, 33.83, 74.66 kPa, respectively, and for the wrist, the minimum contact pressure appeared in key clicking, being 23.25, 11.02, 16.26 kPa, respectively. Conclusions During mouse operations, the thenar, hypothenar as well as the ulnar and radial sides of the wrist are persistently subjected to the continuous pressure, therefore, repetitive and continuous mouse operation can lead to the development of carpal tunnel syndrome of wrist or other MSDs.