Objective To examine the relationship between smoking and tobacco-related mortality in a cohort of the aged Chinese armymen.Methods A cohort study was carried out in Xi'an,China from 1987 to 2005.A total of 1 268 retired male military cadres aged 55 or older were examined in 1987 and followed up in the next 18 years.At baseline,388 men were non-smokers,461 were former smokers,and 419 were current smokers.The current smoking rate was 33.04%,Quitted rate was 52.39%.The terminal main observation items included all-cause and tobacco-associated mortality.Results Up to Jun 30,2005,a total of 491 subjects died.Compared with non-smokers,the relative risks(95% confidence intervals(CI)) of ever-smokers for all-cause deaths,chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD),lung cancer,and coronary heart disease(CHD) were 1.24(1.01-1.53),1.91(1.06-3.46),2.91(1.36-6.23),and 1.15(0.68-1.93),respectively.Compared with current smokers,the risks of total mortality and death from lung cancer for former smokers were decreased by 66.7% and 14.98%,respectively.Conclusions Cigarette smoking was a major death risk factor in the cohort and quitting smoking could save lives.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of single administration of aqueous extracts from aconite on "dose-toxicity" relationship and "time-toxicity" relationship of mice hearts, through changes in electrocardiogram (ECG) and serum biochemical indexes.

METHODMice were grouped according to different drug doses and time points, and orally administered with water extracts from aconite for once to observe the changes of mice ECG before and after the administration, calculate visceral indexes heart, liver and kidney, and detect levels of CK, LDH, BNP and CTn-I in serum.

RESULTAccording to the "time-toxicity" relationship study, at 5 min after oral administration with aqueous extracts from aconite in mice, the heart rate of mice began rising, reached peak at 60 min and then slowly reduced; QRS, R amplitude, T duration and amplitude and QT interval declined at 5 min, reduced to the bottom at 60 min and then gradually elevated. The levels of CK, LDH, BNP and CTn-I in serum elevated at 5 min and reached the peak at 60 min, with no significant change in ratios of organs to body at different time points. On the basis of the "dose-toxicity" relationship, with the increase in single dose of aqueous extracts from aconite, the heart rate of mice. QRS, T duration and amplitude and QT interval declined gradually, and levels of CK, LDH, BNP and CTn-I in serum slowly elevated, with a certain dose dependence and no significant change in ratios of organs to body in mice.

CONCLUSIONSingle oral administration of different doses of aqueous extracts from aconite could cause different degrees of heart injury at different time points, with a certain dose dependence. Its peak time of toxicity is at 60 min after the administration of aqueous extracts from aconite.

Aconitum ; adverse effects ; chemistry ; Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; toxicity ; Female ; Heart ; drug effects ; physiology ; Heart Rate ; drug effects ; Kidney ; drug effects ; Liver ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice

Objective To explore the prevalence of intolerance to eggs and its relationship with body mass index in Beijing,China.Methods A cross sectional survey which included 12 766 adults from health sciences center of general hospital of the Chinese People's Liberation Army from August,2008 to July,2009 was carried out.Data was entered computer and organized by EpiData 3.0 software for epidemiological analysis.Nonconditional logistic regression model was used for odd ratio (OR) and 95％CIcalculation,and statistics analysis was carried out by SPSS 13.0 software.Results Positive rate of intolerance to eggs in the cohort was 28.5％.Grades of intolerance to eggs were associated with sex(P＜0.05 ).Positive rate of intolerance to eggs in females(36.5％ ) was higher than those in males (24.9％).Data from multiple regression analysis showed that intolerance to eggs was associated with sex and body mass index.Compared with males,the OR(95％CI) of female was 1.732 (1.590-1.887).Compared with normal weights,the OR (95％ CI) of low weights was 1.443 ( 1.018-2.045 ).Conclusion Sex and body mass index might be associated with intolerance to eggs.

OBJECTIVEAccurate and reliable assessment of renal function is important in the management of children with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is the best index of assessing kidney function. For assessment of GFR, both gold standard tests and prediction equations have been used. The well-known 24-hour endogenous creatinine clearance (Ccr), the Schwartz formula and the Filler formula are increasingly used in daily clinical practice. However, there are few studies on the applicability of these prediction equations for estimating GFR in Chinese children with CKD. The aim of this study was to compare these prediction equations estimating GFR with an isotope clearance method [isotope glomerular filtration rate (rGFR)] in such patients.

METHODChildren aged 1-16 years who underwent isotope (99m)Tc-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid ((99m)Tc-DTPA) GFR testing (Gates' method) between the year of 2002 and 2005 were studied retrospectively. GFR was estimated using: (1) 24-hour Ccr, which was calculated using the standard formula: [urine creatinine (milligrammes per millilitre) × 24-hour urine volume/serum creatinine (milligrammes per millilitre) × 1440] × [1.73 (m(2))/body surface area (m(2))]; (2) the Schwartz formula, which is: eGFR (ml/min per 1.73 m(2)) = k × height (centimetres)/serum creatinine (micromoles per litre), where k is 62 in males at 13 years of age and older, 40 in infants, and 49 in all other children; and (3) the Filler formula, which is: logGFR = 1.962 + [1.123 × log(1/Cys C)], where cystatin C is measured in milligrammes per litre. Serum and urinary creatinine levels were detected by alkaline kinetic method. Serum cystatin C was analysed by particle-enhanced immunoturbidimetric assay. Bias and precision were evaluated.

RESULTThirty subjects (18 males and 12 females; mean age 9.4 years) fulfilling both inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria were included in this study. The mean (SD) rGFR was 81.57 (36.92) ml/min per 1.73 m(2); 18 subjects were in CKD stage I, 8 in CKD stage II, 8 in CKD stage III, and 1 in CKD stage IV. Only the mean 24 h Ccr-eGFR was slightly higher than rGFR (0.4 ml/min per 1.73 m(2) higher). Within 95% limits of agreement, the maximum absolute value of bias was about 50 ml/min per 1.73 m(2). Accuracy (estimated GFR values within ± 30% of rGFR) for all formulae was poor, ranging from 23.3% to 43.3%. All formulae overestimate or underestimate rGFR in different CKD stages.

CONCLUSIONIn Chinese children with CKD, there was a significant difference between measured GFR and estimated GFR using 24h Ccr, Schwartz formula and Filler formula. More suitable GFR predictive equations to assess glomerular function of such patients should be developed.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Infant ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; physiopathology ; Kidney Function Tests ; Male ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; physiopathology

Objective To study the prevalence of food intolerance among attendants in a general hospital and to learn its related determinants in Beijing,China.Methods An cross sectional survey,from August 1st,2008 to June 30th,2009,was carried out,including 12 766 adults from Health Sciences Center,Chinese PLA General Hospital.Data for epidemiological analysis were entered (double entry) into computer and organized by EpiData 3.0.Non-conditional logistic regression model was used for odd ratio (OR) and 95%CI calculation,with statistic analysis through SPSS 13.0.Results The three leading intolerance food items were egg,crab and milk,and the prevalence rates were 28.5%,24.5% and 24.5% respectively.Prevalence of food intolerance increased along with aging.Levels and the kinds of food intolerance were associated with age,sex and appeared a linear correlation tendency (P＜0.05).Prevalence of food intolerance in females (67.3%) was higher than that in males (56.2%).Data from multiple regression analysis showed that,comparing with age group under 40 and 40 years,the OR(95%CI) of age group 41-50,51-60,and above 60 were 1.125(1.027-1.233),1.307(l.176-1.452)and 1.536(1.275-1.849)respectively.Compared to males,the OR (95% CI) of females was 1.602 (1.475-1.741).When compared with normal weights,the OR (95%CI) of people with low weight was 1.772 (1.207-2.602).Conclusion Food intolerance was associated with age,sex and body mass index.Health education should be carried out according to the related characteristics of age and sex.Suggesting that reducing the risk of food intolerance,keeping the suitable weight was necessary.

Objective To explore the clinical value of 99Tcm-MIBI G-MPI in patients diagnosed with myocardial bridging(MB) by CTA. Methods Forty-five patients with MB and 17 normal controls diagnosed by CTA(64 slices CT) were included. All patients underwent rest 99Tcm-MIBI G-MPI and 17 MB patients and 9 normal controls also underwent stress 99Tcm-MIBI G-MPI. Myocardial ischemia, function and wall motion were assessed. G-MPI results were compared with CTA results by χ2 test, Fisher exact test and t test. Results In patients with MB, the positive rate of abnormal perfusion by gated stress 99Tcm-MIBI G-MPI was 64.7% (11/17) and 41.2% (7/17) using quantitative analysis and visual evaluation respectively; while the data were 42.2% (19/45) and 22.2% (10/45) by rest G-MPI (P=0.035). The positive rate by rest G-MPI in MB patients was significant different among mural coronary arteries of different depths and different locations. By quantitative analysis of the stress G-MPI, the reversible, fixed, and mixed ischemia patients were 4 (35.3%), 6 (23.5%) and 1 (5.9%) respectively; the reversed, reversible and fixed abnormity of wall motion was found in 4 (23.5%), 4 (23.5%) and 2 (11.8%) patients respectively; the reversed, reversible and fixed wall thickening were found in 6 (35.3%), 5 (29.4%) and 1 (5.9%) patients respectively. There was no significant difference in left ventricular ejection fraction and peak filling rate between MB patients and normal controls in both rest and stress studies (t: from -0.564 to 1.292, all P>0.05). Conclusion The G-MPI may be useful for the evaluation of myocardial ischemia and myocardial function simultaneously in patients with MB.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between genotype of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis B virus related-glomerular nephritis in (HBV-GN) children.

METHODTotally 176 HBV-DNA positive children with chronic hepatitis B were randomly collected. Among the 176 patients, 92 were HBV carriers, 84 were cases with chronic hepatitis. The genotypes of their serum HBV, liver function, and HBV-DNA load were detected. When children showed nephrotic syndrome, renal biopsy was performed.

RESULTOf the serum samples of 176 cases, 85 (48.3%) were genotype C, 72 (40.9%) were genotype B, 13 (7.4%) were genotype B/C, and 6 (3.4%) were non-B/C genotype which were excluded. Among the analyzed 157 cases, the ratio of HBV-GN in the HBeAg positive group (78.3%) was significantly higher than that in the negative group (21.7%) (χ(2) = 18.301, P < 0.001). And, the ratio of HBV-GN in the genotype C group (73.9%) was significantly higher than that in the genotype B group (26.1%) (P < 0.039). The ratio of hematuria or proteinuria in the genotype C group (20%, 18.8%) was significantly higher than that in the genotype B group (8.3%, 5.6%) (P < 0.039; P value = 0.013); and the alteration of ALT or C3 in the genotype C group (10.2%, 15.3%) was more frequent than those in the genotype B group (2.8%, 2.8%) (P = 0.005; P = 0.008). There were no significant differences in kidney dysfunction or hepatomegaly. Further, the ratio of HBV-GN was more significantly frequent in HBV-DNA highly loading group (79.2%) than which in HBV-DNA lowly loading group (20.8%) (P = 0.000). Finally, in HBV-GN group, genotype C cases (88.2%) more frequently had high HBV-DNA load condition than genotype B cases (11.8%) (P = 0.021).

CONCLUSIONChildren with HBV infection in Gansu province showed mainly genotypes C or B, while genotype C seemingly predominant. Patients with genotype C more frequently showed proteinuria or hematuria. The high HBV-DNA load may be related with HBV-GN. It is a potential reason in the mechanism of HBV-GN that patients with genotype C had more possibility to have HBV-DNA high load. Analysis of HBV genotype for HBV patients maybe helpful in diagnosis and treatment.

Adolescent ; Biopsy, Needle ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B ; blood ; epidemiology ; virology ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Nephritis ; epidemiology ; pathology ; virology ; Viral Load

OBJECTIVENimotuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeted against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Recent clinical studies show that patients with malignant gliomas could benefit from nimotuzumab treatment. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and side effects of nimotuzumab in combination with chemotherapy for patients with malignant gliomas.

METHODSThe patients received 200 mg of nimotuzumab infusion intravenously over 60 minutes once weekly for the first eight weeks and then once every two weeks until unacceptable toxicity or tumor progression occurred. Individualized chemotherapy was administered based on O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) expression and previous chemotherapy responses in combined with nimotuzumab.

RESULTSFourteen patients received a total of 122 times of nimotuzumab ranging from 2 to 20 (median 7.5 times). Combined chemotherapy regimens included: continuous 21-day temozolomide (10 cases), standard 5-day temozolomide (2 cases), teniposide plus cisplatin (1 case), and teniposide plus nimustine (1 case). Partial response (PR) and stable disease (SD) were found in 3 patients (21.4%)and 6 patients (42.9%), respectively. Disease control rate (PR + SD) was 64.3%. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 4 months (95%CI: 0.7 - 7.3) and PFS at 6 months was 30.6%. The most common toxicities include grade I-II neutropenia (2 cases), thrombocytopenia (2 cases), lymphopenia (1 case), nausea and vomitting (3 case) and asymptomatic transaminase increase (1 case). One patient developed grade IV neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. One patient developed nimotuzumab-related acneiform rash.

CONCLUSIONSNimotuzumab in combination with chemotherapy has moderate activity in patients with malignant gliomas and the toxicities are well tolerable, therefore, worth further investigation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Astrocytoma ; drug therapy ; Child ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Dacarbazine ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Glioblastoma ; drug therapy ; Glioma ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Male ; Nausea ; chemically induced ; Neutropenia ; chemically induced ; Nimustine ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Teniposide ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Thrombocytopenia ; chemically induced ; Young Adult

The ability of implanted embryonic neural stem cells (NSCs) to improve survival, migration, and functional recovery following a compression spinal cord injury (SCI) was tested in adult rats. NSCs were isolated from E14-16 rat cerebral cortex and SCI was produced by using an aneurysm clip applicator applied to the 8th thoracic spinal cord according to method of Dolan and Tator. Two weeks after the injury, NSCs (4 microl of 1 x 10(4) cells/microl) were injected into the lesion site. The grafted NSCs were noted to survive and integrate with the host spinal cord 1 month after transplantation, which was demonstrated by the presence of Hoechst 33342 (a nuclear dye) pre-labeled NSCs within and surrounding the lesion site. Some of these cells remained undifferentiated and were stained with nestin, a marker for NSCs. Transplanted NSCs migrated for at least 3 mm from the injury epicenter towards both the rostral and caudal directions. Significant reduction in the lesion area (P<0.05) and improvement in inclined plane (P<0.05) and BBB locomotor rating scale (P<0.05) were found in the cases that received implantation of NSCs, as compared with those that received vehicle injection. More importantly, when glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF; 1.5 microg/microl) was added to the transplants, further reduction in lesion area (P<0.01) and improvement in the function were observed in the combined treatment group as compared with the vehicle infused group. Our results suggest that intraspinal treatment with NSCs and GDNF synergistically reduced lesion size and improved functional outcome after a compressive SCI in adult rats.
Animals ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; transplantation ; Female ; Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Neural Stem Cells ; transplantation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; therapy ; Spinal Cord Regeneration ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo examine risk factors of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) deaths in Chinese military elderly men.

METHODSA cohort analytic study was carried out in Xi'an, China. A total of 1268 retired military males aged 55 or older were examined in 1987 and followed for 18 years. Main outcome measures were all causes and COPD deaths.

RESULTSThe total person-years of follow-up from 1987 until June 2005 was 18 766.28. The mean follow-up time was 14.35 years; A total of 491 had died, with 748 alive and 29 lost of follow-up. COPD was the second cause of death in all deaths (16.90%). Results Univariate analysis of Cox model showed that age, number of smoking cigarettes per day, duration of smoking, negative affairs and existing COPD were risk factors of COPD deaths and the relative risks [95% confidence intervals (CI)] were 1.13 (1.09-1.17), 1.04 (1.02-1.06), 1.03 (1.01-1.04), 1.81 (2.85-6.77) and 4.39 (2.85-6.77) respectively. Data from Multivariate analysis of Cox model showed that age, number of smoking cigarettes per day and existing COPD were risk factors of COPD death with relative risks [95% confidence intervals (CI)] as 1.10 (1.06-1.15), 1.03 (1.01-1.06) and 3.07 (1.90-4.98) respectively. The risks for deaths increased significantly with increasing amount and duration of smoking resulting from all causes and COPD. Compared with current smokers, former smokers had lower risks of total mortality(excess risk reduction of 66.67%).

CONCLUSIONCOPD was the second cause among all deaths in this cohort. Age, number of smoking cigarettes per day and existing COPD were the risk factors of COPD deaths which called for further survey to examine the relationship between quitting smoking and COPD deaths in this cohort.

Age Factors ; Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Military Personnel ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; mortality ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; adverse effects