China ; epidemiology ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Population Surveillance

Objective To find out the status of prevention and control of iodine deficiency disorders and evaluate the iodine nutritional status of Jinan residents,to explore appropriate iodine level in drinking water,and to provide a scientific basis for adjustment of intervention strategies.MethodsAccording to the Monitoring Program of the National Iodine Deficiency Disorders (Trial),qualified iodized salt consumption rate,drinking water iodine content and urinary iodine levels of women of childbearing age were determined in iodine deficiency areas from 2003 to 2010.Salt iodine was detected by direct titrimetry,urinary iodine by As-Ce catalytic spectrophotometric assay and iodine in drinking water by cerous sulfate catalytic spectrophotometric method.Results Intake rate of qualified iodized salt was up to 90％ and above from 2003 to 2010,median water iodine was 13.65 μg/L in the 10 counties(cities,districts),of which less than 100 μg/L accounted for 79.82％(4560/5713 ) and ＞ 150 μg/L accounted for 12.73％(727/5713).With the increase of water iodine(0 ～ ＜ 10,10 ～ ＜ 50,50 ～ ＜ 100,100 ～ ＜ 150,150 ～ ＜ 300 and ≥300 μg/L),urinary iodine levels of women of childbearing age increased successively(median 156.56,175.81,267.04,349.00,524.22,583.20 μg/L,respectively,x2 =121.20,P ＜ 0.05),while the ratio of urinary iodine ＜ 100 μg/L was significantly lower.The ratio of urinary iodine between 100 and 300 μg/L was decreased gradually,but the ratio of great than 300 μg/L was gradually increased.ConclusionsIodine deficiency areas in Jinan have reached the standard of elimination of iodine deficiency disorders.We should insist to carry out our measures to suit local conditions,classified guidances and scientific principals of iodine supplementation.

Adult ; Antigens, CD20 ; metabolism ; Cervical Vertebrae ; pathology ; Eosinophilic Granuloma ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hodgkin Disease ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Ki-1 Antigen ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Neoplasms ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; pathology

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) pretreatment could protect multiple cell types from apoptosis induced by various damages including oxidative stress. The present study was designed to investigate the protective effect of HGF on rat cortical neurons against apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in culture, and then to explore whether HGF could influence the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. Primary rat cortical neurons were isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats and cultured in serum free medium containing 2% B27 and Neurobasal-A. To mimic the oxidative stress damage, cortical neurons were exposed to 100 mumol/L H2O2 for 4 h. To explore the effects of HGF on the neurons subjected to H2O2 injury, cells were pretreated with HGF 15, 30, 60 ng/mL for 24 h, respectively, and then exposed to 100 mumol/L H2O2 for 4 h. The cell viability was measured by MTT colorimetric assay and cell injury was evaluated by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage rate. Apoptotic cells were detected by Hoechst 33258 staining and Annexin V-FITC/PI double labeled flow cytometry. The caspase-3 activity was assessed by colorimetry. The alteration of transmembrane potential of mitochondria was determined by confocal laser scanning microscopy. The expression of cytochrome C protein was measured by Western blot analysis. The results showed that H2O2 treatment significantly decreased the cell viability, increased LDH leakage rate and the percentage of apoptotic cells. Pretreatment of HGF at different concentrations (15-60 ng/mL) could remarkably increase the cell viability of neurons. Compared with that of H2O2 group (53.4%+/-7.4%), the cell viabilities of neurons treated with 15, 30, and 60 ng/mL HGF significantly increased to (69.3+/-6.4)%, (77.5+/-6.1)% and (82.9+/-9.3)% (P<0.05), respectively. HGF preincubation also evidently decreased the LDH leakage rate in cortical neurons damaged by H2O2. The results of Hoechst staining revealed that HGF pretreatment could significantly reduce the apoptotic rate of neurons. The apoptotic rate of H2O2 group was (62.8+/-7.1)%, while that of HGF groups decreased significantly to (34.8+/-8.4)%, (23.5+/-3.2)% and (18.6+/-4.5)% (P<0.05), respectively. The data from caspase-3 activity assay indicated that HGF preconditioning could also remarkably decrease the caspase-3 activity of neurons. In addition, in the presence of various concentrations of HGF, the decrease of transmembrane potential of mitochondria in neurons caused by H2O2 injury could be reversed. Moreover, as detected by Western blot analysis, HGF downregulated the expression of cytochrome C protein in neurons. These results suggest that HGF has a protective effect on rat cortical neurons against apoptosis induced by H2O2, which might be related to the inhibition of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway and the suppression of the caspase-3 activity.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Brain ; cytology ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Survival ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytochromes c ; metabolism ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; pharmacology ; Mitochondria ; physiology ; Neurons ; cytology ; drug effects ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo ascertain whether connexin 26 (Cx26) gene was a nuclear modifier gene in an extensive family with matrilineal nonsyndromic deafness associated with A1555G mutation in Huaiyin, China.

METHODSFollowing PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) with ApaI restriction enzyme, Cx26 genes from 26 cases, with A1555G mitochondrial mutations in this family, and 62 controls (including 2 patrilineal relatives, 10 spouse controls and 50 unrelated controls), were sequenced.

RESULTSCompared with the reference sequence of Cx26 gene, totally four kinds of nucleotide changes,79G -->A, 109G-->A, 341G-->A and 235delC, were detected in a heterozygous form. However, the former three were previously reported polymorphisms, and only the 235delC was a previously described recessive mutation associated with most autosomal nonsyndromic sensorineural hearing loss in Japan and China. Further study showed that the heterozygous 235delC mutation existed in both one individual with mild hearing loss and two individuals with normal hearing. Clinical characterization showed that 235delC mutation did not seem to modify the deafness phenotype due to the A1555G mutation. Moreover, this 235delC mutation was deduced to derive from a married-in control. Finally, there were no co-segregation between the phenotypes of hearing loss and the genotypes for Cx26 genes based on the four kinds of nucleotide changes.

CONCLUSIONSThe heterozygous 235delC mutation of the Cx26 gene may not modulate the severity of hearing loss associated with A1555G mutation and Cx26 gene is unlikely to be a modifier gene for hearing loss due to A1555G mitochondrial mutation in this Chinese family.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Connexin 26 ; Connexins ; genetics ; Deafness ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Phenotype ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Sequence Analysis ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo analyse the engraftment, transplant-related complications and survival after unrelated cord blood transplantation (UCBT) in patients with hematologic malignancies.

METHODSTwenty eight consecutive adult patients with hematological malignancies were treated with UCBT and 20 of them were advanced-stage diseases. Double or multiple UCB grafts were used for 18 patients, while single UCB graft for 10 patients. Myeloablative conditioning regimens were given to 26 cases and nonmyeloablative regimens to 2 cases. All patients were given a combination of cyclosporine (CsA) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis.

RESULTSMedian time to neutrophil engraftment (≥ 0.5 × 10(9)/L) in 26 patients was 18 (14 - 37) days and platelet engraftment (≥ 20 × 10(9)/L) in 22 patients was 30 (25 - 49) days. Chimerism was weekly assessed by PCR analysis of short tandem repeat (STR) sequences in whole blood or bone marrow and 22 cases were confirmed of fully donor chimeric from 7 to 21 days after transplantation. Eighteen cases developed acute GVHD, greater than grade II in 1, and 6 of 22 patients who survived more than 100 days developed limited chronic GVHD. Eighteen cases were alive in hematologic remission at a median follow-up of 9.5 (2.5 - 72.0) months. The probability of event-free survival at 3 years was 56.7%. Two cases relapsed and 8 of 10 cases died of transplant related complications.

CONCLUSIONSUCBT could be safely and effectively used for adult patients with hematologic malignancies. Use of double UCB units is a strategy extending the feasibility of UCBT.

Adult ; Fetal Blood ; Graft vs Host Disease ; prevention & control ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; therapy ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Transplantation Conditioning

This study was aimed to explore the immune escaping mechanisms based on expression and abscission of human natural killer (NK) cell activating receptors NKG2D and their ligands MICA/B, ULBP-1, 2, 3 in patients with acute leukemia (AL). 30 de novo AL patients and 10 healthy persons (control) were enrolled in study. Flow cytometry was used to detect the expression levels of MICA/B, ULBP-1, 2, 3 on leukemic cells. ELISA was used to detect the levels of soluble MICA (sMICA), solube MICB (sMICB) and soluble ULBP-1, -2, -3 in the serum. The results showed that sMICA, sMICB and ULBP-1, -2, -3 were not expressed or expressed at very low levels on leukemia cells of the patients; the levels of free sMICA and sMICB in serum of AL patients were higher than that in serum of healthy persons, there was significant difference (p<0.01). But the levels of ULBP 1-3 in serum of AL patients did not show obvious statistical difference as compared with healthy persons (p>0.05). It is concluded that the negative or low expression of NKG2D ligands (MICA, MICB and ULBPs) on surface of acute leukemia cells may lead to the immune escape of leukemia cells, the abscission of MICA and MICB, and the deficiency of ULBP expression on leukemia cells may be one of immune escape mechanisms of leukemia cells.
Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; GPI-Linked Proteins ; immunology ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I ; immunology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; immunology ; metabolism ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; immunology ; metabolism ; Leukemia ; blood ; immunology ; Male ; NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K ; immunology ; metabolism ; Tumor Escape

OBJECTIVETo understand the risk factors of schistosomiasis transmission in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area (TGRA) and to provide evidence for the development of control strategy.

METHODSApproaches including epidemiology, immunology and field survey were applied to investigate the potential risk factors which would involve the importation of infectious resources live mobile and migrant population, and livestock in the reservoir area. Meanwhile, observation on survival and reproductive status of snail under simulation habitats was also carried out, using ecological methods on snails. Strategy in preventing the spread of snail as infectious resources was also provided.

RESULTS175 mobile people from schistosomaisis endemic area of were tested and one person showed immunology tests positive with indirect hemagglutination test (IHA) and circumoral precipitin test (COPT), with a positive rate of 0.57%. Through the two-year period under observation, data showed that the snails with ribbon/smooth shells could survive and reproduce under habitats of simulation.

CONCLUSIONSOnce the infectious resource of schistosomiasis was introduced into the TGRA, the area became a new schistosomiasis epidemic area in TGRA which called for countermeasures to be taken.

Animals ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Reservoirs ; Humans ; Risk Factors ; Schistosomiasis japonica ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; transmission ; Snails ; parasitology

Objective To investigate the prevalence of anti-hepatitis E virus (HEV) and genotypes of hepatitis E virus in 8 species of animals including swine, cattle, sheep, horse, donkey, dog, chicken and duck in the suburb of Beijing. Methods Serum samples were collected from the 8 species of animals, and fecal samples of younger swine were collected from 2 stock farms. Anti-HEV was detected by Double Antigen Sandwich Assay. HEV RNA from fecal samples was detected by a reverse transcription nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-nPCR). Parts of the PCR products were cloned and sequenced. The swine HEV sequences were analyzed genetically. Results The positive rates of anti-HEV in serum specimens of swine, cattle, horse, donkey, sheep, dog, duck and chicken were 80.43%(481/598), 15.02%(52/346), 14.29%(40/280) ,0(0/26) ,9.88%(33/334), 0(0/ 21) ,3.03% (7/231) and 2.53%(8/316), respectively. The anti-HEV prevalence of adult swine(≥6 months)and younger swine(≤3 months)were 87.86%(369/420)and 62.92%(112/178)respectively. 74 of 111 (66.67% ) pig faces were positive for HEV RNA. Sequence analysis on these positive samples showed that there were 6 groups of HEV designated as bjsw1, bjsw2, bjsw3, bjsw4, bjsw5 and bjsw6. The 6 strains of HEV shared 94.5%-99.6% sequence identity of partial HEV ORF2 nucleotide with each other. The identities of HEV ORF2 nucleotide sequences between the 6 strains and genotype 1, 2, 3 and 4 were 75.6%-78.6% , 75.6%-76.2%, 77.1%-80.7% and 83.7%-94.5%, respectively. The sequence identity between the 6 strains and human HEV genotype 4d was 90.0%-94.5% . Conclusion HEV infection was seen in swine, cattle, horse, sheep, duck and chicken in the suburbs of Beijing. The anti-HEV positive rate appeared the highest in swine and the lowest in dog and donkey. The six strains of HEV isolated from younger swine belonged to genotype 4d.

Occupational carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning related to diesel motor fumes in an air-raid shelter (ARS) was first identified in Jinan City, China, in June 2015. A total of 17 cases were identified, including 14 possible cases of firemen and 3 confirmed cases of water channel clean-up workers. The overall attack rate (AR) of firemen was 42% (14/33). The firemen had a significantly higher AR with a longer exposure and more protracted time of rescue in the ARS (P < 0.05). All the cases stated that they did not realize the potentially high level of exposure to CO in the ARS. CO poisoning posed a risk to both patients and service providers. Occupational safety and health education should be promoted and enforced in all workplaces where CO sources exist.
Accidents, Occupational ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning ; China ; Environmental Monitoring ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure ; Vehicle Emissions ; Workplace