OBJECTIVEThe reproductive goals of married couples living in impoverished areas of China affect survival rates and quality of life of female children in those areas. The goal of this study was to collect information on parents' attitudes toward reproduction, gender preferences/prejudices, and to collect relevant socioeconomic and demographic data.

METHODSRandom sample families were enrolled from 3 poverty counties. Sample size included parents of 1800 children from birth to 6 years old. The children were divided into 6 age groups at one-year interval. Baseline data were collected and a questionnaire (endorsed by UNICEF) was used to evaluate reproductive expectations and gender preferences of parents.

RESULTS(1) The success of the One Child Family program has lead to a decreased overall birthrate. (2) The gender ratio (boys:girls) of the 3 counties studied was 100:87-100:95-100:97. No gender imbalance was found in this study. (3) The "Boy Preference" was still expressed by both fathers (69.0%) and mothers (65.7%). Approximately 40% of fathers and 37% of mothers interviewed expressed that only a male child would be acceptable. (4) Approximately 65% of both fathers and mothers recognize that girls are more likely to care for aging parents.

CONCLUSIONGovernment initiatives have encouraged small families, yet in this region gender ratio of newborns is still normal. More educational and social programs are needed to influence perceptions regarding gender and to eliminate the suboptimal status/poorly perceived value of girls in many societies.

Attitude ; Child ; Child Mortality ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Culture ; Female ; Goals ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Interpersonal Relations ; Male ; Parent-Child Relations ; Parents ; psychology ; Poverty Areas ; Prejudice ; Quality of Life ; Survival Rate ; Women's Rights

Objective To investigate the usage of defluoridation stove and the formation of related behavior in the disease affected areas and the current situation of coal-burning-borne endemic fluorosis,to evaluate the control effect,so as to provide a theoretical basis for superior department to adjust the control strategy in time.Methods According to The Implementation Plan for Prevention and Treatment of Coal-burning-borne Endemic Fluorosis in Shaanxi Province,Ziyang and Langao in Ankang City were chosen for epidemiological survey.Using stratified sampling method,according to the degree of disease situation,each county was divided into 3 layers and then 5％ from each layer was extracted to carry out an investigation,respectively.The number of investigated village was at least 1,up to 30.The number in a non-endemic area was 1-3.Questionnaire survey of all residents was carried out to ask of the changes of cooking and heating fuel;the correct usage of the improved stove;the changes of life behavior related to the corn and pepper for human consumption and the development of prevention and treatment of post management.In endemic areas and in non-endemic areas,according to the Determination of Fluoride in Foods (GB/T 5009.18-2003),fluoride levels of corn (or rice) and chili which collected from 10 families were determined.Meanwhile,the criteria for Diagnosis of Dental Fluorosis (WS/T 208-2011) was used to diagnose dental fluorosis and the criteria of Urine-determination of Fluoride-ion Specific Electrode Method (WS/T 89-1996) was used to evaluate urine fluoride;dental fluorosis of every child aged 8-12 was examined and 10 copies of urine samples were randomly collected in each age group.Housewives and students over the age of 16 in endemic areas were quizzed of the knowledge of health and diagnosed serious skeletal fluorosis according to The Diagnostic Criteria of Endemic Fluorosis (WS 192-2008).Results The rates of correct usage of improved furnace and oven were 91.43％ (3 019/3 302) and 95.72％ (3 578/3 738).The autonomous maintenance rate of stoves was 0.61％ (49/7 998).In endemic areas,the correct drying rate and the correct storage rate of corn and pepper were all 100.0％ (300/300);the washing rate of corn and pepper before eating was 98.3％ (7 863/7 998).The fluoride median contents of corn and pepper was 0.800 and 2.863 mg/kg,respectively.In non-endemic areas,The fluoride median contents of corn and pepper was 0.443 and 4.065 mg/kg,respectively.The awareness rates of health knowledge were 81.27％ in housewives and 90.32％ in students.Dental fluorosis detection rate of 8-12 years old children was 12.52％ (87/695);the fluoride content was between 0.04-7.00 mg/L and the geometric mean value of fluoride content was 0.61 mg/L in endemic areas.There was no new case of serious skeletal fluorosis.Conclusions The prevention effect is obvious.Disease surveillance,health education and management of defluoridation stoves are keys to prevent coal-burning-borne endemic fluorosis.

Objective To explore the best vibration frequency for activating human muscles.Methods Nineteen healthy college students accepted vibration stimulation at frequencies between 10 and 50 Hz.Surface electromyograms (sEMG) were recorded.The subjects were sitting,standing,squatting (knee flexion 30°) and recumbent.Their left anterior tibial muscles and the medial heads of the gastrocnemius were targeted as test muscles.The vibration stimulation point was on the surface of the left distal tibia.The sEMG characteristics of the calf muscles were analyzed under vibration stimulation at different frequencies. ResultsThe leg muscles were activated significantly at all vibration frequencies,but the sEMG values of the anterior tibialis were significantly different at different frequencies,except for among 30 Hz,40 Hz and 50 Hz in any position.The gastrocnemius sEMG values were not significantly different at different frequencies. ConclusionVibration at 30 to 50Hz may be the normal human muscle activation frequency.

Atrial Fibrillation ; therapy ; Catheter Ablation ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Pulmonary Veins ; Venous Thrombosis ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo study blood Leptin level of 154 (78 male, 76 female) Chinese obese/non-obese children aged 0 - 14 years during 1999 - 2001.

METHODSThe gender- and age-specific distribution pattern of Leptin and its relationship with anthropometric parameters (waist circumference, waist/hip ratio, lean body mass, fat mass, body fat percentage, BMI/Kaup index etc.) and blood insulin level were recorded.

RESULTS(1) The blood Leptin level in healthy non-obese kids ranged from 1.01 - 29.92 (ng/ml), the mean values and SD were 2.99 +/- 2.13 (ng/ml) [90% confidence interval was 1.36 - 14.21 (ng/ml) in boys and 1.74 - 21.17 (ng/ml) in girls]. There was no significant difference in the blood Leptin level between serum and plasma. (2) The blood Leptin level was higher in overweight/obese kids than that in non-obese kids (P < 0.001). (3) There was significant difference in the blood Leptin levels between boys and girls groups (P = 0.023), especially in non-obese group (P = 0.004). The multiple regression analysis showed that there was no correlation between gender and blood Leptin level when body fat factor was added (P = 0.138, 0.241, 0.990), but there was still a strong correlation between blood leptin level and BMI, FM and BF% (P < 0.001). (4) There was a correlation between blood Leptin level and age (P = 0.005), especially in overweight/obese group and in girls (P = 0.001). The blood Leptin level rose from early puberty, especially in girl group (P = 0.045). There was significant difference in blood Leptin level in different age groups (P < 0.001) (5) There were strong positive correlation between blood Leptin level and BMI, BM and FM%, a weak correlation with LBM, and no correlation with W/H ratio in boys and a positive relationship in girls. The Quatatic equation was better than the linear equation in description of the correlation mentioned above. (6) There was a correlation between blood Leptin from 0 to 7 yr and birth weight (P = 0.001), after 7 yr of age this correlation disappeared (P = 0.456). (7) A positive correlation was seen between blood Leptin level and blood insulin level (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONThe blood Leptin level of 0 - 14 years old children is consistent with the level of growth of adiposity tissue and the degree of adiposity rebound.

Adolescent ; Age Factors ; Birth Weight ; physiology ; Body Constitution ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Insulin ; blood ; Leptin ; blood ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Regression Analysis ; Sex Factors

Objective:To investigate the feasibility of targeted imaging and therapy of prostate cancer using nanocomposite probes composed of fluorescent magnetic nanoparticles(FMCNPs) and single chain Fv(ScFv) antibody specific for gama-seminoprotein.Methods:The nanocomposite probes(FMCNPs-ScFv) were prepared by conjugating fluorescent magnetic nanoparticles with singlegama-chain Fv antibody specific gama-seminoprotein,and were characterized by high resolution transmission electron microscopy,fluorescent spectrum and magnetic spectrum.Nanocomposite probes were incubated with prostate cancer LNCaP cells,and the targeting results of nanocomposite probes were observed by fluorescent microscopy.The cytotoxicity effect of the nanocomposite probes was measured by MTT.Nude mice models of prostate cancer were established and identified by immunohistochemistry method.The nanocomposite probes were injected into nude mice via tail vein.The distribution of nanocomposite probes in the nude mice was observed by Micro-animal imaging system,targeted imaging of the prostate cancer was observed by MR instrument.The nude mice with prostate cancer were irradiated with 100 W magnetic field for 30 min,and the changes of tumor sizes were observed.Results:The FMCNPs-ScFv nanocomposite probes were successfully prepared.Nanocomposite probes entered into the cytoplasm of cancer cells and exhibited low cytotoxicity effect.Nude mice model with prostate cancer were successfully fabricated;the nanocomposite probes distributed quickly in the main organs of mice,and gradually concentrated on the tumor tissues within 24 h.MR images showed that the tumor images were gradually enhanced from 6 h to 24 h after injection of the nanocomposite probe.Four days after magnetic irradiation,the tumors in the nude mice grew slower compared with the control nude mice(P

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic damage in critically ill patients is associated with the progressive failure of multiple organs, but little is known about its clinical characteristics. At present, no guidelines are available for the diagnosis and management of pancreatic damage. This study was undertaken to analyze the clinical and pathologic characteristics of pancreatic necrosis in critically ill children, and to find some biological markers of pancreatic damage or pancreatic necrosis. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data, laboratory results, and autopsy findings of 25 children, who were admitted to Hunan Children's Hospital, China from 2003 to 2009, and died of multiple organ failure. The autopsy revealed pancreatic necrosis in 5 children, in whom sectional or gross autopsy was performed. RESULTS: The 5 children had acute onset and a fever. Two children had abdominal pain and 2 had abdominal bulging, flatulence and gastrointestinal bleeding. Four children had abnormal liver function, characterized by decreased albumin and 3 children had elevated level of C-reactive protein (CRP). B-ultrasonography revealed abnormal acoustic image of the pancreas in all children, and autopsy confirmed pancreatic necrosis, which may be associated with the damage of the adrenal gland, liver, lung, heart, spleen, kidney, intestine, thymus, mediastinal and mesenteric lymph nodes and other organs. Children 1 and 2 died of acute hemorrhagic necrotizing pancreatitis (AHNP);children 3-5 died of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) due to pancreatic necrosis. CONCLUSION: Pancreatic damage or pancreatic necrosis in critically ill children is characterized by acute onset, severity, short course, multiple organ damage or failure. It may be asymptomatic in early stage, and easy to be ignored.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the industrial noise over-limit status of the worksites in Guangzhou factories, so as to promote the prevention and control of occupational noise hazards.

METHODS211 factories in Guangzhou were monitored and investigated. The analysis and assessment were developed for the properties and size of the factories, the districts of the factories being located, the industries of the factories being classified and the date of monitoring.

RESULTSIn this understudied factories, most of them were national-owned and joint-ventures, medium size, located in urban, and mainly involved in the industries of manufacturing of motor vehicle, shipping, electron and electric equipment, and the industries of petroleum and chemicals. The prevalence of noise over-limit was higher in joint-ventures (36.0%) and private-run enterprises (31.2%). The over-limit status mainly presented in industries of textile, food and beverage processing, and leather producing, with getting prevalence of over-limit 46.7%, 43.1% and 41.3% respectively. Subsequence were industries of manufacturing of electron and electric equipment, motor vehicle and shipping, and industries of printing and goods producing for culture and sports, with the prevalence for all > 35%. Factories monitored during spring and summer also had higher prevalence of noise over-limit. The similar results were got after adjustment for each other using multivariable regression. The most common over-limit sites mainly focused on the operation of cutting and sawing, milling and planing, pressing, riveting, drilling, jointing, assembling and quality inspecting in industries of mechanism processing and manufacturing, on quality inspecting and packing in industries of pharmacy and food and beverage manufacture, on spinning and scutching in textile industry, and on cleaning and maintaining as assistant jobs, and patrolling and inspecting air-press machine, ventilation machine, dynamotor and pump.

CONCLUSIONNoise in Guangzhou factories widely exists with different industries and districts. To strengthen noise occupational hazards prevention and control for the high risk districts, industries and worksites should be the key job in the future.

China ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Industry ; Noise, Occupational ; prevention & control ; Occupational Exposure ; prevention & control ; Occupational Health ; Workplace

OBJECTIVETo develop a method for the determination of Chonglou saponin I and Chonglou saponin II in Yifu ointment.

METHODThe chromatographic separation was performed on Hypersil ODS2 C18 column (4.6 mm x 150 mm, 5 microm) and IBBM-612111 ODS C18 guard column. Acetonitrile-0.02% phosphoric (43:57) as mobile phase. The flow rate was 1 mL min(-1) and column temperature was set at 40 degrees C. The UV detection wavelength was set 203 nm.

RESULTChonglou saponin I showed a good linear relationship at a range of 0.1024-3.2 microg, r =0.9998, the average recovery was 97.4%, and RSD was 1.8% (n = 6); Chonglou saponin II showed a good linear relationship at a range of 0.064-2.0 microg, r = 0.9999, the average recovery was 101.4%, and RSD was 1.0% (n =6).

CONCLUSIONThe method is accurate with the good reproducibility and can be used for the quality control of Yifu Ointment.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; standards ; Liliaceae ; chemistry ; Ointments ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Reproducibility of Results ; Rosaceae ; chemistry ; Saponins ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo observe the dynamic time-phase expressions of key genes of brain-gut CaM signal pathway of spleen Qi deficiency rats and the intervention effect of Sijunzi decoction.

METHODMale Wistar rats were randomly divided into the normal control group, model 14 d, 21 d, 28 d groups, and Sijunzi decoction 14 d, 21 d, 28 d groups. Except for the normal control group, the remaining groups were included into the spleen Qi deficiency model with the bitter cold breaking Qi method (ig 7.5 g · kg⁻¹ · d⁻¹ of Rheum officinale, Fructus aurantii immaturus, Magnolia officinalis preparation) and the exhaustive swimming method. On the 7th day after the modeling, the Sijunzi decoction groups were orally administered with Sijunzi decoction 20 g · kg⁻¹ · d⁻¹. The expressions of key genes CaM/CaMK II of CaM signaling pathway in hippocampus and intestine at different time points by immunohistochemical method and Western blot. At the same time, the intervention effect of Sijunzi decoction on spleen Qi deficiency rats and its mechanism were analyzed.

RESULTSpleen Qi deficiency rats showed higher intestinal CaM/CaMK II expression and lower hippocampus CaM/CaMK II expression than normal rats (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). After the treatment of Sijunzi decoction, spleen Qi deficiency rats showed reduction in intestinal CaM/CaMK II expression and increase in hippocampus CaM/CaMK II expression (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe formation of spleen Qi deficiency syndrome may be related to the high expression of CaM/CaMK II in small intestine tissues and its low expression in hippocampus tissues. Sijunzi decoction may achieve the therapeutic effect in spleen Qi deficiency syndrome by reducing the CaM/CaMK II expression in intestinal tissues and increasing it in hippocampus tissues.

Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Calmodulin ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Intestines ; drug effects ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Male ; Qi ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spleen ; drug effects ; Splenic Diseases ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; metabolism