Branchio-Oto-Renal Syndrome ; Child ; Humans ; Male

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Laryngeal Diseases ; microbiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pharyngeal Diseases ; microbiology ; Pharyngitis ; microbiology ; Syphilis ; Treponema pallidum

Objective To analyze the relationships between the drinking water fluoride and bone mineral density (BMD), and serum osteocalcin (BGP) and to explore the BMD and serum BGP as significant early screening biomarkers for fluorosis especially for early bone damage in endemic fluorosis areas. Methods Wamiao (severe endemic fluorosis area, as fluoride exposed group) and Xinhuai (non endemic fluorosis area, as control group) Village were selected in 2006. One hundred and fouty-six objects were chosen from 2 villages (103 in Wamiao, 43 in Xinhuai). The sex, age, body height, body weight, drinking water fluoride in each object's household well, BMD, and serum BGP were investigated, and the dose-response relationships were analyzed between the drinking water fluoride and BMD, and serum BGP. CurveExpert 1.3 Software was used to fit the dose-response relationships between the rate of abnormal BMD, the rate of abnormal serum BGP, and the drinking water fluoride. Results The levels of drinking water fluoride in males' and females' families in fluoride exposed group were [(2.38±0.68), (2.62±0.91 )mg/L] significant higher than that in control group [(0.35±0.08), (0.36±0.07)mg/L], the difference being statistically significant(t values were 14.27 and 11.08,and P<0.01, respectively). BMD in males in fluoride exposed group [(0.78±0.07)g/cm2] was significant lower than that in control group[(0.83±0.08)g/cm2], the difference being statistically significant (t=2.37,P<0.05). Serum BGP in males and females in fluoride exposed group [(4.17±0.67), (4.11±0.57) μg/L] were significant higher than that in control group [(1.48±0.40), (1.44±0.39)μg/L], the difference being statistically significant (t values were 17.64 and 19.40, and P<0.01, respectively]. BMD in the group with drinking water fluoride≥2.92 mg/L[(0.66±0.15 )g/cm2] was significant lower than that in the group with drinking water fluoride<0.42 mg/L [(0.76±0.12)g/cm2], the difference being statistically significant (P<0.01). The levels of serum BGP in the groups with the drinking water 0.42-,2.05-, ≥.92 mg/L[(3.83±1.07), (4.22±0.72), (3.99±0.63) μg/L] were significant higher than that in the group with the drinking water<0.42 mg/L [(1.44±0.37) μg/L], the difference being statistically significant (P<0.01). The equation for the dose-response relationship between the drinking water fluoride and the rate of abnormal BMD was y=(0.284-0.058x)-1.260, r=0.999 94; and y=100.05/(1+78.62e-4.5x), r=0.999 99 for the drinking water fluoride and the rate of abnormal serum BGP. Conclusions There were significant dose-response relationships between drinking water fluoride and BMD and serum BGP. It indicated that BMD and BGP might be considered as early screening biomarkers for endemic fluorosis, especially for the bone damage.

Adult ; Aged ; Esophageal Stenosis ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nickel ; Stents ; Titanium ; Tracheal Stenosis ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of male reproductive tract infection (RTI) with semen parameters and sperm DNA damage.

METHODSWe classified 1 084 males attending the infertility clinic into an RTI group (n = 300) and a non-RTI control group (n = 784). According to the WHO standards, we obtained routine semen parameters, detected sperm morphology, and determined the sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) by sperm chromatin structure assay.

RESULTSThere were statistically significant differences between the RTI and control groups in the semen volume ( [2.58 ± 1.20] vs [3.00 ± 2.10] ml), grade a + b sperm ([50.6 ± 17.2] vs [53.2 ± 15.8]%), grade d sperm ( [39. 8 ± 17.8] vs [36.5 ± 16.2]%), and total sperm count ([218.5 ± 185.0 ] vs [278.5 ± 375.5 ] x 10(6)/ejaculate) (all P < 0.05), but not in the males' age, sperm concentration or pH value (P > 0.05). The percentage of morphologically normal sperm was significantly lower ([3.46 ± 2.90] vs [4.61 ± 3.60%, P < 0.05) but the DFI was markedly higher in the RTI group than in the control ([19.4 ± 11.4] vs [15.2 ± 8.8]% , P < 0.01). The percentage of the cases with DFI > 30% was remarkably higher (13.0 vs 5.74% ) while that of the cases with DFI < 10% dramatically lower in the former than in the latter (16.0 vs 28.0%). The level of seminal plasma elastase was correlated negatively to sperm concentration, sperm count, and the percentage of morphologically normal sperm (P < 0.05) but positively to DFI and grade d sperm (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONMale reproductive tract infection not only affects semen parameters and sperm morphology but also causes serious sperm DNA damage.

DNA Fragmentation ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; physiopathology ; Male ; Reproductive Tract Infections ; physiopathology ; Semen ; chemistry ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Spermatozoa ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo probe into the relationship between hypertension and hemodynamic score of cerebral vascular accumulative function by though studying the history of hypertension and level of blood pressure.

METHODSThe database of blood pressure and cerebral vascular hemodynamic indexes (CVHI) were from baseline data and measurement in a cohort. 18,512 participants who met the included criteria were enlisted in the study. The function scores were estimated using uniform methods according to CVHI. Participants were grouped by age, years of having hypertension and level of blood pressure. Differences of the function score between different groups were compared.

RESULTSThe function score in hypertension group was significantly lower than that of normal tension group, which decreased by 13.3 points. Within 5 years of hypertension history, the function score decreased as course of hypertension prolonged. The same trend was found between the score and level of both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. When systolic blood pressure elevated to 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure elevated to 95 mmHg, the function score was below 75 points.

CONCLUSIONThere were significant relationship between decrease of the function scores and medical history, course of hypertension as well as level of blood pressure.

Adult ; Age of Onset ; Aged ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; Cerebrovascular Circulation ; physiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; physiology ; Humans ; Hypertension ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo present data from a baseline investigation on stroke-related cohort population in rural area of Shanghai.

METHODSA cross-sectional study was carried out in a cluster sampling population aged 40 years and over. General information and data on common risk factors in the population were gathered and cerebral vascular hemodynamic indexes were checked. Hemodynamic score was estimated according to single indexes by unified methods. 5335 persons who had met the inclusion criteria were enlisted in the study. Exposure level of risk factors, prevalence of stroke, and hemodynamic indexes were analyzed and distributional characteristics were described.

RESULTSExposure rate of hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, family history of hypertension, overweight or obesity in males were 31.74%, 6.09%, 1.16%, 3.22%, 17.64%, 29.68% and were 32.76%, 9.22%, 1.55%, 3.84%, 19.22%, 29.44% in female respectively. Standard prevalence of stroke was 1167.3/100000, which in male was significantly higher than that in female (P < 0.05). The change of cerebral vascular hemodynamic indexes was significantly associated with age. Hemodynamic score in 21.3% of the subjects was below 75 points.

CONCLUSIONSAmong population of 40 years old and over in rural areas, hypertension was the principal risk factor regarding the rate of stroke. Prevalence of stroke in males was significantly higher than that in females. Abnormal rate of hemodynamic score was about 20% in this population.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Brain ; blood supply ; China ; epidemiology ; Cohort Studies ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Rural Health ; Sampling Studies ; Sex Factors ; Stroke ; epidemiology ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of needling at Baihui(DU20), Shuigou(DU26) and Shenmen(HT7) on glucose metabolism in different regions of the brain in vascular dementia patients.

METHODSTen patients with vascular dementia were randomized into 2 groups, and the patients in the control group received the treatment with needling in the routine acupoints for hemiplegia (chosen from 6 Yang meridians of the hand and foot), while those in treatment group received needling at 3 additional acupoints, namely Baihui(DU20), Shuigou(DU26) and Shenmen(HT7), which were specific for dementia treatment. All the patients were examined by positron-emission tomography(PET) to detect the glucose metabolism in different brain regions before and after acupuncture treatment by means of semiquantitative analysis of the average values of radioactive count in the brain regions.

RESULTSNeedling at the additional 3 acupoints could obviously enhance glucose metabolism in the bilateral frontal lobes, bilateral thalamus, temporal lobe and lentiform nucleus on the uncompromised side.

CONCLUSIONThe effect of needling at Baihui(DU20), Shuigou(DU26) and Shenmen(HT7) on vascular dementia is closely related to improved cerebral glucose metabolism.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Brain ; metabolism ; Dementia, Vascular ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; Female ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; methods ; Radiopharmaceuticals ; Treatment Outcome

Human interleukin 4 (IL-4) cDNA was optimized and synthesized according to E. coli preferred codon. A recombinant expression plasmid pET-30a (+)/rhIL-4 was constructed with the target cDNA inserted between Nde I and EcoR I sites, which can translate the mature IL-4 protein with an extra methionine residue at N-terminal. The expression vector was transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3). The rhIL-4 protein was expressed in the inclusion body. By using the optimized fermentation conditions, the high expression level was achieved with the expression level as high as 35% of total protein obtained. A purification strategy has been designed which includes Q-Sepharose and SP-Sepharose ion-exchange chromatography and dialysis renaturation. The rhIL-4 was purified with the purity more than 98% and the yield of 40 mg per liter fermentation culture achieved. Western blot proved that the purified protein is IL-4. Amino acid sequencing revealed that N-terminal 16 residue sequence is identical to the theoretical sequence. Biological activity assay on TF-1 cells demonstrated that the rhIL-4 is active with an activity of 2.5 x 10(6) AU/mg. This study promises large scale production of rhIL-4.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Blotting, Western ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Fermentation ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Interleukin-4 ; biosynthesis ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo analyze the direct economic burden of stroke in rural areas of Hanzhong.

METHODSPlan on primary interview was made after the purpose of the study had been informed to the managers of the 'surveillance field base', heads and members of the monitor assistants and detailed information was collected in the fields. Every single patient of stroke was then interviewed by the above said interviewers,using a self-designed questionnaire. 164 patients with stroke were interviewed in 53 villages with 75,000 persons lived there. The main items involved in the questionnaire would include: costs for inpatient or outpatient, reaching-out fees, fee for accommodation during treatment as outpatient, costs for treatment at home, long term medicine, caregivers and funerals as well as average income.

RESULTSThe median of annual direct economic burden was 3100 Yuan for each patient in Hanzhong rural area. There were no significant differences seen between males and females or among age groups (P > 0.05). The proportion of patients with medians of annual direct economic burden of: 1000 Yuan and below, 1001-5000 Yuan, 5001-10,000 Yuan, 10,001-20,000 Yuan and over 20,001 Yuan, were 29.2%, 36.0%, 18.3%, 9.8% and 6.0% respectively. The median of annual direct economic burden of first episode stroke was 5500 Yuan for each patient, and that of stroke was 1700 Yuan for each chronic patient. The direct economic burden of first episode was significantly higher than that of stroke (P < 0.01). The costs of hospitalization, accommodation of hospitalization and treatment at home of middle-aged patients were significant higher than that of old age patients (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIn this study, the direct economic burden of stroke was 2.9 times of the annual personal average income, which was contrary to the reports from other countries. However, the State Health Bureau bore 87.1% of the direct economic burden for urban patients, but patients in the rural areas had to pay from their own pockets. The direct economic burden of stroke was heavy in Hanzhong rural region, which called for measures to be made to decrease the direct economic burden of stroke in the region.

Age Distribution ; Aged ; China ; Cost of Illness ; Female ; Humans ; Income ; statistics & numerical data ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rural Population ; statistics & numerical data ; Sex Distribution ; Stroke ; economics