Objective To investigate the current prevalent status of endemic fluorosis in the alluvial plain area of the Yellow River in Shandong Province,in order to provide a scientific basis for developing control measures against the disease.Methods Six counties were selected as survey counties by random sampling,ten improvedwater projects were selected in each survey county,for the projects,the operating effect was investigated and water fluoride content was tested;three epidemic villages were chosen as survey villages in each county,the operating condition and the fluoride level of water were investigated in the villages with water improvement projects.Dental fluorosis of children aged 8 to 12 was surveyed,the urinary fluoride and skeletal fluorosis X-ray diagnosis were checked of adults over the age of 25.Water fluoride and urinary fluoride contents were detected via the F-ion selective electrode method,and the prevalence of dental fluorosis of all children aged 8 to 12 was diagnosed based on Clinical Diagnostic Criteria of Dental Fluorosis (WS/T 208-2011),skeletal fluorosis X-ray diagnosis was done based on the National Standard for Diagnosis of Endemic Skeletal Fluorosis (WS 192-2008).Results ①In the six counties,58 improved-water defluoridation projects were investigated,all projects were operated normally,the qualified rate of water fluoride content was 44.83％ (26/58).②A total of 19 villages that had water-improving and defluoridation projects were investigated,and all projects were operated normally,the qualified rate of water fluoride content was 42.11％ (8/19).③The overall rate of dental fluorosis among children aged 8 to 12 years old was 49.28％ (480/974),with the index of dental fluorosis as 1.01 in 19 villages,the prevalence of dental fluorosis was mild.In the qualified villages of water fluoride concentration,the positive rate of dental fluomsis among children aged 8 to 12 was 33.41％ (148/443),dental fluorosis index was 0.65,and the prevalence of dental fluorosis was extremely low;in the exceeding-standard villages of water fluoride content,the positive rate of dental fluorosis among children aged 8 to 12 was 62.52％ (332/531),dental fluorosis index was 1.36,and the prevalence of dental fluorosis was mild;the detection rate of dental fluorosis among children aged 8 to 12 of the villages with qualified fluoride content was lower than the rate of the villages with excessive fluoride (x2 =81.91,P ＜ 0.01).④X-ray detection rate of skeletal fluorosis in adults over the age of 25 was 6.14％ (53/863) in 17 villages,there was no statistically significant difference between the qualified villages and the exceeding-standard villages of water fluoride concentration (x2 =1.55,P ＞ 0.05),X-ray detection rate of skeletal fluorosis in adults was 5.04％ (20/397) and 7.08％ (33/466),respectively.In the qualified villages and the exceeding-standard villages of water fluoride,urinary fluoride geometric average and the exceeding rate of urinary fluoride were 1.50 mg/L,44.16％ (170/385) and 2.09 mg/L,62.58％ (286/466),respectively.In the qualified villages of water fluoride,the exceeding rate of adult urinary fluoride was lower than that in the exceeding-standard villages (x2 =28.58,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions The prevention and control measures on endemic fluorosis have had some effects in the alluvial plain area of the Yellow River in Shandong Province.But the water fluoride content of water improving defluoridation projects still exceeds the national standard seriously,and endemic fluorosis has not been effectively controlled.Prevention measures should be further strengthened.

Objective To evaluate the inverse distance weighted(IDW) in revealing the characteristics of spatial distribution of water fluoride in Heze City,Shandong Province.Methods A geographic information system (GIS) database of water fluoride was established in Heze City of Shandong Province using the data of endemic fluorosis surveys collected by Endemic Disease Prevention Institute in Shandong Province during 2005-2007.IDW spatial interpolation was applied to predict the distribution of fluoride in drinking water in 139 towns of Heze City.Sensitivity and specificity were calculated.Results Mean water fluoride levels in 10 counties of Heze City were all higher than 1.0 mg,/L,and the water fluoride in Cao County,Juye,Mudan District and Juancheng were higher than 2.0 mg/L.Of all 139 townships of Heze City,129 were higher fluoride townships where fluoride was ＞ 1.0 mg/L,10 were lower fluoride townships(≤ 1.0 mg/L).IDW spatial interpolation showed that the water fluoride of most areas in Heze City were ＞ 1.0-2.0 mg/L.The areas with water fluoride of ＞ 2.0-3.0 mg/L were mainly located in eastern Juancheng,northern Mudan District,north-central Chengwu,central and southern Juye,southeastern part of Caoxian and eastern part of Shan Town.Regions of water fluoride ＞ 3.0 mg/L were mainly distributed in Xieji and Wanfeng towns of Juye County,Jishan town of Juancheng County,Sunlaojia town of Caoxian and Dusi town of Mudan County.The internal verification results showed that the sensitivity,specificity and overall accuracy rate of IDW used for predicting water fluoride content was 100.00％ (129/129),10.00％ (1/10) and 93.53％ (130/139),respectively.While the external verification results showed that the sensitivity,specificity and overall accuracy rate of IDW for predicting water fluoride content was 100.00％(31/31),11.11％(1/9) and 80.00％(32/40),respectively.Conclusion With the application of IDW interpolation,it is feasible to infer the overall spatial distribution based on the monitoring data,and to reveal the spatial characteristics of water fluoride in Heze City,Shandong Province.

Objective To investigate the prevailing status of endemic fluorosis in the south area of Shandong province and to provide a scientific basis for formulating control measures against the disease.Methods According to the present distribution of fluorosis areas in the south area of Shandong province and the Shandong Province Technical Scheme for Endemic Disease Control,13 counties(districts) in the south area of Shandong province were selected as the survey counties in 2009.Based on the state of endemic fluorosis,the disease was classified into light,moderate and severe types in the 13 monitoring counties (districts),and one diseased village was selected from each type as the survey spots.The drinking water fluoride level,the prevalence of dental fluorosis of children aged 8-12,adult clinical skeletal fluorosis and urinary fluoride level of the children and adults were surveyed in the 39 villages selected.The content of fluoride in drinking water and urine was dctermined by F-ion selective electrode while dental fluorosis of the children aged 8-12 was diagnosed by Dean method and adults skeletal fluorosis by the national standard for Diagnosis of Endemic Skeletal Fluorosis (WS 192-2008).Results A total of 172 water samples were tested in the 39 villages(26 villages with improved water and 13 villages with unimproved water) of the 13 counties(districts),the fluoride content of the 74 water samples(51 from 13 villages with unimproved water and 23 from 6 villages with improved water) exceeded the national standard(＞ 1.0 mg/L),and the rate of exceeded the standard was 43.02％(74/172) with 24 of ＞ 2.0-4.0 mg/L and 3 of ＞ 4.0 mg/L,and the maximum value of the water fluoride was 7.76 mg/L.A total of 1118 copies of children urine samples were tested,geometric mean of urinary fluoride was 1.82 mg/L; 764 copies of adults' urine samples were tested,geometric mean of urinary fluoride was 1.98 mg/L.A total of 1908 children aged 8-12 were examined of dental fluorosis,the detection rate was 45.18％ (862/1908),tooth defection rate was 9.12％ (174/1908),and dental fluorosis index was 1.07.A total of 25 295 adults were checked of clinical skeletal fluorosis,the detection rate was 5.96％(1509/25 296) with 670 moderate or scrious cases.Conclusions In the south area of Shandong province,excessive water fluoride is still serious,mainly in the diseased villages with unimproved water(including water improvement villages discarded water improvement thereafter).Urine fluoride remains at a relatively high level,and the dental and skeletal fluorosis are still comparatively serious.High tluoride hazard still exists to a certain degree.Therefore,the scientific control measures need to be strengthened to control the prevalent of endemic fluorosis.

ObjectiveTo investigate the water fluoride level of the water improvement project and the prevalent condition of endemic fluorosis in 4 counties in Shandong province,and to provide a scientific basis for the development of control strategies to endemic fluorosis.MethodsAccording to “Shandong Province Survey Scheme of Endemic Fluorosis”,the service conditions of normal operated water improvement project and water fluoride content were investigated in Gaomi,Jiaxiang,Yuncheng and Boxing counties from May to November in 2010.The fluoride content in drinking water,the prevalence of dental fluorosis and urinary fluoride in children were investigated in nine major survey villages of the four counties.Water and urinary fluoride were determined by ion selective electrode and examination of dental fluorosis was done by using Dean method.ResultsA total of 288normal operated water improvement projects were examined in the 4 counties,the qualified rate of water fluoride (≤ 1.00 mg/L) of the projects was 51.39％(148/288),mean water fluoride was 1.35 mg/L and the maximum value was 6.27 mg/L.A total of 26 copies of drinking water samples were measured,the fluoride content ranged from 0.62mg/L to 4.36 mg/L,and mean water fluoride was 2.02 mg/L.A total of 685 children aged 8 to 12 were examined in the major investigated villages,the detection rate of dental fluorosis was 80.14％ (549/685),detectable rate of the defective dental fluorosis was 15.33％ (105/685),and dental fluorosis index was 1.56.Three hundred and seventynine copies of child urine samples were tested,the geometric mean of urinary fluoride were 0.66 - 13.28 mg/L,and the average was 3.04 mg/L.ConclusionsNearly 50％ of the water fluoride level of the water improvement project exceeds the standard ( ＞ 1.00 mg/L) in the 4 countries.The detection rate of dental fluorosis exceeds 80％ and urinary fluoride is significantly exceeds the standard in the major investigated villages.The endemic fluorosis is still serious and the situation of prevention and control of the disease is still grim.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of sesamin (Ses) on pulmonary vascular remodeling in rats with monocrotaline ( MCT)-induced pulmonary hypertension (PH).

METHODTotally 48 male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were fed adaptively for one week and then divided into the normal control group, the MCT group, the MCT +Ses (50 mg x kg(-1)) group and the MCT + Ses (100 mg x kg(-1)) group, with 12 rats in each group. The PH rat model was induced through the subcutaneous injection with MCT(60 mg x kg(-1)). After the administration for four weeks, efforts were made to measure the right ventricular systolic pressure( RVSP) and mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) through right jugular vein catheterization, and isolate right ventricle( RV) and left ventricle( LV) +septum (S) and measure their length to calculate RV/ ( LV + S) and ratio of RV to tibial length. Pathologic changes in arterioles were observed by HE staining. Masson's trichrome stain was used to demonstrate changes in collagen deposition of arterioles. The alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) expression in pulmonary arteries was measured by immunohistochemisty. The total antioxidative capacity (T-AOC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in pulmonary arteries were determined by the colorimetric method. The protein expressions of collagen I, NOX2 and NOX4 were analyzed by Real-time PCR and Western blot.

RESULTAfter the administration for 4 weeks, Ses could attenuate RVSP and mPAP induced by MCT, RV/ (LV + S) and ratio of RV to Tibial length, alpha-SMA and collagen I expressions and remodeling of pulmonary vessels and right ventricle. Meanwhile, Ses could obviously inhibit the expressions of NOX2, NOX4 and MDA content and increase T-AOC.

CONCLUSIONSesamin could ameliorate pulmonary vascular remodeling induced by monocrotaline in PH rats. Its mechanism may be related to expressions of NOX2 and NOX4 expression and reduction in oxidative stress injury.

Animals ; Dioxoles ; administration & dosage ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Lignans ; administration & dosage ; Lung ; blood supply ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Male ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Monocrotaline ; adverse effects ; NADPH Oxidase 2 ; NADPH Oxidase 4 ; NADPH Oxidases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Artery ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vascular Remodeling ; drug effects

Objective To investigate the influence of electrocardiogram(ECG)-controlled dose modulation on exposure dosage and image quality of cardiac CT imaging in a cardiac phantom with simulated fluctuant heart rate.Methods The basal heart rate of the cardiac pulsating phantom was set as 60 bpm.the experimental situations were divided as 6 groups according to different heart rates.The cardiac imaging was performed on the cardiac phantom when the ECG-controlled dose modulation was firstly turned off.The exposure dosage of each scan sequence was documented.The standard deviation of the CT values of the phantom was measured on the central slice after coronal reformation of the raw data.The quality of 2D and 3D images were scored.Thell cardiac imaging was performed when ECG modulation was on and set as four groups according to different modulation parameters.All the data were documented as before.The results from the five groups with and without ECG modulation current were analyzed bv F test and comparative rank sum test using the statistical software SPSS 10.0.Results Statistical analysis showed no significant difference(P＞0.05)between the SNR of images(SD value was 27.78 and 26.30)from the groups that full mA output at wide reconstruction phase(69%～99%)when the heart rate was fluctuant(≥7.5 bpm).There was also no significant difference(P＞0.05)between the quality of the 2D and 3D images.But there was a significant difference(P＜0.01)between the SNR of images(SD value was 26.78 and 29.90)that full mA was only used at 85%reconstruction phase when the heart rate Was fluctuant(≥7.5 bpm).The exposure dosage was remarkably reduced when the ECG modulated current was on than when it Was off under fluctuant heart rate.Furthermore.there were significant difierence(P＜0.01)among the difierent ECG modulated current parameter groups.The exposure dosage can be reduced by 44.7%under the situation that the heart rate was fluctuant.Whell the fluctuation of the heart rate was≤12.5 bpm,there wag no obvious relationship between the fluctuation of the heart rate and the exposure dosage (the variation was from 0.1 to 1.1 mSv),but if the heart rate fluctuation was＞12.5 bpm,the exposure dosage would increase obviously (from 0.6 to 1.7 mSv).Conclusion For cardiac imaging with 16-slice row CT,the application of ECG modulated current can effectively reduce the exposure dosage without compromising the image quality even if heart rate was fluctuant.

Objective To explore the influences of selenium,age,sex,education level,occupation and other factors on cognitive function in elderly of rural areas in Shandong Province.Methods Rural Chinese aged 65 years or older were sampled from Gaomi County and Zichuan County from 2006 to 2007 in Shandong,Province by cluster sampling method.Demographic characteristics were collected,and cognitive functions were surveyed using dementia community survey(CSID),including dementia test,CERAD word list learning,recall test,Indiana University (IU) story recall test and impact test on animals.The nail samples were collected and the selenium content was tested using 2,3-diamino-naphthalene fluorescence assay.The relationship between selenium and other related factors(age,sex,education level,occupation,et al) With cognitive function was analyzed.Results A total of 1 000 people aged 65 years or older were investigated.In which,457 were males,and 543 were females.Most elderly were farmers and illiteracy.The differences of CSID total scores and IU story recall scores between different selenium groups were statistically significant(F =2.56,9.18,P ＜ 0.05 or ＜ 0.01).Multiple linear regression model analysis showed,age,sex,education level,occupation,hypertension and nail selenium content had significant impact on CSID scores(t =-9.942,-6.848,5.391,2.276,-2.863,2.309,all P ＜ 0.05).Age,sex,education level,occupation and nail selenium content had significant impact on IU story recall test (t =-4.252,-2.021,8.203,2.528,4.490,all P ＜ 0.05).While age,sex,education level,occupation were main influence factors to animal fluency test(t =-7.951,-6.166,7.544,2.824,all P＜ 0.05).Conclusions Selenium is a protective factor for cognitive function of elderly in Shandong Province.Besides,age,sex and education level also have impact on cognitive ability of rural elderly.

Objective To study the prevalence of drinking water type of endemic fluorosis in Shandong Province,and to provide a scientific basis in making strategies for prevention and control of the disease.Methods Ten counties (cities,districts) were selected by random number table method to carry out the epidemiological study,and to study the progress and effect of water-improving and defluoridation projects.Three villages in each county (city,district) were chosen to determine fluoride content of drinking water and to check the prevalence of dental fluorosis of children 8 to 12 years old.Water fluoride content was determined with fluoride ion-selective electrode,and dental fluorosis was diagnosed by the Deans method.Results In the 10 counties (cities,districts),a total of 515 water-improving and defluoridation projects were built covering 3 207 fluorosis villages,and the waterimproving rate was 81.71％ (3 207/3 925).A total of 85 water-improving and defluoridation projects were investigated in the 10 counties (cities,districts),and all of the projects were operating normally.The number of projects that water fluoride concentration ≤ 1.20 mg/L was 51; the qualified rate of water fluoride concentration was 60.00％ (51/85),and the maximum value of water fluoride was 4.38 mg/L.A total of 29 villages that had waterimproving and defluoridation projects were investigated in the 10 counties (cities,districts),and the number of villages that mean of water fluoride ≤ 1.20 mg/L was 21,accounting for 72.41％ (21/29); ＞ 1.20 mg/L was 8,accounting for 27.59％ (8/29),and the maximum value of water fluoride was 4.02 mg/L.In the 21 qualified villages of water fluoride concentration,a total of 1 023 children aged 8 to 12 were examined; the positive rate of dental fluorosis was 38.12％ (390/1 023); dental fluorosis index was 0.67,and the prevalence of dental fluorosis was extremely low.In the 8 exceeding-standard villages of water fluoride content,a total of 449 children aged 8 to 12 were examined; the positive rate of dental fluorosis was 54.79％ (246/449); dental fluorosis index was 1.18,and the prevalence of dental fluorosis was mild.Conclusion In Shandong Province,the water fluoride content of waterimproving and defluoridation projects exceeds the national standard seriously,and the condition of children's dental fluorosis is still serious,and the measures of water-defluoridation should be further strengthened.

Objective To understand the status of endemic fluorosis in Shandong Province.Methods In accordance with the requirements of the National Surveillance Scheme of Drinking-Water-Type Endemic Fluorosis (Trial) and Shandong Provincial Surveillance Scheme of Drinking-Water-Type Endemic Fluorosis (Trial),ten counties (cities,districts) were chosen in the province,and ten water-improvement projects were selected in each county (city,district).The operating effect of water-improvement projects was investigated; one peripheral water sample of each project was collected,and water fluoride content was tested.Three epidemic villages were chosen as fixed monitoring villages in each county (city,district).In the villages that had changed water source,one peripheral water sample was collected; in unchanged water source villages,one water sample was collected following five different directions of the east,the west,the south,the north and the center of the water source location; and the water fluoride content was tested.All students aged 8 to 12 were checked for dental fluorosis in the monitoring villages.The fluoride content in drinking water was detected by fluoride ion selective electrode method,and dental fluorosis was diagnosed by Dean's method.Results ① In the 10 counties (cities,districts),a total of 85 water-improving projects were monitored,and all the projects were in normal operation; the water fluoride contents of 47 projects were qualified,and the qualified rate of water fluoride content was 55.29％(47/85),with the maximum of water fluoride content was 4.74 mg/L.② In the 30 fixed monitoring villages,27 monitored villages had water-improving projects; water fluoride contents of 19 villages were qualified,the qualified rate of water fluoride content was 70.37％ (19/27),with the maximum of water fluoride content was 4.77 mg/L.In the 3 monitored villages without water-improving projects,villages of mean water fluoride contents ≤ 1.20 mg/L and ＞ 1.20 mg/L were two and one,respectively,with the maximum of water fluoride content was 1.55 mg/L.③ In the 19 monitored villages with water-improving projects that in normal operating condition with qualified water fluoride content,the detected rates of dental fluorosis and the defect type of dental fluorosis among children aged 8 to 12 years old were 52.37％(508/970) and 6.39％(62/970),respectively,and the index of dental fluorosis was 1.02.In the 8 monitored villages with water-improving projects that in normal operating condition with water fluoride content that exceeded the national standard,the detected rates of dental fluorosis and the defect type of dental fluorosis were 62.39％ (297/476) and 8.82％ (42/476),respectively,and the index of dental fluorosis was 1.67.In the 3 monitored villages without water-improving projects,the detected rates of dental fluorosis and the defect type of dental fluorosis were 49.45％ (90/182) and 7.14％ (13/182),respectively,and the index of dental fluorosis was 1.25.Conclusions In Shandong Province,the water fluoride content of water-improving defluoridation projects exceeds the national standard seriously,and water quality of the projects still need to be further improved.The projects of water-improving defluoridation play a certain role in control of dental fluorosis condition,but the condition of children' s dental fluorosis is still very serious.So preventive and control measures for endemic fluorosis should be further strengthened.