OBJECTIVETo investigate the incidence and risk factors for hypertension among taxi drivers working different shifts.

METHODSUsing the cluster sampling method, 415 day-shift and 304 night-shift taxi drivers in Jinan, China were selected and investigated. The influencing factors for hypertension were analyzed.

RESULTSThe incidence of hypertension in all taxi drivers was 33.2%. The incidence of hypertension in night-shift drivers was significantly higher than that in day-shift drivers (37.8% vs 29.9%, P<0.05). According to multivariate analysis, the incidence of hypertension in day-shift drivers was closely related to body mass index (BMI), working years, working hours, sleep duration, rest days, diet quality, water intake, and smoking, while the incidence of hypertension in night-shift drivers was closely related to BMI, working years, working hours, part-time job, sleep duration, rest days, and drinking.

CONCLUSIONBMI, working years, and working hours are the common risk factors for hypertension in day-shift and night-shift drivers. Sleep duration and rest days are the common protective factors. The risk factors for hypertension in taxi drivers vary with different shifts.

Automobile Driving ; Body Mass Index ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Hypertension ; epidemiology ; Incidence ; Occupational Health ; Rest ; Risk Factors ; Time Factors ; Work Schedule Tolerance

Objective To evaluate the effects of spinal segmental stabilization exercises (SSE)at home on the quality of life for community dwelling elderly patients with lower back pain.Methods Eighty elderly patients with lower back pain were divided into two groups according to the random number method:the experimental group,which received intervention for three months,and the control group,which received no intervention.Evaluation was conducted using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and the WHO Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL BREF).Results The ODI and WHOQOL-BREF scores for the control group were (0.32 ± 0.09) and (87.65 ± 8.63),respectively,before treatment,and (0.32± 0.07) and (87.98 ±8.15),respectively,three months after treatment; the scores for the experimental group were (0.32 ± 0.09) and (87.97 ± 8.71),respectively,before treatment,and (0.27 ± 0.09) and (92.30 ± 9.64),respectively,three months after treatment.No statistically significant difference was found in ODI and WHOQOL-BREF scores in the control group before and three months after treatment (t=0.311 and-0.672,respectively; P ＞0.05 for both),while statistically significant differences were detected before and three months after treatment (t =0.311 and-0.672,respectively; P＜ 0.05 for both).Differences in ODI and WHOQOL-BREF scores were also found between the experimental group and the control group three months after treatment (t=8.500 and-4.526,respectively; P＜0.05 for both).Conclusions Spinal segmental stabilization exercises can effectively relieve symptoms,improve body functions and uplift the quality of life for community-dwelling elderly patients with lower back pain.As a beneficial physical therapy option,SSE can be promoted in residential communities.

In recent years,the incidence of hand foot and mouth disease has been on the rise with severe and fatal cases often caused by enterovirus 71(EV71) infection. EV71 possesses powerful ability of neural inva-sion,and severe nerve damage is one of the signs of its infection,including aseptic meningitis,poliomyelitis-like paralysis,acute brainstem encephalitis and other severe neurological syndrome,which may make the neurological sequelae difficult to reverse,and even death. At present,EV71 has become one of the main viral pathogens cau-sing central nervous system diseases in infants and young children,which seriously threatens the life and health of infants and young children. The pathogenesis of EV71 has not yet been totally clarified. Clinically,it mainly focuses on symptomatic supportive care and prevention of complications. This article starts with the introduction of the etiology of EV71 and briefly describes its relative pathogenesis with the view of providing new ideas for its intervention at the level of primary prevention.

Objective:To clone human anti-ricin antibodies from large phage antibody library.Methods:Panning for a large phage library against ricin toxin was conducted to select specific antibodies against ricin. The binding activities and specificities were tested by ELISA method. Soluble ScFvs were prepared through infecting E coli. HB2151 with the selected phage antibodies and induction with IPTG. Results:Forty positive clones were obtained after 5 rounds of panning, and 12 clones had specific binding ability to ricin toxin. DNA fingerprinting showed 7 different band patterns indicating 7 different positive clones. DNA sequencing showed that variable regions of these ScFvs belonged to different subgroups.Conclusion:Human anti-ricin antibodies were successfully obtained from large phage antibody library.

Objective:To improve the affinity of an anti TNF? scFv.Methods:Starting from an anti TNF? scFv gene a mutant phage antibody library was generated by error prone PCR.Affinity improved clones were selected and subjected to staggered extension process to shuffle the mutated sites.Mutants with further improved affinity were selected by bio panning.Affinity was judged by dot blot ELISA and thiocyanate elusion ELISA.Results:Seven affinity improved mutants were obtained from library constructed by error prone PCR.By StEP mediated shuffling of these 7 clones and via bio panning,mutants with further improved affinity were obtained.Conclusion:Combination of error prone PCR and StEP could be used to improve the affinity of antibodies. [

Objective To assess the safety and efficacy of a novel biodegradable polymer and rapamycin-coating stent, the EXCEL stent, in the treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD), as compared with the CypherTM stent. Methods In this prospective, non-randomized study, 60 consecutive patients with symptomatic CAD received either an EXCEL stent (n=32), or a CypherTM stent(n=28),according to their respective treatment intention. Follow-up angiography was performed at a mean of 180±40 days. The primary endpoint of the study was the occurrence of a major adverse cardiac event (MACE), including death, myocardial infarction, or target-vessel revascularization during the 6 months after stenting. The secondary end points included the in-stent late luminal loss (LLL), percentage of in-stent stenosis of the luminal diameter, and the rate of restenosis (luminal narrowing of 50 percent or more) at 6 months. Results There were no significant differences between the two groups in baseline characteristics, including the distribution of target vessel and lesion types. During the follow up period of 6 months, there were no occurrences of MACE in either group. Twenty-seven patients(84%) in the EXCEL group and 10 (36 %) in the CypherTM group underwent quantitative coronary angiography at 6 months. For these patients, no restenosis occurred, and there were no differences in the in-stent stenosis of the luminal diameter (5.98±5.52% vs 5.21 ±6.3%,P＞0.05) and the LLL (-0.02±0.09 mm vs -0.01±0.07 mm, P＞0.05). Conclusions Compared with the CypherTM stent, the EXCEL Stent with biodegradable polymer and rapamycin-coating showed similar efficacy in the prevention of neointimal proliferation, restenosis, and associated clinical events in CAD patients.

Objective To investigate the effects of ciyelosporine-A(CsA).a calcinenrin(CAN)inhibitor,on electrophysiological propertiesof atria in canine tachycardia-induced model of AF.Methods Eighteen healthy adult mongrel canines weighing 17.0 to 23.2 kg(rangedfrom 2 to 4 years old)were randomized to 3 groups,Sham group(no pacemaker was implanted),atrial tachypacing group(ATP group)each group at baseline and after 8 weeks' tachypacing.Measurements included atrial effective refractory period(AERP),conductionvelocity(CV),wave length(WE),atrial fibrillation load and rate-adaptability. Results After 8 weeks' atrial tachypacing,ATP andCsA groups showed significant longer duration of the P wave,shorter AERP,decreased adaptation of AERE slower CV,shorter Wland longer AF duration compared to the shamg roup (all P＜0.05).AERP of the CsA group was longer than that of ATP group (P＜0.05),but there were no differences in rate-adaptability,CV,incidence of induced AF and AF duration between CsA group and ATP group.Conclusions Our results suggest that calcineurin pathway intervention by CsA have a positive effect on tachycardia-inducedelectrical remodeling of atria,but can not prevent or reverse AF.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of intravascular optical coherence tomography (OCT) in the assessment of plaque characteristics and drug eluting stent deployment quality in the elderly patients with unstable angina (UA) and non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Methods OCT was used in elderly patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions.Fifteen patients, 9 males and 6 females with mean age of 72.6±5.3 years (range 67-92 years) were enrolled in the study. Images were obtained before initial balloon dilatation and following stent deployment. The plaque characteristics before dilation, vessel dissection,tissue prolapse, stent apposition and strut distribution after stent implantation were evaluated. Results Fifteen lesions were selected from 32 angiographic lesions as study lesions for OCT imaging after diagnostic coronary angiography. There were 7 lesions in the left anterior descending artery, 5 lesions in the right coronary artery and 3 lesions in the left circumflex coronary artery. Among them,12 (80.0%) were lipid-rich plaques, and 10 (66.7%) were vulnerable plaques with fibrous cap thickness 54.2±7.3 μm. Seven ruptured culprit plaques (46.7%) were found; 4 in UA patients and 3 in NSTEMI patients. Tissue prolapse was observed in 11 lesions (73.3%).Irregular stent strut distribution was detected in 8 lesions (53.3%). Vessel dissections were found in 5 lesions (33.3%). Incomplete stent apposition was observed in 3 stents (20%) with mean spacing between the struts and the vessel wall 172±96 mm (range 117-436 mm).Conclusions 1) It is safe and feasible to perform intravascular OCT to differentiate vulnerable coronary plaque and monitor stent deployment in elderly patients with UA and USTEMI. 2) Coronary plaques in elderly patients with UA and USTEMI could be divided into acute ruptured plaque, vulnerable plaque, lipid-rich plaque, and stable plaque. 3) Minor or critical plaque rupture is one of the mechanisms of UA in elderly patients. 4) Present drug eluting stent implantation is complicated with multiple tissue prolapses which are associated with irregular strut distributions. 5) The action and significance of tissue prolapse on acute vessel flow and in-stent thrombus and restenosis need to be further studied.

No abstract available.
Dermatitis, Contact ; Hyperthermia, Induced

Acute ischemic stroke with large vessel occlusion (AIS-LVO) refers to ischemic stroke caused by large vessel occlusion of internal carotid artery, middle cerebral artery and vertebrobasilar artery, which has the characteristics of large infarct, relatively poor outcome, higher disability and mortality. Therefore, early vascular recanalization and rescue of ischemic penumbra are the key to improve the outcome of patients with AIS-LVO. Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) has a definite effect on AIS-LVO. The current guidelines recommend that MT should be performed on the basis of IVT for AIS-LVO patients without contraindications of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT), the so-called bridging therapy. IVT can increase the risk of bleeding to a certain extent, delay MT and increase the cost of hospitalization. However, there are still many controversies about whether the patients with AIS-LVO can directly perform MT. This article reviews the comparative study of direct MT and bridging therapy in patients with anterior circulation AIS-LVO, hoping to provide reference for clinicians in the treatment of AIS-LVO.