0.05) The sensitvity is over 5 parasites/108 RBC. However, it is not satisfactory by using this method to detect P.vivax antigen.

Objective To investigate the epidemiology of hyperthyroidism in three rural communities with different iodine intake after universal salt iodization (USI) since 1996 as well as the influence of USI on the incidence of hyperthyroidism. Methods Inhabitants in Panshan community did not take iodized salt whereas inhabitants in Zhangwu and Huanghua communities have taken iodized salt since 1996. The thyroid function, thyroid autoantibodies, urinary iodine concentration and thyroid B ultrasound were performed in 1103, 1584 and 1074 subjects respectively in the three communities and the number of hyperthyroidism patients between 1991 and 1999 was collected to calculate the yearly average incidence of hyperthyroidism. Results The median urinary iodine concentrations in Panshan, Zhangwu and Huanghua were 103 ?g/L, 375 ?g/L and 615 ?g/L, respectively (P0.05) andtheprevalenceofsubclinicalhyperthyroidism was 3.7%, 3.9% and 1.1%, respectively. Comparing the yearly average incidence of hyperthyroidism of 1996～1999 with that of 1991～1995, a significant increased incidence in Panshan, while a slight but insignificant elevated one in Zhangwu and a fixed one in Huanghua were found. Conclusion USI can not result in a raise of the prevalence of active hyperthyroidism as well as subclinical hyperthyroidism. The increase of iodine intake is not the only explanation for the raising of the incidence of hyperthyroidism.

BACKGROUND:Nowadays, gene therapy has become a new trend for disease therapy and brought promise for some refractory diseases. Its key is to choose proper cel s, genes and vectors. OBJECTIVE:To use recombinant adeno-associated virus mediatedβ-nerve growth factor (β-NGF) to transfect rat bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cel s in vitro, and to investigate the effect ofβ-NGF expression on the proliferation of endothelial progenitor cel s. METHODS:The endothelial progenitor cel s were isolated, cultured and identified from the bone marrow of rats. Empty vector or recombinant adenovirus-associated virus containingβ-NGF gene was transferred into endothelial progenitor cel s. We examined the transfection efficiency by fluorescence expression of green fluorescent protein. Expression ofβ-NGF protein was detected using ELISA, and its effect on the proliferation of endothelial progenitor cel s was determined using MTT method. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Rat endothelial progenitor cel s were isolated and cultured successful y in vitro and were identified positive by the function of cel s and immunofluorescence staining. The endothelial progenitor cel s were infected directly by the recombinant adenovirus-associated virus containingβ-NGF gene with an efficiency of 65.3%.β-NGF protein was detected in the culture supernatant of transfected endothelial progenitor cel s, which reached a high level at 10 days after gene transfection. Furthermore, there was noβ-NGF protein in the blank and empty vector groups. After transfection, the proliferative ability of endothelial progenitor cel s was increased, which was significantly higher than the blank and empty vector groups (P<0.05). But there was no difference between the latter two groups (P>0.05). These findings suggest that recombinant adenovirus-associated virus containingβ-NGF gene can be successful y transferred into rat bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cel s and promote the proliferation of endothelial progenitor cel s.

This paper reports an improved McAb-ELISA test in detecting blood stage P.vivax antigen in which the plates were coated with rabbit anti-P.cynomolgi poly-antibody and two monoclonal antibodies were used together for reaction. The coincidence rate with microscopically conformed P.vivax blood samples was 94.3% and the coincidence rate with microscopically negative blood samples was 96.1%. The sensitivity was over 1 parasite/106 erythrocytes.

Objective:To explore the reference interval of urinary iodine concentration(UIC)/urinary creatinine(UCr) ratio evaluating the iodine nutritional status in early pregnancy women.Methods:A reference interval of UIC/UCr ratio was determined among 5 609 early pregnant women with normal thyroid function, negative thyroid autoantibodies, and no history of diseases or taking drug that may affect thyroid function. Then we verified the reliability of this reference interval in a group of 7 514 women in early pregnancy.Results:We determined the UIC/UCr ratio of 75-149 μg/g as the reference interval. In the reference interval, thyroglobulin antibody(TgAb), thyroid peroxidase antibody(TPOAb), and thyroglobulin(Tg) were all at lower levels, and the overall distributions were approximately U-shaped. The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction, the positive rates of antibodies and the proportion of Tg>40 μg/L were the lowest within the reference interval, while higher on both sides of the interval.Conclusion:The reasonable reference interval of the UIC/UCr ratio in iodine-sufficient regions is 75-149 μg/g in early pregnerty women.

To explore the dose- and time- dependent relationship between the chronic iodine excess and thyroid structure, ultrastructure, and thyroid function in autoimmune-prone NOD. H-2h4 mice. Chronic iodine excess leads to iodine-induced goiter with an ultrastructure of follicle epithelial cells injury in a dose and time dependent way.

Objective To explore the correlation between anti-thyroid autoantibodies and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Methods Four hundred and sixty-two samples with positive thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) and (or) thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) were collected. Three hundred and eighty age and gender matched subjects with negative TPOAb and TgAb were selected as controls. The anti-HCV antibody was examined in all the cases using the third-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), HCV RNA qualitative examination was examined further in those who had positive anti-HCV antibody. Meanwhile, 195 subjects with hepatitis C, 150 healthy subjects and 150 subjects with hepatitis B were tested for thyroid-related markers. The data were analyzed by independent-sample t test and chi square test. Results The HCV infection rate in 462 thyroid autoantibodies positive subjects was 1.30% and 0.53% in 380 thyroid autoantibodies negative subjects. There was no significant difference of the HCV infection rate between two groups (X2=1.322, P>0.05). In the subjects with hepatitis C, 30.8% were TPOAb positive, 30.8% were TgAb positive, which were significantly different from those of healthy subjects and subjects with hepatitis B (X2=21.496,X2=30.454;P<0.01). Conclusions HCV infection rate does not increase in subjects with abnormal thyroid autoimmunity. However, positive rate of thyroid autoantibodies increases in subjects with hepatitis C, which suggests that thyroid-related markers should be examined in hepatitis C patients.

Objective To understand the relationship between the infants′iron-deficiency anemia and the dependents′KAP (knowledge,attitude,practice)of iron nutrition,and to provide a theoretical support for the prevention and cure of the infants′iron-eficiency anemia.Methods A total of 960 infants,aging from 6 months to 36 months,were randomly chosen as samples at the child care clinics in Wuhan while they were doing their routine health check-up there.Their hemoglobin was examined.Their dependents were asked to fill in questionnaires about KAP of iron nutrition.Results The ratio of anemia in infants in Wuhan is 26.6%.The ra-tio difference of different age groups has statistical significance(P <0.05).The dependents′KAP of iron nutrition is in direct pro-portion to their educational level and family income.The ratio of anemia in infants is in inverse proportion to their dependents′edu-cational level and family income.The dependents′knowledge,attitude and practice of iron-intake were positively related.The aver-age score of guardian nutrition knowledge(K)was (11.96±3.77)points,the average score of attitude(A)was (7.09±2.80)points while the average score of feeding practice(P)was (18.05±3.60)points.Conclusion Much publicity should be given to the knowl-edge of iron nutrition and it should be conducted from various perspectives,in order to improve the cognitive level of the depend-ents′knowledge of iron nutrition and to lower the ratio of anemia in infants.

Objective To investigate the sodium and potassium disturbances in 9870 elderly inpatients and to analyze their risk factors.Methods Clinical data of sodium and potassium levels and the possible risk factors were collected in the elderly inpatients from a single center.The incidence of sodium and potassium disturbances and their risk factors were analyzed by multiple Logistic regression,and the correction of the imbalance was investigated.Results A total of 6027(61.6％)times of sodium and potassium disturbances were found in the 9870 elderly inpatients on admission and during hospitalization,and the total incidence of this disturbances was 61.6％.The incidences of hyponatremia,hypokalemia,hypernatremia and hyperkalemia were 27.9％ (2729/6027),9.7％ (951/6027),15.4％(1506/6027) and 8.6％ (841/6027),respectively.Heart failure was the common risk factor for the two electrolyte disturbances.T2DM caused hyponatremia,hypokalemia and hypernatremia.Among the medication risk factors,diuretics were the common risk factor for various electrolyte disturbances.Patients taking antiepileptics,antidementia drugs,antidepressants and benzodiazepines were more likely to have hyponatremia.The correction rate of mild,moderate and severe hyponatremia/ hypokalemia were 79.2％(1253/1582),68.1％ (535/786),45.1％ (163/361) and 79.5％(776/976),66.4％(217/327),40.1％(81/203),respectively.The time for the correction of the above degrees of hyponatremia/ hypokalemia were(3.7±2.7) d,(4.1±2.3) d,(8.9±1.6) d and(2.5± 1.4) d,(3.2 ± 1.5) d,(6.1 ± 1.2) d.The supplement amounts of sodium chloride and potassium chloride were(5.98±3.67) g,(9.45±3.02) g,(10.26±1.32) g and(2.23±0.93) g,(5.12± 1.53) g,(8.07 ± 2.46) g,respectively.Conclusions The incidences of electrolyte disturbances are high in elderly inpatients with combined diseases and application of various drugs,and the correction of disturbances is difficult.More attention should be paid to the electrolyte disturbances,which should be corrected positively.

Objective To evaluate the effects of penehyclidine hydrochloride on synthesis and release of high mobility group protein box 1 (HMGB1) in macrophages induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mice.Methods RAW264.7 cells obtained from mice were seeded in the culture dishes.After being cultured for 24 h,the cells were randomly divided into 5 groups (n =6 each) using a random number table.The cells were incubated routinely in group C.The cells were incubated in the presence of LPS 500 ng/ml (group LPS),LPS 500 ng/ml + penehyclidine hydrochloride 0.5 μg/ml (group P1),LPS 500 ng/ml + penehyclidine hydrochloride 2 μg/ml (group P2),or LPS 500 ng/ml + penehyclidine hydrochloride 5 μg/ml (group P3).All the cells were incubated for 24 h.The cells and supernatant were collected.The proliferation of the cells was measured by CCK-8 assay,HMGB1 mRNA expression in the cells was detected by RT-PCR,NF-κBp65 protein expression in the cells was detected by Western blot and the concentration of HMGB1 in the supernatant was detected by ELISA.Results Compared with group C,the expression of HMGB1 mRNA and NF-κBp65 protein in the cells was significantly upregulated,and the concentration of HMGB1 in the supernatant was increased in LPS,P1,P2 and P3 groups (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with group LPS,the expression of HMGB1 mRNA and NF-κBp65 protein in the cells was significantly down-regulated,and the concentration of HMGB1 in the supernatant was decreased in P2 and P3 groups (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with group P1,the expression of HMGB1 mRNA and NF-κBp65 protein in the cells was significantly down-regulated,and the concentration of HMGB1 in the supernatant was decreased in P2 and P3 groups (P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference in the indicators mentioned above between group P2 and group P3 (P ＞ 0.05).There was no significant difference in the proliferation of the cells among the 5 groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Penehyclidine hydrochloride can reduce the synthesis and release of HMGB1 in macrophages induced by LPS through inhibiting NF-κB activation in mice.