1.Occupational hazards of crystalline silicon solar cell manufacturing industry
Yang DONG ; Hongping DENG ; Cheng YI ; Fengxia HU ; Jin XU ; Aihua GU
Chinese Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Diseases 2024;42(8):637-640
The wide use of crystalline silicon solar cells in the field of new energy is an important boost for China to achieve the environmental protection goal as soon as possible. However, the production and manufacturing processes of these cells give rise to various occupational hazards at workplace, thus posing health risks to workers. This review provided an overview of production processes of crystalline silicon solar cells, the characteristics of occupational health hazards (productive dust; physical factors, productive toxicant) and proposed occupational protection suggestions.
2.Occupational hazards of crystalline silicon solar cell manufacturing industry
Yang DONG ; Hongping DENG ; Cheng YI ; Fengxia HU ; Jin XU ; Aihua GU
Chinese Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Diseases 2024;42(8):637-640
The wide use of crystalline silicon solar cells in the field of new energy is an important boost for China to achieve the environmental protection goal as soon as possible. However, the production and manufacturing processes of these cells give rise to various occupational hazards at workplace, thus posing health risks to workers. This review provided an overview of production processes of crystalline silicon solar cells, the characteristics of occupational health hazards (productive dust; physical factors, productive toxicant) and proposed occupational protection suggestions.
3.Effect of escitalopram combined with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on efficacy and attention function of patients with first-episode unipolar depression
Jianxi HU ; Haobo CHEN ; Huameng HUANG ; Rong HU ; Guihe HU ; Aihua GUO ; Man LI ; Huikun DENG ; Xiaoping PAN
Chinese Journal of Neuromedicine 2023;22(10):1038-1043
Objective:To observe the effect of escitalopram combined with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on efficacy and attention function in patients with first-episode unipolar depression.Methods:Fifty-two first-episode initial-naive unipolar depression patients were enrolled in Department of Neurology of Guangzhou First People's Hospital from March 2022 to April 2023 were chosen. They were randomly allocated to active stimulation group ( n=27) and sham stimulation group ( n=25); both were treated with escitalopram, and active treatment or sham treatment in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) were given for 4 weeks (5 d per week, 20 d totally). Before treatment and 2 and 4 weeks after treatment, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD)-24 was used to evaluate depressive symptoms, and Birmingham Cognitive Screening Scale-Chinese (BCoS-C) was used to evaluate the attention function. Results:(1) In terms of depressive symptoms: HAMD-24 scores of the active stimulation group 2 and 4 weeks after treatment (20.63±2.73, 15.85±2.43) were significantly lower than those before treatment (25.74±2.68, P<0.05); HAMD-24 scores of sham stimulation group 4 weeks after treatment were also significantly lower than those before treatment ([20.48±2.33] vs. [25.80±2.57], P<0.05); HAMD-24 scores of the active stimulation group 2 and 4 weeks after treatment were significantly lower than those of sham stimulation group ( P<0.05). (2) In terms of auditory attention indicators: total correct number (selective attention) in active stimulation group 4 weeks after treatment was significantly larger than that before treatment (51.74±1.38 vs. 47.48±1.60), and the sustained index (sustained attention) was significantly lower than that before treatment (0.74±0.71 vs. 4.37±1.15, P<0.05); total correct number in active stimulation group 4 weeks after treatment was significantly larger than that in sham stimulation group (48.00±1.66), and the sustained index was significantly lower than that in sham stimulation group (3.72±1.28, P<0.05). Conclusion:Combined with escitalopram, rTMS can more effectively mitigate the depressive symptoms in first-episode unipolar depression patients, and depressive symptoms improve more quickly than attentional function.
4.Clinical study of acupuncture using the principle of invigorating viscera and purging fu, replenishing qi and nourishing yin for the type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with qi and yin deficiency
Peijia HU ; Hongliang CHENG ; Wendong ZHANG ; Aihua FEI ; Junfei BU ; Xingxing SU
International Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2022;44(8):854-859
Objective:To evaluate the effect of acupuncture with invigorating viscera and purging fu, replenishing qi and nourishing yin for the T2DM patients with qi and yin deficiency syndrome.Methods:A total of 59 patients who met the inclusion criteria from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2020 in the Endocrinology Department of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine were divided into the acupuncture group with 30 cases and a control group with 29 cases, according to the random number table method. The control group received conventional hypoglycemic treatment. And the acupuncture group was treated with acupuncture on the basis of the control group treatment. Both groups were treated for 4 weeks. TCM syndrome scores were performed before and after treatment, respectively. Serum IL-6 was measured by ELISA, serum CRP by immunoturbidimetry, and serum fasting blood glucose (FPG), 2 hPG, HbAlc, TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C levels by spectrophotometry. The BMI, clinical effect rates were calculated.Results:The total effective rate was 96.7% (29/30) in acupuncture group and 75.9% (22/29) in control group, and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=5.96, P<0.01). After treatment, the scores of fatigue, dryness of mouth and pharynx, spontaneous sweating and night sweating, shortness of breath and lazy speech in acupuncture group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( t values were 6.02, 4.31, 4.34, 3.63, respectively, all Ps<0.01). The serum CRP level in acupuncture group was significantly lower than that of the control group at 21, 48 d after treatment ( t values were -4.36, -3.75, respectively, all Ps<0.01), and IL-6 level was significantly lower than that of the control group at 14, 21, 28 d after treatment ( t values were -2.92, -5.35, -8.71, respectively, all Ps<0.01). After treatment, the serum TC [(4.62±0.68) mmol/L vs. (5.56±0.72) mmol/L, t=5.16], TG [(1.48±0.42) mmol/L vs. (2.12±0.89) mmol/L, t=3.55], LDL-C [(2.48±0.84) mmol/L vs.(3.02±0.95) mmol/L, t=2.32] in the acupuncture group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( P<0.05), HDL-C [(1.39±0.27) mmol/L vs. (1.26±0.22) mmol/L, t=-2.02] in the acupuncture group was significantly higher than that of the control group ( P<0.05). The serum FPG level at 21 d [(6.12±0.67) mmol/L vs. (6.57±0.61) mmol/L, t=-4.96], 28 d [(5.78±0.52) mmol/L vs. (6.49±0.58) mmol/L, t=-2.70] in acupuncture group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( P<0.01). The 2h PG level at 14 d after treatment [(10.23±1.06) mmol/L vs. (11.76±1.34) mmol/L, t=-4.87], 21 d [(9.05±0.98) mmol/L vs. (10.53±1.24) mmol/L, t=-5.10], 28 d [(7.45±0.69) mmol/L vs. (9.31±0.78) mmol/L, t=-9.71] in the acupuncture group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( P<0.01), and HbA1c level were decreased 14 d [(7.93±0.86)% vs. (8.52±0.97)%, t=-2.47], 21 d [(7.63±0.85)% vs. (8.15±0.92)%, t=-2.26], 28 d [(6.47±0.51)% vs. (7.51±0.62)%, t=-7.05] significantly lower than those in the control group ( P<0.01), BMI [(22.13±1.57) kg/m 2vs. (24.16±1.82) kg/m 2, t=-4.59] 28 d after treatment was significantly lower than that of the control group ( P<0.01). Conclusion:Acupuncture therapy of nourishing viscera and purging fu, nourishing qi and nourishing yin can regulate the disorder of glucose and lipid metabolism in patients with T2DM and syndrome of qi and yin deficiency.
5.Quantitative Imaging Study of Liver and Spleen Lesions in Patients with Gaucher Disease
Di LI ; Xiaojuan TAO ; Ningning ZHANG ; Aihua HUO ; Di HU ; Yanqiu LYU ; Yonghong ZHANG ; Yun PENG
JOURNAL OF RARE DISEASES 2022;1(3):283-288
6.Ginkgo biloba regulate Nrf2-Keap1-ARE signaling pathway to ameliorate liver injury in endemic arsenic poisoning rats induced by coal burning
Yong HU ; Maolin YAO ; Chun YU ; Aihua ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Endemiology 2021;40(6):441-447
Objective:To explore the effects of Ginkgo biloba on regulating NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1)-antioxidant response element (ARE) signaling pathway in liver injury induced by coal-burning-borne endemic arsenic poisoning in rats.Methods:Group design method was adopted, according to body weight (80-100 g), a total of 30 Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups (6 rats in each group, half males and half females) by random number table method. The normal control group was fed with normal diet ad libitum for 4.5 months; the Ginkgo biloba control group was fed with Ginkgo biloba (25 mg/kg, 6 d/week) for 1.5 months after normal feeding for 3 months; the drinking water arsenic poisoning group and the arsenic contaminated grain group were fed respectively with 100 mg/L arsenic trioxide (As 2O 3) solution and 100 mg/kg arsenic-containing feed for 3 months, and then fed with normal diet for 1.5 months; the Ginkgo biloba treatment group was fed with 100 mg/kg arsenic-containing feed for 3 months, and then was given Ginkgo biloba (25 mg/kg, 6 d/week) for 1.5 months. After sacrificing the animals, the content of malondialdehyde (MDA), the activity of copper zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1) and the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in serum were detected by thiobarbituric acid colorimetry, xanthine oxidase method and dimercaptodinitrobenzoic acid reduction method, respectively. The mRNA and protein expressions of indicator genes of Nrf2-Keap1-ARE signaling pathway in liver tissues were detected by quantitative real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Correlation between the indexes was analyzed by Pearson. Results:In drinking water arsenic poisoning group, arsenic contaminated grain group and Ginkgo biloba treatment group, the contents of MDA in serum were (3.54±0.51), (3.83±0.87) and (2.93±0.84) μmol/L, respectively, which were higher than that in normal control group [(1.85±0.36) μmol/L, P < 0.05]; and SOD1 activities [(68.21±4.37), (64.53±9.96), (73.09±5.43) U/ml] and GPx activities [(486.41±40.45), (458.24±42.25), (539.79±79.43) U/L] in serum were lower than those in normal control group [(81.47±5.73) U/ml, (747.86±80.33) U/L, P < 0.05]. Compared with the arsenic contaminated grain group, the content of MDA in serum in Ginkgo biloba treatment group was decreased, the activities of SOD1 and GPx in serum were increased ( P < 0.05). Compared with normal control group, the mRNA expressions of SOD1 and GPx1 in the liver tissues in drinking water arsenic poisoning group, arsenic contaminated grain group and Ginkgo biloba treatment group were significantly higher ( P < 0.05). Compared with arsenic contaminated grain group, the mRNA expressions of SOD1 and GPx1 in the liver tissue in Ginkgo biloba treatment group were increased ( P < 0.05). Compared with the normal control group, the protein expression of SOD1 in liver tissue in arsenic contaminated grain group was decreased ( P < 0.05), the protein expressions of GPx1 were decreased in the liver tissues in drinking water arsenic poisoning group, arsenic contaminated grain group and Ginkgo biloba treatment group ( P < 0.05). Compared with the arsenic contaminated grain group, the protein expressions of SOD1 and GPx1 were increased in the liver tissue in Ginkgo biloba treatment group ( P < 0.05). Compared with the normal control group and arsenic contaminated grain group, the protein expression of Keap1 was decreased in the liver tissue in Ginkgo biloba treatment group ( P < 0.05). Compared with the normal control group, the protein expressions of Nrf2 and phosphorylation of Nrf2 (pNrf2) were increased in the cytoplasm in drinking water arsenic poisoning group, arsenic contaminated grain group and Ginkgo biloba treatment group ( P < 0.05). Compared with the arsenic contaminated grain group, the protein expression of pNrf2 was decreased in the cytoplasm in Ginkgo biloba treatment group ( P < 0.05). The protein expressions of Nrf2 and pNrf2 in the nucleus in drinking water arsenic poisoning group, arsenic contaminated grain group and Ginkgo biloba treatment group were also higher than those in normal control group ( P < 0.05). Compared with the arsenic contaminated grain group, the protein expressions of Nrf2 and pNrf2 were increased in the nucleus in Ginkgo biloba treatment group ( P < 0.05). The results of correlation analysis revealed that the protein expressions of Nrf2 and pNrf2 in the nucleus were negatively correlated with Keap1 protein expression ( r=-0.523,-0.401, P < 0.05), and positively correlated with the mRNA expressions of SOD1 and GPx1 ( r=0.658, 0.530, 0.555, 0.603, P < 0.05). In addition, the protein expressions of SOD1 and GPx1 were positively correlated with their enzyme activities ( r=0.472, 0.629, P < 0.05). Conclusions:Arsenic could induce oxidative stress and liver injury. Ginkgo biloba could reduce the protein expression of Keap1, and promote nuclear translocation of Nrf2, which might induce the up-regulation of mRNA expressions of SOD1 and GPx1, and partially reverse the posttranscriptional regulation of arsenic on SOD1 and GPx1, and then increase their protein expressions and enzyme activities, thereby improve arsenic induced oxidative stress and liver injury.
7.Roles and mechanisms of ferri ion and ferritin in the growth, reproduction and energy metabolism of Leptospira interrogans
Weiqun YANG ; Aihua SUN ; Jie YAN ; Weiling HU ; Xu′ai LIN
Chinese Journal of Microbiology and Immunology 2020;40(8):593-599
Objective:To investigate the influence of ferri ion on the growth, reproduction and energy metabolism of Leptospira interrogans ( L. interrogans), and to identify whether the LA_2690 and LA_3598 gene products functioned as ferritin and ferroxidase. Methods:Petroff-Hausser counting method was used to analyze the influence of ferri ion deficiency on the growth and reproduction of L. interrogans serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae serovar Lai strain 56601 in EMJH medium. Spectrophotometry and Chemiluminescence method was used to detect whether ferri ion deficiency inhibited the synthesis of DNA and ATP in L. interrogans. The structures and functions of L. interrogans LA_2690 and LA_3598 genes were analyzed using bioinformatic softwares. Prokaryotic expression systems for LA_2690 and LA_3598 genes were established and the target proteins, rLep2690 and rLep3598, were extracted by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. The ferroxidase activity of rLep2690 and rLep3598 was detected by spectrophotometry. After L. interrogans strain 56601 was used to infect human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and monocytes (THP-1), changes in the expression of LA_2690 and LA_3598 genes at transcription level were detected using real-time fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR). Results:In the ferri ion-absent EMJH medium, the growth and reproduction of L. interrogans as well as the DNA and ATP synthesis levels were significantly decreased ( P<0.05). The products of LA_2690 and LA_3598 genes were predicted as bacterioferritin (Bfr) and DNA-binding ferritin containing ferroxidase diiron centers, but the latter lacked the heme-binding site and ferroxidase core. The prokaryotic expression systems for LA_2690 and LA_3598 genes could efficiently express the target recombinant proteins. Both the purified rLep2690 and rLep3598 showed a single band on SDS-PAGE. The ferroxidase activity of rLep2690 and rLep3598 was 1 238.619 U/L and 60.052 U/L, respectively. The expression of LA_2690 and LA_3598 genes of L. interrogans at mRNA level was significantly elevated during infection of the two types of cells ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Ferri ion participates in the growth and reproduction of L. interrogans as well as the synthesis of DNA and ATP. LA_2690 and LA_3598 genes were essential for L. interrogans to infect cells, and the product of LA_2690 gene possessed a stronger ferroxidase activity.
8.Role and mechanism of Leptospira interrogans vWF-A gene products binding to human collagen proteins
Shupei LI ; Aihua SUN ; Xu′ai LIN ; Weilin HU ; Jie YAN
Chinese Journal of Microbiology and Immunology 2020;40(8):584-592
Objective:To investigate the role and mechanism of Leptospira interrogans ( L. interrogans) vWF-A gene products binding to human collagen proteins. Methods:Bioinformatic software was used to analyze the structure and function of the vWF-A genes (LA_0012, LA_0697 and LA_4207) of L. interrogans serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae serovar Lai strain Lai. Prokaryotic expression systems for the vWF-A domain segments in the vWF-A genes were generated. The target recombinant proteins, rLep0012, rLep0697 and rLep4207, were purified by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography and analyzed by SDS-PAGE. ELISA and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) were performed to detect the binding ability of the target recombinant proteins to humanⅠ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ and Ⅵ types of collagen proteins (hCOL1/3/4/6). Expression of the vWF-A genes at mRNA and protein levels were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative RT-PCT and Western blot during infection of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and mouse hemangioendothelioma endothelial cells (EOMA). Results:The products of vWF-A genes were vWF-A superfamily domain-containing surface or transmembrane proteins, but LA_0697 and LA_4207 genes also contained metal ion-dependent adhesion sites (MIDAS). The established prokaryotic expression systems efficiently expressed the target recombinant proteins and each of the proteins extracted by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography showed a single band in SDS-PAGE. ELISA results showed the strong binding of rLep0697 to hCOL3/6 and rLep4207 to hCOL1/4. SPR results showed the rapid binding and dissociation of rLep0697 with hCOL3/6 ( KD values=5.71×10 -8 and 5.89×10 -8 mol/L) and the rapid and stable biding of rLep4207 with hCOL1/4 ( KD values=6.4×10 -9 and 3.2×10 -9 mol/L). Expression of the vWF-A genes at both mRNA and protein levels were significantly elevated ( P<0.05) during infection of HUVEC and EOMA cells. Conclusions:The products of LA_0697 and LA_4207 genes could act as the adherence factors of L. interrogans during infection.
9. Discussion on early warning, prevention and control of emerging infectious diseases from a macroscopic perspective based on big data and effective distance model: enlightenment of COVID-19 epidemic data in China
Zhenkun WANG ; Zhishui CHEN ; Aihua DU ; Congyi WANG ; Hong LIU ; Ziwei WANG ; Jifa HU
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2020;41(0):E052-E052
Objective To provide a system for warning, preventing and controlling emerging infectious diseases from a macroscopic perspective, using the COVID-19 epidemic data and effective distance model. Methods The dates of hospitalization/isolation treatment of the first confirmed cases of COVID-19 and the cumulative numbers of confirmed cases in different provinces in China reported as of 23 February, 2020 were collected. The Location Based Service (LBS) big data platform of 'Baidu Migration' was employed to obtain the data of the proportion of the floating population from Wuhan to all parts of the country. Effective distance models and linear regression models were established to analyze the relationship between the effective distance and the arrival time of the epidemic as well as the number of cumulative confirmed cases at provincial and municipal levels. Results The arrival time of the epidemic and the cumulative number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 had significant linear relationship at both provincial and municipal levels in China, and the regression coefficients of each linear model were significant ( P <0.001). At the provincial level, the effective distance could explain about 71% of the variation of the model with arrival time along with around 90% of the variation for the model in the cumulative confirmed case magnitude; at the municipal level, the effective distance could explain about 66% of the variation for the model in arrival time, and about 85% of the variation of the model with the cumulative confirmed case magnitude. Conclusions The fitting degree of the models are good. The LBS big data and effective distance model can be used to estimate the track, time and extent of epidemic spread to provide useful reference for early warning, prevention and control of emerging infectious diseases.
10.Detection rate, antimicrobial resistance and molecular types of Klebsiella pneumoniae from stool samples of outpatients with diarrhea-syndrome in Tai’an
Xinfeng ZHANG ; Lei WANG ; Bin HU ; Aihua ZHANG ; Jinhua ZHENG ; Juanjuan LU ; Zhenwang BI
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2020;41(3):423-428
Objective:To investigate the isolation rate, antimicrobial resistance phenotype, and molecular type characteristics of Klebsiella pneumoniae from infectious diarrhea outpatients in Tai’an. Methods:A total of 866 stool samples were collected from infectious diarrhea cases in sentinel hospitals in 6 counties of Tai’an from 2013 to 2017. The strains were isolated from stool samples of the cases and identified by biochemical test. Micro broth dilution method was used to detect the drug resistance of the strains. The molecular typing was conducted by using pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).Results:The detection rate of Klebsiella pneumoniae in the stool samples was 7.97 % (69/866), with significant differences among the 6 counties ( χ2=39.627, P=0.000). Sixty- eight out of the 69 strains were resistant to 15 antibiotics with resistance rate 98.55 %(68/69). The resistance to ampicillin (AMP) was highest (84.06 %) (58/69), followed by sulfamethoxazole (SOX) (72.46 %)(50/69). There were 40 drug resistance profiles, and the predominant resistance profile was AMP-SOX detected ( n=10). The multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains accounted for 33.33 % (23/69). The 69 strains could be divided into 65 PFGE patterns, and no predominant PFGE pattern or cluster was observed. Conclusions:Klebsiella pneumoniae was detected in the stool samples of diarrhea- syndrome outpatients, indicating the risk for community-acquired infection; the strains were resistant to multiplex antibiotics, with wide drug-resistance profiles and high multi-drug resistance rates. The PFGE patterns were diverse, which showed no correlation with drug resistance profiles. Our study indicated that it necessary to strengthen the surveillance and detection of Klebsiella pneumoniae from diarrhea outpatients, which could facilitate the prevention of the emergence and spread of drug resistance strains and the protection of susceptible population.

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