OBJECTIVESTo evaluate the changes of the position of medulla oblongata and cerebellum following posterior fossa decompression (PFD), and to investigate their influences on the prognosis of the syringomyelia in adolescents with Chiari malformation (CM).

METHODSA retrospective review was performed on all CM patients between September 2006 and September 2011. A subset of 46 patients, including 25 male and 21 female patients, was finally enrolled according to the inclusion criteria. The initial age and duration of follow-up averaged 13.9 years (range, 10-17 years) and 13 months (range, 6-52 months), respectively. On mid-sagittal MRI, the following parameters were evaluated pre- and postoperatively (follow-up ≥ 6 months): the longitudinal and transverse position of bulbopontine sulcus, the fourth ventricle vertex, the lower extreme of cerebella tonsil, the cervico-medullary angle, the maximal syrinx/cord(S/C) ratio and the syrinx length. Changes in these parameters were analysed using the paired samples t test, and for these reaching statistical significances, an additional bivariate correlation analysis was performed to investigate their relation with syrinx resolution.

RESULTSAt the latest follow-up, upward shifting of the bulbopontine sulcus was observed in 31 patients(67.4%), with upward shifting of the lower extreme of cerebella tonsil presenting in 35 patients(76.0%). The maximal S/C ratio and the syrinx length were significantly improved postoperatively (t = 7.114 and 7.816, P = 0.000).Significant resolution of the syrinx was demonstrated in 40 patients(86.9%), and more specifically, the average improvement rates of the maximal S/C ratio and the syrinx length were 32% ± 30%and 43% ± 33%, respectively. In addition, the bivariate correlation analysis revealed that syrinx resolution was significantly correlated with the upward shifting of the bulbopontine sulcus (r = 0.332, P = 0.027) and lower extreme of cerebella (r = 0.298, P = 0.044) .

CONCLUSIONThe upward shifting of the bulbopontine sulcus and the lower extreme of cerebella tonsil might be implicated in the mechanisms of postoperative syrinx resolution.

Adolescent ; Arnold-Chiari Malformation ; complications ; surgery ; Child ; Decompression, Surgical ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medulla Oblongata ; pathology ; Postoperative Period ; Retrospective Studies ; Syringomyelia ; complications ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

Adolescent ; Adult ; Dust ; analysis ; Female ; Health Status ; Humans ; Industry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis ; Quartz ; Young Adult

Adolescent ; Adult ; Dust ; analysis ; Female ; Health Status ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis ; Pneumoconiosis ; prevention & control ; Sentinel Surveillance ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Welding ; Young Adult

Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Adult ; Bloodletting ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; therapy ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the association between genetic polymorphism of serum amyloid protein A1 (SAA1) with carotid intima media thickness in a healthy Han Chinese population of Xinjiang.

METHODSA total of 449 healthy Han Chinese participating the cardiovascular risk survey between June 2007 and September 2009 were included, the genotypes of the SAA1 were detected by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The mean IMT of the right and left common carotid arteries were measured by B-mode ultrasonography.

RESULTS(1) There was strong linkage disequilibrium between rs12218 and rs2229338 (D' = 0.89). (2) The carotid common IMT (CC-IMT) and the carotid bulb IMT (CB-IMT) were similar between the AA genotype (wild genotype) and the GGFAG genotype (mutational genotype) in rs2229338 of SAA1 gene. (3) CC-IMT [(0.081 ± 0.071) cm vs (0.068 ± 0.019) cm, P = 0.01] was significantly thicker in CC + CT genotype (mutational genotype) group than in TT genotype (wild genotype) of rs12218 group and the difference remains significant after adjustment for age, gender, blood pressure, waist circumference, creatinine and high density lipoprotein cholesterol. CB-IMT [(0.085 ± 0.038) cm vs. (0.081 ± 0.052) cm, P = 0.36] was similar between CC + CT genotype and TT genotype of rs12218 groups.

CONCLUSIONOur results suggested that the genetic polymorphism of SAA1 might be linked with IMT and rs12218 mutation could serve as a promoting factor for IMT in Han Chinese people.

Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness ; Female ; Humans ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Serum Amyloid A Protein ; genetics

Objective To investigate carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and the correlated risk factors in Han, Uygur, Hazakh residents over 35 years old of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Method Cross-sectional and cluster sampling random selected method was carried out for residents over 35 years old in Han, Uygur, Hazakh population of Xinjiang to investigate IMT and correlated risk factors. Results IMT of Han, Uygur, Hazakh residents over 35 years old of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region was (0. 0761 ± 0. 0283 ) cm, (0. 0663 ± 0. 0262) cm, and (0. 0781 ± 0. 0274 ) cm, respectively. There were significantly difference between various nationality( all P ＜0. 05 ). IMT was thicker in male Han people than in female Han people [(0. 0807 ± 0. 0288 )cm vs. (0. 0717 ± 0. 0270 ) cm, P ＜ 0. 01] and in male Uygur than in female Uygnr residents [(0. 0706 ±0. 0270)cm vs. (0. 0633 ±0. 0252)cm, P ＜0. 01]and in male Hazakh and female Hazakh residents [(0. 0794 ± 0. 0280) cm vs. (0. 0768 ± 0. 0268 ) cm, P ＜ 0. 01].Linear correlation analysis showed that age ( r = 0. 176, P ＜ 0. 05 ), systolic blood pressure ( r = 0. 168, P ＜ 0. 05 ), diastolic blood pressure ( r = 0. 167, P ＜ 0. 05 ), fasting blood glucose ( r = 0. 053, P ＜ 0. 05 ), total cholesterol(r = 0.097,P ＜ 0.05) and ankle brachial index (r = 0.067, P ＜ 0.05) were significantly correlated with IMT. Conclusions Our results showed that IMT was thicker in Hazakh residents than in Han and Uygnr residents. IMT was closely related to known cardiovascular risk factors including age,systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure,fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol and ankle brachial index level.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the genetic polymorphisms of rs2229338 and rs12218 loci of serum amyloid protein A1 (SAA1) gene in healthy Chinese Han and Uighur populations of Xinjiang.

METHODSThe genotypes of the SAA1 gene were detected in 316 Uighur and 362 Han healthy individuals by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).

RESULTSThe genotype distributions of both populations were in the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (both P>0.05). The frequencies of AA, AG and GG genotypes of the rs2229338 locus were 76.6%, 23.4%, and 0 in the Uighurs, and 91.7%, 7.7% and 0.6% in the Hans. There was significant difference in distribution of genotypes between the two populations (P<0.01). The frequencies of CC, CT and TT genotypes of the rs12218 locus were 10.1%, 47.5%, and 42.4% in Uighurs, and 3.3%, 34.3% and 62.4% in Hans. There was also significant difference in distribution of genotypes between the two populations (P<0.01). The A-C and G-T haplotypes were more frequent in the Uighur but the A-T haplotype was more common in the Han population, respectively (both P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe mutational frequencies of the tagging SNPs in rs2229338 and rs12218 loci of theSAA1 gene in the Uighurs may be higher than those in Hans.

Alleles ; Amyloid ; genetics ; metabolism ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Ethnic Groups ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; ethics ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; ethics ; genetics ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Protease Nexins ; genetics ; Serum Amyloid A Protein ; genetics

Objective To investigate the prevalence and distributing feature of overweight and obesity in Han, Uygur and Hazakh population in adults from Xinjiang. Methods Four-stage selected random samples with maternal age at 35 or over were used to analyze the prevalence and distributing feature of self-reported congestive heart failure in different nationalities, age, sex. The sampled adult population were collected from 6 localities(Urumqi, Kelamayi, Fukang, the Turfan Basin locality, Hetian locality, Yili Hazakh autonomous prefecture), 23 municipalities and 7 locality and 5 autonomous counties in Xinjiang. Results 16 460 people were surveyed. The prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were 36.1% and 26.9% in Han, Uygur and Hazakh population in Xinjiang,respectively from February, 2007. The prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were 41.4% and18.4% in Han population, 34.9% and 28.9% in Uygur population, but 32.8% and 40.1% in Hazakh population. The prevalence rate of overweight and obesity was higher in males(x2= 135.00, P＜0.05).The prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were different between different ethnic groups(x2=338.232, P＜0.05). The prevalence of overweight was highest in Han population, with the highest seen in Hazakh population. The prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were increasing with age (x2=246.80,P＜0.05). The overweight rate in 45-54 year olds and the obesity rate in 55-64 year olds reached their peak values. Results from logistic regression model analyses indicated that the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Xinjiang were statistically associated with age, educational level, jobs, smoking and alcohol consumption. Conclusion The prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were much higher in the population of Xinjiang but different among ethnicities. The prevalence of overweight was the highest in Han male population and the rate of obesity in Hazakh male population was the highest.

Objective To investigate the relationship between stroke and ankle-brachial index (ABI), pulse wave velocity (PWV) in Han, Uighur, and Kazakh populations of Xinjiang. Methods Data was from the investigation of cardiovascular risk survey (CRS) program among different nationalities in Xinjiang from October 2007 to March 2010. A total of 14 618 samples aged over 35 with complete data dimension were surveyed. Results ( 1 ) There were 633 patients with stroke, including 258 Hans (4.48%), 247 Uighurs (5.18%), and 128 Kazakhs (3.13%). The incidence of stroke was significant different in the three ethnic groups (P＜0.001). (2)Compared to the Han population, the incidence of stroke was higher ( OR= 1.304) in Uighur but lower (OR=0.794) in Kazakh. (3) PWV was significant different between stroke and non-stroke patients. After adjustment for age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, triglyceride, total cholesterol and other risk factors, the difference remained significant, indicating that PWV (OR=1.001, P＜0.001) might associate with the occurrence of stroke. Conclusion The results of this study showed that the incidence of stroke was significantly different in the three ethnic groups. PWV might associate with the occurrence of stroke.

Objective To investigate the prevalence and distributing feature of chronic heart failure (CHF) in adult population of Xinjiang. Methods Four-stage random sampling method was used to analyze the prevalence and distributing feature of self-reported congestive heart failure among different nationalities in adult (35 years and over) population of Xinjiang. Sampling was collected from 6 localities ( Urumqi, Kelamayi, Fukang, Turfan Basin, Hetian, Yili Hazakh). Results A total of 8459 adults were surveyed. The prevalence of CHF was 1.26% in this cohort The prevalence of CHF was 0.89% , 1. 11% and 2. 14% * in Han, Uygur and Hazakh population, respectively ( * P <0. 05 vs. Han and Uygur). The risk of CHF was higher in the males than in the females ( 1. 61% vs. 0. 93% , u = 2. 79, P < 0. 05 ) . The prevalence of CHF increased in proportion with aging and was 0. 29% , 0. 60% , 1. 32% , 2. 55% and 4. 10% in 35 - 44, 45 - 54, 55 - 64, 65 - 74, 75 years and over age groups, respectively. Common complications of CHF were hypertension ( 63. 55% ), coronary heart disease ( 42. 99% ) , diabetes (18.69%), valvular heart disease (5.61%) and atrial fibrillation (4.67%). Conclusion The prevalence of CHF in Xinjiang was higher than the average level in China (0. 9% ) and was the highest in the Hazakh population.