The purification of parasite-infected erythrocytes from whole blood containing leucocytes is crucial for many downstream genetic and molecular assays in parasitology. Current methodologies to achieve this are often costly and time consuming. Here, we demonstrate the successful application of a cheap and simple Non-Woven Fabric (NWF) filter for the purification of parasitized red blood cells from whole blood. NWF filtration was applied to the malaria-parasitized blood of three strains of mice, and one strain of rat, and to Babesia gibsoni parasitized dog blood. Before and after filtration, the white blood cell (WBC) removal rates and red blood cell (RBC) recovery rates were measured. After NWF filter treatment of rodent malaria-infected blood, the WBC removal rates and RBC recovery rates were, for Kunming mice: 99.51%±0.30% and 86.12%±8.37%; for BALB/C mice: 99.61%±0.15% and 80.74%±7.11%; for C57 mice: 99.71%±0.12% and 84.87%±3.83%; for Sprague-Dawley rats: 99.93%±0.03% and 83.30%±2.96%. Microscopy showed WBCs were efficiently removed from infected dog blood samples, and there was no obvious morphological change of B. gibsoni parasites. NWF filters efficiently remove leukocytes from malaria parasite-infected mouse and rat blood, and are also suitable for filtration of B. gibsoni-infected dog blood.

Objective: To understand the epidemiological characteristics of scrub typhus and influencing factors in Yunnan province, and provide further information for the prevention and control of scrub typhus. Methods: Based on the incidence data of scrub typhus reported in Yunnan from 2006 to 2013, the epidemiological characteristics of scrub typhus were analyzed and related environmental factors were identified with panel negative binomial regression model. Results: A total of 8 980 scrub typhus cases were reported during 2006-2013 in Yunnan. The average annual incidence was 2.46/100 000, with an uptrend observed. Natural focus expansion was found, affecting 71.3% of the counties in 2013. The epidemic mainly occurred in summer and autumn with the incidence peak during July-October. The annual incidence was higher in females than in males. More cases occurred in children and farmers, the proportions of cases in farmers and pre-school aged children showed an obvious increase. Panel negative binomial regression model indicated that the transmission risk of scrub typhus was positive associated with monthly temperature and monthly relative humidity. Furthermore, an "U" pattern between the risk and the increased coverage of cropland and grassland as well as an "inverted-U" pattern between the risk and increased coverage of shrub were observed. Conclusion: It is necessary to strengthen the scrub typhus surveillance in warm and moist areas as well as the areas with high coverage of cropland and grassland in Yunnan, and the health education in children and farmers who are at high risk.
Child ; China/epidemiology* ; Environment ; Epidemics ; Farmers ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Models, Statistical ; Orientia tsutsugamushi ; Risk Factors ; Scrub Typhus/transmission* ; Temperature

Objective: To estimate the cervical and breast cancer screening coverage and related factors among women aged 35-69 years who were in the National Cervical and Breast Screening Program, to provide evidence for improving cervical and breast cancer control and prevention strategy. Methods: Data used in this study were abstracted from the 2013 Chinese Chronic Diseases and Risk Factors Surveillance Program. A total of 66 130 women aged 35-64 years and 72 511 women aged 35-69 years were included for this study. Weighted prevalence, (with 95% confidence interval, CI) was calculated for complex sampling design. Rao-Scott χ(2) method was used to compare the screening coverage among subgroups. A random intercept equation which involved the logit-link function, was fitted under the following five levels: provincial, county, township, village and individual. Fix effects of all explanatory variables were converted into OR with 95%CI. Results: In 2013, 26.7% (95%CI: 24.6%-28.9%) of the 35-64 year-old women reported that they ever had been screened for cervical cancer and 22.5% (95% CI: 20.4%-24.6%) of the 35-69 year-olds had ever undergone breast cancer screening. Lower coverage was observed among women residing in rural and central or western China than those in urban or eastern China (P<0.000 1). The coverage among women aged 50 years or older was substantially lower than those aged 35-49 years. Those who were with low education level, unemployed, low household income and not covered by insurance, appeared fewer number on this cervical or breast cancer screening program (P<0.000 1). Women living in rural and western China were having less chance of receiving the breast cancer screening (P<0.05), but the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: It is essential to strengthen the community-based cervical and breast cancer screening programs, in order to increase the coverage. More attention should be paid to women aged 50 years or older, especially those socioeconomically disadvantaged ones.
Adult ; Aged ; Breast Neoplasms/prevention & control* ; China/epidemiology* ; Early Detection of Cancer/statistics & numerical data* ; Female ; Healthcare Disparities ; Humans ; Mammography/statistics & numerical data* ; Mass Screening/statistics & numerical data* ; Middle Aged ; Papanicolaou Test/statistics & numerical data* ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Rural Population ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/prevention & control*

The first national surveillance of COPD in mainland China was carried out in 2014, with the nationally representative data obtained. The national surveillance was significantly important for the monitoring of prevalence, risk factors, and changing trend of COPD among Chinese adults aged ≥ 40. The surveillance was also important in the development of national COPD prevention and control policy, the evaluation of prevention and control progress, the establishment of COPD comprehensive surveillance system, and the building of a professional COPD monitoring and prevention team. In this editorial, we briefly introduced the method and content of COPD surveillance, and reported the rate of spirometry examination and COPD awareness among adults aged ≥40 in China. We also analyzed the rate of main risk factors for COPD, such as tobacco smoking, occupational exposure to dust or chemical and indoor exposure to biomass or coal, and the distribution of high-risk population. This study provided fundamental data for the prevention and control of COPD in China.
Adult ; Aged ; Air Pollution, Indoor/statistics & numerical data* ; China/epidemiology* ; Chronic Disease/epidemiology* ; Dust ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Exposure/statistics & numerical data* ; Population Surveillance/methods* ; Prevalence ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/prevention & control* ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; Spirometry ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution/statistics & numerical data*

COPD refers to a group of chronic respiratory diseases which seriously influence the people's health and life quality. The national COPD surveillance in China has been implemented since 2014 with the goal of monitoring the prevalence and trend of COPD and related risk factors in China. The paper summarizes the item and method of national COPD surveillance in China.
Aged ; China/epidemiology* ; Chronic Disease/psychology* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Population Surveillance/methods* ; Prevalence ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/psychology* ; Quality of Life ; Risk Factors

Objective: Smoking is the most important risk factor for COPD. Understanding the smoking rate, current smoking rate, average age to start smoking and average daily consumption of cigarettes among people aged ≥40 years in China can provide scientific evidence for the effective control and prevention of COPD. Methods: Data were from COPD surveillance in China (2014 to 2015) which covered 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities. A total of 75 107 adults aged ≥40 years selected through multi-stage stratified cluster sampling from 125 surveillance sites (county/district) were surveyed by electronic questionnaire during face to face interviews. The smoking rate and other smoking index were estimated by using weighting complex sampling design. Results: The smoking rate and current smoking rate were 40.0% (95%CI: 38.5%-42.0%) and 31.0% (95%CI: 29.7%-32.0%), respectively, among the Chinese aged ≥40 years in 2014. The smoking rate and current smoking rate in males (74.1% and 57.6%) were much higher than those in females (5.4% and 4.0%). And the two rates were significantly higher in rural area (41.2% and 32.4%) than in urban area (38.8% and 29.5%). The mean age of smokers to start smoking was 20.1 (95%CI: 19.7-20.5) years. The younger the smokers were, the earlier their average age to start smoking was (The ages to start smoking for smokers aged 40-, 50-, 60-, ≥70 years were 18.3, 19.2, 20.9 and 23.1 years, respectively). Average daily cigarette consumption of current daily smokers was 18.9 (95%CI: 18.1-19.7) cigarettes, and the daily cigarette consumption was higher in males (19.3 cigarettes) than in females (12.5 cigarettes). Conclusion: The smoking rate in males aged ≥40 years is high in China. Compared with urban area, the smoking rate in rural area is higher, posing a big challenge for COPD control and prevention.
Adult ; Aged ; Asian People/statistics & numerical data* ; China/epidemiology* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Smoking/psychology* ; Smoking Cessation ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

Objective: To describe and analyze the passive smoking exposure level in adults aged ≥40 years in China. Methods: A total of 75 107 adults from 125 sites of COPD surveillance points in China were surveyed by electronic questionnaire during face to face interviews. After comprehensive weighting of the samples, the passive smoking exposure level was analyzed. Results: The passive smoking exposure rate of the adults aged ≥40 years was 44.9% (95%CI: 42.3%-47.5%). The exposure rate was highest in those aged from 40 to 49 years (51.0%, 95%CI: 47.9%-54.1%) in term of age groups, in those with senior high school education level and above (48.6%, 95%CI: 44.9%-52.2%) in term of education level, and in office workers (57.7%, 95%CI: 51.8%-63.7%) in term of occupation. The adults reporting passive smoking exposure every days in a week accounted for 27.7% (95%CI: 25.5%-29.8%), and those reporting household passive smoking exposure accounted for 28.3% (95%CI: 26.2%-30.5%). Logistic regression analysis showed that the passive smoking exposure level was different in different age groups and occupation groups. Conclusion: The passive smoking exposure level is still high in adults in China. Age and occupation are the influencing factors of passive smoking exposure level.
Adult ; Aged ; Asian People/statistics & numerical data* ; China/epidemiology* ; Environmental Exposure ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Population Surveillance/methods* ; Smoking/epidemiology* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution/statistics & numerical data*

Objective: To understand the current status of dust and/or harmful gas exposure in adults aged ≥40 years and corresponding protection in China, and provide evidence for strengthening the occupational protection against dust and harmful gas exposure. Methods: The data were obtained from 2014-2015 COPD surveillance in China. A total of 75 107 adults aged ≥40 years selected through multi-stage stratified cluster sampling from 125 surveillance points in 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) were surveyed in face to face interviews. Occupational exposure was defined as occupational exposure to dust and/or harmful gas for more than 1 year. The weighted percentages of exposure were estimated by using complex sampling design. Results: Among eligible 71 061 participants, the exposure rate of dust and/or harmful gas was 46.3%. The exposure rate in rural area (51.7%) was significantly higher than that in urban area (40.3%), and the exposure rate in the western area was higher than those in the eastern and central areas (P<0.001). Among the groups with different education level, the exposure rate in those with education level of primary school and below was highest (49.7%, P<0.001). The exposure protection rate was 26.7%, and the exposure protection rate was highest in the eastern area (29.9%), followed by that in the central area (27.0%) and that in the western area (22.9%) The exposure protection rate in urban area was significantly higher than that in rural area, and the exposure protection rate was lowest in those with education level of primary school and below. The regular exposure protection was taken by only 50.7% of the adults surveyed. Conclusion: The exposure rate of dust and/or harmful gas is high in China, while the exposure protection rate is very low. Health education, occupational protection and supervision should be strengthened among those with low education level, and those living in rural area and in the western area.
Adult ; China/epidemiology* ; Dust ; Female ; Gases/toxicity* ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases/epidemiology* ; Occupational Exposure/statistics & numerical data* ; Residence Characteristics ; Rural Population ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Urban Population

Objective: To analyze the status and distribution characteristics of household polluting fuel use in China. Methods: The data were collected from the adults aged ≥40 years who were recruited through multi-stage stratified cluster sampling in 2014-2015 COPD surveillance conducted in 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) in China. A total of 75 107 adults aged ≥40 years in 125 surveillance points were surveyed in face to face interview. Polluting fuels included biomass fuels (wood, dung, crop residues and charcoal), coal (including coal dust and lignite) and kerosene. The weighted percentage of family using polluting fuels, combustion method for cooking or heating and ventilation installation with 95%CI were estimated by complex sampling design. Results: According to the survey results from 75 075 adults, the percentage of family using polluting fuels for cooking or heating was 59.9% (95%CI: 54.2%-65.7%), the percentage in rural areas was significantly higher than that in urban areas (P<0.001). As for different polluting fuels, the percentage of using only biomass fuels for cooking or heating was 25.9% (95%CI:20.5%-31.3%), the percentage of using only coal (including kerosene) was 18.9% (95%CI: 13.2%-24.7%), and the percentage of using both biomass fuels and coal was 15.1% (95%CI: 10.8%-19.4%). Among seven geographic areas in China, the percentages of using biomass fuels ranged from 53.8% in southern China to 23.0% in northern China (P=0.039), the percentages of using coal (including kerosene) ranged from 59.5% in northwestern China to 22.3% in southern China (P=0.001). Among the families using polluting fuels, the percentages of mainly using traditional open fires and stoves were 21.3% (95%CI: 16.9%-25.8%) and 31.5% (95%CI: 25.8%-37.2%), respectively; the percentage of having ventilation installation was72.7% (95%CI: 66.9%-78.5%). Conclusions: Household polluting fuel use is common in China, but differs with area, traditional fuel combustion method is widely used, the coverage of ventilation installation need to be improved. In order to promote COPD prevention and control, it is necessary to develop strategies on fuels and fuel combustion method improvement to reduce indoor air pollution resulted from household fuel combustion.
Adult ; Aged ; Air Pollution, Indoor/prevention & control* ; Biomass ; China/epidemiology* ; Coal/adverse effects* ; Cooking ; Environmental Pollutants/adverse effects* ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Heating/methods* ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Wood

Objective: To understand the prevalence of biomass fuel exposure in women aged ≥40 years in China during 2014-2015, and provide evidence for the prevention and control of bio-fuel exposure. Methods: All participants were selected from a national representative cross-sectional survey during 2014-2015 in the mainland of China. A multi-stage stratified cluster sampling strategy was used. A total of 37 795 women aged ≥40 years received a face-to-face questionnaire survey at 125 surveillance points in 31 provinces. The level of biomass fuel exposure was analyzed after complex sample weighting to represent the overall Chinese women aged ≥40 years. Results: A total of 37 777 women were included in the analysis. With complex weighting, the rate of biomass fuel exposure in Chinese women aged ≥40 years was 35.8% (95%CI: 29.6%-42.1%), the exposure rate was higher in rural women than in urban women (P<0.001). The biomass fuel exposure rate was highest in northeastern and lowest in northern areas of China (χ(2)=17.03, P=0.009). The estimated biomass fuel exposure rate decreased with the increase of educational level (P<0.001). Conclusion: The prevalence of biomass fuel exposure is high in women aged ≥40 years in China, especially in those in rural areas. The exposure level differs with age and area. Appropriate measures should be taken to reduce the level of biomass fuel exposure in Chinese women.
Adult ; Aged ; Air Pollutants/toxicity* ; Air Pollution, Indoor/statistics & numerical data* ; Asian People ; Biomass ; China/epidemiology* ; Cooking/methods* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Fossil Fuels/toxicity* ; Humans ; Inhalation Exposure/statistics & numerical data* ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Rural Population ; Surveys and Questionnaires