OBJECTIVETo analyze the relationship between pesticide exposure and adverse pregnancy outcomes in famers.

METHODSA search was conducted to collect the articles about the relationship between pesticide exposure and adverse pregnancy outcomes published worldwide from 1990 to February 2012. Meta-analysis was performed on the collected articles using RevMan 4.2 software.

RESULTSTwelve articles were collected. Compared with the controls, the pesticide-exposed famers showed a combined odds ratio (OR) for spontaneous abortion of 1.52 (95%CI: 1.04 ∼ 2.21; P = 0.03), a combined OR for premature birth of 1.33 (95%CI: 1.09 ∼ 1.61; P = 0.005), a combined OR for dead fetus of 1.22 (95%CI: 1.16 ∼ 1.29; P < 0.01), a combined OR for stillbirth of 1.90 (95%CI: 0.58 ∼ 6.28; P = 0.29), a combined OR for birth defect of 2.02 (95%CI: 0.84 - 4.69; P = 0.12), a combined OR for low birth weight of 1.62 (95%CI: 0.60 ∼ 4.39; P = 0.34), a combined OR for neonatal death of 2.18 (95%CI: 0.54 ∼ 8.88; P = 0.28), and a combined OR for delayed conception of 1.43 (95%CI: 0.93 ∼ 2.18; P = 0.1). Pesticide exposure increased the risks for spontaneous abortion, premature birth, and dead fetus, but was not significantly associated with stillbirth, birth defect, low birth weight, neonatal death, and delayed conception.

CONCLUSIONPesticide exposure can cause adverse pregnancy outcomes in farmers, increasing the risks of spontaneous abortion, premature birth, and dead fetus.

Agriculture ; Female ; Humans ; Maternal Exposure ; Pesticides ; adverse effects ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Rural Population

Objective To compare the antibody response between preterm and full-term infants after primary immunization of hepatitis B vaccine (HepB).Methods Infants who were aged 7-12 months and had completed primary immunization with 5 μg HepB made by recombinant dexyribonucleic acid techniques in saccharomyces cerevisiae (HepB-SC) or 10 μg HepB made by recombinant dexyribonucleic acid techniques in Hansenula polymorpha (HepB-HP) on 0-1-6 schedule were investigated in four provinces (municipality) including Beijing,Shandong,Jiangsu and Guangxi of China.Among them,all preterm infants were selected to form the preterm group and the 1:1 matching full-term infants with the same month-age,gender and residence were randomly selected to form the full-term group.Their HepB history was determined by immunization certificate and all of their parents were interviewed with standard questionnaire to get their birth information.Blood samples were obtained from all anticipants and were tested for Anti-HBs by chemiluminescence microparticle immuno-assay (CMIA).Results Total anticipants were 648 pairs of infants.The rates of non-response,low-response,normal-response and high-response after the primary immunization were 1.39％,8.64％,45.83％ and 44.14％ in the preterm group,respectively.The corresponding rates were 1.08％,9.26％,44.91％ and 44.75％ in the full-term group.The above four rates did not show significant differences between the two groups (P＞0.05).The geometric mean concentrations (GMC) of anti-HBs in the pre-term and full-term group were 755.14 and 799.47 mIU/ml respectively.There was no significantly difference in the GMCs between the two groups (P＞0.05).Results from multivariable conditional logistic analysis showed that preterm was not an influencing factor to the antibody response after HepB primary immunization among newborns even after debugging the other influencing factors.Conclusion The autibody response after HepB primary immunization were similar among the preterm and full-term infants.The preterm newborns could be immunized under the same HepB immunization strategy.

Objective To compare the antibody response induced by primary immunization with 5 μ g and 10 μ g hepatitis B vaccine made by recombinant DNA techniques among the newborns.Methods Healthy infants who had completed primary immunization with 5 μg hepatitis B vaccine made by recombinant dexyribonucleic acid techniques in Saccharomyces (Hep-SC) or 10 μg hepatitis B vaccine made by recombinant dexyribonucleic acid techniques in Hansenula polymorpha (HepB-HP) were included in the study.Kids under study were 7-12 months of age and had been on 0-1-6 schedule.Standardized questionnaire was used and blood samples were collected.The titer of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) was detected by Chemiluminescence Microparticle Imunoassay (CMIA).If anti-HBs happened to be under 10 mIU/ml,HBV DNA was further detected by nested-PCR to distinguish occult hepatitis B virus infection.Sero-conversion rate and titer of anti-HBs were compared between the two kinds of hepatitis B vaccines.Multivariate analysis was used to find the relationship between the kind of hepatitis B vaccine as well as the antibody response after debugging the other influencing factors including month-age,gender,birth-weight,premature birth and mother' s HBsAg status.Results 8947 infants vaccinated with 5 μg HepB-SC and 4576 infants vaccinated with 10 μg HepB-HP were investigated.In the 5 μg group,the rates of non-,low-,normal- and high-response were 1.88％,15.18％,61.42％ and 21.52％ respectively.In the 10 μg group,the corresponding rates were 0.15％,2.16％,29.42％ and 68.26％ respectively.The non-,low-,normal-response rates were all higher in 5 μg group than in 10 μg group (P＜0.01),while the high-response rate was much higher in 10 μg group than in 5 μ g group (P＜0.01).The geometric mean concentration (GMC) of anti-HBs were 354.81 mIU/ml (95％ CI:338.84-363.08 mIU/ml) and 1778.28 mIU/ml (95％CI:1698.24-1819.70 mIU/ml) in the 5 μg group and 10 μg group respectively.The GMC was statistically higher in the 10 μg group than in the 5 μg group (P＜0.001).The seroconversion rate and GMC were significantly different between the two groups even after debugging the other influencing factors.Conclusion Better anti-HBs response could be achieved by primary immunization with 10 μg HepB-HP than with 5 μg HepB-SC among newborns.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Vitex negundo var. heterophylla seeds ethanol extract(VSE) on immunological hepatitis and acute inflammation mice model.

METHODHepatic function in the immunological liver injury model was evaluated by assessing the levels of ALT in plasma, and the content of MDA, ORAC, NO and iNOS mRNA in liver tissues. VSE effect on the acute inflammation caused by croton oil and carrageenan was observed.

RESULTCompared to the model group, 125 and 500 mg x kg(-1) VSE could inhibit the activities of ALT in mice plasma, and enhanced levels of ORAC and decreased levels of MDA and modulated levels of NO in liver tissues. Meanwhile, VSE could ameliorate the ear swelling induced by croton oil and reduced the thickness of mice hind paw induced by carrageenan as well.

CONCLUSIONThe results indicated that VSE exerted potential effects on immunological hepatitis and the mechanisms might be partly related to free radical scavenging activity and inhibit release of iNOS. VSE also showed partial effects on acute inflammation.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; administration & dosage ; Disease Models, Animal ; Ethanol ; chemistry ; Hepatitis ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; Seeds ; chemistry ; Vitex ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of ecoimmunonutrition supplement on intestinal microecology, epithelial tight junctions, and barrier function in rats with surgical stress.

METHODSSeventy SD rats after surgical trauma were randomly divided into four groups:(1) placebo group,(2)total parenteral nutrition(TPN) group,(3)enteral nutrition(EN) group and (4)ecoimmunonutrition (EEN)group respectively. Rats received isocaloric and isonitrogenous nutrition. Nutrients were administered via the neck vein and the needle jejunostomy for five days. The homogenated tissues of liver, lung, and mesenteric lymph nodes were cultured to determine the bacterial translocation rate. The transmembrane binding proteins(occludin) was measured by immunohistochemistry. The ultrastructure and morphology of intestinal epithelial tight junctions in the intestine were observed by electron microscope. The feces in cecum was cultured for anaerobic bacterial growth and analysed.

RESULTSThe amounts of lactobacteria and bifidobacteria in EEN group were significantly higher than those in TPN group(P<0.05). The expression levels of occludin in the intestine was significantly higher in EEN group than that in TPN and EN group. Furthermore, the intestinal epithelial tight junction and microvilli of EEN group were more intact compared with those of TPN group. The bacterial translocation rates of liver, lung and mesenteric lymph nodes were significantly lower in EEN and EN group than those in TPN group(P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONApplication of ecoimmunonutrition can protect intestinal mucosal barrier in rats with operative stress, increase the expression of occludin, maintain the gut epithelial tight junction, and eliminate gut bacterial translocation.

Animals ; Enteral Nutrition ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; microbiology ; Intestinal Mucosa ; physiopathology ; Male ; Probiotics ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo compare the expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) among VLA-4 (CD49 d), VLA-5 (CD49e), LFA-1 (CD11a), L-selectin (CD62L), and PECAM-1 (CD31) which are more related to the homing of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC) on the ex vivo expanded CD34+ subset with that of fresh isolated AC133+ cells.

METHODSAC133+ cells selected from fresh cord blood (CB) samples were cultured in QBSF-60 serum-free media in the presence of Flt-3 ligand + SCF + TPO (FST), with initial addition of IL-3 for up to 2 week. Expansion potential and the expression of above CAMs were evaluated at day 0, day 7, day 10 and day 14.

RESULTS(1) Simultaneously numerical expansion of various HSPC was constantly observed during the culture, and the fold expansion of AC133+ cells and CD34+ cells on day 14 were 33.50 and 64.56 respectively; (2) The number of CD34+ subsets expressing the above adhesions were all increased at different degrees (from 20 fold to 160 fold). (3) The expressions of CD11a, CD49d, and CD49e on ex vivo expanded CD34+ cells were increased as compared to their baseline levels, but the percentage of CD62L+ and CD31+ subpopulations in CD34+ cells were decreased.

CONCLUSIONSOur short-term culture system can not merely support the simultaneous expansion of CB derived AC133+ cells, but the expanded hematopoietic progenitors may well sustained the expression of homing-related adhesion molecules.

AC133 Antigen ; Antigens, CD ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media, Serum-Free ; Cytokines ; physiology ; Female ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; metabolism ; Glycoproteins ; metabolism ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Interleukin-3 ; pharmacology ; Lymphocyte Subsets ; Peptides ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing ; metabolism