Objective To investigate the effects of Shanzha Xiaozhi capsule on body weight, metabolic index, percentage and distribution of body fat in obese patients with dampness-heat constitution. Methods A total of 60 obesity patients with dampness-heat constitution were enrolled in this study and randomly categorized into the control group ( n=30) and treatment group (n=30). Control group was given the diet and exercise regime, and treatment group was given Shanzha Xiaozhi capsule based on the same diet and exercise regime for 12 weeks. Scores of dampness-heat, body weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, blood pressure, blood glucose, serum lipid profile, urine acid (UA), fasting plasma insulin, serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, adiponectin, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), percentage and distribution of body fat were measured before and after treatment. Results (1) Data of scores of dampness-heat and diastolic blood pressure were significantly decreased after treatment in drug group. The above indexes and hip circumference were significantly decreased after the treatment in treatment group compared with those of control group ( P<0.05). (2) The triglyceride (TG), UA, insulin, HOMA-IR, LPS and IL-1βwere significantly decreased after the treatment in treatment group than those of control group, while there were no significant differences in fast blood glucose (FBG), 2 h postprandial plasma glucose (2 hPG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), TNF-α, IL-6 and adiponectin between two groups. (3) The percentage of visceral fat was significantly decreased in treatment group than that of control group. There were no significant differences in fat changes of limbs and buttocks between two groups. Conclusion Shanzha Xiaozhi capsule can decrease body weight and visceral fat content, reduce insulin resistance, and improve chronic inflammation state in obese patients with dampness- heat constitution.

Objective To investigate the effect of Shanzha Xiaozhi Capsules (SXC) on body weight, metabolic indexes, body fat accumulation and distribution of obesity patients with phlegm-dampness constitution. Methods Fifty obesity patients with phlegm-dampness constitution were randomized into control group and medicine group, 25 cases in each group. The control group was given lifestyle instructions for diet and exercises, and the medicine group was treated with SXC orally besides the instructions for lifestyle. The treatment for both groups covered 12 weeks. Before and after treatment, we observed the outcomes including scores of phlegm-dampness, body weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, serum lipid profile, urine acid, body fat accumulation and distribution, and visceral fat accumulation. Results(1) The scores of phlegm-dampness were decreased significantly in both groups after treatment (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the decrease was obvious in the medicine group(P<0.01).(2) Body weight and BMI were decreased significantly in both groups after treatment(P<0.01), and the decrease was obvious in the medicine group(P<0.05). Waist circumference was decreased significantly in the medicine group(P <0.05) but stayed unchanged in the control group(P>0.05). Hip circumference was decreased significantly in both groups(P <0.05 or P<0.01) , but the difference between the two groups was insignificant(P>0.05).(3) Systolic pressure and diastolic pressure were decreased significantly in both groups (P<0.01). But the difference of blood pressure decrease between the two groups was insignificant(P > 0.05).(4) Fasting blood glucose, 2-hour blood glucose after oral glucose tolerance test, serum lipid profile and urine acid remained unchanged in both groups after treatment (P>0.05). (5) The general body fat accumulation of both groups was decreased significantly after treatment (P <0.05 or P<0.01), and the decrease was obvious in the medicine group(P<0.01). Body fat accumulation in legs, trunk and gynoid region were decreased significantly in both groups after treatment(P<0.05 or P<0.01), but the difference of fat accumulation decrease between the two groups was insignificant(P>0.05). Waist fat accumulation had no significant decrease in the control group (P > 0 . 05), but was decreased in the medicine group (P<0.01). Visceral fat accumulation was decreased significantly in both groups after treatment(P<0.01), and the decrease was obvious in the medicine group (P<0.01). Conclusion In addition to its contribution to body weight loss, SXC also contribute to the reduction of visceral fat accumulation in obesity patients with phlegm-dampness constitution .

Objective To understand the current status of health knowledge demands and its associated factors in general population. Methods A questionnaire-based survey by convenience sampling method was carried out in 700 subjects aged over 15 years old in October 2014. Information of demographics and health knowledge demands were collected. Data was analyzed using SPSS 17.0. Results A total of 653 subjects were responded, with a response rate of 93.3%. Respondents in male and female were 339 (51.9%) and 314 (48.1%) respectively. There were no differences among age , educational levels and self-reported health status between the two genders 86.6% of the participants showed that they had interests in health knowledge. Educational level and age were the factors associated with the interests. 65.8% and 72.3% of people want to get practical health knowledge of western and traditional Chinese medicine respectively. The top concern of health issues were cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. For preferred ways of learning health knowledge , television is the favorite one (44%), especially in elderly (over 63.8%). A relative high option rate was newspaper and magazine in all age groups. However, young people showed that they preferred the ways of the internet and Wechat (about 50%). For health disseminators, the participants in all age had greatest trust in experts in large hospitals (over 60%). The second option was retired old experts. The experienced patients were convinced in some degree and increased with age. Conclusions In future, health education in general population should considered the characteristics of the population and the applicability of knowledge. Besides , it is necessary to integrate traditional Chinese medicine with Western medicine, traditional media with new media, also authoritative experts and living example.

Objective To understand the distribution and the characteristics on molecular typing of Salmonella (S.) typhimurium isolates gathered from the surveillance program and to construct the standard S.typhimurium databank in the laboratory through surveillance network PulseNet,in Guangdong province to improve the capability of detection on laboratory-based foodbome outbreaks.Methods With the application of standard pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multiple loci VNTR analysis (MLVA) including seven VNTRs loci protocols on PulseNet International Network,275 isolates of S.typhimurium from ten cities in Guangdong province were typed and their patterns analyzed.The molecular typing databank was constructed by BioNumerics.Results With S.typhimurium the most common serotypes,the average annual positive rate of Salmonella strains and S.typhimurium were 4.03％ and 1.38％ respectively.The positive rate and proportion presented a double-peak trend,appearing in May and September.The chromosomal DNA of S.typhimurium was digested with Xba Ⅰ restricted endonucleotidase and 124 PFGE patterns were observed after pulse-field gel electrophoresis,with the discrimination index (D) as 0.928 6.The patterns including more than three S.typhimurium isolates and were further digested with the second enzyme Bln Ⅰ to achieve 174 patterns,with the D value as 0.989 1.Under MLVA method,143 variant patterns were obtained,with the D value reaching 0.966 5.Data showed that the discriminatory ability of the MLVA typing method in S.typhimurium was superior to PFGE-Xba Ⅰ but equal to PFGE-Xba Ⅰ-Bln Ⅰ.In addition,when S.typhimurium strains were respectively analyzed by PFGE under double enzymes digestion and MLVA,the results appeared coincident and relative.Conclusion The variant patterns showed by the two molecular typing methods indicating a genetic diversity existed among the clinical S.typhimurium isolates in Guangdong province.Databank of S.typhimurium was constructed and could be used in laboratory surveillance programs.Under the characterization of analyzing similarity and evolution among S.typhimurium isolates,MLVA was suitable for cluster analysis on early detection of outbreaks caused by S.typhimurium.

Objective To explore the value of high frequency ultrasonography for the early diagnosis of hyperuricemia in patients with joint disease.Methods Ninety-eight patients with hyperuricemia and 100 healthy persons,according to with or without history of acute gout attack,were divided into symptomatic group,asymptomatic group and control group,whose first metatarsophalangeal joint,ankle and knee were examined by high frequency ultrasonography.Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis.Results ① The joint lesions detection rate in the symptomatic group,asymptomatic group and the control group was 57％ (13/23),16％ (12/75),0 (0/100) respectively.There was statistical significant difference between the symptomatic group and the asymptomatic group (x2=9.69,P＜0.05).② The symptomatic group had 29 joint involvement (29/138),including 25 at the first metatarsophalangeal joint,3 at the ankle and one at the knee joint.The asymptomatic group had 14 joints involved (14/450),which were all located at the first metatarsophalangeal joint.③ The sonographic appearance of the two groups of arthropathy were synovial thickening,effusion,crystal deposition andbone erosion.The symptoms group presented as tophi,and increased synovial blood flow.Conclusion Patients with asymptomatic hyperuricemia may have joint diseases.The joint disease detection rate of the symptomatic group is higher than that of the asymptomatic group.High frequency ultrasonography can be used a conventional imaging method for the screening of patients with hyperuricemia joint disease.The focus of the screening of asymptomatic patients is the first metatarsophalangeal joint.The focus of the screening of symptomatic patients is the first metatarsophalangeal joint and the joints that were attacked in the past history.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence and risk factors of hyperuricemia in the subjects undergoing routine physical examinations in Guangzhou.

METHODSThis study was conducted among 8302 subjects (5136 male and 3166 female) undergoing routine physical examinations in a hospital in Guangzhou during the period from October 1, 2010 and December 31, 2011. For all the subjects, such indices as body height, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, blood pressure, heart rate, and blood biochemistry were examined, and the body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio were calculated. The risk factors of hyperuricemia were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTSHyperuricemia was detected in 35.68% of the total subjects, and the detection rates were significantly higher in male than in female subjects (46.83% vs 17.59%, P<0.0001). Unconditional logistic regression analysis showed a significant correlation of hyperuricemia with age, sex, BMI, hypertension, waist-hip ratio, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified BMI, blood pressure, waist-hip ratio, hypertriglyceridemia, LDL, VLDL-C, creatinine, and urea nitrogen as the risk factors for hyperuricemia, and age and gender were negatively correlated with the incidence of hyperuricemia with OR values of 0.991 and 0.660, respectively.

CONCLUSIONHyperuricemia has a high prevalence in the subjects undergoing routine physical examinations in Guangzhou. The risk factors of hyperuricemia include hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, and elevations of BMI, waist-hip ratio, LDL, VLDL-C, creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen. Age and gender can be protective factors against hyperuricemia.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperuricemia ; epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Physical Examination ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the susceptibility of Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus to oral infection with bat Japanese encephalitis virus isolates (GD1 and HN2 strains).

METHODSAedes albopictus and Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus were infected orally by GD1 and HN2 strains of bat Japanese encephalitis virus. TaqMan real-time PCR was used to detect the virus and monitor the changes in the viral loads in Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus at a 2-day interval, starting from 4 days till 20 days after the infection.

RESULTSThe infected Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus were found positive for the Japanese encephalitis virus from day 4 to day 20. Both Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus were susceptible to infection by GD1 and HN2 strains, but the latter showed a greater susceptibility. The HN2 strain virus appeared to have a greater virulence than the GD1 strain.

CONCLUSIONAedes albopictus and Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus can carry GD1 and HN2 strains of bat Japanese encephalitis virus isolates.

Aedes ; virology ; Animals ; Chiroptera ; virology ; Culex ; virology ; Disease Susceptibility ; Encephalitis Virus, Japanese ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo provide an easy computational tool for evaluating the health condition of local residents.

METHODSAn abridged life table was programmed by applying mathematical functions and formula in Excel program and tested with the real study data to evaluate the results computed.

RESULTSThe Excel was capable of computing group death probability of age in the life table ((n)q(x)), number of survivors (l(x)), number of death ((n)d(x)), survival per person-year ((n)L(x)), survival total per person-year (T(x)) and life expectancy (e(x)). The calculated results were consistent with those by SAS.

CONCLUSIONThe abridged life table constructed using Microsoft Excel can conveniently and accurately calculate the relevant indices for evaluating the health condition of the residents.

Humans ; Life Expectancy ; Life Tables ; Software

Objective To explore the behavioral patterns of middle school students and provide basis for unintentional injury prevention in these students.Methods 171 injury students and 171 normal students as controls were evaluated by Youth Self-Report(YSR),and mean scores were compared between the two groups by t Test.Logistic regressions were performed to analyze the relationship between injury students and behavioral problems.Results The rate was higher in injury group(15.79%) than in control group(8.19%).The score of injury group of boys was higher than thar of control group(t=2.942,P=0.004);the score of injury group of girls was higher than thar in control group(t=3.766,P=0.000).Multi-factor Logistic regression analysis showed that attention-deficit(OR=5.376),the problem of thinking(OR=3.672),social problems(OR=2.204) and friendly fellows' action was a risk factor.Conclusions There is a significant effect of the behavior of students and fellow students on the injury to students.

Objective To predict and screen the B-cell epitopes on nucleoprotein(NP)of human avian H5N1 virus strain.Methods As NP nucleotide sequences of strain A/GD/01/06(H5N1)were sequenced,B-cell epitopes were predicted by the analysis of the flexible regions of secondary structure for NPprotein and by screening on B-cell epitopes for NP protein with methods of Hydrophilicity Plot by KyteDoolittle,Surface Probability Plot by Emini,and Antigenic Index by Jameson-Wolf.Then a screening method was established by Hierarchical cluster,Bivariate correlate and Quartiles in SPSS13.0.and the variation of amino acids in NP protein was appraised in epitope prediction.Resuits The computer-predicted most possible epitopes for NP protein were located within or nearby its N-terminal 317-326,452-457,467-473,367-370,491-498,375-378,171-177,48-53,245-250.76-104 and so on.NP protein in A/GD/01/06(H5N1)increased a glycoprotein domain(NES368-370)by the substitution of N370S and changed the bio-features.Conclusion Stepwise prediction of the B-cell epitopes for the NP protein based on multiple parameters is helpful for the molecular-immunology and drug-screening,and the substitution of N370 S in NP of A/GD/01/06(H5N1)varied its antigenicity but didn't change the epitope size(SNEN367-370).