Spatial distribution of liver cancer incidence in shenqiu county, henan province, china: a spatial analysis / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

Liver cancer is a common and leading cause of cancer death in China. We used the cancer registry data collected from 2009 to 2011 to describe the spatial distribution of liver cancer incidence at village level in Shengqiu county, Henan province, China. Spatial autocorrelation analysis was employed to detect significant differences from a random spatial distribution of liver cancer incidence. Spatial scan statistics were used to detect and evaluate the clusters of liver cancer cases. Spatial clusters were mapped using ArcGIS 10.0 software in order to identify their physical location at village level. High cluster areas of liver cancer incidence were observed in 26 villages of 7 towns and low cluster areas were observed in 16 villages of 4 towns. High cluster areas of liver cancer incidence were distributed along the Sha Ying River which is the largest of tributary of the Huai River. Role of water pollution in Shenqiu County where the high cluster was found deserves further investigation.

Using interrupted time series design to analyze changes in hand, foot, and mouth disease incidence during the declining incidence periods of 2008-2010 in China / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify patterns of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) incidence in China during declining incidence periods of 2008, 2009, and 2010.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Reported HFMD cases over a period of 25 months were extracted from the National Disease Reporting System (NDRS) and analyzed. An interrupted time series (ITS) technique was used to detect changes in HFMD incidence rates in terms of level and slope between declining incidence periods of the three years.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Over 3.58 million HFMD cases younger than 5 years were reported to the NDRS between May 1, 2008, and May 31, 2011. Males comprised 63.4% of the cases. ITS analyses demonstrated a significant increase in incidence rate level (P<0.0001) when comparing the current period with the previous period. There were significant changes in declining slopes when comparing 2010 to 2009, and 2010 to 2008 (all P<0.005), but not 2009 to 2008.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Incremental changes in incidence rate level during the declining incidence periods of 2009 and 2010 can potentially be attributed to a few factors. The more steeply declining slope in 2010 compared with previous years could be ascribed to the implementation of more effective interventions and preventive strategies in 2010. Further investigation is required to examine this possibility.</p>

Spatial clustering and changing trend of hand-foot-mouth disease during 2008-2011 in China / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective The purpose of this study was to explore the spatial clustering,specific clustering areas,as well as changing trend of clustering areas of hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD).Methods Exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) was used to conduct spatial statistical analyses for the HFMD using 2008-2011 data at both provincial and county/district levels.Results The Global Moran' s I coefficients appeared to be 0.3336,0.6074,0.3372,0.4620 and 0.4367 for 2008-2011and for the combined 4 years,respectively.The corresponding P-values were 0.002,0.001,0.004,0.001 and 0.001 respectively,when using the Monte Carlo tests with all the P-values less than 0.05.Moran' s Ⅰ coefficients ranged between 0.3 and 0.7,showing the appearance of moderate or higher clustering nature.Based on the results from nationwide analyses on clustering areas at the county/district levels between 2008 and 2011 (Moran' s I=0.5198,P=0.001),it appeared a moderate clustering nature.When local autocorrelation analysis was applied at the provincial level,3 hot spot areas in Beijing,Tianjin and Shanghai cities in 2008；7 hot spot areas in Beijing,Tianjin,Hebei,Shanxi,Shanghai,Jiangsu and Shandong in 2009; four hot spot areas:Beijing,Tianjin,Guangdong and Guangxi; five hot spot areas:Fujian,Jiangxi,Hunan,Guangdong and Guangxi in 2011,were discovered.390 hot-spot counties/districts were found through local autocorrelation analyses using the three-year data of 2008 to 2010.Conclusion Spatial clustering nature of HFMD incidence between 2008 and 2011 in China appeared to be moderate or high,with the clustered areas a north to south shifting trend.However,further investigation was in need to address this changing trend.