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Objective: To explore the sound insulation, sound absorption and other noise reduction transformation methods in a noise workshop handover control room. Methods: In December 2021, through the occupational health investigation and on-site testing of the handover control room of a noise workshop, the causes of excessive noise were analyzed, and the transformation design scheme to reduce noise was proposed and the effect was analyzed. Results: Before the transformation, the peak frequency band noise intensity of the noise workshop handover control room was 112.8 dB (A), and the peak frequency was 1000 Hz. After noise reduction, the theoretical calculated control value was 61.0 dB (A), and the measured noise intensity was 59.8 dB (A) . Conclusion: The noise intensity of the handover control room is reduced after noise reduction, which is in line with the contact limit requirements of the control room in GBZ 1-2010 "Hygienic Standards for the Design of Industrial Enterprises", and has reference significance for noise control engineering.
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Noise/prevention & control , Occupational Health , Industry , Reference Standards , Hygiene , Noise, Occupational/prevention & controlABSTRACT
Objective@#To investigate the clinical characteristics and treatment options for otogenic intracranial infections.@*Method@#Clinical records of all the patients of otogenic intracranial infections admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University from 2008 to 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Their clinical presentations, radiological findings, culture results, and medical and surgical therapy modalities, as well as treatment outcomes were studied.@*Results@#Sixteen cases were identified. The majority of the otogenic patients had a history of cholesteatoma, other rare events included congenital cerebrospinal fluid otorhinorrhea, Gorham-Stout disease and after radiation therapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Meningitis, cerebral venous thrombosis and brain abscess were the primary intracranial infection. Eight patients had received modified radical mastoidectomy at least one time. Results of routine culture for cerebrospinal and pus samples had high negative rate. All patients received initial empirical broadspectrum intravenous antibiotics therapy. Four cases of brain abscesses were drained or excised at the same time for otologic surgery. The mortality rate was 6.25% (1 case).@*Conclusions@#Cholesteatoma is still the most commonly primary disease of otogenic intracranial complications. Diagnosis and treatment of otogenic intracranial infections require multidisciplinary cooperation. Surgical intervention for primary ear lesions and intracranial abscess is still the main option in the treatment of otogenic intracranial infections.
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Objective To explore the outcome and its influencing factors of the Multi - drug resistant tuberculosis(MDR -TB)patients with community management,and to provide the scientific basis for the further implementation of the community management of MDR - TB patients. Methods Retrospective study was conducted on MDR - TB patients diagnosed and treated with MDR - TB from January 2009 to June 2012 and the patientsˊ willingness and influence factors of outcome in community management were analyzed. Results 220 MDR - TB patients were under community management and the cute rate was 65. 91% . The cure rate of patients with degree in college or above ,occupation for workers,new type of patients,patients with no adverse reactions during drug injection therapy was relatively high. The cure rate of the patients who injected in home(86. 67% )was higher than who injected in community(68. 15% )and others (54. 84% ). The cure rate of the patients whose injection distance from home ≤5 km(67. 74% )was higher than whose injection distance from home ﹥ 5 km(36. 36% ). The cure rate of the patients with community doctor/ nurse follow - up management(70. 39% )was higher than those who without community doctor/ nurse follow - up management(55. 88% ). Through the analysis of needs for the community management,the results showed that 65. 91% of the patients were willing to accept the injection in the community,and 94. 09% patients chose medication at home. Conclusion The cute rate of MDR - TB patients should be improved in community management . In the future ,we should pay more attention to the patientsˊ needs in the development of community management for MDR - TB patients according to the actual situation,and to further strengthen the psychological support and community care for MDR - TB patients.
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<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Screening on multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) has been limited to the serious TB subpopulations excluding the new TB patients. This study aimed to examine MDR-TB burden among the new TB patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We conducted a study in Zhejiang Province during 2009-2013 to screen for MDR-TB patients among the low MDR-TB risk patients and five subpopulations of high MDR-TB risk patients. The number, prevalence, and trend of MDR-TB were compared while the logistic regression model was used to examine risk factors related to MDR-TB.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 200 and 791 MDR-TB cases were, respectively, identified from the 9830 new TB cases and 2372 high-risk suspects who took MDR-TB screening from 2009 to 2013. The MDR-TB rates went down in both of the new TB patients and five MDR-TB high-risk groups over the study time, but the percentage of MDR-TB patients identified from the new TB patients in all diagnosed MDR-TB cases kept stable from 28.3% in 2011 to 27.0% in 2012 to 26.0% in 2013.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The study indicated that MDR-TB burden among new TB patients was high, thus screening for MDR-TB among the new TB patients should be recommended in China as well as in the similar situation worldwide.</p>
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Objective To evaluate epidemiological capacity of infectious disease in institutions of disease control and prevention,and to improve the ability of infectious disease control and prevention. Methods Questionnaires of epidemiological capacity of infectious disease evaluation in institutions of disease control and prevention which contained surveillance analysis,emergency response,plan system and so on were used to evaluate epidemiological capacity of infectious disease in all of city,district or county level of center for disease control and prevention in Ningbo,Shaoxing, Quzhou.The degree of attainment for the ability or (and)resources was divided into vary bad,bad,average,and good. Descriptive epidemiological methods were used to perform analysis and evaluation.Results The capability for monitoring notifiable infectious diseases reaching to good was 1 9 (76.00%),greater than that in non -statutory communicable diseases 2 (8.00%). Twenty four (96.00%) institutions reported that the most important factor limiting the epidemiological capacity of infectious disease was lack of human resources,and 20 (80.00%)of institutions supported infectious disease epidemiology staff to publish articles in academic journals,but scientific research ability reaching to good was 3(1 2.00%).Training subordinate institution capacity reaching to good was 1 0(40.00%),with 2 (8.00%)reporting very bad.Most abilities were not significant across different regions,only significant in non -statutory communicable diseases surveillance (χ2 =7.04,P =0.03).Conclusion Institutions of disease control and prevention had a certain epidemiological capacity of infectious disease,and almost balance in different regions.For further enhancing the ability,it is necessary to increase the number of personnel,and to improve the ability of education and training.
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Objective Toinvestigatethestatusoftick-borneRickettsiaeinfectionsamongmurine-likeanimalsin differentareasofZhejiangprovince.Methods Liverandspleensamplesofmurine-likeanimalscapturedthroughnight trapping method were collected from Anji,Jinhua and Tiantai County according to their geographic locations and historical detection of Rickettsiae .Nest-PCR tests were used to determine the presence of the 16S rRNA genes of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia ,and the heat shock protein genes (groEL)of Rickettsiae (including typhus and spotted fever group)and Orientiainthesesamples.Results Atotalof851murine-likeanimalsbelongingto14specieswerecaptured.The predominant species were Rattus confucianus (30.32%),Apodemus agrarius (18.80%) and Thallomys paedulcus (1 1.75%)and they were significantly different among three areas (P<0.05 ).48 Rickettsia positive were found in 562 tested samples with the positive rate of 8.54%,among which the percentage of Anaplasma,typhus group Rickettsia, Orientia,Ehrlichia and spotted fever group Rickettsia were 3.38%,1.78%,1.78%,1.07% and 0.53% respectively. The positive rates of Anaplasma in Jindong (4.76%)and Anji (4.27%)were significantly higher than that in Tiantai (P<0.05 )while the spotted fever group Rickettsia were found only in Tiantai County.Moreover,Rattus confucianus-the predominant species of Zhejiang Province-had the highest infection rate of tick-borne Rickettsiae up to 14.97%.Co-infections with several Rickettsiae were existed among the same species.Conclusion Rickettsiae infections exist widely among different areas of Zhejiang province and the positive rates are significantly different among species.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the clinical spectrum, geographic location of human H7N9 avian influenza as well as the characteristics of population at high risk of infection, in order to develop strategies for the prevention and control of the infection. Clinical and epidemiological characteristics on the 6 confirmed human cases in Zhejiang were also analyzed.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR was used to test the nucleic acid of human H7N9 avian influenza infection, from pharyngeal swabs of the patients and their close contacts. Face to face interview and descriptive method were used to collect related clinical and epidemiological data. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS 17.0.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Six confirmed cases were distributed in Hangzhou and Huzhou cities. The 6 confirmed human cases, including 5 males and 1 female were all confirmed with novel influenza A (H7N9) virus infection, with an average age as 60.83 years (with median as 64.50 years). Cough was the most common initial symptom to be noticed. The clinical manifestations would include fever, dizziness, pain of muscles, coughing, expectoration and short of breath. All the X-ray chest films showed severe pneumonia, and 5 of them having had other chronic diseases. None of the cases admitted to have had a history of exposure to ill/death avians. However, all of the cases had been frequently exposed to the agricultural-byproduct-trading-markets where the positive rate of novel influenza A (H7N9) virus in environmental specimens was up to 43.21%. 32 of the 375 close contacts (8.53%) to the 6 cases appeared abnormal symptoms, but no positive result related to novel influenza A (H7N9) virus nucleic acid was detected from their throat swabs.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acute infection on the respiratory system seemed the main clinical manifestation. Elderly men, especially those with chronic diseases were under high risk of human infection with H7N9 avian influenza. The source of infection might be associated with the exposure to poultry. There was still lack of evidence to confirm the route of person to person transmission on H7N9 avian influenza.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , China , Epidemiology , Influenza A Virus, H7N9 Subtype , Influenza, Human , Epidemiology , VirologyABSTRACT
This paper is aimed to evaluate the accuracy and influence factors about quantitative assessment of valve regurgitation using flow convergence (FC) method with real-time tri-plane echocardiography. By an in vitro model made by ourselves we observed the areas of the FC of the regurgitant orifice under different diameters with the real-time tri-plane echocardiography. The effective regurgitant orifice areas (EROA) and the flow rate were calculated under different pressure gradients, instrument gain and color Doppler surveying range. The results were compared with the real size of the regurgitation orifice and flow rate. In 4mm, 6mm, and 8mm diameter of the regurgitant orifice, the instrument gain and color Doppler surveying rage have not significant influence on the measurement result of flow rate (P = 0.384, P = 0.903). But the measurement result of flow rate was increased following the pressure gradient augment (P = 0.00). While in the regurgitant orifice with diameter 2mm the measurement result of flow rate was influenced by the instrument gain but was not influenced by the pressure gradient or color Doppler surveying range (P = 0.55, P = 0.39). The measurement result of EROA was correlated well with the real regurgitant orifice area (r = 0.99). Using FC method with real-time tri-plane echocardiography to quantitatively assess the valvular regurgitation is simple and feasible. But it should be noted that the pressure gradient and diameter of regurgitant orifice have shown their influence on the results.
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Humans , Blood Flow Velocity , Physiology , Blood Volume , Physiology , Computer Simulation , Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional , Methods , Heart Valve Diseases , Diagnostic Imaging , Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted , Methods , Models, CardiovascularABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the seroprevalence of tick-borne diseases in humans and domestic animals from rural areas of Zhejiang province. Methods Anji county, Jindong district and Tiantai county were selected for samples collection according to their geographic locations and historical prevalence of tick-borne diseases. Blood samples of humans and domestic animals were collected in the three sites. An indirect immuno-fluorescent antibody test was used to determine the presence of IgG antibodies of Rickettsiae heilongjiangii, Orientia tsutsugamushi, R. typhi, Anaplasma phagocytos, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Bartonella, R. hainan and Coxiella burnetii in these samples.Results Six hundred and eighty-three blood samples including 579 from humans and 104 from domestic animals(53 from cattles and 51 from sheep)were collected from the three sites. Antibody positive rates of Orientia tsutsugamushi, R. typhi, Ehrlichia chaffeensis and Coxiella burnetii were significantly different between these sites. IgG from all the 8 pathogens were detected in samples from humans. It was found that the sero-prevalence rates of R. typhi, Bartonella and C. burnetii(20.7%,10.9%, 5.5%)of adults were higher than those of other Rickettsiae under investigation. The seroprevalence of R. typhi increased along with age. IgG from the 7 pathogens were detected in samples from domestic animals except for Anaplasma phagocytos. The sero-prevalence rates of R. typhi, Bartonella and R. hainan(69.2%, 51.0%, 22.1%)of adults were higher than those of other Rickettsiae investigated. Conclusion Tick-borne diseases did spread widely in humans and domestic animals from different rural areas of Zhejiang province. The sero-prevalence rates of R. typhi,B. henselae, R. hainan and C. burnetii were higher than that from other pathogens.
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Objective To study the status on economic burden of diarrhea in Zhejiang province so as to provide evidence for allocation of health resource as well as decision-making on health issues. Methods Multi-phases stratified random cluster sampling was used to select samples in the population. Data was collected on the incidence of diarrhea in the last two weeks as well as on the related cost due to medical care etc. Results The overall incidence (person per year) of diarrhea was 0.26, with 0.29 in the rural and 0.22 in the urban areas respectively. The incidence of diarrhea in children less than 5 was 0.66 (person per year), higher than in any of the age groups. The average direct cost of medical treatment was 69.23 Yuan with average direct cost of non-medical care was 8.29 Yuan for every person, while the indirect cost was 48.43 Yuan. in conclusion, the average disease burden of diarrhea in the province was 1.697 billion Yuan per year, which accounted for 1%o of the GDP, with 1.217 billion Yuan in rural area and 0.480 billion Yuan in the urban areas respectively. The direct cost of medical care was 0.886 billion Yuan (52.21%) and the direct cost due to non-medical care was 0.124 billion Yuan (7.31%). The indirect cost appeared to be 0.480 billion Yuan (40.48%). Factors that affecting the cost would relate to: severity of diarrhea, medical insurance, location of residential area, age and education background of the patients, etc. Conclusion Programs on diarrhea prevention and control should be strengthened to reduce the economic burden caused by this disease while special attention should be paid to those children who are under 5 years of age and living in the rural areas.
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<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Left atrial enlargement has been suggested as a more robust marker of diastolic dysfunction. We hypothesize that the ratio of left atrial volume to left ventricular volume (LAV/LVV) may be more reasonable to reflect left atrial enlargement in the patients with hypertension, because hypertensive patients have a characteristic of concentric remodeling of the left ventricle which is often accompanied with diastolic dysfunction. The aim of this study was to determine if the LAV/LVV can be used as a new parameter to assess left atrial size in hypertensive patients and the relationship between the LAV/LVV and diastolic dysfunction.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety-one patients with hypertension and forty-three normal controls were studied. The hypertensive patients were assigned to the normal wall (NW) and hypertrophic wall (HW) groups. The left atrial diameter (LAD), LAV, left atrial volume index (LAVi), LVV and LAV/LVV were measured and calculated by 2-dimensional echocardiography and real time 3-dimensional echocardiography. All of the above parameters were used to evaluate the size of the left atrium. The ratio of peak E velocity of mitral valve inflow to peak E' velocity of lateral mitral annulus (E/E') was measured by pulse Doppler and tissue Doppler. This parameter was used to evaluate diastolic function.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The LAD, LAV, LAVi, LAV/LVV and E/E' in hypertensive groups were significantly higher than those in the normal group (P < 0.05 or 0.01), and those in the HW group were significantly higher than those in the NW group (P < 0.05 or 0.01). The E/E' had a positive correlation with LAV, LAVi and LAV/LVV. The correlation coefficient between E/E' and LAV/LVV was relatively higher than that between E/E' and LAD or LAVi.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>LAV/LVV may be used as a new index to evaluate left atrial size in hypertensive patients with diastolic dysfunction.</p>
Subject(s)
Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Diastole , Heart Atria , Diagnostic Imaging , Pathology , Heart Ventricles , Diagnostic Imaging , Pathology , Hypertension , Diagnostic Imaging , Pathology , Ultrasonography , Ventricular Function, LeftABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the movement function of the left ventricular short-axis with parameters (velocity, acceleration and relatively force) measured with improved anatomical M-mode ultrasound. Methods Sixteen patients with myocardial ischemia coronary heart disease who had taken percutaneous transluminal coronary intervention (PCI) were enrolled. All patients were divided into two groups: group A, single major vascular stenosis (n=8);group B, more major vascular stenosis (n=8). M-mode curves of short-axis sections at mitral valve level, papillary level and apical level were recorded, then the peak myocardial velocities, acceleration and force of the systolic phase, early-diastole phase and end-diastole phase were measured at the post processing station. Results The variety ranges of average velocity and acceleration of the three levels during systolic phase were higher than that during diastole phase. The changing rate of velocity and acceleration in group B was higher than that in group A. Conclusion The new parameters that are measured and calculated with anatomical M-mode ultrasound can reflect the movement functions of coronary heart disease patients taken PCI.
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<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Noise is widespread occupational hazard in iron and steel industry. Overhead-traveling cranes are widely used in this industry, but few studies characterized the overhead-traveling crane drivers' noise exposure level so far. In this study, we assessed and characterized personal noise exposure levels of overhead-traveling crane drivers in two steel-rolling mills.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and twenty-four overhead-traveling crane drivers, 76 in the cold steel-rolling mill and 48 in the hot steel-rolling mill, were enrolled in the study. Personal noise dosimeters (AIHUA Instruments Model AWA5610e, Hangzhou, China) were used to collect full-shift noise exposure data from all the participants. Crane drivers carried dosimeters with microphones placed near their collars during the work shifts. Work logs had been taken by the drivers simultaneously. Personal noise exposure data were divided into segments based on lines in which they worked. All statistical analyses were done using SPSS 13.0.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average personal noise exposure (L(Aeq.8h)) of overhead-traveling crane drivers in the hot steel-rolling mills ((85.03 +/- 2.25) dB (A)) was higher than that in the cold one ((83.05 +/- 2.93) dB (A), P < 0.001). There were 17 overhead traveling cranes in the hot steel-rolling mill and 24 cranes in the cold one, of which carrying capacities varied from 15 tons to 100 tons. The average noise exposure level based on different lines in the hot and cold steel-rolling mills were (85.2 +/- 2.61) dB (A) and (83.3 +/- 3.10) dB (A) respectively (P = 0.001), which were similar to the average personal noise exposure in both mills. The noise exposure levels were different among different lines (P = 0.021).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Noise exposure levels, depending upon background noise levels and the noise levels on the ground, are inconstant. As the noise exposure levels are above the 85 dB (A) criteria, these drivers should be involved in the Hearing Conservation Program to protect their hearing.</p>
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Female , Humans , Male , Environmental Monitoring , Methods , Noise, Occupational , Noise, Transportation , Occupational Exposure , Occupational Health , SteelABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To examine vibrio cholera (V.C) in aquatic products of littoral area, Zhejiang Province and to provide scientific evidence for administration of aquatic products and cholera epidemic control.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>All 990 samples of aquatic products collected from local markets, eateries and aquafarms in three chosen areas. Samples were proliferated in alkaline liquid medium, and purified in NO: 4 medium, the isolations were identified biochemically, and phenotype of strains were defined by phagocyte and coagulation with V.C. diagnostic serum. Three virulence genes (ctx, ace, zct) of the isolated strains were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were 1.41% samples caught by V.C., having a carrying rate highest in turtles of 8.9%. 14 strains were defined as three serogroups, and the numbers of Inaba, Ogawa, and Hikojima types were 2, 2, 10 respectively. Virulence genes had detected in 9 of 12 stains. All genes were detected in 5 strains, only ZOT genes in 3 strains, and both CTX and ACE genes in 1 strain.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Aquatic products from inshore in Zhejiang Province caught with V.C. strains might be divided into three serogroups. Most of them should be virulence genes. Cholera epidemic outbreak might be caused by those contaminated products.</p>
Subject(s)
China , Food Microbiology , Genes, Bacterial , Seafood , Microbiology , Vibrio cholerae , Genetics , Virulence Factors , GeneticsABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the risk factors involved in the typhoon episodes and to put forward and evaluate the intervention measures.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We defined a confirmed injury case as: 'a person with fall,scalpel and stab, collision, drowning, injuries and trauma due to flying debris and building collapse, asphyxiation due to entrapment in collapsed buildings by typhoon from 0 am,August 12 to 6 pm, August 14 2004' and a death case as: 'a person with fall, scalpel and stab, collision, drowning, injuries and trauma due to flying debris and building collapse, asphyxiation due to entrapment in collapsed buildings by typhoon from 0 am, August 12 to 12 am, August 18 2004'. We investigated all hospitalized injured cases in ten hospitals and telephoned to those who were not hospitalized and the cases of death. We did case-control study with 1 pair versus 2 cases. 74 cases were selected in ten hospitals. The controls were neighbors of the controls matched by occupation, sex, village, and within 5 years of age without injury in this typhoon. We asked the cases and the controls on their alertness regarding typhoon and what actions taken when typhoon arrived.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were 392 injury cases in all ten hospitals and 50 death cases. The attack rate of injury was 27.3 per 100 000. The fatal rate was 11.3% with the death rate 3.1 per 100 000. We investigated 209 injury cases and 31 death cases. The number of cases who were injured from 1 to 6 hours before typhoon landing accounted for 64.6% (155) of all cases. The peak of epidemic curve was 4 hours before the landing of typhoon. Data on the analysis of 74 cases and 148 controls revealed that 42% (31) of the cases were outside their homes before and during typhoon compared to 15% (22) of the controls (OR = 3.9, 95% CI: 1.9-7.7). Compared with 20% (30) control persons (OR = 17,95% CI: 4.2-68). 28% (21) cases did not receive the alert of typhoon before it arrived compared with 18% (27) control persons (OR = 3.3, 95% CI:1.3-8.6). 53% (39) of the cases did not pay attention to the alert of typhoon before typhoon arrived.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Staying outdoor, not receiving or did not take seriously about the alert of typhoon seemed to be the risk factors of injury by the typhoon episode, suggesting that the government should increase the emergency preparedness and to raise the awareness on risks associated with typhoon.</p>
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Humans , Cause of Death , China , Epidemiology , Cyclonic Storms , Hospitalization , Risk Factors , Wounds and Injuries , Epidemiology , MortalityABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To measure and evaluate the personal noise exposure of cold rolling mill workers by using noise dosimeter.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>According to job category and work type, all workers were divided into 11 groups. 3 to 5 day shift (8:00 to 16:00) workers from each group were selected as subjects for personal noise exposure measurement. SH-126 dosimeters were worn by each subject and collect noise data by a phone fix at collar. All subjects were asked to take notes about their working activities when they were wearing SH-126 dosimeters. Each worker's L(A)(eq) of 8 hours, geometric mean and range of each group were computed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were many noise sources in the workshop. Recorded data showed that noise exposure of cold rolling mill was unstable. The varieties of personal noise levels were quite large. Among 53 workers, the highest noise exposure level was 100.0 dB (A), the lowest was 81.2 dB (A); the highest work type was of the foreside welders [94.20 dB (A)], and the lowest was of the straight-cutters [89.02 dB (A)]; quality checkers had the biggest rang [16.3 dB (A)], and primary rolling workers had the lest [2.3 dB (A)].</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Noise exposure of all the 11 groups were more than 85 dB (A). Noise protection of these workers should be improved. It suggested that measuring personal noise exposure individually with dosimeters might obtain the noise exposure level more integrally in the complicated environment.</p>
Subject(s)
Humans , Environmental Monitoring , Methods , Noise, Occupational , Occupational ExposureABSTRACT
Two hundred thirty specimens of wild birds were collected from some areas in Heilongjiang Province during the period of 2003~2004, including two batches of specimens collected randomly from a same flock of mallards in Zhalong Natural Reserve in August and December, 2004, respectively. Primary virus isolation and identification for avian influenza virus (AIV) and Newcastle disease virus (NDV) were performed. The results showed that only two specimens of young mallards collected from Zhalong Natural Reserve in August, 2004 were positive to AIV (isolation rate 0.9%), and one strain (D57) of these two virus isolates was identified to be H9 subtype by hemagglutination inhibition test. Meanwhile, the two batches of blood serum samples of mallards from Zhalong were also examined for antibodies against AIV and NDV. Among 38 blood serum samples collected in August, antibodies against the hemagglutinin of H1, H3, H5, H6 and H9 subtypes of AIV were found in 1, 0, 2, 0 and 8 samples, respectively; and 11 samples were found with antibody against NDV. Whereas the NDV isolation in both two batches of specimens of mallard was negative, all of the 32 blood serum samples collected in December were negative for antibodies against AIV and NDV.
Subject(s)
Animals , Animals, Wild/virology , Antibodies, Viral , Birds/virology , China/epidemiology , Hemagglutination Tests , Influenza A virus , Influenza in Birds/epidemiology , Newcastle Disease/epidemiology , Newcastle disease virus , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain ReactionABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the protein and mRNA expression patterns of apoptosis-related genes, together with evidence of apoptosis, in relation to experimental autoimmune inner ear disease (AIED).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Male C57BL/6 mice at 4 weeks age (n = 80) were randomly assigned to one of the five group (n = 16). The inbred mice were given a single subcutaneous injection of diluted solution of pertussis and an emulsion containing equal parts of complete Freund adjuvant (CFA) and inner ear antigens (IEAg) extracted form guinea pig. The animals were sacrificed for inner ear examination at a defined time after the immunization (7, 14, 21 or 28 days). An autoimmune inner ear diseases model was established. Apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate (d-UTP) nick end-laying (TUNEL) method. Using immunohistochemical techniques and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction to clarify the profile of Fas, FasL, and bcl-2.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Under normal conditions, no TUNEL-positive cell was observed in the cochlea except for a few positive cells in the supporting cells of Corti's organ and macula sacculi. Inner ear antigens administration induced TUNEL-positive reactions in a wide variety of cells such as inner hair cells, supporting cells, stria vascularis and spiral ligament fibrocytes. No positive staining was evident in outer hair cells, spiral ganglion cells and Scarpa's ganglion cells during the whole period. Fas proteins were expressed in a wide range of cells in inner ear. The levels of Fas mRNA were no significant differences between normal and AIED mice. FasL and bcl-2 proteins could be detected in spiral ganglion cells and Scarpa's ganglion cells both in normal and AIED mice. FasL positive cells increased in number in inner ear of AIED mice. bcl-2 positive cells were not detectable in inner hair cells, stria vascularis and spiral ligament both in normal and AIED mice. The mRNA of three kinds of apoptosis-related genes was detectable in the normal and AIED mice. FasL mRNA was expressed at low levels in normal, being maximal at 14 d post inoculation and decreased gradually to steady levels by 2 weeks. The levels of bcl-2 mRNA increased significantly during the period of AIED.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Apoptosis mediated by Fas/FasL signal system may play a role in the initiation and maintenance of AIED. bcl-2 has a crucial role in the regulation of the process of apoptosis in the inner ear of AIED mice.</p>