Association of depression with inflammation in hospitalized patients of myocardial Infarction

The aim of this study was to examine the associations between depression and inflammatory markers in patients admitted to the hospital for myocardial infarction. Inflammatory cytokines, including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP], interleukin [IL]-1beta, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-alpha] were assessed in a group of 75 depressed participants [score of >/= 12] and compared to a control group of 75 nondepressed participants [score < 12], all who had been admitted to the hospital for myocardial infarction. The presence of depressive symptoms was assessed using the Beck Depressive Symptoms Inventory II Scale [BDI-II]. Depressed myocardial infarction participants had significantly greater levels of TNF-alpha [t = 2.070, P < 0.05] compared with control myocardial infarction participants. The BDI-II score was positively correlated with TNF-alpha levels [r = 0.222, P < 0.05]. These results indicate that the presence of depressive symptoms is positively associated with TNF-alpha levels among patients who have suffered from myocardial infarction

Effect of plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine 23(rd) year after a full course of vaccination in healthy young children / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The aim of the study was to evaluate the anti-HBs persistence and the long term preventive efficacy after vaccination 23 years with plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The study consisted of 261 children who were 5 - 9 years aged, from two primary schools in two townships of Xi'an. 126 children were randomly selected as vaccine group, and 135 children in control group. These children were followed up again in 2009. Excluding self-inoculation, the vaccine and control groups were 81 and 75, who was used to ask to recall details of their experience for vaccination and liver-related illnesses during past twelve years. Individuals who had anti-HBs titers less 10 mIU/ml, HBsAg, anti-HBc and HBV-DNA all were negative, were given a booster dose vaccine and retest for anti-HBs titer after one month.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After eliminated the interference of an early booster dose and vaccination outside the study, the positive rate of anti-HBs was 48.1% (39/81) in the vaccine group at year 23, higher than 34.7% (26/75) in control group. At year 23 after primary vaccination, 84.0% (21/25) individuals in the vaccine group whose anti-HBs and anti-HBc both are negative showed a stronger anamnestic response after received a booster dose, while 7.5% (3/40) in the control group. At year 23 after primary vaccination, none clinical case of hepatitis B was found among 194 individuals. However, anti-HBc positive rate in the vaccine group was 16.0% (13/81), while the rate in the control group was 30.7% (23/75) (χ(2) = 4.687, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>At 23 years after implemented a full course of plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine, the recipients of vaccine were maintained anti-HBs at a high level or strong immunological memory.</p>

Evaluation of the questionnaire for subhealth status survey based on the symptoms in traditional Chinese medicine / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the reliability and validity of the questionnaire we designed for subhealth status survey based on the symptoms described in traditional Chinese medicine.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>By on-the-spot investigation, the recovery rate of the questionnaires was 96.3% and the response rate of the items was 97.2%.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Internal consistency reliability coefficient of the questionnaire was high (0.9274-0.9676), and each item was closely associated with its related factors (with Spearman coefficient mostly above 0.6 except for that for bodily symptoms in female). Factor loading was approximately consistent with the structure and content of the questionnaire.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This subhealth status questionnaire can be reliable and effective.</p>

Analysis of clinical manifestations of subheath status in a medical college of Guangdong Province / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the clinical manifestation of subhealth status in teachers and medical staff.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>An on-the-spot investigation was conducted in 891 personnel of a medical college using a self-designed subhealth questionnaire. The diagnostic criteria for subhealth status were formulated on the basis of literature review and expert counseling. The results were analyzed by frequency analysis and multiple-factor logistic analyses.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total subhealth incidence was 57.2 %, and the clinical manifestations included many symptoms of the body, psychology and society. Multiple-factor logistic analysis revealed the most common clinical manifestations of subhealth status including ademonia, weariness, insomnia, waist and back pain, frequent sighs, eye dryness, inattention, irritability, foot and hand coldness, vulnerability to common cold etc.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The clinical manifestations of sub-health status complex.</p>

A five-year observation on efficacy of revaccination in children of non-response to hepatitis B vaccine / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To evaluate the long-term efficacy of revaccination in non-responder children to primary hepatitis B (HB) vaccination and to compare the efficacy of low-dose intradermal inoculation to that of routine-dose intramuscular inoculation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>40 healthy non-responder children to primary HB vaccination identified by screening were given a three-dose revaccination randomly by intramuscular (n = 17, 10 microg per dose) or intradermal route (n = 23, 2 microg per dose) since September, 1999, and their blood specimens were collected regularly for testing for HB virus markers up to five years. Another 80 responder children to primary HB vaccination were also followed-up as controls without revaccination. By the end of five-year follow-up, HBsAg-specific lymphocyte response was investigated in vitro, and a booster dose (5 microg) was given to those with negative conversion of anti-HBs and their anamnestic responses were evaluated 12-14 days later.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Serum anti-HBs did not reach 10 IU/L only in one of 40 non-responder children, who received intradermal revaccination. In the fifth year after revaccination, 50% of the non-responder children who received intramuscular revaccination still maintained anti-HBs of > or = 10 IU/L, though the rate was significantly lower than 85% in controls. Following the booster dose, a robust anamnestic response was developed in all of 8 intramuscular revaccinees and 11 controls but 16 of 18 intradermal revaccinees, who lost anti-HBs of > or = 10 IU/L over time, and geometric mean titers of anti-HBs climbed to 208, 105, and 549 IU/L, respectively. Secretions of HBsAg-specific interleukin-2 and -5 could be detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples of more than 70% of non-responder children. Person-year infection rates of HB virus were 8.9% (8/89.9 person-years) for intradermal revaccinees, significantly higher than 3.6% (12/337.2 person-years) in controls, and 4.3% (3/70.2 person-years) for intramuscular revaccinees, approximating to that of controls, based on positive conversion of anti-HBc.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Three-dose intramuscular revaccination did play an important immune protection for non-responder children to primary HB vaccination, but its efficacy could not reach the level of primary vaccination in responders. Low-dose intradermal inoculation was not as effective as route-dose intramuscular inoculation with the same doses in revaccination for non-responder children to primary HB vaccination.</p>

The introduction of complementary food of children under the age of three years in Tibet of China / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To understand the feeding status of Tibetan children aged below three years old.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Cross-sectional study and randomly sampling were used. The information on complementary food was obtained through the recollection from mother of the child. Data of complementary food of Tibet children was compared with those of the children from the surveys of nine cities in China and 40 poor counties in western China.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>One thousand six hundred and fifty-five children were studied. The findings indicated that the age of introduction of Zanba (a kind food of mixture of highland barley flour and butter) was 1.98 months after birth and the age of introduction of egg and meat was about 8 - 9 months. Boys were fed with Zanba earlier than girls but there was no significant difference in the introduction of other complementary food between sexes. Urban children were introduced with complementary food earlier than rural children, and children in the agricultural region earlier than those in the pasturing region. The proportion of no introduction of any complementary food by the age of 4 months was about 10.6% for urban children, but 21.7% for rural children while 14.2% for children in the agricultural region and 30.9% for children in the pasturing region. The proportion of no introduction of complementary food was 11.5% for Tibetan children compared with 45.2% for the children of 40 poor counties in western China. The proportions of introduction of the following complementary foods were 89.1% for Zanba, 22.1% for egg, 29.1% for fresh milk, 23.5% for meat, 17.5% for vegetable, 0.75% for bean products, 1.03% for fish and 3.35% for chicken respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The main complementary foods for Tibetan children included Zanba, milk, mutton and beef. There was a small amount of vegetable in diet. The introduction of bean, chicken and fish was not common. Early and monotony seemed to be the character of introduction of complementary food for Tibetan children. Improving introduction of complementary food is important in enhancing the nutritional status of Tibetan children.</p>

Study on the hemoglobin levels of children under the age of three years and the prevalence of anemia at high altitude in Tibet of China / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the hemoglobin status of children under the age of three years and the prevalence of anemia at high altitude.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Cross-sectional study and randomly sampling were used. Blood was collected on tip of finger and the level of hemoglobin was measured using B-Hemoglobin photometer. We adjusted the hemoglobin based on altitude, using three methods of CDC, Direen's and Dallman's and then estimated the prevalence of anemia.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) 1 127 children were examined. The findings indicated that the average hemoglobin was about 120 g/L. There was no significant difference for Hb between boys and girls. Urban children had a higher hemoglobin level (123.3 g/L) than rural children (119.9 g/L). Analysis of covariance indicated that, after controlling the factor of altitude, the mean content of hemoglobin of rural children was lower than that of urban children and hemoglobin varied among districts. (2) Different method used for correction of hemoglobin caused different prevalence rates of anemia but they were higher than un-corrected prevalences: 90.4% for CDC method, 72.3% for Dirren's method and 65.0% for Dallman's method respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Higher altitude seemed to affect the levels of hemoglobin significantly. The prevalence of anemia in children might be higher, but current hemoglobin correction methods might not be suitable for correcting hemoglobin of Tibetan children. So we suggested that it was imperative to establish a relationship between altitude and hemoglobin of Tibetan children.</p>