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Objective@#To explore the effect of the comprehensive intervention on overweight and obesity among middle school students at the population level (health education lecture and official account push) and individual level (personalized dietary guidance), so as to provide a reference for preventing and controlling their overweight and obesity.@*Methods@#Three junior high schools and three senior high schools were randomly selected in Guangzhou in 2018 by convenience sampling. Through physical examination, 1 457 overweight and obese students aged from 12 to 18 years old were screened. Intervention was administered through "Student Personalized Dietary Guidance" manual, health tweets on the official accounts, and health education lectures from September 2018 to December 2019. The Chi square test was used to compare the difference in overweight and obesity constituent ratio between the two groups before and after the intervention. And intervention effect was evaluated by analyzing the number needed to treated(NTT).@*Results@#The proportion of overweight before the intervention was 66.71% (972/1 457), and decreased to 59.92% (873/1 457) after the intervention; the proportion of obesity before the intervention was 33.29% (485/1 457), which decreased to 26.63% (388/1 457) after the intervention. Among obese students, the smallest NNT was seen in the girl group aged 12-13 years (NNT=2.6, 95% CI =1.9-4.1), while the largest NNT in the boy group aged 14-18 years (NNT=5.9, 95% CI =4.7-8.1). The NNT of the girls aged 12-13 years was the smallest (NNT=2.7, 95% CI =2.2-3.5), and the NNT of the boys aged 14-18 years was the largest (NNT=7.4, 95% CI =6.0-9.7).@*Conclusion@#Health education at population level (health education lectures, official account push) with individual level (personalized dietary guidance) can effectively intervene overweight and obesity among middle school students in Guangzhou.
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Objective To study the characteristics of noise hazards in automobile sand casting industry and understand the impact of noise on the health of automobile foundry workers, and to provide scientific data support for the control of noise hazards. Methods An automobile sand casting enterprise was selected as the research object. The post noise intensity test results from 2010 to 2019, the noise spectrum test results of each post in 2019, and the prevalence of occupational noise deafness in the 10 years from 2010 to 2019 were analyzed and sorted out. Using chi-square test and t-test the noise hazard characteristics and noise intensity changes were statistically analyzed. Results 1. The noise LEX.8h exceeding standard rate of foundry enterprises in the 10 years from 2010 to 2019 was not statistically significant（χ2=6.76, P=0.66), and the mean value of noise LEX.8h fluctuated horizontally in the 10 years, which was basically stable between 80 - 90 dB (A). 2. The mean value of noise intensity of sand falling, sand preparation, cleaning and shot blasting in the first five years was significantly different compared to that in the last five years. There was no statistically significant difference in other posts. 3. Among all posts in the foundry sand casting industry, the noise spectrum of core-making and cleaning posts was mainly medium and high frequency, while the noise spectrum of other posts was mainly medium and low frequency. 4, Cases of occupational noise deafness were mainly concentrated in cleaning and polishing workers, melting chemical workers, inspectors and other types of workers. Conclusions The noise hazards in the automobile foundry sand casting industry are mainly concentrated on the posts of molding, and sand falling, and the noise intensity and the over standard rate remain high in the past 10 years. The noise of each post is mainly medium and low frequency, and the noise of a few individual posts is mainly medium and high frequency. In recent years, due to the automatic renewal of equipment, the noise intensity of some posts such as sand dropping, sand mixing, cleaning and shot blasting has decreased, but the overall noise exceeding standard rate has basically not changed, and the noise hazard is still serious. The noise hazard of foundry sand casting enterprises is difficult to be controlled, and the risk of hearing loss of foundry workers is still high.
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PURPOSE@#Evidence suggests that the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene may be involved in the psychopathology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study aimed to investigate the effects of OXTR rs53576 genotype on PTSD symptoms introduced in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition (DSM-5).@*METHODS@#This study was a cross-sectional study conducted among 1140 adults who had personally experienced the Wenchuan earthquake. PTSD symptoms were measured with the PTSD checklist for DSM-5. A custom-by-design 2 × 48-Plex SNPscan@*RESULTS@#The results revealed that the rs53576 genotype could significantly predict PTSD symptoms (β = 0.055, p = 0.045). Further analysis showed that the rs53576 genotype was only significantly associated with dysphoric arousal symptoms of PTSD (β = 0.080, p = 0.005). The rs53576 genotype × earthquake exposure interaction had no significant effect on different symptom clusters (p > 0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#This study showed that the rs53576 genotype was only associated with the dysphoric arousal symptoms but not with other symptom clusters of PTSD. These findings support the role of the OXTR on the psychopathology of PTSD and help us to understand the genetic basis of PTSD.
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Objective:To observe the effects of ultrashort wave (USW) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced acute lung injury (ALI) and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) signaling pathway in rats. Methods:Twenty-four three-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group (n = 8), ALI group (n = 8) and USW group (n = 8). The ALI and USW groups were instilled with LPS to induce ALI, and the USW group was treated with ultrashort wave 0, four and eight hours after instillation, 15 minutes a time. Twenty-four hours after instillation, the lung tissue of the rats was measured the wet/dry mass ratio (W/D), and observed under HE staining. Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 were detected with ELISA. The mRNA and protein expression of NLRP3, caspase-1 and IL-1β in the lung tissue were detected with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, respectively. Results:W/D increased in ALI group compared with that of the control group (P < 0.05), and it decreased in USW group without significance compared with that of ALI group (P > 0.05). Lung injury score increased in ALI group compared with that of the control group (P < 0.05), and it decreased in USW group compared with that of ALI group (P < 0.05); as well as the serum IL-1β and IL-18, and mRNA and protein expression of NLRP3, caspase-1 and IL-1β. Conclusion:USW can alleviate the inflammatory of acute lung injury, which may associate with inhibiting of NLRP3 signaling pathway.
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Objective: To analyze the change rule of main chemical components in Asarum heterotropoidesvar.mandshuricum seedling during the growing process.Method:Whole seedling samples (one week and two weeks) and the mature plant (three months) of A.heterotropoidesvar.mandshuricum were collected and every sample was divided to aerial part (stems and leaves) and underground part (roots).The secondary metabolites were qualitatively identified by HPLC-TOF-MS and the quantitative identification was carried out at the same time with asarinin as index component.Result: A total of 6 known compounds were identified from the underground part of A.heterotropoidesvar.mandshuricum as α-asarone (1),N-isobutyl-2,4,8,10-dodecatetraenamide (2),9-methoxyaristolactam Ⅳ(3),asarinin (4),caulesnarinside (6) and chalcononaringenin 2',4'-di-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (7),respectively,the peak area values showed that the contents of these compounds increased gradually with the growth time.A total of 4 known compounds were identified from the aerial part of this herb as N-isobutyl-2,4,8,10-dodecatetraenamide (2),caulesauroneside (5),caulesnarinside (6) or chalcononaringenin 2',4'-di-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (7) and peonidin 3-caffeoylgentiobioside (8).Asarinin was identified only in the underground part of mature plant,its content was 155.4 μg·g-1.Conclusion: The species and contents of secondary metabolites are quite different in the aerial and underground parts of A.heterotropoidesvar.mandshuricum.At different growth stages of A.heterotropoides var.mandshuricum seedling,the types and contents of secondary metabolites in the same site are also different,while the contents of main components show an increasing trend with the growth time.
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Objective To investigate the effects of anesthesia on neurodevelopment of preschool children. Methods A total of 445 children, scheduled to undergo surgery in the Fourth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from 1st May 2017 to 1st May 2018, were enrolled and, according to different test purpose, grouped as follows: (1) 120 children (GA group) who underwent surgery before Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST) were matched to 325 unexposed children (Non-GA group). Meanwhile, 168 children (Naive group) were measured as blank control. (2) According to the number of anesthesia that children had undergone, those in GA group were assigned to three subgroups: single, twice and multiple groups. (3) Subgroup analyses was performed based on the time of cumulative duration of anesthesia exposures (less than 3 and greater than or equal to 3h). Data were collected with a questionnaire to evaluate the children's physical development, DDST results were recorded, and the effects were evaluated of the number of anesthesia and the time of cumulative duration of anesthesia exposures on the DDST results. Results For the children aged 0 to 6 yr, the DDST positive rates in Naive, Non-GA and GA groups were 6.0%, 6.5% and 12.5%, respectively. No significant difference existed in DDST positive rate between Naive group and Non-GA group (P=0.825). Compared with Non-GA group, the DDST positive rate increased in GA group (6.5% vs. 12.5%) with significant difference (P=0.038). Compared among the four domains of DDST separately, statistical difference was found only in terms of personal-social, those in GA group showed poor performance than in Non-GA group (P=0.025). For the children aged less than 3 yr, the DDST positive rates in GA group and Non-GA group were 18.6% and 3.9%, respectively, showing significant differences (P=0.019), but no statistical difference was found on DDST positive rate among the three groups of children aged 3 to 6 yr (P>0.05). In GA group, there was no increase in odds of early developmental vulnerability with increasing frequency of anesthesia exposure (P=0.784). However, the DDST positive rate was significantly higher with longer cumulative duration of anesthesia exposure (≥3h) than that of <3h (18.7% vs. 2.2%, P=0.008). Conclusions Exposure to anesthesia is an increased risk for the later neurodevelopment of preschool children, especially before 3 years old. The time of cumulative duration of anesthesia may be positively correlated to the children's neurodevelopment disabilities.
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OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility of using 8-hydroxy-2'deoxyguanosine(8-OHdG) in blood and urine samples as biomarkers for the evaluation of human DNA oxidative damage caused by diesel exhaust(DE). METHODS: A convenient sampling method was used to select 56 male workers exposed to DE in a car manufacturing factory as exposure group, and 52 male workers without exposure to DE were selected as the control group.Urine samples and blood samples were collected from workers in the 2 groups 8 hours after work, and the levels of 8-OHdG in urine and plasma were measured by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometer. RESULTS: The median level of urinary 8-OHdG in the exposure group was higher than that of control group(2.54 vs 2.03 μg/g Cr, P<0.05). The median levels of plasma 8-OHdG in the exposure group and control group showed no statistical significance(32.20 vs 31.40 ng/L, P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The urinary 8-OHdG can be used as a biomarker for evaluating the oxidative damage induced by DE exposure.
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Objective To detect the serum levels of calpainin (S100A11) using nanomagicbeabs sorting-time resolved fluoroimmuno assay (NMBS-TRFIA) and evaluate its diagnostic value in pancreatic carcinoma.Methods 88 patients with pancreatic carcinoma,50 patients with acute pancreatitis,10 patients with pancreatic cyst and 20 healthy controls were selected as the study subjects.The human peripheral serum blood was sorted with S100A11 antibody coupled nanomagicbeabs,and the concentration of S100A11 was detected by TRFIA method.The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) was used to determine the cut-off level for diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma,in order to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma.Results S100A11 showed a linear relationship within the range of 6.08～ 500 ng/ml using NMBS-TRFIA method,intraassay CV≤6.35％,inter-assay CV≤7.12％,and the average recovery rate was 104.7％.The serum levels of S100A11 in patients with pancreatic carcinoma,patients with acute pancreatitis and patients with pancreatic cyst were 185.53 ± 161.19,106.06±113.83 and 68.99± 47.83 ng/ml respectively.Compared with the normal control group (37.98±25.14 ng/ml),the differences were statistically significant (t=-8.065,-3.375,-2.266,all P ＜0.01).The serum levels of S100A11 in patients with pancreatic carcinoma was significantly higher than those in patients with acute pancreatitis and patients with pancreatic cyst (all P＜0.05).According to the ROC curve,ROCAUC=0.985 (95％ CI:0.972 ～ 0.997),the best cut-off level for the diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma was 89.5 ng/ml (sensitivity 81.8 ％,specificity 67.5 ％).Conclusion NMBS-TRFIA can enrich S100A11 in serum and improve the detection sensitivity of serum S100A11,and the method is simple and easy to be popularized.Serum S100A11 has a high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma,and is a new serum marker for the diagnosis of early pancreatic carcinoma.
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OBJECTIVE To investigate enhanced immune function of methionine encephalin (MENK) and its anti-tumor mechanism in CT26 colon cancer mouse model. METHODS 3×106 CT26 cells were implanted subcutaneously in BALB/c mice. Four days after, MENK was peritoneally administrated at the concentration of 20 mg·kg-1 for 14 d. The percentage of MDSCs in bone marrow, spleen, blood, tumor and liver were detected by flow cytometry. Non- esterified fatty acid (NEFA), triglycerides (TG) and total cholesterol (T-CHO) in liver homogenate were tested by a NEFA test kit, a TG test kit and a T- CHO test kit respectively. qRT- PCR and Western blot were used to measure mRNA and protein levels of inflammation-, glycometabolsim- and lipometabolsim-associated indexes in liver. RESULTS MENK decreased percentages of MDSCs in bone marrow, spleen, blood and tumor in colon cancer mice. MENK-treated mice displayed elevated ratio of CD4+T and CD8+T cells in spleen as well as increased T and B lymphocytes proliferation. Meanwhile, MENK also ameliorated liver damage reflected by lower levels of GPT and GOT in serum and reduced risks of cancer- associated index including inflammation, high lipid and high glucose. Furthermore, MENK lowered down the levels of NEFA, TG and T- CHO in liver homogenate. MENK treatment decreased expression of p- STAT3, increased expression of p-AKT, IRS1 and Glut4 at protein level as well as reduced lipogenesis-associated genes and elevated glycolysis-associated genes in liver of tumor bearing mice. Also, abated expression of genes associated with MDSCs generation (M-CSF, GM-CSF, IL-6, IL-1β) and migration (S100A9, KC) was observed within shrunken subcutaneous tumor by MENK intervention. CONCLUSION MENK has the ability to strength immune function against colon cancer by reducing MDSCs and improving liver metabolism.
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Brucella is a facultative intracellular pathogen that causes infection in domestic animal and humans,mainly parasitizing in cells and macrophages of hosts.Brucella can lead to abortion and sterility in animals.Meanwhile,it also causes arthralgia,weakness,undulat fever,hepatosplenomegaly and other symptoms in humans.Brucella relies on immune escape mechanism in the confrontation with the host.It can help Brucella "camouflage" to evade the identification of the immune system of the hosts and replicate within cells to persist to establish a long-term infection in the host.As a result of the existence of this mechanism,the treatment of Brucella infection is quite difficult.Type Ⅳ secretion system (T4SS) is a key virulence factor and it is essential for Brucella to survive in host cells.The effector proteins secreted by T4SS can help regulate the immune response against Brucella.In this article,we reviewed the studies on related proteins of the type Ⅳ secretion system of Brucella and its immune response,especially the relationship between the secretions of effector proteins mediated by VirB operon and immunity of the host.
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α-Synuclein (α-Syn) is a small presynaptic protein and its mutant forms (e.g. A53T) are known to be directly associated with Parkinson's disease (PD). Pathophysiological mechanisms underlying α-Syn-mediated neurodegeneration in PD still remain to be explored. However, several studies strongly support that overexpression of mutant α-Syn causes reduced release of dopamine (DA) in the brain, and contributes to motor deficits in PD. Using a favorable genetic model Drosophila larva, we examined whether reduced DA release is enough to induce key PD symptoms (i.e. locomotion deficiency and DA neurodegeneration), mimicking a PD gene α-Syn. In order to reduce DA release, we expressed electrical knockout (EKO) gene in DA neurons, which is known to make neurons hypo-excitable. EKO led to a decrease in a DA neuronal marker signal (i.e., TH – tyrosine hydroxylase) and locomotion deficits in Drosophila larva. In contrast, acute and prolonged exposure to blue light (BL, 470 nm) was sufficient to activate channelrhodopsin 2 (ChR2) and rescue PD symptoms caused by both α-Syn and EKO. We believe this is for the first time to confirm that locomotion defects by a genetic PD factor such as α-Syn can be rescued by increasing DA neuronal excitability with an optogenetic approach. Our findings strongly support that PD is a failure of DA synaptic transmission, which can be rescued by optogenetic activation of ChR2.
Subject(s)
alpha-Synuclein , Brain , Dopamine , Dopaminergic Neurons , Drosophila , Drosophila melanogaster , Larva , Locomotion , Models, Genetic , Neurons , Optogenetics , Parkinson Disease , Synaptic Transmission , TyrosineABSTRACT
Twelve flavonoid glycosides were involved in the biotransformation of the glycosyl moieties by Curvularia lunata 3.4381, and the products were analyzed by UPLC/PDA-Q-TOF-MS(E). Curvularia lunata displayed hydrolyzing activities on the terminal Rha or Glc units of some flavonoid glycosides. Terminal Rha with a 1 → 2 linkage of isorhamnetin-3-O-neohesperidoside and typhaneoside could be hydrolyzed by Curvularia lunata, but terminal Rha with a 1 → 6 linkage of rutin, typhaneoside, and quercetin-3-O-apiosyl-(1 → 2)-[rhamnosyl-(1 → 6)]-glucoside could not be hydrolyzed. Curvularia lunata could also hydrolyze the Glc of icariin, floramanoside B, and naringin. This is the first report of the hydrolysis of glycosyl units of flavonoid glycosides by Curvularia lunata. A new way to convert naringin to naringenin was found in this research.
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Ascomycota , Chemistry , Flavonoids , Chemistry , Glucosides , Chemistry , Hydrolysis , Mass Spectrometry , Molecular StructureABSTRACT
Five purine and carboline alkaloids were isolated from the methanol extract of the ascidian Symplegma oceania. Classic chromatographies including preparative HPLC were used for isolation and purification of the compounds. The structures were established as 6-methoxy-7-methyl-8-oxoguanine (1), 2-methylimino-3-methyl-6-methylamino- 9H-purine (2), 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-betacarboline (3), 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-methyl-beta-carboline (4) and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid (5) by comparison the spectroscopic data (MS, 1H, 13C-NMR) with those reported in the literatures. Compounds 2-5 were reported from the the genus Symplegma for the first time. The purine and carboline were the major alkaloid types of S. oceania.
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Animals , Alkaloids , Chemistry , Carbolines , Chemistry , Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy , Molecular Structure , Purines , Chemistry , Urochordata , ChemistryABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the relationship between lifestyle habits and the components of metabolic syndrome (MS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Based on the routine health check-up system in a certain Center for Health Management of Shandong Province, a longitudinal surveillance health check-up cohort from 2005 to 2010 was set up. There were 13 225 urban workers in Jinan included in the analysis. The content of the survey included demographic information, medical history, lifestyle habits, body mass index (BMI) and the level of blood pressure, fasting blood-glucose, and blood lipid, etc. The distribution of BMI, blood pressure, fasting blood-glucose, blood lipid and lifestyle habits between MS patients and non-MS population was compared, latent variables were extracted by exploratory factor analysis to determine the structure model, and then a partial least squares path model was constructed between lifestyle habits and the components of MS.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Participants'age was (46.62 ± 12.16) years old. The overall prevalence of the MS was 22.43% (2967/13 225), 26.49% (2535/9570) in males and 11.82% (432/3655) in females. The prevalence of the MS was statistically different between males and females (χ(2) = 327.08, P < 0.01). Between MS patients and non-MS population, the difference of dietary habits was statistically significant (χ(2) = 166.31, P < 0.01) in MS patients, the rate of vegetarian, mixed and animal food was 23.39% (694/2967), 42.50% (1261/2967) and 34.11% (1012/2967) respectively, while in non-MS population was 30.80% (3159/10 258), 46.37% (4757/10 258), 22.83% (2342/10 258) respectively. Their alcohol consumption has statistical difference (χ(2) = 374.22, P < 0.01) in MS patients, the rate of never or past, occasional and regular drinking was 27.37% (812/2967), 24.71% (733/2967), 47.93% (1422/2967) respectively, and in non-MS population was 39.60% (4062/10 258), 31.36% (3217/10 258), 29.04% (2979/10 258) respectively. The difference of their smoking status was statistically significant (χ(2) = 115.86, P < 0.01) in MS patients, the rate of never or past, occasional and regular smoking was 59.72% (1772/2967), 6.24% (185/2967), 34.04% (1010/2967) respectively, while in non-MS population was 70.03% (7184/10 258), 5.35% (549/10 258), 24.61% (2525/10 258) respectively. Both lifestyle habits and the components of MS were attributable to only one latent variable. After adjustment for age and gender, the path coefficient between the latent component of lifestyle habits and the latent component of MS was 0.22 with statistical significance (t = 6.46, P < 0.01) through bootstrap test. Reliability and validity of the model:the lifestyle latent variable: average variance extracted was 0.53, composite reliability was 0.77 and Cronbach's a was 0.57. The MS latent variable: average variance extracted was 0.45, composite reliability was 0.76 and Cronbach's a was 0.59.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Unhealthy lifestyle habits are closely related to MS. Meat diet, excessive drinking and smoking are risk factors for MS.</p>
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Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Life Style , Longitudinal Studies , Metabolic Syndrome , Epidemiology , Models, Statistical , Prevalence , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the performance of vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP) for the bio-decontamination of the high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter unit.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Self-made or commercially available bioindicators were placed at designated locations in the HEPA filter unit under VHP fumigation. The spores on coupons were then extracted by 0.5 h submergence in eluent followed by 200- time violent knocks.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Due to the presence of HEPA filter in the box, spore recovery from coupons placed at the bottom of the filter downstream was significantly higher than that from coupons placed at the other locations. The gap of decontamination efficiency between the top and the bottom of the filter downstream became narrower with the exposure time extended. The decontamination efficiency of the bottom of the filter downstream only improved gently with the injection rate of H2O2 increased and the decontamination efficiency decreased instead when the injection rate exceeded 2.5 g/min. The commercially available bioindicators were competent to indicate the disinfection efficiency of VHP for the HEPA filter unit.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This assay developed can detect all 16 β-lactams demanded by the European Union (EU). The whole procedure takes only 45 min and can detect 42 samples and the standards with duplicate analysis.</p>
Subject(s)
Air Filters , Fumigation , Hydrogen Peroxide , ChemistryABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the characteristics and changing trend of occupational hazards in the working environment of a foundry plant from 1987 to 2010.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The foundry plant of a large-scale automobile company in Hubei Province, China was chosen as the study site. The data on occupational hazards in the working environment of the foundry plant in the past years were collected, and additional measurements were performed. The means and geometric means of the concentrations of occupational hazards were calculated. The characteristics and changing trend of occupational hazards from 1987 to 2010 were presented.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were dust, chemical, and physical occupational hazards in the working environment of the foundry plant, with silica dust, noise, and heat stress as the main ones. Dust, mainly silica dust, is found in all aspects of foundry. The mean concentration of silica dust was high (3.2∼8.2 mg/m(3)), exceeding the national occupational exposure limit (1 mg/m(3)). The mean concentrations of silica dust varied across different types of work, with higher levels in cast shakeout and finishing, overhead crane operation, and sand preparation. The mean concentration of respirable dust in the foundry plant was low (0.38 mg/m(3)), not exceeding the national occupational exposure limit (0.7 mg/m(3)). There were high concentrations of grinding wheel dust (10.6 mg/m(3)) and welding fume (5.7 mg/m(3)) in cast shakeout and finishing, exceeding the national occupational exposure limit (8 and 4 mg/m(3)). Coal dust was mainly found in melting as well as cast shakeout and finishing, with higher concentration in the former (4.7 mg/m(3). The main chemical occupational hazard in the environment of the foundry plant was formaldehyde (1.23 mg/m(3)), exceeding the national occupational exposure limit (0.5 mg/m(3)). The concentrations of ammonia, phenol, metal fume, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and phosphine in the foundry plant were low. The mean concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was 0.1405 µg/m(3), with a higher level in pouring. The main physical occupational hazards in the working environment of the foundry plant were noise and heat stress. Noise, mainly steady noise, was distributed in all workshops of the foundry plant, with a mean intensity of 85.1 db (A). Noise levels varied across different types of work, higher in cast shakeout and finishing (89.3 db (A)) and moulding (85.4 db (A)). Heat stress mainly existed in overhead crane operation (35.1°C), pouring (33.3°C), and melting (32.8°C).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Dust, chemical, and physical occupational hazards co-existed in the working environment of the foundry plant. High concentration of dust was widely distributed in many workshops and across many types of work, but the dust concentration showed a downward trend. Chemical occupational hazards included ammonia, phenol, hydrogen sulfide, and metal fume, most at low concentrations. High-intensity noise was widely distributed in all working positions of foundry process and mainly from equipment operation, collision between parts, and gas injection. High-intensity heat stress mainly existed in overhead crane operation, pouring, and melting.</p>
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Air Pollutants, Occupational , China , Dust , Metallurgy , Occupational Exposure , WorkplaceABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the prevalence and risk factors of multiple musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in auto workers and the associations between MSDs at different sites.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 3998 workers, who were selected from a Chinese auto corporation by cluster random sampling, using the revised Nordic MSDs standard questionnaire; 3800 completed questionnaires were returned. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the risk factors for multiple MSDs. The logbinomial model was used to calculate the prevalence ratios (PRs) of MSDs at different sites and evaluate the associations between MSDs at different sites.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 3800 subjects, 2452 (64.5%) had MSDs at two or more sites, and 469 (12.3%) had MSDs at one site. The PRs varied from 1.5 to 6.7, with significant differences among different sites (P < 0.01). Relatively close associations were found between the MSDs at neck and shoulders, back and shoulders/waist, elbows and wrists/hands, waist and neck, wrists/hands and waist, hip and waist, knees and waist, and ankles/feet and elbows. The multinomial logistic regression analysis indicated that the highest risk factor for MSDs was poor posture, including often working in an uncomfortable posture, neck bending forward, and neck twisting (ORs = 3.39, 1.93, and 1.38), followed by labor organization, in which break between tasks could decrease the risk of MSDs at three or more sites to 31%, staff shortage, which could increase the risk of MSDs by 75%, and pushing and pulling heavy objects (> 20 kg) (OR = 1.76).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Most auto workers with MSDs have multiple sites affected, and there are high associations between the MSDs at different sites. The major risk factors for multiple MSDs in auto workers include poor posture, labor organization, and heavy physical labor.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Automobiles , Cross-Sectional Studies , Logistic Models , Musculoskeletal Diseases , Epidemiology , Occupational Diseases , Epidemiology , Risk Factors , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
This study examined the effect of long-term administration of low-dose FTY720 on survival of murine cardiac allograft and the possible mechanism.Murine models of abdominal heterotopic heart transplantation were established.Low-dose FTY720 (0.3 mg/kg) was administrated to the animals 4 days before the transplantation of cardiac allografis until the occurrence of rejection or the observation terminals.The animals without FTY720 treatment and those with syngencic cardiac grafts transplanted served as controls.The mean survival time (MST) of grafts,and T lymphocyte subsets in gratis,peripheral blood and lymphoid organs were measured by histopathological examination or flow cytometry,and compared among groups.The results showed that the MST of allografts in FTY720-treated mice was more than 40 days,significantly longer than that in the untreated group (MST=8 days,P＜0.01).After the long-term administration of FTY720,the proportion of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes in peripheral blood was diminished significantly,but the proportion ofCD4+ lymphocytes was increased in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) and spleen.lmmunofluorescence staining revealcd that the infiltration of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes in allografts was significantly inhibited after long-term administration of low-dose FTY720.It was concluded that low-dose long-term administration of FTY720 could promote T lymphocytes in lymphatic organs and decrease their infiltration in allografts,resulting in the inhibition of rejection and the long-term survival of allografts.
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OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility of visualizing hand and foot tendon anatomy and disorders by Gemstone Spectral Imaging (GSI) high-definition CT (HDCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-five patients who suffered from hand or foot pain were scanned with GSI mode HDCT and MRI. Spectrum analysis was used to select the monochromatic images that provide the optimal contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) for tendons. The image quality at the best selected monochromatic level and the conventional polychromatic images were compared. Tendon anatomy and disease were also analyzed at GSI and MRI. RESULTS: The monochromatic images at about 65 keV (mean 65.09 +/- 2.98) provided the optimal CNR for hand and foot tendons. The image quality at the optimal selected monochromatic level was superior to conventional polychromatic images (p = 0.005, p 0.05), compression (chi2 = 0.5, p > 0.05), absence (chi2 = 0, p > 0.05) and rupture (chi2 = 0, p > 0.05). GSI was significantly less sensitive than MRI in displaying tendon adhesion (chi2 = 4.17, p < 0.05), degeneration (chi2 = 4.17, p < 0.05), and tendinous sheath disease (chi2 = 10.08, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: GSI with monochromatic images at 65 keV displays clearly the most hand and foot tendon anatomy and disorders with image quality improved, as compared with conventional polychromatic images. It may be used solely or combined with MRI in clinical work, depending on individual patient disease condition.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Foot/pathology , Hand/pathology , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Musculoskeletal Diseases/diagnosis , Radiographic Image Enhancement , Tendon Injuries/diagnosis , Tendons/pathology , Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methodsABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>On the afternoon of May 12, 2008, a 8.0-magnitude earthquake hit Sichuan Province, a mountainous region in Western China, killing about 70 000 people and leaving over 18 000 missing. What about the survivors motor functions and activities of daily living (ADL) capacity, especially for fractures? We need the data to guide the rehabilitation for the seismic wounded and it's important to collect the data for the future. We study the survivors to understand the motor functions and ADL capacity of patients with fractures sustained in the Wenchuan earthquake, to provide a basis for rehabilitation and treatment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We used the Manual Muscle Testing method to evaluate muscle strength, the joint angle scale to measure joint range of motion (ROM), and the Barthel index to evaluate the activities of daily living status. SPSS 13.0 software was used to analyze the data and the results were tested using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The number of seismic wounded amounted to 487; 81.1% of patients had fractures. Most of the injured had fractures in multiple regions (53.9% of all fracture patients), followed by fractures of the upper limb (34.0% of patients); cranial fractures were rare (2.3%). Totally 82.0% had restricted range of motion, 23.5% had decreased muscle force, and 72.2% of the patients had restricted activities of daily living capacities. With time the activities of daily living capacity of female increased (P < 0.05), compared with the male fracture patients who did not show any relative improvement (P > 0.05). The difference between the patients' ages and ADL capacities did not reach statistical significance (P > 0.05), nor was there a significant difference between their ages and the numbers of days in hospital (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Fractures were the main issue in the seismic wounded, many of them had reductions in the ROM, muscle force and ADL capacities. The physicians involved in rehabilitation should pay greater attention to muscle force exercises, joint mobilization, and occupational therapy during the early phases post disaster.</p>