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Background There are no noticeable symptoms in early stages of diabetic retinopathy(DR)and the detection of presymptomatic DR remains challenging. Therefore, data on the prevalence and progress of DR will help in prevention and treatment programs in China. Objective This study was to survey the prevalence and risk factors of diabetic retinopathy( DR ) in a population aged 40 years or older in the Shunyi district of Beijing city.Methods A cross-sectional study was designed. Cluster sampling was used to randomly select 4167 (91.6%)individuals aged ≥40 years in 24 clusters in the Shunyi district of Beijing city in China. The Questionnaire data,including general information, living habits, present history, past history, family history, education level etc., were obtained from each subjects. The height, body weight and blood pressure were examined, and slit-lamp examination, direct ophthalmoscopy,indirect ophthalmoscopy and nonmydriatic fundus photography were performed during the study duration. Diabetic mellitus (DM)was diagnosed and graded according to the criteria of Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study Research Group(ETDRS). The associated factors with DR were analyzed byx2 test,trend x2 test,and multivariate Logistic regression analysis. This protocol was approved by the Ethic Committee of Peking University. Informed consent was obtained from each individual prior to the survey. Results A total of 4167 ( 91.6% )individuals were examined from the 4549 samples with a response rate of 86. 4%. This study showed a prevalence of 29. 2% for DR, 5.4% for sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy ( STDR), and 1.3% for prolifrative retinopathy (PDR) in type 2 DM subjects. Of the type 2 DM subjects,0. 4% (4/445)had social blindness( VA＜0. 1 ) ,and 6. 3% (28/445) presented with visual impairment (VA ＜ 0. 3 )in bilateral eyes. Univariate Logistic regression analysis indicated that insulin therapy ( P = 0.011 ) and lower body mass index ( BMI, kg/m2 ) ( P = 0. 022 ) appeared to be significantly associated with DR, and the multivariate Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that longer duration of diabetes( P＜ 0. 01 ) , increased fasting glucose ( P ＜ 0.01 ) and lower education level ( P = 0. 031 ) were significant independent predictors of DR. Conclusion The prevalence of DR is lower among diabetic Chinese aged ≥ 40 years than those of matched population in Western countries. Lower BMI and insulin therapy were the significantly associated factors of DR, and a longer duration of disease and higher fasting glucose level are independent risk factors of DR. Education attainment is important for the DM patients as a protective factor of DR.
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Background Visual impairment influent the life quality of patient and bring about the economical burden to their families and society.Epidemiology survey of the prevalence and main causes of visual impairment is the basis of the prevention of blindness.Objective The goal of this survey was to investigate the visual impairment in the subjects aged 40 years or older living in Shunyi district and assist in the design of intervention programs.Methods A cross-sectional survey was performed in this study.Cluster sampling was used to randomly select 4549 individuals aged ≥40 years in Shunyi district,and visual impairment was evaluated based on WHO criteria and analyzed based on the 10-year interval groups.The questionnaire,best corrected visual acuity (BCVA)and comprehensive eye examination were provided for eligible residents.To evaluate the independentassociation of significant sociodemographic variables with visual impairment,a regression model was constructed including age,sex and education level.This study was approved by the Ethic Committee of Peking University Medical Department.Written informed consent was signed by each subject before any medial survey.Results A total of 4167 subjects participated in this survey with the response rate of 91.6％.The age of the subjects ranged from 40-94 years(mean:56.61±11.10 years).The numbers of visual impairment was 161 with the prevalence 3.9％.Trend x2 test showed that the number and percentage of visual impairment were elevated as the increase of age,showing a significantly difference among different age groups(x2 =159.487,P＜0.01).The prevalence rate of visual impairment in 70 and older group was 15 times more than that of 60-69-year-old group(OR =0.114,95％ CI:0.056-0.234).No significant difference was found between gender and prevalence of visual impairment(OR =0.901,95％ CI:0.627 -1.295).The prevalence rate of visual impairment in illiterate group was 5.5 fold more than that of educated group (OR =2.743,95％ CI:1.830-4.111).Conclusions Ageing and low education degree are the important factors of visual impairment.Education attainment is an independent protective factor of visual impairment.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the performance of soil-slurry bioreactor used for remediating contaminated soil with 4-nitrophenol (4-NP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The slurry bioreactor was used to degrade different concentrations of 4-nitrophenol with or without inoculating the acclimated activated sludge. HPLC system (Hewlett-Packard model 5050 with a UV detector) was used for the quantification of 4-nitrophenol.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The indigenous microorganisms exhibited a little activity for simulated soil with 50 mg 4-NP/kg soil. However, at the concentration of 10 mg 4-NPkg soil, a considerable degradation occurred within two weeks. It appeared that high concentrations of 4-nitrophenol apparently produced an inhibitory effect on microbial activity. For system receiving 50 mg 4-NP/kg soil, the maximum rate of 4-NP degradation measured in the reactor inoculated with 25 g sludge/kg soil was approximately 10 times higher than the uninoculated reactor, suggesting that the degradation rate of 4-nitrophenol could be enhanced greatly by means of inoculating acclimated sludge.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The addition of sludge capable of degrading 4-nitrophenol can result in enhance the degradation rate of 4-nitrophenol.</p>
Subject(s)
Biodegradation, Environmental , Bioreactors , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Nitrophenols , Metabolism , Sewage , Chemistry , Microbiology , Soil Microbiology , Soil Pollutants , Metabolism , Time FactorsABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the nitrifying characteristics of both suspended- and attached-biomass in a hybrid bioreactor.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The hybrid biological reactor was developed by introducing porous ceramic particles into the reactor to provide the surface for biomass attachment. Microorganisms immobilized on the ceramics were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). All chemical analyses were performed in accordance with standard methods.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The suspended- and attached-biomass had approximately the same nitrification activity. The nitrifying kinetic was independent of the initial biomass concentration, and the attached-biomass had a stronger ability to resist the nitrification inhibitor.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The attached biomass is superior to suspended-biomass for nitrifying wastewater, especially that containing toxic organic compounds. The hybrid biological reactor consisting of suspended- and attached-biomass is advantageous in such cases.</p>