ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the association between relative mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA-CN) and coal-burning-borne endemic fluorosis (abbreviated as coal-burning-borne fluorosis).Methods:From June 2018 to March 2019, using cross-sectional study, 482 patients with coal-burning-borne fluorosis were selected as the case group in Bijie City, a typical coal-burning-borne fluorosis area of Guizhou Province; meanwhile, 212 healthy individuals from Changshun County, a non-coal-burning-borne fluorosis area in Guizhou Province, were selected as the control group. Questionnaire survey and physical examination were used to collect general condition such as basic information and living habits of the two groups, peripheral venous blood samples were collected, and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect the relative mtDNA-CN in peripheral blood. The correlation between relative mtDNA-CN and coal-burning-borne fluorosis was analyzed by binary and unordered multi-class logistic regression.Results:There were significant differences in the body mass index (BMI), and the distribution of gender rario, marital status and education level between the control group and the case group ( t = 7.91, χ 2 = 5.11, 13.33, 34.32, P < 0.05). The relative mtDNA-CN in the control group was higher than that in the case group [median (quartile): 202 (138, 292) vs 131 (96, 217), Z = - 7.80, P < 0.001]. The results of binary logistic regression analysis [odds ratio (95% confidence interval)] showed that educational level [primary school: 0.572 (0.377 - 0.868), junior high school and above: 0.292 (0.174 - 0.493)], relative mtDNA-CN [131 - < 217: 0.265 (0.144 - 0.488), ≥217: 0.183 (0.100 - 0.335)] and BMI [1.222 (1.142 - 1.307)] were the influencing factors for the risk of coal-burning-borne fluorosis( P < 0.05). In subgroups with different BMI and educational levels, the relative mtDNA-CN was significantly negatively correlated with the risk of coal-burning-borne fluorosis( Ptrend < 0.05), and there was no interaction between mtDNA-CN and BMI and educational levels ( Pinteraction > 0.05). The results of unordered multi-class logistic regression analysis showed that the relative mtDNA-CN were significantly negatively correlated with the risk of dental fluorosis and skeletal fluorosis ( Ptrend < 0.05). Conclusion:The higher the relative mtDNA-CN, the lower the risk of coal-burning-borne fluorosis, suggesting that mtDNA-CN may be a potential biomarker of coal-burning fluorosis.
ABSTRACT
Objective To compare the clinical efficacy between Jian Huan Tong Tiao needling (acupuncture at both healthy and affected sides) and acupuncture at the affected side alone in treating peripheral facial paralysis (FP) in acute stage, and to provide evidences for the acupuncture treatment of peripheral FP in acute stage.Method Fifty patients were randomized into a Jian Huan Tong Tiao needling group (25 cases) and an affected side needling group (25 cases). By selecting the same acupoints, the Jian Huan Tong Tiao needling group received acupuncture at both sides, while the affected side needling group received acupuncture only at the affected side, once every other day, successively for 4 weeks. House-Brackmann (H-B) facial nerve grading system was used to score the facial nerve function before and after the treatment, and the therapeutic efficacies were compared between the two groups.Result The facial nerve function was improved in both groups, while the therapeutic efficacy was superior in the Jian Huan Tong Tiao needling group to that in the affected side needling group (P<0.05); after 2-week treatment, the H-B score was higher in the Jian Huan Tong Tiao needling group than in the affected side needling group (P<0.05); of the recovered cases, the relapse rate was lower in theJian Huan Tong Tiao needling group than in the affected side needling group (P<0.05). Conclusion Jian Huan Tong Tiao needling can boost the recovery of the facial nerve function in peripheral FP, reduce the relapse rate, and produce a higher therapeutic efficacy than needling the affected side alone.
ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the epidemiology and risk factors of toenail onychomycosis among traffic police-men in Tianjin, and to prevent and control its prevalence. Methods Epidemiological surveys were performed to a total of 1 270 traffic policemen during physical examination in Public Security Hospital in Tianjin using cross-section study. Fungi in feet and the prevalence of toenail onychomycosis were examined simultaneously during questionnaires. Logistic regression of single factor and multiple factors were applied to analyze the risk factors. Results The prevalence of toenail onychomyco-sis in Tianjin traffic policemen is 32%. Age (OR=1.455), police boots (OR=1.047), history of tinea pedis (OR=7.521) and his-tory of diabetes (OR=1.820) are the main risk factors. Conclusion The prevalence of onychomycosis among Tianjin traffic policemen is high. Synthetic and effective interventions should be employed to deal with the risk factors.