Association of Breastfeeding Duration with Body Composition in Children Aged 3-5 Years / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

OBJECTIVE@#This study aimed to assess the relationship between the body composition of children aged 3-5 years and breastfeeding status and duration.@*METHODS@#The study was conducted using data from the National Nutrition and Health Systematic Survey for children 0-17 years of age in China (CNHSC), a nationwide cross-sectional study. Breastfeeding information and potential confounders were collected using standardized questionnaires administered through face-to-face interviews. The body composition of preschool children was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis. A multivariate linear regression model was used to assess the relationship between breastfeeding duration and body composition after adjusting for potential confounders.@*RESULTS@#In total, 2,008 participants were included in the study. Of these, 89.2% were ever breastfed and the median duration of breastfeeding was 12 months (IQR 7-15 months). Among children aged 3 years, the height-for-age Z-score (HAZ) for the ever breastfed group was lower than that for never breastfed group (0.12 vs. 0.42, P = 0.043). In addition, the weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ) of the ever breastfed group was lower than that of the never breastfed group (0.31 vs. 0.65, P = 0.026), and the WAZ was lower in children aged 4 years who breastfed between 12 and 23 months than in those who never breastfed. Compared to the formula-fed children, the fat-free mass of breastfed infants was higher for children aged 3 years (12.84 kg vs. 12.52 kg, P = 0.015) and lower for those aged 4 years (14.31 kg vs. 14.64 kg, P = 0.048), but no difference was detected for children aged 5 years (16.40 kg vs. 16.42 kg, P = 0.910) after adjusting for potential confounders. No significant difference was detected in the weight-for-height Z-score (WHZ), body mass index (BMI)-for-age Z-score (BAZ), fat-free mass index, and body fat indicators in the ever breastfed and never breastfed groups and among various breastfeeding duration groups for children aged 3-5 years.@*CONCLUSION@#No obvious associations were detected between breastfeeding duration, BMI, and fat mass indicators. Future prospective studies should explore the relationship between breastfeeding status and fat-free mass.

Prokaryotic expression, subcellular localization and enzymatic activity analysis of DXS gene from Platycodon grandiflorum / 药学学报

1-Deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate synthase (DXS), the first key enzyme in 2-methyl-D-erythritol-4-phosphate (MEP) pathway, catalyzes the condensation of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate with pyruvate to 1-deoxy-xylose-5-phosphate (DXP). In this study, PgDXS1, PgDXS2, and PgDXS3 genes were cloned from the root of Platycodon grandiflorum (P. grandiflorum). The open reading frame (ORF) of PgDXS1, PgDXS2, and PgDXS3 were 2 160, 2 208, and 2 151 bp in full length, encoding 719, 735, and 716 amino acids, respectively. Homologous alignment results showed a high identity of PgDXSs with DXS in Hevea brasiliensis, Datura stramonium and Stevia rebaudiana. The recombinant expression plasmids of pET-28a-PgDXSs were constructed and transformed into Escherichia coli (E. coli) BL21 (DE3) cells, and the induced proteins were successfully expressed. Subcellular localization results showed that PgDXS1 and PgDXS2 were mainly located in chloroplasts, and PgDXS3 was located in chloroplasts, nucleus and cytoplasm. The expression of three DXS genes in different tissues of two producing areas of P. grandiflorum were assayed via real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, and the results showed that all of them were highly expressed in leaves of P. grandiflorum from Taihe. Under methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatment, the expression levels of three PgDXS genes showed a trend of first decreasing and then increasing at different time points (3 - 48 h), and the activity of DXS showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing in three tissues of P. grandiflorum. This study provides a reference for further elucidating the biological function of PgDXS in terpenoid synthesis pathway in P. grandiflorum.

National Nutrition and Health Systematic Survey for Children 0-17 Years of Age in China / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

The main purpose of the National Nutrition and Health Systematic Survey for children 0-17 years of age in China (CNHSC) was to collect basic data on the nutrition, development, and health status for children in different regions across China using evidence-based, reliable, and cost-effective approaches. Children and their parents or guardians from seven regions (south, southwest, north, northwest, eastern, central, and northeast China) in China were recruited. A multi-stage stratified randomized sampling method was used. Two provinces were randomly sampled from each of the seven regions, from which one urban district and one rural country were also randomly sampled, resulting in a total of 28 survey counties/districts. Dietary surveys, health examinations, laboratory testing, and questionnaires were used to collect dietary intake, nutritional status, child development, and health status information. Nutrition, health, and lifestyle assessment of children and their parents was determined using the Knowledge Attitude Practice (KAP) survey. Greater than 100,000 children (38,000 children < 6 years of age and 66,000 children 6-17 years of age) completed the survey. The survey provided comprehensive data on child nutrition and health status for future studies and will serve as the basis for an integrated nutrition and health improvement strategies proposal for children in China.

Survey on knowledge of healthy life style among permanent and temporary residents living in the communities of Beijing / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To understand the current situation of knowledge on healthy life style among researchers.Data on the knowledge of healthy life style including healthy behavior,general status on health,physical activity and the use of sports facilities were gathered.In 2006,same questionnaire was used to compare with the previous data.Results The percentage of overall knowledge on health among permanent percentage of people who were aware of knowledge on"no-smoking"."intake less salt","maintaining healthy diet program"and"insisting on exercise"were 72.97%,93.11%,86.58% and 87.25% respectively in 2006,higher than 67.38%,89.74%,82.12% and 82.78% during the baseline(P＜0.01)study in the previous years.The percentage of correct answer about the healthy life style as diet and prevention of common diseases was higher among the permanent residents than those of temporary residents in 2006(P＜0.05).The sources of health-related knowledge were mainly from media,newspapers and through health education programs carried out in the community.Conclusion The Beijing municipal government and the community residential committees attached great importance to providing knowledge on

A follow-up study on the degree of satisfaction regarding environment, life style and the coming Olympic events in the inhabitants living in the typical communities of Beijing / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To measure the degree of satisfaction on various environmental and health components and to discuss the impact of Olympic Games among the residents so as to make relative policy suggestions.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In 2006, permanent residents over 15 years old lived in the Asian Games Village Community (where the 29th Olympic Games to be held) were selected to conduct a household's survey, while 1610 valid questionnaires were collected. The questionnaire included demographic information, degrees of satisfaction on various health-related environmental components, living condition and on Olympic events.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The top 4 aspects with the highest satisfaction rates were "overall rates of satisfaction on current life" "green space", "housing conditions" and "water quality", which were 50.43%, 48.59%, 38.95%, 37.08%, respectively. Residents' satisfaction on "impact of hosting the Olympic Games on China's international image", "China's economic development level", "living conditions" and "personal life" were 65.53%, 56.09%, 47.27%, 46.40%, respectively. Data from partial correlation analysis showed that the total scores of satisfaction on environment and life had positive correlation with the total scores of Olympic satisfaction (P < 0.05). The satisfaction degree on Olympic event through factor analysis showed that 10 entries of the Olympic impact could be reflected by two factors--the influence of image to the nation and impact on personal income. Logistic regression showed that the impact of Olympic Games on personal income, the impact of Olympic Games on the image of the nation and standard of living, gender, education level were independent influencing factors of the total scores of environment and life satisfaction (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Other than "green space", most of health-related environment components of Beijing had low degree of satisfaction among inhabitants from the 'typical' communities in Beijing. However, residents had a higher degree of satisfaction on the impact of the Olympic Games to the country's image, the country's economic development level, the environment and personal standard of living.</p>

A short-chain alpha-neurotoxin from Naja naja atra produces potent cholinergic-dependent analgesia / 神经科学通报·英文版

Objective To investigate the analgesia induced by cobrotoxin (CT) from venom of Naja naja atra, and the effects of atropine and naloxone on the antinociceptive activity of CT in rodent pain models. Methods CT was administered intraperitoneally (33.3, 50, 75 mu g/kg), intra-cerebral venticularly (2.4 mu g/kg) or microinjected into periaqueductal gray (PAG, 1.2 mu g/kg). The antinoCiceptive action was tested using the hot-plate test and the acetic acid writhing test in mice and rats. The involvement of cholinergic system and the opioid system in CT-induced analgesia was examined by pretreatment of animals with atropine (0.5 mg/kg, im or 10 mg/kg, ip) or naloxone (3 mg/kg, ip). The effect of CT on motor activity was tested using the Animex test. Results CT (33.3, 50 and 75 mu g/kg, ip) exhibited a dosedependent analgesic action in mice as determined with hot-plate test and acetic acid writhing test. In the mouse acetic acid writhing test, the intra-cerebral ventricle administration of CT 2.4 mu g/kg (1/23th of a systemic dose) produced marked analgesic effects. Microinjection of CT 1.2 mu g/kg (1/46th of systemic dose) into the PAG also elicited a robust analgesic action in the hot-plate test in rats. Atropine at 0.5 mg/kg (im) or naloxone at 3 mg/kg (ip) failed to block the analgesic effects of CT, but atropine at 10 mg/kg (ip) did antagonize the analgesia mediated by CT in the mouse acetic acid writhing test. At the highest effective dose of antinociception (75 mu g/kg), CT did not change the spontaneous mobility of mice. Conclusion These results suggest that CT from Naja naja atra venom has analgesic effects. Central nervous system may be involved in CT's analgesic effects and the PAG may be the primary central site where CT exerts its effects. The central cholinergic system but not opioid system appears to be involved in the antinociceptive action of CT.

Evaluation on the case management program of hypertension in Zhongguancun community, Beijing / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore a suitable model regarding community-based case management of hypertension in the urban areas.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Based on the guidelines set by the Chinese Hypertension League (CHL), the goal of case management of hypertension was set as: to maintain blood pressure at the normal range. Family doctors were guided to take care of case management. Hypertension patients who had been contracted to the family doctors were followed by a team of family doctors for half a year.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After the 6-month intervention, the rate of hypertension under control had increased from 50.44% to 69.84% (P < 0.0001) while the means of systolic blood pressure decreased by 3.72 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure decreased by 2.67 mm Hg (P < 0.0001) respectively. The means of SBP decreased by 8.59 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure decreased by 5.26 mm Hg in patients whose baseline blood pressure were not under control. The rates of smoking, higher salt intake and no physical exercise had significantly decreased (P < 0.05). The mean number of hospital visits in the six-month follow-up period was 7.69 +/- 2.37. The "rate of control" among those who had followed schedule was higher than that of those who were not on schedule (P < 0.0001). The rate among those who had followed the schedule tended to have increased with aging and the level of education (P < 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The community-based case management program on hypertension played an important and effective role in the control of hypertension in urban areas. Patients received great benefit when following the guidance from their doctors.</p>

Relationship between the severity, course, fatality of severe acute respiratory syndrome patients and the timing of hospitalization / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the relationship of timing of hospitalization and the severity, course, fatality of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patients.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>1291 hospital records of clinically diagnosed SARS patients with complete data gathered from "2003 Beijing SARS Clinical Database" were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>SARS cases were categorized into four groups, according to the time of hospitalization after onset of the disease: within 3 days, during day 4 to day 7, during day 8 to day 14 and after day 14. The numbers of cases for each group were 568, 496, 177 and 50 respectively. Data showed that from group 1 to 4, the prevalence rates of major symptoms on the first day of hospitalization were: (1) 9.7%, 16.5%, 23.1% and 24.0% for "feeling chest pain" (P < 0.001), (2) 7.4%, 13.7%, 19.2% and 22.0% for "suffering from breathing obstruction" (P < 0.001), (3) 32.8%, 44.8%, 59.9% and 48.0%, for "coughing" (P < 0.001) and (4) 14.1%, 22.4%, 27.1% and 18.0% for "coughing up phlegm" (P = 0.0002), respectively. The rates of high respiratory frequency (>or= 24 bits/min.) were 11.1%, 15.5%, 22.8% and 25.5% (P < 0.001). The rates of abnormal chest X-ray were 80.3%, 89.0%, 92.3% and 88.9%, respectively (P = 0.002). The average numbers of abnormal lung field (the lung were divided into 6 fields) were 1.7, 1.9, 2.5 and 2.6 (P < 0.001); The numbers of cases receiving continuous oxygen supply treatment were 33.6%, 50.0%, 53.7% and 74.0% (P < 0.001), and the numbers of cases receiving glucocorticosteroids treatment were 28.2%, 35.9%, 53.7% and 62.0% (P < 0.001), respectively. With cases having had chronic baseline diseases prior to SARS infection, the age-standardized fatality rates were 14.9%, 11.7%, 50.0% and 33.9% (P < 0.001), and the average courses of the disease were 30.3, 34.2, 42.9 and 47.5 days (P < 0.001), respectively. In cases without chronic baseline diseases, the age-standardized fatality rates were 5.3%, 9.8%, 9.2% and 8.3% (P = 0.101), and the average courses for each group were 32.4, 35.3, 40.9 and 47.6 days (P < 0.001), respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Delayed hospitalization would cause the situation of SARS patient to deteriorate, losing the best chance for treatment and increase case fatality. In terms of control program on SARS, emphasize should be paid on decreasing the panic of patients to the disease so as to get early hospitalization.</p>

Analysis on the cost and its related factors of clinically confirmeds severe acute respiratory syndrome cases in Beijing / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the medical cost and its related factors of clinically confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) cases in Beijing.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The average medical cost per person/day was calculated on 1272 SARS cases with complete hospitalization data from the Beijing SARS clinical database. Factors associated with medical expenditure were explored by both single factor and multi-factor analyses.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The medical costs of SARS patients in Beijing were 18 767.50 RMB/case and 632.02 RMB/day/case. Expenses on medication accounted for the highest proportion (0.66%). The increase in expenses on medication was significantly associated to the increase in total expenditure. Analyses by single factor, factor stratification as well as multi-factor analyses showed that: the expenditure increased significantly with the following factors of the patients: prolonged days of hospitalization, severe symptoms and signs, hospitalization at the early stage of disease onset, being medical staff themselves, with baseline diseases, being applied mechanical ventilation, and with medical insurance.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The medical expenditure on SARS patients at the hospital was higher than that on patients with common diseases which was associated to the following factors as: days of hospitalization, severity of disease, stage of the disease break-out, patient's occupation, baseline disease status, medical insurance status etc.</p>

A preliminary investigation on the serological and epidemiological characteristics of severe acute respiratory syndrome in children / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a highly contagious infection caused by a newly discovered strain of coronavirus (SARS-CoV). During the outbreak of SARS in the first half of 2003, children appeared to be less susceptible to the SARS coronavirus and pediatric patients presented with a less aggressive clinical course than adult patients did, demonstrating the traits which were rarely observed in other viral contagious disease. The present study aimed to preliminarily examine the presence of serum specific antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-associated coronavirus virus (SARS-CoV) in pediatric SARS patients and explore the possibility of subclinical infection in children/adults through close association with SARS cases.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>(1) Clinicians and nurses visited families and collected general and epidemiological information about the subjects using a standard questionnaire and took serum specimens. (2) Specific antibodies against SARS-CoV were assayed with two methods, indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) for detecting IgG antibodies and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for mixed antibodies. Serum specimens tested included those from 21 clinically confirmed pediatric SARS cases (aged from 8 months to 14 years, 11 male and 10 female) and their 23 parents who had close contact with the children, 36 adult patients in convalescence stage of SARS, 24 children (aged 1.5 to 14 years) and other 34 adults who had close contact with infected adults.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The positive rates of specific IgG and mixed antibodies against SARS-CoV were 38% (8/21) and 33% (7/21) in pediatric cases; whereas the rates were 75% (27/36) and 69% (25/36) in adult patients. (2) The proportion of the patients who had close contact to SARS patients was 7/8 among the antibody-positive group vs. 1/13 for the antibody-negative group (P < 0.05). (3) The IgG antibody emerged in one of 24 children, whose mother, a nurse, had suffered from SARS (4%). (4) Among 23 parents of children with SARS, one was positive for IgG and the mixed antibodies, whose grandson and husband suffered from SARS; The IgG antibody and the mixed antibodies were also positive in another adult who had close contact with adult SARS cases (3%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>(1) SARS-CoV infection was confirmed by serological methods in 38.1% of clinically diagnosed pediatric SARS cases, which leads to the assumption that correct diagnosis of pediatric SARS requires more accurate and efficient ways, for example, screening for antigen or gene of SARS-CoV. (2) The proportion of the patients who had close contact to SARS patients among antibody-positive cases was higher than that in antibody-negative cases. (3) It is possible that subclinical SARS CoV infection exists in children and adults, although the rate of occurrence is low. The data of the present study did not confirm that SARS had subclinical infection among adults who had close contact to pediatric SARS cases.</p>

Analyses on the effect of community-based intervention on hypertension / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To testify the feasibility of management through contract system between general practitioners and patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In Sichuan province contract was made between general practitioners and hypertension patients in "community health service center-family of hypertension patients" in Yulin community in Chengdu city. After half a year, we analysed the effects of community-based intervention on hypertension.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>General means of both SBP and DBP remarkably decreased (P < 0.05) with SBP remarkably decreased by 8.94 mm Hg while DBP decreased by 3.61 mm Hg. After interfered by the model, people whose blood pressure were above normal had a remarkable decrease than before by 14.06 mm Hg (P < 0.05). Rates of hypertension being under control increased from 38.39% to 64.29% (P < 0.001). Rates of awareness on fatness and heredity in hypertensive patients were increasing from 58.06% to 74.19% (P < 0.001). Rate of awareness on risk factors for hypertension was also higher than that of 6 months back (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The model of management by signing contract between general practitioners and patients in community, proved to be a successful way in the treatment to control high blood pressure.</p>