Effect of radiofrequency of different temperatures and durations on motor conduction velocity of rat sciatic nerve / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effect of radiofrequency of different temperatures and durations on sciatic nerve motor conduction velocity (MCV).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The bilateral sciatic nerve of 70 adult SD rats was dissected and exposed to radiofrequency ablation of different temperatures (30, 50, 55, 60, and 70 degrees C) and durations. The nerves were also exposed to increasing ablation temperatures from 30 degrees C to 50 degrees C with an increment of 5 degrees C (60 s at each temperature), and the changes in the MCV parameters were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The MCV parameters of rat sciatic nerve underwent significant changes following the radiofrequency exposures (P<0.05) except for the exposure at 55 degrees celsius; for 10 s. Below the temperature of 55 degrees celsius;, the MCV showed no obvious correlation to the exposure time for the group. For the nerves exposed to radiofrequency of 55 degrees celsius;, the latency was not correlated to the exposure time within 30 s, and data could be obtained from 55 s group; with these exceptions, the latency was found to positively while the negative phase wave inversely correlated to the exposure time. With fixed exposure time of 60 s, the MCV parameters were positively correlated to the ablation temperature (below 50 degrees C). Failure of MCV measurement occurred following exposures to 55 degrees celsius; for 50 s (or longer) or to 60 degrees C (or higher) for 10 s.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Low-temperature radiofrequency (below 50 degrees C) produces definite effects on the MCV of rat sciatic nerve, and the effects are not associated with the exposure time, the mechanism of which remains unclear. At a given temperature, the ablation for sufficiently long durations can result in complete block of the MCV. At higher temperatures, radiofrequency exposure cause obvious nerve conduction block.</p>

Comprehensive evaluation on the potential risk for HIV infection in 12 villages with a history of former paid blood donation / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To learn the potential risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in 12 villages with a history of former paid blood donation, and to provide different measures for HIV/AIDS prevention and control.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seven indexes were selected, including HIV sero-prevalence rates, hepatitis C virus (HCV) sero-prevalence rates, HIV/AIDS KAB (knowledge, attitude and belief), proportion of paid blood/plasma donation, risks on related behavioral information on sex and HIV/AIDS infections. Rank Sum Ratio (RSR) was performed to synthetically evaluate the potential risk of HIV infection in those 12 selected villages.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>According to the results of evaluation by 18 experts, weight coefficient of HIV sero-prevalence rate was the highest (0.28), and HIV/AIDS KAB the lowest (0.09) among the seven indexes. The results of comprehensive evaluation with RSR showed that the villages coded 01 and 02 belonged to higher level of potential risk of HIV infection, villages 09, 12, 05, 10 and 03 were at medium level while villages 04, 06, 08, 07 and 11 were at low level.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The level of potential risk for HIV infection was different in 12 villages with a history of former paid blood donation. Different measures of HIV/AIDS prevision and control should be performed according to the potential risk level for HIV infection of the 12 villages.</p>

A cross-sectional survey on human immunodeficiency virus infection in a former commercial blood donating community, Shanxi Province / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the sero-prevalence of and the risk factors for human immunodeficiency virus infection among residents in a former commercial blood donating community, Shanxi Province.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among all residents aged 18 - 64 years in 4 villages in a rural county of Shanxi Province. A standardized structured questionnaire was administered to collect socio-demographic, medical and risk behavioral information. Venous blood was collected for HIV antibody testing. Generalized estimating equation with logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors for HIV infection. Population attributable fraction was used to evaluate the role of public health in the risk factors for the incidence of HIV.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 3062 villagers participated in the study and provided their blood samples for HIV antibody testing. 29.5% of the participants had a history of selling blood and/or plasma. Among the subgroup of former blood donors (FBDs), 71.9% sold whole blood only, 4.1% sold plasma only and 24.0% sold both. Forty HIV infected persons were identified in the four villages. HIV prevalence was 1.3%, overall, 4.1% in FBDs and 0.1% in non-FBDs in the community. Amongst the subgroup of FBDs, HIV prevalence was 1.5% for whole blood only, 21.6% for plasma only and 8.8% for both. Univariate analysis showed that village of residence, education, marital status, gender, plasma/blood donation were statistically associated with HIV seropositivity in the villagers. Other variables, such as gender, age, occupation, number of sexual partners, drug use, histories of tooth extraction, acupuncture, surgical operation and medical injection were not found to be statistically associated with HIV seropositivity. Multivariate analysis found that selling whole blood only (adjusted OR = 13.25, 95% CI: 3.02 - 58.25) and selling plasma or both (adjusted OR = 87.85, 95% CI: 22.22 - 347.27) were significantly associated with HIV seropositivity, and the additive population attributable fraction (PAF) was 89.8%. Villagers in village 03 were more likely to be HIV positive than those in village 04 (adjusted OR = 12.26, 95% CI: 1.46 - 103.00).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>At present, HIV epidemic in the former commercial blood donating community has a low prevalence in Shanxi Province and the majority of HIV infections should be related to the blood and plasma donation. This study reveals the existence of HIV second-generation transmission from the infected blood donors to the general population. However, HIV had not been evidently extended from the blood/plasma donors to general population.</p>

Study on sexual behavior and HIV/STIs among miners in Yunnan province / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This paper aims to describe human immunodeficiency virus/sexual transmitted infections (HIV/STIs) related knowledge, attitudes, practice and the prevalence of HIV/STIs amongst miners.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two focus-group related discussions with a total number of 13 members including Community Advisory Boards (CAB) and 12 miners were conducted in a mining township in Yunnan province. Questionnaire surveys and HIV/STIs tests were conducted among 233 miners recruited by cluster sampling in two towns where the mines were located.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average age of respondents was 28 year old with 82.8% of them younger than 35 year old. 95.3% of the respondents attended the education level of junior middle school. AIDS related knowledge among miners was low. The percentage of right answers to the routes of transmission was only 54.4%. The ratio of self-reported prostitutes visits was 9.0%. The prevalence rates of Neisseria gonrrhoeae, HIV and Chlamydia trachomatis were 0.4%, 0.4%and 8.2% respectively. The correlation between Chlamydia trachomatis infection and education (P = 0.0347) was significant, and so was that between Chlamydia trachomatis infection and marriage status (P = 0.032).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This study showed that the awareness of HIV/STIs prevention was limited and the rate of condom use was low, suggesting that miners needed to be viewed as a key population in HIV/STIs prevention and control.</p>

A cross-sectional survey on hepatitis C virus infection among residents aged 18-59 years in a former commercial blood donating community, Shanxi Province / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine sero-prevalence of and risk factors for hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) among residents aged 18-59 years in a former commercial blood donating community, Shanxi province.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 660 randomly selected residents aged 18-59 years from 12 villages in a rural county of Shanxi province. Structured questionnaire was administered to collect socio-demographic,medical and risk behavioral information. 7 ml-volume venous blood was collected for HCV antibody testing.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The overall HCV sero-prevalence rates were 8.2% and 27.7% among former commercial blood donors in the community. Data from multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that people ever selling blood (adjusted OR = 14.28, 95% CI: 6.83-29.87) and receiving blood transfusion (adjusted OR = 8.66,95% CI: 2.31-32.47) were the primary risk factors for HCV infection. Subgroup analysis in blood donors explored that ever selling plasma (adjusted OR = 8.56,95% CI: 2.87-25.54) was the risk factor for HCV infection. Villagers who stopped selling blood in 1994 and thereafter were less likely to be HCV positive than those stopping selling blood before 1994 (adjusted OR = 0.32,95% CI: 0.11-0.93). Female donors had a lower risk than male ones (adjusted OR = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.10-0.83).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A HCV epidemic was once existing in rural community residents in the province that former commercial blood/plasma donation was the main reason for HCV epidemic in the community. It is urgent to make efficient measures to prevent HCV secondary transmission and provide patients with care and treatment to this community.</p>