[Epidemiological investigation of tinnitus in Sichuan and Chongqing].

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors of tinnitus in Sichuan and Chongqing. Methods: We designed a tinnitus epidemiological questionnaire. The multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling methods was applied to obtain study subjects in six areas (Nanchong, Jiangjin, Fengdu, Yunyang, Suining and Ya'an), which were selected for epidemiological investigation. Home visit completion of epidemiological questionnaires was conducted. The trained investigators guided the respondents to fill in the tinnitus epidemiological questionnaires, and the epidemiological status of six areas on prevalence and risk factor was investigated. SPSS 22.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: Sampling population were 10 289, in which 9 273 were valid questionnaires. There were 4 281 males and 4 992 females, with an average age of 47.3 years, among which 34.83% (3 230/9 273) had tinnitus. 3.99% (370/9 273) were diagnosed with bothersome tinnitus. In a multivariable logistic regression mod, the following factors were associated with onsetting of tinnitus: sleep disorder [Odds Ratio(OR)=3.74] and noise exposure(OR=1.99). The risk of disease was lowest in the age of 30-40 years old, while the risk of disease was higher for people under 30 and over 40. In another multivariable logistic regression mode, the following factors were associated with having bothersome tinnitus: older people were more likely to suffer from tinnitus, sleep disorders (OR=4.68) and noise exposure (OR=1.56). Conclusions: The prevalence of tinnitus in Sichuan and Chongqing is about 34.83%, but most of the tinnitus is short-lived and has low loudness, which will not affect the patients. Only a small number of patients with tinnitus (3.99%) persist and affect their health and need treatment. The occurrence and exacerbation of tinnitus may be related to sleep, age, and noise exposure.

[Effect of several human metabolic compounds for trapping Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the indoor effect of six human metabolic compounds for trapping adult Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus. METHODS: The effects of six human metabolic compounds alone (acetic acid, propionic acid, octanoic acid, lactic acid, 1-octene-3-alcohol and urea alone), liquid lactic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, octanoic acid, lactic acid or 1-octene-3-alcohol in combination with urea at an equal mass ratio, and lactic acid-urea combinations at various mass ratios, for trapping Cx. p. quinquefasciatus were examined using the trapping method, while the dechlorinated water served as a control. RESULTS: The indoor mosquito-trapping efficacy of the six human metabolic compounds was all superior to the dechlorinated water. Acetic acid, propionic acid, octanoic acid, or 1-octene-3-alcohol combined with urea at a mass ratio of 1∶1 had a comparable mosquito-trapping efficacy with acetic acid, propionic acid, octanoic acid, or 1-octene-3-alcohol alone (all P values > 0.05). The lactic acidurea combination at a mass ratio of 1∶1 had a significantly higher mean cumulative trapping capacity [(35.60 ± 8.11) mosquitoes] than lactic acid [(20.80 ± 8.53) mosquitoes], urea [(17.00 ± 7.18) mosquitoes] or dechlorinated water alone (7.20 ± 2.68) (all P values < 0.05). In addition, the lactic acid-urea combinations at mass ratios of 1∶1, 1∶2, 1∶3, 1∶4 or 1∶5 all had significantly greater mosquito-trapping efficacies than lactic acid, urea or dechlorinated water alone (all P values < 0.05), and the optimal combination (lactic acid-urea at a 1∶4 mass ratio) had a mean cumulative trapping capacity of (56.20 ± 9.88) mosquitoes, which was significantly superior to lactic acid [(17.00 ± 3.94) mosquitoes], urea [(16.40 ± 3.78) mosquitoes] or dechlorinated water alone [(7.40 ± 3.44) mosquitoes] (all P values < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The lactic acid-urea combination remarkably increases the indoor trapping capability of Cx. p. quinquefasciatus, and this combination has a weak smell, which is suitable to be used at home and office environments.

Influence of patient-controlled i.v. analgesia with opioids on supraventricular arrhythmias after pulmonary resection.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative supraventricular arrhythmias (SVA) are common after pulmonary resection and autonomic imbalance is thought to be one of the triggers. Opioids can increase parasympathetic activity and may balance heightened sympathetic tone after operation. We have examined the effect of postoperative patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) with opioids on postoperative SVA. METHODS: Forty-eight patients were randomly assigned to two groups. The GA group received general anaesthesia PCA and PCA with opioids (fentanyl 6 microg ml(-1) and tramadol 3 mg ml(-1)). The GEA group received combined general/epidural anaesthesia plus patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA). Holter recording was completed for 12 h before operation and 12 and 48 h after operation. The incidence of supraventricular tachycardias (SVT), atrial fibrillation, and supraventricular ectopic beats (SVEBs) was evaluated. RESULTS: The incidence of postoperative SVT was significantly lower in the GA group than in the GEA group (3/22 vs 10/22, P=0.021). The incidence of postoperative SVEBs was not statistically different between the groups, but the frequency of postoperative SVEBs increased less in the GA than the GEA group (7/22 vs 15/22, P=0.016). CONCLUSIONS: PCA with opioids (fentanyl and tramadol) can reduce postoperative SVA after pulmonary resection compared with PCEA with ropivacaine.

Evolution of the isochore structure in the scale of chromosome: insight from the mutation bias and fixation bias.

Following the development of reliable methods for inferring the direction of mutations of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), and the revealing of the human isochore map, it has become possible to investigate the evolution of the isochore structure in a continuous region. In this study, the recent evolution of the isochore structure on human chromosome 18, as inferred from the SNP, was examined. A remarkable mutation bias was found, which was destroying the present isochore structure. However, a fixation bias contributed by the biased gene conversion (BGC) effect and a rising fixation probability of derived alleles with increasing GC content was extending the present isochore structure. Combining the two opposing processes, the old isochore structure was declining and a more homogenous isochore structure with higher GC content was being formed on the chromosome. During this process, both the CpG and genic sites, which were present in the isochore but were paid little attention to before, played an important role. In addition, the recombination was confirmed to promote the GC alleles fixed in the genome because of the BGC effect. For the first time, it was observed that with the occurrence of little recombination, AT alleles had the identical fixation probability with GC alleles in the recombination cold spots.

Glyceroglycolipids from Serratula strangulata.

The rhizomes of Serratula strangulata yielded three glyceroglycolipids, i.e. 1,2-di-O-(9Z,12Z,15Z-octadecatrienoyl)-3-O-(6-amine-6-deoxy-alpha-D-glucosyl)-glycerol, 1,2-di-O-(9Z,12Z,15Z-octadecatrienoyl)-3-O-(6-p-hydroxy-phenyl-propionamido-6-deoxy-alpha-D-glucosyl)-glycerol and 1,2-di-O-(9Z,12Z,15Z-octadecatrienoyl)-3-O-[alpha-D-glucose(1-6)-beta-D-allose]-glycerol, as well as a known sesquiterpene lactone and three known phytoecdysones. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral data, especially by 2D NMR spectroscopic methods and chemical conversion. These compounds exhibited significant antibacterial and antitumor activities.