[The application of remote sensing data in epidemic situation analysis of malaria and encephalitis B].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the epidemic regularity of malaria and encephalitis B by using the data of remote sensing (Rs) in flood area. METHODS: The demarcation standards in counties with flood disaster were formed depending on the descriptive analysis results of remote sensing data and combined with that of field survey. Three indicators were used to analyze the epidemic situation of malaria and encephalitis B in Jiangxi Province during a heavy flooding in 1998: the increasing percentage of incidence in 1998 comparing with the median of past five years (1993-1997), the increasing percentage of incidence in 1998 comparing with that of 1997, the increasing percentage of incidence in 1999 comparing with that of 1998. RESULTS: The demarcation standards of flooding counties were defined as follows: by Rs, a county with a flood area of over 100 thousand mu was classified into group one, a county with a flood area under 100 thousand mu was classified into group two, a county with reported flood but not identified by RS was classified into group three, the other counties in the province were classified into group four. The malaria incidence in the province in 1998 was at an average historical level. Compared with 1997, malaria incidence in each group increased in 1998 by 111.61% in group one, 97.50% in group two, 43.63% in group three. So there is an evident correlation between the flood area by Rs and the increasing of malaria incidence (Rs = 0.893, P < 0.05). Malaria incidence in 1999 in non-flood area increased by 83.39% in comparison with that of 1998. The encephalitis B incidence increased by 252.03% in 1998 in group four compared with that of 1997; while the incidence increased in all the four groups in 1999 than that of in 1998. CONCLUSION: The remote sensing data on flood can help fully analyze the epidemic situation of malaria and encephalitis B.

Cigarette brand preferences of smokers among university students in Japan.

BACKGROUND: A survey on smoking behavior and relating factors among university students is necessary for establishing antismoking measures toward younger generation. To determine brand preferences of young smokers, we conducted a cross-sectional survey for students in a university. METHODS: An anonymous questionnaire was completed by the students at their annual health examinations. A total of 5688 students out of 7136 responded this survey (79.7%). The questionnaire included questions about smoking status, number of cigarettes smoked, brand preference, etc. RESULTS: Smoking prevalence was 55.2% for males and 12.0% for females. Estimated consumption of Japanese-brand cigarettes was 46.8% for males and 36.1% for females, whereas that of American-brand cigarettes was 36.3% for males and 45.1% for females. These values are much higher than the market share of imported cigarettes in Japan (17.1% in 1992). Five American brands ranked in the top 10 brands among these university students, whereas only one American brand was ranked in the top 10 brands in the Japanese market in 1992. Smokers who prefer cigarettes with higher nicotine ratings were more likely to have a higher consumption rate than otherwise. CONCLUSIONS: Cigarette brand preference is an important aspect to realize the smoking behavior among young smokers.

A cohort study on cerebrovascular disease in middle-aged and elderly population in rural areas in Jiangxi Province, China.

To clarify the risk factors of CVD deaths in rural areas in Jiangxi Province, China, a cohort study was carried out from September 1, 1994 through December 31, 2000 involving 50,252 participants aged 40 years or older in 4 counties. Among the 3,429 deaths, 671 cases (398 males and 273 females) died of CVD. In addition, excluding 183 cases with a previous history of CVD, 632 CVD deaths out of 50,069 subjects were analyzed using Cox proportional hazard models. The multivariate hazard ratio (HR) for CVD mortality significantly increased in parallel with age, blood pressure and degree of liking for salty foods (p for trend < 0.01). The multivariate HR for CVD mortality of ex-drinkers was 1.55 (95% CI: 1.04, 2.31) compared with non-drinkers. The multivariate HR for CVD mortality of subjects who ate meat once or twice per month was 0.75 (95% CI: 0.62, 0.91) compared with those who never ate meat or seldom. There was no significant relationship between smoking and CVD mortality. Our results indicated that the main risk factors for CVD mortality were advancing age, high-normal blood pressure and hypertension. The risk in these areas was lower in subjects who disliked salty foods and those who ate meat once or twice per month.