ABSTRACT
Immunity acquired from infection or vaccination protects humans from symptomatic hepatitis E. However, whether the risk of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is reduced by the immunity remains unknown. To understand this issue, a cohort with 12 409 participants randomized to receive the hepatitis E vaccine Hecolin(®) or placebo were serologically followed up for 2 years after vaccination. About half (47%) of participants were initially seropositive. A total of 139 infection episodes, evidenced by four-fold or greater rise of anti-HEV level or positive seroconversion, occurred in participants who received three doses of treatment. Risk of infection was highest among the baseline seronegative placebo group participants (2.04%). Pre-existing immunity and vaccine-induced immunity lower the risk significantly, to 0.52% and 0.30%, respectively. In conclusion, both vaccine-induced and naturally acquired immunity can effectively protect against HEV infection.
Subject(s)
Hepatitis E virus/immunology , Hepatitis E/immunology , Hepatitis E/prevention & control , Vaccines, Synthetic/immunology , Viral Hepatitis Vaccines/immunology , Adolescent , Adult , Cohort Studies , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Hepatitis E/epidemiology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Placebos/administration & dosage , Risk Assessment , Vaccines, Synthetic/administration & dosage , Viral Hepatitis Vaccines/administration & dosage , Young AdultABSTRACT
In Xuan Wei County, Yunnan Province, lung cancer mortality is among China's highest and, especially in females, is more closely associated with indoor burning of "smoky" coal, as opposed to wood or "smokeless" coal, than with tobacco smoking. Indoor air samples were collected during the burning of all three fuels. In contrast to wood and smokeless coal emissions, smoky coal emission has high concentrations of submicron particles containing mutagenic organics, especially in aromatic and polar fractions. These studies suggested an etiologic link between domestic smoky coal burning and lung cancer in Xuan Wei.
Subject(s)
Coal , Neoplasms/mortality , Smoke/adverse effects , China , Female , Humans , Male , Neoplasms/etiology , Polycyclic Compounds/analysis , Smoke/analysis , WoodABSTRACT
We have recorded the afferent unit discharges and using it as an index, measured the locations and the volumes of nine acupoints, such as Neiguan and Shaoshang, which are innervated by median nerve. We have also investigated the relationships between electric needling sensations and afferent fibres of different groups as well as manual needling sensations by means of analysing power-spectrum of the unit discharges with FFT. It has been found that the fibres of Group II and Group IV convey numbness and soreness, respectively. The fibres of Group III relates to the conduction of heaviness and distention closely.
