贵州与陕西省燃煤型砷中毒的比较分析

目的了解陕西病区燃煤型砷中毒与贵州省燃煤型砷中毒在不同地区之间是否存在中毒差异。方法对陕西病区燃煤型砷中毒实地考察，将人群砷中毒现状，样品监测数据，以及病区环境气候等方面的情况资料与贵州省砷中毒病区相应的调查监测资料进行对照分析。结果贵州省砷中毒病情较陕西病区严重，砷中毒引起死亡的病人高达4．41％，而陕西病区尚无与砷中毒相关死亡的病例报道。贵州病区最高煤含砷量是陕西病区最高煤含砷量的17倍，贵州省环境、食物受煤砷二次污染严重，陕西环境食物的二次污染不明显；贵州省属少晴多雨天气，陕西病区相对晴多雨少。结论贵州省砷中毒较陕西省严重，两省差异主要有3个方面：①煤含砷量差别显著；②煤砷二次污染差别显著；③环境气候与生活习惯差别明显。     

一本人与自然和谐相处的宝贵教科书——评《燃煤污染型砷中毒环境与疾病图谱》

据世界卫生组织2006年报道，全球接近1／4的疾病由可以避免的环境暴露引起，每年超过1300万人的超额死亡归因于可预防的环境因素。砷是一种严重危害人类健康的环境毒物和已知的人类强致癌物。地方性砷中毒的主要发病原因是自然环境高砷所致的饮水型砷中毒以及燃烧高砷煤所引起的燃煤污染型砷中毒。我国燃煤污染型砷中毒病区仅限于贵州和陕西两省。其中，贵州兴仁县是在上个世纪80年代末期卫生部首个确定的燃煤型砷中毒病区（也是世界上最早被确认的燃煤型砷中毒病区），当地的煤砷含量均值417．7～2166．7mg／kg，     

饮水砷暴露居民死因的调查与分析

目的调查饮水砷暴露地区居民的死亡情况。方法运用横断面调查方法，对20个砷中毒病区常住居民1999—2001年的死亡情况进行调查，调查结果按照国际疾病分类（ICD-10）编码分类登记，标化死亡率采用2000年全国标准人口构成进行标化。结果20个砷中毒病区3年累计调查人口33473人，死亡人口256人．粗死亡率764．79／10万．标化死亡率812．59／10万，砷中毒病区居民死亡率明显高于一般人群（u=3．82，P〈0．01）。其中．男性死亡率高于女性（u=2．14，P〈0．05）。各年龄组中儿童、中老年死亡率明显高于一般人群，砷中毒病区居民全死因标化死亡比（SMR）为1．43（95％CI：1．26～1．61，P〈0．05），砷中毒病区居民的前5位死因是呼吸系统疾病、恶性肿瘤、脑血管病、心脏病、内分泌系统疾病。结论饮水砷暴露地区居民的死亡率明显高于一般人群．尤以儿童和中老年明显，死因主要是呼吸系统疾病、恶性肿瘤等慢性疾病为主。     

燃煤型慢性砷中毒病区不同人群发砷含量的比较

目的研究燃煤型砷中毒病区不同人群发砷含量与年龄、性别、病情的关系。方法发砷测定采用ＤＤＣ－Ａｇ法。结果病区砷中毒患者和病区正常对照组发砷含量均呈２０倍以上高于非病区正常对照组;患者发砷含量有随病情轻重程度而增高的倾向;正常人群中发砷含量男高于女的现象在燃煤型砷中毒患者和病区对照者中不再存在,且反有女性高于男性的倾向;患者发砷含量有随年龄增加而增高的趋势,主要是女性患者发砷含量随年龄增加而增高的因素造成的。结论发砷含量与环境煤砷污染有密切关系,发砷含量显著升高是燃煤型地方性砷中毒病区存在的主要特征之一;没有临床表现的病区砷毒接触者,可考虑称为亚临床砷中毒患者以引起对其防治的重视,而对此类患者存在的判断,发砷含量显得更为重要     

燃煤污染型砷中毒患者体内氧化与抗氧化系统损伤的观察

目的 研究燃煤型砷中毒患者体内氧化与抗化系统的损伤，以探讨燃煤型砷中毒的中毒机理。方法 对燃煤型砷中毒患者体内抗氧化物歧化酶（ＳＯＤ）〈谷胱苦肽过氧化物酸疼 （ＧＳＨ－ＰＸ）、巯基（ＳＨ）以及脂质过氧人代谢产物丙二醛（ＭＤＡ）的含量进行了测定和分析。结果 病区非病人（除ＳＨ）及中毒组ＳＯＤ、ＧＳＨ－ＰＸ、ＳＨ含量或活力明显ＭＤＡ含量明显增高，差异均有显著性。结论砷可致机体氧化与氧化系统平衡紊乱砷致     

内蒙土右旗木头湖村慢性砷中毒流行病学调查报告

对水砷含量超标率为４５．１７％的木头湖村１９９１人进行慢性砷中毒现患调查，从９５１名饮和高砷水患者中，查出慢性胂中毒患者９７人，患病率为１０．２０％，其中男怀患病率率显著高于女性（Ｐ〈０．０１）。患病率随水砷深度增颃是增高，随年龄增加而增加，病区居民发砷含量显著高于对照区，病区病人发砷 坑于非病区病人。病人静脉血的歧化酶含量显著低于对照区。丙二醛显著高于对照区。病人儿童智商显著低于对照区。病区１９     

2005年全国地方性砷中毒重点监测报告

目的掌握2005年全国地方性砷中毒（简称地砷病）病情及防治措施落实进度．为全国地砷病防治提供依据。方法按《全国地方性砷中毒监测方案》规定方法进行。结果①饮水型病区总改水率为36．23％（96／265），最低为0，最高为100％，改水工程水含砷量合格率为72．44％（113／156）；燃煤污染型病区总改炉率为73．69％（7424／9719），总改灶率为63．71％（2582／4053），铁炉总合格率为66．58％（245／368），烧煤台灶总合格率为73．75％（118／160）。（2）13个落实改水措施的监测点中有4个监测点改水工程水含砷量〉0．05mg／L：燃煤污染型病区3个监测点，改炉改灶并正常使用的居民户和改炉改灶但不正常使用的居民户辣椒含砷量中位数，均有2个监测点超过国家标准，兴仁县监测点单份样品最高超标近72倍。有1个监测点的改炉改灶但不正常使用的居民户玉米含砷量中位数超过国家标准。③饮水型地砷病病区14个监测点中患病率〉30％的有1个，在10％一30％的有5个，〈10％的有8个；燃煤污染型病区3个监测点患病率在20％～25％。结论①饮水型病区改水率很不平衡，改水后水含砷量依然超标的工程达25％以上；②燃煤污染型病区粮食砷污染以辣椒为重；③饮水型病区以轻病区为主，燃煤污染型病区病情重于饮水型病区。     

燃煤型慢性砷中毒患者免疫功能改变的观察

目的 探讨燃煤型慢性砷中毒患者T淋巴细胞免疫功能的改变。方法 选择贵州省兴仁县交乐乡病区有燃煤砷接触史，有慢性砷中毒症状，年龄在18-58岁的36例患者（男性19例、女性17例）和病区几公里以外的非燃用高砷煤的正常人（对照组）。抽取其外周血，采用单克隆抗体APAAP桥联酶标法进行T淋巴细胞亚群CD3^＋、CD4^＋,CD8^＋细胞检测。结果 CD3^＋、CD4^＋细胞和CD4^＋/CD8^＋明显低于正常人（P〈0．01），CD8^＋与正常人相比轻度增高。结论 燃煤砷对T淋巴细胞免疫功能有明显的抑制作用，能使T淋巴细胞的细胞粘附分子减少，T淋巴细胞免疫活性及信号传递作用减弱，辅助性T淋巴细胞与细胞毒性T淋巴细胞间的平衡失调。     

陕南燃煤污染区环境砷与地方性砷中毒发病关系的调查

目的 查清陕南燃煤污染区的环境砷污染及地方性砷中毒的发病情况和危害程度,确认该区域是否为燃煤型地方性砷中毒病区。方法 对陕南5县18乡(镇)20个调查点的燃煤、室内空气、玉米、辣椒、干菜、饮水、土壤砷进行调查,同时对该区域进行流行病学对比分析,对煤砷与室内空气砷水平及其与患者检出率之间作相关分析。结果 煤砷与室内空气砷呈正相关(r=0.6607,P<0.001);煤砷与患者检出率之间呈正相关(r=0.500 2,P<0.025);煤砷与煤质关系密切,煤质愈好,含砷愈低;调查发现轻、中、重度患者(不含对照点)193人,疑似患者34人,病情以轻、中度患者为主,占检出患者总数的86.01％,并且男性多于女性,中老年人多于和重于年轻人。结论 该调查区域是燃煤型砷污染区,是继贵州省之后新发现的又一个燃煤污染型砷中毒病区。     

燃煤污染型砷中毒临床症状体征分析

目的探讨燃煤污染型砷中毒的临床症状、体征以及流行特点。方法按国家的有关标准进行。结果１００例病人中８０％以上的病人出现皮肤损害前有眼花（７７％）、耳鸣（６６％）、心慌（６４％）、腹痛（４２％）等慢性砷中毒基本症状。调查点居民生活用煤砷含量（３２４．３３±１４９．９１）ｍｇ／ｋｇ。居民日人均总摄砷量（２.０２±１.２３）ｍｇ。其中约５０％由辣椒摄入。尿砷均值（０．１０７±０．０５５）ｍｇ／Ｌ。结论该地存在不同程度的砷污染,砷中毒仍在流行。结果提示：①皮肤损害、总摄砷量与尿砷排泄,皮肤损害与总摄砷量、发病时间之间均呈显著性相关（Ｐ< ０．０００１）。②凡有过燃用高砷煤史,出现眼花、心慌、经常性上腹部疼痛,可诊断为砷中毒轻度患者。③１９７６年至今,３３例（５．８‰）病人已死于癌肿,值得引起重视。     

Three layer functional model and energy exchange concept of aging process

Relying on a certain degree of abstraction, we can propose that no particular distinction exists between animate or living matter and inanimate matter. While focusing attention on some specifics, the dividing line between the two can be drawn. The most apparent distinction is in the level of structural and functional organization with the dissimilar streams of ‘energy flow’ between the observed entity and the surrounding environment. In essence, living matter is created from inanimate matter which is organized to contain internal intense energy processes and maintain lower intensity energy exchange processes with the environment. Taking internal and external energy processes into account, we contend in this paper that living matter can be referred to as matter of dissipative structure, with this structure assumed to be a common quality of all living creatures and living matter in general. Interruption of internal energy conversion processes and terminating the controlled energy exchange with the environment leads to degeneration of dissipative structure and reduction of the same to inanimate matter, (gas, liquid and/or solid inanimate substances), and ultimately what can be called ‘death.’ This concept of what we call dissipative nature can be extended from living organisms to social groups of animals, to mankind. An analogy based on the organization of matter provides a basis for a functional model of living entities. The models relies on the parallels among the three central structures of any cell (nucleus, cytoplasm and outer membrane) and the human body (central organs, body fluids along with the connective tissues, and external skin integument). This three-part structural organization may be observed almost universally in nature. It can be observed from the atomic structure to the planetary and intergalactic organizations. This similarity is corroborated by the membrane theory applied to living organisms. According to the energy nature of living matter and the proposed functional model, the decreased integrity of a human body's external envelope membrane is a first cause of the structural degradation and aging of the entire organism. The aging process than progresses externally to internally, as in single cell organisms, suggesting that much of the efforts towards the restoration and maintenance of the mechanisms responsible for structural development should be focused accordingly, on the membrane, i.e., the skin. Numerous reports indicate that all parts of the human body, like: bones, blood with blood vessels, muscles, skin, and so on, have some ability for restoration. Therefore, actual revival of not only aging tissue of the human body's membrane, but the entire human body enclosed within, with all internal organs, might be expected. We assess several aging theories within the context of our model and provide suggestions on how to activate the body's own anti-aging mechanisms and increase longevity. This paper presents some analogies and some distinctions that exist between the living dissipative structure matter and inanimate matter, discusses the aging process and proposes certain aging reversal solutions.     

Unusual responses of nocturnal pineal melatonin synthesis and secretion to swimming: Attempts to define mechanisms

Abstract: The effect of swimming at night on rat pineal melatonin synthesis was compared with that of light exposure at night. Rats were forced to swim at 0030 hr (lights out at 2000 hr) and sacrificed by decapitation 15 and 30 min later, immediately after swimming. Other groups of animals were exposed to white light (650μW/cm²) for 15 and 30 min at same time. Swimming caused a rapid and highly significant drop in the melatonin content in the pineal gland; however, the activity of N-acetyltransferase (NAT), the supposed rate limiting enzyme in the melatonin production, was not changed. Despite the drop in pineal melatonin levels, serum concentrations of the indole remained elevated in the rats that swam. In contrast, melatonin levels in the pineal and serum of light exposed rats fell precipitously, accompanied by a significant suppression of NAT activity. Since we anticipated that the strenuous exercise associated with swimming may induce release of artrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) from the heart, which in turn could cause the release of pineal melatonin, in a second study we injected physiological saline intravenously to stretch the cardiac muscle and release ANP. Three milliliters of normal saline was injected during the day into the jugular vein of anesthetized rats that were pretreated with isoproterenol to stimulate pineal melatonin production. Animals were killed 15 min after the saline injection, and pineal NAT activity and pineal melatonin levels were measured. The saline injections caused no alteration in the elevated levels of either NAT or melatonin. These data suggest that the disparity in pineal NAT activity (which was high) and pineal melatonin (which was low), in animals swum at night, may not be caused by ANP which is released during strenuous exercise such as swimming.     

Melatonin and photoperiodic time measurement: Seasonal breeding in the sheep

Abstract: Well-established circadian physiology supports the view that photoperiodic time measurement utilizes the coincidence between the presence of light and a photosensitive phase of a 'biological clock' to alter reproductive status—the so-called external coincidence model of seasonal breeding. In this review, we examine the mechanism whereby photoperiod interacts with presumed suprachiasmatic nuclei activity to allow endogenous melatonin to normally synchronize reproductive activity to the optimal time of year. The Romney Marsh sheep is particularly explored as an experimental model. It is suggested that the on/off activity of seasonal reproduction may be a robust mechanism able to be predictably manipulated by the judicious use of the light/dark cycle and exogenous melatonin, but firmly based on circadian principles.     

Serological survey of HIV and syphilis in pregnant women in Madagascar

Objectives Peripartal transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Treponema pallidum, the causative agent of syphilis, leads to severe consequences for newborns. Preventive measures require awareness of the maternal infection. Although HIV and syphilis testing in Madagascar could be theoretically carried out within the framework of the national pregnancy follow‐up scheme, the required test kits are rarely available at peripheral health centres. In this study, we screened blood samples of pregnant Madagascan women for HIV and syphilis seroprevalence to estimate the demand for systemic screening in pregnancy. Methods Retrospective anonymous serological analysis for HIV and syphilis was performed in plasma samples from 1232 pregnant women that were taken between May and July 2010 in Ambositra, Ifanadiana, Manakara, Mananjary, Moramanga and Tsiroanomandidy (Madagascar) during pregnancy follow‐up. Screening was based on Treponema pallidum haemagglutination tests for syphilis and rapid tests for HIV, with confirmation of positive screening results on line assays. Results Out of 1232 pregnant women, none were seropositive for HIV and 37 (3%) were seropositive for Treponema pallidum. Conclusions Our findings are in line with previous studies that describe considerable syphilis prevalence in the rural Madagascan population. The results suggest a need for screening to prevent peripartal Treponema pallidum transmission, while HIV is still rare. If they are known, Treponema pallidum infections can be easily, safely and inexpensively treated even in pregnancy to reduce the risk of transmission.     

Variabilité des concentrations plasmatiques de l’angiotensinogène et risque d’hypertension artérielle chez le rat transgénique

Aim

Genetic polymorphisms of the human angiotensinogen gene are frequent and may induce up to 30% increase of plasma angiotensinogen concentrations with a blood pressure increase of up to 5 mmHg. Their role for the pathogenesis of human arterial hypertension remains unclear. High plasma angiotensinogen levels could increase the sensitivity to other blood pressure stressors.

Methods

Male transgenic rats with a 9-fold increase of plasma angiotensinogen concentrations and male non-transgenic rats aged 10 weeks were treated or not with NG-Nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester for 3 weeks in their drinking water (n = 3/group). Systolic blood pressure and body weight were measured at baseline and at the end of the study when left ventricular weight and ventricular expression of angiotensin I-converting enzyme and procollagen Iα1 were determined (polymerase chain reaction).

Results

At baseline, transgenic rats had +18 mmHg higher bood pressure and –8% lower body weight compared to non-transgenic rats (P < 0.05) without significant changes for the vehicle groups throughout the study (P > 0.05). NG-Nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester increased blood pressure, left ventricular weight and left ventricular weight indexed for body weight by +41%, +17.6% and +18.6% (P < 0.05) in transgenic and +25%, +5.3% and +6.7% (P > 0.05) in non-transgenic rats compared to untreated animals, respectively. Cardiac gene expression showed no differences between groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Increased plasma angiotensinogen levels may sensitize to additional blood pressure stressors. Our preliminary results point towards an independent role of angiotensinogen in the pathogenesis of human hypertension and associated end-organ damage.     

Morphological and immunocytochemical heterogeneity of cultured pinealocytes from one-week-and two-month-old rats: Planimetric and densitometric investigations

Abstract: In vitro preparations of rat pinealocytes are widely used for biochemical analyses of signal transduction processes. This paper deals with morphological and immunocytochemical features of such preparations. Special attention was paid to the problems of whether pinealocytes represent a heterogeneous cell population and how such heterogeneity may develop during ontogeny. The investigations were performed with cells which were obtained from the pineal organ of one-week-and two-month-old rats, attached to synthetic peptide-coated coverslips or tissue culture chamber slides, and maintained under in vitro conditions overnight. The attached cells were then fixed with paraformaldehyde. These preparations yielded monolayers of spherical cells of different sizes; most cells were isolated, but some of them were aggregated and formed small clusters. On the average, the cells from the one-week-old animals were smaller than the cells from the two-month-old animals. Immunocytochemical demonstration of S-antigen, a pinealocyte-specific marker, showed that the majority of the cells from two-month-old animals were intensely or moderately labelled. Pinealocytes from one-week-old animals were less S-antigen immunoreactive. Only very few cells (less than 1% displayed glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-immunoreactivity. Planimetric investigations of the cell size and semiquantitative densitometric investigations of the intensity of the S-antigen immunoreaction revealed that (i) pinealocytes kept in vitro form a heterogeneous cell population, and that (ii) this heterogeneity increases during postnatal development from one-week-old to two-month-old animals. Two groups of pinealocytes can be distinguished based on their developmental fate: pinealocytes of one group grow dramatically, but show only a moderate increase in S-antigen immunoreactivity, and pinealocytes of the other group retain their size, but display a distinct increment in S-antigen immunoreacti vitv.     

Effects of pinealectomy and melatonin administration on certain indices of ovarian hyperplasia and/or hypertrophy in rats with both ovaries intact or after unilateral ovariectomy

Abstract: In earlier studies from other laboratories it was shown that melatonin decreased ovarian weight in rats and inhibited compensatory hypertrophy of the remaining ovary after unilateral ovariectomy. This study was designed to examine the influence of melatonin on certain indices of ovarian hyperplasia and/or hypertrophy in adult female rats with both ovaries preserved and with either an intact pineal gland or with the pineal gland removed (pinealectomy, PX) or, finally, in sham-PX animals. Similar studies were conducted on rats after unilateral ovariectomy, referring the examined parameters to the remaining intact ovary. The studies included mitotic activity of granulosa layer cells and corpus luteum cells, ovarian weight, ovarian cross-sectional area, cross-sectional area of the granulosa layer of all the Graafian follicles and the cross-sectional areas of the corpora lutea, visible on the ovarian cross-section. On the basis of results, we conclude that: 1) the effect of PX on the processes of ovarian hyperplasia and hypertrophy may vary; analogously, exogenous melatonin administration may influence ovarian hyperplasia and hypertrophy in different ways; 2) PX and exogenous melatonin may, under certain conditions, exert similar biological effects, even synergistic effects; 3) melatonin inhibits ovarian growth processes, while the effects of PX are variable; 4) the results indicate that in experiments performed on rats, with the use of two control groups, i.e., intact and sham-PX, melatonin effects on these two groups may differ.