Dietary patterns in association with the risk of elevated blood pressure,lipid profile and fasting plasma glucose among adults in Jiangsu Province of China

Background and AimsThis study aimed to identify unique dietary patterns, and to examine the correlation of dietary patterns with elevated blood pressure, lipid profile and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) among adults in Jiangsu Province of China.Methods and results4951 individuals were selected in this cross-sectional study from nutrition and health survey in Jiangsu Province in 2014. Factor analysis was used to identify the dietary patterns. Higher quartile of the cereals-seafood-dairy dietary pattern was inversely associated with high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) (composed to Q1, OR = 0.834, 95% CI: 0.700～0.993, P < 0.05) and FPG (composed to Q1, OR = 0.725, 95% CI: 0.609–0.862, P < 0.05), while higher quartile of the traditional Jiangsu dietary pattern was positively associated with low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) (composed to Q1, OR = 1.395, 95% CI: 1.067～1.825, P < 0.05) and high systolic blood pressure (SBP) (composed to Q1, OR = 1.238, 95% CI: 1.020～1.503, P < 0.05). Higher scores of the refined food-oriented dietary pattern was inversely related to high triglycerides (TG) (composed to Q1, OR = 0.665, 95% CI: 0.551～0.802, P < 0.05), but was positively related to high TC (composed to Q1, OR = 2.179, 95% CI: 1.817～2.614), high LDL (composed to Q1, OR = 2.431, 95% CI: 2.037～2.902, P < 0.05) and elevated FPG (composed to Q1, OR = 1.734, 95% CI: 1.458～2.061, P < 0.05).ConclusionDifferent structure of dietary patterns do affect the blood pressure, lipid profile and fasting plasma glucose among adults in Jiangsu Province, China.     

Association of blood chromium and rare earth elements with the risk of DNA damage in chromate exposed population

Pollution of heavy metals often occurs in combination with multiple metal ions. Whether the genetic damage among chromate exposed population correlated with rare earth elements (REEs) was still not well elucidated. A total of 291 participants from a chromate production plant were recruited in the present study. The DNA oxidative damage was evaluated by urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8−OHdG) and the concentrations of chromium (Cr) and 15 REEs accumulated in the peripheral blood of participants were determined. The results showed that significant DNA oxidative damage was observed in chromate exposed workers. Blood REEs levels in the exposed group were significantly higher than the control group and blood REEs increased in a concentration dependent manner with Cr. Additionally, significant correlations were observed between blood Cr and 10 REEs concentrations. Blood Cr had a significant positive correlation with urinary 8−OHdG. Blood Cr and Yttrium had a positive interactive effect on urinary 8−OHdG. Collectively, the results suggested workers who had been working in the chromate plant were simultaneously exposed to chromate and a variety of REEs, which could have interactive effects on the DNA damage of workers.     

Autonomic function may mediate the neuroprotection of remote ischemic postconditioning in stroke: A randomized controlled trial

ObjectivesTo evaluate the effect of remote ischemic postconditioning (RIPostC) on the prognosis of acute ischemic stroke(AIS) patients and investigate the mediating role of autonomic function in the neuroprotection of RIPostC.Materials and Methods132 AIS patients were randomized into two groups. Patients received four cycles of 5-min inflation to a pressure of 200 mmHg(i.e., RIPostC) or patients’ diastolic BP(i.e., shame), followed by 5 min of deflation on healthy upper limbs once a day for 30 days. The main outcome was neurological outcome including the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and Barthel index(BI). The second outcome measure was autonomic function measured by heart rate variability(HRV).ResultsCompared with the baseline, the post-intervention NIHSS score was significantly reduced in both groups (P<0.001). NIHSS score was significantly lower in the control group than intervention group at day 7.[RIPostC:3(1,5) versus shame:2(1,4); P=0.030]. mRS scored lower in the intervention group compared with the control group at day 90 follow-up(RIPostC:0.5±2.0 versus shame:1.0±2.0;P=0.016). The goodness-of-fit test revealed a significant difference between the generalized estimating equation model of mRS and BI scores of uncontrolled-HRV and controlled-HRV(P<0.05, both). The results of bootstrap revealed a complete mediation effect of HRV between group on mRS[indirect effect: −0.267 (LLCI = −0.549, ULCI = −0.048), the direct effect: −0.443 (LLCI = −0.831, ULCI = 0.118)].ConclusionThis is the first human-based study providing evidence for a mediation role of autonomic function between RIpostC and prognosis in AIS patients. It indicated that RIPostC could improve the neurological outcome of AIS patients. Autonomic function may play a mediating role in this association.Trial registrationThe clinical trials registration number for this study is NCT02777099 (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier)     

Antigenic and physicochemical characterization of Hepatitis B surface protein under extreme temperature and pH conditions

Hepatitis B virus causes acute and chronic infections in millions of people worldwide and, since 1982, a vaccine with 95% effectiveness has been available for immunization. The main component of the recombinant hepatitis B vaccine is the surface antigen protein (HBsAg). In this work, the effect of pH, ionic strength and temperature on the native state of the HBsAg antigen were studied by a combination of biophysical methods that included small angle X-ray scattering, synchrotron radiation circular dichroism, fluorescence and surface plasmon resonance spectroscopies, as well as in vivo and in vitro potency assays. The native conformation, morphology, radius of gyration, and antigenic properties of the HBsAg antigen demonstrate high stability to pH treatment, especially in the pH range employed in all stages of HBsAg vaccine production and storage. The HBsAg protein presents thermal melting point close to 56 °C, reaching a more unfolded state after crossing this point, but it only experiences loss of vaccine potency and antigenic properties at 100 °C. Interestingly, a 6-month storage period does not affect vaccine stability, and the results are similar when the protein is kept under refrigerated conditions or at room temperature (20 °C). At frozen temperatures, large aggregates (>200 nm) are formed and possibly cause loss of HBsAg content, but that does not affect the in vivo assay. Furthermore, HBsAg has a well-ordered secondary structure content that is not affected when the protein is formulated with silica SBA-15, targeting the oral delivery of the vaccine. The combined results from all the characterization techniques employed in this study showed the high stability of the antigen at different storage temperature and extreme values of pH. These findings are important for considering the delivery of HBsAg to the immune system via an oral vaccine.     

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) inhibits the gap junction intercellular communication and induces apoptosis in human ovarian granulosa cells

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) has attracted widespread research attention as it is very stable, bioaccumulates, and causes reproductive toxicity. Data from several animal experiments and epidemiological studies indicate that female fertility may decline because of ovarian granulosa cell (GC) apoptosis as oocyte quality is positively associated with effective gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) between GCs. To the best of our knowledge, however, no previous trials have been conducted or reported on the effects of PFOA exposure on apoptosis induction in human GCs. Moreover, the roles of GJIC in GC survival and in the induction of apoptosis in GCs by PFOA remain unclear. To test this, we cultured human GCs in vitro and treated them with 0 μM, 0.3 μM, 3 μM, or 30 μM PFOA for 24 h. We also treated a human ovarian GC line (KGN) with various combinations of PFOA, retinoic acid (RA, 10 μM), and carbenoxolone disodium (CBX, 50 mM). Our findings showed that PFOA lowered human GC viability and increased apoptosis. The effects of CBX resemble those of PFOA. The combination of PFOA and CBX enhances the inhibition of GJIC by PFOA and promotes apoptosis. The effects of RA are the opposite to those of PFOA. The combination of RA and PFOA mitigates PFOA-induced GJIC inhibition and reduces apoptosis. The observed expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins were consistent with the aforementioned findings. Hence, our study demonstrated that PFOA may induce human ovarian GC apoptosis by inhibiting GJIC.     

江苏省血吸虫病疫情监测与风险评估系统的研究 I 疫情监测点布局与应用效果

目的 目的 构建江苏省血吸虫病疫情监测与风险评估系统, 为及时掌握血吸虫病传播风险并采取针对性防控措施 提供技术支撑。方法 方法 按照血吸虫病流行程度、 流行类型、 流域水系特点在全省设立血吸虫病疫情监测点, 开展人、 畜病 情和螺情现场调查, 并对血检查病进行质量控制, 分析、 比较不同监测点人畜血吸虫感染率、 螺情分布及血检漏检情况。 结果 结果 在江苏省10个市26个县共设立27个血吸虫病疫情监测点, 其中14个位于传播阻断村, 13个位于传播控制村; 15 个监测点属江湖洲滩型流行区, 9个水网型流行区, 3个属山丘型流行区。27个监测点共采用胶体染料试纸条法 （DDIA） 筛查16 617人, 检出血清学阳性326人, 血检阳性率为1.96%, 其中男性阳性率为2.17%, 女性阳性率为1.80%; 采用尼龙 绢集卵孵化法查病326人, 在江滩型地区查出阳性2例, 监测点人群血吸虫感染率为0.01%。调查762名流动人员, 查出 血检阳性10人, 血检阳性率为1.31%, 未查出粪检阳性病例。检查479头散放家畜, 未发现阳性。共调查746个环境, 查 出钉螺面积240.70 hm2 , 钉螺平均密度为0.06只/0.1 m2 , 未发现感染性钉螺。27个监测点共检测780份质控血清, 总符合 率为95.13%, 其中误检率为1.28%, 漏检率为19.23%。结论 结论 江苏省血吸虫病疫情监测点布局合理, 全省血吸虫病疫情 呈低度流行态势。     

江苏省血吸虫病防治重点村综合治理效果评价

目的评价江苏省血吸虫病防治重点村（血防重点村）实施综合治理的效果。方法收集107个血防重点村的基础资料和综合治理措施实施情况,采用现场调查方法,每年对血防重点村历史有螺环境采用系统抽样法进行螺情调查,并进行人畜病情调查,分析17个实施血防重点村综合治理县（市、区）螺情指标和人畜病情指标变化趋势,比较对策实施前后疫情控制效果。结果在全省17个县（市、区）的107个血防重点村共实施“以机代牛”931头,圈养家畜8554头,建造三格式无害化厕所75129座,硬化护坡河道217.4km,建造阻螺涵闸144座,切滩清淤土方324万m^3,种植灭螺1521.07hm^2,兴林抑螺1746.01hm^2,蓄水养殖灭螺906.47hm^2,药物灭螺13671.52hm^2,居民查病20.87万人,血防健康教育54.85万人次。实施综合治理后,17个县（市、区）全部达到疫情控制标准,其中1个县恢复达到传播阻断标准,6个县（市、区）达到传播控制标准。2003～2008年17个县（市、区）钉螺面积、感染性钉螺面积、钉螺感染率、居民感染率和家畜感染率呈逐年下降趋势,其中钉螺面积分别为7243.06、7625.23、7701.07、5887.96、4487.75hm^2和3775.26hm^2,感染性钉螺面积分别为2173.93、2130.53、1767.70、1444.34、802.73hm2和124.19hm^2,钉螺感染率分别为0.31%、0.16%、0.13%、0.21%、0.09%和0.02%,居民感染率分别为0.57%、0.20%、0.13%、0.03%、0.01%和0.02%,家畜感染率分别为0.40%、0.37%、0.10%、0.04%、0.01%和0,分别比实施综合治理前下降了47.88%、94.29%、92.55%、96.94%和100%。结论整合部门资源,实施整村推进,是加快防治工作进程,实现“治理一片、成功一片、巩固一片”的有效举措。     

Status and progress of hepatitis B control through vaccination in the South-East Asia Region, 1992–2015

In 2016, the Immunization Technical Advisory Group of the South-East Asia Region (SEAR) endorsed a regional goal to achieve ≤1% prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) among 5-year-old children by 2020. Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is largely preventable with a birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine (HepB-BD) followed by two to three additional doses. We reviewed the progress towards hepatitis B control through vaccination in SEAR during 1992–2015. We summarized hepatitis B vaccination data and reviewed the literature to determine the prevalence of chronic HBV infection pre- and post-vaccine introduction. We used a mathematical model to determine post-vaccine prevalence of HBsAg among 5 year olds in countries lacking national serosurvey data and estimated the impact of vaccination on disease burden. Regional coverage with three doses of hepatitis B vaccine (HepB3) increased from 56% in 2011 to 87% in 2015. By 2016, 7 of 11 countries had introduced universal HepB-BD. Regional HepB-BD coverage increased from 9% in 2011 to 34% in 2015. In 2015, estimated HBsAg among 5 year olds was 1.1% with variability among countries. Myanmar (3.8%), Timor-Leste (2.7%), Indonesia (1.8%), and India (1%) had the highest prevalence of HBsAg. During 1992–2015, vaccination prevented approximately 16 million chronic HBV infections and 2.6 million related deaths. In 2015, around 197,640 perinatal HBV infections occurred in SEAR with majority occurring in India (62%), Bangladesh (24%), and Myanmar (8%). Myanmar had the highest rate of perinatal chronic HBV infections at 16 per 1000 live births. Despite significant progress in the control of HBV, SEAR needs to secure political commitment for elimination and consider additional strategies, such as promoting health facility births, universal birth dose administration, developing strong coordination between health sectors, and using alternative vaccine delivery methods, to improve HepB-BD coverage and subsequently achieve HBV control and elimination.