Concentrations of arsenic,cadmium and lead in human hair and typical foods in eleven Chinese cities

Concentrations of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) were determined in 384 human hair samples and 445 purchased food samples from 11 cities in China. The mean concentrations of hair As, Cd and Pb were 0.23, 0.062 and 2.45 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. The As, Cd and Pb concentrations in different foods were lower than the national maximum allowable contaminant levels. By comparison, males had higher hair As concentrations but lower Cd concentrations than females. When the interaction effects of gender and age were considered, males had the higher hair As, Cd and Pb concentrations in the 51–65 year-old age group. Residents of rural areas had higher hair As, Cd and Pb concentrations than people living in urban areas. Further analysis indicates that hair As, Cd and Pb concentrations and their changes with biological and environmental factors cannot be satisfactorily explained by the estimated intakes from purchased food.     

Association of empty nest and group activity with cognitive impairment in Chinese older adults: A cross-sectional study

ObjectivesThis study explored the associations of empty nest and group activity with cognitive impairment in Chinese older adults.Materials and methodsData were analyzed from 10,349 participants of the second-round survey database of the Zhejiang Ageing and Health Cohort Study aged 60 years and over. Cognitive impairment was assessed by the Mini-Mental State Examination questionnaire. Logistic regression models controlled for an extensive range of potential confounders were generated to examine the associations of empty nest and group activity with cognitive impairment.ResultsNo association was found between empty nest and cognitive impairment in total participants. However, when stratified by sex, empty nest women were less likely to have cognitive impairment than non-empty nest women, odds ratio (OR) (95 % confidence interval [CI]) (0.846; 0.721, 0.993). Elders who participated in group activities showed significantly lower odds of cognitive impairment than those who never attended group activities, (0.811; 0.723, 0.910). This association remained significant in the 60–69-years group when further stratified by age, with an OR (95 % CI) of 0.616 (0.514, 0.739).ConclusionsEmpty nesters were not vulnerable to poor cognitive function. Participation in group activities was significantly associated with lower odds of cognitive impairment. Prospective studies are needed to assess the effect of empty nest and group activity on the risk of cognitive impairment.     

Multifaceted characterization of recombinant protein-based vaccines: An immunochemical toolbox for epitope-specific analyses of the hepatitis E vaccine

The integrity of functional epitopes is a critical quality attribute for recombinant protein based vaccines since the presence of these native-like epitopes is the structural basis for vaccines to elicit functional antibodies. To demonstrate the quality and quantity of functional epitopes on vaccine antigens, a toolbox of assessing antigen characteristics is essential. Among the physicochemical, biophysical, immunochemical and in vivo potency analyses, the epitope-specific assays are most critical assessment of the antigen functionality. In this study, we used hepatitis E virus vaccine as an example to illustrated how the monoclonal antibody (mAb) based immunochemical assays were established for in-depth and multifaceted antigen characterization. A large panel of mAbs were developed and characterized using epitope clustering analysis. A subset of these mAbs recognizing non-overlapping epitopes were chosen to be used for assay development. Orthogonal methods, including surface plasma resonance-based BIAcore, solution competitive ELISA and sandwich ELISA, were developed for the antigenicity assessment. The sandwich ELISA with a pair of mAbs, recognizing two different epitopes, was used to assess the accelerated antigen stability, showing enhanced stability with adjuvant adsorption. Such a sandwich ELISA with robust performance has the potentials to be used for in vitro potency analysis to replace animal-based potency assay as product release test. In summary, using hepatitis E vaccine as an example, we demonstrated the importance and establishment of a mAb-based immunochemical toolbox for multifaceted antigen characterization. This is particularly important to demonstrate the successful reconstruction of the native-like and functional epitopes on a recombinant antigen post expression and purification. These epitope-specific and multifaceted assays serve as critical tools for process monitoring or lot consistency tests in support of vaccine development and manufacturing.     

Avian influenza virus in pregnancy

The unprecedented epizootic of avian influenza viruses, such as H5N1, H5N6, H7N1 and H10N8, has continued to cause disease in humans in recent years. In 2013, another novel influenza A (H7N9) virus emerged in China, and 30% of those patients died. Pregnant women are particularly susceptible to avian influenza and are more likely to develop severe complications and to die, especially when infection occurs in the middle and late trimesters. Viremia is believed to occur infrequently, and thus vertical transmission induced by avian influenza appears to be rare. However, avian influenza increases the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including spontaneous abortion, preterm birth and fatal distress. This review summarises 39 cases of pregnant women and their fetuses from different countries dating back to 1997, including 11, 15 and 13 infections with H7N9, H5N1 and the 2009 pandemic influenza (H1N1), respectively. We analysed the epidemic features, following the geographical, population and pregnancy trimester distributions; underlying diseases; exposure history; medical timelines; human‐to‐human transmission; pathogenicity and vertical transmission; antivirus treatments; maternal severity and mortality and pregnancy outcome. The common experiences reported in different countries and areas suggest that early identification and treatment are imperative. In the future, vigilant virologic and epidemiologic surveillance systems should be developed to monitor avian influenza viruses during pregnancy. Furthermore, extensive study on the immune mechanisms should be conducted, as this will guide safe, rational immunomodulatory treatment among this high‐risk population. Most importantly, we should develop a universal avian influenza virus vaccine to prevent outbreaks of the different subtypes. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of folic acid supplementation during different pregnancy periods and relationship with the other primary prevention measures to neural tube defects

Objective: To find out the prevention effects of folic acid supplements during different pregnancy periods on neural tube defects (NTDs) and the relationship of folic acid supplements with the other NTDs’ primary preventive measures.

Methods: A 1:1 case-control study was conducted. Four hundred and fifty-nine women who delivered or gestate infants/fetuses with NTDs in the last two years were randomly selected as cases and were matched with women who delivered babies without obvious birth defects as controls.

Results: For anencephaly, folic acid supplementation during the periconceptional period and preconceptional period has a 57–83% reduction in risk of NTDs(ORs ranged from 0.17 to 0.43). For spina bifida, folic acid supplementation during the periconceptional period has a 79% reduction in risk of NTDs (OR?=?0.21). For encephalocele, folic acid supplementation during the periconceptional period has a 67% reduction in risk of NTDs (OR?=?0.33). The prevention effects on NTDs were significant when these preventive measures combined with folic acid supplements during the periconceptional period, with OR 0.04, 0.07, 0.10 and 0.11.

Conclusion: The specific effects of folic acid supplementation during different periods show the reduction in the risk of NTDs, anencephaly, spina bifida, encephalocele. During periconceptional period, folic acid supplements have preventive effects on all NTDs’ subtypes.     

浙江省535名有性行为的大学生HIV检测意愿及影响因素研究

目的 了解有性行为的大学生HIV检测意愿及影响因素,为校园艾滋病宣传防控工作提供参考信息。方法 选取浙江省11个地市2015年在校的9 615名大学生进行问卷调查,并将其中有性行为（有过阴道交、肛交或口交行为）的学生作为研究对象,了解其HIV检测意愿。使用SPSS 19.0软件对数据进行统计学描述和推断分析。结果 共调查9 615名大学生,其中6.5%（619/9 468）有过性行为。535人符合研究对象纳入标准,其中77.2%的研究对象愿意接受HIV检测,医疗机构、CDC为学生选择的主要检测地点。多因素logistic回归分析结果显示,大学中间阶段（aOR=2.618,95% CI：1.511～4.536）、知道浙江省通过男男性行为感染HIV的学生人数上升很快（aOR=1.879,95% CI：1.153～3.060）和对艾滋病有感染危险感知（aOR=1.701,95% CI：1.041～2.780）与HIV检测意愿相关。结论 建议在校园艾滋病宣传中加强警示性教育,说明并普及艾滋病在大学生中疫情的严重性和传染来源,提高大学生群体的艾滋病危险感知和HIV检测意识;并在校园内外设立HIV咨询检测点,为学生提供便捷、保密的HIV检测服务,满足大学生的检测需求。     

1990～2003年浙江省城乡居民伤害死亡流行特征分析

目的　了解浙江省伤害死亡特征,为伤害预防和研究提供信息。方法　利用浙江省疾病监测点1990～2 0 0 3年死亡登记系统资料,采用ICD 10进行伤害死因分类,分别比较各种伤害类别和外部原因的死亡率。结果　1990～2 0 0 3年浙江省农村、城市伤害死亡率分别为72 77/ 10万～84 4 7/ 10万、2 5 5 2 / 10万～5 0 4 9/ 10万,其中2 0 0 3年分别为84 4 7/ 10万、4 6 30 / 10万,农村高于城市;交通伤、坠落、自杀和溺水为伤害死亡的主要类别;14年间溺水、自杀死亡率出现不同程度下降,坠落、交通伤死亡率出现上升趋势。非故意伤害死亡前三位原因,农村为交通伤、坠落、溺水,城市为坠落、交通伤、溺水;自杀的主要方式农村、城市分别为中毒、机械性窒息。农村男、女伤害死亡率分别为93 19/ 10万、5 4 2 5 / 10万,第一位死因分别为交通伤、中毒;城市男、女伤害死亡率分别为38 4 5 /10万、30 0 8/ 10万,第一位死因分别为交通伤、坠落;均男性高于女性。伤害死亡率以老年人群为高。10岁以下无论城乡、男女死亡率最高均为溺水;10～5 5岁人群,城市男女性死亡率最高均是交通伤,农村男性为交通伤,女性为中毒;5 5岁以上人群,无论城乡、男女死亡率最高均为坠落。结论　1990～2 0 0 3年浙江省城乡居民伤害死亡率仍然维持较高     

Oral administration of nano-titanium dioxide particle disrupts hepatic metabolic functions in a mouse model

TiO₂ nano-particle (TiO₂ NP) is widely used in industrial, household necessities, as well as medicinal products. However, the effect of TiO₂ NP on liver metabolic function has not been reported. In this study, after mice were orally administered TiO₂ NP (21 nm) for 14 days, the serum and liver tissues were assayed by biochemical analysis, real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blot and transmission electron microscopy. The serum bilirubin was increased in a dose dependent manner. Deposition of TiO₂ NP in hepatocytes and the abnormality of microstructures was observed. Expression of metabolic genes involved in the endogenous and exogenous metabolism was modified, supporting the toxic phenotype. Collectively, oral administration of TiO₂ NP (21 nm) led to deposition of particles in hepatocytes, mitochondrial edema, and the disturbance of liver metabolism function. These data suggested oral administration disrupts liver metabolic functions, which was more sensitive than regular approaches to detect material hepatotoxicity. This study provided useful information for risk analysis and regulation of TiO₂ NPs by administration agencies.