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.     

A path model of psychosocial constructs predicting future Zika vaccine uptake intent

ObjectiveThe recent Zika virus outbreak, while no longer an international public health emergency, is still a serious threat, particularly to pregnant women and babies born to pregnant women infected with the virus. This study examined the predictive effects of psychosocial constructs on self-reported intent to get a future Zika vaccine among women of reproductive age.MethodsData were collected using an online survey with a representative sample of 339 women ages 18–49 from the continental United States. The survey addressed variables originating with the Extended Parallel Processing Model (EPPM) as related to future Zika vaccine uptake intent.ResultsThree quarters of all respondents reported intention to get a future Zika vaccine. Path modeling revealed a direct effect of perceived susceptibility, self-efficacy, and response efficacy on future Zika vaccine uptake intent, as well as an indirect effect of perceived susceptibility through both self-efficacy and response efficacy. In addition, the final model showed an indirect effect of perceived severity on Zika vaccine uptake intent through self-efficacy and response efficacy and accounted for 54.6% of the variance in vaccination intent.ConclusionsThese findings have implications for future Zika vaccine promotion campaigns.This study confirms the importance of perceived susceptibility, self-efficacy, and response efficacy for use in Zika vaccine uptake campaigns; in addition, when using perceived severity, both self-efficacy and response efficacy should be considered in message design.     

浙江省1 998年H3N2流感流行的溯源研究

目的 对1998年浙江省的H3N2流感流行进行溯源研究.方法 采用RT-PCR扩增浙江省1998年3株H3N2流感流行代表株的全基因组序列,并与GenBank上1995-1998年世界其他地区H3N2流感流行株进行比较;同时,采用交叉血凝抑制实验,计算各毒株间的抗原比.结果 HA基因进化树表明,1998年浙江省H3N2优势流行株A/Zhejiang/11/98、A/Zhejiang/18/98与1995-1996年世界各地以及1997年我国大陆的H3N2流行株间存在显著差异,在进化树上虽与A/Sydney/5/97同属一簇,但和美国纽约以及中国香港1997年后期流行株更为接近.在HA1、NA和MP基因上,A/Zhejiang/18/98与香港1997年后期流行株同源性最高,而在PA、HA和NS基因上,与纽约流行株的遗传距离也小于A/Sydney/5/97.A/Zhejiang/18/98与香港或纽约株在HA1区仅存在1～3个位点的氨基酸残基不同,而与A/Sydney/5/97存在7个位点的氨基酸残基差异,其中3个位点于抗原决定簇区.各毒株间的交叉血凝抑制实验表明A/Zhejiang/18/98与A/Sydney/5/97的抗原比已达2.0,提示二者在抗原性上存在一定差异.此外,1997-1998年H3N2各地流感流行的起始时间序列,也显示了该次流感传播的可能途径.结论 浙江省1998年H3N2流感的流行很可能是由1997年底H3N2新型流感变异株经纽约和香港输入中国大陆所导致.     

农村社区疾病预防控制责任制指导团队工作的做法与体会

为加强对农村社区卫生服务中心疾控工作的指导,切实落实农村公共卫生任务中疾控工作,浙江省通过开展疾控责任制指导团队试点工作,积极探索和建立疾控机构指导与管理农村社区疾控工作的机制和模式,规范并促进农村社区疾控工作。文章对这一实践工作做了分析与探讨,并提出有关建议。     

Outcomes following severe hand foot and mouth disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) caused by enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) is associated with acute neurological disease in children.This study aimed to estimate the burden of long-term sequelae and death following severe HFMD.

An economic evaluation of the current measles vaccination program: A case study in Zhejiang Province,east China

ObjectiveTo evaluate the economic impact of the current measles vaccination program in Zhejiang Province, east China.MethodsA decision tree-Markov model with parameters from published literatures, government documents and surveys was developed and used to simulate over 40 years of a birth cohort in Zhejiang Province during the year 2014. The expected cost and effectiveness of the current measles vaccination program was compared against no vaccination. Costs were assessed from the payer's perspective. Benefits were defined as savings on the direct cost of measles treatment, and the effectiveness was measured according to the number of measles cases and deaths averted. The net present value (NPV), benefit-cost ratio (BCR) and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) were also calculated. A threshold for cost-effectiveness of less than 3 times the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita was used. One-way sensitivity analysis was performed to assess parameter uncertainties.ResultsThe total vaccination cost was estimated to be $2.52 million. The BCR of the current measles program was found to be 6.06 with a NPV of $73.38 million. It was also calculated that a total of 195,165 measles cases and 191 measles-related deaths would be prevented by vaccination. The ICER was approximately $12.91 per case averted and $13,213.43 per death averted, respectively, which was cost-effective. The models were proven to be robust.ConclusionsThe current measles vaccination program appeared to be cost-effective and to offer substantial benefits. The results of this analysis sought to contribute to the justification of future investments to achieve the goal of measles elimination.     

Avian-origin H3N2 canine influenza A viruses in Southern China

This study reports four sporadic cases of H3N2 canine influenza in Southern China, which were identified from sick dogs from May 2006 to October 2007. The evolutionary analysis showed that all eight segments of these four viruses are avian-origin and phylogenetically close to the H3N2 canine influenza viruses reported earlier in South Korea. Systematic surveillance is required to monitor the disease and evolutionary behavior of this virus in canine populations in China.     

Readability of patient information booklets for women with breast cancer

Providing accurate information, in both verbal and written formats, is seen as an important component of patient care. For individuals diagnosed with cancer, acquiring information may be a particularly pertinent issue in terms of coping with the disease. Numerous information booklets are available for people with cancer which aim to provide information on various aspects of care and treatment. This British study examined the readability of 50 information booklets available to women with breast cancer using the SMOG and Flesch reading tests. Generally the information booklets were found to have a high reading age, arguably not suitable for the majority of the United Kingdom (UK) population. This study has implications for health care professionals who provide written information as a supplement or substitute for verbal information.     

六道管式炉氧化燃烧联合分离海产品中有机结合氚与14 C的影响因素研究与不确定度评定

目的 建立海产品中有机结合氚(OBT)与¹⁴C的联合处理检测方法,分析测量过程中不确定度的来源并进行评定,实现海鱼、海虾、海蟹、海贝和海藻等不同种类海产品中的OBT和¹⁴C的快速、准确测定。方法 采用六道管式燃烧装置结合自制六通玻璃管,研究联合氧化燃烧与收集海产品中OBT和¹⁴C的方法;分析评定元素分析、氧化燃烧、液体闪烁计数测量等过程中引入的不确定度。结果 建立了5管合并收集OBT、单管收集¹⁴C的联合分离方法,-110℃ 冷阱收集条件下氢的燃烧回收率得到有效提升,样品转移时的损耗更少,收集碳所需氢氧化钠、氯化铵和氯化钙等试剂的用量大大降低。联合分离5.0 g样品中氢和碳(包含所有氢和碳的同位素),葡萄糖中氢和碳的燃烧回收率分别为98.7%和93.1%,5种海产品中氢和碳的燃烧回收率分别为92.5% ~ 97.3%和82.7%~96.3%,3次平行性实验相对标准偏差均<5%,表明该方法具有良好的准确性和精密度。样品计数是结果不确定度的主要来源,其次为元素含量分析和计数效率。结论 本研究建立的海产品中OBT和¹⁴C 联合分离体系燃烧回收率高、处理时间短、分离效果好、获得量足,可有效减少样品使用量,能满足海产品放射性污染健康风险评估要求。