Efficacy and safety of bipolar plasma vaporization of the prostate with "button-type" electrode compared with transurethral resection of prostate for benign prostatic hyperplasia / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) has been considered as the standard treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). However, issues that have not yet been overcome for TURP include bleeding and absorption of irrigation fluid. Thus, novel improvement of the surgery is necessary. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of bipolar plasma vaporization of the prostate (BPVP) with "button-type" electrode against standard TURP for BPH.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2009 to January 2012, 30 patients who scheduled for surgical treatment of BPH surgical treatment were enrolled in the trial with provided consent for the study. Patients were prospectively randomized 1:1 to undergo either BPVP or TURP. Participants were blinded to the randomization scheme. All cases were assessed preoperatively and followed at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively by indwelling catheter time, blood loss, hospital stays, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QOL), and Qmax.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>BPVP was significantly superior to TURP in terms of indwelling catheter time ((4.1 ± 4.1) days vs. (6.8 ± 6.8) days, P = 0.000), blood loss ((64.7 ± 103.8) ml vs. (254.7 ± 325.4) ml, P = 0.040), hospital stay ((8.7 ± 1.0) days vs. (11.7 ± 1.5) days, P = 0.000), IPSS ((4.2 ± 8.0) vs. (9.3 ± 3.7), P = 0.049), QOL ((1.5 ± 0.8) vs. (2.6 ± 1.4), P = 0.027), Qmax ((16.3 ± 5.7) ml/s vs. (12.5 ± 3.1) ml/s, P = 0.038), hemoglobin ((130.7 ± 9.4) g/L vs. ((122.1 ± 11.9) g/L, P = 0.047), Na(+) level ((138.6 ± 2.1) mmol/L vs. ((137.2 ± 2.0) mmol/L, P = 0.046) and operation time ((39.0 ± 15.5) minutes vs. ((69.3 ± 24.8) minutes, P = 0.004). And there were no statistical differences between BPVP group and TURP group in preoperatively assessment: patient's age ((70.9 ± 7.1) years vs. (71.9 ± 6.1) years, P = 0.736), IPSS ((24.6 ± 4.7) vs. (27.3 ± 5.9), P = 0.100), QOL ((5.1 ± 0.8) vs. (5.1 ± 1.0), P = 0.940), Qmax ((4.4 ± 2.7) ml/s vs. (5.3 ± 2.6) ml/s, P = 0.314), hemoglobin ((137.4 ± 8.7) g/L vs. (139.2 ± 10.4) g/L, P = 0.623), Na(+) level ((140.5 ± 1.8) mmol/L vs. (141.3 ± 1.4) mmol/L, P = 0.192) and prostate volume ((59.0 ± 17.4) ml vs. (70.1 ± 28.8) ml, P = 0.276).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Compared with TURP, BPVP with "button-type" electrode shows superior efficacy and safety. Therefore, BPVP with "button-type" electrode represents a valuable endoscopic treatment alternative for BPH patients.</p>

A survey of Japanese encephalitis antibody migrant workers in Shenzhen 2009 / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To understand the immunological status of Japanese encephalitis (JE) antibodies amongst migrant workers and to provide epidemiological basis for public health strategies on JE prevention and control in Shenzhen.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A multi-stage random sampling method was used, and 1003 migrant workers aged 18 to 60 from 44 factories were investigated and their serum specimens were collected. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect JE antibodies qualitatively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The gross IgG seroprevalence rate for JE was 20.2% (203/1003). Sex-specified seroprevalence was 21.2% (103/485) for male and 19.3% (100/518) for female, respectively (χ(2) = 579, P > 0.05). Age-specific seropositive rates were 22.6% (12/53) for those below 20 years old, 18.7% (120/642) for those between 20-years old, 26.0% (58/223) for those between 30-years old and 15.3% (13/85) for those on or above 40 years old (χ(2) = 7.96, P > 0.05). Proportions for self-reported positive immunization, non-immunization and unclear immunization history were 22.1% (30/136), 22.1% (51/231) and 19.2% (122/636), respectively (χ(2) = 501, P > 0.05). Seroprevalence by region of origins showed that workers from Guangdong province was the highest (30.5%, 50/164), followed by workers from Guangxi (29.7%, 22/74) whilst workers from Shan(3)xi (5.4%, 2/37) had the lowest rate. Seroprevalence rate for managers (29.0%, 31/107) was higher than that of technicians (7.1%, 1/14) (χ(2) = 21.78, P < 0.05). Serological positive rate of workers with university or above educational background was the highest (32.7%, 16/49), followed by that for individuals with college degree (10.3%, 10/97) (χ(2) = 13.02, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>No associations are detected between JE seroprevalence and age, or sex, or self-reported immunization histories amongst migrant labor workers in Shenzhen. However, correlations between JE serological positive rate and region of origins, occupation and educational attainment are found to be significant. The gross seroprevalence of JE antibodies suggests that the level of JE antibodies amongst Shenzhen migrant workers is low and the population immunity barrier has yet to be established. It is necessary to strengthen prevention and control strategies of JE among labor workers of Shenzhen.</p>

Study on the epidemiological characteristics of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in Inner Mongolia / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>In order to better understand the epidemiological features of Hantviruses in Inner Mongolia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Epidemiological surveillance data during the period of the past 52 years were analyzed. An epidemiological survey was carried out in the main epidemic areas in 2005.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 8310 hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) cases were reported in Inner Mongolia from 1955 to 2006, and distributed in 61 counties. HFRS cases were mainly distributed in the east part of Inner Mongolia before 1990. However, HFRS cases had occurred in the middle and western parts since 1990. Hulunbeier prefecture, from the eastern part of Inner Mongolia, had been the most severe area being hit by HERS since the first outbreak in 1955, with 7369 cases reported over the past 52 years, and accounted for 88.68% of the total cases in the whole autonomous region. Although no HFRS cases had been reported before 1999 in Bayannaoer which located in the western part of Inner Mongolia, a total of 95 cases were reported in 2005. Hantavirus antigens had been detected in 11 species of rodents so far,including Apodemus agrarius, Rattus norvegicus, Mus Musculus, Cricetulus barabensis, meriones meridianus, Microtus maximowiczii , Clethrionomys rutilus, Apodemus peninsulae, Phodopus roborvskii, Dipus sagitta and Allactaga sibirica.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Results suggested that the epidemics might remain at a relatively high level in the years to come in Inner Mongolia. Furthermore, there might be other types of Hantaviruses in addition to the already identified Seoul viral type in this area.</p>