Analysis of the role of the interleukins in colon cancer

BACKGROUND: The role of interleukin family in colon cancer remained controversial. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between interleukin family and colon cancer progression through bioinformatics methods and to validate such association in clinical patients. METHODS: A total of 15 differentially expressed interleukins between the colon cancer tissue and normal colon tissue were evaluated from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database with R software and only interleukin-7 (IL-7) was significantly associated with survival. The signaling pathway associated with IL-7 was then investigated using gene enrichment analysis. In addition, subsets of TNM were analyzed in detail and univariate and multivariate COX regression analysis were conducted. Finally, we performed western blotting, immunohistochemistry, cell proliferation and cell apoptosis analysis to examine the expression of IL-7 in patients with intestinal cancer. RESULTS: The study demonstrated that IL-7 could inhibit the progression of colon cancer. In addition, IL-7 was found to be associated with overall survival (OS) and pathological stage. Further analysis of IL-7 expression with clinical data indicated that IL-7 was a key factor in inhibiting colon cancer progression. CONCLUSION: IL-7 was a key factor in inhibiting the progression of colon cancer and was closely related to overall survival.

Literacy development and influencing factors in primary school students of grade 2 to 5 in Guangzhou / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To understand literacy development of school-aged children of grade 2-5 and its influencing factors in Guangzhou,and to provide a reference for the reform of the teaching of Chinese subject.@*Methods@#By using cluster sampling method, 1 661 school-age children from grade 2 to grade 5 from 5 primary schools in Guangzhou were selected. The self-designed questionnaire was used to obtain demographic data of the participants. The Primary School Literacy Assessment Scale and the Pupil Rating Scale Revised Screening for Learning Disabilities was used to evaluate the literacy and the cognitive characteristics of participants.@*Results@#The average literacy of children of grade 2 to grade 5 in Guangzhou was as follows: grade 2 was (1 159±295), grade 3 was (1 919±394), grade 4 was (2 599±365), grade 5 was (2 947±303), higher than the norm(P<0.01). The average literacy of grade 2 students was lower than the national curriculum requirements while students of grade 3 to grade 5 met the requirements. Univariate analysis found differences in literacy among school-age children based on gender, reading experience before age 6, and parental education background (P<0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that grade (β=607.04), preschool reading experience (β=109.89), father’s education (β=27.14), language factor (β=27.21), social behavior (β=16.03) was positively correlated with literacy in boys (P<0.05). Grade (β=603.53), auditory comprehension and memory (β=29.39), language factor (β=16.74) was positively correlated with the literacy of girls (P<0.05), while time and orientation judgments were negatively correlated with the literacy of both boys (β=-18.95) and girls (β=-21.93) (P<0.05).@*Conclusion@#The literacy level of school-age children in grade 2 to 5 in Guangzhou has reached the national literacy requirements with students in grade 2 being relatively lower. Literacy is related to grade, preschool reading experience, father’s education, and child’s cognitive characteristics. Factors affecting literacy in boys and girls are different. Literacy education should vary according to gender.

Impacts of birth order and age difference on the emotional and behavioral problems among children from two-child family / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#This study aims to explore the influence of birth order and age difference on the emotional and behavioral problems among children from two-child family, so as to provide advice on parenting.@*Methods@#A total of 482 students in grades 2 to 5 from the 5 primary schools in Guangzhou were selected, all of whom came from two-child families (excluding twin children). Emotional and behavioral problems were investigated by using the Conner’s Parental Symptom Questionnaire (PSQ).@*Results@#Among children from two-child families, higher prevalence of behavioral problems, learning problems, impulsive hyperactivity and hyperactivity index in older compared with younger children (β=-0.09，-0.16，-0.09，-0.10,P<0.05). The scores of behavioral problems and hyperactivity index were significantly higher among those of children who were 6-9 years older than young siblings, compared to those who were 0-3 years older than younger siblings(β=0.20,0.21,P<0.05). No similar pattern was found among the younger siblings(P>0.05).@*Conclusion@#Among school-age children from two-child families, emotional and behavioral problems of the elder ones were more serious than the younger ones’. Age difference between siblings shows impact on the emotional and behavioral development among elder children, however no significant impact is noticed among the younger ones.

Analysis of surveillance data of Keshan disease from 1995 - 2009 in Henan province / 中国地方病学杂志

Objective To observe the change of conditions and study the epidemiology of Keshan disease from 1995 to 2009 in Henan province.Methods From 1995 to 2009,seriously ill township (village) of Keshan disease were selected as monitoring sites,and one cross-sectional survey was conducted annually.Resident population were asked of their disease history,and were taken clinical examination.Suspicious or suspected cases of Keshan disease and people with abnormal ECG were taken 2 m X-ray.Hair and wheat flour samples were collected for selenium testing.Results From 1995 to 2009,about 6632 people were checked,130 chronic and 52 latent cases of Keshan disease were identified,the total detection rates were between 1.12％ and 5.06％.The detectable rate for abnormal electrocardiogram and heart enlargement found through chest X-ray examination were 10.24％ -30.65％ and 32.4％ - 77.8％,respectively.The content of hair selenium tended to increase,the highest was in 2009 (357.12 μg/kg),and the lowest was in 1997( 142.68 μg/kg).Conclusion Keshan disease is stable in Henan province,and prevention and control measures should be strengthen gradually.

Statistical analysis of monitoring data regarding the state of Keshan disease in Henan province from 2004 to 2009 / 中国地方病学杂志

Objective To study the state and trends of Kesan disease in Henan province from 2004 to 2009. Methods Surveillance sites were selected: Guxian village of Luoning country from 2004 - 2007, Zuyang town of Lingbao city in 2008, and Shahe village of Lushi country in 2009. All residents of surveillance sites were examined by clinical and electrocardiogram, and suspected patients were inspected by chest X-ray to measure ardiothoracic ratio. Hair and wheat flour samples were collected and selenium levels were detected with hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry. Results From 2004 to 2009, a total of 4034 people were examined.The numbers of chronic and latent KSD patients were 21 and 75 cases,respectively, and the incidence rates were 0.52%(21/4034) and 1.86%(75/4034), respectively . The number of abnormal electrocardiogram was 751 cases, and the incidence rate was 18.62%. The highest proportion of abnormal electrocardiogram was ST-T changes,accounting for 24.63%(185/751), followed by high-voltage, accounting for 18.11%(136/751), and left ventricular accounting for 13.85% (104/751). Sixty-one grain samples were collected and the wheat flour selenium level was averaged 0.034 mg/kg. Thirty hair samples were collected and the selenium median was 0.285 mg/kg. Conclusions The state of Keshan disease is in a steady state in Henna province, but higher rates of abnormal electrocardiogram is a serious problem and should be studied and prevented.

Analysis on surveillance results of Kaschin-Beck disease from monitoring site in Henan Province in 2008 / 中国地方病学杂志

Objective To understand Kaschin-Beck disease(KBD) status in Henan Province and provide the basis for the further prevention and treatment of KBD. Methods Children aged 7 to 12 in 3 villages(Yaodian, Miaowa and Zhuyang) with the same environment such as topography, physiognomy,production mode and living habits in Shan County and Lingbao City were selected to undertake KBD clinical examination in 2008, X-ray examination of right hand and child hair samples and food samples were collected to determine the content of selenium. Selenium was determined using 2,3-Diaminonaphthalene method. Adults who were 16 years or older in 5 counties(Luoning, Lingbao, Mianchi, Shah and Lushi) were selected and examined for KBD. Results One hundred and ninty children aged 7 to 12 were clinically examined and clinical KBD were found, whereas 3 children were diagnosed as KBD by X-ray examination, the positive rate was 1.58% (3/190). All 20 521 adults were clinically examined and KBD prevelance rate was 6.10%(1251/20 521), including degree Ⅰ (3.97%,814/20 521), degree Ⅱ (1.77%, 364/20 521 ), degree Ⅲ (0.36%, 73/20 521). The average selenium contents in hair and food samples were (0.319±0.128)mg/kg and (0.031±0.009)mg/kg, respectively. Conclusions Child KBD in Henan Province is under control or almost under control, whereas the prevalence of adult KBD was relatively serious, which suggested that secondary prevention with the objective of clinically treating KBD patients should be strengthened.