Effects of Taiji exercise on the psychology and the functions of the autonomic nervous systems of the middle-aged and elderly / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

Objective To explore the effects of Taiji exercise on the psychology and the functions of the autonomic nervous systems of middle aged and elderly people. Methods Two hundred and seven middle aged and elderly Taiji exercisers and 166 age matched non Taiji exercisers were sampled. The Zung Self rating Anxiety Scale(SAS), Zung Self rating Depression Scale (SDS) and autonomic nervous system equilibrium index (ANSEI)were adopted to assess the subjects. Results Compared with those of the control group, the scores of SAS and SDS in Taiji group were significantly higher, and the equilibrium of autonomic nervous systems in Taiji group was also superior. There was no significant difference between the male and the female with regard to SAS, SDS and the equilibrium of autonomic nervous systems within Taiji group. The longer the exercise, the better the equilibrium of autonomic nervous systems. Conclusion Taiji exercise has positive effects on the psychology and the autonomic nervous system of the middle aged and the elderly.

Study on the relationship between glutathione S transferase mu gene deletion and leukemia in workers exposed to benzene / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the relationship between glutathione S transferase M1(GST mu) gene deletion and leukemia in workers exposed to benzene.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A matched population-based case-control survey with multivariate Logistic regression analysis was conducted in this study.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the population of 34 patients and their matched controls, the absence of the GST mu genotype conferred odds ratio of 3.6. It suggested that GST mu was an important determinant of heterogeneity in individual susceptibility to leukemia associated with exposure to benzene. The single-variance analysis indicated that these markedly significant factors were GST mu gene deletion, GST mu isoenzyme activity, duration of exposure, GST isoenzyme activity, smoking quantity and average concentration of benzene in workshop air. The multivariate analysis indicated that these markedly significant factors were GST mu gene deletion, duration of exposure to benzene and GST mu isoenzyme activity.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>GST mu gene deletion may be associated with increased risk of leukemia in workers exposed to benzene and is one of genetically determined factors.</p>