[Epidemiological study of malignant tumor among rubber workers in Hainan Province].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of malignant tumor and its influencing factor among rubber workers in Hainan Province of China, and to study the high incidence of cancer and type of work. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study on registered workers over 1 working age among partial rubber factories in Hainan Province in the period from 2005 to 2010. RESULT: There was a remarkable difference in the incidence between nature exposed rubber group and non-exposed group (χ(2) = 52.13,P < 0.01). Occupational exposure induced a high risk in malignant tumors (OR = 2.47, P < 0.05). The incidence of tumor may be associated with occupational exposure: the longer occupational exposure time, the higher was the incidence of tumor (χ(2) = 11.40, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The occupational exposure in rubber workers can induce a high incidence of malignant tumor.

An epidemiology study of bronchial asthma in the Li ethnic group in China.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of bronchial asthma in the Li ethnic group in Hainan, China. METHODS: This study employed a stratified random sample design using custom-designed questionnaires. Subjects with asthma-like symptoms were first identified by two rounds of surveys and then confirmed by respiratory physicians using pulmonary function test, bronchial dilation test and challenge test. Demographic data, information on family history of asthma, history of allergies, smoking habits, domestic cooking fuel and other potential risk factors were collected. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate risk factors for asthma. RESULTS: The prevalence of asthma in the Li ethnic group was 3.38%, much higher than the national average level in China. Aging, agriculture industry (the rubber industry in particular), rural residence, family history of asthma, history of allergies, cold air, inhalation of dust and irritant gases, smoking, domestic cooking fuel and living environment were associated with increased risk of asthma. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of asthma in the Li ethnic group highlights the importance of asthma prevention and treatment in this population. Risk factors indentified in this study warrant special attention. Elevating public awareness about asthma in local communities will benefit the prevention of the disease.

[Prevalence and risk factors of bronchial asthma among Li nationality in Hainan province].

OBJECTIVE: To study the risk factors of bronchial asthma of Li nationality in Hainan. METHODS: A total of 13 050 subjects of Li nationality were selected by random unequal ratio stratified cluster sampling method from southern, central and western part of Hainan and investigated with Hainan Epidemiological Asthma Survey Questionnaire of Li Nationality. There were 441 cases of bronchial asthma, and 1296 cases of control that were sampled by random number table method. The logistic regression method was used to analyze risk factors. RESULTS: The asthma prevalence of Li nationality in Hainan was 3.38%(441/13 050). The main risk factors of asthma were family asthma (OR = 4.323, 95%CI = 3.259 - 5.735), hypersensitiveness (OR = 7.775, 95%CI = 5.686 - 10.632), smoking (OR = 1.494, 95%CI = 1.174 - 1.902), cooking fuels and living environment. Cold air change (OR = 1.604, 95%CI = 1.286 - 2.001) and respirable dust or irritant gas (OR = 2.123, 95%CI = 1.702 - 2.648) were the important incentives. CONCLUSION: The main risk factors of asthma among Li nationality were family asthma, hypersensitiveness, smoking, cooking fuels by means of fuel oil, hay or wood, living environment by means of couch grass room and human-livestock mix live, cold air change, respirable dust or irritant gas.

[Effect of TXA2 inhibitor on the proliferation and apoptosis of hypoxic pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells of porcines].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Thromboxane A2 (TXA2) inhibitor on the proliferation of hypoxic pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMC) of porcines. METHODS: The methods of 3(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT), immunohistochemistry of Ki67 and TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) were employed to measure the proliferation, inhibition rate and apoptosis of PASMC. RESULTS: U46619, a thromboxane A2 agonist, could promote the proliferation and expression of Ki67 in PASMC under hypoxic and normal conditions. It could also inhibit the apoptosis of PASMC. Ozagrel, a thromboxane A2 inhibitor, inhibited the proliferation and the expression of Ki67 in PASMC under hypoxia. The inhibition rate was 71.4%, but it had no effect on the proliferation and expression of Ki67 in PASMC under normal conditions. It promoted the apoptosis of PASMC. Ozagrel could inhibit the action of U46619 in promoting the proliferation and expression of Ki67 in PASMC and inhibit the apoptosis of PASMC. CONCLUSION: Ozagrel may be used in treating the pulmonary hypertension by inhibiting the proliferation of PASMC, pulmonary vascular remodeling, and promote the apoptosis of PASMC.

[Prevalence survey on bronchial asthma of Li nationality in Hainan from 2003 to 2007].

OBJECTIVE: To learn the prevalence rate and distribution of bronchial asthma of Li nationality in Hainan by epidemiological survey so as to provide rationales for preventing and treating asthma. METHODS: A total of 13 050 subjects of Li nationality in Hainan were investigated by random sampling of stratified cluster method with an unequal ratio according to the medical records, physical signs and symptoms and pulmonary function tests. Then the prevalence was analyzed according to different population characteristics. RESULTS: The prevalence rate of asthma was 3.38% for Li nationality in Hainan. And it increased with an advancing age. It was much higher in agricultural population (4.08%) than that in cultivation and commercial populations (2.52% and 1.97%, P < 0.01). The asthma prevalence rate was in the highest at 4.62% in rubber workers. And it was much higher in rural areas than that in urban areas (3.85% vs 2.63%, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The epidemiological distribution of asthma of Li nationality in Hainan has been determined. And asthma remains a severe problem locally. The efforts of preventing and treating asthma and its education should be strengthened.

[Serum adiponectin level in patients of chronic pulmonary heart disease with cardiac failure].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes of the concentration of serum adiponectin in patients of chronic pulmonary heart disease (CPHD) with cardiac failure. METHODS: Thirty-eight CPHD patients with cardiac failure underwent conventional treatment, and were divided into 2 subgroups: remission subgroup (n = 32) and non-remission subgroup (n = 6) according to the therapeutic effects 2 weeks later. Peripheral blood samples were collected from these 38 CPHD patients (CPHD group), including the remission subgroup and non-remission subgroup, and 30 healthy persons (as normal control group). Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the serum levels of adiponectin, interleukin (IL)-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha before and 2 weeks after treatment. RESULTS: The serum adiponectin of the CPHD group was (9.5 +/- 7.1) ng/L in general, significantly lower than that of the normal control group [(21.5 +/- 9.0) ng/L, P < 0.01]. The serum adiponectin of the remission group was (17.0 +/- 6.3) ng/L, significantly higher than that of the non-remission group [(8.1 +/- 4.8) ng/L, P < 0.01], but still significantly lower than that of the normal control group (P < 0.05). The IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels of the CPHD group were (50.0 +/- 17.6) and (53.8 +/- 16.2) ng/L respectively, both significantly higher than those of normal control group [(24.4 +/- 9.1) and (28.4 +/- 11.4) ng/L respectively, both P < 0.01]. The IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels of the remission group were (29.0 +/- 12.1) ng/L and (32.3 +/- 13.5) ng/L respectively, both significantly lower than those of the non-remission group [(56.0 +/- 16.0) and (59.3 +/- 19.1) ng/L respectively, both P < 0.01], but not significantly different from those of the normal control group. There were no significant differences in the adiponectin, IL-6, and TNF-alpha levels between the non-remission group and the CPHD group. CONCLUSIONS: Adiponectin is involved in the pathophysiological process of heart failure in the CPHD patients. It may be a useful index to guide treatment and judge prognosis by dynamically determining the serum adiponectin.