[Association between both maternal and fetal angiotensinogen gene single nucleotide polymorphism and preeclampsia/eclampsia].

Objective: To explore the association between preeclampsia/eclampsia and maternal and fetal angiotensinogen SNPs. Methods: From January 2008 to October 2015, a case-parents/mother-control designed study was conducted among 347 preeclampsia/eclampsia cases and 700 controls to collect related information on their demographic characteristics and to detect the related angiotensinogen SNPs' genotypes. Both log-linear and unconditional logistic regression methods were employed to investigate the genetic effects of maternal/fetal angiotensinogen SNPs on preeclampsia/eclampsia. Multivariate binary unconditional logistic regression model and covariance were used to analyze the relationship between BMI before pregnancy, weight gain during pregnancy and overweight and obesity in preschool children. Results: Both fetal angiotensinogen rs3789679 GA and AA genotype were associated with the reduced risks of preeclampsia/eclampsia, with ORs as 0.73 (95%CI: 0.55-0.96) and 0.62 (95%CI: 0.39-0.98), respectively. For fetal angiotensinogen rs2493132, individuals that carrying the TT genotype, presented a positive association with the risk of preeclampsia/eclampsia, with OR as 1.60 (95%CI: 1.08-2.37). However, these associations were not statistically significant after the correction of the false discovery rate. It was observed that fetal rs3789679 could reduce the risk of preeclampsia/eclampsia (OR=0.73, 95%CI: 0.55-0.96) under the dominant model (GA+AA/GG) while fetal rs2493132 increased the risk of preeclampsia/eclampsia (OR=1.66, 95%CI: 1.13-2.44) under the recessive model (TT/CC+CT). Maternal rs5051 presented an association with preeclampsia/eclampsia (OR=1.33, 95%CI: 1.01-1.76) under the dominant model (TC+CC/TT). Conclusions: Results from the dominant model showed that both fetal rs3789679 GA and AA genotype reduced the risk of preeclampsia/eclampsia and maternal rs5051 TC while CC genotype increased the risk of preeclampsia/eclampsia. Fetal rs2493132 TT genotype seemed to be associated with the risk of preeclampsia/eclampsia under the recessive model.

Text message-based intervention to improve treatment adherence among rural patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a qualitative study.

OBJECTIVES: Adherence to treatment among most type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients is relatively poor in rural China. The present study aimed to explore the perspectives of rural T2DM patients and health workers on a text message-based intervention (TMI) for increasing patients' adherence in rural China. STUDY DESIGN: Qualitative study. METHODS: Six focus group discussions with T2DM patients, six with village doctors, and three with public health physicians were conducted in Xianning city during 2015. Semistructured interview guides were employed to facilitate qualitative data collection. Audio recordings of the sessions were transcribed verbatim, and theme analysis was performed. RESULTS: Based on the participants' reports, T2DM patients had insufficient knowledge about diabetes and suboptimal adherence to treatment in rural China. Most of the participants had a positive attitude toward this novel TMI approach to improving patients' treatment adherence and knowledge. The perceived potential barriers to the utilization of TMI included poor eyesight and educational background and gradually losing interest during a long-term intervention. The suggestions for successfully implementing this strategy included family or social support, applicability of the text message content, adequate frequency and timing of sending the messages, and combining of messages with other educational formats. CONCLUSION: A TMI is a promising option for improving T2DM patients' adherence to treatment in rural China. The findings of the present study can contribute knowledge to the application of TMI in similar settings.

The attitudes of primary healthcare providers towards web-based training on public health services in rural China: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the attitudes of primary healthcare workers, including township public health workers (TPHWs) and village doctors (ViDs), towards web-based training on basic public health services (BPHS) and to examine the factors influencing their attitudes. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: Questionnaires addressing training status, needs, and attitudes towards web-based public health training were administered to 2768 primary healthcare workers from May to September 2013. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify the factors that were significantly associated with a positive attitude towards web-based public health training. RESULTS: Among the 2768 participants, 90.6% of the TPHWs and 86.9% of the ViDs expressed a positive attitude towards web-based BPHS training. TPHWs who had a positive attitude towards previous public health training (odds ratio [OR] = 2.75, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.28-5.93) and better computer skills (OR = 2.59, 95% CI = 1.03-6.48) were more likely to adopt web-based training on BPHS, as were ViDs who had better computer skills (OR = 2.54, 95% CI = 1.58-4.11) and better Internet speeds (neutral: OR = 2.81, 95% CI = 1.58-5.01; satisfied: OR = 2.53, 95% CI = 1.28-5.01). TPHWs who tended to read papers (OR = 0.24, 95% CI = 0.11-0.50) and were aged 50 years or older (OR = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.14-0.87), as were ViDs who tended to read papers (OR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.29-0.77), expressed a more negative attitude towards web-based BPHS training. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicated that most primary healthcare workers have a positive attitude towards web-based BPHS training. More priority measures, such as conducting computer training, improving Internet quality and integrating mobile technology, are recommended and will further improve the implementation of web-based public health training programs.

[Log-linear model used in the hybrid design of case-parents triad/control-mother dyad].

This study introduced the application of a log-linear model in the hybrid design of case-parents triad/control-mother dyad. Data related to the association between cleft lip with palate (CLP) and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene A1298C diversity was analyzed. Log-linear model based on likelihood ratio tests (LRTs) was used to analyze the relationships between mother, offspring genotypes and CLP. Data from our study noticed that children of mothers carrying the CC genotype presented a lower risk of CLP, comparing with the children of mothers carrying the AA genotype, with S2=0.45 (95%CI: 0.26-0.79). Offspring that carrying the AC genotype presented a lower risk of CLP, comparing with the offspring that carrying the AA genotype, with R1=0.69 (95% CI: 0.48-0.97). However, no other types of relationships were found. The power of hybrid design was greater than the case-parents study (0.86>0.78). MTHFR A1298C polymorphism seemed to have played an important role in the etiology on both cleft lip and palate. Data from the hybrid design and the log-linear model could help researchers to explore the effects of genotypes from both mothers and the offspring. This study design would present stronger power than the regular case-parents studies thus suitable for studies on the etiology of diseases in early lives, as birth defects.

In vivo effects of purified recombinant human macrophage colony-stimulating factor in combination with local hyperthermia on tumor progression in B16a melanoma bearing mice.

Recombinant human (rhu) macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) was evaluated, alone or in combination with local hyperthermia (LH), for their antitumor effects in mice inoculated with B16a melanoma cells. Several tumor related parameters and other hematopoietic and immunologic parameters were evaluated 5 weeks after subcutaneous (s.c.) inoculation of tumor cells into the right limbs of C57BL/6J male mice. RhuM-CSF was administered at 20 micrograms/injection, s.c., twice a day for 5 days/week for 2 weeks beginning 6 days after tumor cell inoculation and LH (43 +/- 0.2 degrees C) was given for 30 min twice/week for 2 weeks. Combined therapy prolonged survival of mice and caused significant inhibition of tumor growth, as measured by the volume or size of primary tumor, number and size of lung metastases, and chromatin fragment (CF) formation in tumor bearing mice, while treatment with M-CSF or LH alone had less or no effect. Combined therapy also resulted in increased numbers of splenic T-lymphocytes and the ratio of T-helper/suppressor cells, restoration of natural killer (NK) cell activity, increased numbers of peritoneal macrophages and their erythrophagocytosis capacity, and increased release or production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, but not interleukin (IL)-1 alpha or IL-6. These results add to previous evidence that M-CSF might be a relevant therapeutic agent in combination with other therapies in the treatment of certain malignant diseases.