[Epidemiological characteristics and survival analysis of reported pneumoconiosis in Chengdu, 2012-2021]

Objective: To explore theepidemiological characteristics and analyse the survival of pneumoconiosis in Chengdu from 2011 to 2021, providing scientific evidence for further prevention and control. Methods: In April 2022, the pneumoconiosis report card of Chengdu from 2012 to 2021 and survival data were collected from the China Disease Control and prevention information system and the occupational pneumoconiosis follow-up survey project.The data of the report card was reorganized and analyzed by R4.4.0 software. Chi-square test was used to compare the case composition ratio between groups. The annual trend of the number of new pneumo coniosis cases was analyzed by linear regression model Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis and log-rank test was used for comparison of survival curves between groups. Results: 816 cases of pneumoconiosis were reported in Chengdu from 2011 to 2021, including 522 cases of stage Ⅰ (63.97%, 522/816), 148 cases of stage Ⅱ (18.14%, 148/816) and 146 cases of stage Ⅲ pneumoconiosis (17.89146/816) ; There were 596 cases of silicosis (73.04%, 596/816), 143 cases of coal worker's pneumoconiosis (17.52%, 143/816). New onset pneumoconiosis was mainly male (810 cases, 99.26%). The median age of diagnosis and the 25th and 75th percentile were 63 (51-71) years old, the median length of dust exposure were 12.00 (5.92-28.00) years, and the types of work were mainly rock drillers (24.63%, 201/816), tunneling workers (19.36%, 158/816) and coal miners (13.60%, 111/816). Among 816 cases of new pneumoconiosis, 35 cases were lost to follow-up (4.29%, 35/816), 605 cases survived and 176 cases died. The 5-year survival rate was 78.6% and the 10-year survival rate was 65.8%. Conclusion: The number of pneumoconiosis reported in Chengdu was relatively stable in recent years. The main type of pneumoconiosis was silicosis, which was concentrated in regions, industries and types of work. We should continue to strengthen the prevention and treatment of pneumoconiosis.

[Epidemiological characteristics of pesticide poisoning in Chengdu City from 2012 to 2021]

Objective: To explore the present situation and epidemiological characteristics of pesticide poisoning in Chengdu City from 2012 to 2021, and to provide scientific evidence for further prevention and control. Methods: In January 2022, the pesticide poisoning report cards of Chengdu City from 2012 to 2021 were collected from the China Disease Control and Prevention Information System. The data of the report card was reorganized and the distribution characteristics of pesticide poisoning such as time, region, gender, age and pesticide types were analyzed. Results: 14326 cases of pesticide poisoning were reported in Chengdu City from 2012 to 2021, 651 deaths, and the fatality rate was 4.54%. The cases of productive pesticide poisoning and unproductive pesticide poisoning were 504 and 13822, respectively. The fatality rates of productive and unproductive pesticide poisoning were 1.39% and 4.66%, which were significant different (χ(2)=11.99, P=0.001). The highest reported cases of pesticide poisoning was in 2013 (1779) and the lowest in 2021 (1047). The number of reported cases showed a downward trend year by year (t=-12.30, P<0.001), and the fatality rates also showed a downward trend year by year (χ(2)(trend)=25.48, P<0.001). The fluctuation range of unproductive pesticide poisoning cases in each month of the year was small, and the productive pesticide poisoning mainly occurred from May to August. The regions with the largest number of reported poisoning cases were Pengzhou (1620), Jianyang (1393), Jintang (1266) and Qionglai (1158). The high incidence of poisoning was among 25-54 years old (50.21%, 7193/14326). The fatality rate in the age group 75-96 years old was the highest (8.98%, 95/1058), and the fatality rates increased gradually with age (χ(2)(trend)=186.03, P<0.001). The pesticides causing poisoning were mainly insecticide (43.86%, 6284/14326) and herbicides (35.75%, 5121/14326). Herbicides paraquat had the highest fatality rate (9.54%, 286/2998) . Conclusion: Pesticide poisoning in Chengdu City is mainly unproductive poisoning. Health education should be carried out for key areas and people, and the control of highly toxic pesticides such as insecticide and herbicides should be strengthened.

[High frequency hearing loss detection rate in occupational noise exposed workers in China: a Meta-analysis]

Objective: A Meta-analysis was used to evaluate the high frequency hearing loss detection rate, its area and time distributions in occupational noise exposed workers in China to provide evidence for the prevention and control of occupational noise-induced deafness. Methods: From February to April 2020, the number of hearing tests and the number of binaural high frequency average hearing threshold ≥40 dB of workers exposed to noise in key occupational disease monitoring and occupational health risk assessment project in China was collected from China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) , VIP database and PubMed database. The retrieval time was set from the establishment of the database to February 28, 2020. The R 3.6.2 software was used to calculate the pooled high frequency hearing loss detection rate. Results: A total of 28 studies, included 34 data and 1259571 occupational noise exposed workers, were enrolled. The articles covered 16 provinces in 2015-2018. The pooled high frequency hearing loss detection rate in occupational noise exposed workers was 9.45% (95%CI: 7.64%-11.64%) . The high frequency hearing loss detection rate (10.54%) was higher in 2018 than other years (2017: 10.17%, 2016: 9.21%, 2015: 7.88%) . The high frequency hearing loss detection rate (12.23%) was higher in central China than in eastern (10.21%) , western (7.91%) and north-eastern (5.21%) China. Conclusion: The overall high frequency hearing loss detection rate in occupational noise exposed workers is generally high in China. It is important to strengthen the hearing protection in occupational noise exposed workers to facilitate the occupational noise-induced deafness prevention and control in China.

[Influencing factors on smoking cessation among outpatients from the National Central Subsidy Smoking Cessation Clinic Project, in 2015-2018]

Objective: To evaluate the effect of smoking cessation project run by the Central Subsidy Smoking Cessation Clinic and to explore the related influencing factors on smoking cessation, in order to improve related services and provide better guidance to these smoking cessation clinics. Methods: Practitioners who had been trained to run smoking cessation projects were recruited to conduct face-to-face interview with the smokers. Questionnaires were completed to provide information on related psychological, social and behavioral issues. In these clinics, medications were provided to the patients by the health care takers in the clinic. One month after the first visit, smoking cessation rate (self-reported, 7-day point prevalence abstinence rate at 30-day follow-up) was counted. Results: The overall smoking cessation rate (self-reported, 7-day point prevalence abstinence rate at 30-day follow-up) appeared as 34.1%. Results from the multivariate logistic regression showed that patients over the age of 60 were the ones most likely to quit smoking. Smokers who showed higher possibility of quitting would include those: not on the daily base, intend to quit within 30 days, with other diseases, or taking varenicline and bupropion. Factors as unemployment, longer history of smoking, bigger quantity of cigarettes consumption per day, dependence on nicotine and urgency on taking up the first cigarette in the early morning etc., were related to the less likelihood of giving up smoking. However, histories of cessation did not seem to affect the possibility of quitting. Conclusions: Data from self-reported 7-day point prevalence abstinence at 30-day follow-up study showed that the smoking cessation intervention programs run by the central subsidy smoking cessation clinic project had been effectively implemented. Advocacy on quit smoking at early stage seemed to have better outcomes, thus should be called for. Since medications as varenicline tartrate and bupropion hydrochloride can increase the possibility of stop smoking, we would suggest that all the hospitals which are with smoking cessation clinics be equipped with these medicines. Professional assistance provided by practitioners is of key importance to help overcome the withdrawal symptoms during the periods of cessation, on these smokers.

The Vicenza “Short” Peritoneal Catheter: A Twenty Year Experience

Dislocation of peritoneal dialysis catheters is one of the major causes of technique failure. We evaluated 701 Vicenza catheters, implanted since 1985 in 365 males, mean age 53 ± 16 yrs, range 24 - 87, and 336 females, mean age 51 ± 17 yrs, range 21 - 82. The Vicenza catheter is defined “short” since it consists of a classic straight double cuff PD catheter having however an inner segment (the portion located in the peritoneal cavity) much shorter than any other type of catheter. It is implanted in the lower abdomen, just a few centimeters above the pubis. The analysis of our results obtained in a large PD population displayed good device survival at 2 and 5 years (94.3% and 91.5% respectively), a low dislocation rate (4%) and an exit-site infection rate similar to other double cuffed catheters. There was no selection of patients receiving this catheter since from 1985 we have used this catheter in every incident patient. Due to its lower implantation site this catheter demonstrates excellent wearability and good body image acceptance.

Pharmacokinetics and antimicrobial dosing adjustment in critically ill patients during continuous renal replacement therapy

Appropriate antimicrobial therapy poses one of the greatest challenges during the management of a septic patient in the intensive care unit (ICU). Acute renal failure (ARF) is a common complication of sepsis and often occurs as a component of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is increasingly used as an effective extracorporeal blood purification therapy in this critically ill patient population. Available data demonstrate that sepsis, ARF and different modalities of CRRT may have profound effects on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of various antimicrobial agents used in the ICU. Guidelines for antimicrobial prescription which will fit the individual patient undergoing a particular method of treatment are still unavailable. Understanding the principles of drug removal by CRRT and pharmacokinetics of various agents can help to modify the drug dosage and dosing intervals for individualized therapy. Meanwhile, monitoring the drug serum concentration is still mandatory whenever clinically feasible.

[Three-dimensional surface reconstruction of spiral CT for teeth and clinical use in examining impacted teeth of jaws]

OBJECTIVE

To establish a new technique for three-dimensional surface reconstruction of teeth (dental surface reconstruction), and apply it to investigate impacted teeth in bone before operation.

METHODS

On the basis of three-dimensional surface reconstruction of teeth and jaws, the dental surface reconstruction is obtained with the technique of shaded surface display (SSD), making transparent bone around. This technique is applied to investigate 9 cases of supernumerary and impacted teeth.

RESULTS

Dental surface reconstruction image can present the dental surface image including crown, root, neck and root bifurcation in three-dimensional way, without presenting the image of other tissue around. In 4 cases, the abnormal configuration, labial or palatal location, and relation with dentition in anterior maxilla of 5 supernumerary were shown. In 1 case, the shape, location, eruption orientation and the angle of orthodontic distraction of 1 impacted permanent canine were displayed. In 3 cases, the shape, location, and extraction resistance of 6 impacted wisdom teeth were revealed. In 1 case, the configuration, distance to adjacent molar of 1 impacted wisdom tooth, which is a transposition tooth in maxillary sinus, were also demonstrated.

CONCLUSION

The dental surface reconstruction is a new technique to display three-dimensional surface configuration of teeth. This technique can be applied to examine impacted and supernumerary teeth before surgical and orthodontic treatment.

[Study on synthesis and molecular spectra of the N-(2-hydroxy) naphthylmethyleneamino iron(III), cobalt(II) and copper(II) complexes]

The title complexes were synthesized via reaction of iron nitrate, cobalt acetate and copper acetate with the didentate O,N-donor Schiff bases in methanol solution. The electronic and infrared spectra of these complexes were measured and the major IR bands were assigned.

[Fine physical mapping of yeast chromosome V]

Electrophoretic karyotype of yeast strain A364a was obtained by pulsed field gel electrophoresis and the position of chromosome V on such karyotype was determined by means of dot hybridization with chromosome V-specific probe URA3. By cloning partially digested BamHI fragments of this chromosome DNA into integrative vector Yip5, a gene library specific to this chromosome was constructed. The number of the recombinants was much more than theoretically required. After screening probe-homologous fragments from this library and analysing such fragments with restriction enzymes BamHI, EcoRI, HindIII, PstI, and SalI, a fine physical map covering about 9.4% of A364a chromosome V (which was estimated as 620kb) was constructed. Further colony hybridization with boundary clones will enable us to "walk" throughout the whole chromosome.

Channel selection of atmospheric remote sensing

We introduce a channel selection method for atmospheric remote-sensing problems described by a Fredholm integral equation of the first kind. Whether one set of channels (CH) is more suitable than another (CH') can be judged by whether (1) the degree of predominance (DP) value of CH is larger than that of CH', i.e., if the number of channels is the same and (2) the number of channels of CH is more than that of CH', if the DP values of both are acceptable. One can calculate the DP of the unknown function f (y) for a set of remote-sensing channels by DP = [1 + (Rf̃(a)(2) - 1) R(d)(2)](-1/2), Rf̃(a)(2) = R(c)(2)[ R(b)(2) + R(a)(2)(1 + R(b)(2))], where R(a), R(b), R(c), and (1 - R(d)(2))(1/2) of this channel set represent the influences on the ability to recover the unknown function caused by various measurement errors, the noise parameter, the relativity of the kernel functions, and the blindness of remote sensing means, respectively. Our channel selection method can be simplified to a conventional method when there are no differences in the relative measurement errors, no blind components of the unknown function and no noise parameters in the kernel function.