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This study explores the effects of social psychological factors on suicidal intent among suicide attempters in rural China. Suicide attempters were identified by the county-level Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCs) and interviewed by the research team. A path analysis was conducted with physical illness, social support, and negative life events as exogenous variables, and life satisfaction, depressive emotions, and suicidal intent as endogenous variables. Beginning with a saturation model, a best model was obtained after removing the paths that were not significant. In the final model, depressive emotions and life satisfaction were directly associated with suicidal intent, and the standardized effect estimates were 0.3007 (p < 0.001) and -0.1182 (p = 0.0368). Physical illness, social support, and negative life events did not directly affect suicidal intent but had indirect effect. Depressive emotions may be the most important and direct predictor of suicidal intent; physical illness, negative life events, and social support affect suicidal intent through life satisfaction and depressive emotions.

To identify the status of awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in adult population in Shandong province in China.A total of 15 350 representative subjects aged 18 to 69 in Shandong province were selected with multistage stratified and clustered sampling design. Questionnaire investigation and physical examination including measurement of blood pressure, height and weight, were taken for all of them. The prevalence was estimated by weighted SURVEYFREQ model.In Shandong province, 34.5% of the hypertensive patients were aware of their high blood pressure (31.1% in male, 38.5% in female), 27.5% of them were taking antihypertensive medications (24.1% in male, 31.7% in female), and 14.9% of them (13.7% in male, 16.4% in female) were under control for their blood pressure (140/90 mm Hg).The rates of awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in adult hypertensive population in Shandong province, China were low, and it is urgently needed to take steps for intervention and control for hypertension prevention, particularly in rural areas.

Dietary sodium intake and its impact factors in 2 140 adults aged 18-69 years were analyzed. The mean daily sodium intake was 5745.0 (5427.6-6062.5) mg per day, which was higher in males than in females (P0.01). After having been adjusted for gender, age and urban/city areas, the mean daily sodium intake was significantly higher in participants with a lower education level, drinkers and smokers than in those with a higher education level, nondrinkers and nonsmokers (P0.01). The dietary sodium intake in adults of Shandong Province is higher than the recommended standards.

To study the changes of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity and apoptosis-related genes Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-3 mRNA expressions in endotoxemia-induced rat diaphragm injury and analyze the related apoptosis mechanism.Thirty-two male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 8): control group (saline 0.5 ml ip), endotoxin 24 h, 48 h and 96 h group (endotoxin 12 mg/kg ip, animals were killed either 24, 48 or 96 h after injections). Body weight were measured, the ratio between diaphragm weight and body weight, activities of constitutive nitric oxide syntheses (cNOS), iNOS and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) were also measured. The expressions of Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-3 mRNA were detected by RT-PCR analysis.Endotoxin induced significant reductions in diaphragm mass in endotoxin 96 h group (P0.05). Endotoxin increased diaphragm cNOS or iNOS activities, and they were significantly higher in endotoxin 96 h group than those in endotoxin 24 h and 48 h groups, diaphragm SDH activity was reduced, and it was lower in endotoxin 96 h group than that in endotoxin 24 h and 48 h groups (P0.01). Endotoxin significantly increased Bax and caspase-3 mRNA expressions, and they were higher in endotoxin 48 h and 96 h groups than those in endotoxin 24 h group (P0.01). Endotoxin significantly reduced Bcl-2 mRNA expression and the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax, and they were lower in endotoxin 48 h and 96 h groups than those in endotoxin 24 h group (P0.01).iNOS is activated in endotoxemia-induced rat diaphragm injury. It damages mitochondria, upregulates Bax expression and downregulates Bcl-2 expression, then induces caspase-3 related apoptotic pathway. These changes may cause diaphragm injury and atrophy.

To investigate the effect of commercial low-sodium and high-potassium salt substitutes on blood pressure in the rural community-based population in China.We conducted a quasi-experiment on 411 adults, who were 30 to 60 years of age, in 2 rural communities from Laiwu city in Shandong province of China on data from blood pressure screening. The subjects were divided into 2 groups: high blood pressure (HBP) and non-HBP (NHBP). Both groups and their family members took a low-sodium and high-potassium salt substitute for 3 months to replace the normal salt in their bodies. Blood pressure (BP) and 24-hour urinary sodium and potassium were measured regularly in the 2 groups.There was a continuously decreasing trend for BP at the end of the first month. Three months later, the mean BP decreased by 7.4 mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa, t = 10.096, P = 0.000) for SBP and 3.8 mm Hg (t = 8.017, P = 0.000) for DBP in the HBP group, when compared to a 1.2 mm Hg (t = 2.507, P = 0.007) decrease on SBP and 1.0 mm Hg (t = 2.987, P = 0.002) on DBP in the NHBP group. The mean urinary sodium had a decrease of 15.5 mmol/24 h (t = 1.803, P = 0.037), but the urinary potassium increased by 4.2 mmol/24 h (t' = 2.132, P = 0.018). The result of urinary sodium appeared to be as follows: potassium ratio (Na(+)/K(+)) decreased by 1.2 (t = 2.786, P = 0.003) in the HBP group. However, in NHBP group, the mean urinary sodium decreased by 1.7 mmol/24 h (t = 0.211, P = 0.417) and urinary potassium increased by 3.7 mmol/24 h (t' = 2.207, P = 0.015), together with the decrease of Na(+)/K(+) by 0.7 (t = 1.818, P = 0.036).Results from our study clearly demonstrated that the intake of low-sodium and high-potassium salt substitute could effectively reduce the BP with good compliance among adults in the rural community-based population in China. This was an effective but non-medical method to prevent and control the high blood pressure.

To evaluate the intervention effect of health education on hypertension knowledge in mid-western rural area of Shandong province.A project was launched on chronic disease control in mid-western rural area of Shandong province from 2007 to 2010. The baseline survey was performed using multi-stage random sampling method in 8 counties of mid-western rural area of Shandong province in April, 2007. A total of 20 087 participants aged 25 and above were recruited in the survey to study the relationship between awareness of hypertension and diet, smoking, obesity. Health education focusing on balance diet, physical activity promotion and tobacco control was performed among intervention population. The final evaluation survey using same questionnaire was performed in 2010, classified in intervention (4071 participants) and control (2145 participants) group. Control group was selected from non-intervention town in same county. Intervention and control group shared the same baseline data in 2007 for evaluation. By comparing the changes of hypertension knowledge before and after intervention, the intervention effect was evaluated.Awareness of the relationship between hypertension and diet rose from 34.0% (6830/20 087) at baseline in 2007 to 69.3% (2821/4071) (χ(2) = 1757.30, P0.01) of intervention group and 44.8% (961/2145) (χ(2) = 99.30, P0.01) of control group in 2010. Awareness of hypertension associated to smoking rose from 25.6% (5142/20 087) at baseline in 2007 to 55.2% (2247/4071) (χ(2) = 1396.59, P0.01) in intervention group, 30.9% (662/2145) (χ(2) = 27.83, P0.01) in control group in 2010. Awareness of hypertension related to obesity rose from 37.2% (7472/20 087) of the baseline in 2007 to 68.3% (2780/4071) (χ(2) = 1339.27, P0.01) in intervention group, 45.1% (967/2145) (χ(2) = 51.14, P0.01) in control group in 2010.Community comprehensive intervention showed significant effects on hypertension related knowledge improvement in mid-western rural area of Shandong province.

To evaluate the burden of road traffic injury (RTI) from perspectives both on the health of population and on social economic status so as to provide scientific evidence for policy making.The status of mortality and disability caused by traffic accident in Penglai county was estimated, based on data from death registration and a sampling survey from 2006 to 2007. Together with the disability weights gained from global burden of disease (GBD), health burden (DALY) was measured with GBD formula. The economic burden of RTI was evaluated.Average loss of the health life years (HLY) related to RTI was 31 373.04 per year. 70.59 HLY were lost per 1000 persons. Loss among the males was higher than females. The loss of DALY among the age group 15 - 44 years ranked the first place (39 209.71 HLY) which accounted for 62.42% of the total DALY. 79.45% of the total DALY were caused by disability. In 2006 and 2007, the economic loss caused by RTI was as high as 2.19 billion RMB, which accounted for 4.89% of the total amount of GDP while the indirect economic costs (2.15 billion RMB) accounted for 98.45% of the total costs in Penglai city. The economic loss of the males was obviously higher than the females and the loss by the group aged 15 - 59 years old accounted for 97.65% of the total.RTI had severely influenced the health of the residents in Penglai city and brought heavy burden to the individuals, families as well as the society.

To comprehensively measure the burden of hepatitis B, liver cirrhosis and liver cancer in Shandong province, using disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) to estimate the disease burden attribute to hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.Based on the mortality data of hepatitis B, liver cirrhosis and liver cancer derived from the third National Sampling Retrospective Survey for Causes of Death during 2004 and 2005, the incidence data of hepatitis B and the prevalence and the disability weights of liver cancer gained from the Shandong Cancer Prevalence Sampling Survey in 2007, we calculated the years of life lost (YLLs), years lived with disability (YLDs) and DALYs of three diseases following the procedures developed for the global burden of disease (GBD) study to ensure the comparability.The total burden for hepatitis B, liver cirrhosis and liver cancer were 211,616 (39,377 YLLs and 172,239 YLDs), 16,783 (13,497 YLLs and 3286 YLDs) and 247,795 (240,236 YLLs and 7559 YLDs) DALYs in 2005 respectively, and men were 2.19, 2.36 and 3.16 times as that for women, respectively in Shandong province. The burden for hepatitis B was mainly because of disability (81.39%). However, most burden on liver cirrhosis and liver cancer were due to premature death (80.42% and 96.95%). The burden of each patient related to hepatitis B, liver cirrhosis and liver cancer were 4.8, 13.73 and 11.11 respectively.Hepatitis B, liver cirrhosis and liver cancer caused considerable burden to the people living in Shandong province, indicating that the control of hepatitis B virus infection would bring huge potential benefits.

To determine stage-specific and average disability weights (DWs) of malignant neoplasm and provide support and evidence for study on burden of cancer and policy development in Shandong province.Health status of each cancer patient identified during the cancer prevalence survey in Shandong, 2007 was investigated. In line with the GBD methodology in estimating DWs, the disability extent of every case was classified and evaluated according to the Six-class Disability Classification version and then the stage-specific weights and average DWs with their 95% confidence intervals were calculated, using SAS software.A total of 11 757 cancer cases were investigated and evaluated. DWs of specific stage of therapy, remission, metastasis and terminal of all cancers were 0.310, 0.218, 0.450 and 0.653 respectively. The average DW of all cancers was 0.317 (95%CI: 0.312 - 0.321). Weights of different stage and different cancer varied significantly, while no significant differences were found between males and females. DWs were found higher (0.4) for liver cancer, bone cancer, lymphoma and pancreas cancer. Lower DWs (0.3) were found for breast cancer, cervix uteri, corpus uteri, ovarian cancer, larynx cancer, mouth and oropharynx cancer.Stage-specific and average DWs for various cancers were estimated based on a large sample size survey. The average DWs of 0.317 for all cancers indicated that 1/3 healthy year lost for each survived life year of them. The difference of DWs between different cancer and stage provide scientific evidence for cancer prevention strategy development.

We reported a rare case of protoplasmic astrocytoma presenting small muscle atrophy of the right hand as an initial sign. A 39-year-old male was admitted to hospital complaining of chronic muscle atrophy and subtle headache. Electromyography (EMG) showed brief small denervation and no signs of sensory-motor conduction impairment. CT and MRI revealed multiply expansive intracranial lesion in left hemisphere, which was highly suspected of cerebral echinococcus or Balo disease. The patient underwent surgical excision and pathological report was protoplasmic astrocytoma, with glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP, +++) of immunohistochemical method. We reviewed clinical features, radiological manifestations and pathology of protoplasmic astrocytoma with medical literature documents.