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Pregnant women infected with HCV should be given attention due to their special physiological stage and the effect on offspring health. To examine the prevalence of HCV infection among pregnant women in part of China and explore relevant factors during pregnancy, a cross-sectional study was conducted in four maternal and children health care institutions (MCHC) in Guangdong, Hunan and Chongqing. Pregnant women who were delivered, induced or spontaneous abortion were included and relevant information was collected through the Hospital Information System. Results showed that the prevalence of HCV among pregnant women in four MCHCs was 0.11% (95% CI 0.09–0.13%). Age, occupations, regions, syphilis-infection, intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP), and placenta previa were significant factors (all P Z = 3.41, P = 0.0006; OR = 18.16, 95% CI 9.34–35.29). HCV and HBV infection were risk factors of ICP (OR = 4.18, 95% CI 2.18–8.04; OR = 2.59, 95% CI 2.31–2.89). Our study indicates that the prevalence of HCV among pregnant women in the three provinces(city) was low compared with the general population in China. Older age and syphilis-infection increased the risk of HCV infection during pregnancy. HCV infection was a risk factor of ICP. Generally, we need keep a watchful eye on HCV infection and relevant factors mentioned above during pregnancy in clinic, especially those also infected with syphilis. HCV testing based on risk factors is recommended in antenatal care and obstetrics.

Background. Little is known about mortality of opiate users attending methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) clinics. We sought to investigate mortality and its predictors among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–positive MMT clients. Methods. Records of 306 786 clients enrolled in China's MMT program from 24 March 2004 to 30 April 2011 were abstracted. Mortality rates were calculated for all HIV-positive antiretroviral treatment (ART)–naive and ART-experienced clients. Risk factors were examined using stratified proportional hazard ratios (HRs). Results. The observed mortality rate for all clients was 11.8/1000 person-years (PY, 95% confidence interval [CI], 11.5–12.1) and 57.2/1000 PY (CI, 54.9–59.4) for HIV-positive clients (n = 18 193). An increase in average methadone doses to >75 mg/day was associated with a 24% reduction in mortality (HR = 0.76, CI, .70–.82), a 48% reduction for ART-naive HIV-positive clients (HR = 0.52, CI, .42–.65), and a 47% reduction for ART-experienced HIV-positive clients (HR = 0.53, CI, .46–.62). Among ART-experienced clients, initiation of ART when the CD4+ T-cell count was >300 cells/mm3 (HR = 0.64, CI, .43–.94) was also associated with decreased risk of death. Conclusions. We found high mortality rates among HIV-positive MMT clients, yet decreased risk of death, with earlier ART initiation and higher methadone doses. A higher daily methadone dose was associated with reduced mortality in both HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected clients, independent of ART.

BackgroundTo investigate factors associated with retention among the first cohort of drug users attending methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) clinics in China.MethodsA six-year cohort of 1511 drug users was enrolled in the first 8 MMT clinics in China in 2004 and followed between March, 2004 and December, 2010. Six-year retention rates were calculated and compared by methadone dosage, clinic location, and length of follow-up. Factors associated with retention were evaluated using Cox proportional hazard regression models.ResultsThe overall retention rate over 6-year was 35.7%. Highest drop-out occurred within the first 12 months of treatment. The retention rates for the 6-year by low (≤ 30 mg/day), medium (31-60 mg/day), and high (>60 mg/day) methadone dosage groups were 20.8%, 34.8% and 53.2%, respectively (p < 0.001). The highest 6-year retention rate among eight clinics was 43.8%, while the lowest one was 17.7% (p < 0.001). The results from Cox proportional hazard models indicate that clients having >30 mg daily methadone dosage (p < 0.001), having relatives receiving MMT (p = 0.027), and having >10% urine morphine positive result (p < 0.001) were more likely to be retained in MMT over the six-year period. It has also found that drug injection (p = 0.005) and needle sharing (p < 0.0001) were significantly associated with better retention.ConclusionsHealth workers should adjust individuals' methadone dosages as a method to prevent early treatment termination. Further studies are needed to explore the impact of severity of opiate addiction on long-term retention of MMT clients. Careful assessment of drug users upon MMT enrollment may be helpful for providing additional care to clients.

Objective: To assess the overall mortality of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) clients in China and its associated factors. Methods: A total of 1,511 MMT clients, all of whom enrolled in China's first eight MMT clinics between March and December 2004, were included in this cohort study and followed for approximately six years, until June 2010. Mortality and its predictors were examined using Cox proportional hazards regression models. Results: A total of 154 deaths were observed within 5,391 person-years (PY) of follow-up for an all-cause mortality rate of 28.6 per 1,000 PY. The leading causes of death were drug overdose (33.8%), HIV/AIDS-unrelated disease (21.4%), and HIV/AIDS (16.9%). The all-cause mortality rate of clients engaged in MMT for one year or less was roughly three times that of clients who stayed in MMT for four years or more (14.0 vs. 4.6, p

To separate and determine oleanolic acid and ursolic acid, a rapid and accurate HPLC using γ-CD as the mobile phase additive was developed. The effect of CD nature and concentration, and the acidity of the mobile phase on the chromatographic behavior of two bioactive triterpenes were systematically studied. Two bioactive triterpenes were completely separated (R = 3.11) on a Kromasil(®) C(18) column (150×4.6 mm id, 5 μm) with the mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile/0.1% phosphoric acid with 2 mM γ-CD as the mobile phase modifier (60:40, v/v). The flow rate was set at 1.0 mL/min and the eluent was detected at 210 nm for two bioactive triterpenes. The linearity of the method was excellent (r=0.9999) over the studied range of 6-300 μg/mL for oleanolic acid, and 12-600 μg/mL for ursolic acid. The LOD and LOQ were 1.5 and 5.0, 1.0 and 3.0 μg/mL for oleanolic acid and ursolic acid, respectively. The optimized method was successfully applied to separate and determine two bioactive triterpenes in five Chinese herbs. It is concluded that this method could be used for rapid and accurate qualitative and quantitative analysis of the two bioactive triterpenes in Chinese herbs.

Neutron radiation induced defects in neutron-transmutation doped (NTD) silicon containing preexisting electron traps have been investigated by means of high discriminability deep level transient spectroscopy (HDDLTS). The experimental results show that the preexisting defects influence the formation and annealing behavior of neutron radiation-induced defects, and reduce the introduction rates of some radiation defects. Some of the radiation defects and the preexisting defects are suggested to be di- or multi-vacancy complexes.

Objectives To investigate and compare the ability of stem cells from white and brown adipose tissue spontaneous differentiation into cardiomyocytes in vitro , and develop new way to heart regeneration. Methods The differentiated cardiomyocyte-like cells were identified bymorphological observation, confirmed with expression of specific cardiac genes, immunofluorescence and ultrastructural analysis. Electrophysiological studieshave shown the pacemaker activity of the differentiated cells. Results Here, we found that brown adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) could differentiated into beating cardiomyocytes spontaneously in vitro , but not the white ASCs. Likewise, mature brown adipocytes can trans differentiate into spontaneously beating cardiomyocytes. Conclusions Our result not only confirmed the brown adipocytes can differentiate into cardiomyocytes spontaneously in vitro but also offered new insights into cardiomyocyte differentiation and regeneration.