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There is an obvious disparity between different regions in our country, which is well reflected in our empirical study on the relationship between the environmental regulation and the economic growth in the eastern, middle, and western parts of China through giving an econometric analysis to the panel data of 30 provincial regions from 1998 to, 2006. In the long run, there is a causal relationship between the level of environmental regulation and the economic growth in these regions. In the short run, the influence of environmental regulation on the economic growth in the eastern region is significant and that in the middle region is weak; but in the western region, to some extent the economic growth promotes the environmental regulation. Therefore, it is necessary to take some effective measures to enhance the productive interaction and coordinated development of the environmental regulation and the economic growth in different regions of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the mutation of genes associated with drug resistance (Pfcrt, Pfmdr1, Pfdhfr and K13） in imported Plasmodium falciparum in Shandong Province., Methods: Blood was collected from 94 falciparum malaria cases who returned from Africa in 2014. Genomic DNA for P. falciparum was extracted from the blood samples and nested PCR was performed using primers specifically designed for Pfcrt, Pfmdr1, Pfdhfr and K13. The PCR products were sequenced. Gene mutations were analyzed by sequence alignment., Results: The 94 imported cases were from 18 African countries. Nested PCR was successful on DNA from all the blood samples except for Pfcrt amplification in one sample. Sequence analysis revealed three types of mutations Pfcrt K76T （36.6%, 34/93）, Pfmdr1 N86Y （21.3%, 20/94）, and Pfdhfr S108N （98.9%, 93/94） （χ2=127.5， P<0.05）. K13 C580Y mutation was not found. Co-occurrence of K76T, N86Y, and S108N was found in 6 blood samples （6.5%）, which were imported from Liberia（2）, Angola（1）, Equatorial guinea（1）, Congo（1）, and Guinea（1）. Co-occurrence of K76T and S108N mutations was found in 28 samples（30.1%）, and that of N86Y and S108N in 14 samples （15.1%）. Forty-four samples（47.3%） harbored S108N mutation only, and one sample was null for any of the mutations., Conclusion: There are mutations in Pfcrt, Pfmdr1, and Pfdhfr in imported Plasmodium falciparum in Shandong Province. No mutation was found for the K13 gene.

Objectives: To explore the influence of the NF-κB inhibitor (bay11-7082) on tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced different ratios of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) in chondrocytes., Methods: Chondrocytes were isolated from the knee joint of a 1-day old mouse by trypsin digestion method. Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) stain was used to show the morphology of isolated chondrocytes; Semi-quantitative PCR was applied to analyze the influence of bay11-7082 on gene expressions of TNF-α-induced MMPs and TIMPs in chondrocytes; Zymography was used to elucidate activities of the gelatinases induced by TNF-α and/or bay11-7082., Results: TNF-α up-regulated gene expressiosn of the MMPs and TIMPs ( P <0.05). The ratios of MMPs/TIMPs were mostly increased except the part of MMP -1. Bay11-7082 could reduce TNF-α-induced MMPs and TIMPs gene expressions, and could make the increased ratio of MMPs/TIMPs dropped to the normal level of chondrocytes. Similar results were observed at the protein level of the gelatinases by zymography., Conclusions: TNF-α-induced high ratios of MMPs/TIMPs could partiallyexplain over-degradation of cartilage extracellular matrix in osteoarthritis (OA). Blockage of NF-κB with bay11-7082 might provide a possible therapeutic strategy for the OA deterioration.

Objective: To understand the malaria epidemic situation and characteristics in Shandong Province in 2014, so as to provide evidences for taking targeted strategies and measures for malaria elimination., Methods: The data of malaria epidemic and malaria cases of Shandong Province in 2014 were collected from Information Management System for Infectious Diseases Report and Information Management System for Parasitic Diseases Control and Prevention. The epidemiological characteristics of malaria situation and the diagnosis and treatment of malaria cases were analyzed by Microsoft Excel 2007., Results: A total of 150 malaria cases were reported in Shandong Province in 2014, which increased by 14.50% compared with that in 2013 (131 cases). All the cases were imported from other countries except one imported from Yunnan Province in China, and most of the imported cases were from Africa (142 cases, 95.30%). All the cases were confirmed in Shandong Provincial Reference Laboratory and there were 121 cases (80.67%) infected with Plasmodium falciparum, 16 cases (10.67%) infected with P. vivax, 9 cases (6.00%) infected with P. ovale and 4 cases (2.67%) infected with P. malariae. The cases were mainly distributed in Tai'an (40 cases, 26.67%), Yantai (17 cases, 11.33%), Weihai (13 cases, 8.67%), Jining (11 cases, 7.33%) and Heze (11 cases, 7.33%) cities., Conclusions: There have been no local malaria cases reported in Shandong Province in the continuous 3 years. However, the reported number of imported malaria cases shows an increasing trend in the province in recent years, and the species of infected Plasmodium are diverse. Imported malaria from other countries is the key of malaria control in Shandong Province at present.

Objective: To understand the current situation of infections of intestinal parasites of rural residents in four cities namely Dongying, Weifang, Jining and Heze of Shandong Province., Methods: Twenty-four villages were randomly selected as study areas. The Kato-Katz technique was applied to test the stool samples of adult residents and the cellophane tape anus method was applied to test the infection of Enterobius vermicularis of children aged 12 years or below. Fifty families were randomly selected from each village and surveyed with questionnaires for the general situation of the family, and the knowledge of prevention and control of parasites, and healthy behaviors of the family members., Results: Totally 8,227 adult residents and 1,313 children were investigated and the total infection rate of intestinal parasites was 0.55% (45 cases). The infection rates of Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm, Trichuris trichura, E. vermicularis and Clonorchis sinensis were 0.15% (12 cases), 0.06% (5 cases), 0.09% (7 cases), 1.37% (18 cases) and 0.04% (3 cases), respectively. Totally 3,767 residents were surveyed with questionnaires, and the awareness rate of the knowledge of prevention and control of parasites was 28.72% (1,082 cases), the formation rates of washing hands before meal, washing hands after toilet, washing fruit and vegetables before eating, and never drinking unboiled water were 60.66% (2,285 cases), 50.17% (1,890 cases), 48.71% (1,835 cases), and 87.07% (3,280 cases), respectively., Conclusion: In the plain area of Shandong Province, the infection rates of A. lumbricoides, hookworm, T. trichura and C. sinensis are low but the infection rate of E. vermicularis of children is relatively high; the awareness rates of the knowledge of parasites as well as the formation rates of healthy behaviors are low. Therefore, the health education and promotion should be strengthened.

Objective: To understand the infection status of intestinal parasites and related knowledge and behavior factors of the residents in north-west Shandong Province, so as to provide the evidence for taking targeted preventive measures., Methods: Eighteen villages were randomly selected as survey spots by the stratified multi-stage sample method. The Kato-Katz technique was used to detect intestinal parasite eggs among the residents and the cellophane tape anus test was used to detect Enterobius vermicularis eggs among 3-12 years old children. Questionnaires were applied to investigate related knowledge and behavior factors about the intestinal parasite infections in the residents., Results: Totally 6 366 residents were detected for intestinal parasites and the infection rate was 0.28% (18 cases). Totally 895 children were detected for E. vermicularis and the infection rate was 5.70% (51 cases). Totally 2 915 residents were investigated by questionnaires and the awareness rate of knowledge about preventing parasitic diseases was 26.72%. The formation rates of washing hands before meal and after WC, washing fruit and vegetable before eating, never drinking unboiled water were 55.42%, 42.87%, 43.54% and 83.04% respectively. The awareness rate of knowledge about preventing parasitic diseases of 3-12 years old children was 12.24%; and the formation rates of washing hands before meal and after WC were 47.04% and 30.44% respectively., Conclusions: The total infection rate of intestinal parasites is low but the E. vermicularis infection rate is high among children in north-west Shandong Province. The awareness rate of knowledge about preventing parasitic diseases and the formation rates of healthy behaviors are all low. Therefore, the targeted health education should be taken to increase the awareness rate and guide the residents to develop their healthy behaviors.

Objective: To understand the status of intestinal parasitic infections and the related knowledge and behavior in residents of Jiaodong area of Shandong Province, so as to provide the evidence for making an appropriate preventive and control strategy., Methods: A total of 18 villages from 6 counties in Jiaodong area were selected as investigation sites according to the stratified sampling method. The feces samples of the permanent residents aged above 3 years were collected and examined by Kato-Katz technique to find the intestinal parasite eggs, and the children under 12 years old were examined by the method of cellophane anal swab to detect the Enterobius vennrmicularis eggs. In addition, 50 households in each survey sites were randomly selected to investigate the basic family situation and the condition of awareness on prevention knowledge and formation of correct behavior of residents by using a structured questionnaire., Results: Totally 6 163 residents involved in the feces examinations, and the total infection rate of intestinal parasites was 6.91%. The infection rates of Trichuris trichiura, Ascaris lumbricoides and hookworm were 6.56%, 0.62% and 0.21%, respectively. The infection rate of E. vermicularis in children under 12 years old was 0.51%. The eggs of Clonorchis sinensis and Taenia solium were not found in this survey. The awareness rate of knowledge about preventing parasitic diseases was 49.54%. The formation rates of washing hands before eating, washing hands after using the toilet, never eating raw fruit and vegetable without washing clean, never working in the field with bare feet, and never drinking unboiled water were 97.78%, 91.95%, 88.81%, 92.42% and 86.48% respectively., Conclusions: The infection rate of intestinal parasites is low in Jiaodong area, but there is a significant difference among different counties. The awareness rate of knowledge about preventing parasitic diseases is low, but the formation rate of healthy behavior is high. In the future, the health education and the strategy of taking medicine among the key population should be enhanced, and the project of reconstructing safe water supply and lavatory should be advanced.

Objective: To understand the malaria situation of Shandong Province in 2013, so as to provide the evidence for formulating targeted prevention and control strategy and measures., Methods: The data of malaria cases of Shandong Province in 2013 were collected from the Information Management System for Infectious Diseases Report and Information Management System for Parasitic Diseases Control and Prevention. The data of epidemiological characteristics of malaria situation and the diagnosis and treatment of malaria cases were analyzed by Microsoft Excel 2007., Results: There were 131 malaria cases reported in 2013, all of them were imported cases, and 127 cases (96.95%) were imported from African countries. A total of 116 cases (88.55% ) were falciparum malaria cases. Totally 97.71% of the cases were male and the average age of malaria cases was 39 years. A total of 61.83% of the cases were peasants and 65.65% of the cases only received junior high school education. The distribution of malaria cases was concentrated in Tai'an City (32 cases), Yantai City (19 cases) and Weihai City (17 cases),totally acounting for 53.13%. There was no significant seasonal variation in the reporting time of the cases. The median time from on- set to seeing doctor was four days and the median time from seeing doctor to being diagnosed was one day. Totally 35.88% of the cases were misdiagnosed when the first visit to a doctor. All of the cases were laboratory confirmed and 100% of them received the standard treatment after diagnosis., Conclusions: All of the malaria cases were imported cases in Shandong Province in 2013. To control the imported malaria in Shandong Province, it is necessary to further strengthen the multi-sectoral cooperation, health education, malaria screening and professional training.

This paper reports one case of atypical falciparum malaria imported from Africa, whose blood smear contains many large trophozoites, with punctiform or massive brown pigment granules, the body shape of the plasmodium is similar to that of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium ovale. After the gene detection by PCR, the case was diagnosed as falciparum malaria. As large trophozoites were rarely seen in the peripheral blood of non-severe falciparum malaria cases, much attention should be paid to the identification of Plasmodium falciparum and other plasmodia in microscopic examinations.

Objective: To understand the capacity of Plasmodium detection and helminth detection and the mastery degree of basic knowledge of parasitic diseases., Methods: Three professionals from each city were selected as contestants. The content of the competition contained three parts. The first part included making blood slides and Giemsa staining of Plasmodium, and identification of species and number with microscopy, the second part included making stool slides with Kato-Katz technique and identification of common helminth eggs with microscopy, and the third part was basic knowledge of parasitic diseases., Results: Totally 51 contestants took part in the competition. The average score of the test of making blood slides was 14.8 +/- 3.3, and the passing rate was 82.4%. The average score of the identification of species and number of Plasmodium with microscopy was 19.2 +/- 9.3, and the passing rate was 29.4%. The average score of the test of making stool slides was 9.3 +/- 0.7, and the passing rate was 100%. The average score of the identification of common helminth eggs with microscopy was 28.0 +/- 2.6, and the passing rate was 100%. The average score of basic knowledge of parasitic diseases was 76.3 +/- 11.9, and the passing rate was 88.2%. The average score of the test of making blood slides in the female was higher than that in the male (15.7vs.13.5, P < 0.05), and the average score of the test of making blood slides in the intermediate title contestants was higher than that in the junior title contestants (16.1 vs.14.1, P < 0.05). The average score of the basic knowledge of parasitic diseases in the contestants from cities was higher than that in the contestants from towns (83.2 vs. 72.6, P < 0.05), and the average score of basic knowledge of parasitic diseases in the contestants from high economic level cities was higher than that in the contestants from low economic level cities (82.4 vs. 71.5, P < 0.01)., Conclusions: For professionals in Shandong Province, the capacity of helminth detection was strong and the basic knowledge of parasitic diseases was mastered well, while the capacity of Plasmodium detection was weak.

Objective: To understand the awareness status of malaria control knowledge of primary and secondary school students in malaria endemic areas of Shandong Province, so as to provide the baseline information for formulating the malaria control strategy., Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 5 Type II malaria-endemic counties in Shandong Province. A structured questionnaire survey was administrated to students in primary and secondary schools., Results: A total of 1 884 students were completed with the questionnaires and all were effective. The total awareness rate of malaria control knowledge was 65.9%, and 54.7% of the students knew the transmission route of malaria and only 31.5% of the students were aware of the preventive methods of malaria. There were significant differences of the awareness scores of malaria control knowledge among different malaria endemic areas but there were no significant differences between the awareness rates of male and female students and between two different education levels., Conclusions: The awareness of malaria control knowledge of primary and secondary school students in Shandong Province is poor; therefore, the health education of malaria control knowledge for primary and secondary school students should be strengthened.

Objective: To understand the characteristics of malaria prevalence and epidemic in Shandong Province in 2012 so as to provide the evidence for improving the work of the elimination of malaria., Methods: The epidemiological data of malaria cases collected from the Disease Surveillance Information Reporting System of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention were analyzed with the descriptive epidemiological method for epidemiological characteristics of malaria., Results: A total of 93 malaria cases were reported in Shandong Province in 2012 with the incidence of 0.097 per 100 thousand, with a reduction of 19.83% as compared to 2011. There were 93 imported cases which decreased by 4.12% compared with 97 cases in 2011 and it was the first year that there was no local infection. Jining, Qingdao and Weihai cities reported more cases, with 62.37% (58/93) of the total number of the whole province. Totally 93.55% of malaria cases were imported from Africa, most from Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria and Angola. There were 3 cases of imported ovale malaria firstly reported., Conclusions: There were no local malaria cases reported in Shandong Province in 2012, but the imported malaria prevention and control was still not optimistic. In order to achieve the goal of malaria elimination in Shandong Province, it needs to continue to strengthen epidemic management, professional training and work supervision, strengthen management, advocacy and detection on the floating population, and explore multisectoral coordination mechanisms.

Objective: To analyze the endemic situation of malaria in Shanxian County, Shandong Province, China in the last 10 years, so as to understand the epidemiological characteristics of the disease and provide the evidence for the establishment of control strategy to eliminate malaria., Methods: The data related to the endemic situation of malaria in Shanxian County from 2002 to 2011 were collected and analyzed., Results: From 2002 to 2011, 125 cases of malaria were reported, and the annual incidences were in the range of 0.18/100,000-2.00/100,000. Totally 60.80% of the cases focused on 3 townships, namely Fugang, Huanggang and Caozhuang. All the 125 cases were new vivax malaria cases, among them, 121 were locally infected, and the other 4 were imported. The epidemic season was from June to October, and the peak time was from July to September. There were more male cases than female cases. The ages of the cases were from 1 to 83 years old, and the incidence in those aged from 46-60 years old was higher., Conclusions: The malaria incidence in Shanxian County is on the rise, and the 3 townships in the south are the key areas for control. The control measures including the surveillance of floating population and mosquitoes, and malaria control health education should be strengthened.

Objective: To explore the sustainable development control strategies on soil-transmitted parasitic diseases appropriate to current epidemic characteristics so as to effectively reduce the epidemic level and harm to people in Shandong Province., Methods: This project was led by the Shandong Medical Department, governed and instructed by the Shandong Institute of Parasitic Diseases, concretely implemented by the centers for disease control and prevention in counties or cities. All the work was carried out according to the Control Programming of National Key Parasitic Diseases, and with the combination of routine and key control strategies according to the actual situation., Results: The average infection rate of soil-transmitted parasitic diseases in Shandong Province was 18.26% in 2003. During the 2007 to 2009 period, 3,115,194 people from 74 counties in 9 cities received anthelmintic medicine. The numbers receiving health education were 39 866 923 in county, 34,730,663 in city, 3,2000 in province, respectively. The coverage rate of non-hazardous sanitary latrines was 58.05%. In 2009, 6,581 people were surveyed from 7 counties or cities and the infection rate of soil-transmitted parasitic diseases was 7.61%. During three years, 30 provincial training classes were held and 2,130 people attended, 52 municipal classes were held and 3110 people attended, and 403 county classes were held and 12,789 people attended. In the whole province, the infection rate of soil-transmitted parasitic diseases reduced to 7.10% in 2009, with the reduction rate of 61.12%, reaching the national objective., Conclusions: The comprehensive control model for soil-transmitted parasitic diseases is very successful in Shandong Province.

A total of 117 malaria patients were reported in Shandong Province, 2010 and the annual incidence was 0.13 per hundred thousand. Totally 23 cases of malaria were reported in Shanxian County, which was the most; and 6 patients who came back from Africa were reported in Daiyue County, which was the second. A total of 296 230 fever patients were examined with blood tests, and the positive rate was 0.03%. Totally 101 diapause patients were administered with medicine, and the administered rate was 95.28% and the regular administered rate was 100%. For the present patients, the regular administered rate was 100%. There were 73 malaria epidemic foci and they were all treated, and the area of residual spraying was 51.98 hm2. The malaria epidemic was steady declined in Shandong Province. Although the prevention and control work achieved desired results, the monitor for mobile population and mosquitoes still should be strengthened to prevent the malaria epidemic increasing or outbreak.

Objective: To investigate the effect of Astragalus membranaceus (APS) on the proliferation, osteogenic capacity and structure of periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs) in vitro., Methods: PDLCs were cultured in vitro with APS of 0.08, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 mg x mL(-1). Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTr), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and cell structure were detected to determine the proliferation and differentiation of PDLCs proliferation and differentiation., Results: When the APS was 0.2 mg x mL(-1), the absorbance of MTT and ALP exhibit significantly increased as compared to the control (P < 0.05). The cells cultured in vitro with APS of 0.2 mg x mL(-1) had the normal structure., Conclusion: APS with proper concentration in short-term culture may promote the proliferation and differentiation of PDLCs.

Objective: To investigate the antibacterial activity of glycyrrhizic acid against Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans, ATCC 25175) in vitro., Methods: The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) of glycyrrhizic acid against S. mutans were detected using doubling dilution. The effects of glycyrrhizic acid on the growth and acidogenic profile of S. mutans and the inhibition ratio of glycyrrhizic acid on growth and acid-producing of S. mutans were investigated by detecting the Abs of bacteria suspension and the pH value of medium at definite time intervals (0 h, 3 h, 7 h, 12 h, 23 h, 40 h) during cultivation., Results: The MIC determined for glycyrrhizic acid was 1.57 mg/mL and there was no bactericidal effect when concentration of glycyrrhizic acid up to 12.5 mg/mL. The glycyrrhizic acid inhibited the multiplication and acid-producing of S. mutans significantly and the effects became stronger with concentration increasing. When concentration up to 1.57 mg/mL, the inhibition ratio of glycyrrhizic acid on the growth and acid-producing of S. mutans were exceeded 80 and 70 percent, respectively., Conclusion: The glycyrrhizic acid can inhibit the growth and acid-producing of S. mutans in vitro.

Objective: To study the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and its relation to angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, as well as lymph node metastasis., Methods: Sixty-seven archival specimens from patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma were investigated, whose clinicopathologic data were completely conserved. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to detect the expression of VEGF-C, microvessel density (MVD), lymphatic vessel density (LVD). The correlations between VEGF-C expression and MVD, LVD, as well as other clinicopathological features were measured., Results: Although no correlation between VEGF-C expression and tumor location, histological grade, or gender of the patients was observed (P > 0.05), OSCC patients with more advanced clinical stages and lymph node metastasis were prone to have high expression of VEGF-C (P = 0.015 and P < 0.001, respectively). Cases with high-expression of VEGF-C also showed significantly more often higher LVD (P = 0.001) but not MVD (P = 0.125). In addition, cases with lymph node involvement presented higher LVD than other cases (P = 0.026)., Conclusion: VEGF-C may promote lymph node metastasis by inducing lymphangiogenesis in OSCC.

Objective: Metabonomic analysis has been increasingly used to monitor metabolic abnormalities in cells and their micro-environment in order to detect the biomarkers recently. This study evaluated the feasibility of applying 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) based metabonomic method to detect the differences of the early development of cleft palate in the plasma from control group and experimental group., Methods: Pregnant mice (inbred C57BL/6J strain) with vitamin B12 injected only were assigned as the control group, pregnant mice with excessive Dex, injected after vitamin B12 as the experimental group, each group includes 12 mice. And the effect of B12 to rate of cleft palate was observed. The technology of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) was used to detect the endogenous small molecule metabolites. Finally, changes of metabolites ingredients were ascertained by using the method of principal component analysis (PCA)., Results: There was significant difference in PCA scores plot between the two groups according to whether cleft palate occurred., Conclusion: The 1H-NMR based metabonomic approach might be used as a feasible and efficient method for a deep exploration of the pathogenesis of cleft lip and palate and an early exploration of the mechanism of vitamin B12.

Objective: To test the effect of recombined IL-15/Fc on experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) in mice., Methods: EAU were induced in C57 mice by transferring activated T cells specific to the interphotoreceptor-binding protein (IRBP) 1-20 peptide. The mice were then treated with recombine IL-15/Fc fusion protein or IgG as controls. The severity of EAU were graded on a scale of 0 to 4 with half-point increment based on the type, number, and size of the lesions detected by funduscopic and HE staining. The IRBP1-20 sensitive CD8+T cells were isolated from the IRBP1-20 immune mice with auto-MACS. The in vitro effect of IL-15/Fc fusion protein on the proliferation, differentiation, expansion and production of inflammatory cytokines of the purified IRBP1-20 sensitive CD8+T cells were analyzed with 3HTdR, FACS and ELISA., Results: IL-15/Fc fusion protein inhibited the activation, proliferation, expansion and production of inflammatory cytokines of the IRBP1-20 specific CD8+T cells, down regulated CD44(high)CD62L(low) effect and CD8+ CD62L(low) activated T cell subsets, and consequently decreased the severity of EAU., Conclusion: IL-15/Fc fusion proteins decrease the severity of EAU through inhibiting the proliferation, expansion, differentiation and production of inflammatory cytokines of CD8+ T cells.