Datun Coal & Electricity (Group) Co., Ltd.

To evaluate the expression level of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) in the rat model of diet-induced obesity and asthma.

Forty male specific pathogen-free SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal body mass control group (group A), asthmatic rats with normal body mass (group B), obese control group (group C) and obese asthmatic rats (group D). The rats in both group A and B were fed basic diet, while those in group C and D were fed high-fat diet in order to establish diet-induced obese rat model. Rats in group B and D were sensitized and challenged with chicken ovalbumin (OVA) to establish the asthmatic model. The white cell count in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was performed. The total area of the airway wall (Wat) was measured by ImagePro Plus software and was standardized by the basement membrane perimeter (Pbm). The expression of HIF-1α in lung tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry. The concentration of HIF-1α in serum was determined by ELISA. The relationships of the total white cells in BALF and airway wall thickness (WAt/Pbm) with the expression of HIF-1α were analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis.

The total number of white cells in BALF in group D was (98.0±5.5)×10(4)/mL, which was significantly higher than those in group A (24.7±3.3)×10(4)/mL, group C (26.1±3.8)×10(4)/mL and group B (87.8±7.1)×10(4)/mL. The thickness of airway wall (WAt/Pbm) in group D was (9.91±0.56)m(2)/m, which was significantly higher than those in group A (6.11±0.99)m(2)/m and group C(5.99±0.83)m(2)/m, but when compared with that in group B (8.60±0.53)m(2)/m, there was no significant difference. The percentage of HIF-1α positive cells in group D was (19.44±0.96)%, which was significantly higher than those in group A (2.19±0.91)%, group C(2.56±0.89)% and group B (18.25±1.29)% (all P<0.05). The expression of HIF-1α in blood serum and BALF in group D were respectively(29.107±1.576) ng/mL and (0.511±0.011) ng/mL, which were significantly higher than those in group A [(19.380±1.506) ng/mL and (0.280±0.008) ng/mL, respectively], group C [(20.782±2.034) ng/mL and (0.281±0.010) ng/mL, respectively] and group B [(23.961±1.565) ng/mL and (0.397±0.011) ng/mL, respectively]. The expression of HIF-1α was positively correlated with the total number of white cells in BALF and the airway wall thickness.

The expression of HIF-1α in serum and lung tissue from obese asthmatic rats significantly increases, which is positively correlated with the total number of white cells in BALF and the airway wall thickness.

The health status of liver among 895 underground tunnelling workers of Datun coal mine (Xuzhuang mine and Yaoqiao mine) was investigated and analyzed, problems were tried to find out, and scientific evidence for further improving the health protection measures and health care strategy was provided.The self-designed "dust-exposed workers questionnaire" was used to investigate 895 tunnelling workers of Datun coal mine.Ultrasonic examination was done by Datun coal mine hospital physician, the levels of hepatic biochem. indexes were detected by the hospital clin. laboratoryThe Epidata 31 software was used to form the database and State100 software was applied for data anal.The detection rate of fatty liver was 29.05%, and the abnormal rate of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was 8.49%.The detection rates of ALT, total bilirubin (TBIL) and direct bilirubin (DBIL) in Yaoqiao mine were significantly higher than those of the Xuzhuang mine, as well as fatty liver and liver cyst (P<0.01).Regular drinking was one of the main independent risk factors of fatty liver.The fatty liver is one of the main liver diseases in Datun coal mines.The high detection rate of fatty liver and other liver diseases has a certain relationship with workers living habits.