The incidence of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in urban districts of Shanghai (1989-1993).

A retrospective study on the incidence of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) among children aged 0-14 years was carried out from 1989-1993 in urban Shanghai, China. The average annual population at risk (0-14 yr) consisted of 1,401,664 children. All the cases were collected from the hospitals (primary source) and from primary and middle schools and kindergartens (second source) with independent validation of case ascertainment.

Circulating antibodies against thermophilic actinomycetes in farmers and mushroom workers.

Sera from individuals exposed to moldy hay, mushroom compost and unexposed individuals, were studied for antibodies against thermophilic actinomycetes and Aspergillus fumigatus. Antigens extracted from Thermoactinomyces vulgaris strains isolated from China were used in the study along with antigens from standard strains to screen the sera of individuals exposed to farms and unexposed controls from both China and the United States. It was found that very little antibody response to A.

Microbiological analyses and inflammatory effects of settled dusts from rice and hay.

Fourteen samples of settled dust from two factories processing rice and wheat straw near Shanghai, China, were examined by dilution plating for total bacteria, gram-negative bacteria, thermophilic actinomycetes, and fungi. They were also examined for aflatoxin, endotoxin, and potential to stimulate production of human interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) and to consume complement. The concentrations of total microorganisms were consistently greater than 10(7) CFU/g and ranged from 10(7) to 10(9) CFU/g.

An epidemiological study on farmer's lung among hay grinders in Dafeng County.

This article reports on an epidemiological survey of the presence of farmer's lung among 1054 farmers who grind moldy hay. The prevalence was 8.3-11.

Airborne endotoxins in a rice production commune in the People's Republic of China.

Concentrations of total and vertical elutriated airborne dusts were quantified for five work areas within a rice production commune near Shanghai, the People's Republic of China. Mean (+/- SE) commune levels of 15.69 +/- 1.