The study applied the Nested PCR technique with part of 56kilodalton type-specific antigen (TSA) gene DNAs of Orientia tsutsugamushi. Forty-eight pools (480 individuals) of unengorged larvae belonging to 4 trombiculid species: L. scutellare, L. pallidum, L. kistasatoi and L. fuji, collected from soil and ground surface of an endemic area for tsutsugamushi disease, were tested for 56kilodalton type-specific antigen (TSA) gene DNAs of Orientia tsutsugamushi, by nested PCR. Among them, 2 of 13 pools of L. scutellare were positive, and 2 serotypes of Kuroki and Gilliam were identified. Remaining 35 pools of 3 species were negative for Orientia tsutsugamushi. By using epidemiological' analysis, unengorged larvae of L. scutellare was suspected as the vector of tsutsu-gamushi disease in the studied area.
Orientia tsutsugamushi ; Scrub Typhus ; Epidemiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

Orientia tsutsugamushi is causative agent of tsutsugamushi disease, they parasitize in mites and is transmited from mother mite to other generation through egg (vertical transmission). In addition, they is transmited from this mite strain to other mite strain (horizontal transmission), this enssure large distribution of Orientia tsutsugamushi in mite community. However, this phenomenon rarely occure in nature. Orientia tsutsugamushi transmit to human through the bite of mites due to some of mite strains
Orientia tsutsugamushi ; Disease Vectors

Background: quality of food hygiene and safety directly affected public health. In Vietnam, after 5 years implementing the programs on ensure food safety, the aspects of food safety had improved significantly; food poisoning had been gradually controlled but still high. Objectives: to access on food poisoning outbreak in first six months of 2006 in Vietnam. Subjectives and Method: a cross sectional and retrospective study on food poisoning outbreak in first six months of 2006. The studied subjectives including: health staffs of provincial preventive centre, staffs in charge of food safety work; documents of food poisoning were stored in VFA. Results: there were 204 outbreaks in 58 provinces with 4.198 victims and 44 deaths or the mortality rate was 1.05%. By causes, percentages of outbreaks, cases and deaths due to bacterial pathogens were 41.7%, 53.4% and 0.0% respectively; due to chemical contamination: 12.7%, 13.0% and 4.5%; due to food denature: 9.3%, 17.2% and 11.4%; and due to natural toxicants: 34.8%, 15.2% and 81.4%, respectively. The number of deaths was highest in North-east and North-west areas (35 cases), in North and South Central coast (5 cases), and in Mekong river data (4 cases). Similarly, the mortality rates in these three regions were 5.0%, 0.49% and 0.27%, respectively. Conclusions: here were 204 outbreaks in 58 provinces with 4.198 victims and 44 deaths. Causes due to bacterial pathogens were the highest, followed by due to natural toxicants. The number of deaths was highest in North-highland.
Foodborne Diseases/epidemiology ;

The study was carried out in an endemic area of tsutsugamushi disease, Taketa city, Japan, from January to December, 2000. Results: 1018 unengorged larvaes of 14 species were isolated from soil and ground surface by direct method and Suzuki method. Among them Helenicula miyagawai was isolated by only the Suzuki method. Leptotrombidium scutellare and l.pallidum suspected as vectors of tsutsugamushi disease in many areas of Japan were detected in this study. The seasonal occurrence of unengorged larvae of L.scutellare was from October to January with the probable peak in November. While L.pallidum occur almost throughout the year with two peak periods, one in May and the other in September.
Scrub Typhus ; Trombiculidae

Objective To study the clinical diagnosis value and CT features of gastric fundus and cardiac part lesions.Methods The CT findings and examining method of gastric fundus and cardiac part lesions were analyzed and summarized in 64 cases.Results (1)Use water as oral contrast can show the gastric mucosa clearly,it was a simple,effective way.(2)CT had important significance for stages and infiltration of cardiac cancer.(3)Varix of gastric fundus had three types:pseudotumor,tuber and thinking-wall.(4)The CT characteristic features of leiomyoma were the continuous linear enhancement in mucosa.Conclusion CT is method for gastrointestinal examining,it has special value to the gastric fundus and cardiac part lesions.

Objective To evaluate abdominal imaging in AIDS.Methods The imaging examinations(including US,CT and MR)of 6 patients with AIDS associated abdominal foci were analysed retrospectively.All the cases were performed US,and CT scan,of which 4 performed enhanced CT scan and 1 with MR.Results Abdominal tuberculosis were found in 4 patients,including abdominal lymph nodes tuberculosis(3 cases)and pancreatic tuberculosis(1 case).The imaging of lymph nodes tuberculosis typically showed enlarged peripheral rim enhancement with central low-attenuation on contrast-enhanced CT. Pancreatic tuberculosis demonstrated low-attenuation area in pancreatic head and slightly peripheral enhancement.Disseminated Kaposi's sarcoma was seen in 1 case:CT and MRI scan demonstrated tumour infiltrated along hepatic portal vein and bronchovascular bundles.Pelvic tumor was observed in 1 case:CT scan showed large mass with thick and irregular wall and central low attenuation liquefacient necrotic area in the pelvic cavity.Conclusion The imaging findings of AIDS with abdominal foci is extraordinarily helpful to the diagnosis of such disease.Tissue biopsy is needed to confirm the diagnosis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of isoliensinine (IL) on CYP3A enzyme activity.

METHODSA mixture metabolic system of liver microsome enzymes in vitro was developed. A HPLC method to test the metabolic activity of CYP3A was established with testosterone as a probe. The activities of CYP3A enzymes were measured with different IL concentrations and incubation time with testosterone.

RESULTSIn mixture metabolic system of liver microsome enzymes, the best incubation concentration of testosterone was 200 μmol/L, the best incubation time was 210 min, in this condition the IC₅₀ of IL for CYP3A inhibition was >1 000 μmol/L.

CONCLUSIONNo significant interaction between IL and CYP3A is detected, which indicates that IL might be used with CYP 3A enzyme substrates.

Animals ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A ; metabolism ; In Vitro Techniques ; Isoquinolines ; pharmacology ; Male ; Microsomes, Liver ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Testosterone ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo explore the inhibitory effects of Niaoluqing, an oral liquid of traditional Chinese medicine, on the growth of urogenital chlamydia trachomatis (Ct).

METHODSNiaoluqing's applying concentration was 1 g/ml and 10 serologically untyped strains of Ct from the STD clinic were used. And the inhibitory effects of Niaoluqing on Ct was evaluated by McCoy cell microculture technique in vitro.

RESULTSNiaoluqing had inhibitory activity for urogenital Ct, and was capable of reducing inclusion numbers notably in the concentrations of 50 to 200 mg/ml. The number and volume of Ct inclusions reduced gradually and disappeared finally with the rising of the medicinal concentration.

CONCLUSIONThe traditional Chinese medicine Niaoluqing has inhibitory effects on the growth of urogenital Ct.

Chlamydia trachomatis ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Urogenital System ; microbiology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of long-term on-demand use of vardenafil in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED).

METHODSWe conducted a questionnaire investigation among 891 ED patients treated by on-demand use of oral vardenafil at 20 mg every 3 days from March 2007 to January 2010, covering the general information of the patients, their need for and attitudes towards the treatment, clinical efficacy and adverse events of the drug, and satisfaction of the patients and their partners after 12 weeks of treatment.

RESULTSTreatment and follow-up were completed in 700 patients, of whom 504 (72%) achieved sufficient hardness and duration of penile erection and overall sexual satisfaction, 84 (12%) admitted to improvement of erectile hardness and duration but not adequate satisfaction, and the other 112 (16%) experienced no significant changes. Significant differences were found in IIEF-5 scores, Rigiscan test results and partners TSS scores before and after the treatment (P < 0.05). Most frequent adverse events included flushing (15%), dizziness and headache (10%), dyspepsia (3%), and nasal congestion (1%).

CONCLUSIONLong-term on-demand use of oral vardenafil, in addition to its safety and good tolerance, can effectively improve the erectile function of ED patients, their success rate of sexual intercourse, and overall quality of sexual life.

Adult ; Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Imidazoles ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Piperazines ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Sulfones ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Triazines ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Vardenafil Dihydrochloride ; Vasodilator Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of total flavonoids of astragalus on the expression of endoplasmic reticulum chaperone, calumenin and connecxin 43 (CX43) in suckling mouse myocardium with myocarditis caused by coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3).

METHODSThe primary culture of suckling mouse myocardium cells were randomly divided into control group, CVB3 infected group and total flavonoids of astragalus group. Firstly, to confirm the identity of the suckling mouse myocardium, α-SMA was monitored by immunohistochemistry method. Then the protein expression changes of endoplasmic reticulum chaperone-glucose regulatory protein 78 ( GRP78), calumenin and CX43 were detected by Western blot.

RESULTS(1) Compared with that of the control group, the GRP78 expression level in CVB3 infected group was improved, the expression levels of calumenin and CX43 were all reduced. (2) Compared with that of CVB3 infected group, GRP78 expression level was decreased, and the expression levels of calumenin and CX43 were increased in total flavonoids of astragalus group.

CONCLUSIONCVB3 infection may cause endoplasmic reticulum stress of rat myocardium cells by increasing the expression of GRP78 and decreasing the expression of calumenin and CX43. On the other hand, total flavonoids of astragalus can reduce the expression of GRP78 and increase the expression of calumenin and CX43.The results of this experiment may be closely related to the effects of anti-arrhythmia with viral myocarditis caused by CVB3.

Animals ; Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Blotting, Western ; Calcium-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Coxsackievirus Infections ; drug therapy ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; metabolism ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; drug effects ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Mice ; Myocarditis ; drug therapy ; virology ; Myocardium ; cytology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; virology ; Rats