Objective To evaluate the methylation status of RASSF2A in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) tissues and plasma, and to explore the correlations in two kinds of samples with clinicopathological characteristics. Methods The frequency of methylation of the RASSF2A gene in tissues and corresponding plasma samples from 60 EOC patients, 20 patients with benign ovarian tumors and 10 patients with normal ovarian tissues were detected respectively. The methylation-specific PCR was used to determine the methylation status. Results The frequency of aberrant methylation of RASSF2A was 58.3% (35/60) in EOC tissues and 43.3%(26/60) in corresponding plasma samples respectively, however, such hypermethylation was not detected in the benign ovarian tumors and normal ovarian samples, and there was significant difference between them (P<0.05). Besides, RASSF2A methylation levels in serum of EOC patients correlated reasonably well with methylation status in tumor samples (r=0.739, P=0.000). No significant differences were observed between the promoter hypermethylated status of the RASSF2A and clinicopathological characteristics (P>0.05). Conclusions The promoter methylation of RASSF2A gene is an early and frequent epigenetic event in EOC. Detection of promoter hypermethylation in plasma specimens can help the early diagnosis of EOC.

Objective To investigate the effects of artemin and its receptor GFRα - 3 on the invasion and metastasis of pancreatic cancer cells. Methods Human pancreatic cancer cell line MIA PaCa -2 was used in this study. Transwell cell culture chamber assay in vitro was used to detect the ability of invasion and metastasis of MIA PaCa -2 cells. The influence of artemin and GFRα -3 on the protein expression of MMP-2 and E-cadherin was investigated by Western blot and quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction-analyses (Q-RT-PCR). Results As the increase of artemin and GFRα -3, the invasion and metastasis of MIA PaCa- 2 was markedly increased [ 150 ng / ml concentration: Artemin group: 107.4 ± 11.4;GFRα3 group:94. 4 ± 9. 3 ;control group:34. 6 ± 7. 3, P < 0. 01 ]. With 150 ng / ml artemin and GFR-3,the synthesis of MMP-2 in MIA PaCa 2 cells was significantly increased than that in control group[ Artemin grou: (2. 17 ± 0. 05 ) × 108; GFRα3 group: (2. 02 ± 0. 03 ) × 108; control group: ( 1.02 ± 0. 02 ) × 108, t =6. 35,7. 32 ], while E-cadherin significantly decreased [ Artemin group: ( 0. 65 ± 0. 04 ) × 108; GFRα3 group: (0. 74 ± 0. 01 ) × 108; control group: ( 1. 36 ± 0. 03 ) × 108, t = 4. 27,5.61 ], the difference was statistically significant ( P <0. 01 ). Conclusions Artemin and its receptor GFRα3 could promote pancreatic cancer cell invasion and metastasis. This effect may be related to the up-regulated expression of MMP-2 and down regulated expression of E-cadherin.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Dinggui Oil Capsule in treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with stagnation of qi and cold. METHODS: A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical study was undertaken. One hundred and ninety-eight patients with IBS and syndrome of stagnation of qi and cold were randomly divided into high-dose Dinggui Oil group (DGO-H, 1.2 g, 3 times daily; n=66), low-dose Dinggui Oil group (DGO-L, 0.8 g, 3 times daily, n=66), and placebo group (placebo, 5.0 g, 3 times daily, n=66). Patients in the three groups were all treated for 2 weeks. RESULTS: The total significant effective rates for IBS were 54.1%, 28.8% and 21.9% in the DGO-H, DGO-L, and placebo groups, and the total effective rates for the syndrome of stagnation of qi and cold were 54.1%, 25.8% and 23.4% in the three groups, respectively. Dinggui Oil Capsule showed a higher efficacy than the placebo in relieving the abdominal pain (P<0.01). No adverse effects were found in this trial. CONCLUSION: Dinggui Oil Capsule is effective and safe in relieving abdominal pain due to IBS with stagnation of qi and cold.

Objective To analyze the distribution of clinically isolated pathogenic bacteria in Xi′an area during 2014 and their drug resistant characteristics in order to provide the data of pathogenic bacterial drug resistance for medical pharmaceutical adminis ‐tration departments and clinical rational use of antibacterial drugs .Methods The pathogenic bacteria of nosocomial infections were cultured and isolated by using the routine method .The bacterial species was identified by using the semi‐automatic or full‐automatic bacterial identification and analysis systems .The drug susceptibility test was conducted according to CLSI standards .The data sta‐tistics and analysis were performed by using the WHONET 5 .6 software .Results 31 013 strains of pathogenic bacteria were isola‐ted in 2014 ,including 20 029 strains (64 .58% ) of Gram‐negative bacilli ,9 888 strains (31 .88% ) of Gram‐positive cocci and 1 096 strains (3 .54% ) of fungi ;the top bacteria was E .coli(20 .29% ) ,vancomycin resistant Staphylococcus aureus was not be found ;the resistance rates of Enterococcus faecium and faecalis against Vancomycin were 3 .00% ,1 .00% ,which against to linezolid was 1 .00% ;the generation rates of extended‐spectrum beta‐lactamase(ESBLs) in E .coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were 65 .0% and 56 .0% respectively .Conclusion The important pathogenic bacteria ,including MRSA ,vancomycin resistant enterococcus ,carbapen‐em resistant Enterobacteriaceae bacteria ,pan‐drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii ,in nosocomial infection should be performed the intensive monitoring and the communication with clinic should be strengthened in order to make the detection results serve the clinic well .

OBJECTIVETo explore the spatial and temporal distributions of animal plague in Junggar Basin natural plague focus.

METHODSData regarding plague antibody (F1) in serum of Great Gerbil (Rhombomys opimus, R. opimus) which were collected from 2005 to 2012 in Junggar Basin and analyzed. The changing rates on the positivity of F1 that appeared spatially and temporally were also analyzed.

RESULTSA total of 4 825 R. opimus serum samples were collected in 13 administrative regions in Junggar Basin.

RESULTSshowed that plague R. opimus existed in two areas-Gurbantonggut desert in the eastern-center and the clay desert of western Junggar Basin. However, in these two areas, the intensity of animal plague prevalence was different. In the former region where Yesinia pestis positive serum was detected from R. opimus, the detected rate of R. opimus was 8.39%. However, in the latter areas, the average positive rate was 1.56%. The changing trends of R. opimus plague prevalence were also varied annually. In the western Junggar Basin, the trend showed a slowly downward profile. The serum positive rate of R. opimus for Yesinia pestis decreased, from 7.59% in 2005 to 0.61% in 2008, and appeared as a resting state that none of the positive sample could be found since then. However, in the eastern-center Junggar Basin area-also named as Gurbantonggut desert which had been divided into 3 segments(western, central and eastern, according to related geographical characteristics), the changing trends of animal plague seemed quite complex. In the western segment, the animal plague had two epidemic peaks-in 2006 and 2010, with the interval of 4 years, with the higher peak of all the three geographic segments as 45.65% in 2010 and the positive serum of R. opimus for plague could be detected each year from 2006 to 2012. However, there were 3 epidemic peaks in the same period in the central and eastern segments. In the central segment, the peaks appeared in 2006, 2009 and 2011, with the intervals as 2.5 years and the average positive rate 8.92% was seen the lowest in Gurbantonggut desert. In the eastern segment, the first 2 peaks appeared the same season as in the central segment, but the third peak appeared in 2012, with the peak interval as 3 years. The positive rate of R. opimus for plague was also different in seasons, with the positive rate higher in autumn than in spring. These findings showed that the animal plague could be continuously prevalent from spring to autumn in the natural foci of plague in the Junggar Basin.

CONCLUSIONBoth geographical and temporal fluctuations of animal plague existed in the natural foci of Junggar Basin which was also named as geographical heterogeneity. Consequently, animal plague could be divided into two areas-the clay plains desert in the western and the Gurbantonggut desert in the eastern-center Junggar Basin.

Animals ; Gerbillinae ; Plague ; epidemiology ; Time ; Yersinia pestis