OBJECTIVEHepatitis A immunization strategies were carried out in 2001 in Tianjin. We wanted to evaluate the effectiveness of the strategies related to hepatitis A control programs and to provide the basis for further modification of the strategies.

METHODSDescriptive epidemiology study was used to analyze the hepatitis A epidemic situation in 2000-2011 in Tianjin and to evaluate the disease reporting system. Hepatitis A vaccine coverage of target population and serum epidemiological study were carried out in 1999, 2005 and 2010 to check on the hepatitis A antibody levels so as to evaluate the immuno-barrier condition in the normal population. Cox-Stuart test was used to analyze the epidemic trend of hepatitis A and other intestinal infectious diseases in Tianjin.

RESULTSThe incidence rate of hepatitis A decreased from 2.89/100 000 in 2000 to 0.12/100 000 in 2011, and the percentage of hepatitis A in all types of viral hepatitis decreased from 8.02% in 2000 to 0.48% in 2011 in Tianjin. The positive rates of hepatitis A antibody also increased in the residents.

CONCLUSIONThe hepatitis A vaccination program was successful in the programs on prevention and control of hepatitis A in Tianjin, China.

China ; epidemiology ; Epidemics ; prevention & control ; Hepatitis A ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Hepatitis A Antibodies ; blood ; Hepatitis A Vaccines ; administration & dosage ; Humans

The parameters which can influence heat transfer of tongue were analyzed in order to reveal the reason why the tongue temperature fields of people with different diseases are distinct. Firstly, the research parameters were determined by experiment results, including the reference humidity of tongue surface, metabolic heat of tongue tissue, the entrance position of root vessel, the diameter of root vessel, the blood flow rate, and the bifurcation exponent of vascular tree. Then the effect of each parameter on the value and the distributing rule of tongue temperature field was analyzed by using a mathematic model of lingual temperature field. Results show that all these parameters have effects on the temperature value of tongue. The reference humidity of tongue surface, the metabolic heat of tongue tissue and the entrance position of root vessel are distinct influences on the distributing rule of tongue temperature.
Body Temperature ; physiology ; Humans ; Humidity ; Models, Theoretical ; Regional Blood Flow ; Thermal Conductivity ; Tongue ; blood supply ; physiology

A new method for constructing the model of vascular trees was proposed in this paper. By use of this method, the arterial trees in good agreement with the actual structure could be grown. In this process, all vessels in the vascular tree were divided into two groups: the conveying vessels, and the delivering branches. And different branches could be built by different ways. Firstly, the distributing rules of conveying vessels were ascertained by use of measurement data, and then the conveying vessels were constructed in accordance to the statistical rule and optimization criterion. Lastly, delivering branches were modeled by constrained constructive optimization (CCO) on the conveying vessel-trees which had already been generated. In order to compare the CCO method and stepwise method proposed here, two 3D arterial trees of human tongue were grown with their vascular tree having a special structure. Based on the corrosion casts of real arterial tree of human tongue, the data about the two trees constructed by different methods were compared and analyzed, including the averaged segment diameters at respective levels, the distribution and the diameters of the branches of first level at respective directions. The results show that the vascular tree built by stepwise method is more similar to the true arterial of human tongue when compared against the tree built by CCO method.
Algorithms ; Arteries ; anatomy & histology ; physiology ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; Computer Simulation ; Hemodynamics ; physiology ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Models, Cardiovascular ; Vascular Resistance ; physiology

Objective: To analyze the association between hexokinase 2 (HK2) gene expression and clinical pathological characteristics in renal clear cell carcinoma using database and bioinformatics methods. Methods: Oncomine database was used to analyze the most significant differentially expressed genes between renal clear cell carcinoma and non-kidney tissue. The expression levels of mRNA and protein were detected by GPEIA and The Human Protein Atlas database. Correlation of HK2 expression level between clinicopathological features and prognosis of renal clear cell carcinoma was analyzed using LinkedOmics and KM-plotter databases, respectively. The STRING database was used to predict the potential protein interaction mechanism. Results: The most significant difference protein in renal clear cell carcinoma, i.e. HK2, was found, which was highly expressed in renal clear cell carcinoma tissues, and positively correlated with pathological stage, T stage and N stage of renal cell carcinoma (all P<0.05). The overall survival rate of the renal clear cell carcinoma patients with high expression of HK2 was significantly lower than that of the patients with low expression (P<0.05). Conclusions High expression of HK2 gene may be associated with pathological staging, high T stage, high N stage, and poor prognosis of renal clear cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVETo explore therapeutic effect of Haobieyangyinruanjianfang (HBYYRJ) on mouse liver fibrosis by schistosomiasis.

METHODSMice except for normal control were infected with Japanese schistosome cercarias, after 12 weeks, infected mice were divided into 7 groups: low HBYYRJ group, middle HBYYRJ group, high HBYYRJ group, Fufangbiejiaruangan tablet (FFBJRG) group, colchicine group, 3 months infection group and 6 months infection group. Hepatic fibrosis was found in 3 months infection group. Liver hydroxyproline (Hyp) was determined, matrix metalloproteinase-2 and 9 (MMP-2, MMP-9) were detected with gelatin zymography, serum hyaluronic acid (HA) and precollagen III (PC-III) were detected using RIA.

RESULTSHBYYRJ obviously reduced hepatic fibrosis (probability value less than 0.01). Collagen and HA in 3 months infection group and 6 months infection group were higher than that in normal group (probability value less than 0.01), collagen in high and middle HBYYRJ groups and HA in middle and low HBYYRJ groups were lower than that in 6 months infection group (P less than 0.01, probability value less than 0.05). The expression of MMP-9 and MMP-2 in 3 months infection group and 6 months infection group was higher than that in normal group (probability value less than 0.01), The expression of MMP-9 in three HBYYRJ groups and the expression of MMP-2 in high HBYYRJ group were lower than that in 6 months infection group (probability value less than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONHBYYRJ can reduce liver fibrosis caused by schistosomiasis.

Animals ; Collagen Type III ; blood ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hyaluronic Acid ; blood ; Hydroxyproline ; metabolism ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Materia Medica ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Mice ; Schistosoma japonicum ; Schistosomiasis japonica ; complications ; Severity of Illness Index ; Sex Factors ; Treatment Outcome

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Hepatitis B ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Young Adult

In recent years, there have been lots of progresses in the studies on red cell diseases in China, especially bone marrow failure diseases including immuno-related pancytopenia, aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, and paroxymal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. Numerous laboratory experiments as well as clinical researches have been carried out by Chinese hematologists, which brought about much clearer pathogenesis, more rational diagnosis methods and more effective therapies for red cell diseases.
Anemia, Aplastic ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; etiology ; metabolism ; China ; Hematologic Diseases ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; etiology ; metabolism ; Hemoglobinuria, Paroxysmal ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; etiology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; etiology ; metabolism ; Pancytopenia ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; etiology ; metabolism

Wild-type biocatalysts usually show high activity and selectivity towards their native substrates. Since non-native substrates are often used in synthetically useful biocatalytic transformations, it is necessary to engineer enzymes for improved activity, stability and selectivity (chemo-, regio- and stereoselectivity). Herein we give an overview of the recent advances in engineering the enantioselectivity of biocatalysts, with an aim to stimulate further development of this important field in China.
Animals ; Biocatalysis ; Epoxide Hydrolases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Esterases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lipase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Protein Engineering ; methods ; Stereoisomerism

OBJECTIVETo explore risk factors for pulmonary tuberculosis among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients (DM-PTB).

METHODSA hospital-based case-control study was conducted at three hospitals in Tianjin during October 2001 to October 2002. 87 newly-diagnosed PTB patients with type 2 DM were recruited as cases, and 129 type 2 DM patients were chosen as controls. Information on risk factors was collected through face-to-face interview. Univariate unconditional logistic regression model and multivariate logistic regression modified by the factor analysis were conducted to explore the risk factors for DM-PTB and final main effect functions were built by age and sex.

RESULTS31 variables were found to be associated with DM-PTB in the univariate analysis. The modified multivariate logistic regression analysis found that bad contact factor (OR = 1.778, 95% CI: 1.248 - 2.534), severe state of DM (OR = 1.749, 95% CI: 1.221 - 2.506), bad habits factor (OR = 1.614, 95% CI: 1.136 - 2.294) and low intake of salt (OR = 1.586, 95% CI: 1.119 - 2.248) were generally associated with increased risk of DM-PTB in the final model; while factors as good habits (OR = 0.333, 95% CI: 0.218 - 0.508), high socioeconomic level (OR = 0.508, 95% CI: 0.346 - 0.745), hypertension (OR = 0.517, 95% CI: 0.350 - 0.764), good housing condition (OR = 0.599, 95% CI: 0.413 - 0.868) and beneficial change of diet after DM (OR = 0.630, 95% CI: 0.447 - 0.889) were shown to be reversely associated with DM-PTB.

CONCLUSIONDifferent genders and different ages have different risk factors or protective factors. Thus, to reduce the progressively increased incidence of PTB among DM patients, preventive strategies and measures should be focused on the most vital predisposing factors in corresponding risk populations.

Age Factors ; Analysis of Variance ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Interviews as Topic ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; epidemiology ; etiology

Cardiac arrhythmia is one of the most common types of cardiovascular diseases that seriously threaten human health. Presently, ion channel blockers are the main options for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmia. However, limited effectiveness and significant adverse effects severely tarnish their clinical application. Therefore, new anti-arrhythmic strategies and agents are urgently in demand. Post-genome era has paved the way for the accelerated discovery of novel gene mutations, gene polymorphisms and the change of gene expression and epigenetics that are attributable to cardiac arrhythmia. Chinese materia medica (CMM), known for its greater efficacy and less side effects, is a promising resource for novel anti-arrhythmic agents. This review summarizes cardiac arrhythmia-related genes and their pathological mechanisms. CMM formulae and derived compounds as potential multi-targeting anti-cardiac arrhythmia drugs are also discussed.