With the development of techniques and methods of medical researches, the ethic review of clinical research has become essential for healthy development of medical research. This article analyseds the practice of ethic reviews of research projects involving human subjects in our hospital and the difficulties in the process are discussed.

Objective To predict the epitopes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Rv2657c protein, to understand its immunogenicity Methods The T?cell and B?cell epitopes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Rv2657c protein were predicted by DNAStar software package. The homology of Rv2657c amino acid sequence with the human protein sequences was prepared using Blast method, then the CTL epitopes were predicted using SYFPEITHI supermotif method, BIMAS quantitative motif method and NetCTL prediction method, and the Th epitopes were predicted by RANKPEP and SYFPEITHI supermotif prediction method. Results The prediction using DNAStar software package showed that Rv2657c protein had 5 B?cell epitopes and 6 T?cell epitopes. The protein had 6 CTL epitopes and there were 38 Th epitopes. Conclusion Rv2657c protein has both B?cell epitopes and T?cell epitopes. It may be a candidate target antigen for the studies of vaccine and diagnosis of tuberculosis.

Objective To explore the association between blood cadmium levels (BCLs) and clinicopathological characteristics of patients with breast cancer.Methods The clinicopathological characteristics and blood specimens of 186 patients diagnosed with breast cancer were collected between July and December 2009.BCLs were detected by graphite-furnace atomizer absorption spectrophotometer.Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis H test were used to compare the BCLs of patients with different clinical characteristics.Spearman rank correlation analysis was used to evaluate the relationships between BCLs and some indices of clinical characteristics.Results The BCLs was 2.280 (1.579) μg/L.The BCLs were significantly different in patients with different age and body mass index (BMI) (Z =-2.075,P =0.038;x2 =7.429,P =0.023).Also,there were significant differences in different T stages (x2 =10.137,P =0.017),M stages (Z =-2.225,P =0.026),clinical stages (x2 =16.060,P =0.001) and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) status (Z=-2.072,P=0.038).Excepting for age (r =0.126,P =0.066),BCLs were positively associated with BMI,T stage,M stage,clinical stage and HER-2 status (r=0.159,P =0.030;r =0.171,P=0.020;r =0.166,P =0.044;r=0.154,P =0.040;r =0.152,P =0.038).Conclusion The BCLs are associated with some clinicopathological characteristics of breast cancer,and high blood cadmium burden may promote the development of breast cancer.

We reported the diagnosis and treatment of one neonate with purulent meningitis caused by Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis infection. The eighteen-day-old girl was admitted due to fever lasting for seven hours and was diagnosed as neonatal purulent meningitis based on laboratory tests, including the routine blood test, hypersensitive C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, cerebrospinal fluid examination, and blood culture. The patient recovered and was discharged after a four-week comprehensive treatment, including antibiotics, sedatives, lowering intracranial pressure and rehydration and fluid replacement. During the follow-up of one month after discharge, the girl showed normal growth and development without any abnormality in cranial MRI or hearing. This case suggested that Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis infection has a quick onset with serious conditions and rapid progress.

Objective: To identify Xanthii Fructus and secure its quality and safety in medication. Methods: Total ge-nomic DNA was extracted from Xanthii Fructus and its adulterants. ITS2 sequences were amplified, and purified PCR products were sequenced. Sequence assembly and consensus sequence generation were performed using the CodonCode Aligner V 4.2. The Kimura 2-Parameter (K2P) distances were calculated using MEGA 5.0. The neigh-bor-joining (NJ) phylogenetic trees were constructed. Results: The intraspecific genetic distances of Xanthii Fructus were 0. The interspecific genetic distances between Xanthii Fructus and its adulterants were ranged from 0.009 to 0.542. The NJ tree showed that Xanthii Fructus could differ from its adulterants obviously. Conclusion: ITS2 can be used to identify Xanthii Fructus from its adulterants effectively, and our study further confirmed the effectiveness of ITS2 to identify traditional Chinese medicinal materials.

Objective To analyze the trends in the disease burden of pertussis in China from 1990 to 2021, and to provide a basis for the development of effective prevention and control strategies. Methods Using the 2021 Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) database, the incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), as well as the age-standardized rates of pertussis in China from 1990 to 2021 were analyzed. Descriptive statistical methods were employed to analyze the characteristics of the pertussis disease burden, and the Joinpoint regression model was used to analyze the trends in pertussis disease burden. Results From 1990 to 2021, the incidence, mortality, and DALYs of pertussis in China decreased from 1 503 800 cases, 10 951 deaths, and 954 900 person-years to 65 400 cases, 548 deaths, and 46 500 person-years, representing a decrease of 95.65%, 95.00%, and 95.13%, respectively. The corresponding age-standardized rates also decreased by 93.58%, 92.47%, and 92.53%, respectively. The Joinpoint regression model revealed a significant downward trend in the age-standardized incidence, mortality, and DALYs rates for pertussis (AAPCs were -8.32%, -9.65%, and -9.58%, respectively, P<0.001). The disease burden was slightly higher in females than in males, with the majority of cases occurring in children under 10 years old, particularly in infants under 1 year old, where the burden was the heaviest. As age increased, the disease burden decreased. Conclusion Between 1990 and 2021, the overall disease burden of pertussis in China showed a significant downward trend, with gender and age differences. Special attention should be given on the prevention and control of pertussis in children under 10 years old, especially in infants under 1 year old.

Objective To analyze the trends in the disease burden of pertussis in China from 1990 to 2021, and to provide a basis for the development of effective prevention and control strategies. Methods Using the 2021 Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) database, the incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), as well as the age-standardized rates of pertussis in China from 1990 to 2021 were analyzed. Descriptive statistical methods were employed to analyze the characteristics of the pertussis disease burden, and the Joinpoint regression model was used to analyze the trends in pertussis disease burden. Results From 1990 to 2021, the incidence, mortality, and DALYs of pertussis in China decreased from 1 503 800 cases, 10 951 deaths, and 954 900 person-years to 65 400 cases, 548 deaths, and 46 500 person-years, representing a decrease of 95.65%, 95.00%, and 95.13%, respectively. The corresponding age-standardized rates also decreased by 93.58%, 92.47%, and 92.53%, respectively. The Joinpoint regression model revealed a significant downward trend in the age-standardized incidence, mortality, and DALYs rates for pertussis (AAPCs were -8.32%, -9.65%, and -9.58%, respectively, P<0.001). The disease burden was slightly higher in females than in males, with the majority of cases occurring in children under 10 years old, particularly in infants under 1 year old, where the burden was the heaviest. As age increased, the disease burden decreased. Conclusion Between 1990 and 2021, the overall disease burden of pertussis in China showed a significant downward trend, with gender and age differences. Special attention should be given on the prevention and control of pertussis in children under 10 years old, especially in infants under 1 year old.