AIM:To investigate the cause of blindness, except those caused by cataract, in Haimen city.METHODS:According to the WHO`s criteria of blindness, the blindness level was decided through ophthalmic tests by associate chief or chief ophthalmologists who were trained especially for disability evaluation.The analysis of the the leading cause were taken too.RESULTS:Totally 3 266 persons were blindness, in which 2 118 were first level blindness, 1 148 persons were second lever blindness, and 1 308 persons were male, 1958 were female.The leading cause of blindness were retina and uveitis diseases (31.58%), genetic diseases(23.47%), cornea disease(14.49%).CONCLUSION:The leading cause of blindness are retina and uveitis diseases, genetic diseases, cornea diseases in Haimen city of Jiangsu province.Early prevention and treatment should be strengthened to reduce the occurrence of blindness.

AIMClinical studies stated that low molecular weight compounds (< 1.0 kd) extracted from the new born calf liver could effectively inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells. In this report, we observed inhibition effects and their regulative mechanisms of taurine, ornithine, carnosine on the proliferation of HL-60 cells.

METHODSThree active ingredients, i.e., taurine, ornithine and carnosine were separated by ion-exchange chromatographic column and identified from the low molecular weight filtrate of new born calf liver. MTT assay was used to test the survival rate of HL-60 cells and normal lymphocytes treated by the three ingredients. The various effects of the three compounds on HL-60 cells were respectively evaluated by agarose gel electrophoresis, ESR and immunohistochemical methods.

RESULTSThese compounds effectively inhibited the proliferation of HL-60 cells and induced apoptosis which was determined by apoptotic changes in morphology and nuclear DNA degradation. Whereas no inhibition effects on normal lymphocytes were observed. In addition, the results of ESR showed that the activity of oxygen radical within HL-60 cells treated with there compounds decreased to trace level. Furthermore, in the immunohistochemical experiments, we found that the level of p45/skp2 in HL-60 cells decreased while the level of p27/kip increased.

CONCLUSIONThe taurine, ornithine and carnosine compounds can selectively suppress tumor cells proliferation by regulating the level of cell cycle proteins.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carnosine ; pharmacology ; Cattle ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Liver ; chemistry ; Ornithine ; pharmacology ; Taurine ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo explore seroepidemiological status and vaccine coverage of hepatitis B among drug users in Xi'an.

METHODS545 drug users in the Xi'an Compulsory Detoxification Center were asked to answer questionnaire and provide blood sample (3-5 ml) for test of HBsAg, anti-HBc and anti-HBs from March to June 2013. Totally, 545 subjects were surveyed and tested. All of them effectively completed the survey.

RESULTSThe positive rates of HBsAg, anti-HBc and anti-HBs were 29.4% (160/545), 60.0% (327/545) and 56.1% (306/545), respectively. Eighty five subjects (15.6%) were negative for all of the three markers. The prevalence of HBsAg and anti-HBc among injection drug users were 40.0% (94/235) and 65.6% (154/235), which was significantly higher than non- injection drug users' (21.6% (52/241), 58.5% (141/241)) and mixed non-injection and injection drug users ((20.3% (14/69), 46.4% (32/69)) (χ(2) = 23.518 and 9.017, respectively, P < 0.05) . The HBsAg positive rate (30.6% (153/500)) of subjects with more than once per day of drug using within one year was significantly higher than those who used drugs for 2-3 times per week (15.6% (7/45)) (χ(2) = 4.51, P < 0.05). Only 11.7% (64/545) of drug users had a clear history of hepatitis B vaccination. The vaccination rate of subjects (3.5% (5/141)) with primary education or below was significantly lower than those with high school (16.3% (45/276)) (χ(2) = 26.61, P < 0.05). The vaccination rate of subjects (7.8% (12/153)) over 45 years old was significantly lower than that of subjects below 30 years old (15.9% (21/132)) and 30-44 years old (11.9% (31/260)) (χ(2) = 30.36, P < 0.05). The vaccinees had a significantly higher positive rate of anti-HBs (73.4% (47/64)) than those who without vaccination (53.8% (259/481)) (χ(2) = 8.81, P = 0.003), but the positive rates of HBsAg (16.7% (11/64)) were lower than those who without vaccination (31.0% (149/481)) (χ(2) = 23.52 and 9.02, respectively;P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe HBV infection status among drug users in Xi'an was in serious condition, while a low vaccination rate was also discovered among them.

Adult ; Age Factors ; China ; epidemiology ; Drug Users ; Hepatitis B ; epidemiology ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Substance Abuse, Intravenous ; epidemiology ; Vaccination

OBJECTIVESTo detect the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase(SOD) and interleukin 8(IL-8) in seminal plasma of infertile patients, and evaluate the possible relationship between those levels.

METHODSSemen was collected from normal donors (15 cases), infertile men without infection (16 cases), and infertile men with infection (leukocytospermia, 11 cases). The routine analysis of semen was accomplished, and then the levels of IL-8, malondialdehyde (MDA), SOD, and white blood cell (WBC) were examined. The correlative analysis between the level of ROS and other parameters in these populations was made.

RESULTSIn leukocytospermic group, the levels of MDA, WBC, and IL-8 were higher than those in the other two groups (P < 0.001). Significantly positive correlation was observed between IL-8 and MDA (r = 0.852, P < 0.001) and between the levels of IL-8 and WBC.

CONCLUSIONSThese findings suggest that increased oxidative stress in patients with leukocytospermia may cause the increase of IL-8(r = 0.818, P < 0.01). The increased oxidative stress may be due to defect in ROS scavenging system.

Adult ; Cytokines ; blood ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; blood ; complications ; Male ; Male Urogenital Diseases ; blood ; complications ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; blood ; Semen

Using the character of natural aggregation of CHO cells, and an ultrasonic and sedimentation column combined perfusion system to promote cells aggregation and retention into bioreactor,recombinant CHO cell strain MK3-A2 was cultured,which could secrete rhTNK-tPA, by a serum-free perfusion culture system. The culture periods in this two experiments were as long as 77 and 110 days respectively. The cells density reached 2?107 cells /ml. The average volumetric productivity of rhTNK-tPA was 89 mg/L?d, and the highest one was 216mg/L?d.The cells aggregation rate was approximately 90%, and the diameters of most of them were 285～570?m. During the perfusion culture the cells retention rate almost kept in 95% and the viability of cells was more than 85%.Thus, it means that aggregation culture with such perfusion system could be used to scale up produce biopharmaceuticals instead of microcarrier culture system.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) imaging derived quantitative metrics and serum soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) level in an embolic canine stroke model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A middle cerebral artery occlusion model was established in 24 beagle dogs. Experimental dogs were divided into low- and high-sCD40L group according to serum sCD40L level at 4.5 hours after establishing the model. IVIM imaging was scanned at 4.5 hours after model establishment using 10 b values ranging from 0 to 900 s/mm². Quantitative metrics diffusion coefficient (D), pseudodiffusion coefficient (D*), and perfusion fraction (f) of ischemic lesions were calculated. Quantitative metrics of ischemic lesions were normalized by contralateral hemisphere using the following formula: normalized D = D(stroke) / D(contralateral). Differences in IVIM metrics between the low- and high-sCD40L groups were compared using t test. Pearson's correlation analyses were performed to determine the relationship between IVIM metrics and serum sCD40L level. RESULTS: The high-sCD40L group showed significantly lower f and normalized f values than the low-sCD40L group (f, p < 0.001; normalized f, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in D*, normalized D*, D, or normalized D value between the two groups (All p > 0.05). Both f and normalized f values were negatively correlated with serum sCD40L level (f, r = −0.789, p < 0.001; normalized f, r = −0.823, p < 0.001). However, serum sCD40L level had no significant correlation with D*, normalized D*, D, or normalized D (All p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The f value derived from IVIM imaging was negatively correlated with serum sCD40L level. f value might serve as a potential imaging biomarker to assess the formation of microvascular thrombosis in hyperacute period of ischemic stroke.
Animals ; CD40 Ligand* ; Diffusion ; Dogs ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Perfusion ; Stroke* ; Thrombosis

OBJECTIVETo observe the exercise single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging of patients with myocardial bridge and assess the association between myocardial ischemia and extent of myocardial systolic compression.

METHODSSeventeen patients with myocardial bridge diagnosed by coronary angiogram were included and underwent exercise SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging.

RESULTSAbnormal SPECT perfusion imaging was evidenced in 12 out of 17 patients with myocardial bridge (2 out of 6 patients with systolic compression induced stenosis < 50%, 3 out of 4 patients with systolic compression induced stenosis between 50% - 75% and 7 out of 7 patients with the systolic compression induced stenosis between 75% - 100%).

CONCLUSIONExercise stress SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging could detect myocardial ischemia in patients with myocardial bridge and abnormal perfusion is positively related to the extent of systolic compression induced stenosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Coronary Angiography ; Exercise Test ; Female ; Heart ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Bridging ; diagnostic imaging ; Myocardium ; Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between G72 gene polymorphisms and depression,and to probe the difference of G72 gene polymorphisms between depression with and without mixed family history.

METHODSThe polymorphisms of G72 gene (rs947267 and rs2181953) were detected by PCR technique in 100 depressive patients without mixed family history, 50 depressive patients with mixed family history and 86 normal controls.

RESULTS(1) The frequencies of rs947267 genotypes and alleles in female depressive patients without mixed family history were significant different to the controls (P=0.017 and P=0.008), the OR scores were 0.300 (A/A, P=0.010), 0.456(A, P=0.008) and 2.195(C, P=0.008) respectively; but in male patients there were no significant differences to the controls (P>0.05). (2) The frequencies of rs2181953 genotypes and alleles in the depressive patients without mixed family history were not significantly different to the controls regardless of sex (P>0.05). (3) The frequencies of rs947267 and rs2181953 genotypes and alleles in the depressive patients with mixed family history were not significantly different to the controls regardless of sex (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe G72 gene polymorphism may be associated with female depressive patients without mixed family history,C allele of rs947267 may be the risk factor.

Alleles ; Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; Depressive Disorder ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics

Objective To explore the effect of meteorological factors on the incidence of hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in Jiangyin City. Methods The distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) was used to estimate the delayed and cumulative effects of meteorological factors on incidence of HFMD in Jiangyin from 2012 to 2017. Results A total of 21 791 HFMD cases were reported in Jiangyin City during 2012-2017. We observed significant correlations between the daily incidence of HFMD and daily mean temperature (rs=0.402, P<0.001), daily mean pressure (rs=-0.453, P<0.001), and daily mean relative humidity (rs=0.075, P<0.001), respectively. It was indicated that the maximum cumulative effect of daily mean temperature on the incidence of HFMD was 11 ℃ (RR=1.473, 95% CI: 1.99-1.974), and the impact on the onset of HFMD was acute and hightest at the first day (RR=1.090, 95% CI: 1.045-1.136). The cumulative effect on incidence of HFMD was highest at 85% daily relative humidity (RR=1.346, 95% CI: 1.154-1.571), and the impact on HFMD peaked on the 6th day (RR=1.023，95% CI: 1.015-1.031); The maximum cumulative effect of daily mean pressure with the incidence of HFMD was 1010.0 hpa (RR=1.221, 95% CI: 1.020-1.463), but no lag effect was observed at this level. Conclusions Meteorological factors have significant impact on the incidence of HFMD in Jiangyin City, and the effects of temperature and humidity are lagged.

Objective To prepare freeze-drying control materials of IgG antibody against Schistosoma japonicum for detec-tion kits. Methods The serum samples of schistosomiasis patients from endemic areas and normal people without history of schistosome infection or contact with infested water in Hubei Province were collected.All the sera were detected by the method approved by China Food and Drug Administration and selected for preparation of quality control samples. Results Totally twelve positive quality control materials,ten negative quality control materials,and one sensitive and one precision quality con-trol materials were screened.According to the positive serum level,the positive degrees of quality control materials were divided into strong,medium and weak levels.The stability could be valid for one year.Conclusions The freeze-drying quality control materials of IgG antibody against S.japonicum for detection kits are prepared.They are easy to use and have good stability,and therefore,they may meet the requirement of quality control for the detection of schistosomiasis diagnostics kits.