OBJECTIVETo explore the trend of influenza epidemics, predominate strains of the virus in Tianjin city and to analyze the economic impact of vaccine-based interventions for the prevention and control of influenza.

METHODSData on epidemiological studies and on virus surveillance was gathered. Monte Carlo mathematical simulation modelwas used for data analyses.

RESULTSFrom 29, December, 2003 to 2, January, 2005, the proportion of influenza-like infection cases was accounted for 8.93% of the total number of patients from the outpatient departments of 4 general hospitals in Tianjin. The proportion reached its peak from November to February and it was accounted for 9.39% in epidemic period, which was significantly different from that in the non-epidemic period (u = 15.53, P< 0.05). There was 56 strains of influenza virus isolated in which 45 were indentified as A(H3N2) and 11 as B with a total positive rate as 13.21%. Predominant strain was found bing type A(H3N2). The positive rate was 15.41% in the epidemic period, which was significantly different from that in the non-epidemic period (u = 2.519, P < 0.05). The cost per visit ranged from 475.93 to 581.69 Yuan (RMB) with an average cost of 528.81 Yuan. When the attack rate increased to 30 percent, the positive mean net returns would have been 24 million Yuan among the 0-19 age group.

CONCLUSIONInfluenza did not seem to be prevalent in Tianjin from 29, December, 2003 to 2, January, 2005. The main type of influenza was type A(H3N2). It is necessary to pay attention to the all-year round surveillance program due to the transformation of influenza type A and the slight increase of incidence in summer.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Health Care Costs ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype ; physiology ; Influenza B virus ; physiology ; Influenza, Human ; economics ; epidemiology ; immunology ; virology ; Middle Aged ; Population Surveillance ; Seasons ; Viral Vaccines ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo establish a human ovarian cancer-bearing mouse model via orthotopic transplantation of human HO-8910 cells expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP).

METHODSGFP-expressing human ovarian carcinoma HO8910/GFP cells (2 x 10(6)) in exponential phase of growth were inoculated subcutaneously in nude mice, and the generated tumor tissues were collected and transplanted below the capsule of the left ovary of 6 nude mice. The growth of the tumors was observed in vivo using a fluorescence stereomicroscope. The nude mice were sacrificed 4 weeks after transplantation to assess the tumor growth and metastasis.

RESULTSThe tumors showed progressive growth at the orthotopic sites in all animals. Two weeks after the transplantation, green fluorescent mass was observed at the left costovertebral angle, and the mass increased thereafter and invaded or metastasized to the peritoneum, omentum, spleen, liver, uterus, and the pelvic lymph nodes, with a metastatic rate as much as 66.7%.

CONCLUSIONThe nude mouse model bearing orthotopic human ovarian carcinoma expressing GFP has been successfully established.

Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Neoplasms, Experimental ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Transplantation, Heterologous

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) on cardiac function and the receptor mechanism in anesthetized rats. The mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), the left ventricle systolic pressure (LVP) and the maximal/minimum rate of LVP (+/-LV dp/dt(max)) were measured. The results obtained are as follows. (1) Low dose of CCK-8 (0. 4 microgram/kg i.v.) caused tachycardia and slight increase in MAP, LVP and LV dp/dt(max) (P<0.01), while medium dose (4.0 microgram/kg i.v.) and high dose of CCK-8 (40 microgram/kg i.v.) elicited a bradycardia and marked increase in MAP, LVP and LV dp/dtmax (P<0.01). (2) Proglumide (1.0 mg/kg i.v.), a CCK-receptor (CCK-R) antagonist, significantly inhibited the pressor effects of CCK-8, whilst it reversed the bradycardic responses (P<0.01). (3) Using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), CCK-A receptor (CCK-AR) and CCK-B receptor (CCK-BR) mRNA were expressed in myocardium of rats. The above results indicate that CCK-8 may enhance cardiac function in a dose-dependent manner and elicit a change in HR, which is likely induced by the activation of CCK-R on myocardium.
Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Heart Rate ; drug effects ; Male ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Cholecystokinin ; drug effects ; Sincalide ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Ventricular Function, Left ; drug effects ; Ventricular Pressure ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo establish the focus management mode and the report criteria more perfectly for the virus hepatitis cases, especially for the hepatitis B.

METHODSOne district was set as the research area, in which there was enough cases resource and relatively separated from the other districts, then a first or second-class hospital was appointed to take the cases focus diagnosis, report and management.

RESULTSThe focus hospitals had reported 97% (323/331) of cases in the research area between June,2007 and June,2008; moreover,the rate in establishing case-card was 97.21% (314/323), as compared with that in period of 2007 (261), the cases reported declined 61.30% in the first half year of 2008 (101).

CONCLUSIONIt should be an imperative situation to establish a report criteria and management mode for virus hepatitis (hepatitis B), however it is necessary to have more supports from health administrations.

China ; Communicable Disease Control ; organization & administration ; Disease Notification ; Hepatitis B ; diagnosis ; prevention & control ; Humans

The clinical experiences and proven cases of distinguished doctor of TCM, professor WU Xu, on acupuncture for acute upper abdominal pain is introduced. Professor WU's manipulation characteristics of acupuncture for acute upper abdominal pain, including acute cholecystitis, kidney stone, acute stomach pain, are one-hand shape but both hands in nature, moving like Tai Chi, force on the tip of needle, movement of qi mainly. The main technique posture is one-hand holding needle with middle finger for pressing, the needle is hold by thumb and index finger, and is assisted by middle finger. The special acupuncture experience of emergency is treatment according to syndrome differentiation, combination of acupuncture and moxibustion, selecting acupoint based on experience, blood-letting acupuncture therapy and so on.
Abdominal Pain ; therapy ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Acute Pain ; therapy ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male

OBJECTIVETo analyze the epidemiologic characteristics of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and to evaluate the effectiveness on its major control measures in Tianjn.

METHODSAdopting two case reports 1 and 2, designed by the Tianjin Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop a unified case-tracing table including the map of the distribution of close contacts to SARS patients. With those methods, investigation on patients and their close contacts at hospital wards, families, communities and institutions of the patients were carried out.

RESULTSFrom April 13 through May 8, 2003, there were 175 SARS cases including imported ones, were identified with an incidence rate of 1.9 cases per 100,000. Among them, 14 died with a fatality of 8.0%. The whole process of epidemic in Tianjin was less than one month with the following features: (1) 93.7% of the total SARS cases in Tianjin were directly or indirectly transmitted by a super-spreader. (2) 68.6% of the total SARS patients were concentrated in 3 hospitals A, B and C which was menifastated in 'clustering'. Through study on the rest of the SARS patients, results showed that 16.8% of them were transmitted through family close contact and 2.3% due to contact to colleagues. However, 12.6% of the patients were not able to show evidence that they had any contact to a diagnosed SARS patient. At the early stage of the epidemic, a number of medical practitioners were infected, taking up 38.2% of the total SARS cases. Among the total number of 1 975 medical workers who participated in the SARS medical cares and treatments, 3.4% of them got infected. During the outbreak, all index cases and chains of transmission seemed to be clear, with only 3 patients not able to be traced for the source of infection, taking up 2% of the total SARS patients in Tianjin. Among the 10 index cases, only the super spreader and another one index case transmitted the virus to their contacts but the rest of index cases did not cause any secondary infection.

CONCLUSIONThough SARS is clinically severe and can be spreaded quickly, the epidemic can be under control within a short period of time if chains of SARS transmission are broken down and effective measures as isolation and quarantine against patients as well as underscoring awareness among the publics in a scientific way, being carried out.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Contact Tracing ; Cross Infection ; transmission ; Disease Outbreaks ; Family Health ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; epidemiology ; mortality ; transmission ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo study the changes of minimal residual disease (MRD) in children with B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) of different genetic abnormalities.

METHODSBetween February 2004 and April 2013, 271 newly diagnosed B-ALL pediatric patients who had finished the induction chemotherapy were enrolled in the study. The characteristics of changes in MRD in patients with different genetic abnormalities on the 15th day and at the end of the induction therapy were analyzed.

RESULTSOn the 15th day of the induction chemotherapy, the MRD positive proportion in patients with hyperdiploid was higher on all the three cut-off levels of MRD≥0.1%, 1% and 10% compared to patients without hyperdiploid (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the MRD positive proportion on the three levels of MRD between the TEL-AML1-positive and TEL-AML1-negative groups (P>0.05). On the end of induction chemotherapy, there was no significant difference in the MRD positive proportion on the three levels of MRD between the patients with and without hyperdiploid (P>0.05), neither between the BCR-ABL-positive and negative groups. The MRD positive proportion in TEL-AML1-negative patients was significantly higher than in TEL-AML1-positive patients on all three levels of MRD (P<0.05). The MRD positive proportion on two levels of MRD≥0.01% and 0.1% in E2A-PBX1-negative patients was significantly higher than in E2A-PBX1-positive patients (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSChildren with B-ALL of different genetic abnormalities have different MRD levels during, and at the end of, induction therapy. The prognostic significance of MRD may be related to the genetic abnormalities.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Induction Chemotherapy ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Neoplasm, Residual ; genetics ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; drug therapy ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the biology of HeLa cells upon inhibition of human telomerase catalytic subunit (hTERT) gene by RNA interference in vitro.

METHODSFour shRNAs (A, B, C and D) targeting hTERT gene were designed and prepared by in-vitro transcription. The expression of hTERT gene was evaluated by immunofluorescent staining and telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) ELISA (TRAP-ELISA), after transient transfection of shRNAs by lipid formulation. Through the initial selection, shRNA (B) was noticed as the most efficient one in down-regulating hTERT gene and therefore was chosen as the ultimate shRNA used in the experimental groups. Those transfected by non-silencing RNAi were chosen as the control groups. Cell spreading and migration were studied by microscopy and cell adhesion to fibronectin (FN) was assayed by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8). Cell invasion was assessed by Boyden chamber assay.

RESULTSCell spreading study revealed that the rates of spreading cells in the experimental groups were (5.6 +/- 2.3)% at 30 min, and (26.3 +/- 6.1)% 2 h after the inoculation, respectively, whereas the rates of spreading cells in the control groups were (31.3 +/- 7.9)% and (79.4 +/- 4.8)%, respectively. There were significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.01). However, most of the cells in both groups became spreading after 24 h. Cell adhesion assay demonstrated that the rate of adhesion cells on FN in experimental groups was (67.2 +/- 2.8)%, less than that in control groups (83.7 +/- 5.4)% (P < 0.05). The relative migration distance was (27.1 +/- 6.2)% in the experimental group, lower than that of the control group (58.7 +/- 15.0)%. The invasion assay revealed that the invading cells were 75.7 +/- 14.5 in the experimental group, in contrast to 165.1 +/- 11.0 in the control group after 4 h incubation on matrigel. The difference between these two groups was significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIn vitro shRNA silencing of hTERT gene can down-regulate the telomerase activity, leading to an inhibition of the malignant phenotype of HeLa cells, including decreased ability of cell spreading and adhesion, reduction of cell migration, and declined invasive ability through Matrige assay.

Cell Adhesion ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; pharmacology ; Telomerase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate the immunization status of hepatitis B vaccine who were inoculated at birth, HBV infections and the vaccine booster effect in the first-year middle school students (12 - 14 years old).

METHODSA cluster, stratified simplified random sampling method was administrated. The sample size was at least 218, which was calculated by Epi Info 3.3.2 software at 53% the minimum acceptable anti-HBs positive rate and 95% confidence level. A total of 250 and 236 students participated in the infection status and booster immunization effects investigation. The HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc IgG were detected by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). HBV DNA was detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR, and the diagnostic test kit were produced respectively by ABBOTT, Diasorin and Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy Enterprise Co.

RESULTSFor the immunization status before booster: the positive rate of anti-HBs was 62.80% (157/250), the GMT was 73.79 IU/L; the currently HBV infection rate (HBsAg and anti-HBc positive) was 2.80% (7/250). After injection, the anti-HBs positive rate was 94.92% (224/236). Compared with the before booster results, the significant difference was observed (χ(2) = 73.92, P = 0.00). The GMT was 521.15 IU/L, comparing with the before booster results, there was significant difference (t = 15.98, P = 0.00). The anti-HBs conversion rate (from negative to positive) was 91.86% (79/86) after immune-enhancement; of which, 11 students got the second dose of booster vaccine who are no-responders after first injection, in addition 8 students got the anti-HBs.

CONCLUSIONIt is an effective method to put the first-year middle school students into the immune-enhancement program, so as to improve the immunization memory effect and avoid the loss of protective antibodies.

Adolescent ; Child ; China ; Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic ; Female ; Hepatitis B ; immunology ; prevention & control ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; immunology ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; administration & dosage ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunization, Secondary ; Immunologic Memory ; immunology ; Male ; Schools ; Students

BACKGROUND:Stem cell transplantation has been used in the clinical treatment of spinal cord injury.However,the efficacy and safety are still controversial.Although there are many approaches for stem cell transplantation,which one is better is unclear as yet.OBJECTIVE:To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of stem cell transplantation for spinal cord injury,and to compare the therapeutic difference in stem cell transplantation via different approaches.METHODS:A computer-based online search was conducted in PubMed,The Cochrane Library (Issue 4,2016),Embase,CNKI,VIP,CBM,and Wan-Fang databases up to May 13,2016 to screen the relevant randomized clinical controlled trials of stem cells in the treatment of spinal cord injury.Two reviewers independently selected the studies,extracted information,and assessed the quality of included trials.Data extracted from eligible studies was pooled and meta-analyzed using Stata13.1 and Gemtc0.14.3 software.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:A total of 10 randomized controlled trials involving 546 patients (294 in stem cells group and 252 in rehabilitation treatment group) were included.The results of meta-analysis showed that stem cell transplantation had an advantage over rehabilitation treatment in increasing American Spinal Cord Injury Association (ASIA) motor score,ASIA sensory score,Barthel Index,and decreasing the bladder residual urine volume.The incidence of low fever,abdominal distension,headache,lower limb numbness,and meningeal irritation was 14％,7％,7％,8％,and 7％,respectively.Taking the rehabilitation treatment as a common reference,the results of the network meta-analysis showed that there were no significant differences in ASIA motor score,ASIA sensory score,Barthel Index,and incidence of complications among subarachnoid injection,intravenous injection,and intralesional injection.Compared with the rehabilitation treatment,only stem cell transplantation via subarachnoid injection had significant differences in ASIA motor score [MD=9.77,95％CI (0.26,21.46)],and ASIA sensory score [MD=25.79,95％CI (10.07,45.27)].To conclude,the stem cells transplantation via subarachnoid injection is considered the most effective transplantation method.Due to the limitations of the included studies,more high-quality randomized controlled trials are required to verify the above conclusion.In addition,future studies should focus on the long-term efficacy and safety of stem cell transplantation in the treatment of spinal cord injury,and should investigate the clinical effects on spinal cord injury with different ASIA grades,types of stem cells,and transplantation time.