Objective To summarize the epidemiological feature of plague cases oceuwed in China.Methods The epidemiological and clinical data from 1981 to 2006 year in China were analyzed with descriptive study method.Result Nine hundred and seveneteen human plague cases were diagnosed in 9 provinces(regions) from 1981 to 2006 years,105 cases died,the mortality rate being 11.45%,and they distributed in 69 counties (cities or banners).In Qinghai Province 108 cases were diagnosed,the mortality rate was 46.30%(50/108),the cases distributed in 17 counties(cities);137 cans in Guizhou,distributing in 2 counties(cities);517 cases in Yunnan,distributing in 26 counties(cities).Plague cases peaked separately in 1983,1990,1996 and 2000 years,they were 25,75,98 and 254 separately.The principal spreading ways were breathing flying particles,touching,skinning and eating marmot in Qinghai;750 cases were of bubonic plague,among whom 4 cases in Tibet died,the fatality rate was 0.53(4/750);121 cases were of pneumonic prague,among whom 65 cases died,was accounting for 53.72%(65/121);31 cases were of septieaemic plague,and 30 cases died(one cases was cured in Inner Mongolia),accounting for 96.77%(30/31).Others were brain plague,intestinal plague,tonsil plague and plague cellulites,which were cured.Conclusion From 1990,human plague epidemical scope and intensity is enlarging continuously compared with 1980-1990 and there is a trend of going up gradually in China.

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of tuina at head and abdomen for headache due to phlegm turbidity. Methods:A total of 56 patients with headache due to phlegm turbidity were randomized into a tuina group and a Chinese medicine group by the random number table, with 28 cases in each group. The tuina group was treated mainly with tuina at the head and abdomen, while the Chinese medicine group was treated with oral administration of Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang(Pinellia, Atractylodes Macrocephala and GastrodiaDecoction). The course of treatment was 30 d. The scores of headache index, traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scale, and the therapeutic efficacy were observed. Results:There were 2 dropouts in each group during treatment. The total effective rate was 92.3％ in the tuina group, significantly higher than 76.9％ in the Chinese medicine group (P<0.05). The scores of headache index and traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scale in both groups decreased after treatment (bothP<0.05), and scores in the tuina group were lower than those in the Chinese medicine group (bothP<0.05). Conclusion:Tuina mainly at head and abdomen is effective in treating headache due to phlegm turbidity, and has a better effect than Ban Xia Bai Zhu Tian Ma Tang (Pinellia, Atractylodes Macrocephala and GastrodiaDecoction).

OBJECTIVE: To establish the 2-dimensional electrophoresis(2-DE) profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) and health adults. METHODS: The total proteins from PBMC in patients with HCC and healthy adult were separated by immobilized pH gradient-based 2-DE. The differential expression proteins were analyzed by PDQuest analysis software. RESULTS: The well-resolved, reproducible 2-DE patterns of PBMC in patients with HCC and healthy adults were obtained. For HCC, the average spots of 2-DE maps were 1 206 +/- 48, and the average matching rate was 90.8%. For normal adults, the average spots were 1 123 +/- 37, and the average matching rate was 92.6%. CONCLUSION The well-resolved, reproducible 2-DE patterns of PBMC in patients with HCC and healthy adults are established. These proteomic analysis methods are useful to screen the potential biomarkers in the early diagnosis, treatment and prognosis monitor in patients with malignant tumor.
Adult ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; cytology ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Proteomics ; methods

OBJECTIVETo identify whether SH3GL1 gene serves as a disease associated gene of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

METHODSPositioning candidate cloning: "case-sibling or case-family control design" research scheme based on family constellation was designed. Fifty-six AIS patients (15 male and 41 female, mean age 15 years old, ranged from 8 to 22 years old, Cobb angle from 25 degrees to 110 degrees , average Cobb angle of 67.5 degrees ) from November 2007 to December 2008 were recruited. In all patients, blood preparation was collected, and genome DNA was extracted. According to nucleotide sequence of gene SH3GL1, primer pair for PCR amplification, cloning, and sequencing with 10 exons as emphasis was designed. Sequence comparative analysis for exon sequencing result between sib pairs or family pairs, and that between sib pair or family pairs and NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information) were conducted through Vector NTI Advance 10.3 software to judge whether basic group mutation occurred or not. Amino acid sequence comparative analysis for prediction was made.

RESULTSTen exons of the candidate gene SH3GL1 were successfully amplified and cloned in genome DNA of an AIS sib pair and family pairs, and the sequencing obtained positive results. Twelve basic group mutations were found in 10 exons of the candidate gene SH3GL1 of patients with AIS. These mutations were located in the second exon (3 mutations), the fourth exon (1 mutations), the fifth exon (4 mutations), the sixth exon (1 mutations), the eighth exon (1 mutations), and the tenth exon (2 mutations, noncoding region). If basic group in 515 of mRNA was mutated to T, termination codon(TAG) came into being and open reading frame was altered. The sequence of protein showed brachytmema protein was encoded, which could cause changes of primary structure.

CONCLUSIONSH3GL1 is possibly one of the disease associated genes of AIS.

Adolescent ; Base Sequence ; Child ; Exons ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; Male ; Scoliosis ; genetics ; Sequence Alignment ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDCheckpoint kinase 2 (CHK2) is a DNA damage-activated protein kinase which is involved in cell cycle checkpoint control. CHK2 gene could be a candidate gene for colorectal cancer susceptibility. But there are few systematic reports on mutation of CHK2 in colorectal cancer.

METHODSThe mutations of all 14 exons of CHK2 in 56 colorectal cancer cell lines were screened systematically, using denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) to screen the mismatches of the CHK2 exons amplified products, and then the suspected mutant cell lines were scanned by nucleotide sequence analysis.

RESULTSVACO400 in CHK2 exon 1a was suspected to have mutation by DHPLC and confirmed by sequence, but this was nonsense mutation. C106, CX-1, HT-29, SK01, SW480, SW620 and VACO400 in CHK2 exon 1b were confirmed to have the same nonsense mutation in 11609 A > G. DLD-1 and HCT-15 in CHK2 exon 2 were confirmed to have missense mutation R145W, which was heterozygous C > T missense mutation at nucleotide 433, leading to an Arg > Trp substitution within the FHA domain.

CONCLUSIONSThe CHK2 mutation in colorectal cancer is a low frequency event. There are just 10 cell lines to have sequence variations in all the 14 exons in 56 colorectal cancer cell lines and only DLD-1/HCT-15 had heterozygous missense mutation. These findings may give useful information of susceptibility of colorectal cancer as single nucleotide polymorphysim.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Checkpoint Kinase 2 ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; DNA Damage ; Humans ; Mutation ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo establish and evaluate a rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) associated with depression for further elaborating the disease.

METHODSTwenty-four Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal group (group N), T2DM group (group T) and T2DM with depression group (group T + D), with 8 rats in each group. The T2DM rat model was induced by high fat diet and low dose of Streptozotocin (STZ) injection, and in addition, the T2DM rats were made restraint stress for 21 days. After the model was established, the insulin tolerance test (ITT) and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) were performed. Then the rat depression level was analyzed by open field test, and the concentration of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and dopamine (DA)was determined by ELISA to confirm the model identity.

RESULTSThe blood glucose level in group T and group T + D didn't return to the normal level at 180 minutes in the ITT and OGTT test; Compared with the group N, the max movement distance, retaining time in the central zone and the retaining frequency within 5 minutes in the group T + D decreased; 5-HT and DA level in the serum of rats in. group T + D was reduced.

CONCLUSIONA rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus associated with depression has been successfully established by high fat diet and injection of low dose streptozotocin in combination with restraint stress for 21 days. This rat model is useful for further relevant studies.

Animals ; Depression ; complications ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; complications ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Diet, High-Fat ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Restraint, Physical ; Serotonin ; Streptozocin ; Stress, Psychological

Objective To study on epidemiologic characteristics of human plague cases in Sanjiangyuan Area,and provide theoretical basis to work out the preventive measures.Methods Based upon the epidemiology information from the human plague case data bank of Qinghai Province,human plague data were analyzed retrospectively in Sanjiangyun Area by sorting,verifying and summing up of these data,including some of case file and monitoring data.Results Except for 12 years in the period of 1960 to 2006,there were human plague cases happened every year.The morbidity occurred mainly in 12 counties of 4 states,including Yushu,Guolou,Huangnan and Hainan,and Tanggula Town of Geermu City,a total of 85 human plague episodes were occurred,resulting 238 onsets,134 deaths,and a matality rate of 56.30%.The sources of infection were respectively Himalayan mormot 27.31%(65/238),artiodactyls 14.71%(32/238),carnivora 2.10%(5/238),Lagomorpha 0.42%(1/238),the pneumonic plague patient 49.16%(117/238),and biting of flea 6.30%(15/238).The prevalent season was from May all the way to November,the peak-months were August and September.After October,the sheep as the source of infection initiating human being plague accounted for 23.53%.Among the clinical types,the most prevalent type was pneumonic type(61.34%),and the rest,glandular type(17.23%),septic type(16.81%)and other types(4.62%),but the first plague case in each epidemic was mainly the glandular plague.Conclusions In recent years,the tendency of human plague prevalence increases in Sanjiangyuan Area,it is urgent to improve and adjust the prevention and treatment measures in time.

Objective　To investigate the relationship betwee n tricuspid insufficiency (TI) and the function of the right ventricle, degree o f pulmonary vascular pathological change in patients with rheumatic heart diseas e so as to provide the indication of operation for treating TI. Methods 　41 cases of rheumatic heart disease with TI accompanying with bicuspid pathological changes were reviewed. Correlation analysis was done between the s everity of TI and the right ventricular size(RVS), pulmonary artery pressure(PAP ), pulmonary artery resistance(PAR) etc. Results　It was found t hat the size of the right ventricle, PAP, PAR were positively correlated to th e degree of TI. Tricuspid annuloplasty should be carried out in patients with RV D>40 mm, PAR >48 kPa*s/L, PAP>8 kPa. Conclusion　TI resulted ma inly from insufficient function of the right ventricle and marked patholog ical changes of the pulmonary blood vessels. Doppler echocardiography evaluation for the function of right ventricle and pathological condition of pulmonary blo od vessels might be of significant in deciding whether tricuspid annuloplasty sh ould be performed simutaneously in patients of bicuspid valve replacement.

To investigate the cell-killing effect and its possible mechanism of rClone30-hDR5 in combination with TRAIL on human hepatic carcinoma (HCC) cell line, first of all, recombinant plasmid pee12.4-hDR5 was introduced into HepG2 cells by liposome transfection. After five rounds of screening by flow cytometry, HepG2 cells expressing high levels of DR5 on cell surface were isolated. The cytotoxicity of TRAIL to selected cells was higher than that of TRAIL to HepG2 cells by MTT method (P < 0.01). The result suggested that the cloned hDR5 gene had biological activity. MTT assay showed that, rClone30- hDR5 in combination with TRAIL more efficiently inhibited the tumor growth of HepG2 cells compared to rClone30-hDR5 or TRAIL in vitro. The results of Annexin V-FITC/PI staining and Quantitative Real-time PCR indicated that rClone30-hDR5 in combination with TRAIL significantly increased the mRNA levels of caspase 3 and caspase 8, and induced the apoptosis of tumor cells. HepG2 cells were infected with rClone30-hDR5 or rClone30 at MOI of 1. The expression of hDR5 on tumor surface increased significantly by rClone30-hDR5 compared to that by rClone30, which contributed to the sensitivity to TRAIL. In conclusion, rClone30-hDR5 in combination with TRAIL has potential application value in cancer treatment.
Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Caspase 8 ; metabolism ; Drug Synergism ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand ; pharmacology ; TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand ; pharmacology ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate the diagnosis and treatment of neuroendocrine neoplasm (NEN) in the digestive system.

METHODSClinical data of 29 patients with NEN from January 2000 to December 2012 in The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University were analyzed retrospectively and the prognosis was evaluated according to the new WHO classification.

RESULTSThere were 19 males and 10 females and the average age was 46.5 years. All the patients had no clinical manifestations of carcinoid syndrome, and they all received surgical treatment. Two cases were gastric neuroendocrine carcinoma(NEC), who received radical total gastrectomy and distal gastric resection respectively. Three cases had neoplasm in the duodenum, including 2 NEC and 1 neuroendocrine tumor(NET), and they all underwent Whipple's procedure. Two cases were small intestine NEC, who received partial small intestine resection. Three cases had neoplasm in the appendix, including 1 NEC treated with right hemicolectomy and 2 NET with appendectomy. One case was ascending colon NEC, who received right hemicolectomy. Eighteen cases had neoplasm in the rectum, including 4 NEC treated with low anterior resection and abdominoperineal resection respectively, and 14 cases of NET underwent low anterior resection, local resection, and endoscopic resection respectively. The 1- and 3- year survival rates of 13 NEC cases were 38.4% and 7.7% respectively. The 5-year survival rate of 16 NET cases was 81.3%.

CONCLUSIONSNEN of digestive system is located mainly in the rectum and the clinical symptom is unspecific. Radical resection of NEN is the preferred treatment. The prognosis of NEC is poor, and that of NET is better.

Digestive System Surgical Procedures ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate