OBJECTIVETo investigate Bcl-2/Bax gene expression in different types of carotid plaque, and examine the relationship between gene expression and atherosclerotic plaque instability and the main cause of brain ischemic events.

METHODSTotally 42 human carotid plaque specimens obtained during carotid endarterectomy were divided into stable group (n=19) and unstable group (n=23) based on histopathological studies (HE staining). Eight aortic arteries and their branches from hepatic transplantation donors were taken as control group. Bcl-2/Bax was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining (n=42) and in situ hybridization (ISH) (n=25, stable 13/unstable 12).

RESULTSBcl-2 gene expression, which was expressed in smooth muscle cells (SMC), endothelial cells (EC), macrophages (MP) and foam cells, was detected in 20 and 9 cases in unstable plaque while 11 and 4 cases in stable plaque by IHC and ISH, respectively (P < 0.05). Bax, which was expressed in SMC and MP, was detected in 18 and 11 cases in unstable plaque, while 8 and 5 cases in stable plaque by IHC and ISH, respectively (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe expression rate of Bcl-2/Bax in unstable plaques was higher than in stable plaques. Bcl-2 was one of the elements that maintain plaque stability whereas Bax was one element that facilitates plaque instability. Therefore, Bcl-2/Bax expression in different stage of atherosclerosis may be one of the molecule regulation mechanisms in carotid atherosclerosis.

Apoptosis ; genetics ; Carotid Arteries ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carotid Artery Diseases ; metabolism ; Carotid Stenosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Endothelium, Vascular ; metabolism ; Humans ; Macrophages ; metabolism ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Up-Regulation ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein

The expression of BAX in carotid atherosclerosis and its regulation is far from defined. Objectives To investigate BAX expression in stable/fibrous and instable/vulnerable carotid plaque and its clinical significance. Methods Twenty-five cases of carotid plaque specimens obtained from endarterectomy were divided into two groups, stable/fibrous 14 cases, vulnerable/instable 11 cases; aortic artery and its branches from hepatic transplantation donors 6 case as control. The expression of proapoptotic BAX was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC), in situ hybridization(ISH) and in situ TdT dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). Results Five cases of BAX ( + ) were detected by ICH and ISH, 4 case of TUNEL ( + ) were detected by TUNEL in stable/fibrous carotid plaque , while 10 cases were BAX ( + )by IHC(P < 0.05) , 11 cases by ISH and 9 cases by TUNEL were detected in instable/vulnerable carotid plaque ( P < 0.01 ), respectively. The intensity of BAX ( + ) cells by IHC and ISH was (8.63 +/- 2.62) and (10.32 +/- 3.12) in fibrous plaques, whereas (122 +/- 21.64) and (152 +/- 23.35) in vulnerable plaques, respectively. No expression of BAX was found in controlled group. Conclusion The higher expression of Bax in vulnerable carotid plaque may be one mechanism in molecular pathogenesis of carotid atherosclerosis which affect plaque stability and be the cause of higher incidence of stroke than fibrous carotid plaques, the regulation of BAX expression in different stage of atherosclerosis may provide targets in gene therapy for carotid atherosclerosis.

Cysticercosis refers to a parasitic infection caused by the larvae of pork tapeworm Taenia solium.It is a parasitic zoonosis and listed by the World Health Organization(WHO)as one of the neglected tropical diseases.Cysticercosis is spread-ing all over the world through globalization and it mainly epidemic in developing countries.In the southwest and minority nation-ality areas of China,as a result of the low level of medical and health care,and the unchangeable diet custom,there are still many cases of cysticercosis,which is manifested as a local high prevalence.Neuroimaging is the preferred method for cysticerco-sis diagnosis,and by using CT and MRI scans it is possible to visualise the infecting cysticerci and assess their number and loca-tion within the central nervous system(CNS).The immunological assay is also required in the diagnosis.At present,the preven-tion and control of cysticercosis is still relatively weak.In this paper,the current status and research progress of cysticercosis are reviewed,and further suggestions on the prevention and control of cysticercosis are put forward.

A taeniasis/cysticercosis information management system was designed to achieve the dynamic monitoring of the epidemic situation of taeniasis/cysticercosis and improve the intelligence level of disease information management.The system in-cludes three layer structures(application layer,technical core layer,and data storage layer)and designs a datum transmission and remote communication system of traffic information tube in Browser/Server architecture.The system is believed to promote disease datum collection.Additionally,the system may provide the standardized data for convenience of datum analysis.

Humans ; Cerebral Cortex ; Hallucinations/pathology* ; Neurodegenerative Diseases/pathology* ; Atrophy/pathology* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Objective To understand the basic information and epidemic characteristics of new cases of cysticercosis in Dali Prefecture, Yunnan Province, so as to provide the evidence for formulating the prevention and control strategy of cysticercosis. Methods The data of inpatients in the Dali Parasitic Disease Prevention and Control Center from 2014 to 2017 were collected and the eligible data of new cases of cysticercosis were analyzed by the epidemiological method. Results There were 1 552 patients with cysticercosis, including 549 new cases of cysticercosis. Among the new cysticercosis patients, most were neurocysticer-cosis cases (484 / 549, 88.16%). The symptoms included epilepsy and headache (51.73%), headache (40.98%), and dizziness (18.76%). The new cysticercosis patients were mainly middle-aged male farmers of Bai nationality, and they were distributed in all counties (cities) of Dali Prefecture, especially in Eryuan County (26.78%), and Dali City (19.49%). The annual incidence rate was 4.423/105 in 2014, 3.837/105 in 2015, 3.765/105 in 2016, and 3.442/105 in 2017, and there was no significance among the different years’incidence ( χ² = 4.595, P > 0.05). Conclusion Dali Prefecture is still an endemic area of cysticercosis. Therefore, the monitoring, prevention and control of the disease should be strengthened.