To investigate the epidemic and evolutionary trends of enterovirus (EV) in the external environment of Yunnan Province, China, molecular typing was performed on 4 EV strains that were isolated from environmental sewage in Yunnan. The VP1 region of isolates was amplified by RT-PCR using universal enterovirus primers, and the amplified VP1 region was sequenced for GenBank BLAST search and genotype analysis. The 4 EV strains were identified as ECHO7. Their nucleotide and amino acid homologies with the VP1 sequences of 68 ECHO7 strains retrieved from GenBank were measured by Mega software analysis. Our findings showed that ECHO7 strains from environmental sewage and population samples were in different evolutionary branches. These strains showed typical geographical and temporal differences; In addition, there were different transmission chains at the same time and in the same area. ECHO7 strains isolated from sewage water and patients with acute flaccid paralysis during the same period in Yunnan belonged to different clusters and evolved at different speeds. Special concerns are needed for this problem. Continuous molecular biological surveillance of human EV in the external environment of Yunnan will provide strong support for early warning of EV diseases.
China ; Databases, Genetic ; Enterovirus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Evolution, Molecular ; Humans ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Sequence Analysis ; Sewage ; virology

Objective To investigate the feasibility of pancreatic DWI at a 3T MR imager and its value for the qualitative diagnosis of pancreatic tumors. Methods For 20 normal healthy volunteers and 47 patients with pancreatic tumors [21 pancreatic carcinoma (PC), 7 mass-forming chronic pancreatitis (MFCP)and 19 cystic lesions), routine pancreatic MRI and pancreatic DWI using b values (500 and 1000 mm2/s)were obtained, the DWI signal intensity (SI) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value of pancreatic lesions and adjacent tissue was measured. Results In the b = 500 and 1000 mm2/s DWI images, there was no significant difference in ADC value between different parts of normal pancreas. But PC and MFCP were shown as hyperintensity mass, in addition, the related SI1000 of PC at b = 1000 mm2/s DWI was significantly higher than that of MFCP (1.238 +0.448 vs. 0.371 +0.293, P＜0. 01). Compared with normal pancreas,beth PC and MFCP presented as decreased ADC500 and ADC1000 value. The ADC1000 of PC was significantly lower than that of MFCP [ ( 1. 087 + 0. 175 ) mm2/s vs. ( 1. 279 ± 0.213 ) mm2/s]. Pancreatic cystic lesions were shown as hyperintensity in DWI at b = 500 mm2/s, but were depicted as iso-intense signal or low-signal lesions in DWI using b = 1000 mm2/s. Both ADC500 and ADC1000 of pancreatic cystic lesions were higher than that of normal pancreas. Conclusions 3T-MR DWI is helpful to differentiate pancreatic lesions. High b value DWI is more valuable for the qualitative diagnosis of pancreatic mass.

China ; Enterovirus ; classification ; genetics ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Viral ; genetics

It was widely believed that the interaction between rice and rice blast fungus can be interpreted by the gene-for-gene hypothesis. Two interaction models between rice blast fungus and anti-disease genes had been briefed. They were receptor-ligand model and guard model. The progress of research about molecular marker and position on avirulence genes of the pathogens of rice blast (Magnaporthe oryzae) was reviewed, and the methods to clone and the cloned avirulence genes of rice blast fungus were also summarized.

This investigation was to assess the prevalence and risk factors of hypertension in 35 to 70 years old adults living in Xicheng District of Beijing. Cluster sampling was conducted in 2230 adults, and only 1958 individuals agreed to enter into the study. Written informed consents were obtained before questionnaire and physical examination. A total of 1889 data were used for analysis. The prevalence rate of hypertension was 47.8% (n=902). The age-standardized prevalence rate was 40. 1%. Hypertension was seen in 368 men (53.0%) and 534 women (44.7%) (P=0.0005). The rates of disease awareness, treatment, and control were 47.5%, 38.5%, and 24.1%, respectively. The prevalence of hypertension increased with age (P<0.0001). Linear trend was found between body mass index (BMI) and systolic blood pressure (P<0.0001). In multiple logistic model analysis, the hypertension risk for men was 1.33 times that of women (95% CI, 1.08-1.64), for participants with obesity was 2.81 times that of those with normal weight (95%CI, 2.00-3.97). Hypertension has become one of the most concerned public health problems in the district. Middle-aged people should pay attention to changed blood pressure, especial for overweight men. Health promotion should be needed for hypertension prevention. More attention should be paid to substantial increase in hypertension.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Buyang Huanwu decoction (BYHWD) inducing angiogenesis on the neuroblast migration from the subventricular zone and its mechanisms after focal cerebral ischemia.

METHODThe middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was performed to mice for 30 minutes to establish the model. The rats were divided into sham group, model group, BYHWD group and endostatin group. BYHWD (20 g x kg(-1), ig) and endostatin (10 μg, sc) were administered 24 h after ischemia once a day for consecutively 14 days. At 14 d after ischemia, the density of micro-vessel and the number of neuroblasts in the ischemia border zone were determined by immunofluorescence staining. The mRNA and protein expression of cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and brain-derived neurotrophic (BDNF) were examined by real-time PCR and Western blot.

RESULTCompared with the model group, BYHWD significantly increased the density of micro-vessel and the number of DCX positive cells in the ischemia border zone (P < 0.01), and significantly increased the SDF-1 and BDNF mRNA and protein expression (P < 0.01). Compared with BYHWD group, endostatin significantly reduced the density of micro-vessel and the number of DCX positive cells in the ischemia border zone (P < 0.01), as well as the SDF-1, BDNF mRNA and protein expression (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBYHWD could promote the neuroblast migration from the subventricular zone via inducing angiogenesis after cerebral ischemia, the mechanism may be correlated with up-regulating the expression of SDF-1 and BDNF.

Angiogenesis Inducing Agents ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; analysis ; genetics ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cerebral Ventricles ; pathology ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; analysis ; genetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Neurons ; drug effects ; physiology

OBJECTIVEThis report presented an overview on the epidemiology of enterovirus in Yunnan province, the People's Republic of China.

METHODSA total of 210 strains of non-polioviruses isolated under acute flaccid paralysis surveillance during a 5-year study period from 1997 to 2000 and 2004 were examined. Of the 210 non-polioviruses strains, a total of 12 strains of adenoviruses were serologically identified. The remaining 198 isolates were used for molecular typing, and the viral genomes of 195 nonpolio enteroviruses (NPEVs) were translated to corresponding amino acid sequences and compared with those of the prototype strains.

RESULTSBased on molecular typing, 5 isolates were classified into 5 serotypes of human enterovirus A species while 158 isolates into 34 serotypes of B and 32 isolates into 6 serotypes of C species. However, we did not isolate any viruses which belonged to human enterovirus D species. Thus, under acute flaccid paralysis surveillance, human enterovirus B species accounted for 75.2% of the 210 isolates and was considered as the predominant one, followed by human enterovirus C (12.2%), adenovirus (5.7%), and human enterovirus A (2.4%).

CONCLUSIONAlthough the epidemiological characteristics of NPEVs from Yunnan province remained "unknown", the molecular typing method had provided us a breakthrough to understand the epidemiology of these viruses.

China ; epidemiology ; Enterovirus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Enterovirus Infections ; epidemiology ; Genes, Viral ; Humans ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Serotyping

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of dexamethasone on the proliferation and apoptosis of embryonic palatal mesenchymal (EPM) cells, and chose a proper concentration of dexamethasone which can effect the ordinary growth of embryonic palatal mesenchymal cells.

METHODSThe primary EPM cells were isolated and cultured in vitro, then we did biological assay. EPM cells were treated with different concentration dexamethasone (1 x 10(-9), 1 x 10(-8), 1 x 10(-7) and 1 x 10(-6) mol x L(-1)) respectively. The proliferation of EPM cells was evaluated using MTT method. Apoptosis was examined quantitatively with fluorescein stain.

RESULTSIn the condition of blood serum's concentration at 10%, optical density step down following the raise of dexamethasone's concentration. The effect of dexamethasone got to a summit at 3 days. Inhibition rate of dexamethasone at 1 x 10(-6) mol x L(-1) was the highest.

CONCLUSIONDexamethasone at 1 x 10(-6) mol x L(-1) can not only inhibit the growth of the EPM cells, but also will not lead to a large number of cells death. Therefore, this concentration can be used as a reference standard in future research. The most significant drug action time of dexamethason appears at the third day after administration, then the effect became weaken following the drug metabolism.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Dexamethasone ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Mice

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical characteristics, efficiency of treatment and potential prognostic factors of breast cancer patients with liver metastases (BCLM).

METHODSThe data of clinical characteristics, response to treatment and survival were retrospectively analyzed in 152 breast cancer patients with liver metastasis using SPSS 11.5.

RESULTSThe median disease free survival (DFS), the median survival of recurrence (MSR) and median time to progress (TTP) of this series was 21 months, 16 months and 7.4 months, respectively. The response rate in chemotherapy group was higher than that in the transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) group (37.7% vs. 53%, P = 0. 039). The TTP was longer (7 m vs. 10 m, P = 0.048) and the response rate (63.3% vs. 40.0%, P = 0.04) in taxanes-based chemotherapy group was significantly higher than that in non-taxanes-containing regimen. The MSR in patients with single liver metastases treated by TACE was longer than that by chemotherapy (16 m vs. 30 m, P = 0.0052), but it was not observed in the patients with multiple metastases. Pathological tumor size (PT) and axillary lymph node status at diagnosis, negative estrogen receptor (ER) status, abnormal ALT level induced by liver metastases, metastastic tumor size were significantly correlated with shorter survival.

CONCLUSIONThe effective chemotherapy especially the taxane-containing regimen and TACE may improve outcome for breast cancer patient with liver metastasis.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Breast ; drug effects ; pathology ; surgery ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; Bridged-Ring Compounds ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; methods ; statistics & numerical data ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Disease Progression ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; secondary ; therapy ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Mastectomy ; methods ; statistics & numerical data ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Receptors, Estrogen ; metabolism ; Retrospective Studies ; Taxoids ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use

The effects of beta-cypermethrin (consisting of alpha-cypermethrin and theta-cypermethrin) on the transient outward potassium current (I(A)) and delayed rectifier potassium current (I(K)) in freshly dissociated hippocampal CA3 neurons of rats were studied using whole-cell patch-clamp technique. The results indicated that alpha-cypermethrin increased the value of I(A) and theta-cypermethrin decreased the value of I(A), though both of them shifted steady activation curve of I(A) towards negative potential. theta-cypermethrin contributed to the inactivation of I(A). The results also showed that alpha-cypermethrin and theta-cypermethrin decreased the value of I(K), and shifted the steady state activation curve of I(K) towards negative potential. Both alpha-cypermethrin and theta-cypermethrin had no obvious effects on the inactivation of I(K). theta-cypermethrin prolonged recovery process of I(K). These results imply that both transient outward potassium channels and delayed rectified potassium channels are the targets of beta-cypermethrin, which may explain the mechanism of toxical effects of beta-cypermethrin on mammalian neurons.
Animals ; CA3 Region, Hippocampal ; cytology ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Insecticides ; toxicity ; Male ; Neurons ; cytology ; drug effects ; physiology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated ; drug effects ; physiology ; Pyrethrins ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar