The bioterrorism-related anthrax, the general situation of anthrax prevalence in China and the latest advances in laboratory diagnosis of Bacillus anthracis were reviewed. The control and prevention measures on anthrax were also introduced and the measures responding to the possible bioterrorism-attack were proposed in this paper.

Due to its effectiveness and specificity,RNA interference (RNAi) technology is widely used in the treatment of tumor,viral infectious and metabolic diseases.Noninvasively tracing the delivery of therapeutic RNA molecules in vivo and evaluating the therapeutic effects are important to promote the clinical application of RNAi technology.Molecular imaging allows noninvasive visualization of biological processes at the cellular and molecular level in vivo.It can be used to monitor the biodistribution of therapeutic RNA molecules and to assess the effects of the RNAi.This article reviews the advance of molecular imaging in monitoring the delivery of RNAi molecules and evaluating the therapeutic effects of RNAi.

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics of patients during recovery period in low flow and circulation closed pattern anesthesia by ZEUS with isoflurane.Methods During elective gynecologic surgery,35 ASA Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients were anesthetized with isoflurane under general anesthesia with tracheal intubation.The ventilation was used with the closed circuit breathing mode (Autocontrol) of ZEUS anesthesia machine.The time of inhale drug,exhale drug and eyes-opend,consumption of drug and complication were recorded during the process.The values of NT stage (NTS),NT index (NTI),the final endexpiratory concentration of isoflurane (EXP),MAC and hemodynamic parameters were recorded during the time of isoflurane stopping inhale,recovery of spontaneous respiration,eyes opening.Results The values of NTI (50±7,74±12,86±10,t =-9.382,t =-16.682,P ＜ 0.01),the EXP [(0.9±0.0)％,(0.1±0.1)％,0,z =-7.262,z =-7.835],MAC [(1.2±0.1)％,(0.2±0.2)％,0,z =-7.186,z =-7.728,P ＜ 0.01] and hemodynamic parameters (SBP,DBP,MAP,HR) [(108.1±13.4) mm Hg (1 mm Hg =0.133 kPa),(66.3±12.1) mm Hg,(84.3± 12.5) mm Hg,(69.8±12.5) /min and (124.6±17.9) mm Hg,(75.7±14.5) mm Hg,(96.0±14.6) mm Hg,(82.8±15.0)/min and (128.0±16.3) mm Hg,(77.1±15.0) mm Hg,(99.8±15.3) mm Hg,(85.2±18.5) bpm] (t =-4.365,t =-2.951,t =-3.574,t =-3.921; t =-5.554,t =-3.309,t =-4.642,t =-4.085,P ＜0.01) during the time of recovery of spontaneous respiration and tracheal extubation were statistically significant compared to the time of isoflurane stopping (P＜ 0.01).None of patients experienced intraoperative was awareness.Conclusion Isoflurane can be used for closed circuit breathing mode of ZEUS anesthesia machine,but consciousness recovery need a long time.

Objective To investigate the gene silencing,apoptosis induction and the suppression of proliferation in vivo transfected by UTMD techniques associated with shRNA techniques. Methods The survivin-shRNA expression vector was constructed. Nude mice were randomly arranged into 3 groups:control group, plasmid injection and ultrasound (P + US), P + UTMD group. Histological examination were evaluated. Protein expressions of Survivin and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Bcl-2, Bax,Caspase-3, Ki-67, nucleostemin (NS), p53 were investigated by immunohistochemistry. Results In transplanted tumors experiment, comparing with those in C and P + US groups, protein expressions of PCNA,Ki-67,Bcl-2, Survivin, NS were down-regulated markedly, while those of Bax, Caspase-3 and P53 were up-regulated significantly ( P ＜ 0.05). Conclusions UTMD combined with shRNA technique can induce apoptosis and inhibit proliferation significantly, without causing any apparently adverse effect,representing a new,promising technology that can be used in the tumor gene therapy and research.

Objective To explore the distribution and clinical significance of hepatitis B core antigen( HBcAg) in the hepatocytes of chronic hepatitis B virus infected patients. Methods Paraffin sections were made from 41 liver biopsy samples obtained from chronic hepatitis B virus infected patients. The immuno-fluorescence confocal technique was utilized to analyze the expression level and localization of HBcAg in hepatocytes. The data were analyzed by using Kruskal Wallis test and chisquare test. Results HBcAg expression were detected in 36 (87. 8%) patients, among whom 23 cases had moderate abnormal liver function, 10 with mild abnormal liver function and 3 with normal liver function. Among the cases with moderate abnormal liver function, 6 cases showed the simple membrane-type HBcAg expression, 17 cases showed mixed cytosolic-type and membrane-type HBcAg expression without the nuclear-type expression. Twelve cases with mild abnormal liver function only showed simple cytosolic-type HBcAg expression without membrane-type or nuclear-type expression. In the three patients with normal liver function, HBcAg was expressed in cytoplasm and nuclear but not on membrane. The correlation between HBcAg expression pattern and liver function was statistically significant (χ2 =10. 60, P＜0.01). Conclusion HBcAg expression is directly correlated with liver injury in chronic hepatitis B virus infected patients, which indicates that membrane expressed HBcAg is the target antigen during the immuno-attack of liver.

Objective:To study the effect of the association of ultrasound and microbubble with short hairpin RNA (shRNA) on the expression of survivin mRNA and protein in cervical cancer (HeLa) cell lines.Methods:Three survivin-shRNA expression vectors (pSIREN/S1/S2/S3) were constructed and introduced into HeLa cells.A corresponding negative control vector was constructed (pSIREN/con).The shRNA vectors were added to Hela cells transfected by LipofectamineTM (P+L) or followed by ultrasound exposure with SonoVue microbubble (US+SO).Blank control group,pSIREN/S1 plasmid only,ultrasound exposure only,pSIREN/S1 and ultrasound exposure were used as controls,respectively.The expressions of survivin mRNA and protein were detected by RT-PCR and western blot analysis,respectively.Results:Three recombinant plasmids were successfully constructed.The plasmids were showed to inhibit the expression of survivin gene mRNA and protein efficiently and specifically except for the pSIREN/con,while pSIREN/S3 was significantly lower than other groups (P

Objective To compare the effectiveness of two different modes of follicular aspiration(FA)guided by transvaginal ultrasound(TVU)in infertile patients with clomiphene citrate(CC)-resistant polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS).Methods From December 2005 to December 2007,85 patients with CC-resistant PCOS were randomly divided into two groups.Group Ⅰ(thorough treatment)had the every possible small follicles being punctured and aspirated,while group Ⅱ(routine operation)only had the larger follicles being operated.These patients were monitored with TVU and testing the steroid hormone levels.The effect of the two methods on the hormone levels and rates of ovulation and pregnancy were analyzed.Results After the treatments,the cumulative rates of ovulation and pregnancy in the group Ⅰ were higher than those in the group Ⅱ 83.3%(25/30)vs 42.1%(16/38),?2=11.903,P=0.001;43.3%(13/30)vs 13.2%(5/38),?2=7.843,P=0.005].Moreover,the levels of luteinizing hormone(LH)and testosterone(T)were decreased significantly after the treatment in group Ⅰ (17.68?3.11)vs(11.58?1.84),t=9.220,P=0.000;(3.41?2.14)vs(1.47?1.29),t=3.937,P=0.000],whereas those in group Ⅱ were not improved markedly (17.76?4.51)vs(16.11?3.53),t=0.229,P=0.062;(3.88?1.54)vs(3.72?1.27),t=0.995,P=0.326].Conclusions Thorough treatment that has the every possible small follicle being punctured and aspirated can significantly improve the endocrinological abnormalities,and increase the rates of ovulation and pregnancy in patients with CC-resistant PCOS.

Objective To evaluate the predictive effects of Narcotrend(NT) monitor on laryngeal mask intubation and consciousness recovery in propofol-laryngeal mask total intravenous anesthesia of gynecilogical surgery.Methods Thirty ASA I patients undergoing elective gynecilogical surgery under general anesthesia with laryngeal mask intubation were anesthetized with propofol by target-controlled infusion (TCI).NT monitor was used to monitor the anesthesia depth.The ventilation was used on the closed circuit breathing mode of ZEUS anesthesia machine.The values of NT stage (NTS),NT index (NTI),the effect compartment concentration (Ce) and hemodynamic parameters were recorded during the time of sleeping,laryngeal mask intubation,propofol stopping pumping,recovery of spontaneous respiration and eyes opening.The incidence rate of intraoperative awareness was recorded.Results The NTI (77±23,30±9) (Z =5.561,P =0.001),Ce [(1.1±0.4) μg/ml vs (2.2±0.4) μg/ml] (Z=6.38,P=0.006),MAP [(92±14) mm Hg (1 mm Hg =0.133 kPa)vs (83±14) mm Hg] (t =2.490,P =0.016) and HR [(74±15) bpm vs (65±10) bpm] (t =2.688,P =0.009) of the time of intubation were significantly decreased compared to the time of sleeping.The NTI (37±7 vs 71±14)of the time of recovery of spontaneous respiration was significantly increased compared to the time of propofol stopping pumping (Z =6.34,P =0.005).The NTI (37±7 vs 83±13) (Z =6.668,P =0.003),Ce [(3.1±0.4) μg/ml vs (1.6±0.2) μg/ml] (Z =6.414,P =0.002) and HR[(59±7) bpm vs (64±8) bpm] (t =-2.825,P =0.006) of the time of eyes opening were statistically significant compared to the time of propofol stopping pumping.None of patients experienced intraoperative awareness.Conclusion NT monitor can effectively guide the intubation and extubation of laryngeal mask in total intravenous anesthesia of gynecilogical surgery.

Objective:To transfect genes using ultrasound targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD) techniques and observe the effects of RNA interference on cervical cancer (HeLa) cell line in silencing survivin gene and inducing apoptosis. Methods: Recombinant expression plasmid of short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting survivin gene was constructed. It was co-treated with microbubbles and transfected to cultured HeLa cells followed by exposure to ultrasound (P+UTMD group). Moreover, blank control group (C), plasmid group (P), ultrasound exposure group (US), plasmid and ultrasound exposure group (P+US), plasmid+ Lipofectamine group (P+L) were used as controls, respectively. Transfection efficacy was evaluated by observing the red fluorescence in the cells by fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometry(FCM). Ultrasound intensity and exposure time were optimized. Cell apoptosis was investigated using flow cytometry analysis, Hoechst staining, and DNA ladder method. Expression of survivin mRNA was assessed by RT-PCR. Results: Restrictive enzyme digestion and sequencing analysis verified that the recombinant plasmid was successfully constructed. UTMD significantly increased gene transfection efficacy in cultured HeLa cells (P<0.01). Gene transfer was the most prominent at ultrasound intensity of 1.0 W/cm2 and exposure time of 3 min (P<0.01). RT-PCR showed that the expression of survivin mRNA in P+UTMD group was inhibited by (83.33±2.73)%. The differences were significant compared with any other groups (P<0.01). FCM analysis showed that the apoptosis ratio in P+UTMD group was significantly increased as compared with other groups (P<0.01). Hoechst staining and DNA ladder showed that apparent apoptosis and DNA ladder were detected only in P+UTMD and P+L groups. Conclusions:UTMD effectively enhances the transfection efficacy of expression plasmid. It is a novel and effective non-viral gene transfer system and has promising foreground. UTMD mediates RNA interference silenced survivin gene and induces significant cell apoptosis, which provides a new method for tumor research and gene therapy.

Objective To elucidate the relationship between quality of life (QOL) and disease activity of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE),as well as to reveal the factors impacting disease activity and the QOL of SLE utilizing the combination of SLE-specific quality of life questionnaire (SLEQOL) and the medical outcomes survey short form 36 (SF-36).Methods SLEQOL and SF-36 health survey questionnaire were applied.Information on gender,disease duration,age,education level were collected.Serum complement (C3 and C4) level and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were measured.Patients were divided into inactive,mild active,moderate active and severe active respectively according to SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI).Pearson's product moment correlation coefficient was used to analyze the correlation between the activity of disease and the QOL.Multiple linear regression was employed to explore the factors which could impact on SLEQOL.Results The physical function of SLEQOL was positively correlated with SLEDAI (r=0.36; P＜0.05).The association between reported health transition of SF-36 and SLEDAI was positive (r=0.19; P＜0.05).Physical functioning,role-physical,role-emotional,body pain and vitality were all negatively correlated with SLEDAI (r:-0.20,-0.19,-0.19,-0.19,-0.21 respectively; P＜0.05).The scores of patients with severe disease activity were significantly increased in the physical functioning of SLEQOL than other three groups (18±10 vs 11±5,12±6,13±7; P＜0.05).Scores on the Health transition of patients with moderate and severe disease activity were lower than those of whom with mild disease activity (23±28.14±17 vs 34±39,P＜0.05).Patients with mild or severe disease activity had lower score than those of patieuts in disease inactive (30±41,34±39 vs 44±44,P＜0.05).Multiple linear regression analyses showed that disease duration and education level might be the influencing factors of SLEQOL.Conclusion QOL of patients with SLE is related to the level of disease activity and is impacted by disease duration and education.