Objective: To understand the epidemiological characteristics of human infection with avian influenza A (H7N9) virus in China, and provide evidence for the prevention and control of human infection with H7N9 virus. Methods: The published incidence data of human infection with H7N9 virus in China from March 2013 to April 2017 were collected. Excel 2007 software was used to perform the analysis. The characteristics of distribution of the disease, exposure history, cluster of the disease were described. Results: By the end of April 2017, a total of 1 416 cases of human infection with H7N9 virus were confirmed in China, including 559 deaths, the case fatality rate was 39.5%. In 2016, the case number was lowest (127 cases), with the highest fatality rate (57.5%). The first three provinces with high case numbers were Zhejiang, Guangdong and Jiangsu. The median age of the cases was 55 years and the male to female ratio was 2.3∶1. Up to 66% of cases had clear live poultry exposure history before illness onset, 31% of cases had unknown exposure history and only 3% of the cases had no live poultry exposure history. There were 35 household clusters (5 in 2013, 9 in 2014, 6 in 2015, 5 in 2016, 10 in 2017), which involved 72 cases, accounting for 5% of the total cases. Conclusions: The epidemic of human infection with H7N9 virus in China during 2013-2017 had obvious seasonality and spatial distribution. There was limited family clustering. Infection cases were mostly related to poultry contact.
Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Animals ; China/epidemiology* ; Cluster Analysis ; Disease Outbreaks ; Epidemics ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Influenza A Virus, H7N9 Subtype/isolation & purification* ; Influenza, Human/virology* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Poultry ; Sex Distribution

Objective To investigate the effects of ultraviolet blood irradiation and oxygenation(UBIO)on oxygen free radical metabolism(OFRM)in rabbits with acute soman intoxication.Methods One hundred rabbits were randomly divided into five groups:a control group,a soman intoxication group(I),a soman intoxication plus routine therapy group(TR),a soman intoxication plus UBIO therapy group(UBIO)and a soman intoxication plus complex therapy group(CT).All the rabbits were intervened accordingly.Then the concentrations of malondiade- hyde(MDA)and the activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD),glutathionperoxidase(GSH Px)and catalase (CAT)in serum were determined at 14 d after various treatments.Results Compared with the control group,the concentration of MDA and the activity of CAT in the 1 group were significantly increased(P＜0.01),while the activi- ties of SOD and GSH Px were obviously decreased(P＜0.05).After UBIO or complex therapy,the serum level of MDA was significantly decreased in comparison with that in the I group(P＜0.01),while the concentrations of SOD, GSH Px and CAT were enhanced(P＜0.05).Conclusion UBIO therapy can improve antioxidation activity against the injury caused by free radicals and could be used to treat acute soman intoxication,which causes injury from in- creased oxygen free radical concentrations.

OBJECTIVETo determine the possible difference in vasodialtation effect of quercetin and rutin.

METHODSThe isolated rat thoracic aorta was treated with phenylephrine (PE), and the effects of quercetin and rutin on the preconstricted aorta rings with or without endothelium were determined by organ bath technique. Nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-N(G)-nitroarginine methyl-ester (L-NAME), guanylyl cyclase inhibitor methylene blue, cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin were used to explore the mechanism.

RESULTSQuercetin (10-160 micromol/L) caused vasorelaxation of aorta rings preconstricted with PE in endothelium-intact and denuded aorta rings in a dose-dependent manner. Rutin(10-160 micromol/L) caused dose-dependent vasorelaxation in endothelium-intact rings preconstricted with phenylephrine, but not in denuded aorta rings. The maximal response (Rmax) values calculated from vasorelaxation curves of quercetin and rutin were (77.20+/-6.11)% and (44.28+/-7.48)%, respectively. There was no difference between median effective concentration (EC(50)) values of quercetin and rutin. Pretreatment with L-NAME (0.1 mmol/L) abolished the vasorelaxation by rutin,but did not influence the vasodilating effect of quercetin in endothelium-intact rings. Pretreatment with methylene blue (10 mmol/L) canceled the vasorelaxation both by quercetin and rutin. Pretreatment with indomethacin (10 micromol/L) attenuated the vasodilatation of quercetin, but did not affect the vascular effect of rutin.

CONCLUSIONThe vasodilatation effect of quercetin is more potent than rutin. The vasodilatation effect of quercetin might be mediated by guanylyl cyclase and cyclooxygenase-dependent pathway, while the vasodilatation by rutin might be via nitric oxide-guanylyl cyclase pathway.

Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Guanylate Cyclase ; metabolism ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Phenylephrine ; pharmacology ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; metabolism ; Quercetin ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rutin ; pharmacology ; Vasodilator Agents ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the epdimiology characteristics and the diversity of VP6 gene of GCRV in Lulong, and to provide the basis for GCRV in-depth research.

METHODS793 stool specimens from porcine with diarrhea or not from Lulong in 2007 and 2008. GCRV was detected by nested multiple reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction (nested RT-PCR) , and analyzed the identity and conducted phylogenetic tree by the seqences.

RESULTSThe positive rate of GCRV was 16.65%. Porcine GCRV strains of Lulong had significant homology differences. Phylogenetic analysis indicated porcine GCRVs were with significant diversity. Amino acid analysis showed GCRV strains with the same host shared the nearest kinship.

CONCLUSIONThe infection rate of GCRV was high from 2007 to 2008 in Lulong. Homology and phylogenetic analysis showed that VP6 gene diversity was widespread. The experimental data provided basis for molecular characteristics of porcine GCRVs.

Animals ; Antigens, Viral ; genetics ; Capsid Proteins ; genetics ; China ; Genetic Variation ; Humans ; Phylogeny ; Rotavirus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Swine

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of early high fat diet on sugar metaboliam, insulin sensibility and pancreatic β cellularity in young rats.

METHODSSixty male weaned young rats were randomly fed with high fat diet (high fat group) and normal diet (control group). The body weight, viscus fattiness and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) were measured after 3, 6 and 9 weeks. Serum insulin level was measured with radioimmunoassay. The ultrastructure of pancreas was observed under an electricmicroscope.

RESULTSThe high fat group had significantly higher body weight and visceral fat weight than the control group after 3 weeks. There were no significant differences in the FPG level between the two groups at all time points. The levels of fasting insulin and HOMAIR in the high fat group were significantly higher than those in the control group after 3, 6 and 9 weeks (P<0.01). Dilation of rough endoplasmic reticulum and mild swelling of mitochondria of islet β-cells were observed in the high fat group after 6 weeks.

CONCLUSIONSEarly high fat diet may induce a reduction in insulin sensitivity and produce insulin resistance in young rats. Endoplasmic reticulum expansion in β-cells may be an early sign of β-cell damage due to obesity.

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Dietary Fats ; adverse effects ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Insulin-Secreting Cells ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of Helicobacter pylor (Hp) eradication in children with acute idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).

METHODSNinety-three children with acute ITP and Hp infection were divided into two groups and treated with prednisone and Hp eradication (group A, 51 cases) or with prednisone without Hp eradication (group B, 42 cases).

RESULTSThe Hp eradication rate was 94.1% in group A. No difference was found in the therapeutic effects on IPT between the two groups, but the recurrence rate in one year in group A was significantly lower than that in group B.

CONCLUSIONNHp eradication does not obviously enhance the therapeutic effect on childhood acute ITP, but can decrease the relapse rate in one year. HP eradication therapy is recommended in children with acute ITP and Hp infection.

Adolescent ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Helicobacter Infections ; drug therapy ; Helicobacter pylori ; drug effects ; immunology ; Humans ; Male ; Prednisone ; therapeutic use ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; immunology ; microbiology

The aim of the present study is to investigate the expression of a novel estrogen receptor, G protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30) and its correlation with matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9) in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Ovary tissues were obtained from 39 female patients, including 30 cases of EOC and 9 cases of benign ovarian tumor. Four normal ovary tissues were used as control. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expressions of GPR30 and MMP-9. Chi square test, Fisher's exact test and Spearman's rank correlation analysis were used for statistical analysis. The results showed that GPR30 overexpression rate in EOC cases was significantly higher than those in benign ovarian tumor and normal ovary cases. Whereas MMP-9 overexpression rate in EOC cases was significantly higher than that in normal ovary cases, without any difference to that in benign ovarian tumor cases. To demonstrate the relationship between GPR30 and clinicopathological variables of EOC, we further analyzed the pathology type, FIGO stage and age of patients sampled in our study. The analysis showed there were significant differences of GPR30 overexpression rate among various pathology types and different FIGO stages (P<0.05), and no significant difference of both GPR30 and MMP-9 among three age groups (P>0.05). Moreover, GPR30 expression was positively correlated with MMP-9 (r(s)=1.000, P=0.002). These results suggest that GPR30 may be involved in the invasion and metastasis of EOC, being a potential index of EOC early diagnosis and malignancy grade prediction.
Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial ; metabolism ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Receptors, Estrogen ; metabolism ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Spearmint oil on inflammation, oxidative alteration and Nrf2 expression in rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).

METHODSCOPD model was induced by intratracheal instillation of Klebsiella pneumonia and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 12 weeks in rats, and COPD rats were treated with Spearmint oil for 3 weeks. After COPD was induced, the pathological changes, changes in leucocyte number in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), MDA in lung homogenate and Nrf2 expression were observed. The effects of Spearmint oil on these changes were determined.

RESULTSpearmint oil 100 mg*kg(-1)significantly reduced leucocyte numbers in BALF, and attenuated bronchiolitis, pulmonary interstitial inflammation and inflammation cell infiltration. Spearmint oil 30-300 mg*kg(-1)decreased the destruction of pulmonary alveolus and the thickness of bronchioles walls, and inhibited goblet cell proliferation. Spearmint oil significantly reduced MDA in lung homogenate, and decreased the expression of Nrf2 protein in lung tissues.

CONCLUSIONSpearmint oil has protective effect on lung injury in COPD rats, since it improves pulmonary inflammation,oxidative alteration, and enhances Nrf2 protein expression.

Animals ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Male ; Mentha spicata ; chemistry ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2 ; metabolism ; Oils, Volatile ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; drug therapy ; etiology ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of synthetic drug QTY06 on chronic airway inflammation and mucoprotein expression induced by intratracheal (i.t) instillation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

METHODSChronic airway inflammation was induced by i.t instillation of LPS in rats. Phospholipids content and the number of leucocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), pathological and immunochemical changes were examined 3 weeks after LPS instillation. The effect of QTY06 on chronic airway inflammation was observed.

RESULTAfter treatment with QTY06, phospholipids in BALF was significantly increased, and the percentages of neutrophils and lymphocytes were decreased as well as the total number of leucocytes. Compared with the model group, pathological examination showed that tracheitis, bronchitis and pulmonary interstitial inflammation in QTY06 groups were significantly attenuated; epithelial damage was alleviated, infiltration of inflammatory cells reduced and the number of goblet cells decreased. QTY06 significantly decreased MUC5ac expression in trachea and bronchiole epithelium, and reduced the optical density and mucins area (%) as detected by image analysis in rats with chronic airway inflammation.

CONCLUSIONQTY06 can reduce and inhibit the chronic airway inflammation induced by LPS in rats, and increase the content of phospholipids in pulmonary surfactant and inhibit the hypersecretion of airway mucins.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Bronchitis ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Male ; Mucin 5AC ; secretion ; Phospholipids ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Respiratory Mucosa ; drug effects ; secretion

To investigate the time-course changes of myogenic tone in mesenteric small artery (MSA) of spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR), thirty-two 7-week aged SHR rats were randomly divided into four groups (8, 16, 24, 32 weeks of age), and 32 sex- and age-matched Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were assigned to control groups (CON). On the day of the study, segments of MSA were isolated and then cannulated to the two pipettes. Vascular diameters in response to the increased intraluminal pressure (from 0 mmHg to 150 mmHg, by 25 mmHg steps) of isolated MSA under no-flow conditions were recorded by a Pressure Myograph System both in physiologic salt solution (PSS) (active diameter, Da) and calcium-free PSS (passive diameter, Dp). The myogenic tone was calculated by (Dp - Da)/Dp × 100%. The tail artery pressure and vascular myogenic tone in SHR rats were significantly higher than those of the CON rats. Before 24 weeks, the vascular myogenic tone of MSA in SHR group increased monotonically, but at the end of 32 weeks, the vascular myogenic tone decreased in comparison with that in 24-week group, but was significantly higher than that in CON group. The tail artery pressure in SHR group slowly increased monotonically with increasing weeks of age, and the tail arterial pressure in 32-week group remained significantly higher than that in 24-week group. Vascular myogenic tone may participate in the whole process of hypertension. Early in the development of hypertension, because of the compensatory role of vascular tone, the vascular function has been partially compensated, thus guaranteeing adequate blood supply to organs. Late in the development of hypertension, because of the decompensation of myogenic tone, the vascular function is damaged, leading to the occurrence of severe vascular disease.
Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Hypertension ; physiopathology ; Male ; Mesenteric Arteries ; physiopathology ; Muscle Tonus ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; physiopathology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Inbred WKY ; Time Factors ; Vasoconstriction ; physiology