Aim To explore the inhibitory effect of Euonymus alatus on hepatic fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in mice and its mechanism. Methods Eighty C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into eight groups: normal group, CCl4model group, Euonymus alatus(EA) ethanol extracts groups in early stage(EAE), EA ethanol extracts groups in later stage(EAL),two drug groups with low/medium/high dose(EAE-L/M/H, EAL-L/M/H), with 10 mice in each group. Fibrosis model was established by injecting CCl4in peritoneal cavity,and the study lasted for 30 days. Different doses of drugs were given from 1 st day to 15 th day in EAE while from 16 th day to 30 th day in EAL,then all mice were sacrificed to for the observation of the morphological changes and collage-nous fiber by HE and Masson staining. Liver index, ALT,AST and TNF-α were tested by ELISA. The ex-pressions of α-SMA and CollagenⅠwere measured by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. Results Compared to normal group, liver index, ALT, AST, TNF-α, α-SMA and CollagenⅠ in EA groups were lower than those in model group in a dose-dependent manner(P<0.01 or P<0.05). Liver morphology and collagenous fiber in EAE and EAL were better than those in model group in a dose-dependent manner. The effect of EAE were superior to that of the EAL in HE, Masson, α-SMA, Collagen Ⅰ indexes(P <0.05). Conclusions Euonymus alatus may inhibit the process of hepatic fibrosis in mice with dose-effect de-pendence, and drug treatment in early stage performs better,which may be related to the decrease of TNF-α that affects the expression of α-SMA and Collagen Ⅰ.

Objective To analyze the clinical speciality of invasive fungal infection(IFI)and provide doctors with clinical evidence for early anti-fungal therapy.Method One hundred and thirty-seven patients with 91 male and 46 female,who suffered from invasive fungal infection in ICU from January.1,2000 to June 30, 2006,were enrolled in this study.The age ranged from 17 to 82 years old.Out of 137 patients with IFI,the percentage of albicans candida,glabirate candida,tropicalis candida and parapsilosis candida were 47.4%, 26.3%,20.4% and 3.6%,reseparately.The sputum,urine,blood and other drainages were collected to perform the fungal examination after three days of admission every three days.Results Of 137 patients,42 of them were complicated with hemorrhage,53 patients with IFI developed candida anthema in the chest,abdomen and extremity.,49 patients suffering from IFI had organ dysfunction.The chest image revealed that infiltration caused by IFI especially occurred in apex of lung in some patients.The pathogen analysis displayed that albicans candidiasis easily developed candida anthema,glabirate candidiasis frequently resulted in organ dysfunction,and tropicalis candida led to hemorrhage in some organs.Conclusions The clinical specialty,of IFI caused by candida included hemorrhage,candida anthema,organ dysfunction,and infiltration in apex of lung.

Objective To survey and analyze characteristics of brucellosis epidemic in Weinan city of Shaanxi province for the purpose of setting up prevention and control measures for the disease. Methods According to "The Executing Plan for the Work of Surveying Brucellosis Disease in Shaanxi Province", 35 villages(towns) of designated monitoring locations and 24 villages (towns) of randomized monitoring locations in five countries of Weinan were chosen to survey brucellosis disease. The five countries were Chengcheng, Dali, Heyang, Tongguan and Hancheng. High risk populations with a history of contacting livestock and livestock products aged between 7 and 60 underwent clinical and serology examination[rose bengal plate agglutination test(RBPT) and standard tube agglutination test(SAT)]. All manipulation methods and judging standards were in accord with the "Diagnostic Standard for Brucellosis" (WS 269-2007). Results In the designated monitoring location, a total of 8664 people at high risk were investigated, among whom 1407 people were tested by RBPT test and 27 people were positive,the positive rate was 1.92%(27/1407); 27 people were tested by SAT test and 27 people were positive, the positive rate was 100% (27/27); 25 people were diagnosed and the diagnosis rate was 92.59%(25/27). In the randomized monitoring location, a total of 3464 people at high risk were investigated, among whom 411 people were tested by RBPT test and 3 people were positive, the positive rate was 0.73%(3/411 ), 3 people were tested by SAT test which were all positive and made a definite diagnosis. Twenty-eight new cases were made a definite diagnosis and its incidence was 2.06 in a hundred thousand(28/1 361 618). Conclusions The infection of human brucellosis in Weinan city stays at higher level. The governments should increase input for the monitoring,investigating and disinfecting to prevent the disease from increasing and outspreading.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the epidemiological characteristics of pediatric burn in the midwest region of Inner Mongolia and the related areas, and to provide reference for seeking pertinent measures of prevention and treatment.

METHODSMedical records of patients hospitalized in the 253rd Hospital of PLA, the 322nd Hospital of PLA, and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Hospital from January 1996 to December 2010 were collected. Patients were divided into pediatric burn group with specific reason (group SF, with scald resulted from construction defect of Guo-lian-kang--a heatable brick bed linked to a cooking pot), and burn control group with other causes (group C) according to the main injury cause. Clinical data of patients in both groups, including general condition, family background, occurrence regularity, and outcome, were analyzed. The epidemiological trend of variation before and after taking preventive measures (1996 to 2001 and 2002 to 2010) was compared. Data were processed with chi-square test and rank sum test.

RESULTS(1) General condition: out of 16 595 pediatric burn patients, 15 816 cases (95.3%) suffered scald due to liquids with high temperature, and 779 cases (4.7%) suffered burns due to other causes. Patients in group SF (scald due to specific cause--Guo-lian-kang) accounted for 32.2% (5089/15 816) of the total suffered scald by liquids with high temperature, and 30.7% (5089/16 595) of all the inpatients the cause of burn was related to Guo-lian-kang (group SF). The patients in group SF admitted to the 322nd Hospital of PLA accounted for 34.2% of all the inpatients admitted to this hospital (1803/5267), more than the other two hospitals in this study. The number of patients in group C was 11 506, accounted for 69.3% of all the inpatients. The age of patients ranged from 8 months to 5 years in group SF and 1 month to 12 years in group C. The age of the majority of patients ranged from 1 to 3 years in both groups. The ratio of male to female was 2.1:1.0 in group SF and 1.4:1.0 in group C. The incidence of scald involving multiple body parts in group SF (3590 cases accounting for 70.5%) was obviously higher than that of group C (6311 cases accounting for 54.8%, χ(2) = 361.138, P < 0.01). In both group SF and group C, the incidence in different sites was ranked from high to low as follows: upper limbs, lower limbs, the head-face-neck region, and the trunk. The degree of injury in group SF was much more severe than that of group C (Z = 27.770, P < 0.01). The rate of patients without pre-hospital treatment was 31.2% (1588/5089) in group SF, which was obviously higher than that of group C (24.8%, 2857/11 506, χ(2) = 73.010, P < 0.01). The rate of patients treated with cryotherapy was obviously lower in group SF (14.7%, 747/5089) than in group C (19.6%, 2255/11 506, χ(2) = 57.636, P < 0.01). The rate of patients treated with delayed resuscitation (6 hours after injury) in group SF (31.5%, 1601/5089) was obviously higher than that of group C (7.8%, 897/11 506, χ(2) = 1545.234, P < 0.01). (2) Family background and occurrence regularity: in group SF, 67.3% (3424/5089) of the patients came from farming area, 22.1% (1123/5089) from villages and towns, and 10.7% (542/5089) from urban areas. In group C, 32.4% (3727/11 506) of the patients came from farming area, 48.4% (5570/11 506) from villages and towns, and 19.2% (2209/11 506) from urban areas. Most of the patients in group SF (77.8%, 3958/5089) were injured between October and March, while most of the patients in group C (58.2%, 6697/11 506) were injured between May and October. (3) Outcome and epidemiological variation: the cure rate of patients in group SF was 32.3% (1645/5089), which was obviously lower than that of group C (44.7%, 5143/11 506, χ(2) = 215.615, P < 0.01). The mortality of patients in group SF was 1.6% (79/5089), and it was obviously higher than that of group C (0.4%, 46/11 506, χ(2) = 62.700, P < 0.01). From 1996 to 2001, patients in group SF accounted for 42.5% (2213/5212), while patients in group C accounted for 57.5% (2999/5212) of the inpatients scalded by hot liquid. After taking preventive measures against injury due to Guo-lian-kang, incidence of scald injury in group SF was lowered to 27.1% (2876/10 604), while the incidence in group C remained at 72.9% (7728/10 604) of the inpatients with hot liquid scald from 2002 to 2010. The difference between the two periods was statistically significant (χ(2) = 376.695,P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe defect of construction of Guo-lian-kang is one of the main factors that lead to a high incidence of pediatric burn in the midwest of Inner Mongolia. Installation of a protective bannister between the cooking pot and the "kang (heatable brick bed)" can obviously reduce the incidence of scald injury. Special injury-causing factors, unprofessional pre-hospital treatment of the wound, delayed resuscitation after shock are the main causes of increasing mortality and disability, and they constitute the key targets of prevention and treatment of such injury in future.

Burns ; epidemiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male

Animals ; History, 20th Century ; Hong Kong ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; history ; virology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny

Animals ; Asia ; epidemiology ; History, 20th Century ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H2N2 Subtype ; chemistry ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; history ; virology ; Mutation

Objective To investigate the effect of seafood intake on the urinary iodine level in women for exploring an alternative to iodine supplementation.Methods Healthy pregnant women and non-pregnant women, aged 20～40 years,were selected during their health examination in local women'S health care in 2006.The types of seafood and its intake frequency were recorded from these women.and urine and kitchen salt samples were collected for iodine determination.Results A total of 198 women including 148 pregnant and 50 non-pregnant women were recmitod for this study;they had a median level of urine iodine of 87.51 mg/L.The median levels of urine iodine of83.49,91.52,166.45μg/L in three group women classified as hardly,seldom and often intake of see food showed significant difference(X2=6.202,P<0.05).Urine iodine level in non-pregnant women taking seafood (90.94μg/L)was higher than that in pregnant women(84.79μg/L),the difference being statistically significant (U=3318.00,P<0.05).The urine iodine in pregnant women with seldom intake of seafood(94.46 μg/L)was significantly higher than that in the hardly intake women(83.28 μg/L),the difference being statistically significant (U=1257.5,P<0.05).During late period of gestation,the urinary iodine in the women ofthree statUS of hardly. Seldom and often intake of seafood were 81.93,97.97 and 140.18 μg/L,respective,with significant differences among them.Conclusions A certain amount of seafood taken every week Can increase urine iodine levels,and a direct relationship Was observed.Therefore,we suggest that it is necessary to advocate taking seafood to pregnant women for prevention of cretinism,particularly in the air.as where iodized salt was difficult to implement.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the biological characters of human skin fibroblasts in fibroblast populated collagen lattice (FPCL).

METHODSThe human fibroblasts were cultured in 3D and the collagen of the rat tail was also prepared. They were examined with the comprising cell cycle and apoptosis, mRNA expression of TGF beta1, and fibronectin, and cell morphology.

RESULTSThe flow cytometry showed that the G0/G1, stage cells were 79% +/- 3%, 87% +/- 2% after the 7 days and 14 days separately, and there were not apoptosis peak observed. RT-PCR analysis revealed that the mRNA expression of TGF beta1, and fibronectin had no difference between human skin fibroblasts cultured in 3D and 2D. Electron microscope showed the cells were plenty of chromatin and organelles.

CONCLUSIONSThe proliferation of the human skin fibroblasts in FPCL is slow, but its biological viability is better.

Animals ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Division ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; Humans ; Rats ; Skin ; cytology ; Tissue Engineering ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study the biological effects of 585 nm pulsed dye laser (FLPDL) in the treatment of congestive scar.

METHODSBy histological study, collagen VG staining and microvascular staining, we investigated the changes of collagen fibers and the density of microvessels in the congestive scars after FLPDL treatment.

RESULTSHistological and immunohistochemistry examinations showed that FLPDL achieved normal vascularity in the scar after over 3 times of treatment.

CONCLUSIONSPDL treatment can change fundamentally the physiology of wound healing if applied in the early phases.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cicatrix ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Lasers, Dye ; Low-Level Light Therapy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Treatment Outcome ; Wound Healing ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the therapeutic effects of azithromycin in treatment of congenital toxoplasmosis in children.

METHODSDefinite diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis was made on the basis of clinical manifestation combined with one or more positive results of the following laboratory tests and excluded other congenital infectious diseases: toxoplasma DNA (TOX-DNA), circulating toxoplasma antigen (TOX-CAG), and toxoplasma IgM antibody (TOX-IgM). All the patients were given oral azithromycin 10 mg/(kg.d) for 6 days followed by 8 days without medication (one course of treatment), and the regimen was persisted for 2 months and then another 2-month treatment was given at a 1-month interval. The authors continued to provide further treatment according to the state of the illness at one month interval. The patients received 2 to 8 (average 5) courses of treatment. The patients were followed-up for 2.5 to 5 (average 4) years.

RESULTSThe treatment was effective in all the patients and the patient's condition was improved. The authors repeated in 12 cases the four tests for toxoplasma (TOX-DNA, TOX-CAG, TOX-IgM, and TOX-IgG) 9 months to one and a half years after treatment. In 10 cases all these tests showed negative results, in 2 cases TOX-IgG was positive and in the other 4 cases symptoms disappeared.

CONCLUSIONThe results of the study showed that oral azithromycin had significant therapeutic effects with little side effect and was well tolerated. Azithromycin may become an alternative therapy in treatment of congenital Toxoplasma gondii infection in children.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Azithromycin ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Prognosis ; Toxoplasmosis, Congenital ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome