Objective: To understand the characteristics of HIV infected persons without long term disease progress [also known as long term non-progressors (LTNPs)], and related factors in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (Guangxi). Methods: Data of persons living with HIV and receiving no antiretroviral therapy in Guangxi by the end of 2016 were collected from the national HIV/AIDS comprehensive control and prevention information system of China. Results: By the end of 2016, there were 313 LTNPs in Guangxi, accounting for 2.3% of those being reported for more than 10 years, 5.4% of those being reported for more than 10 years and surviving, and 26.6% of those being reported for more than 10 years, surviving and receiving no antiretroviral therapy. Among the LTNPs, 87.2%(273) were men, 94.9% (297) were aged ≤ 40 years, 32.3% (101) were farmers, 55.6% (174) were single, divorced or widowed, 69.3% (217) were of Han ethnic group, 68.1% (213) were injecting drug users, and 52.1% (163) were from custody facilities. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that factors associated with delayed disease progression included age ≤40 years (compared with age >40 years, aOR=1.55, 95%CI: 1.31-3.12) and injection drug use (compared with sexual transmission, aOR=1.23, 95%CI: 1.10-1.74). Conclusions: A number of LTNPs existed in HIV-infected individuals in Guangxi. Further research are needed to identify the related factors, and it is necessary to conduct large sample size studies on host immunology, genetics and the virology of HIV to explore the related mechanism.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; China/epidemiology* ; Drug Users/statistics & numerical data* ; Ethnicity/statistics & numerical data* ; HIV Infections/ethnology* ; Humans ; Male ; Socioeconomic Factors

Objective: To understand the influence of diurnal temperature range (DTR) on influenza incidence in the elderly in Beijing and to conduct a subgroup analysis. Methods: The incidence data of daily influenza cases in the elderly and daily meteorological data from 2014 to 2016 in Beijing were collected for this study. A generalized additive model (GAM) was used to explore whether the relationship between daily influenza cases and DTR is a linear one. A distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) was established to quantify the lagged effect of DTR on daily influenza incidence in the elderly. The model was also used to estimate the effects of DTR on daily influenza incidence among various subgroups. Results: A total of 4 097 influenza cases in the elderly were notified during study period. The mean DTR was 10.153 ℃. A linear relationship between daily influenza incidence and DTR was detected by using GAM. DTR was significantly associated with daily influenza incidence between lag0 and lag5 with a maximal effect at lag0. An 1 ℃ increase of DTR was associated with a 2.0% increase in daily influenza incidence in the elderly (95%CI: 0.9%-3.0%). The RR values of males, females, people aged 60-69 years, people aged ≥70 years were 1.018 (95%CI: 1.005-1.032), 1.021(95%CI: 1.007-1.035), 1.012 (95%CI: 1.002-1.022), 1.025 (95%CI: 1.012-1.039), respectively. The influencing time of DTR on females (lag6) was longer than males (lag2). Conclusions: DTR was associated with increased risk of influenza in the elderly in Beijing. It is necessary to take targeted measures in the elderly to control the incidence of influenza when DTR becomes greater.
Aged ; Beijing ; China/epidemiology* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Influenza, Human/epidemiology* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Temperature

Objective: To investigate the rates on prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in population older than 15 years of age in Beijing, 2013-2014. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Beijing between 2013-2014. Stratified multistage random sampling method was used to select representative sample of 13 057 Chinese individuals aged over 15 years, from the general population. Blood pressure was measured for three readings at sitting position after resting for at least five minutes with an average reading recorded. A standardized structured questionnaire was developed to collect history of hypertension and antihypertensive treatment. Results: A total of 4 663 community residents aged over 15 years were hypertensive among the 13 057 individuals, with the standardized prevalence rate as 32.7%, in Beijing area. The age-standardized prevalence rates of hypertension appeared 34.6% in men and 30.8% in women. The age-and sexstandardized prevalence of hypertension rates were 33.3% in urban and 24.6% in rural areas. The prevalence of hypertension increased with age and appeared higher in men than in women, in urban than in rural residents. Among the hypertensive patients, rates of awareness, treatment and control were 66.8%, 64.6% and 31.6%, respectively. Conclusion: High prevalence of hypertension with low rates on awareness and treatment and control, appeared in the general population of Beijing. Related strategies should be developed regarding prevention, control and management of hypertension, to reduce the burden of this disease.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Antihypertensive Agents/therapeutic use* ; Asian People/statistics & numerical data* ; Awareness ; Blood Pressure ; Blood Pressure Determination ; China/epidemiology* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Hypertension/epidemiology* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Rural Population ; Sex Distribution ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Urban Population ; Young Adult

Objective: To investigate the effects of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype and mutations on the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to establish a new qualified HCC risk scores. Methods: A cohort study enrolling patients with chronic HBV infection was conducted. HBV genotypes were identified by nested multiplex PCR. HBV mutations in the basic core promoter region and PreS region were sequenced after PCR amplification. Scores on risk factors were set based on nomogram. Results: Totally, 1 525 patients were followed-up in this research. A total of 1 110 patients infected with genotype C were followed-up for 8.52 (Q(R): 5.36-11.68) years on average, of whom the incidence of HCC was 11.93/1 000 person-years. In genotype C HBV infected patients, male gender, aged 40 years and over, and four DNA mutations (T1674CG, A1762T/G1764A, A3120T, and A2962G) can increase the risk of HCC (P<0.05); interferon therapy can reduce the risk of HCC (P<0.05). A new HCC predicting model was established according to the results. After validation, the predicted disease-free survival rate was consistent with the real one. Conclusions: Hepatitis B virus genotypes and mutations were closely associated with HCC. The new risk scoring system can well predict HCC occurrence in genotype C HBV infected patients.
Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/virology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Cohort Studies ; DNA, Viral/genetics* ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B virus/genetics* ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/complications* ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/virology* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Risk Factors ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Intraganglionic laminar endings (IGLEs) have been supposed to be the mechanoreceptors in the gut by electrophysiological recording techniques. But the specialized morphology of IGLEs could not be displayed closely associated with this function and the mechanism that IGLEs act as the mechanotransduction sites in the gut is not yet well understood. In the present study, we used styryl dye FM1-43 combined with stretch stimulation in the guinea pig esophagus to test whether IGLEs acted as the mechano-sensitive receptors of the vagal afferent nerves. At the same time, the special structure of IGLEs displayed by FM1-43 was further confirmed by neurobiotin anterograde labeling technique. To further investigate the characteristics of IGLEs as mechanosensitive receptors, different drugs were used to block or stimulate IGLEs activation. Our results indicated that only in the stretched preparation could FM1-43 enter the IGLEs and completely display their specialized structure, which was consistent with that shown by neurobiotin. The amount of IGLEs shown by stretch-evoked FM1-43 staining was much more than that shown without stretch stimulation [(90.4 +/- 9.5) % vs (10.7 +/- 2.1) %, P<0.05]. Ca(2+), TTX (0.6 mumol/L), atropine (0.6 mumol/L), SKF (50 mumol/L), and gadolium (100 mumol/L) had no effect on the IGLEs activation. But for benzamil (100 mumol/L), an epithelial sodium channel blocker, activation of IGLEs by stretch stimulation was significantly blocked. The potent ATP analogue, alpha,beta-methylene ATP (100 mumol/L) could not activate FM1-43 staining without stretch. These results indicate that IGLEs are sensitive to mechanical stimulation. This could lead to the deduction that IGLEs act as the mechanoreceptors of vagal afferent nerve. IGLEs could transmit mechanical stimuli directly through ion channels, independent of neurotransmitter release and action potential propagation. The stretch-sensitive channels on IGLEs probably belong to the epithelial sodium channel family rather than voltage-gated sodium ion channels. Furthermore, styryl dye FM1-43 is a useful activity-dependent marker to demonstrate the structure and function of IGLEs in guinea pig esophagus.
Afferent Pathways ; physiology ; Animals ; Esophagus ; innervation ; Female ; Ganglia, Autonomic ; physiology ; Guinea Pigs ; Male ; Mechanoreceptors ; physiology ; Nerve Endings ; physiology ; Vagus Nerve ; physiology

Previous studies showed that crude antigens from Trichinella spiralis adult worms (AW) can be recognized by mouse infection sera at 8 days post infection. The aim of this study was to identify the early diagnostic antigenic bands in soluble proteins from T. spiralis AW by Western blot using early infection sera. The affecting factors of adult recovery were firstly observed in this study, and the results showed that the maximum number of adults was collected from small intestine when the female BALB/c mice were orally infected with 4000 ML and sacrificed at 3 days post infection. The results of Western blot analysis showed that seven protein bands (31, 35.1, 39, 40.6, 41.9, 47 and 50.6 kDa) could be recognized by early infection sera as early as at 8-10 days post infection, and were strongly reacted with mouse infection sera at 11-12 days post infection. Our results suggested that the seven protein bands of T. spiralis AW soluble proteins might be the early expressed antigens during the intestinal stage of Trichinella infection and therefore have potential value for the early diagnosis of trichinellosis.

Objective: To understand the transmission patterns and risk factors of HIV-1 strain CRF01_AE subtypes in China, and to provide guidance for the implementation of precise intervention. Methods: A total of 2 094 CRF01_AE pol sequences were collected in 19 provinces in China between 1996 and 2014. Phylogenetic tree was constructed by PhyML 3.0 software to select the transmission clusters. Transmission network was constructed by Cytoscape 3.6.0, which was further used for exploring of the major risk factors. Results: Of the 2 094 sequences, 12.18% (255/2 094) were in clusters. A total of 82 transmission clusters were identified. The numbers of clusters and contained sequences in intra-provincial transmission (61, 173) were significantly more than those in inter-provincial transmission (21, 82). The ratio of transmission clustering in MSM increased over time from 2.41% (2/83) during 1996-2008 to 23.61% (72/305) during 2013-2014, showing a significant upward trend (χ(2)=27.800, df=1, P=0.000). The proportion of MSM with inter-provincial transmission clusters were higher than those with intra-provincial transmission clusters, which increased from 0.67% (2/297) during 1996-2008 to 6.36%(30/472) during 2013-2014, showing a significant upward trend (χ(2)=20.276, df=1, P=0.000). The transmission rate in homosexuals of the inter-transmission clusters (86.59%, 71/82) was higher than that of intra-provincial transmission clusters (56.65%, 98/173), and the difference was statistically significant (χ(2)=22.792, P=0.000). The proportion of inter-provincial transmission clusters with more than 2 transmission routes (33.33%, 7/21) was higher than that of intra-provincial clusters (13.11%, 8/61), and the difference was statistically significant (χ(2)=4.273, P=0.039). Results from the transmission network analysis indicated that the proportion of high risk population (degree≥4) with inter-provincial transmission clusters (51.22%, 42/82) was significantly higher than that with intra-provincial transmission clusters (26.59%, 46/173), and the difference was statistically significant (χ(2)=14.932, P=0.000). Inter-provincial clusters were mainly detected in and and MSM. Conclusions: Complex transmission networks were found for HIV-1 CRF01_AE strains in the mainland of China. Inter-provincial transmission clusters increased rapidly, MSM played an important role in the wide spread of the strain. More researches in transmission networks are needed to guide the precision intervention.
China/epidemiology* ; HIV Infections/virology* ; HIV-1/isolation & purification* ; Homosexuality, Male/statistics & numerical data* ; Humans ; Male ; Phylogeny

Objective: To optimize the warning threshold values of common communicable diseases in Gansu province, and improve the early warning effect. Method: An early warning model was set up for influenza, scarlet fever, other infectious diarrheal diseases, dysentery, typhoid and paratyphoid, viral hepatitis type E and hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD) respectively in Gansu by using the moving percentile method and cumulative sum method. By calculating the sensitivity, specificity, predictive value of positive test, predictive value of negative test, Youden' index and receiver-operating characteristic curve, the optimum early warning threshold values for communicable diseases in Gansu were selected. Results: The optimum early warning boundary values of influenza, scarlet fever, other infectious diarrheal diseases, dysentery, typhoid and paratyphoid, and viral hepatitis type E were P(90), P(80), P(95), P(90), P(80) and P(90) respectively. The optimum early warning parameters of HFMD were k=1.2, H=5σ. Under the optimum early warning boundary values/parameters, the early warning sensitivities of influenza, scarlet fever, other infectious diarrheal diseases, dysentery, typhoid and paratyphoid, viral hepatitis type E and HFMD were 86.67%, 100.00%, 91.67%, 100.00%, 100.00%, 100.00% and 100.00%, the specificities were 86.49%, 62.22%, 75.00%, 100.00%, 97.92%, 89.13% and 74.47%. The predictive values of positive test were 72.22%, 29.17%, 52.38%, 100.00%, 80.00%, 54.55% and 29.41%, and the predictive values of negative test were 94.12%, 100.00%, 96.77%, 100.00%, 100.00%, 100.00% and 100.00%, and the Youden' indexes were 0.73, 0.62, 0.67, 1.00, 0.98,0.89 and 0.74. Receiver-operating characteristic curve showed that the values/parameters of this warning boundary were the points closest to the upper left of the coordinate diagram. Conclusion: The early warning thresholds of influenza, other infectious diarrheal diseases, dysentery and hepatitis E in Gansu may be raised appropriately and the early warning parameters of HFMD need to be adjusted to improve the effectiveness of early warning.
China ; Communicable Disease Control/methods* ; Communicable Diseases/epidemiology* ; Disease Notification ; Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control* ; Humans ; Models, Theoretical ; Population Surveillance/methods*

Disinfection ; Escherichia coli ; isolation & purification ; Hospitals ; Medical Waste ; Sewage ; Waste Products ; Water Microbiology

Chinese materia medica (CMM), including Chinese herbal, animal, and mineral medicine, has been widely researched in the past century for their biological and pharmacological activities. However, their mechanism and clinical efficacy studies did not always give expected results. For example, the most commonly used Chinese herb for menstrual disorders, Radix Angelicae sinensis, showed neither estrogenic nor progesteronic activity in laboratory and clinical studies. Its efficacy should not be denied simply based on such results, because it is mostly used together with other herbs in formulae. Moreover, its regulation on menstruation may take effect through other mechanisms, such as regulation of blood circulation. The key difference of Chinese medicine (CM) from conventional medicine is its unique holistic view on human body and diseases. CMM is mostly applied in clinic in the form of formulae. Study on individual CMM, simply using methods for development of conventional drugs, is unable to thoroughly reveal the power of CMM formulae. The reason may partly result from improper design due to the lack understanding about application principle of CMMs in CM, and/or to current lack of knowledge about the causes of some symptoms and diseases. This paper will introduce the importance of qi and blood in CM etiology and pathology, Zheng differentiation, formulation of CMMs, and explain why one formula can treat different diseases and one disease can be treated with different formulae. Examples in the paper will demonstrate that proper studies on Zheng and its corresponding clinically proven formulae could help scientists find new direction to explain and treat symptoms and diseases that so far modern medicine has been unable to, provided that the designer properly understands CM theories, etiology and pathology of CM, as well as modern medicine. Strategy suggestions about research methods for CMM and its formulae will be given at the end.
Animals ; Disease ; Humans ; Materia Medica ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional