OBJECTIVETo investigate the anti hepatitis E virus (HEV) and HEV RNA in acute and convalescent sera of patients with NonA-E acute hepatitis.

METHODSThe serum samples were taken from 95 patients who were diagnosed as acute NonA-E hepatitis. Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was used for detecting anti-HEV Immunoglobulin G (IgG, Genolable and Wantai EIA anti-HEV kits). RT-PCR amplification of HEV RNA was based on the open reading frame 2 region of HEV and the PCR products were sequenced.

RESULTSSera from 95 patients who were negative for anti-HEV in acute phase were followed up for 11-35 days to detect the anti-HEV antibody in recovery phase, 16/95 (16.84%) were positive for anti-HEV (wantai EIA anti-HEV kits). Ten (62.50%) were positive for HEV RNA in acute phase. Sequence analysis showed that 4 were HEV genotype. 6 were HEV genotype; 12/95 (12.50%) were positive for anti-HEV (Genolable EIA anti-HEV kits). Seven were positive for HEV RNA; 4 belonged to HEV genotype, 3 were HEV genotype.

CONCLUSIONIt is significant and necessary to detect anti HEV antibody and HEV RNA in patients with HEV infection during acute phase and convalesent phase.

Acute Disease ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Convalescence ; Genotype ; Hepatitis Antibodies ; blood ; Hepatitis E ; genetics ; immunology ; virology ; Hepatitis E virus ; genetics ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; RNA, Viral ; blood ; genetics ; Sequence Homology ; Viral Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in rodents from forest areas in northeastern China.

METHODSPCR amplification, followed by sequence analysis was carried out. The sequences of 16S rRNA and gltA gene fragment amplified from rodent specimens were compared with corresponding part of the sequences deposited in GenBank.

RESULTSA total number of 276 rodents were tested, including 102 in Jilin province, 61 in Helongjiang province and 113 in Inner Mongolia autonomous region. The positive rates were 8.82%, 1.64% and 0.00%, respectively. The infection rate in rodents infected by ticks was 11.30 times higher than that in rodents without ticks (P = 0.002). The S. A. phagocytophilum 16S rRNA sequences from rodents in Jilin and Heilongjiang were identical and differed in 3-5 bases compared with the corresponding parts of A. phagocytophilum from America, Sweden and Japan. Compared with the sequences registered in GenBank, the nucleotide sequence of gltA varied from 87%-97% and its deduced amino acid sequence changed from 84%-99%.

CONCLUSIONA. phagocytophilum infection was presented in rodents from Jilin and Heilongjiang province.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Anaplasma phagocytophilum ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins ; analysis ; Base Sequence ; China ; Ehrlichiosis ; veterinary ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; analysis ; Rodentia ; microbiology ; Ticks ; Trees

BACKGROUNDA novel radioactive 125I seed-loaded biliary stent has been used for patients with malignant biliary obstruction. However, the dosimetric characteristics of the stents remain unclear. Therefore, we aimed to describe the dosimetry of the stents of different lengths - with different number as well as activities of 125I seeds.

METHODSThe radiation dosimetry of three representative radioactive stent models was evaluated using a treatment planning system (TPS), thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) measurements, and Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. In the process of TPS calculation and TLD measurement, two different water-equivalent phantoms were designed to obtain cumulative radial dose distribution. Calibration procedures using TLD in the designed phantom were also conducted. MC simulations were performed using the Monte Carlo N-Particle eXtended version 2.5 general purpose code to calculate the radioactive stent's three-dimensional dose rate distribution in liquid water. Analysis of covariance was used to examine the factors influencing radial dose distribution of the radioactive stent.

RESULTSThe maximum reduction in cumulative radial dose was 26% when the seed activity changed from 0.5 mCi to 0.4 mCi for the same length of radioactive stents. The TLD's dose response in the range of 0-10 mGy irradiation by 137Cs γ-ray was linear: y = 182225x - 6651.9 (R2=0.99152; y is the irradiation dose in mGy, x is the TLDs' reading in nC). When TLDs were irradiated by different energy radiation sources to a dose of 1 mGy, reading of TLDs was different. Doses at a distance of 0.1 cm from the three stents' surface simulated by MC were 79, 93, and 97 Gy.

CONCLUSIONSTPS calculation, TLD measurement, and MC simulation were performed and were found to be in good agreement. Although the whole experiment was conducted in water-equivalent phantom, data in our evaluation may provide a theoretical basis for dosimetry for the clinical application.

Brachytherapy ; methods ; Computer Simulation ; Humans ; Monte Carlo Method ; Radiometry ; methods ; Thermoluminescent Dosimetry ; methods

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; China ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Dyssomnias ; Child Behavior