Objective To explore the relationships between micro-ecological environmental factors and the density of Snails so as to provide information for the elimination of Snails and control of Schistosomiasis disease,under ecological methods.Methods A bottomland close to Junshan Park in Yueyang city,Hunan province was selected as the field for survey during 10,2007-10,2008,and a systematic sampling method was applied to determine the specific sites of Snail investigation.All the Snails in each frames were collected and the soil surface temperature and vegetation coverage in several frames were measured.30 g soil sample in each selected frames were also collected simultaneously.The number of live Snails in each frame was counted by dissection,and soil measured pH value and soil moisture were tested in the laboratory.The distribution of Snails and microecological environmental factors,fitted general additive model for the relationship of these factors and the Snail density were described.Results 104 frames were surveyed,with pH value as between 4.70-7.92,vegetation coverage as in 1% to 96%,soil surface temperature as in 14.5-32.7℃,the soil moisture as in 0.07-2.00.Under General additive model,data showed that there was no significant difference for vegetation coverage.However,other factors were all significantly different(P＜0.001).It was found that a nonlinear relationship was existing between these factors and the Snail density.Conclusion Smoothing function relationship was noticed between the Snail density and micro-ecological environmental factors.It's suggested to fit general additive model to study the relationship between the distribution of Snails and its influencing factors,so as to adopt appropriate measures to change the related ecology to control the diffusion and reproduction of Snails.

Adult ; Biopsy ; Fatty Liver ; etiology ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; complications

OBJECTIVETo detect the putative association between the polymorphism of human NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) gene and Parkinson's disease(PD).

METHODSPolymerase chain reaction-denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (PCR-DHPLC) was used to detect the polymorphism of monoamine NQO1 gene cDNA 609 site(C-->T). The frequencies of alleles and genotypes in different PD groups were compared with those of the control group.

RESULTSIt was found that the frequencies of TT genotype in the patients with PD and in the controls were 0.226 and 0.118 respectively (P=0.004), i.e., TT genotype increased the risk of PD by 2.186-fold (P=0.005). When the patients with PD were divided into two groups by the age at onset, significant difference in the genotypic frequencies was observed only between late-onset PD group and control group (the frequencies of TT genotype being 0.260 and 0.118, P=0.001) and TT genotype increased the risk of late-onset PD by 2.627-fold(P=0.001). There were no significant differences in frequencies of alleles between different PD groups and control group.

CONCLUSIONThis study revealed significant differences in genotypic frequencies between PD group and control group. The findings supported the hypothesis about an association between NQO1 gene and PD, suggesting that the age at onset of PD might be related to the putative association, and NQO1 cDNA C609T site be a risk factor for PD.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Genotype ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone) ; genetics ; Parkinson Disease ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic

BACKGROUNDRetroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) is an uncommon disease that is characterized by development of fibrosclerotic tissues involving retroperitoneal structures. This study aimed to investigate the clinical features of 30 patients with RPF in a single center in Beijing in a 10-year period.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed clinical data on demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, radiological findings, modalities of treatments, outcomes and prognosis of 30 patients with RPF. Patients were treated in Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital between January 2003 and December 2013.

RESULTSThe mean age of patients with RPF was 56.7 ± 14.4 years. Twenty-three patients were men and seven patients were women. Acute phase reactants were elevated in most patients. Rheumatic factor was positive in 4/25 (16.0%) patients, and antinuclear antibody was positive in 6/22 (27.3%) patients. Elevation of IgG4 was observed in 9/22 (40.9%) patients. The most common type was I + III (n = 13), followed by I + II + III (n = 12). Five patients undertook an 18 F-fluoro-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography examination and increased uptake was detected in four patients. Eight patients received combination therapy with glucocorticoids and tamoxifen. Surgical intervention treatments included intraureteral double-J stent implantation (n = 26), percutaneous nephrostomy (n = 2), open ureterolysis and intraperitonealization of the ureters (n = 5) and laparoscopic ureterolysis and intraperitonealization of the ureters (n = 5). Three patients underwent hemodialysis because of renal failure.

CONCLUSIONSClinical characteristics of RPF patients in our study are similar to those previously reported. Steroids and immunosuppressive therapy combined with ureterolysis could be a viable choice of treatment for RPF. More prospective, multi-center studies with a longer follow-up are warranted.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Glucocorticoids ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retroperitoneal Fibrosis ; blood ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Tamoxifen ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To anderstand the metagenesis of Oncomelania snails in the mountainous regions so as to control the spread of snails and the epidemics of schistosomiasis.Methods Observation spot was established at a typical snail habitat close to Puge county,Sichuan province from February 2008 to July 2009.Random sampling was applied to determine the place of each frame during the observation.All the snails in each frame were collected and numbers counted in the laboratory,with the number of mating pairs in each frame also observed.Snails being collected were measured for the body indices and the dissection was carried out to identify gender composition.survival status and the number of live snails in each frame counted.Line graphs of the body indices.mating pairs in each observed months,bar graphs of the snail density,proportions of gender together with the maturity of the snails in each month were drawn.Results The number of live snail existed the whole year and its density fluctuated.All the three kinds of body indices showed the same time trend and a dynamic circulation.The young snail existed all year around and arose constantly in proportion from May,becoming the dominant snailin October to replace the adult snails.The young and adult snails also showed a dynamic alternative.The gender composition showed no significant difference during each month.The number of the mating pairs was more on April.May and June annually,when were the snail's main multiplying stage.Conclusion In mountain area.the young snails existed through all the year while adult snails appeared to be dominantin each month except for October.Oncomelania snail showed a circular process of metagenesis which started in May and finished in October.The snail population presented a dynamic equilibrium.It was concluded that ecological studies on Oncomelania snail were extremely relevant,either to optimally apply the existing control measures or to develop alternative measures for snail control,ecologically or biologically.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate four candidate variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) loci for genotyping Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex strains.

METHODSGenomic sequences for two M. tuberculosis strains (CCDC5079 and CCDC5180) were generated, and using published sequence data, four candidate VNTR loci were identified. The VNTRs were used to genotype 225 Chinese clinical M. tuberculosis complex strains. The discriminatory power of the VNTRs was evaluated using BioNumerics 5.0 software.

RESULTSThe Hunter-Gaston Index (HGI) for BJ1, BJ2, BJ3, and BJ4 loci was 0.634, 0.917, 0.697, and 0.910, respectively. Combining all four loci gave an HGI value of 0.995, thus confirming that the genotyping had good discriminatory power. The HGI values for BJ1, BJ2, BJ3, and BJ4, obtained from Beijing family strain genotyping, were 0.447, 0.878, 0.315, and 0.850, respectively. Combining all four loci produced an HGI value of 0.988 for genotyping the Beijing family strains. We observed unique patterns for M. bovis and M. africanum strains from the four loci.

CONCLUSIONWe have shown that the four VNTR loci can be successfully used for genotyping M. tuberculosis complex strains. Notably, these new loci may provide additional information about Chinese M. tuberculosis isolates than that currently afforded by established VNTR loci typing.

Cluster Analysis ; Genotyping Techniques ; Humans ; Minisatellite Repeats ; Mycobacterium bovis ; genetics ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; genetics

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; epidemiology ; Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; HIV Infections ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Poverty Areas ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the antibacterial effect of a particular antimicrobial peptide Cecropin B(CB) on Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection of wound in mice.

METHODSThirty ICR mice were enrolled in the study, and the Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection model was reproduced by excision of the full layer of dorsal skin with an area of 1 cm x 1 cm. Then they were randomly divided into C ( control, n = 10, with wet compress of isotonic saline at 3 postinjury hour( PIH) ) , M (with hydropathic compress of 100 g/L mafenide at 3 PIH), A (with wet compress of 1 000 mg/L Cecropin B at 3 PIH) groups. The changes in body temperature and hemogram in each group were determined before and 4 days after injury. Quantitative examination were used to detect the quantity of bacteria in muscular tissue of the wounds, and the survival of the mice were observed on 4 post-injury day( PID).

RESULTSThe wounds were moist with more exudation in C group,while that in other groups were dry without obvious exudation. The body temperature of the majority of the mice in each group were elevated, but the number of leucocytes in each group was lowered after operation. The quantity of bacteria in muscle in A group[ (42 +/- 50) CFU/g] was obviously lower than that in M group [(886+/-804) CFU/g, P <0.05] , and it was all obviously lower than that in C group[ (41 +/-28) x 10(5) CFU/g, P <0.01]. The number of surviving mice after 4 PID in C group was evidently smaller than that in A and M groups( P <0. 05).

CONCLUSIONThe cecropin B possesses obvious anti-bacterial effect on the Pseudomonas Aeruginosa infected wounds of ICR mice, and it can reduce the mortality.

Animals ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides ; therapeutic use ; Disease Models, Animal ; Insect Proteins ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Pseudomonas Infections ; drug therapy ; Wound Infection ; drug therapy ; microbiology

BACKGROUND: Stent-assisted coil embolization has become an important technique for the treatment of intracranial complex aneurysms. However, there is no systematic analysis of complications and prevention strategies related to this technique. OBJECTIVE: To systematically analyze the complications related to stent-assisted coil embolization of intracranial aneurysms during perioperative and follow-up periods and to assess the safety of this method. METHODS: A retrospective study of 232 consecutive patients with 239 wide-necked aneurysms who underwent stent-assisted coil embolization at the Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Shenyang Military Command from July 2003 to December 2009 was performed. Angiographic results and clinical outcomes were evaluated. A variety of complications were analyzed. The technical feasibility of the procedure, procedure-related complications, angiographic results, clinical outcomes and follow-up angiography were evaluated. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Stenting was successful in the 236 of 239 aneurysms. Procedure-related complications included thomboembolism (n=13), intraprocedural rupture (n=8), coil protrusions (n=5), new mass effect (n=3), vessel injury (n=3), and stent dislodgement (n=2). Procedure-related morbidity and mortality was 4.3% (10/232) and 1.3% (3/232), respectively. Nonprocedural complications attributable to subarachnoid hemorrhage in 129 patients with acute ruptured aneurysms were symptomatic vasospasm (18.6%, 24/129) and shunt-dependent hydrocephalus (7.0%, 9/129). Favorable clinical outcomes (mRS 0-2) were observed in 88.3% (205/232) of the patients, and no rehemorrhage of treated aneurysms occurred. Follow-up angiography was obtained in 155 patients (159 treated aneurysms). The overall recanalization rate was 14.5% (23/159). No stenting or coiling displacement occurred during the follow-up. Delayed complications included in-stent stenosis (n=2) and penetrating artery occlusion (n=2). In conclusion, our study indicates that stent-assisted coil embolization of intracranial aneurysm is a safe technique with low morbidity and mortality rates. Thromboembolism is the main cause of procedure-related disability and death. Nevertheless, further long-term follow-up is necessary to determine the durability of these promising results.

OBJECTIVETo summarize the clinical experience of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment for adult refractory cardiogenic shock.

METHODSFrom January 2003 to January 2011, patients with refractory cardiogenic shock required veno-arterial ECMO by failure of conventional therapy and intra-aortic balloon pump counterpulsation therapy were retrospectively studied. Patients with severe traumatic brain injury, advanced malignancies and multiple organ failure were excluded. Patients were divided into weaned group (n = 31) and not weaned group (n = 23) according to the ECMO weaning.

RESULTSThe duration of ECMO was 24.16 (14.12, 56.75) hours. Twenty-two out of 31 patients in the weaned group survived and were discharged, 9 patients died after successfully weaned from ECMO (5 due to multisystem organ failure, 2 due to reoccurred cardiogenic shock, 1 due to infectious shock and 1 due to disseminated or diffuse intravascular coagulation). Pre-ECMO mean arterial pressure, ejection fraction, the duration of ECMO were significantly higher while pre-ECMO blood lactate [(8.64 ± 3.17) vs. (14.44 ± 2.52) , P < 0.01], the duration of ROSC [ (16.70 ± 5.29) vs. (35.64 ± 5.89), P < 0.01] and multisystem organ failure [0 vs. 17.4% (4/23) , P < 0.05] were lower in weaned group than in not wean group.

CONCLUSIONSECMO is an effective mechanical assistant therapy strategy for adult refractory cardiogenic shock patients. Timely applying this strategy on suitable patients is crucial for the success of ECMO. Cardiac function and reversibility of heart failure are key factors determine the fate of weaned or not weaned ECMO in adult refractory cardiogenic shock patients.

Adult ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Shock, Cardiogenic ; therapy