Adenoids ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Radiographic Image Enhancement ; methods ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study the distribution of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) genotypes in Hubei province.

METHODSEpidemiological survey was carried out to HIV-1 carriers who were identified in Hubei province. HIV-1 env V3-V4, gag P17/24 and the first exon of tat region were amplified by nested-polymerase chain reaction(nPCR) .The sequences were determined, and phylogenetic analyses were then performed.

RESULTS4 HIV-1 strains or circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) were identified in Hubei province with subtype B' the predominant which covered 5 kinds of populations including former blood donors, blood receivers, spouses of the infected people, sex workers and their clients, homosexuals, mainly distributed in the areas with many former blood donors. CRF08-BC and CRF01-AE were found distributed in economically more developed cities or southern area of the province, and the major transmission routes was through sexual contact. Only 1 patient, an injecting drug user, was identified having subtype C.

CONCLUSIONSubtype B' was the main epidemic subtypes in Hubei province while CRF08-BC, CRF01-AE and subtype C were also circulating in the province, indicating the transmission of the disease might to become more complex.

China ; epidemiology ; HIV Infections ; epidemiology ; HIV-1 ; classification ; Humans ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Viral ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, RNA

OBJECTIVETo investigate the characteristic of subtypes and genetic diversity of HIV-1 circulating in Hubei province and its molecular epidemiological linkages with regard to risk factors of viral transmission.

METHODSplasma samples of 80 diagnosed individuals was characterized. The gene fragments of gag were amplified by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and HIV-1 genotypes were determined based on the nucleotide sequences of gag region.

RESULTSSeven HIV-1 group M subtypes or CRF including B, B', G, CRF01-AE, CRF07-BC, CRF08-BC and CRF15-01B were identified. CRF01-AE was found to be the most dominant subtype (48.4%) followed by CRF7-BC (22.6%) and B' (12.9%).

CONCLUSIONThe data from this study indicate the existence of multiple HIV-1 subtypes or CRFs in Hubei province and the surveillance of HIV-1 gene variation should be paid more attention to.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Genotype ; HIV Infections ; epidemiology ; virology ; HIV-1 ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phylogeny ; Young Adult ; gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus ; genetics

BACKGROUNDTumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is a pleiotropic proinflammatory cytokine and contributes to many kinds of cardiovascular diseases via its receptors (TNFR1/TNFR2). We hypothesize that TNF-α plays a role in the pathogenesis of chronic atrial fibrillation (AF).

METHODSSixty-seven consecutive patients who were scheduled to have cardiac surgery were enrolled into the study. Thirty-one patients with rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and AF were enrolled as study group (AF group). The sinus rhythm (SR) control groups consisted of 20 patients with RHD and 16 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Peripheral blood sample was collected before the operation. About 5 mm(3) left atrial tissue was disserted during the operation and was separated into three parts for Western blotting, real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis.

RESULTSCompared with the controls (RHD SR and CAD SR), the levels of TNF-α ((14.40 ± 5.45) pg/ml vs. (4.20 ± 3.19) pg/ml vs. (2.68 ± 2.20) pg/ml, P = 0.000) and its soluble receptor 1 (sTNFR1) ((1623.9 ± 558.6) pg/ml vs. (1222.3 ± 175.6) pg/ml vs. (1387.5 ± 362.2) pg/ml, P = 0.001) in plasma were higher in patients with AF. TNF-α level had positive correlation with the left atrial diameter (LAD) (r = 0.642, P = 0.000). Western blotting analysis showed that the protein levels of TNF-α (0.618 ± 0.236 vs. 0.234 ± 0.178 vs. 0.180 ± 0.103, P = 0.000) were higher in patients with AF. The RT-PCR analysis results demonstrated that the mRNA expression of TNF-α (0.103 ± 0.047 vs. 0.031 ± 0.027 vs. 0.023 ± 0.018, P = 0.000) increased in patients with AF. IHC analysis displayed that, comparing to the SR, the expression of TNF-α (0.125 ± 0.025 vs. 0.080 ± 0.027 vs. 0.070 ± 0.023, P = 0.000) increased in the AF group. The protein level and mRNA expression of TNF-α also had positive correlation with left atrium diameter (LAD) (r = 0.415, P = 0.000 and r = 0.499, P = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONSThe results revealed that TNF-α elevated in the plasma and left atrial tissue and had positive correlation with LAD in patients of chronic AF. TNF-α might involve in the pathogenesis of chronic AF.

Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation ; blood ; metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Female ; Heart Atria ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore multiple slices computed tomography (MSCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of duplication of the internal auditory canal (DIAC) in order to improve the accuracy of diagnosis.

METHODSFour cases (5 ears) were analyzed and the related documents were reviewed retrospectively. MSCT was performed on all cases, and two cases had MRI scanning at the same time.

RESULTSMSCT has shown that the internal auditory canal were divided into two canals by a bony septum in 5 ears. The superior canal ended in a very narrow connection to the facial canal, the inferior portion ended in connection to the cochlea and vestibule. The bony septums from the 2 ears were found no longer intact. The sum of diameter of the two canals was greater than 2 mm. In addition, 5 ears were found to have an enlarged vestibules and the hypoplasia lateral semicircular canals, and meanwhile, 2 ears of them were combined with ipsilateral microtia. Also 1 case of them was combined with microtia, outer acoustic atresia as well as abnormal middle ear. Multiplanar reconstruction and volume rendering images can entirely show the bony septum and two canals. In this study, the vestibular nerve, cochlear nerve and facial nerve were total hypoplastic in one ear, in the other ear, the vestibular and cochlear nerve were hypoplastic, and however, the facial nerve was intact.

CONCLUSIONSMSCT can clearly depict duplication of the internal auditory canals and concomitant anomalies. MRI can clearly show the neural components and their associated malformation.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Ear, Inner ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

Objective To identify the epidemic characteristics and risk factors of an emerging infectious disease-severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) in Hubei province.Methods Active surveillance program on SFTS was set up in monitoring sites-hospitals,at the township level or above,in Suizhou,Huanggang and Wuhan from January to December,2010.Specific surveillance program on SFTS was launched across the province in hospitals above the county level.Cases that matched the definition of surveillance case were identified and reported to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCs).Cases were interviewed and their blood samples collected and detected using PCR and virus isolation.We also conducted serum antibody surveys among healthy population and livestock and surveillance on vector ticks in those high-epidemic areas.Results 188 cases that matched the definition of surveillance case and 21 deaths were reported in 11 cities,32 countries and 100 towns in 2010,with an incidence rate of 0.33/106.The fatality rate was 11.2％.Data showed that the patients were from hilly areas at the altitude elevated between 28-940 meters.The epidemic period was between April and December with the peak from May to September.The youngest case was an 11-year old,while the eldest was 81 with median age as 56-year old.95.3 ％ of the patients were farmers.All Patients did not have the history of traveling,two weeks before the onset of SFTS.93.6％ of the patients engaged in different kind of work which was associated with agriculture.52.8％ of the patients had been exposed to ticks.22.0％ of the patients had been bitten by ticks.Skin injury was found in 64.2％ of the patients.Samples from 129 cases (68.6％) were collected and detected,with 67.4％ of them (87 cases) showed positive by Real time-PCR for SFTS virus.An elevation in antibody titer by a factor of four or evidence of sero-conversion was observed in 11 patients; SFTS virus was isolated from 2 patients.The total antibody positive rates were 3.8％,55.0％ (6/11 ),36.7％ (2/3) and 80.0％ (4/5) respectively in healthy population,dogs,sheep and cows.Ticks from grass,cattle and sheep were detected positive by Real time-PCR.Conclusion Most cases of SFTS in Hubei were infected by SFTS virus,and cases of livestock were infected by SFTS virus.Ticks might serve as an important vector.Skin injury,exposure to tick bites seemed to be the risk factors.

Objective According to results from the two-month consecutive surveillance program in Maanshan,six suspected cases of non-O1 non-O139 Vibrio (V.) cholerae infection,were found that called for identification of pathogens as well as molecular-epidemiological analysis to determine the aggregation of the epidemic situation.Methods Biochemical and serotype identification,hemolysis test,and drug sensitive test were used to detect the drug resistance spectrum.Real-time PCR and conventional PCR were used to detect the presence of V.cholerae specific genes,virulent genes and its related genes,including ompW,ctx,tcpA,toxR,hlyA,zot,ace,rstR and g ⅢCTX.Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to analyze the molecular type of strains.Results All the six isolates of non-O 1 non-O 139 V.cholerae were identified by biochemical and serologic tests,and appeared to be β hemolytic.Twelve out of the 14 kinds of drugs showed 100％ sensitive.All isolates were positive of ompW gene by real-time PCR,but negative for ctx,tcpA,zot,ace,rstR and gⅢ CTK.Five of the six isolates were positive for toxR and hlyA,except for strain 1001434446.All strains had different PFGE types,but two strains had similar types.All strains had a low similarity compared to the toxigenic V.cholerae.Conclusion Six cases ofnon-O1 and non-O139 nontoxigenic V.cholerae infection appeared in the same period.Along with epide(m)iological information,we noticed that these cases had a sporadic nature,but frequently appeared in the same area.We got the impression that public health measurements should be strengthened,with special attention paid to those diarrhea outbreaks caused by non-O 1 /non-O 139 strains since V.cholerae had appeared in low incidence.

BACKGROUNDCoronary artery disease (CAD) is generally considered as a disease of middle-aged men. It is widely accepted that the risk for CAD of premenopausal women is low because of hormone protection. Based on our clinical experience, more and more premenopausal women suffer from angina and myocardial infarction without adequate concern. Even now, there are still limited detailed data to describe the characteristics, mechanism and prognosis of premenopausal CAD patients. This article aimed to analyze the clinical and angiographic characteristics of premenopausal women with CAD.

METHODSA total of 565 premenopausal women and 721 postmenopausal women (56 - 60 years old) who underwent coronary angiography for the first time from April 2004 to December 2007 were enrolled. The clinical data and coronary angiographic characteristics (presence, localization, length and severity) were compared between the premenopausal and postmenopausal CAD groups.

RESULTSPremenopausal CAD patients presented less frequently with hypertension, diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia compared with postmenopausal CAD patients (55.0% vs 66.0%, 15.0% vs 31.5%, 23.9% vs 37.4%, respectively; all P < 0.05). Although we found more frequent involvement of single vessel in premenopausal CAD (43.2% vs 26.9%, P = 0), and triple vessels in postmenopausal (56 - 60 years old) CAD patients (33.8% vs 20.4%, P = 0), much more severe lesions (> or = 90%) at left main (2.9% vs 1.1%, P = 0.048) and proximal left anterior descending artery (LAD) (28.2% vs 16.6%, P = 0) in the premenopausal CAD group were found.

CONCLUSIONPremenopausal women with chest discomfort are always found to have obvious atherosclerosis, more inclined to be located at the left main and proximal LAD, which is a strong predictor of an adverse clinical outcome.

Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Diabetes Mellitus ; pathology ; Dyslipidemias ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Postmenopause ; Premenopause

Objective:To observe the effect of extracorporeal shock wave therapy on tendon adhesion in late period after hand tendon repair. Methods:From July, 2017 to December, 2018, 40 patients with tendon adhesion after hand tendon repair more than three months were collected. They were randomly divided into control group (n = 20) and experimental group (n = 20). Two groups received routine therapy, and the experimental group added extracorporeal shock wave therapy. Before and two months after treatment, the total active movement (TAM) of the fingers and the grip strength were messured. Results:There was no significant difference in TAM of the fingers and the grip strength before treatment (P > 0.05). After treatment, TAM of the fingers and the grip strength significantly increased (|t| > 10.284,P < 0.001), and were higher in the experimental group than in the control group (t > 0.386,P < 0.001). Conclusion:Extracorporeal shock wave therapy could facilitate to improve the tendon slippage and hand function in patients with tendon adhesion after hand tendon repair.

Objective:To develop the specific molecular markers of Codonopsis plants and better identify their germplasm resources considering the significant difference in active ingredients of Codonopsis Radix from various origins and producing areas. Method:Such bioinformatics software as Primer 5.0， NTSYS-pc 2.10e， and PopGene 32 were used for searching the simple sequence repeat （SSR） markers of C. minima chloroplast genome， C. tsinlingensis chloroplast， and C. lanceolata mitochondrial sequences， and 120 pairs of SSR primers were designed by Primer 5.0. Then 16 pairs of cpSSR primers and 10 pairs of mtSSR primers with good screening effect and high polymorphism were selected for analyzing the interspecific versatility of 20 samples. Result:The results showed that 66 cpSSR primer sites and 26 mtSSR sites were identified from the genome sequences， with 86.20% of single nucleotide， 6.9% of dinucleotide， and 6.9% of trinucleotide for C. minima chloroplast， 83.78% of single nucleotide，13.51% of dinucleotide， and 2.71% of trinucleotide for C. tsinlingensis chloroplast， and 46.15% of single nucleotide and 53.85% of dinucleotide for C. lanceolata mitochondria. As demonstrated by polymerase chain reaction （PCR） identification results， the developed 26 pairs of SSR primers had good applicability in the genus Codonopsis. The analysis by NTSYS-pc 2.10e revealed that the genetic similarity coefficients of 20 samples were within the range of 0.38-1.00， and they were divided into two subgroups at a threshold of 0.69. Four pairs of polymorphic primers were screened out in the diversity analysis of 20 samples using PopGene 32. The number of observed alleles （Na） was 12， and the effective number of alleles （Ne） ranged from 1.362 9 to 2.605 9. The percentage of polymorphic loci （PPL） at each site was 100%， and the average values of genetic parameters Ho， He， and I at each site were 0.555 8， 0.444 2， and 0.753 2， respectively， indicating high polymorphism at each site. The screened four pairs of primers were utilized for DNA fingerprinting of the 20 samples， and it was found that the DNA fingerprints enabled the identification of these 20 samples. Conclusion:This study has provided a molecular basis for the study of the genetic relationship between plants in species Codonopsis and the intraspecific genetic differentiation.