Wild birds (mainly Anseriformes and Charadriiformes) are recognized as the natural reservoir of avian influenza viruses (AIVs). The long-term surveillance of AIVs in wild birds has been conducted in North America and Europe since 1970s. More and more surveillance data revealed that all the HA and NA subtypes of AIVs were identified in the wild ducks, shorebirds, and gulls, and the AIVs circulating in wild birds were implicated in the outbreaks of AIVs in poultry and humans. Therefore, the AIVs in wild birds pose huge threat to poultry industry and human health. To gain a better understanding of the ecology and epidemiology of AIVs in wild birds, we summarize the transmission of AIVs between wild birds, poultry, and humans, the main results of surveillance of AIVs in wild birds worldwide and methods for surveillance, and the types of samples and detection methods for AIVs in wild birds, which would be vital for the effective control of avian influenza and response to possible influenza pandemic.
Animals ; Animals, Wild ; virology ; Birds ; virology ; Humans ; Influenza A virus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Influenza in Birds ; epidemiology ; transmission ; virology ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; transmission ; virology ; Sentinel Surveillance ; veterinary

Objectives To report the clinical and myopathological features in a case with Danon disease caused by a novel mutation in the lysosome-associated membrane protein-2 ( LAMP2 ) B gene.Methods A 16-year-old boy presenting progressive muscle weakness and atrophy, accompanied with spinal ankylosis was clinically evaluated including electrocardiogram, echocardiogram and electromyogram.Muscle biopsy was carried out in the patient.The histological staining, ultrastructural examination, and immunohistochemical staining with antibodies against dystrophin, merosin and C5b9 were performed in frozen sections.LAMP2B sequence was analyzed in the patient and his parents.Results Electrocardiogram in the patient showed Ⅰ atrioventricular block; echocardiogram revealed focal hypertrophy in mitral valve with mild cardiac diastolic dysfunction; electromyogram indicated myogenic and neurogenic patterns.Muscle pathology study revealed numerous vacuoles located at the fibers.Dystrophin, merosin and C5b9 was immuno-positive around the vacuoles.Electron microscopy revealed vacuoles surrounded by sarcolemma and abnormal lysosome aggregating at the fibers.A novel nonsense mutation ( K402X ) in the LAMP2B gene has been identified in the patient but not in his mother and 50 normal controls.Conclusions Danon disease caused by K402X mutation in C-terminus of LAMP2B presented benign course of the disease characterized by prominent vacuolar skeletal myopathy, mild cardiac abnormalities and peripheral neuropathy.

Objective:To study the changes of upper airway dimension and morphology in Class Ⅱ mandibular retrusion children af-ter functional treatment by Twin-block appliance.Methods:The Cone-Beam CT(CBCT)data of upper airway of the subjects were measured with Dolphin 11.5 software before and after fuctional treatment by Twin-block appliance.The comparison of upper airway di-mension and morphology between pre-treatment and post-treatment was performed by paired t-text.Results:After functional treatment the volume of total upper airway,velopharyngeal airway,glossopharyngeal airway,laryngopharyngeal airway,oropharyngeal airway,the sectional area of the inferior of the soft palate(SP),tip of the epiglotti(TE),the sagittal diameter of SP,the lateral diameter of SP and TE increased(P <0.05)in the children;the airway's shape of SP was attended to be rounder and TE to be more flat.Conclusion:Functional treatment is effective in the treatment of skeletal Class Ⅱ mandibular retrusion of children by increase of the upper airway and improvement of respiration.

Objective:To evaluate the value of Cook MOB-15 system in guiding wire insertion during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Methods: The clinical data of 51 patients who received Cook MOB-15 system-guided wire insertion during ERCP between Jan. 2005 to Dec. 2007 were retrospectively analyzed. Forty patients who received conventional ERCP catheter for malignant jaundice between Jan. 2002 and Dec. 2004 were taken as control. The successful insertion rates were compared between the 2 groups. Results: The successful insertion rate was 90.2% (46/51) in the Cook MOB-15 system group and 72.5% (29/40) in the conventional group; there was significant difference between the 2 groups (P

Adult ; Arsenic ; pharmacology ; Chromosome Aberrations ; chemically induced ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged

Abnormal proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) plays an important role in several pathological processes of cardiovascular diseases. In this study, the effects of XCT790, a potent and selective inverse agonist of estrogen-related receptor alpha (ERRalpha), on rat VSMCs proliferation and related signal pathways were investigated. The proliferative activity of VSMCs was determined by CCK-8 assay. The mRNA levels of ERRalpha, PGC-1alpha, OPN and MCAD were assayed by RT-PCR. The protein levels of ERRalpha, ERK2 and p-ERK1/2 were evaluated by Western blotting. ELISA was used to assess the protein expression of VEGF. The results showed that XCT790 (5-20 micromol x L(-1)) inhibited rat VSMCs proliferation, and the expression of ERRalpha and its target genes, as well as p-ERK1/2, were also inhibited. XCT790 inhibited VSMCs proliferation in a dose-dependent manner at the dose range from 5 to 20 micromol x L(-1) and in a time-dependent manner at the dose range from 10 to 20 micromol x L(-1). These findings demonstrate that XCT790 inhibits rat VSMCs proliferation by down-regulating the gene level of ERRalpha and thus inhibiting the ERK signal pathway, suggesting that ERRalpha may be a novel potential target for therapeutic approaches to inhibit VSMCs proliferation, which plays an important role in several cardiovascular diseases.
Animals ; Cadherins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytoskeletal Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; GTPase-Activating Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Nitriles ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha ; Phosphorylation ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Estrogen ; genetics ; metabolism ; Thiazoles ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the functional and histological changes in aging gerbil bladders.MethodsTwelve male gerbils were randomly divided into control group and aging bladder group,with 6 in each group.Experiment was conducted in gerbils of control group and aging bladder group 6 months and 24 months after normal feeding,respectively.Urodynamic examinations including irrigation volume,compliance and filling pressure of bladder were performed,bladder weight was obtained,bladder weight index was calculated,morphological observation was conducted with HE staining,ratio of amount of smooth muscle to collagen was obtained with double immunohistochemical staining,and electron microscope was used to evaluate the ultrastructure of bladder.ResultsCompared with those in control group,the irrigation volume and compliance of bladder significantly decreased in aging bladder group(P0.05).However,the bladder weight index was significantly lower in aging bladder group(P0.05).There existed degeneration in smooth muscle cells and organelles in aging bladder group.ConclusionThe function of aging bladder in gerbils is impaired,which may be related to the degeneration of bladder tissues.

Objective To explore the role of transforming growth factor (TFG)-? and matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs)in the development of frozen shoulder. Methods Twenty-four patients who underwent shoulder arthroscopy were included,and were divided into frozen shoulder group ( n =12) and control group ( n =12; n =2 for shoulder instability,n =5 for rotator cuff tear and n =5 for subacromial impingement). Joint capsule tissues at the rotator cuff interval were obtained,and the expression of TGF-?,MMP-1,MMP-2,MMP-3,MMP-9 and MMP-12 mRNA and protein was detected by Real-time PCR and Western blotting,respectively. Results The expression of TGF-? mRNA in frozen shoulder group and control group was 3.36?10 4?2.18?10 3 and 1.85?10 4?3.31?10 3,respectively,the expression of TGF-? protein was 1.55?0.33 and 1.13?0.21,respectively,and there were significant differences between these two groups ( P

Objective To investigate the relationship between the soluble LAIR-1(sLAIR-1)in the serum from recipients after transplant and graft rejection.Methods Serum sLAIR-1 level was determined by double mAb sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay on 23 cases of liver transplantation and 139 cases of kidney transplantation.Results In healthy volunteers and 98 recipients with normal graft function,sLAIR-1 was detected at low level [(4.3±2.3)μg/L and(6.3±3.7)μg/L],with the difference being not significant.In 6 cases of liver acute rejection,20 cases of kidney acute rejection and 5 cases of graft loss,serum sLAIR-1 levels were increased remarkably at high 1evels [(47.2±25.9)μg/L,(36.3±14.7)μg/L,and(28.8±9.4)μg/L respectively]as compared with the two groups of healthy volunteers and the recipients with normal graft function,even peaked at 117.3 μg/L in one case of severe liver rejection.Meanwhile,in 5 cases of liver chronic rejection,27 cases of kidney chronic rejection and 6 cases under dialysis treatment.the levels of sLAIR-1 were(16.1±6.4)μg/L,(13.1±5.5)μg/L and(11.2±4.6)μg/L respectively,significantly higher than those of the healthy volunteers and the recipients with normal graft function.Conclusion sLAIR_1 was detected at high level in the recipients suffered graft acute or chronic rejection and might be a promising monitor of rejection after transplantation.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the roles of nitric oxide (NO) and eNOS in the pathogenesis of vasovagal syncope (VVS).

METHODSFourteen children with VVS (group A), 10 children with syncope other than vasovagal (group B) and 20 healthy volunteers (group C) were enrolled. Plasma NO levels in groups A and B were determined before and at the termination of the head-up tilt table test (HUT). The G894T polymorphism within the eNOS gene was determined in the three groups.

RESULTSPlasma NO levels in group A increased significantly when syncope attacked from 76.7+/-9.6 micromol/L (before HUT) to 90.0+/-11.4 micromol/L (P<0.05). After the syncope attack was improved, plasma NO level in group A was significantly reduced. There were no statistical differences in plasma NO levels before and after the HUT in group B. Determining the G894T polymorphism within the eNOS gene showed that group A was associated with a higher incidence of the GT gene type as compared to groups B and C (42.9% vs 10%; P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPlasma NO may be involved in the pathogenesis of VVS. The increased plasma NO level may be associated with the G894T polymorphism of the eNOS gene.

Child ; Humans ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; physiology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; genetics ; physiology ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Syncope, Vasovagal ; etiology