Toxoplasma gondii causes serious infection worldwide in humans and animals. In this study, the seroepidemiology of toxoplasmosis was investigated in wild boars (Sus scrofa) (n=377), wild rabbits (cape hare, Lapus capensis) (n=331), and wild chickens (red junglefwol, Gallus gallus) (n=571) in 4 forested and country sided area of Hubei province of China. For this, blood samples were collected and tested by indirect hemagglutination test (IHA). The seroprevalence was found to be 7.2%, 5.1%, and 12.6% in wild boars, rabbits, and chickens, respectively, with significant differences among these species. The prevalence of T. gondii infection in male and female wild boars was found to be 7.9% and 6.5% (P<0.01), in male and female rabbits was 5.6% and 4.9% (P<0.01), and in male and female chickens was 17.1% and 7.7% (P<0.01), respectively, with significant differences between 2 genders of chickens (P<0.01). The findings of this study may help in planning of the prevention measures against T. gondii infection in wild animals in this area.
Animals ; Animals, Wild ; Chickens* ; China* ; Female ; Forests ; Hares ; Hemagglutination Tests ; Humans ; Male ; Prevalence ; Rabbits* ; Seroepidemiologic Studies* ; Sus scrofa* ; Toxoplasma* ; Toxoplasmosis*

OBJECTIVEBloom's syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by genomic instability and a predisposition to many cancers. Mutations of the BLM gene (encoding a BLM helicase) may form a structure of the etiology of this disease. As a global pollutant, mercury poses a major threat to human health. The current study was conducted to elucidate the effects of Hg(2+) on the structure and activity of BLM642-1290 recombinant helicase, and to further explore the molecular mechanisms of mercury toxicity to the DNA helicase.

METHODSThe effects of Hg(2+) on biological activity and structure of BLM642-1290 recombinant helicase were determined by fluorescence polarized, ultraviolet spectroscopic, and free-phosphorus assay technologies, respectively.

RESULTSThe helicase activity, the DNA-binding activity, and the ATPase activity of BLM642-1290 recombinant helicase were inhibited by Hg(2+) treatment. The LMCT (ligand-to-metal charge transition) peaks of the helicase were enhanced with the increase of the Hg(2+) level. The LMCT peaks of the same concentration of helicase gradually increased over time.

CONCLUSIONThe biological activity of BLM642-1290 recombinant helicase is inhibited by Hg(2+) treatment. The conformation of the helicase is significantly altered by Hg(2+). There exist two binding sites between Hg(2+) and the helicase, which are located in the amino acid residues 1063-1066 and 940-944 of the helicase, respectively.

Adenosine Triphosphatases ; metabolism ; Base Sequence ; DNA Primers ; Fluorescence Polarization ; Humans ; Mercury ; toxicity ; Protein Conformation ; RecQ Helicases ; chemistry ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; chemistry ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet ; Structure-Activity Relationship

Objective To explore the status quo and influencing factors of caring efficacy of nursing undergraduate students so as to provide reference for improving their caring efficacy. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted. Totally 274 nursing undergraduate students from 10 general hospitals in Sichuan Province were surveyed by using general information questionnaire, professional model scale for nursing students, professional identity questionnaire for nursing students and caring efficacy scale. Results The average score of caring efficacy of undergraduate nursing students was (4.00 ±0.64), which was lower that of jurior nurse before training (4.55±0.34) and after training (4.98±0.27). The average score of career identity and professional model (3.63±0.68) were postively related with career effevtieness (all P＜0.001). The care from family, medical staffs, job-taking benefits and dimission risks, social comparison and self-reflection were the main factors influencing caring efficacy (P＜0.01), which explained 40.9％ of the varianceof caring efficacy among undergraduate nursing students. Conclusions Caring efficacy of the nursing students was above the middle level, but lower than that of clinical junior nurses. Their professional model and professional identity were positively correlated with caring efficacy. It is necessary to establish a good professional model, through example education, perfect career planning and improve the professional identity of nursing undergraduate students, so as to improve their caring efficacy of nursing students, and then improve the quality of nursing team reserves.

Toxocara vitulorum has been rarely reported in yaks at high altitudes and remote areas of Sichuan Province of Tibetan Plateau of China. The current study was designed to investigate the prevalence, associated risk factors, and phylogenetic characteristics of T. vitulorum in yak calves on the Qinghai Tibetan plateau. Fecal samples were collected from 891 yak calves and were examined for the presence of T. vitulorum eggs by the McMaster technique. A multivariable logistic regression model was employed to explore variables potentially associated with exposure to T. vitulorum infection. T. vitulorum specimens were collected from the feces of yaks in Hongyuan of Sichuan Province, China. DNA was extracted from ascaris. After PCR amplification, the sequencing of ND1 gene was carried out and phylogenetic analyses was performed by MEGA 6.0 software. The results showed that 64 (20.1%; 95% CI 15.8–24.9%), 75 (17.2; 13.8–21.1), 29 (40.9; 29.3–53.2), and 5 (7.6; 2.5–16.8) yak calves were detected out to excrete T. vitulorum eggs in yak calve feces in Qinghai, Tibet, Sichuan, and Gansu, respectively. The present study revealed that high infection and mortality by T. vitulorum is wildly spread on the Qinghai Tibetan plateau, China by fecal examination. Geographical origin, ages, and fecal consistencies are the risk factors associated with T. vitulorum prevalence by logistic regression analysis. Molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of ND1 gene of T. vitulorum indicated that T. vitulorum in the yak calves on the Qinghai Tibetan plateau are homologous to preveiously studies reported.
Altitude ; Animals ; Ascaris ; Cattle* ; China* ; DNA ; Eggs ; Feces ; Logistic Models ; Mortality ; Ovum ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence* ; Risk Factors* ; Tibet ; Toxocara*

Tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) cases has not been reported in Tibetan chickens (TBCs), but it is commonly seen in commercial broilers characterized by lameness. The underlying mechanism remains unclear. Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are important regulators of cellular adaptation to hypoxic conditions. In this study, we investigated the role of HIF-1α,
Anoxia ; Blotting, Western ; Chickens ; Growth Plate ; Osteochondrodysplasias ; Poultry ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA ; Thiram