Schistosomiasis hematobia is one major human schistosomiasis. The disease is endemic in Africa and Mediterra-nean region,and is the main cause of urogenital diseases. Although only Schistosoma japonicum is spreading across the Main-land China,now more schistosomiasis hematobia cases are reported among aid projects and migrant workers to Africa,with the economy development and the increasing degree of foreign exchanges. Meanwhile,the relevant clinical data of schistosomiasis hematobia are rare in China. This article reviews the clinical manifestations and progress in diagnosis and treatment of the dis-ease.

Objective To evaluate the association between maternal serum levels of vitamin B12 and folate and neural tube defects (NTD) in Shanxi Province which with the extremely high prevalence of NTD in China. Methods A case-control study was conducted in five counties of Shanxi Province, China. Maternal concentrations of vitamin B12 and folate [expressed as G (P5-P95)]in NTD-affected pregnancies were dichotomized at a cut-off of 10th percentile of the mean values of control women to calculate the risk of NTD for the lower level group. Results The mean levels of serum vitamin B12 and folate in the NTD pregnancies were significantly lower than in the control [vitamin B12 83. 8 pmol/L(30. 5-209. 1) pmol/L vs 102. 6 pmol/L(51. 9-269. 7) pmol/L, P<0. 05; folate:10. 5 pmol/L(4. 4-24. 5) nmol/L vs 12. 9 pmol/L(6. 3-32. 7) nmol/L, P<0. 01]. In cases complicated with spina bifida, lower maternal serum vitamin B12 and folate levels were detected compared with the control group. While, in those complicated with anencephaly, only lower levels of maternal folate were shown. There was no statistical significance in maternal serum concentrations of vitamin B12 and folate between those cases with encephalocele and controls. Higher risk of NTDs were found in pregnant women with lower level of vitamin B12 and folate (AOR = 2. 58, 95% CI: 1. 20-5. 51; AOR= 2. 76, 95%CI: 1. 30-5. 87). Conclusions Deficiency or insufficiency of folate or vitamin B12 is associated with the increased risk of NTD, especially in high risk population.

AIM: To systemically evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of intraocular implants for vitreous retinal surgery.METHODS: We performed a comprehensive search for studies reporting vitreous surgery with intraocular implants randomized controlled and a retrospective controlled clinical trials from China Hownet ( CNKI ), Wanfang database, and VIP literature database. Studies obtained from those database were filtered according to the criteria, and data were retrieved from eligible studies for further analysis. Then we performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intraocular implants using comprehensive Meta - analysis software version 2 (Biostat, Englewood, NJ).
RESULTS: In total 36 studies were recruited for our Meta - analysis, including 5 092 cases. Meta analysis showed: 1) regarding the efficacy of repairing the retinal detachment, silicone oil was a better intraocular implants than C3 F8(OR= 1. 76; 95% CI: 1. 19-2. 60, P = 0. 0047) and SF6( OR = 4. 68; 95% CI: 1. 48 - 14. 81, P = 0. 0087); 2) regarding the risk of postoperative cataract, silicone oil showed significant higher risk than BBS (OR = 3. 24; 95%CI: 2. 10-4. 99, P= 1. 09 e-7), and C3 F8(OR= 3. 03; 95% CI:1. 50 - 6. 10, P = 0. 0019 ); 3 ) regarding the risk of postoperative intraocular pressure, silicone oil showed significant higher risk than BBS (OR= 6. 74; 95% CI: 3. 38-13. 41, P= 5. 67 e-08), and C3 F8 also showed a higher risk than BBS (OR= 4. 79; 95% CI: 2. 37-9. 68, P = 1. 29 e-05). In addition, silicone oil showed significant lower risk as compared with heavy silicone oil (OR= 0. 16; 95% CI: 0. 08-0. 53, P= 0. 0026).
CONCLUSION: The intraocular implants for the treatment of retinal detachment in vitreous retinal surgery are mainly divided into two major categories, liquid and gas implants. The silicone oil, a major liquid implant, shows higher efficacy in terms of treating retinal detachment than the gas implants. However, the silicone oil is associated with a higher risk of postoperative cataract and intraocular pressure as compared with gas implants.

Objective: To evaluate the association between autoimmune diseases (ADs) and thyroid dysfunction using a Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. Methods: Genetic predictors of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism were collected through the UK Biobank, including 337 159 individuals and 10 894 596 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Genetic predictors of 6 ADs including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), and multiple sclerosis (MS) were collected through the GWAS Catalog database, including 14 267 individuals and 7 071 163 SNPs, 22 647 individuals and 99 962 SNPs, 24 840 individuals and 12 783 129 SNPs, 58 284 individuals and 13 108 512 SNPs, 13 239 individuals and 1 124 241 SNPs, and 38 589 individuals and 156 632 SNPs. MR analysis was performed using the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method. The horizontal pleiotropy was assessed using the MR-Egger regression, and sensitivity analysis was conducted with the leave-one-out. Results: IVW results showed that a higher risk of hypothyroidism was associated with T1DM (OR=1.007, 95%CI: 1.003-1.011, P<0.05), SLE (OR=1.005, 95%CI: 1.002-1.009, P<0.05), and RA (OR=1.013, 95%CI: 1.009-1.016, P<0.05); a higher risk of hyperthyroidism was associated with T1DM (OR=1.002, 95%CI: 1.001-1.003, P<0.05) and SLE (OR=1.002, 95%CI: 1.001-1.003, P<0.05). Conclusions Genetically predicted ADs are associated with an increased risk of thyroid dysfunction. A higher risk of hypothyroidism is associated with T1DM, SLE and RA; a higher risk of hyperthyroidism is associated with T1DM and SLE.

Objective: To chine and express the recombinant human endothelial monocyte-activating polypeptide-Ⅱ(EMAP-Ⅱ)and identify its anti-tumor biological activities.Methods: EMAP-Ⅱ_(147-312)was expressed by the expression vector pMAL-p2x and E.coli BL-21 and the product was purified.The production of tissue factor(TF)in human umbili- cal vein endothelial cell ECV-304 mediated by the recombinant EMAP-Ⅱwas determined by chemiluminescence sub- strate.The promoting effect of recombinant EMAP-Ⅱon TNF?-induced ECV-304 cell.Apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry.Its inhibitory effect on human pancreaic cancer cell SW1990 proliferation was determined by MTT method. Results:DNA sequencing verified that EMAP-Ⅱwas correctly cloned.The molecular mass of the protein identified by SDS-PAGE was consistent with the theoretic value.The productivity of recombinant EMAP-Ⅱwas 500?g per 1 g bacteria (wet mass).The purified product induced expression of tissue factor(TF)in ECV-304 cells;it also enhanced the sensi- tivity of ECV-304 cells to the apoptotic effect of TNF?([16.6?2.5]% vs[25.6?2.3]%,P

Objective:To express Tumstatin_(183-230)-TRAIL fusion protein and to observe its biological functions.Methods: SOE-ing PCR was employed to amplify the recombinant sequence of Tumstatin_(183-230)and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL_(114-281)).An expression vector pMAL-Tu-T was constructed by inserting Tu-T sequence into pMAL-c_2;the vector was used to transfect E.coli BL21(DE3)and expression of MBP-Tu-T fusion protein was induced by IPTG.Amylose Resin columns were employed to purify the fusion protein.The biological functions of MBP-Tu-T protein was examined by inhibitory test of endothelial cell proliferation,standard tumor cell cytotoxic assay,in vitro tube formation inhibition,and electron microscopic observation(apoptosis).Results:The expression rate of MBP-Tu-T fusion protein in E.coli was about 20%. Purified recombinant protein obviously inhibited endothelial cell proliferation(IC_(50)12.5?g/ml),induced apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells,and inhibited tube formation.Conclusion:Constructed MBP-Tu-T fusion protein is bifunctional,which lays a solid foundation for further investigation of antitumor effect of Tumstatin_(183-230)-TRAIL in vivo.

Objective To investigate whether the vohage-gated chloride channel CLC-2 gene— CLCN2 is associated with idiopathic generalized tonie-clonic seizures(often called a grand mal seizure, GME)of Jinuo people and Han people from Yunnan province.Methods Three regions,including Intron 2, Exon 5 and Exon 19(Intron 18),of CLCN2 were selected to conduct sequence analysis.The case-control study design was used to detect association between gene polymorphism and idiopathic generalized tonic- clonic seizures of Jinuo people and Han people from Yunnan province.Results No previously reported susceptible mutations were found in Intron 2,Exon 5 and Exon 19 in Jinuo people and Han people from Yunnan province.However we found a single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP)at site 146 of Intron 18. Case-control study were carried out,using this SNP.Distribution of the 3 genotypes(TT,TC,CC)has a significant difference between the IGTCS patients of Han people and the normal controls of Han people(9, 3,29 cases and 22,9,26,respectively,x~2=16.079,P

X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) is a primary immunodeficiency disorder caused by germline mutations of B-cell tyrosine kinase (BTK) gene. It is characterized by decreased serum immunoglobulins levels and circulating mature B cells. This defect in humoral immunity leads to increased susceptibility to infection. Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is an uncommon, ulcerating, neutrophilic dermatosis. Here we report PG in an 8-year-old patient with XLA. The patient received intravenous immunoglobulin treatment in conjunction with prednisone and topical application of 0.03% tacrolimus ointment and the ulcer was almost completely healed in the 2 weeks of follow-up. The coexistence has been rarely reported. XLA may be a possible cofactor in the pathogenesis of PG.
Agammaglobulinemia* ; B-Lymphocytes ; Child ; Follow-Up Studies ; Germ-Line Mutation ; Humans ; Immunity, Humoral ; Immunoglobulins ; Neutrophils ; Prednisone ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Pyoderma Gangrenosum* ; Pyoderma* ; Skin Diseases ; Tacrolimus ; Ulcer ; X Chromosome

The dry seeds of Cassia obtusifolia were carried by the "ShenZhou 8" satellite and sowed after landing. Based on our pri- or study on SP1, the characteristics of plants growth, physiological index and content of effective components were examined. The results showed that the QC10, QC29 strains matured 5 d earlier compared with control. The plant height, across diameter and ground diameter of QC10, QC29, QC46 strains was superior to the control at whole growth period. The branch number increased ranging from 4 to 11 and the number of pods reached 321, 313,281, respectively, which was dramatically higher than the control (246). The yield of QC10, QC29, QC46 strains increased noticeably from 31.4 to 63.2 g. The 1000-seed-weight of QC10, QC29, QC46 strains was 25.86, 25.88, 24.06 g, while the control was 23.69 g. Compared to the control, the mass fraction of chlorophyll was enhanced 1.098, 1.016, 0.297 mg. There was no significant difference in aurantio-obtusin and chrysophanol content of seeds. Through two years research, three high-yield mutant strains were obtained. This study indicates that spaceflight-induced mutants could provide new germplasm for C. obtusifolia breeding and offers the theoretical basis for further utilization of spaceflight-induced mutation to breed high-quality C. obtusifolia strains.
Cassia ; chemistry ; genetics ; growth & development ; Mutation ; Space Flight