Objective: To study the expression and activity changes of methionine adenosyltransferase (MAT) in human peripheral T lymphocytes. Methods: The expression of MAT mRNA was detected by RT-PCR and the activity of MAT was measured. Results: After stimulated by IL-2, PHA and anti-CD3 antibody, MAT-Ⅱ gene expression increased by (8.9? 2.1), (7.7?1.9) and (8.0?1.8) times, respectively, and the expression peak was at 8, 4 and 8 h,respectively; MAT activity continuously increased in 48 h. S-adenosylmethioinie (SAM) moderately induced IL-2 and IFN secretion by human T cells. SAM(0.1 mg/ml) downregulated the expression and activity of MAT-Ⅱ and the secretion of IL-2 and IFN induced by PHA or anti-CD3 antibody in human T cells. Conclusion:MAT is involved in the activation of T lymphocytes, and high dose of SAM may also inhibit its activation through PHA and anti-CD3 antibody.

Objective To study the method and effectiveness of interventional therapy for the stenotic or obstructive inferior vena cava(IVC) caused by hepatic cancer. Methods All together 6 patients were enroled, 4 males and 2 females, with age of 45 to 58 years, average 53 years. The main symptoms including abdominal distention, varices on abdominal walls and edema in lower extremities were caused by compression or involvement of IVC with right hepatic lobe lesion. We performed thrombolysis first and follower by balloon dilation and stent placement. Results IVC were recanalized in all 6 patients with free patent blood flow. The postal venous pressure dropped from 4.4 kPa to 2.1 kPa without major complications. Conclusions Treating the IVC stenosis and obstruction caused by primary liver cancer with interventional method is safe and effective together with improvement of life quality and prolongation of survival time. (J Intervent Radiol, 2006, 15: 537-538)

Objective To explore the effect of quality control circle(QCC) activities for improving the autonomous learning ability of the maxillofacial surgical nurses .Methods Twenty maxillofacial surgical nurses used the steps and methods of QCC activ‐ities .The factors affecting the autonomous learning ability were analyzed and the effective intervention measures were adopted .The activity cycle was 12 months ,including 40 times of theory classes and 40 times of classroom interaction .The scores of nurse autono‐mous learning ability scale ,satisfaction of doctors and patients on surgical nurses were compared between before and after activities . Results The scores of 2 dimensions ,including self motivational belief and self assessment ,after conducting QCC activities were in‐creased compared with before conducting QCC activities ;the doctor′s satisfaction degree and patient′s satisfaction degree were in‐creased ,the differences were statistically significant (P<0 .05) .Conclusion The QCC activities can motivate the working enthusi‐asm and responsibility ,help nurses to increase the autonomous learning ability ,thus enhance the nurses overall quality .

Objective:To develop and evaluate the improved Chinese hearing questionnaire for school children(CHQS)for mass epidemiology study on hearing impairment in China.Method:Using the probability proportion to size(PPS) method, 8 412 residents were investigated in 40 clusters in Jiangsu province with the WHO ear diseases and hearing disorders survey protocol.87.9% of the residents aged 7 years and over answered the questionnaire and accepted the pure tone audiometry.Result:The prevalence of hearing impairment was 12.9% by the questionnaire. Compared with golden standard(pure tone audiometry), Sen=58.5%, Spe=96.7%, PV+=78.9%, PV-=91.7%, overall accuracy=90.0% . The sensitivity for women was higher than men.Conclusion:The questionnaire produced high efficiency and specificity values.It could be used in mass hearing screening, particularly in remote and rural area, although the sensitivity was as low as most questionnaires.

0. 05). Conclusions Tinnitus is a common problem in the older population. With the aging of population, the problem will become more and more severe. More research is urgently needed on prevention and treatment of tinnitus in elderly people.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate if the OTOF gene contributes to the non-syndromic hearing loss of a Chinese pedigree with dominantly inherited auditory neuropathy (AN). METHOD: The subjects included were 9 live individuals in an autosomal dominant AN pedigree, 3 sporadic AN patients and 3 normal-hearing controls. Genomic DNA was isolated from the peripheral leukocytes of the subjects using the Pure gene DNA Isolation Kits. Firstly, the whole coding sequence of OTOF gene of one family patient were PCR amplified using specific primers. Each fragment was purified and subsequently analyzed by direct sequencing in an Applied Biosystems 3 730 automated DNA sequencer. The resultant sequence data were compared with the standard sequence to identify deafness-associated mutations. Other DNA samples were then screened for these mutations by PCR amplification and sequence analysis. RESULT: PCR amplifications were successfully conducted in all the subjects. Comparison of the resultant OTOF sequence in one family patient with the standard sequence identified 10 nucleotide variants which do not lead to amino acid change. These mutations were also detectable in other family individuals, 3 sporadic AN patients and 3 normal-hearing controls. CONCLUSION The OTOF does not seem to contribute to the pathogenesis of this Chinese AN family, which suggest new gene(s) involvement.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Case-Control Studies ; Chromosome Disorders ; ethnology ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Genetic Testing ; Hearing Loss ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Sequence Analysis ; Vestibulocochlear Nerve Diseases ; ethnology ; genetics

OBJECTIVE: To develop and evaluate the improved Chinese hearing questionnaire for school children (CHQS) for mass epidemiology study on hearing impairment in China. METHOD: Using the probability proportion to size (PPS) method, 8412 residents were investigated in 40 clusters in Jiangsu province with the WHO ear diseases and hearing disorders survey protocol. 87.9% of the residents aged 7 years and over answered the questionnaire and accepted the pure tone audiometry. RESULT: The prevalence of hearing impairment was 12.9% by the questionnaire. Compared with "golden standard" (pure tone audiometry), Sen = 58.5%, Spe = 96.7%, PV+ = 78.9%, PV- = 91.7%, overall accuracy = 90.0%. The sensitivity for women was higher than men. CONCLUSION The questionnaire produced high efficiency and specificity values. It could be used in mass hearing screening, particularly in remote and rural area, although the sensitivity was as low as most questionnaires.
China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Hearing Disorders ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Male ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Fruit cracking is a common physiological disease. Many fruits such as tomato, sweet cherry, apple, jujube, pomegranate, and litchi are liable to crack, causing considerable economic loss and agricultural resources waste. The mechanisms of fruit cracking are comprehensive. Some correlations have been observed between susceptibility of fruit cracking and some fruit traits (genetic, fruit size, fruit shape, fruit growth rate, water content, fruit skin characteristics, related gene expression, etc). Also, environmental condition (temperature, light, rainfall, etc) and orchard management (irrigation, sun-shade, mineral, growth regulator, etc) can influence fruit cracking. Here, progress in studies on fruit cracking is reviewed to provide a reference for prevention and control of fruit cracking.
Fruit ; Litchi ; Lycopersicon esculentum