Animals ; Carps ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Fish Proteins ; genetics ; Hydroxylation ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; genetics ; Lakes

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Diuretics ; therapeutic use ; Edema ; drug therapy ; Female ; Furosemide ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; complications ; Sulfonamides ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the transmission process of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and to evaluate the infectiveness of SARS patients in different periods of disease epidemics.

METHODSStandardized questionnaire was used to conduct case investigation and contact tracing by combining the field investigation and telephone interview. Transmission process, infectivity, transmission chain and contact history of SARS were studied through data analyses.

RESULTSOn 25th March 2003, a 91 year old man was admitted to Hospital J in Beijing with stroke and fever. He died on 30th March. From 31st March, there was an outbreak of SARS among his contacts in the family and in the hospital he was admitted to. Contacts would include his relatives, other co-patients and health care workers in the Hospital J. Chinese Field Epidemiology Training Program trainees conducted an investigation of the outbreak. Among the 207 contacts of the index cases through different generations, there were 36 cases of SARS (attack rate 17%) patients with one death. There were 12 cases having directly contact with the index case and 13 cases with one secondary case. The transmission chains of this outbreak could clearly be depicted. All the cases had close contacts during the symptomatic period of their index patients. Among the relatives, 85% of the cases had 3 - 5-day contact with their index patients after the onset of the illnesses. There was no significant difference between the two attack rates-70% for whose who had contact with the patient before and after illness onset) and 67% for those who only had contact after the onset of the illness. Out of the 44 social acquaintances and 38 of the family members who had contacts with the index patients during the incubation period, no one was found ill. Among the close contacts at the hospital who had no protection when providing care to the patient, the attack rate was found over 80%.

CONCLUSIONSAll the secondary cases of this outbreak had a history of direct and close contacts to the index patients after the onset of the illness. There was no evidence indicating that SARS cases were infectious during their incubation period.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional ; Male ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; transmission

Chronic hepatitis C has become a serious public health issue around the world.In recent years,with the development of pharmacotherapy for hepatitis C,it may be possible to cure hepatitis C.With reference to the epidemic status of hepatitis C and the advantages and side effects of conventional standard therapy (pegylated interferon plus ribavirin) and various oral direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs),this article summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of different combinations of DAAs in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C with different genotypes and briefly introduces the World Health Organization recommendations on the treatment of hepatitis C.Hepatitis C is expected to be eliminated with the development of pharmacotherapy for chronic hepatitis C.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is an important treatment option for male infertility at pre-sent.However, a few patients still suffer from repeated ICSI fertilization failure because their sperm is unable to activate oocytes.Artificial oocyte activation (AOA) technology can improve the fertilization rate, pregnancy rate, live birth rate, etc., but it remains unknown whether AOA has short- and long-term effect on offspring.In this article, recent literature about the effect of AOA technology on perinatal outcomes, genetics, physical development and neurological development of offspring was summarized.This paper aims to provide reference for reproductive medicine workers and pediatricians in clinical practice.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between endothelial progenitors cells (EPCs) and endothelium-dependent vasodilation in patients with unstable angina pectoris.

METHODSThirty patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP) and thirty control subjects were recruited. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in the brachial artery was evaluated by using ultrasound Doppler flow method. The number of circulating EPCs was analyzed by flow cytometry analysis. Total mononuclear cells were isolated from peripheral blood by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation, and then the cells were plated on fibronectin-coated culture dishes. CD34 antigen of adherent cells was identified by immunohistochemical assay. EPCs were characterized as adherent cells double positive for FITC-UEA-I binding and DiI-acLDL uptake by direct fluorescent staining under inverted fluorescent microscope.

RESULTSFMD was significantly impaired in the UAP group compared with the control group (5.93% +/- 2.67% vs 11.1% +/- 4.36%, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in NMD between two groups (13.60% +/- 5.03% vs 14.18% +/- 4.50%, P > 0.05). The number of CD34(+) cells significantly increased in the UAP group compared with the control group (0.13% +/- 0.05% vs 0.09% +/- 0.04%, P < 0.05). There was a negative association between impaired FMD and increased CD34(+) cell (r = -0.385, P < 0.05). A positive antigen of CD34 of adhesion cells and double positive adhesion cells were found.

CONCLUSIONThis study shows that the levels of peripheral CD34(+) cells in patients with UAP increase with an impaired endothelial function. The increase in EPCs may be an important compensatory response to acute coronary ischemia and impaired endothelium in patients with UAP.

Aged ; Angina, Unstable ; blood ; metabolism ; Antigens, CD34 ; Case-Control Studies ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Endothelium, Vascular ; cytology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stem Cells ; cytology

BACKGROUND:Stellate ganglion block is feasible for the patients in sub-health status,but it is invasive and the patient compliance is poor.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the clinical effectiveness of ultrasound-induced transdermal drug delivery for reducing the hyperactivity of the cervical sympathetic ganglia in the sub-health status.METHODS:Sixty-nine participants in sub-health state from different age levels and professions were recruited and were randomly divided into treatment (n=31) and control (n=38) groups.The treatment group underwent ultrasound-induced transdermal drug delivery to the cervical sympathetic ganglia,while the control group received psychological counseling on sub-health education and behavior intervention.All patients were assessed with Sub-Health Measurement Scale Version1.0,and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey prior to and post treatment,along with clinical curative effect assessment.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After treatment,29 participants in the treatment group were improved or recovered from sub-health,with an effective rate of 93.5％.Compared with the control group,the scores were significantly improved in the treatment group.To conclude,ultrasound-induced transdermal drug delivery to the stellate ganglion has a significant effect on sub-health state.

Allergic diseases have continued to increase year by year causing serious physical and mental injury to patients, families and individuals. This increase has been driven by conventional environmental and nutritional changes but is also created by the continual introduction of food additives into the diet and novel interior decoration materials into the living space. The causes of allergic diseases are complex and diverse, and the medical laboratory often is not be able to identify the allergic trigger; this creates a difficult environment to identify the appropriate clinical treatment for disease prevention and control. Physicians must be able to identify these triggers to help patients avoid the underlying allergenic cause of their disease. This can only be done by actively knowing a patient′s medical history, identifying the clinical manifestations of hypersensitivity and utilizing confirmatory testing as an important clinical tool in identifying the allergic source.

Allergic diseases have continued to increase year by year causing serious physical and mental injury to patients, families and individuals. This increase has been driven by conventional environmental and nutritional changes but is also created by the continual introduction of food additives into the diet and novel interior decoration materials into the living space. The causes of allergic diseases are complex and diverse, and the medical laboratory often is not be able to identify the allergic trigger; this creates a difficult environment to identify the appropriate clinical treatment for disease prevention and control. Physicians must be able to identify these triggers to help patients avoid the underlying allergenic cause of their disease. This can only be done by actively knowing a patient′s medical history, identifying the clinical manifestations of hypersensitivity and utilizing confirmatory testing as an important clinical tool in identifying the allergic source.

OBJECTIVETo estimate the frequency of injections and proportion of unsafe injections and to analyses the critical determinants of poor injection practices in general population in China. Also, to study knowledge, attitudes, practice research in providers and general population.

METHODSA random sample consisting residents and health care providers in a rural county was elected and interview about the frequency of received injection, as well as knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding injections were studied.

RESULTSOverall, 1 004 village residents, and 94 providers were interviewed. Among residents, 145 persons (14.4%), with 457 times (0.46 times per person) had received at least one injection during the previous 3 months. The frequency of injection was 1.84 per year. The proportion of received injections on treatment and immunizations was significantly different among > 12 years age group and < or = 12 years age group. Ninety-four point four percent of disposable syringes/needles were used for injections. Knowledge among the population and providers regarding injection safety was limited.

CONCLUSIONInjections were moderately frequent in this rural area and the proportions of disposable syringes/needles used for injections was very high. Knowledge of safe injection and reasonable injection as well as consciousness of self-protection in the providers and residents need to be improved.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Disposable Equipment ; statistics & numerical data ; Equipment Reuse ; statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Infant ; Injections ; adverse effects ; statistics & numerical data ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Rural Health Services ; Safety ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Syringes