Objective Through analyzing the epidemic characteristics and laws of human brucellosis in Gansu province during the past two years,to provide the basis for control of the disease. Methods Using China Information System for Diseases Control and Prevention V2.0 and survey data of human brucellosis outbreak,we calculated the incidence of brucellosis and the composition of new cases and chronic cases in 2009 and 2010, respectively, and analyzed the three distributions of the disease. Results Brucellosis incidence was 0.37 per million in 2009, and 1.7 per million in 2010. The new cases accounted for 54.6％(83/152) and 51.8％(43/83),and chronic cases were 53.3％ (81/152) and 56.6％ (47/83), respectively. About 1/3 of the counties (cities,districts) was found to be with the disease, and most cases were clustered in Hexi Corridor and Longdong area of Gansu province. There were three counties with outbreak. Time distribution of the disease was jagged. May, July,September and December were high, with September the highest. Sex ratio was 3 : 1, and mean age was 46 years old.67.7％ (159/235) of cases were farmers, followed by retired officers and herders, with a percentage of about 7％,respectively. Conclusions Epidemic of human brucellosis shows a rapidly rising trend in Gansu province. There are new patients throughout the year, and young farmers are the main victims. A high proportion of chronic brucellosis is more harmful. Strengthen the prevention and control of the disease to increase their brucellosis protective awareness.

OBJECTIVETo observe the characteristics of tongue proper and tongue coating in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and to explore the relationship between tongue picture and state of illness.

METHODSTongue picture was taken by digital camera and colors (red, green and blue) of tongue proper and coating were analyzed quantitatively with image processing software.

RESULTSIn the 69 patients of acute stage, the color of tongue proper was mostly light red (51 patients, 73.9%), with significant difference in comparing with other colors (P < 0.01). The color of tongue coating was mostly thin yellow (32 patients, 46.4%), and thin white was the second (29 patients, 42.0%). There was swollen tongue body in 5 patients (7.2%), teeth print on tongue margin in 12 cases (17.4%). In the 155 patients of recovery stage, the color of tongue proper was mostly dark pale (72 patients, 46.5%), the second light red (68 patients, 43.9%), color of tongue coating was mostly thin white (80 patients, 51.6%), which was significantly higher than other colors (P < 0.01), the second was yellow in tongue root region (31 patients, 20.0%). Swollen tongue body was found in 23 patients (14.8%) and teeth print on margin was found in 19 patients (12.3%). Most patients of ordinary state had light red tongue proper and thin white coating, patients of severe state mostly had dark pale tongue proper and yellow coating in root region, and the critical patients were mostly with dark pale proper and thick yellow coating. Patients with affected lung > or = 3 lobules mostly had pale dark proper and yellow coating on root, but those with involved lung < 3 lobules mostly had light red proper and thin white coating.

CONCLUSIONThe colors detected quantitatively by the method described above could comparatively reflect the difference of tongue proper and coating sensitively. Tongue picture is one of the objective evidence for judging state of illness and Syndrome Differentiation based on treatment in SARS patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Color ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; diagnosis ; Tongue ; pathology

Electromagnetic Fields ; Magnetic Fields ; Microwaves ; adverse effects ; Television

OBJECTIVETo investigate the interference effect of nicotinamide on UVA-induced cell proliferation in human skin melanocyte.

METHODSTo apply the optimum UVA dose expected to cause cell proliferation: 0.2 cm2, nicotinamide was added after the 0.2 cm2 UVA exposure immediately or 48 h later, then the rate of cell proliferation, calcium concentration and the activities of Na+-K+, Ca2+-ATP enzymes of melanocytes were measured respectively.

RESULTSAfter treatment with 1.000 mg/ml nicotinamide following UVA exposure, the rate of cell proliferation was decreased significantly 24 hours later. Treatment with 0.125 mg/ml nicotinamide 48 hours after UVA exposure also significantly inhibited the cell proliferation; 1.25 mg/ml nicotinamide increased calcium concentration in cells; 0.250 mg/ml nicotinamide increased the activities of Na+-K+, Ca2+-ATP enzymes in melanocytes (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONNicotinamide has more obvious effect on inhibiting melanocyte's proliferation if added immediately following UVA exposure. Our discovery indicated that nicotinamide may affect the melanocyte through modulating the calcium concentration. It is possible to consider nicotinamide as an efficient and safe sun screen to provide a certain level of protection for UVA exposed skin.

Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Melanocytes ; cytology ; Niacinamide ; pharmacology ; Skin ; cytology ; Ultraviolet Rays

Female ; Humans ; Manipulation, Orthopedic ; Middle Aged ; Radius Fractures ; surgery ; Ulna Fractures ; surgery ; Ulnar Nerve Compression Syndromes ; surgery

The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of treatment with haploidentical donor's lymphocyte infusion(hiDLI) combined with interleukin-2 (IL-2) after transplantation of autologous peripheral blood stem cells mixed with haploidentical allogeneic bone marrow (mix-HSCT) for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). 49 patients diagnosed as AML were enrolled in this study. After preconditioning with TBI plus VEMAC regimen, all patients received mix-HSCT. Autologous peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cells were mobilized with chemotherapy-combined G-CSF, and haploidentical allogeneic bone marrow cells were not mobilized with G-CSF. 33 patients in test group were treated with hiDLI plus IL-2 for 1-8 times after hematopoietic reconstruction, 16 patients in control group received mix-HSCT only. All the patients were followed-up for more than 3 years. The results showed that all the patients obtained hematopoietic reconstruction, and no graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was found. In two groups, the median time of absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 0.5×10(9)/L was 14 (12 - 18) and 14 (11 - 16) days, and WBC count ≥ 4.0×10(9)/L was 17 (16 - 22) and 18(17 - 20) days, Plt count ≥ 50×10(8)/L were 25 (24 - 29) and 25 (23 - 26) days. 9 patients in test group formed mixed chimerism (46XX/46XY) and sustained about 3 - 12 months; disease-free survival (DFS) was 63.6%, 3 patients in control group formed mixed chimerism (46XX/46XY), persistent about 3-6 months; DFS was 50.0%. It is concluded that treatment with hiDLI plus IL-2 after mix-HSCT for AML patients may increase DFS efficiently.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Immunotherapy, Adoptive ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; therapy ; Male ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo isolate breast cancer stem cells from breast cancer patients and identify their biological characteristics.

METHODSMammospheric cells were purified and enriched from the tumor tissues of breast cancer patients using mammosphere culture. Their expressions of CD44 and CD24 were analyzed by flow cytometry, and ALDH1, ESA and Oct4 expressions were determined by Western Blotting. The primary mammospheric and adherent cells, at the density of 2×10(4), 2×10(5) or 2×10(6), were inoculated into NOD/SCID mice to observe their tumorigenic and metastatic activities.

RESULTSWith mammosphere culture method, 62.36% of the mammospheric cells showed CD44(+)/CD24(-/low) phenotype. The expressions of ALDH1, ESA and Oct4 in the mammospheric cells were significantly higher than those in the adherent culture-derived breast cancer cells (P<0.05). Primary mammospheric cells were at least 100-fold more tumorigenic than the adherent cells; the mammospheric cells were associated with liver or lung metastases, but the adherent cells were not.

CONCLUSIONMammosphere culture can be employed to obtain breast cancer stem cells from the tumor tissues of breast cancer patients.

Adult ; Animals ; Aryldialkylphosphatase ; metabolism ; Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; CD24 Antigen ; metabolism ; Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Hyaluronan Receptors ; metabolism ; Isoenzymes ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred NOD ; Mice, SCID ; Middle Aged ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Octamer Transcription Factor-3 ; metabolism ; Primary Cell Culture ; Retinal Dehydrogenase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) pretreatment on beta amyloid protein (Abeta) induced impairment of in vivo hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) in the CA1 region of rats.

METHODSThirty-six adult male SD rats were randomly divided into six groups (n = 6): control, Abeta25-35, BDNF, (0.02 microg, 0.1 microg, 0.5 microg) BDNF + Abeta25-35. A self-made hippocampal local drug delivery catheter and a parallel bound stimulating/recording electrode were used to deliver drugs/stimulation and record field excitatory post-synaptic potentials (fEPSPs) in the hippocampal CA1 region of rats. High-frequency stimulation (HFS) was used to induce in vivo LTP.

RESULTS(1) Abeta25-35 (2 nmol) injection into CA1 region of rats did not affect the baseline fEPSPs, but inhibited the HFS-induced LTP significantly (P < 0.01). (2) Hippocampal CA1 injection of BDNF (0.1 microg) alone did not affect the baseline fEPSPs and HFS-induced LTP. (3) Compared with Abeta25-35 alone group, the averaged amplitude of LTP in BDNF (0.1 microg and 0.5 microg) plus Abeta25-35 groups significantly increased at 0 min, 30 min, and 60 min after HFS (P < 0.01), indicating that pretreatment with BDNF effectively protected against the Abeta,25-35 induced depression of LTP in a dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONIntrahippocampal injection of BDNF can protect against the Abeta25-35-induced LTP impairment, suggesting that the up-regulation of BDNF in the brain could maintain the normal hippocampal synaptic plasticity and may contribute to the improvement of learning and memory in Alzheimer's (AD) disease patients.

Amyloid beta-Peptides ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Animals ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; pharmacology ; CA1 Region, Hippocampal ; drug effects ; physiology ; Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials ; physiology ; Long-Term Potentiation ; physiology ; Male ; Peptide Fragments ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the interference effect of nicotinamide on UVA-induced melanin genesis and melanin transport in human skin melanocyte.

METHODSThe optimum UVA dose expected to cause cell proliferation: 0.2 J/cm(2), nicotinamide was added immediately after the 0.2 J/cm(2) UVA exposure and the melanin content, cell cycles, cell apoptosis and mRNA express level were measured respectively.

RESULTSMelanin content in melanocytes was increased significantly after exposed to 0.2 J/cm(2) UVA. Melanin content in melanocytes was decreased after treatment with 10.0 mmol/ml nicotinamide following UVA exposure, but the cell cycles and the cell apoptosis rate were not significantly altered. mRNA express levels of TYR, TRP-1 were modulated by nicotinamide.

CONCLUSIONNicotinamide has more effect on decreasing melanin genesis after UVA exposure, nicotinamide also plays a role in modulating the mRNA express of TYR, TRP-1 gene. It is possible to consider nicotinamide as an efficient and safe sun screen to provide a certain level of protection for UVA exposed skin.

Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Melanins ; biosynthesis ; Melanocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Niacinamide ; pharmacology ; Ultraviolet Rays ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the relationship between peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ2 (PPARγ2) Pro12Ala polymorphism and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Chinese Han population.

METHODSPubMed, Chinese Biomedicine Database (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wanfang database were searched for all relevant articles investigating the association between PPARγ2 Pro12Ala polymorphism and T2DM that were available from January, 1990 to June, 2011. A total of 29 relevant articles were selected. A Meta-analysis was performed to estimate heterogeneity and the pooled odds ratio (OR) to evaluate the relationship between PPARγ2 Pro12Ala polymorphism and T2DM. The sensitivity analysis was also assessed.

RESULTSA total of 21 qualified articles including 3870 patients with T2DM and 3333 healthy controls were analyzed in the study. The frequencies of the allele Ala12 in T2DM and control groups were 4.13% (320/7740) and 4.56% (304/6666), respectively. There were not heterogeneity (χ(2) = 25.96, P = 0.17) among the 21 qualified articles. The pooled OR (95%CI) value of the frequencies of the PPARγ2 genotype (PA + AA)/PP calculated by fixed effects model was 0.96 (0.81 - 1.14) (P = 0.64). There was not heterogeneity among the remaining articles after excluding the article with the largest weight and the article with larger frequencies of the allele Ala12 respectively (χ(2) values were 24.23, 16.87 respectively, both P values > 0.05). The pooled OR (95%CI) value of the frequencies of the PPARγ2 genotype (PA + AA)/PP of the remaining articles were 1.01 (0.84 - 1.21) and 1.07 (0.89 - 1.28) after excluding the article with the largest weight and the article with larger frequencies of the allele Ala12 (both P values > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPPARγ2 Pro12Ala polymorphism was not associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Chinese Han population.

Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; PPAR gamma ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide