OBJECTIVETo isolate Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) from mosquitoes collected in Liaoning province and analysis the genotype of new isolated JEV strains and the characters of nucleotide and amino acid in the E gene.

METHODSCollected mosquitoes in Dandong Liaoning Province in August, 2006. Virus isolation was using issue culture cells. Isolated viruses were identified by using serological and molecular methods.

RESULTSTwo new JEV strains, LNDG07-02 and LNDG07-16, were isolated from 1500 mosquitoes were belonging to genotype 1. The identity of nucleotide and amino acid of E gene between new JEV strains and live attenuated vaccine strain SA14-14-2 were 87.8-88% and 97.2%, respectively. Total 11 amino acid sites were differences in E gene between new isolates and SA14-14-2. However, there were no differentiation between the new JEV strains and the isolates in Donggang 2002.

CONCLUSIONGenotype 1 JEV was isolated again from Donggang, since the first isolation of this genotype in 2002. Genotype 1 JEV continues in existence in Donggang Liaoning Province.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Brain ; pathology ; virology ; Cell Line ; China ; epidemiology ; Culicidae ; virology ; Encephalitis Virus, Japanese ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Encephalitis, Japanese ; epidemiology ; virology ; Female ; Genotype ; Insect Vectors ; virology ; Male ; Mice ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Viral ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects and clinical prognosis of out-patient department-based smoking cessation services for coronary heart disease (CHD) patients.

METHODSA total of 140 smoking patients diagnosed with coronary heart disease in our cardiovascular department were randomly divided into the intensive smoking cessation clinic follow-up group (intervention group, patients were informed on the importance and methods to quit smoking at the first visit and reminded for that at months interval for 6 months, n = 70) and the conventional treatment group (control group, n = 70). After 6 months, the smoking status, cardiovascular event rates, drug usage, out-patient medical costs and quality of life were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSAge, gender, concomitant diseases, drug usage were similar between the two groups at baseline (all P > 0.05). After 6 months, smoking quit rate [34.2% (24/70) vs. 5.7% (4/70), P < 0.01], drug use rates: lipid-lowering drugs [95.3% (67/70) vs. 80.4% (56/70)], β blockers [82.4% (57/70) vs. 41.3% (28/70)], and ACEI/ARB [61.4% (43/70) vs. 34.4% (24/70)] were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group, while total cardiovascular event rates [21.4% (15/70) vs. 47.1% (33/70), P < 0.01] and out-patient medical costs (3789.3 RMB vs. 4984.2 RMB, P < 0.01) were significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group. The quality of life scores derived from MYO health survey questionnaire was significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (P < 0.01). The top three reasons responsible for continuous smoking for all patients failed to quit smoking were: (1) others smoked more than me and still alive and healthy [90.3% (56/62)]; (2) smoking helped me to keep relaxed and reduce trouble in daily work and life [70.9% (44/62)]; (3) smoking was essential while chatting and drinking with friends [66.1% (41/62)]. The overall satisfactory rate to this smoking cessation program was 42.8% and the satisfactory rate was up to 50.0% by patients.

CONCLUSIONSIntensive outpatient smoking cessation follow-up program can significantly improve the smoking cessation rates, the guideline drug use rate and the quality of life while reduce medical costs for coronary heart disease patients.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Coronary Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Outpatients ; Smoking Cessation ; methods

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the middle-long-term clinical effects of unilateral and bilateral percutaneous kyphoplasty(PKP) for vertebral fragility fracture in the elderly.

METHODSThe clinical data in elderly patients with vertebral fragility fracture treated by unilateral and bilateral PKP between January 2008 and January 2010 was retrospective analyzed. According to a unified criteria to divided into two groups for 104 patients(44 males and 60 females), of them, 50 cases were divided in unilateral group using unilateral pedicle surgical approach for PKP and 54 cases were in bilateral group using bilateral pedicle approach. VAS score, Cobb angle, and the height of anterior and posterior vertebral body were respectively analyzed peroperatively and at 3 d, 3 months, 1 year, 3 years postoperatively and final follow-up. Clinical effects and safety were assessed in two groups.

RESULTSAll the operations were successful. Operative time and bone cement injection volume in unilateral group were less than those of bilateral group(<0.05). Postoperative VAS scores, Cobb angle, and the height of anterior and posterior vertebral body were obviously improved in two groups(<0.05), and there was no significant difference between two groups(>0.05). Bone cement leakage occurred in 12 cases(11.5%), recurrent fracture of vertebral body occurred in 5 cases(4.8%), cerebrospinal leak occurred in 2 cases(1.9%), and nerve root irritation occurred in 3 cases(2.9%). The above complications were transient and released after symptomatic treament.

CONCLUSIONSMiddle-long-term clinical effects of unilateral and bilateral percutaneous kyphoplasty for vertebral fragility fracture are safe and satisfactory, and may be extended as a minimally invasive method. Unilateral approach for PKP has advantages of short operation time, relative less trauma, thus is a more ideal method.

The present study cloned wpGuamerin gene from a non-bloodsucking leech (Whitmania pigra), and the bioinformatics analysis of the sequence was performed. Additionally, the effects of feeding duration on the expression profile of the wp Guamerin gene were explored. The results showed that its sequence consisted of 295 nucleotides encoding a peptide of 83 amino acids(Genbank: KX768545), and its relative molecular weight is 9 145.95 Da. wp Guamerin does not encode proteins with a signal peptide, belonging to the hydrophilic protein. Its secondary structure is mainly composed of α-helix, extending chain, folding and random curl. Its similarity with other blood-sucking leeches ranges from 29% to 65%. The results revealed that wpGuamerin mRNA was detected higher expression in muscle than in salivary glands of Wh. pigra, and did not expressed in ingluvies and intestine. Its expression in muscle and salivary glands showed a single peak curve after feeding and the peak was observed in the 1st and 3rd after feeding, respectively. In summary, wp Guamerin in Wh. pigra is a small molecule polypeptide protein and is different from the Guamerin in blood-sucking leeches. wpGuamerin does not express in the digestive tract of Wh. pigra, and mainly express in muscle. Feeding behavior would stimulate the expression of wpGuamerin gene in muscle and salivary glands, but not in digestive tract.