OBJECTIVETo study the prevalence rate of upper respiratory tract group A Streptococcus (GAS) carriage in school-age children from Xinjiang Province.

METHODSA total of 478 children at age of 9-12 years from Tulufan City and Buerjin County of Xinjiang Province were enrolled by random cluster sampling. Throat swab cultures were performed once each season for the determination of presence of GAS.

RESULTSIn the 1 827 samples, 196 GAS strains were isolated, with a GAS carrier rate of 10.7%. The prevalence rate of GAS carrier in Tulufan City ranged from 3.7%-16.5% compared with 4.7%-21.4% in Buerjin County (P < 0.05). The prevalence rate of GAS carrier in winter is the highest, followed by in autumn, spring and summer in both regions. There were significant differences in the GAS carriage rate in autumn between the two regions. There were no significant differences in the GAS carriage rate between boys and girls. Of the 196 GAS strains, 133 from Han, 22 from Uygur and 41 from Hazakh children. There were significant differences in the prevalence rate of GAS carriage among children with different ethic groups.

CONCLUSIONSThe prevalence rate of GAS carriage is high in school-age children from Tulufan and Buerjin of Xinjiang Province. The GAS carrier rate is associated with the season and ethic group. The children from Buerjin County present a higher GAS carrier rate than those from Tulufan City.

Carrier State ; microbiology ; Child ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Prevalence ; Respiratory System ; microbiology ; Streptococcus pyogenes ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to establish a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for detection of Vibrio parahaemolyticus (V. parahaemolyticus).

METHODSThe specificity of this assay was evaluated by using a panel of 33 strains of V. parahaemolyticus and 22 strains of other species bacteria. The sensitivity was determined by using serial dilutions of V. parahaemolyticus (ATCC 17802) chromosomal DNA (5×10(0) - 5×10(5) copies/µl). The samples were also tested by using qualification PCR assay and Taqman real-time PCR assay in parallel for comparison with LAMP.

RESULTSBoth sensitivity and specificity of LAMP assay, PCR assay and Taqman real-time PCR assay were 100% (22/22, 33/33, respectively). The detection limits of above three methods assay were 5×10(1) copies/µl, 5×10(3) copies/µl and 5×10(2) copies/µl, respectively. The reaction period of time needed of the above three assays was 22 min, 3 h, 50 min, respectively.

CONCLUSIONCompared to qualification PCR assay and Taqman real-time PCR assay, the established LAMP assay was better in low detection limit and less reaction time, which made it an ideal method for quick detection of V. parahaemolyticus.

Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques ; methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Vibrio parahaemolyticus ; genetics ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) among schoolchildren in Guangdong Province and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

METHODSUsing a cluster sampling method, an epidemiological survey of RHD was conducted in 16 682 primary and high school students by auscultation in Guangdong Province and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from 2005 to 2006. Review of the clinical records, RHD survey in adults, and examination of the positivity rate of group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus (GAS) by throat swab cultures in the students aged between 9 and 12 years in the sampled schools were also carried out.

RESULTSNo RHD patient was found in the sampled population. In Xinjiang, the prevalence of RHD was 12.9/1000 among adults, higher than that (2.2/1000) in Guangdong Province. The GAS-positive rate in the schoolchildren in Xinjiang ranged from 9.8% to 12.6%, higher than that in Guangdong (2.3%-3.9%).

CONCLUSIONThe GAS-positive rate among children and incidence of RHD in adults are higher in Xinjiang than in Guangdong. The prevalence of RHD among the schoolchildren shows a reduction compared with that in 1994.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Cluster Analysis ; Female ; Heart Valve Diseases ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Prevalence ; Rheumatic Heart Disease ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; prevention & control ; Streptococcal Infections ; epidemiology ; Streptococcus agalactiae

Aim To study the therapeutic effect of 35% and 70% ethanol elution sites of Gardeniae Fructus extract on 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)/ethanol induced ulcerative colitis (UC) in rats, and to identify the chemical composition of the active elution site using mass spectrometry. Methods The UC model induced by TNBS was used in rats, and the different eluted parts were administered by gavage at a dose of 2. lg/kg for 7 days. Body weight measurement , disease activity index (DAI) score, and pathological score of colon tissues were compared. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) , superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde ( MDA ) , nitric oxide ( NO ) , tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) , interleukin in mouse colon tissue -6 (IL-6), interleukin-1 (3 (IL-ip) levels were compared among groups. Liquid-mass spectrometry was used to identify the chemical components of the parts with better efficacy. Results Compared with model group, the weight loss in 35% elution site group was significantly improved, the DAI and histopathology scores were markedly reduced, and the contents of MPO, NO, MDA, TNF-a, IL-6 and IL-1(3 in tissues were apparently reduced. SOD content increased significantly (P <0. 01). A total of 19 chemical components were identified by LC-MS, 11 of which were iri- doids. Conclusions The 35% elution site of Gardeni- a has obvious therapeutic effect on UC rats, and the iridoid component may be the material basis for its function.