Objective To explore susceptibility of praziquantel(PQT) against Schistosoma japonicum in the repeated chemotherapy areas in Dongting Lake region of China. Methods Sixty mice were divided into two groups, and infected respectively by cercariae released from the infected snails which were collected from new and old endemic areas. After 5 weeks, the mice in each group were divided into control groups and treatment groups (PQT group). The mice in each PQT group were treated with a single oral dose of praziquantel (600 mg/kg). Three weeks post treatment, mice were dissected, and the number of adults, the stool eggs per gram (EPG), the liver EPG and the hatching rates were observed. Results The worm reduction rates of the PQT groups of new and old epidemic areas were 98.24% and 98.71% respectively, and the stool egg reduction rates 99.94% and 99.64%, the liver egg reduction rates 75.85% and 73.10%,and there were no significant differences between the new and old endemic areas. The stool hatching test was positive in the control groups, and negative in the PQT groups. Conclusion Susceptibility of praziquantel against Schistosoma japonicum does not decrease in repeated chemotherapy areas in Dongting Lake region.

Objective To investigate the expression variation of aquaporin in colon tissues in acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP).Methods ANP rat model was induced by the retrograde injection of sodium taurocholate into the biliopancreatic duct.The rats were killed at 4 h, 8 h, 12 h and 24 h after modeling with 6 rats for each time point.The pancreas and colon tissues were harvested for pathological examination.The levels of IL-6, TNF-α mRNA expression and AQR (aquaporin-3, aquaporin-4, aquaporin-8) mRNA expression in proximal and distant colon were detected by RT-PCR.The levels of aquaporin protein in colon were examined by immunohistochemistry.Results After the establishment of ANP SD rat model, the integrity of colonic mucosa was continuously damaged, the structure of epithelial cells was unclear and the colonic villus were broken and destroyed, and inflammatory cell infiltration in submucosa was observed.The pathological score increased with the time of modeling.In 4 h, except that the mRNA levels of AQP-4 in distal colon was not obviously changed, mRNA levels of IL-6 and TNF-α, mRNA and protein expression of AQP-3 and AQP-8 in the proximal and distal colon of ANP rats were significantly elevated compared with shame group (P<0.05).AQP-3 and AQP-8 mRNA in proximal colon of ANP rats reached its peak in 8 h after the establishment and AQP-4 mRNA peaked at 24 h.AQP-3 and AQP-4 mRNA in distant colon of ANP rats reached its peak in 8 h after the establishment and AQP-8 mRNA peaked at 24 h.Protein expression of AQP-3, AQP-4 and AQP-8 in proximal and distant colon was strongest in 12 h and 24 h after the establishment.Conclusions With the progression of the ANP, the expression levels of AQP-3, AQP-4 and AQP-8 in both proximal and distal colons were elevated in various degrees, indicating that the aquaporins may participate in water metabolism of colon during ANP.

OBJECTIVETo assess the association of plasma homocysteine (Hcy) level and 66A/G and 524C/T polymorphisms of methionine synthase reductase (MSR) gene with essential hypertension (EH) in ethnic Uygurs and Hans from Xinjiang.

METHODSFrom September 2011 to July 2014, 199 Uyghur and 216 Han patients were collected, while 195 healthy Uyghur ethnics and 217 healthy Han ethnics were recruited as the controls. Polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RELP) was adopted to detect the above polymorphisms. Enzyme immunological assay was applied to measure the levels of plasma Hcy.

RESULTSCompared with the control, plasma Hcy levels were significantly higher in EH group in both Uyghur and Han ethnics (P<0.05). In both ethnic groups, there were also significant differences in MSR 524C/T polymorphism between the patients and controls (Uyghur: chi-square=6.559, P=0.038; Han: chi-square=12.684, P=0.002). No significant difference was found in MSR 66A/G polymorphism between the patients and controls in both ethnic groups (P>0.05). Plasma Hcy level in those with a 66G/524C genotype was statistically higher than that with 66A/524T (P<0.05). After adjusting confounding factors such as gender and age, Logistic regression analysis indicated that age (OR=1.924, 95% CI:1.177- 3.164, P=0.009), obesity (OR=2.491, 95% CI: 1.584-3.920, P<0.01), hyperhomocysteine (OR=1.609, 95% CI: 1.016-2.548, P=0.043) were independent risk factors for EH in Uygurs, while age (OR=1.133, 95% CI: 1.010-81.272, P=0.033), hyperhomocysteine level (OR=3.894, 95% CI: 2.432-6.237, P<0.01), and obesity (OR=1.864, 95% CI: 1.141-3.046, P=0.013) were independent risk factors for EH in Han ethnics. No association was found between the polymorphisms and EH in Uygurs and Hans.

CONCLUSIONAge, hyperhomocysteine and obesity were common independent risk factors for EH in both Uygur and Han ethnics from Xinjiang. The MSR 66G genotype can increase the plasma concentration of Hcy, while MSR 524T genotype may reduce it. MSR 524C/T TT genotype may be a protective factor for EH. MSR polymorphisms 66A/G and 524C/T are not independent risk factors for EH in Uygur and Han ethnics from Xinjiang.

Adult ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; ethnology ; genetics ; China ; ethnology ; Essential Hypertension ; Female ; Ferredoxin-NADP Reductase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Homocysteine ; blood ; Humans ; Hypertension ; blood ; enzymology ; ethnology ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide