. Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most common protozoan parasites with widespread distribution globally. However, little information is available about the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in geese (Anser domestica) in China. In the present study, the seroprevalence of T. gondii in geese were investigated in Hunan province, China. A total of 900 serum samples were collected from ten administrative regions in Hunan province, China, and assayed for T. gondii antibodies by Indirect Haemagglutination (IHA) test. Overall, 21.1% of the animals were positive for T. gondii antibodies. The results of the present survey indicated the presence of T. gondii infection in geese in Hunan province, China. Therefore, it is important to execute integrated control strategies and measures to prevent and control T. gondii infection in geese in this province. This is the first report seroprevalence of T. gondii in geese in Hunan province, China.

In the last decade, we have gained significant understanding of the mechanism by which vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) specifically kills cancer cells. Dysregulation of translation and defective innate immunity are both thought to contribute to VSV oncolysis. Safety and efficacy are important objectives to consider in evaluating VSV as a therapy for malignant disease. Ongoing efforts may enable VSV virotherapy to be considered in the near future to treat drug-resistant ovarian cancer when other options have been exhausted. In this article, we review the development of VSV as a potential therapeutic approach for recurrent or drug-resistant ovarian cancer.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; Cell Proliferation ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Female ; Humans ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Oncolytic Virotherapy ; methods ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; pathology ; therapy ; virology ; Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus ; physiology ; Virus Replication

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between hyponatremia and degree of liver injury, complications and survival time, and the prognostic value of hyponatremia in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis. MethodsA total of 218 patients who were diagnosed with decompensated liver cirrhosis for the first time in The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University from January 2000 to March 2005 were enrolled in this study, and according to the serum sodium concentration, these patients were divided into group Ⅰ with a serum sodium concentration of ≥130 mmol/L (n=51), group Ⅱ with a serum sodium concentration of ≥120 and ＜130 mmol/L (n=97), group Ⅲ with a serum sodium concentration of ＜120 mmol/L (n=70). The patients′sex, age, serum sodium concentration, Child-Pugh class, and complications were analyzed, and the survival time was calculated. The one-way analysis of variance was applied for comparison of continuous data between groups, and the least significant difference t-test was applied for comparison between any two patients; the chi-square test was applied for comparison of categorical data between groups; the Kaplan-Meier method was applied for survival analysis, and the Cox regression model was applied for regression analysis. ResultsCompared with groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ, group Ⅲ had the highest proportion of patients with Child-Pugh C cirrhosis. With the increasing Child-Pugh score, the serum sodium concentration decreased; the serum sodium concentration showed significant differences across the patients with Child-Pugh A, B, and C cirrhosis (F=17.336, P＜0001), and differed significantly between any two groups of these patients (all P ＜0.05). Compared with groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ, group Ⅲ had the highest incidence rate of complications, and the incidence rates of hepatic encephalopathy and hepatorenal syndrome showed significant differences across the three groups (χ2=17.718 and 6.277, both P＜0.05). Group Ⅲ had a significantly shorter survival time than groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ (both P＜0.05). ConclusionIn patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis, the severity and incidence rate of hyponatremia increase significantly as liver injury becomes more severe, which suggests that hyponatremia can be used as a prognostic indicator in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis.

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is a unique member of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter superfamily that forms a Cl(-) channel with complex regulation. CFTR is composed of five domains: two membrane-spanning domains (MSDs), two nucleotide-binding domains (NBDs) and a unique regulatory domain (RD). The MSDs assemble to form a low conductance (6-10 pS) anion-selective pore with deep intracellular and shallow extracellular vestibules separated by a selectivity filter. The NBDs form a head-to-tail dimer with two ATP-binding sites (termed sites 1 and 2) located at the dimer interface. Anion flow through CFTR is gated by the interaction of ATP with sites 1 and 2 powering cycles of NBD dimer association and dissociation and hence, conformational changes in the MSDs that open and close the channel pore. The RD is an unstructured domain with multiple consensus phosphorylation sites, phosphorylation of which stimulates CFTR function by enhancing the interaction of ATP with the NBDs. Tight spatial and temporal control of CFTR activity is achieved by macromolecular signalling complexes in which scaffolding proteins colocalise CFTR and plasma membrane receptors with protein kinases and phosphatases. Moreover, a macromolecular complex composed of CFTR and metabolic enzymes (a CFTR metabolon) permits CFTR activity to be coupled tightly to metabolic pathways within cells so that CFTR inhibition conserves vital energy stores. CFTR is expressed in epithelial tissues throughout the body, lining ducts and tubes. It functions to control the quantity and composition of epithelial secretions by driving either the absorption or secretion of salt and water. Of note, in the respiratory airways CFTR plays an additional important role in host defence. Malfunction of CFTR disrupts transepithelial ion transport leading to a wide spectrum of human disease.
Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator ; physiology ; Epithelium ; physiology ; Humans ; Ion Transport ; Phosphorylation ; Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Coptidis Rhizoma (CR) on hemolysis and antioxidant system of normal mice and its impact on the functions, while evaluating the oxidation reduction property of CR and berberine.

METHODIn the whole animal experiment, normal mice were orally administered with CR at the dose of 1.2 g x kg(-1) for three days. Their blood were collected to detect the hemoglobin in plasma, the content of serum bilirubin, the number of peripheral blood reticulocytes, the T-AOC in whole blood, measure the contents of glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase (G6PD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) of RBC membrane, determine the activity of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase, Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ATPase, fluidity, and observe its impact on the liquidity and deformability of RBCs. According to the electrical and biochemical experiment, the voltammetric behaviors of CR and berberine on glassy carbon electrode were evaluated using cyclic voltammetry. In the RBC in vitro experiment, the impact of Coptidis Rhizoma on autoxidation hemolysis rate of RBCs of normal mice was observed.

RESULTThere was no significant effect on hemoglobin, serum bilirubin, and reticulocyte count in normal mice administrated with CR at the dose of 1.2 g x kg(-1), and so is on RBC membrane SOD, G6PD, MDA, GSH and whole blood T-AOC activity. In addition, CR had also no significant effect on Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase, Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ATPase activity, and no notable impact on the fluidity and deformability of RBCs. There were two oxidation peaks at -0.27 V and 0.60 V induced by CR and one oxidation peak induced by berberine at 0.56 V, with no reduction peak at fly-back. CR could significantly inhibit oxidative hemolysis in RBCs at the dose of 0.125-2 g x L(-1) in vitro.

CONCLUSIONThe normal dose of Coptidis Rhizoma can not cause hemolysis of RBC, and also can not change antioxidant system and functions of RBC, CR and berberine show antioxidant (reducing) properties.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Berberine ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Erythrocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Female ; Hemolysis ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice

Objective: To explore the characteristics of distribution on Chinese adult body mass index (BMI) in different age groups and genders and to provide reference related to obesity and related chronic diseases. Methods: Data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey in 2009 were used. Sequential sample cluster method was used to analyze the characteristics of BMI distribution in different age groups and genders by SAS. Results: Our results showed that the adult BMI in China should be divided into 3 groups according to their age, as 20 to 40 years old, 40 to 65 years old, and> 65 years old, in females or in total when grouped by difference of 5 years. For groupings in male, the three groups should be as 20 to 40, 40 to 60 years old and>60 years old. There were differences on distribution between the male and female groups. When grouped by difference of 10 years, all of the clusters for male, female and total groups as 20-40, 40-60 and>60 years old, became similar for the three classes, respectively, with no differences of distribution between gender, suggesting that the 5-years grouping was more accurate than the 10-years one, and BMI showing gender differences. Conclusions: BMI of the Chinese adults should be divided into 3 categories according to the characteristics of their age. Our results showed that BMI was increasing with age in youths and adolescents, remained unchanged in the middle-aged but decreasing in the elderly.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Asian People/statistics & numerical data* ; Body Mass Index ; China/epidemiology* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nutrition Surveys ; Obesity/ethnology* ; Sex Distribution ; Sex Factors ; Young Adult

Aiming at the medical practice problems of the surgical steel medical instruments, such as the crevice corrosion, the poor mechanical compatibility and the Ni, Cr plasma exudation, the laser deposition of Ti-6Al-4V alloy cladding layer at the local functional area as alternative coating was proposed and realized as a new process method. The accurate element content and good formability Ti-6Al-4V cladding powder was chosen, the low power and high duty cycle optimized laser process was adopt, the alternative coating of good fusion and low dilution was prepared. Through the elemental line scanning, the interface microstructure analysis and the experiments of basic mechanical properties, the basic properties of the cladding were characterized and verified. The experiments results showed that, the Ti, Al and V contents of the top coating were respectively about 88%, 4.9% and 3.9%, no sensitizing ions such as Cr and Ni were detected. Initial equiaxed α phase, flake β phase dist were distributed in the coating and interface, the α' martensite was precipitated at the boundary of the flake β phase, some refined granular β phase dispersion pinned to the grain boundary of basket structure. The microhardness of cladding layer was 352.08~312.76 HV_0.1. The friction coefficient of the cladding layer was about 0.22~0.65. A new technology and method reference for improving and upgrading the performance of surgical medical devices is provided by this research.
Alloys ; Corrosion ; Materials Testing ; Steel ; Titanium

It has been reported that extracellular signal-regulate kinase (ERK) is involved in the modulation of nociceptive information and central sensitization produced by intense noxious stimuli and/or peripheral tissue inflammation. Few studies have explored the relationship between ERK and cAMP response-element binding protein (CREB) in neuropathic pain after nerve injury, such as chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve. In the present study, CCI model was employed to investigate the activation of ERK on the expression of phosphorylated CREB (pCREB) in chronic neuropathic pain. Lumbar intrathecal catheters were chronically implanted in male Sprague-Dawley rats. The left sciatic nerve was loosely ligated proximal to the sciatica's trifurcation at around 1.0- mm intervals with 4-0 silk suture. Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor U0126 and phosphorothioate-modified antisense oligonucleotides (ODN) were intrathecally administered one day before and three consecutive days after CCI. Thermal and mechanical nociceptive thresholds were assessed with the paw withdrawal lantency (PWL) to radiant heat and von Frey filaments respectively. The expression of pCREB and Fos were assessed by both Western blot and immunohistochemical analysis. The results showed that intrathecal injection of U0126 or ERK antisense ODN attenuated significantly CCI-induced mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia. Correlating with behavior results, the injection also markedly suppressed the increase of CCI-induced pCREB and c-Fos expression. The results obtained suggest that CREB participates in the pERK-mediated neuropathic pain.
Animals ; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein ; metabolism ; physiology ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; metabolism ; physiology ; Male ; Pain ; etiology ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Phosphorylation ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sciatic Neuropathy ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Spinal Cord ; metabolism ; physiopathology

Objective:To investigate the influence of admission to intensive care unit (ICU ) on the postoperative complications in patients with esophageal carcinoma .Methods :A total of 391 patients with esophageal carcinoma confirmed by surgery in Department of Thoracic Surgery ,Zhongshan Hospital ,Fudan University ,from Jan 2009 to Dec 2009 ,were chosen .All the patients had clinical data and postoperative follow‐up data in detail . Patients were divided into postoperative ICU group (treatment group) and postoperative general ward group(control group) .The control group was further classified into control group A(without unplanned ICU admission) and control group B(with unplanned ICU admission) based on whether unplanned admission to ICU was conducted .The occurrence rates of postoperative complications were compared among the three groups . Logistic regression was performed in multivariate analysis of postoperative complications .Results:On Day 1 after surgery ,the APACHE Ⅱ score was higher in treatment group than in control group I(P<0 .05) .However ,there was no increase on rate of postoperative complications in treatment group .The APACHE Ⅱ score ,as well as the occurrence rate of postoperative complications ,was lower in control group A than those in control group B (P<0 .01) .The APACHE Ⅱ score in treatment group was higher than that in control group B (P< 0 .05) .However ,the occurrence rate of postoperative complications in treatment group was lower than that in control group B (P<0 .01) .On Day 1 after surgery ,the higher the postoperative acute physiology and chronic health evaluation(APACHE)Ⅱ score was ,the higher the occurrence rate of postoperative complications was(HR= 0 .631 ,95% CI:0 .405~ 0 .983 ,P< 0 .05) .Postoperative planned ICU admission could diminish postoperative complications ,and it was the independent factor(HR= 1 .588 ,95% CI:1 .147‐2 .199 ,P< 0 .01).Conclusions :If prompt admission to ICU for comprehensive treatment was conducted after esophageal cancer operation , the occurrence rate of complications could be reduced in esophageal cancer patients .

Objective : To explore the correlation between α 1 ⁃antitrypsin , CXCL12 , IL⁃15Ralpha and the prognosis of HIV⁃infected patients. Methods : A total of 154 HIV⁃infected patients were selected , and 154 healthy volun⁃ teers were randomly selected from our hospital for physical examination and divided into control group. According to the stage of the disease , the patients were divided into stage I , stage II , stage Ⅲ and stage Ⅳ. Western blot was used to detect the expression of α 1 ⁃antitrypsin and CXCL12 , PC⁃PCR was used to detect the expression of IL⁃15Rα , and indirect method was used to detect the levels of CD3 and CD4. Results : Compared with the control group , the levels of CD4 and CD8 in AIDS group decreased abnormally , and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0. 05) ; compared with the control group , the expression of α 1 ⁃antitrypsin , CXCL12 , IL⁃15Rα in AIDS group increased (P < 0. 05) ; compared with stage I patients , the expression of α 1 ⁃antitrypsin , CXCL12 , IL⁃15Rα in patients with stage Ⅱ increased (P < 0. 05) ; compared with stage Ⅱ patients , the expression of α 1 ⁃antitrypsin , CXCL12 , IL⁃15Rα increased (P < 0. 05) ; compared with patients in stage Ⅲ , the expression of α 1 ⁃antitrypsin , CXCL12 and IL⁃15Rα in patients with stage Ⅲ was higher (P < 0. 05) ; compared with patients in stage III , the expressions of α 1 ⁃antitrypsin , CXCL12 and IL⁃15Rα in patients with stage IV increased (P < 0. 05) . Conclusion α 1 ⁃antitrypsin , CXCL12 and IL⁃15Rα are closely related to HIV infection and prognosis of HIV infected patients.