Objective To characterize the molecular characteristics of hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) of influenza B viruses isolated in Jiangsu province,2011.Methods Thirteen strains of influenza B virus in different areas and epidemic period in Jiangsu province,2011 were selected for whole-genome sequencing,and analysis of molecule epidemic characteristics for HA and NA was carried out by bioinformatics method.Results Of the 13 randomly selected influeuza B strains,10 strains were assorted to Victoria lineage strains with NA genes from Yamagata lineage,and 3 strains belong to Yamagata lineage.Compared nucleotide and amino acid sequences of HA and NA genes with their vaccine strains respectiuely,196/197 glycosylation site appeared on HA1 gene in Yamagata/Victoria isolates virus.Conclusion Both B/Victoria and B/Yamagata lineage viruses co-circulated in Jiangsu province,and reassortant virus of Victoria lineage were predominant virus.

OBJECTIVETo study the mechanism of hepatitis B virus infected patients who is negative for HbsAg.

METHODSDNA sequences of 46 patients were analyzed. In these patients, HBsAg was negative but HBV DNA was positive and six new HBsAg variants were identified. Four of the six variants were combined point mutants and two were insertion variants. These S genes were subcloned into eukaryotic expression vector EBO-plpp, and the recombinant eukaryotic expression plasmids were transfected into COS7 cells. Cell lines expressing mutant type HBsAg were obtained. The supernatants were detected by ELISA and RIA.

RESULTSOnly the two-amino acid-insertion variants could be detected and the others failed to react with polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against HbsAg.

CONCLUSIONThe results indicated that the point mutations and insertions may result in a conformational change of the S gene, which affect HBsAg antigenicity, suggesting a possible relationship between the variants and the negative conversion of HBsAg of the patients.

Animals ; Antigenic Variation ; COS Cells ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; genetics ; immunology ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; immunology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; immunology ; virology ; Humans ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Point Mutation ; Transfection

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Five single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs4379368, rs10504861, rs10915437, rs12134493 and rs13208321) were recently identified in a Western population with migraine. These migraine-associated SNPs have not been evaluated in a Han Chinese population. This study investigated the associations of specific SNPs with migraine in a Han population. METHODS: This was a case-control study of Han Chinese residing in Fujian Province. Polymerase chain reaction—restriction-fragment-length polymorphism analysis and direct sequencing were used to characterize the relationships of SNPs in a control group of 200 subjects and in a migraine group of 201 patients. RESULTS: The frequencies of the five SNPs did not differ between patients with migraine and healthy non migraine controls. However, subgroup analysis indicated certain SNPs were more strongly associated with migraine with aura or migraine without aura than with controls. The CT genotype of rs4379368 was more common in migraine patients with aura (75%) than in migraine patients without aura (47.9%) and controls (48.5%) (p<0.05), and the TT genotype of rs10504861 was more common in migraine patients with aura than in controls (8.3% vs. 0.5%) (p<0.05). Meanwhile, the CC genotype of rs12134493 was less common in migraine patients without aura than in controls (80.6% vs. 88%) (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the rs4379368 and rs10504861 SNPs are markers for susceptibility to migraine with aura and that rs12134493 is a marker for the risk of migraine without aura in this Han population. Future studies should further explore if these associations vary by ethnicity.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Case-Control Studies ; Epilepsy ; Genotype ; Humans ; Migraine Disorders* ; Migraine with Aura ; Migraine without Aura ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

OBJECTIVETo determine the changes in the levels of endogenous metabolites in rats with chronic immobilization stress (CIS) taking Xiaoyao Powder (XYP) and its modified prescription version, which lacks the volatile oils extracted from Herba Menthae.

METHODSTwenty-four experimental male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups of 6 rats each: control, model, XYP-1 (containing volatile oils from Herba Menthae), and XYP-2 (lacking volatile oils). All rats except control group rats were subjected to CIS 3 h per day for 21 consecutive days. Groups XYP-1 and XYP-2 were given the extracted XYS with or without volatile oils (3.854 g/kg; suspended in distilled water) via gavage 1 h before CIS each day for 21 days. Rats were anesthetized using intraperitoneal injection of pentobarbital sodium (40 mg/kg) on the 22nd day. Observations were made using a Varian INOVA 600 MHz NMR spectrometer at 27 °C. Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) and longitudinal eddy-delay (LED) were applied, resulting in spectra showing only the signals from micro- and macro-metabolites.

RESULTSCompared to controls, rats subjected to CIS showed increased levels of plasma metabolites, such as acetic acid, choline, N-glycoprotein (NAC), saturated fatty acid, and blood sugars. Levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), and unsaturated fatty acids were decreased. The biochemical effects of XYS were characterized by elevated levels of VLDL, LDL, threonine, methionine, and glutamic acid in plasma.

CONCLUSIONSome common and characteristic metabolites on the anti-CIS of XYP and its modified prescription were obtained. The metabolomics technology is a valuable tool and may be used to identify the specific metabolites and potential biomarkers of therapeutic effect of Chinese medicinal prescriptions.

Animals ; Blood Proteins ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Chronic Disease ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Metabolome ; drug effects ; Powders ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Restraint, Physical ; Stress, Psychological ; blood ; drug therapy ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the association between the progression of gastric cancer and the aberrant methylation of CDH1 gene in preoperative abdominal lavage fluid.

METHODSReal-time methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction(qMSP) was used to investigate the methylation status of the CDH1 gene promoter 5'-CpG islands from preoperative abdominal lavage fluid in 92 patients with gastric cancer. The associations between methylation of CDH1 genes and clinicopathologic features and prognosis were investigated.

RESULTSAmong the 92 patients with gastric cancer, aberrant methylation of CDH1 gene was detected in 45(48.9%) patients, including total aberrant methylation in 12(13.0%) cases and partly aberrant methylation in 33(35.9%) cases. Significant associations were found between CDH1 methylation status and tumor size, growth pattern, differentiation, lymphovascular invasion, infiltration depth, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, and clinical staging(all P<0.05). However, there were no significant associations between CDH1 methylation status with gender, age, tumor location, or Helicobacter pylori infection(all P>0.05). The median progression-free survival was 20 months for CDH1 methylation group and 38 months for non-methylated group, and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.01). Cox model analysis revealed that CDH1 methylation status in preoperative peritoneal lavage fluid was an independent factor associated with postoperative survival in patients with gastric cancer(P=0.000, RR=332.88, 95%CI:21.71-5105.07).

CONCLUSIONSThe aberrant methylation of 5'-CpG of CDH1 gene promoter is common in gastric cancer. The examination of CDH1 methylation status of abdominal lavage should be considered in the progression of gastric cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Cadherins ; genetics ; CpG Islands ; genetics ; DNA Methylation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Stomach Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study angiogenesis and regulatory factors in the proliferated prostatic tissues of Sprague Dawley (SD) rats with BPH induced by testosterone.

METHODSSixteen castrated SD rats, aged 8 weeks and weighing 200 approximately 250 g, were equally randomized into a model group and a control group, and the BPH model was established by subcutaneous injection of testosterone. Immunohistochemistry and MIAS (micro-image analysis system) were used to test the manifestations of MVD (microvessel density), VEGF (vascular endothelium growth factor), flk-1, endostatin, MMP-2 (matrix metalloproteinase-2) and TIMP-2 (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2) in the prostatic tissues of both the model and the control groups. Multiple linear regression with the stepwise method was adopted to analyze the data.

RESULTSThe manifestations of MVD, VEGF, flk-1, MMP-2, MMP-2/TIMP-2 and VEGF/endostatin in the model group were higher, while that of endostatin was lower than in the control group (P < 0.01), and the manifestation of TIMP-2 showed no statistical difference between the two groups. The regression analysis indicated that MVD was positively correlated to VEGF, VEGF/endostatin and MMP-2/TIMP-2 (r = 0.974, 0.986, 0.982, P < 0.05) and negatively correlated to endostatin (r = - 0.975, P < 0.05) .

CONCLUSIONTestosterone could induce BPH in SD rats by increasing MVD and promoting the multiplication of vascular endothelial cells after regradation of basement membrane.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Endostatins ; biosynthesis ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; biosynthesis ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Prostate ; blood supply ; metabolism ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Testosterone ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 ; biosynthesis ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; biosynthesis ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 ; biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo study the potentiality of osteanagenesis of the hematomas formed around the fractures and that of the marrow stroma cells, evaluate the effect of the combined trans-plantation of the hematoma and the marrow stroma cells, to explore a new method to accelerate the union of fracture.

METHODSThe bone defect models were made on the tibias of the New-Zealand's rabbits. The hematomas formed around the fracture were taken out 3 days latter after the operation, the marrow stroma cells were abstracted from the femoral marrow simultaneously. And then the mixture of the hematoma and the marrow stroma cells were transplanted to the defects of the tibias in the experiment group, and the hematoma transplanted simply to the same place in the control group. The radio-graph and the histological observation of the osteotylus were carried out regularly post-operation.

RESULTS1) There was a significant difference in osteotylus quantity between the two groups: more osteotylus and obvious periosteal proliferation were found in the experiment group than that in the control group which accepted the transplantation of the hematomas alone. 2) There was a significant difference in osteoblast number between the two groups: more sclerotomal-like cells were observed under the microscope in the experiment group than that in the control group.

CONCLUSIONMarrow stroma cells have great potentiality of osteoanagenesis. The result of combined transplantation of the marrow stroma cells and the hematomas is more effective than that of simple transplantation of the bone hematoma.

Animals ; Blood Cells ; transplantation ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Female ; Fracture Healing ; Hematoma ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Stromal Cells ; transplantation ; Tibia ; injuries ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Tibial Fractures ; physiopathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Transplantation, Autologous

Objective To determine the awareness, treatment and control of hypertension and its determinants in the elderly hypertensive patients of Dean nationality so as to explore the associated determinants. Methods This was a cross-sectional, population-based survey. A total of 939 persons aged 60 years and older sampled by stratified sampling method from the elderly population of Dean nationality were examined from July to September 2016. Meanwhile, the data of medical history and examination were collected. Results There were 353 elderly patients with hypertension in the 939 subjects. The awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in the elderly hypertensive patients (EHP), which was 47.3％, 36.5％and 22.1％respectively, were higher than the results of previous national study and had the upward trends with the increasing age (<0.05) . In comparison with the reference group, EHP living in middle economic level area had the higher awareness, treatment and control of hypertension (<0.05) . The results of covariate-adjusted multilevel logistic regression model indicated that there was a cross-level interaction effect between middle economic level area and dyslipidemia on the awareness and treatment of hypertension respectively, and a cross-level interaction effect between middle economic level area and low fat diet on the control of hypertension ( <0.05) . The individual level covariates, age (OR=1.3412, 1.3144, 95％ CI 1.0217-1.7609, 1.0030-1.7225) and diabetes ( OR=2.6735, 2.3078, 95％ CI 1.0721-6.6672, 1.0240-5.2007), had the positive association with the awareness and treatment of hypertension;age (OR=1.4740, 95％CI 1.0034-2.1654), non-drinking (OR=3.2056, 95％CI 1.5554-6.6066) and low salt diet (OR=3.6969, 95％CI 1.7996-7.5946) had the positive association with the control of hypertension. Conclusion The awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in the EHP of Dean nationality were higher than those of the national level, and the dominant factors were economic level, age, dyslipidemia, diabetes, non-drinking, low fat diet and low salt diet, etc.

Objective To assess the impact of the positional relationship between the large craniopharyngiomas and the third ventricle on the outcome of surgical resection of the tumors. Methods In 72 cases of craniopharyngiomas, the tumors were classified into two types according to the radiographic and surgical findings defining the relationship between the tumors and the third ventricle. For each type of tumors, 3 grades were classified based on the tumor size, texture, and infiltration pattern of the third ventricle. The extend of tumor removal was confirmed by both intraoperative evaluation and postoperative CT or magnetic resonance imaging. The correlation between the degree of hypothalamus invasion and the extend of tumor removal was analyzed in all the cases. Results The craniopharyngiomas were classified into two types, namely those residing in the third ventricle (7 cases) and those invading the third ventricle(65 cases). The degree of tumor resection was significantly different between the 3 grades: total tumor removal was achieved in 95.7% of grade Ⅰ cases, in 80.0% of grade Ⅱ cases, and in only 47.4% of grade Ⅲ I cases (P<0.05). conclusion Understanding of the anatomical relationship of the tumor to the third ventricular floor can be great value for improving the outcome of surgical resection of large craniopharyngiomas.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects and mechanism of qi-tonifying and stasis-eliminating (QTSE) therapy on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors Flt-1 and Flk-1 in the brains of intracerebral hemorrhagic (model) rats.

METHODSOne hundred and eighty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups: the normal group (n=5), the sham-operative (SO) group (n=35), the model group (n=35), the QTSE group (n=35), the QT group (n=35) and the SE group (n=35). All the rats except those in the normal group and SO group were established into an intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH) model by intracerebral injection of collagenase type VII and the latter three were orally administered with Buyang Huanwu Decoction (a classical recipe for QTSE) or with some of its components for qi-tonification and for stasis-elimination, respectively. To the other three groups, normal saline solutions were given instead. Behavioral tests were carried out in the animals randomly chosen from each group on days 1, 2, 4, 7, 14, 21 and 28 after modeling. The expressions of VEGF, Flk-1 and Flt-1 were determined by immunohistochemistry and the number of vascular segments with positive expression in the injured brain area of the rats was calculated.

RESULTSFrom day 7 onwards, the asymmetric forelimb use rate in the QTSE group recovered more significantly than that in the other model groups. In the model group, the expressions of VEGF, Flk-1 and Flt-1 appeared on day 1 and reached a peak on day 21, then weakened gradually. In the QTSE group, as compared with the other model groups, a higher level of VEGF expression was shown from day 7 (P<0.01) and a higher level of Flt-1 expression was shown from the 7th day to the 21st day (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONQTSE therapy can up-regulate the expressions of VEGF and its receptors (Flk-1 and Flt-1) and improve the recovery of kinetic function in the ICH rats, which may be correlated with its action in modulating vascular regeneration to promote the reconstruction of microvascular networks in the damaged areas.

Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Female ; Forelimb ; physiopathology ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Phytotherapy ; methods ; Qi ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 ; metabolism