OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of exteral use of papaverine cream on enhancement of skin graft.

METHODSFive mini-pigs were used for the study. 20 full-thickness wounds were created on the back of each animal. Along the midline of the abdomen, a 40 cm x 2 cm full-thickness skin graft was harvested and the wound sutured.The full-thickness graft was prepared and trimmed to 2 cm x 2 cm of 0.6 mm thickness split-skin grafts, which were transplanted to each wound with tie-over bolsters. The sutures were removed 2 weeks after the operation. Twelve pairs of 100%-survived skin grafts were selected and divided into group A (the left side) and group B (the right side), with each pair locating on the same and opposite position. From the day of suture removal, 2% papaverine cream was used to group A while plain cream was used to group B. The grafts were measured and observed for healing condition at the time of suture removal and the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth month. The surface area of the graft was measured and the shrinking ratio was calculated. After the animals were killed at the sixth month, samples of the skin grafts were taken and processed with 10% formalin, routine paraffin wax and Hematoxylin-eosin staining. The tissue structure was observed and the results were analyzed statistically.

RESULTSThe grafts in two groups did not have significant differences at the time of suture removal. Observations from the first to the sixth month showed that the two groups had significant differences in skin graft contracture and histological changes. HE stains demonstrated that the skin grafts in group A had less fibroblasts, more microvessels and orderly-arranged collagenous fibers.

CONCLUSIONSExternal use of papaverine cream can inhabit the contraction of skin grafts. It is a safe, effective, simple, and reliable method,which has the advantages of easy delivery,cheapness, less injury and infection,and no side effects.

Animals ; Contracture ; prevention & control ; Male ; Papaverine ; pharmacology ; Skin Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature ; Wound Healing ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo identify patterns of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) incidence in China during declining incidence periods of 2008, 2009, and 2010.

METHODSReported HFMD cases over a period of 25 months were extracted from the National Disease Reporting System (NDRS) and analyzed. An interrupted time series (ITS) technique was used to detect changes in HFMD incidence rates in terms of level and slope between declining incidence periods of the three years.

RESULTSOver 3.58 million HFMD cases younger than 5 years were reported to the NDRS between May 1, 2008, and May 31, 2011. Males comprised 63.4% of the cases. ITS analyses demonstrated a significant increase in incidence rate level (P<0.0001) when comparing the current period with the previous period. There were significant changes in declining slopes when comparing 2010 to 2009, and 2010 to 2008 (all P<0.005), but not 2009 to 2008.

CONCLUSIONIncremental changes in incidence rate level during the declining incidence periods of 2009 and 2010 can potentially be attributed to a few factors. The more steeply declining slope in 2010 compared with previous years could be ascribed to the implementation of more effective interventions and preventive strategies in 2010. Further investigation is required to examine this possibility.

China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Models, Statistical ; Population Surveillance ; Time Factors

By the time of primary 21st century, water hyacinth had become a serious environmental problem in China. Water hyacinth contributes to the major part of ecological hazards from the invasion of foreign plant species, which is estimated about USD 7 billion a year in values. In the past 10 years, herbicides glyphosate, 2,4-D and paraquat have been used in controlling water hyacinth in China. Although the herbicides provided effective control on the weed in some areas, they could not provide the sustainable inhibition on the weed population, while would lead to pollution of water at various levels. At present, the herbicide application on water hyacinth is forbidden in many areas of China such as Shanghai. In this situation, the asexual reproduction inhibitor, KWH02, was invented for controlling water hyacinth and it provided about 70% of growth inhibition without any risk of dead plant pollution. It has been about 10 years for bio-control of water hyacinth in China. Works focused on mainly the efficacy and safety of the utilization of foreign insects. Researches on microorganism herbicides to control water hyacinth were started and obtained primary achievements in recent years. Although there are different opinion on how to face the water hyacinth problem in China, it is accepted widely that the control methods should be high efficient and safe with low cost. Some practical measures for integrated management of water hyacinth are suggested.
Animals ; China ; Ecology ; Eichhornia ; growth & development ; Female ; Herbicides ; pharmacology ; Male ; Pest Control, Biological ; Rats ; Weevils

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this research was to study the genetic diversity of F-ATPase subunit gene uncEBF derived from Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) clinical isolates, furthermore to investigate the relationship between the genetic diversity of F-ATPase and S. mutans aciduric ability.

METHODS38 S. mutans strains included 18 high acid tolerance strains and 20 low acid tolerance strains. Gene uncEBF of these isolates were amplified with specific primers from S. mutans genomic DNA, and the PCR products were analyzed by RFLP and sequenced. SPSS 11.0 statistic software assayed the results.

RESULTSIt was testified that two genotypes A and B of PCR-RFLP were revealed when digested with Alu I and Dde I digested fragments of uncEBF displayed two different patterns C and D. Fisher exact two-tail test showed that the distributions of A and B genotype strains with different acidurance were different (P < 0.05), and the proportion of A genotype strains from high acidurance group was higher than that from low acidurance one. Some of these amplified uncEBF genes from different genotype were sequenced and testified that there existed variation of Alu I and Dde I recognized sites.

CONCLUSIONThis study indicated that uncEBF gene of S. mutans F-ATPase obviously exhibited genetic diversity.

Adenosine Triphosphatases ; Dental Caries ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Streptococcus mutans

OBJECTIVETo study the genetic diversity and the gene expression of membrane-bound proton-translocating ATPase (F-ATPase) subunit gene uncG derived from Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) clinical isolates.

METHODS38 S. mutans strains derived from caries-active and caries-free individuals including 18 strains displaying high acid tolerance and 20 strains displaying low acid tolerance. Gene uncG was amplified with specific primers from S. mutans genomic DNA, then the PCR product was analyzed by RFLP and sequenced. The relative expression quantity of uncG gene against the housekeeping gene recA was determined by using RT-PCR method. A gel documentation system and QUANTITY ONES software were used to analyze the data results.

RESULTSIt was testified that four genotypes A, B, C and D of PCR-RFLP were revealed when respectively digested with Alu I and Bsr I, but the distributions of the four genotype strains showed no difference (P > 0.05). The differences of uncG gene transcript quantities derived from different genotype or different aciduranc strains had no significance (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThis study indicated that uncG gene of F-ATPase obviously displayed genetic diversity and existed polymorphism at mRNA expression level, while the Alu I-RFLP genotypes and the expression levels would not be responsive to different acid tolerance of S. mutans strains.

Adenosine Triphosphatases ; Dental Caries ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Messenger ; Streptococcus mutans

OBJECTIVETo develop a new nonisotopic detection method of enzyme-amplified time-resolved fluorescence (EATRF) or enzyme-amplified lanthanide luminescence (EALL) for nucleic acid hybridization assays, which can be applied extensively in clinical diagnosis.

METHODSThe method combines the high affinity of biotin-streptavidin system, amplification of enzyme, and inherent advantage of lanthanide chelate with the background elimination of time-resolved fluorescence detection. The conversion of 5-fluorosalicyl phosphate to 5-fluorosalicylic acid (5-FSA) by alkaline phosphatase. The salicylic acid product forms a luminescent ternary chelate with Tb3+ and EDTA.

RESULTSThe dynamic range of the standard curve of EATRFA for nucleic acid hybridization assay was very wide, the range was more than third order of magnitude. The detection sensitivity was about 10 pg of target sequence. When the known target sequence was 20, 10 and 2 ng, the ratio of measured amount to known amount was 110%, 90% and 115% respectively. The main experimental conditions, for example, the irradiating time of ultraviolet rays, the concentrations of biotinylated probe, AP-SA, 5-FSAP and Tb-EDTA and the methods of washing in the related steps, have been optimized. A new stable technology of fluorescence has been developted.

CONCLUSIONSEATRF detection for nucleic acid hybridization assays is a new sensitive simple method, which has a great prospect.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; analysis ; Blotting, Southern ; DNA ; genetics ; Fluoroimmunoassay ; methods ; Luminescent Measurements ; Metals, Rare Earth ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; methods ; Spectrometry, Fluorescence ; Substrate Specificity

OBJECTIVETo explore the correlation between the biological characteristics of volunteer donors and sperm parameters.

METHODSSperm parameters were analyzed for 778 primary volunteer donors by CASA system with standard methods recommended by WHO including sperm concentration, motility rate, VCL, VSL, ALH, LIN, STR and BCF, and their biological characteristics were recorded.

RESULTSOf all the volunteer donors, students accounted for more than a third, 89.2 percent were under the age of 35 years, 71.6 percent between 166 and 175 cm in height, 91.7 percent of normal weight and 77.1 percent with college education. The median sperm concentration and motility rate were 107.00 x 10(6)/ml and 75 percent respectively. Age was weakly correlated with such semen indexes as concentration (r = 0.210, P = 0.000) , motility rate (r = 0.213, P = 0.000), volume (r = 0.165, P = 0.002), VAP (r = 0.259, P = 0.000), VSL (r = 0.281, P = 0.000), VCL (r = 0.190, P = 0.000), BCF (r = 0.243, P = 0.000) and LIN (r = 0.192, P = 0.000). The semen indexes of the 26-35 age group were a little better than those of the 20-25. Height showed no correlation to semen indexes. Education and occupation were somewhat related with other sperm parameters (P < 0.01) than ALH (P = 0.695/0.886).

CONCLUSIONAge, occupation and education bear some correlation with sperm parameters except ALH, while height has none with any of them.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Male ; Occupations ; Semen ; cytology ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; physiology ; Spermatozoa ; physiology ; Students ; Tissue Donors ; statistics & numerical data

OBJECTIVETo study the genetic diversity of F-ATPase alpha subunit gene uncA derived from Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) clinical isolates and to investigate the relationship between the genetic diversity of acidurance factor and S. mutans aciduric ability, also and the cariogenicity.

METHODSSixty-four S. mutans strains derived from 34 caries-active individuals and 30 caries-free individuals, including 18 strains displaying high acid tolerance and 20 strains displaying low acid tolerance. Gene uncA was amplified with specific primers from S. mutans genomic DNA, then the PCR products were analyzed by RFLP and sequenced.

RESULTSTwo genotypes A and B of PCR-RFLP were revealed when digested with Hph I. Mbo II also produced two different pattern C and D. The distributions of A and B genotype strains with different caries-sensitivity groups were different (P < 0.05), and the proportion of A genotype strains from caries-activity group was higher than that from caries-free one. The distributions of C and D genotype strains with different acidurance strains were different (P < 0.05), and the proportion of C genotype strains from high acid tolerance group was higher than that from low acid tolerance group. These amplified uncA genes from different group were sequenced and there existed variation of Hph I and Mbo II recognized sites.

CONCLUSIONSThis study indicates that uncA gene of S. mutans F-ATPase obviously displayed genetic diversity. The different Hph I-RFLP and Mbo II-RFLP genotypes could be related to the cariogenicity and acid tolerance of S. mutans strains.

Bacterial Proton-Translocating ATPases ; genetics ; Dental Caries ; microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Streptococcus mutans ; enzymology ; genetics

Background: and Purpose Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is thought to be a rare but probably underestimated presentation of cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL). We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis with the aim of comprehensively revealing the occurrence of ICH in patients with CADASIL. Methods: English-language studies published up to September 30, 2021 were searched for in the MEDLINE (PubMed), Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases. The design, patient characteristics, occurrence rate of ICH, and associated risk factors were retrieved for each identified relevant study. Results: We enrolled 13 studies in the final meta-analysis, which included 1,310 patients with CADASIL. The probability of ICH occurrence in patients with CADASIL was 10.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]=5.6%–18.0%, I2 =85.1%). When stratified by geographic region, the occurrence rate of ICH was much higher in Asians (17.7%; 95% CI=11.0%–28.5%, I2 =76.3%) than in Europeans (2.0%; 95% CI=0.4%–10.8%, I2 =82.8%). A higher burden of cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) and a history of hypertension were the most commonly recorded risk factors for ICH, which were available for three and two of the included studies, respectively. Conclusions Our study suggests that ICH is an important clinical manifestation of CADASIL, especially in Asians. A higher burden of CMBs and the existence of hypertension were found to be associated with a higher probability of ICH occurrence in patients with CADASIL.

OBJECTIVES: To study the characteristics of amino acid metabolism in preterm infants in Guangxi, China. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical data of 30 757 neonates who underwent the screening for inherited metabolic diseases and had negative results in Guangxi Neonatal Disease Screening Center from 2018 to 2020. Among these neonates, there were 28 611 normal full-term infants (control group) and 2 146 preterm infants (preterm birth group). According to gestational age, the preterm infants were further divided into four groups: very preterm (n=209), moderately preterm (n=307), and late preterm group (n=1 630). According to birth weight, they were divided into three groups: very low birth weight group (n=161), low birth weight group (n=1 085), and normal birth weight group (n=900). According to blood collection time, they were divided into three groups: 3-7 days group (n=1 664), 8-14 days group (n=314) and 15-28 days group (n=168). Tandem mass spectrometry was performed to measure the levels of 11 amino acids in dried blood spots, which were then compared between groups. RESULTS: After adjustment for confounding factors, there were significant differences in the levels of 11 amino acids among different gestational age groups (P<0.05), and significant differences were observed in the levels of the 11 amino acids between the control group and the various preterm groups (except for citrulline and methionine in the late preterm group). There were significant differences in the levels of 11 amino acids among different birth weight groups (P<0.05). Except for ornithine, there were significant differences in the levels of other amino acids among the different blood collection time groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Gestational age, birth weight and blood collection time all affect amino acid metabolism in preterm infants in Guangxi, China. This provides a basis for the laboratory to establish the reference standard and clinical interpretation of blood amino acid levels in preterm infants, and to improve the nutritional metabolism of preterm infants.
Amino Acids ; China ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; Premature Birth ; Retrospective Studies