Objective To evaluate the application of high-throughput shell vial assay in a clinical laboratory for detection of respiratory viruses from patients with ILI in Guangzhou between January and June, 2009. Methods Six hundred and fifty-two pharyngeal swab specimens were taken from ILI patents. Centrifugation-enhanced shell vials including 4 cell lines (MDCK, Hep-2, LLC-MK2 and MRC-5) were used for culture of respiratory viruses for 2-3 days. The cultures were identified by observation of cytopathic effect (CPE) , hemmaglution or hemmadsorption test as well as immunofluorescence staining. Results A total of 161 swab samples (24.69% ,161/652) were shown to have any one of the 5 common respiratory viruses including influenza A viruses ( 38. 51% , 62/161 ), influenza B virus ( 54. 65% , 88/161 ), parainfluenza viruses (4. 96% , 8/161 ) , adenovirus ( 1. 24% , 2/161 ), and respiratory syncytial virus (0. 62% ,1/161). The turnaround time was 2d for influenza viruses, 3d for adenovirus and parainfluenza viruses respectively. Conclusions (1) The shell vial method was effective, rapid and high throughout for the detection of respiratory viruses in clinical laboratories.(2)Influenza viruses were dominant in the swab samples from patients with ILI in Guangzhou between January and June with the highest appearance in the summer influenza B vires was the most common pathogen in patients with ILI in this study.

Background:Pioglitazone may be beneficial in the treatment of psoriasis.However,based on the effectiveness and safety considerations,it has not been widely used.To fully evaluate the strength of evidence supporting psoriasis treatment with pioglitazone,we conducted a meta-analysis of existing published studies.Methods:PubMed,Ovid,Cochrane Library,Google Scholar,and Web of Science databases were systematically searched before February 2019.Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of pioglitazone administration compared with placebo,administered to patients with psoriasis for at least 10 weeks,and published in English were included.Quality of the included RCTs was identified by the modified Jadad scale.The quality of evidence for each outcome was evaluated using the GRADEpro Guideline Development Tool online software.Primary outcomes were proportion of patents showing psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score improvement (＞75％) and the mean percent change in PASI score from baseline to the end of treatment.Dichotomous data were analyzed using odds ratios (ORs) corresponding to the 95％ confidence interval (CI),whereas continuous variables,expressed as mean and standard deviation,were analyzed using the mean differences (MD) with the 95％ CI.Results:Six RCTs were analyzed.Meta-analysis showed that pioglitazone reduced the PASI scores in patients with psoriasis compared with the control group when administered at 30 mg per day (P ＜ 0.001,MD =-3.82,95％ CI =-5.70,-1.93) and at 15 mg per day (P =0.04,MD =-3.53,95％ CI =-6.86,-0.20).The PASI-75 of the pioglitazone group was significantly higher than that of the control group at 30 mg per day (P ＜ 0.001,OR =8.30,95％ CI =3.99,17.27) and at 15 mg per day (P =0.03,OR =2.96,95％ CI =1.08,8.06).No statistically significant differences in total adverse events were observed between the groups.There were no significant differences in common adverse reactions such as weight gain and elevated liver enzymes between the two pioglitazone groups.Conclusions:Use of pioglitazone in the current treatment of psoriasis is beneficial.The therapeutic effect of the daily 30 mg dose may be greater than that of the 15 mg dose per day with no significant change in the frequency of adverse reactions.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression differences of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) and caspase-3 among colorectal carcinoma, adenoma and normal mucosa, and to identify the relationship between AIF and caspase-3 expression in colorectal adenoma-carcinoma sequence.

METHODSFormalin-fixed paraffin embedded colorectal tissues from 174 cases, including 84 adenomas, 72 carcinomas, and 18 normal mucosa, were examined for expression of AIF and caspase-3 by streptavidin-peroxidase (SP) immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe positive rates of AIF and caspase-3 in colorectal adenoma were higher than those in normal mucosa (P <0.05). The positive rate of AIF in adenoma showed no significant difference compared to colorectal carcinoma (P >0.05). However, caspase-3 expression in adenomas was significantly higher than that in carcinoma (P <0.05). The positive rate of AIF in tubular adenoma was significantly higher than that in villous adenoma (P <0.05), while the positive expression rate of caspase-3 in the two types of adenoma showed no significant difference (P >0.05). AIF expression had no prominent correlation with the caspase-3 expression (P >0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe dysregulation of caspase-independent pathway of apoptosis may be an early event in the development of colorectal carcinogenesis, while the dysregulation of the caspase-dependent pathway of apoptosis may be one of contributing factors of colorectal carcinogenesis. The caspase-independent pathway of apoptosis and the caspase-dependent pathway of apoptosis are two relatively independent pathways in colorectal carcinogenesis.

Adenoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Apoptosis Inducing Factor ; metabolism ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa ; metabolism ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

Objective This study aimed to investigate the influence of uncinate process on air flow velocity, trace, distribution, air pressure, as well as the air flow exchange of nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. Methods Fluent software was used to simulate two nasal cavity and paranasal sinus structures following CT scanning, one hod normal nasal cavity, the another had the nasal cavity with uncinate process removde. Air flow velocity, essure, distribution and trace lines were calculated and compared by avierStokes equation and numerically visualized between two odels. Results Air flow of two models in the ommon and middle meatus accounted for more than 50% and 30% of total nasal cavity flow. Flow velocity of two models were aximal in the common eatus, followed by the middle meatus. The maximal velocity xisted on the left nasal district between limen nasi and head of inferior turbinate. The flow traces of two medels were similar. In the normal model, the air flow velocity of the district around uncinate process was almost the same in inhale and exhale. In the model with the uncinate process removed, the air flow velocity of the district around uncinate process was faster, the air flow velocity in expiratory phase was quicker. Compared with the normal nasal cavity, there was more exchange of maxillary sinus in the model with cut uncinate process. Conclusions In the view of flow dynamics, the uncinate process effect sthe air flow velocity of the district around uncinate process and the exchange of maxillary sinus, the contribution of nasal flow is connected with the morphosis of the uncinate process.

Objective To study the airflow velocity, trace, distribution, pressure, as well as the airflow exchange between the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses in a computer simulation of nasal cavity pre and post virtual endoscopic sinus surgery(ESS).Methods Computational fluid dynamics(CFD)technique was applied to construct an anatomically and proportionally accurate three-dimensional nasal model based on a healthy adult woman's nasal CT scans. A virtual ESS intervention Was performed numerically on the normal hasal model using Fluent 6.1.22 software. Navier-Stokes and continuity equations were used to flux in the common meatus decreased significantly. FIUX in the middle meatus and the connected area of significantly changed in the middle meatus. Wide-ranging vortices formed at the maxillary sinus, the Conclusions After ESS airflow velocity, flux and trace were altered. Airflow exchange increased in each nasal sinus, especially in the maxillary sinus.

OBJECTIVEThis clinical study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the combined regimen of docetaxel, 5-Fu and DDP (TPF) in the treatment of advanced or relapsed nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

METHODSFifty-six patients with newly diagnosed or recurrent/metastatic NPC following chemotherapy or radiotherapy were enrolled. Both docetaxel and DDP were administered intravenously for 6 hours at the dose of 70 mg/m2 on D1. 5-Fu was given at a dose of 400-500 mg/m2 for 6 hours from D1 to D5. Dexamethasone was routinely administered before injection of docetaxel. This combination was repeated every 3 to 4 weeks, and continued for 4-6 cycles or until PD for the responders.

RESULTSFifty-one (91.1%) patients were evaluable for response assessment. The response rate for whole group was 72.5% (37/51) with a CR rate of 9.8% (5/51). The stable disease accounted for 17.6% (9/51). There were 17(30.4%) chemotherapy-naïve patients. The overall response rate in those was 82.4% with a CR rate of 29.4%. However, the response rate for previously treated patients was 64.7% without CR. Twelve patients had progressed disease, including 5 (8.9%) died of disease progression with a median follow-up of 11 month (ranged from 1 to 19 months). Totally, 196 courses of chemotherapy were administered. The major toxicity was myelosupression, nausea/vomiting. The incidence of leucopenia was 48% with 22.2% of these in NCI grade II or IV. But only 2 patients (3.6%) experienced leucopenia with a fever. Other mild toxicities including alopecia, asthenia, mucositis and diarrhea were also observed.

CONCLUSIONOur preliminary outcome shows docetaxel, 5-Fu and DDP combination is effective and safe for the patients with advanced or relapsed nasopharyngeal carcinoma. But further clinical study is warranted.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leukopenia ; chemically induced ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Nausea ; chemically induced ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasm Staging ; Remission Induction ; Taxoids ; administration & dosage ; Young Adult

Under different red (R):blue (B) photon flux ratios, the growth performance of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is significantly different. Rapeseed under high R ratios shows shade response, while under high B ratios it shows sun-type morphology. Rapeseed under monochromatic red or blue light is seriously stressed. Transcriptomic and proteomic methods were used to analyze the metabolic pathway change of rapeseed (cv. "Zhongshuang 11") leaves under different R:B photon flux ratios (including 100R:0B%, 75R:25B%, 25R:75B%, and 0R:100B%), based on digital gene expression (DGE) and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE). For DGE analysis, 2054 differentially expressed transcripts (|log₂(fold change)|≥1, q<0.005) were detected among the treatments. High R ratios (100R:0B% and 75R:25B%) enhanced the expression of cellular structural components, mainly the cell wall and cell membrane. These components participated in plant epidermis development and anatomical structure morphogenesis. This might be related to the shade response induced by red light. High B ratios (25R:75B% and 0R:100B%) promoted the expression of chloroplast-related components, which might be involved in the formation of sun-type chloroplast induced by blue light. For 2-DE analysis, 37 protein spots showed more than a 2-fold difference in expression among the treatments. Monochromatic light (ML; 100R:0B% and 0R:100B%) stimulated accumulation of proteins associated with antioxidation, photosystem II (PSII), DNA and ribosome repairs, while compound light (CL; 75R:25B% and 25R:75B%) accelerated accumulation of proteins associated with carbohydrate, nucleic acid, amino acid, vitamin, and xanthophyll metabolisms. These findings can be useful in understanding the response mechanisms of rapeseed leaves to different R:B photon flux ratios.
Brassica napus/radiation effects* ; Brassica rapa/radiation effects* ; Carbon/chemistry* ; Chloroplasts/radiation effects* ; Computational Biology ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant/radiation effects* ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Light ; Mass Spectrometry ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Nitrogen/chemistry* ; Photons ; Photosystem II Protein Complex/genetics* ; Plant Leaves/radiation effects* ; Plant Proteins/genetics* ; Proteome ; Ribosomes ; Transcription, Genetic ; Transcriptome

The COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing in the world, the risk of COVID-19 spread from other countries or in the country will exist for a long term in China. In the routine prevention and control phase, a number of local COVID-19 epidemics have occurred in China, most COVID-19 cases were sporadic ones, but a few case clusters or outbreaks were reported. Winter and spring were the seasons with high incidences of the epidemics; border and port cities had higher risk for outbreaks. Active surveillance in key populations was an effective way for the early detection of the epidemics. Through a series of comprehensive prevention and control measures, including mass nucleic acid screening, close contact tracing and isolation, classified management of areas and groups at risk, wider social distancing and strict travel management, the local COVID-19 epidemics have been quickly and effectively controlled. The experiences obtained in the control of the local epidemics would benefit the routine prevention and control of COVID-19 in China. The occurrence of a series of COVID-19 case clusters or outbreaks has revealed the weakness or deficiencies in the COVID-19 prevention and control in China, so this paper suggests some measures for the improvement of the future prevention and control of COVID-19.
COVID-19/prevention & control* ; China/epidemiology* ; Contact Tracing ; Epidemics/prevention & control* ; Humans ; Pandemics/prevention & control* ; SARS-CoV-2