Abstract: To investigate the distribution of avian influenza virus in environmental samples from live poultry markets (LPM) in China, samples were collected and tested by nucleic acid during 2009-2013 season. Each sample was tested by real-time RT PCR using flu A specific primers. If any real-time PCR was positive, the sample was inoculated into specific-pathogen-free (SPF) embryonated chicken eggs for viral isolation. The results indicated that the positive rate of nucleic acid in enviromental samples exhibited seasonality. The positive rate of nucleic acid was significantly higher in Winter and Spring. The positive rate of nucleic acid in LPM located in the south of China was higher than in northern China. Samples of Sewage for cleaning poultry and chopping board showed that higher positive rate of nucleic acid than other samples. The Subtype identification showed that H5 and H9 were main subtypes in the enviromental samples. Viral isolation indicated H5 subtypes was more than H9 subtypes between 2009 and 2013 while H9 subtypes increased in 2013. Our findings suggested the significance of public health based on LPM surveillance and provided the basis of prevention and early warning for avian flu infection human.
Animals ; China ; Feces ; virology ; Fresh Water ; virology ; Influenza A virus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Influenza in Birds ; virology ; Poultry ; Poultry Diseases ; virology ; Public Health ; Seasons ; Sewage ; virology

Objective To explore the attitudes towards the Smoking Ban policy and the bias in different levels of related society sanctions so as to provide evidence for implementing anti-smoking measures in the public places.Methods A multi-univariate-multilevel logistic model was developed to find the relation between penalty attitudes and the covariates' effects.Results 74.6％ (3647/4892) and 61.2％ (2994/4892) of the residents agreed to punish either the managers of public places or to the smokers.The two kinds of attitude were associated (x2 =1253.45,P＜0.0001 ).Residents being female,aged between thirty and fifty-nine years old,having had higher than college education,being non-current smokers,with high scores on knowledge of tobacco control,tended to have the attitude of punishing the public place managers and smokers.However,those persons exposed to everyday secondhand smoke or being non-current smokers,tended to punish the smokers in the generalized Wald test.Conclusion There was strong evidence noticed that most of the residents in Guangzhou had supported the ‘tobacco control penalty'.Factors as age,sex,level of education received,knowledge on hazards of smoking,being current smokers and under secondhand smoke exposure were the influencing factors.Non-current smokers and those who exposed to secondhand smoke everyday,would prefer to take different penalties policies.

Objective To analyze the awareness on health among high school students and its influencing factors in Guangdong. Methods Multi-stage sampling and questionnairs "2009 health awareness survey of the Chinese citizens" developed by our Department of Health, were used. Data were analyzed by multivariate multilevel model under MLwinN 2.19 software. Results The mean scores on knowledge and ideas, behaviors and related skills among 1606 high school students of Guangdong province, were 69.08 ± 14.81,60.05 ± 16.85 and 74.99 ± 21.17 respectively. Three items on health showed that they all related to each other and relations between grades (0.972,0.715 and 0.855) were greater than the individuals (0.565,0.426 and 0.438). Conclusion Factors as students from outside the Pearl River Delta region or from the rural areas, being male, at general secondary schools, at grade one, with poor academic performance and more pocket money etc., had lower levels on those related information of health.

Objective:To analyze the influence of different factors on the entropy and grayscale values extracted from the ultrasonic original radio-frequency signals of normal human gastrocnemius.Methods:The ultrasonic original radio-frequency signals of 10 healthy men and 10 healthy women admitted to the Department of Ultrasound of First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from October to December 2019 in natural ankle joint position, maximum plantar flflexion and maximum dorsiflflexion position were collected, and the entropy and grayscale values were obtained by processing these signals with MATLAB software to analyze the differences of parameters in different positions and sections, and to discuss the influence of age, gender and BMI on them.Results:Comparison of the values between different sections: the differences between longitudinal extraction entropy values and transverse extraction entropy values at the maximum dorsiflexion position were statistically significant ( P<0.05), the differences between longitudinal extraction grayscale values and transverse extraction grayscale values at the natural position were statistically significant ( P<0.05) and both of values extracted in the longitudinal plane were higher than those extracted in the transverse plane. Comparison of the values among different positions of the ankle joints: the values of the maximal metatarsal flexion were statistically different from those of the natural position and the maximal dorsiflexion ( P<0.05), and the values of the maximal metatarsal flexion were the lowest, while the entropy and gray values of the natural position and the maximal dorsiflexion were not statistically different ( P>0.05). There was no significant difference in ultrasonic characteristic parameters between different genders and different age groups ( P>0.05). There was no correlation between BMI and characteristic parameters ( P>0.05). Conclusions:The entropy and grayscale values extracted from the original radio-frequency ultrasonic signals of healthy persons′ gastrocnemius can quantitatively reflect the difference in muscle structure from different positions and setions. As a result, this method can be considered in the quantitative evaluation of neuromuscular diseases.

An automatic system for marine meiobenthos separation was developed by using laser-induced fluorescence technology. Rose Bengal was used as organism dye and the spectrums of Rose Bengal were measured. Laser-induced fluorescence system was established to detect marine meiobenthos in sediments. Data obtained from experiments were analyzed by using a mathematical model. The results showed that laser-induced fluorescence technology worked well in the system. The system could select the meiobenthos efficiently and precisely.
Algorithms ; Animals ; Equipment Design ; Equipment Failure Analysis ; Filtration ; methods ; Geologic Sediments ; analysis ; Invertebrates ; classification ; Lasers ; Oceans and Seas ; Pattern Recognition, Automated ; methods ; Spectrometry, Fluorescence ; methods

OBJECTIVETo provide a convenient method for screening obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) in pregnant women.

METHODSSeventy-eight pregnant women with suspected OSAHS were calculated for the EP index using Epworth sleepiness score (ESS) with also measurement of the neck circumference (NC) and body mass index (BMI). The apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) was calculated and the lowest SaO(2) (LSaO(2)) measured through a 7-h polysomnography (PSG). The women were then divided into 4 groups according to the AHI and LSaO(2). The ESS was compared with the PSG-AHI and the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was generated.

RESULTSAll the clinical indexes (NC, BMI, EP, AHI, and LSaO(2)) showed significant differences between the 4 groups (P<0.05). EP and PSG were found to have greater correlations to AHI (r=0.759, P=0.000) than NC (r=0.668) and BMI (r=0.663). The area under the ROC of the EP (0.825) was greater than that of NC (0.772) and BMI (0.784). The index of EP showed greater clinical diagnostic value of OSAHS in pregnancy. Base on the ROC, EP at the optimal operating point of 7.5 had a sensitivity of 76.8% and specificity of 68.2% for diagnosis of OSAHS in pregnant women.

CONCLUSIONThe ESS is an economic and convenient method for screening OSAHS in pregnant women with high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Polysomnography ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; diagnosis ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; diagnosis ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; standards ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) of the constipation predominant type and observe the therapeutic effects of Sinisan (SNS).

METHODSForty-seven IBS patients with the constipation predominant type were randomly divided into the treated group (n = 24) and the control group (n = 23). Another group of 22 healthy subjects was set up for healthy control. The treated group was treated with modified SNS, and the control group was treated with Cisapride, the therapeutic course for both groups was 8 weeks. The changes of symptom scoring and anorectal manometry (the anorectal resting pressure, anal tract systolic pressure, anal tract diastolic pressure, rectal threshold feeling, maximal tolerance volume of rectum, and rectum compliance) of these two groups were recorded respectively and compared with each other.

RESULTSCompared with the healthy control group, the rectal threshold feeling, maximal tolerance volume of rectum and rectal compliance of the treated groups got reduced significantly before treatment (P < 0.05). After treatment, the symptom scoring, rectal threshold feeling and maximal tolerance volume of rectum were improved in both groups (P < 0.05), and the improvement of the treated group was more significant than that of the control group (P < 0.01). The total effective rate and recurrence rate of the treated group were superior to those of the control group significantly (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSNS has good effect on IBS of the constipation predominant type.

Adult ; Aged ; Anal Canal ; physiopathology ; Cisapride ; therapeutic use ; Constipation ; etiology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrointestinal Agents ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; complications ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Male ; Manometry ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Preparations ; therapeutic use ; Pressure ; Rectum ; physiopathology ; Recurrence ; Sensation ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To study the effects of Yiqi Huayu Jiedu Prescription on the migration ability of MHCC97-H and the expressions of CXCL12, CXCR4 and CXCR7; To discuss its relevant mechanism of action. Methods Setting Sorafenib as a positive control, CCK-8 method was used for determining the effects of Yiqi Huayu Jiedu Prescription on the cell proliferation of MHCC97-H and the optimum concentration. Scratch assay was used to observe the migration ability of MHCC97-H. The protein expressions of CXCL12, CXCR4 and CXCR7 were detected by Western blot after 24 h of medicine intervention. Results Yiqi Huayu Jiedu Prescription and Sorafenib can inhibit the cell proliferation of MHCC97-H , and the inhibitory concentration was 0.095 g/mL and 10 μmol/mL at 24 hours. Yiqi Huayu Jiedu Prescription can inhibit migration ability of MHCC97-H. The protein expressions of CXCL12, CXCR4 and CXCR7 in hepatocellular carcinoma cells decreased after the action of Yiqi Huayu Jiedu Prescription. Conclusion Yiqi Huayu Jiedu Prescription can inhibit MHCC97-H cell proliferation and migration, which may be realized by down-regulating chemokine axis of CXCL12/CXCR4/CXCR7.

BACKGROUNDHuman epididymis secretory protein 4 (HE4) has been proved to be a promising novel biomarker for the detection of epithelial ovarian carcinomas. Compared with CA125, HE4 assay demonstrated an improved ability to discriminate between pelvic mass with malignant and benign disease. Though it is well known that HE4 is overexpressed in ovarian cancer, however, the role of HE4 in the carcinogenesis and progression of ovarian cancer remains unkown.

METHODSIn this study, we explored the role of HE4 in the carcinogenesis and progression of ovarian cancer. We screened nine ovarian cancer cell lines for HE4 expression, and using RNA interference (RNAi), we silenced HE4 gene expression in CaoV3 and SKOV3.ip1 ovarian cancer cell lines. We assessed the effect of HE4 gene silencing on the transformed phenotype by examining the cell cycle, apoptosis, proliferation and transwell migration/invasion in vitro.

RESULTSHE4 gene silencing induces G0/G1 arrest and blocks the progression from the G1 to S phase in CaoV3 and SKOV3.ip1 cells. HE4 knockdown also inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion in SKOV3.ip1 cells in vitro.

CONCLUSIONHE4 may be involved in the regulation of the cell cycle and promote ovarian cancer migration and invasion.

Biomarkers, Tumor ; analysis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Disease Progression ; Epididymal Secretory Proteins ; analysis ; genetics ; physiology ; Female ; Gene Silencing ; physiology ; Humans ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; pathology ; RNA Interference

OBJECTIVETo confirm the diagnosis of multiple carboxylase deficiency (MCD) on the gene level and explore the mutations in Chinese children with MCD.

METHODSBiotinidase (BT) and holocarboxylase synthetase (HLCS) genes were analyzed by PCR and direct sequencing for the 4 BT deficiency patients and 8 HLCS deficiency patients, respectively. The identified mutations in the parents of the patients and 50 normal controls were screened by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism and direct DNA sequencing.

RESULTSTotal detection rate of gene mutation is 100% in the 12 children with MCD. Six mutations were detected in the 4 children with BT deficiency, they were c. 98-104del7ins3, c. 1369G>A (V457M), c. 1157G>A(W386X), c. 1284C>A(Y428X), c. 1384delA and c. 1493_1494insT. The last four were novel mutations. Four mutations were found in the 8 children with HLCS deficiency. They were c. 126G>T (E42D), c. 1994G>C (R665P), c. 1088T>A (V363D) and c. 1522C>T (R508W). The last two were hot-spot mutations [75%(12/16)], and c. 1994G>C (R665P) was a novel mutation.

CONCLUSIONThis study confirmed the diagnosis of 12 patients with MCD on the gene level. Six mutations were found in the BT gene and 4 in the HLCS gene, including 5 novel mutations. Two mutations of the HLCS gene are probably hot-spot mutations in Chinese children with HLCS deficiency.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Biotinidase ; genetics ; Biotinidase Deficiency ; Carbon-Nitrogen Ligases ; deficiency ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multiple Carboxylase Deficiency ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mutation