Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning ; epidemiology ; therapy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Inpatients ; statistics & numerical data ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

Vaccination is the primary strategy for the prevention and control of pandemic influenza. Because influenza virus is highly variable across strains, universal influenza vaccines need to be developed to address this problem. This review describes the research progress in conserved epitopes of influenza virus, the advances in the research and development of universal influenza vaccines based on the relatively conserved sequences of NP, M2e, HA2, and headless HA, the mechanisms of cross-protection, and the methods to improve cross-protection.
Animals ; Cross Reactions ; Humans ; Orthomyxoviridae ; immunology ; Species Specificity ; Viral Proteins ; immunology ; Viral Vaccines ; genetics ; immunology

Animals ; Humans ; Influenza A virus ; genetics ; immunology ; Influenza Vaccines ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; immunology ; Influenza, Human ; prevention & control ; virology ; Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo study endothelial damage by observing changes of circulating endothelial cells (CECs) in blood, coagulation and fibrinolysis index in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome.

METHODSCECs were separated by isopycnic centrifugation method in 14 patients with acute lung injury (ALI), 7 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), 10 intensive care unit (ICU) controls, and 15 healthy controls. Plasma prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), fibrinogen (FG), fibrin degradation products (FDP), and D-dimer were examined simultaneously. Acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II and lung injury score (LIS) were recorded to evaluate severity of illness and lung injury.

RESULTS(1) The number of CECs in ALI (10.4 +/- 2.3) and ARDS groups (16.1 +/- 2.7) was higher than that in the healthy (1.9 +/- 0.5) (P < 0.01). In both ALI and ARDS, the number of CECs correlated with APACHE II (r = 0.55, P < 0.05 and r = 0.62, P < 0.05, respectively) and LIS (r = 0.60, P < 0.05 and r = 0.53, P < 0.05, respectively). CEC number was negatively correlated with PaO2 in ALI and ARDS (r = -0.49, P < 0.05 and r = -0.64, P < 0.05, respectively). (2) The level of FDP and D-dimer were higher in ALI and ARDS patients than that in ICU and healthy control groups (P < 0.05). The level of FG in ARDS group was significantly higher than in the ICU and healthy control groups (P < 0.05). But in ALI group, the level of FG was significantly higher than only healthy control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSEndothelial cell damage occurs in ARDS patients, which may play a major role in the pathophysiology of ARDS. Changes of endothelial cell activation and damage markers, such as CECs, plasma coagulation and fibrinolysis index, to some extent reflect severity of illness and lung injury in ARDS.

APACHE ; Adult ; Aged ; Blood Coagulation ; Cell Count ; Endothelial Cells ; pathology ; Female ; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products ; metabolism ; Fibrinogen ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Partial Thromboplastin Time ; Prothrombin Time ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; blood ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the risk factors of male infertility.

METHODCase control study including 94 cases and control group with a ratio of 1 to 1.

RESULTSThe risk factors of male infertility were long time heavy smoking habit (OR = 3.45, 95% CI: 1.95 - 6.10), illegal sexual intercourse (OR = 7.29, 95% CI: 2.54 - 20.89), growing vegetable under plastic in higher temperature (OR = 6.73, 95% CI: 1.91 - 23.69), contact with benzene chemicals (OR = 20.53, 95% CI: 4.67 - 90.25) and having Ureaplasma urealyticum (Uu) infection (OR = 5.55, 95% CI: 2.28 - 13.53).

CONCLUSIONMale infertility was resulted from many factors repeatedly acting on men for long time. In order to prevent male infertility, issues as environmental pollution, occupational protection need to be improved while bad working condition and risky behavior should be changed.

Adult ; Benzene ; toxicity ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Environmental Pollution ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Ureaplasma Infections ; complications ; Ureaplasma urealyticum

OBJECTIVETo compare the effects of mannitol and hypertonic saline (HS) in treatment of intracranial hypertension (ICH) of rabbits.

METHODSThe animal mode of ICH was established by perfusing artificial cerebrospinal fluids (aCSF) with controlled pressure into the cerebral ventricles of rabbits. The mean arterial pressure, respiratory rate, tidal volume, perfusion rate of aCSF and water content of cerebrum were investigated in rabbits with ICH after a single bolus of 20% mannitol (5 ml/kg), 7.5% HS (2.2 ml/kg) or 23.4% HS (2.2 ml/kg).

RESULTSAfter the intracranial pressure was elevated from 15 cmH₂O to 75 cmH₂O, the mean arterial pressure was increased and the tidal volume was decreased. After treatment by 20% mannitol, 7.5% HS or 23.4% HS, the increased percentage of mean arterial pressure and the decreased percentage of tidal volume were similar to the changes in control group. However, the perfusion rate of CSF was increased and water content of cerebrum was decreased after treatment by either 20% mannitol or 23.4% HS, but not by 7.5% HS. No different effects were found between 20% mannitol and 23.4% HS.

CONCLUSIONWith the similar osmotic burden, 20% mannitol is more effective in treating ICH than 7.5% HS. With higher osmotic load, the efficacy of HS is enhanced, and 23.4% HS may be used as an alternative to mannitol in treatment of ICH.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Intracranial Hypertension ; drug therapy ; Male ; Mannitol ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Rabbits ; Saline Solution, Hypertonic ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo identify the genetic defect of inherited coagulation factor (F) deficiency in a Chinese family and to explore its molecular mechanism.

METHODSThe activity and antigen of plasma F were measured by photometric test and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and rocket-electrophoresis, respectively. All the exons and exon-intron boundaries of the FA subunit gene were amplified by PCR and then DNA sequencing was performed. Restriction endonuclease analysis was used for the PCR products of the family members and 80 healthy donors to exclude gene polymorphism.

RESULTSRapid dissolution of the proband's fibrin clot occurred within 30 minutes, and antigen of his plasma F was significantly decreased, two compound heterozygous missense mutations (a C to T transition at nucleotide 177,246 which caused Arg703Trp, and a A to G transition at nucleotide 177,286 which caused His716Arg) in exon 15 of FA subunit gene were found. The possibility of gene polymorphism was excluded by restriction endonuclease analysing. Each of these two missense mutations was respectively found in his mother and father. Molecular modeling based on 3D crystallographic data predicted that the mutant protein decreased stability and was likely to be rapidly degraded.

CONCLUSIONSThe inherited F deficiency in the Chinese family is caused by two compound heterozygous missense mutations-Arg703Trp and His716Arg in the FA subunit, which to our knowledge, are reported for the first time.

Base Sequence ; Child ; Exons ; Factor XIII ; genetics ; Factor XIII Deficiency ; genetics ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation, Missense ; Pedigree

OBJECTIVETo give some theory support of Cistanche tubulosa cultivation by searching dry matter accumulation and echinacoside content of C. tubulosa.

METHODDry matter accumulation content of C. tubulosa culturing in Huabei plain was analysed in different growth season of C. tubulosa. Echinacoside content was determined by HPLC.

RESULTDry matter accumulation of C. tubulosa showed "S" variation. Dry matter accumulation increased fastest in September among growing seasons. Dry matter amount was 138.58 g after C. tubulosa grew a year. Dry matter amount decreased significantly along with inoculation time retarded. Echinacoside content was 30.59% when C. tubulosa grew in 5 months, decreased guadully after that, and 9.76% in annual.

CONCLUSIONVariation rule of dry matter accumulation and echinacoside content was found in C. tubulosa that grew one year in Huabei plain.

Biomass ; China ; Cistanche ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Glycosides ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Seasons

OBJECTIVETo identify the genetic defect underlying congenital afibrinogenemia in a Chinese family.

METHODSPlasma fibrinogen (Fg) was assessed by both Clauss method and immunonephelometry. Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood of the proband and 13 members of her family. All the exons and exon-intron boundaries of the three fibrinogen genes (FGA, FGB, FGG) were amplified by PCR followed by direct sequencing. Restriction endonuclease analysis was performed for the PCR products of the family members and 50 healthy donors to exclude gene polymorphism.

RESULTSNo Fg was detected in the plasma of the proband and her father by Clauss method, while low levels (< 0.02 g/L) were detected by immunonephelometry. A homozygous C to T mutation was found in the two cases at nucleotide 3108 in exon 4 of FGA gene, resulting in a null mutation which encoded severely truncated alpha-chains owing to its premature termination at the Gln 150 codon. The C-->T mutation eliminated a unique recognition site for restriction enzyme RsaI. The PCR amplified fragments of the proband and her father could not be digested by RsaI, showing that they are homozygous. Her mother and some family members are heterozygous at this site since the fragment could partly be digested, while the same fragment of controls could be completely digested as expected.

CONCLUSIONThe Gln (CAG)-->150stop (TAG) nonsense mutation in FGA gene is a novel genetic defect of congenital afibrinogenemia which, to our knowledge, has not been described before.

Adolescent ; Afibrinogenemia ; congenital ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Codon, Nonsense ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Exons ; genetics ; Female ; Fibrinogen ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Pedigree

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the short-term efficacy and safety of Bushen Shuji Granule (BSG) in treating ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients.

METHODSA prospective randomized controlled clinical trial was carried out in 62 active stage AS patients with Shen deficiency Du-channel cold syndrome (SDDCS), who were randomly assigned to the BSG group (treated with BSG) and the control group (treated with Celecoxib Capsule). Twelve weeks consisted of one therapeutic course. Therapeutic effects were evaluated by ASAS20 and ASAS40 (set by Assessments in Ankylosing Spondylitis working group) , BASDA150, Chinese medical (CM) syndrome efficacy evaluation standards. BASDAI, the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), the Bath AS Metrology Index (BASMI), scores for spine pain, scores for pain at night, patient global assessment (PGA) , erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) , and C reactive protein (CRP) were observed before and after treatment.

RESULTSAfter three-month treatment by BSG, ASAS20 standard rate was 63. 33% (19/30 cases) in the BSG group and 66.67% (20/30 cases) in the control group with no significant difference between the two groups (χ2 = 0.073, P > 0.05). The efficacy for CM syndromes was 70.00% (21/30 cases) in the BSG group, higher than that in the control group [40.00% (12/30 cases), χ2 = 5.455, P < 0.05]. Scores for CM syndromes, BASDAI, night pain index, spinal pain index, PGA, CRP were improved in the BSG group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The incidence of adverse events in the BSG group was lower than that of the control group.

CONCLUSIONBSG based on Shen supplementing, Du-channel strengthening, blood activating, and channels dredging method had good short-term clinical efficacy and safety in treating AS.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Biomedical Research ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Pain ; Prospective Studies ; Safety ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; drug therapy