Administration, Oral ; Adult ; Antioxidants ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Ascorbic Acid ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Health ; Vitamin E ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology

This study aimed to investigate viral infections and the prevalence of influenza-like illness (ILI) in Shijiazhuang, China, in 2011 and to provide a scientific basis for the diagnosis and control of respiratory tract infections. Throat swab specimens were collected from 483 cases of ILI who were outpatients in the influenza surveillance sentinel hospitals in Shijiazhuang between January and December 2011. All specimens were examined by multiplex RT-PCR for the following 15 respiratory tract viruses: adenovirus (ADV), human rhinovirus (HRV), human parainfluenza virus (PIV types 1-4), influenza virus A (FluA), influenza virus B (FluB), human enterovirus (HEV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV-A and -B), human metapneumovirus (HMPV), human coronavirus (HCoV-229E/NL63 and -OC43/HKU1), and human bocavirus (HBoV). Among the 483 cases of ILI, 214 (44.31%) were positive for viruses, including ADV (8.7%), HEV (8.7%), RSV-A (8.07%), HRV (7.45%), FluA (5.38%), HCoV-OC43/ HKU1 (2.9%), PIV-3 (2.9%), HMPV (1.86%), PIV-1 (1.24%), HCoV-229E/NL63 (1.04%), PIV-2 (1.04%), HBoV (0.83%), and FluB (0.41%). Twenty-six (5.38%) of all cases were co-infected with two or more viruses, most commonly HEV/HRV with other viruses. Cases of viral infection were detected throughout the year, with peaks in January and February. ADV and HRV were detected throughout almost the whole year without obvious seasonality. HEV was detected between April and November, with a peak of prevalence in summer and autumn. FluA and FluB reached epidemic levels mainly in winter and spring. All cases of RSV were identified to be subtype A. PIV infection was mainly caused by PIV-3. The positive rate of HCoV-OC43/HKU1 infection was significantly higher than that of HCoV-229E/NL63. The leading five viruses that resulted in ILI Shijiazhuang in 2011 were HEV, ADV, RSV-A, HRV, and FluA, and these viruses have different epidemiological features.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; epidemiology ; virology ; Virus Diseases ; epidemiology ; virology ; Viruses ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Young Adult

AIMThe index F and relative index Fr of chromatographic fingerprints were firstly proposed to indicate how bountiful was the information in traditional Chinese medicines chromatographic fingerprints, how better was the separation effect, how high was the peak signal and how equal were the peak areas.

METHODSThe index F and relative index Fr of chromatographic fingerprints were firstly applied to evaluate the chromatographic fingerprints results of traditional Chinese medicines determined by the reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic method and high performance capillary electrophoresis.

RESULTSThe Shegan Kangbingdu injection and all its traditional Chinese medicines ingredients had been evaluated by F and Fr, so did for the HPLC fingerprints of Radix salviae miltiorrhizae reported in literature. As the same time, the F and Fr of the capillary electrophoresis fingerprints of Folium isatidis, Rhizoma belamcandae and compound liquorice tablets were successfully determined. As far as F was concerned, there was no evident difference between HPLC and capillary electrophoresis (CE), but the Fr values came from CE was usually a thousand times more than that from HPLC.

CONCLUSIONThe F and Fr can be applied to evaluate objectively, simply and thoroughly the chromatographic fingerprints.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Electrophoresis, Capillary ; methods ; Injections ; Iridaceae ; chemistry ; Lonicera ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Salvia miltiorrhiza

Objective To study whether the presence of gastric pepsin in the sputum might be used as a reliable criteria of laryngopharyngeal reflux. Methods Fifty-six patients with the symptoms of laryngopharyngitis and fifteen healthy people were recruited. Fifty-six patients were divided into laryngopharyngeal reflux group and chronic laryngitis group by the reflux symptom index (RSI), by the reflux finding score (RFS) and by their treating experiment taking omeprazole 20 mg bid for 2 weeks. Sputum in all three groups was obtained in the morning. Pepsin in the sputum was measured by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay. Results The positive rate of pepsin in sputum among LPR group, chronic laryngopharyngitis group and normal group were 93.8% (30/32), 75.0% (18/24), 20.0% (3/15) respectively, and the median concentration of pepsin were 5. 3 [1.3;53.4] ng/ml, 0.8 [0.1;17.2] ng/ml, 0.0 [0.0;0.0] ng/ml (H=23.29, P=0.000). Compared with co-diagnosis as gold standard, the sensitivity of RSI, RFS treating experiment and the pepsin immunoassay was 59.4%, 84.4%, 81.3% and 93.8%, and the specificity of those was 87.2%, 61.5%, 95. 8% and 46.2% respectively. Conclusions Detection of pepsin in sputum by immunoassay might provide a high sensitive, noninvasive method for laryngopharyngeal reflux.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of magnetic Twin-block appliance in the treatment of skeletal class II cases.

METHODSThe magnetic Twin-block appliance was embedded with two pairs of neodymium-iron-boron (Nd(2)Fe(14)B) rare earth permanent magnets in the upper and lower inclined planes of Twin-block appliance. The sample comprised of 13 skeletal class II patients in the late mixed or early permanent dentition treated by magnetic Twin-block appliance. Cephalometric films were taken before and after treatment. Helix CT images of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in all patients were examined before treatment (T1), during treatment (4 months after appliance placement, T2), after treatment (T3) and one year after treatment (T4).

RESULTSA double contour image was detected in the superior posterior part of the condylar head on the pseudo-sagittal reconstruction plane pictures of T2 in 11 patients. The double contour image could be observed in most patients as well. This image also exhibited on the pictures of T3 in several patients. On the pictures of T2 and T3 in some patients, interruption of cortical bone and "bifurcation phenomenon" of condyles were shown. Pictures of T1 and T4 were similar and no signs of remodeling of TMJ were observed. Cephalometric analysis revealed significant changes in the maxillofacial structure after treatment. The profile of patients improved.

CONCLUSIONSBone remodeling of condyle occurred during the magnetic Twin-block treatment in class II patients. Magnetic Twin-block appliance was effective in the treatment of the growing skeletal class II patients.

Adolescent ; Bone Remodeling ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetics ; Male ; Malocclusion, Angle Class II ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Mandibular Condyle ; physiopathology ; Orthodontic Appliances ; Orthodontics, Corrective ; instrumentation ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVESTo determine the expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in testis and to investigate the effects of NO on the reproductive function of testis.

METHODSTestes of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde. The paraffin sections were made as routine. Immunohistochemical ABC method was used to observe the localization of NOS.

RESULTSEndothelia NOS (eNOS), neuronal NOS (nNOS) and inductive NOS (iNOS) were all expressed in Leydig cells. Only eNOS was expressed in peritubular myoid cells, endothelial and smooth muscle cells of blood vessel, while only nNOS expressed in tunica adventitia of testicular blood vessels. The reactive substance distributes in cytoplasm with negative nuclei. Immunoreactivity for eNOS, nNOS and iNOS in all spermatogenic cells was negative.

CONCLUSIONSThree kinds of NOS were all expressed in testis and the distribution of different NOS had a little difference.

Animals ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; biosynthesis ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Testis ; enzymology

OBJECTIVETo construct a miR-155-based lentivirus vector to induce cyclooxygenase-2 gene silencing in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells by expressing anti-COX-2 shRNAmir.

METHODSmiR-155-based anti-COX-2 shRNAmir template was synthesized and inserted into pLVTHM plasmid. The recombinant pLVTHM/shRNAmir was transfected into 293FT cells for packaging the lentivirus vector. After infection with the lentivirus vector, the GFP-positive cells were screened by flow cytometry, and COX-2 mRNA level was detected by RT-PCR.

RESULTSRestriction digestion and DNA sequencing confirmed successful construction of the anti-COX-2 vector pLVTHM/shRNAmir. A subline of C666-1 cells was established after infection with the lentivirus vector, and the COX-2 expression in the cells was stably silenced.

CONCLUSIONThe shRNAmir lentivirus vector constructed may serve as an effective COX-2 inhibitor, which may facilitate future studies of gene therapy of NPC.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Humans ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; metabolism ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Transfection

CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; immunology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; immunology ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; biosynthesis ; Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Oligodeoxyribonucleotides ; pharmacology

Objective To determine the value and the optimal cutoff point of waist circumference (WC) in screening diabetes mellitus (DM) and to provide evidence for DM prevention and identifying population at risk in mid-western rural areas of Shandong province.Methods A sample consisting 16 341 rural residents was selected and studied.All participants were physically examined on height,weight,WC and fasting plasma glucose (FPG).Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed for subjects with FPG valued from 6.1 to 7.0 mmol/L.DM was defined according to the criteria set by WHO in 1999.Area under the curve (AUC),sensitivity,specificity and Youden index were computed based on the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.Optimal cutoff point was determined by the maximum of Youden index.Results The prevalence rates of DM for males and females increased along with the rise of WC (trend test X2=72.01,122.65,P＜0.01 ).It appeared significantly higher in those with WC 85 cm in females and≥80 cm in males,with those WC ＜85 cm for females and ＜80 cm for males,in particular.AUCs were 0.639 and 0.655 for males and females respectively and both had significant differences (t=7.22,11.07,P ＜0.01 ).However,the AUCs did not show significant difference (t=0.70,P ＞ 0.05) between males and females.The Youden index reached maximum when WC approached 85 cm for females (24.90%) and 80 cm for males (24.39%).The sensitivity and specificity were 58.04%and 66.86%for males,and 67.08%and 57.31%for females.Conclusion WC seemed to be an effective indicator for screening the DM.The optimal cutoff point of WC would be 85 cm for females and 80 cm for males in screening DM and defining the population at risk in this area.

Objective To study the sensitivity and specificity of a double monoclonal antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DMcAbS-ELISA)for the detection of F1 antigen of Yersinia pestis (Y.pestis).Methods Viscera (viz.liver and spleen)specimens of infected mice with virulent Y.pestis and negative control mice were detected by bacteriological test,DMcAbS-ELISA and reverse indirect hemagglutination assay (RIHA) for the F1 antigen.Results The 225 control specimens were all negative tested by plague bacteriology testing,DMcAbS-ELISA and RIHA.A total of 308 plague-infected mouse organ specimens were tested,and the positive detection rate was 92.21％ (284/308),90.91％(280/308) and 89.61％ (276/308),respectively,with germiculture,DMcAbS-ELISA and RIHA,and the difference was not statistically significant(x2=5.65,P＞0.05).The coincidence rate of DMcAbS-ELISA and bacterial culture was 97.00％[(274+243)/533],Kappa =0.940;RIHA in line with the rate was 99.25％[(276+253)/533],Kappa =0.985.Authenticity comparison of F1 antigen detection in viscera specimens:sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value,adjusted agreement and Youden's index was 96.48％(274/284),97.59％(243/249),97.86％ (274/280),96.05 ％(243/253),96.99％[1/4×(274/280+274/284+243/253+243/249)]and 0.9407,respectively,for DMcAbS-ELISA and 96.13％(273/284),98.80％(246/249),98.91％(273/276),95.72％(246/257),97.39％[1/4×(273/276+273/284+246/257±246/249)]and 0.9492,respectively,for RIHA.The detection sensitivity of DMcAbS-ELISA and RIHA was 2.7×104 cfu/ml and 2.2×105 cfu/ml,for Y.pestis,respectively,and was 10 μg/L for F1 antigen.Conclusions DMcAbS-ELISA assay is a sensitive,specific,simple and fast method for detection of the F1 antigen,and it has a potential application value in rapid diagnosis of plague.