Canine adenovirus type 2 (CAV-2) has been proposed as a vector for recombinant vaccine. Alternatively, it may be an attractive tool for gene transfer due to lack of pre-existing immunity in humans. In this study, a transfer vector based on CAV-2, in which the 1381bp fragment of the E3 region was deleted, and a linker containing the Not I, Cla I, Fse I restriction enzyme sites were cloned into the deleted region. The recombinant CAV-2 genome was released from the plasmids enzyme digestion and transfected into MDCK cells by lipofectamine to obtain the recombinant virus. No significant difference in morphology, hemagglutination and replication between the recombinant and the wide type CAV-2 was found. These results indicated that this recombinant virus CAV-2-deltaE3 (NF) may be an efficient vector for gene transfer and the capacity of the vector for inserted foreign gene was up to 3.3kb.
Adenoviruses, Canine ; genetics ; ultrastructure ; Animals ; Binding Sites ; genetics ; Cell Line ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA Restriction Enzymes ; metabolism ; DNA, Viral ; chemistry ; genetics ; Dogs ; virology ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Humans ; Lipids ; chemistry ; Microscopy, Electron ; Transfection ; methods ; Virus Replication ; genetics

BACKGROUNDLocalization of sensory cortical areas during the operation is essential to preserve the sensory function. Intraoperative direct electrostimulation under awake anesthesia is the golden standard but time-consuming. We applied 3T high field blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to identify the relationship between glioma and cortical sensory areas preoperatively and to guide intraoperative direct electrostimulation for quick and precise localization.

METHODSFive glioma patients with sensory cortex involvement by or next to the lesion had preoperative BOLD fMRI to determine the spatial relationship of cortical sensory areas to the tumours. Bilateral hand opposite movement was performed by these patients for fMRI. Precentral and postcentral gyri were identified by electrical stimulation during the operation. Karnofsky Performance Status scores of the patients' pre- and postoperative and the role of BOLD fMRI were evaluated.

RESULTSThe cortical sensory areas were all activated in five glioma patients involving postcentral gyrus areas by BOLD fMRI with bilateral hand opposite movement. The detected activation areas corresponded with the results from cortical electrical stimulation.

CONCLUSIONSThe relationship between cortical sensory areas and tumour can be accurately shown by BOLD fMRI before operation. And the information used to make the tumour resection could obtain good clinical results.

Adult ; Female ; Glioma ; blood ; pathology ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oxygen ; blood ; Somatosensory Cortex ; physiology ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDBlood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) plays an important role in identifying functional cortical areas of the brain, especially in patients with gliomas. This study aimed to assess the value of fMRI in presurgical planning and functional outcome of patients with gliomas in the motor cortical areas.

METHODSTwenty-six patients with gliomas in the motor cortex were recruited in the study. Before operation, fMRI was performed in each patient to obtain the mapping of bilateral hands area on the primary sensorimotor cortex. This examination was performed on a 3.0T scanner with a bilateral hands movement paradigm. During microsurgery under awake anesthesia, the motor area was identified using direct electrical stimulation and compared with preoperative mapping. Finally the tumor was resected as much as possible with the motor cortex preserved in each patient. Karnofsky performance status (KPS) was evaluated in all patients before and after operation.

RESULTSTwenty-three patients showed a successful fMRI mapping. Among them, 19 were classified to be grade III; 4, grade II; 3, grade I. The operation time was about 7 hours in the 23 patients, 8.5 hours in the other 3. The pre- and postoperative KPS score was 82.3 +/- 8.6 and 94.2 +/- 8.1, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSPreoperative fMRI of the hand motor area shows a high consistency with intraoperative cortical electronic stimulation. Combined use of the two methods shows a maximum benefit in surgical treatment.

Adult ; Brain Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Glioma ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Motor Cortex ; pathology ; Oxygen ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate status of infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronovirus (SARS-CoV) in traders of wild animals wholesale markets in Guangzhou.

METHODSSerum antibody against SARS-CoV IgG was determined cross-sectionally and symptoms of respiratory infection were investigated retrospectively for part of traders of three wholesale markets for wild animals in Guangzhou.

RESULTSOverall rate of infection with SARS-CoV in 635 traders was 16.69%, varying in three different markets. Infection rate in market A mainly engaging in wild animals ranked the highest of 25.61%, significantly higher than that in markets B and C engaging in domestic fowls and snakes. Infection rate in traders only engaging in civet cats was 58.54%, significantly higher than that in traders engaging in snakes only (9.46%). In market A, infection rate varied in different persons, 59.34%, 20.59%, 16.00%, 15.22%, 10.40% and 9.68% in traders engaging in wild animals, managers, children of the traders, traders engaging in domestic fowls, traders engaging in snakes, and traders engaging in frozen food, respectively, in a decreasing pattern as their contact opportunities. During the period of SARS epidemic, detection rate of SARS-CoV antibody in people with symptoms of acute respiratory infection was higher (30.70%) than that in those without such symptoms (20.08%). Prevalence of symptoms of acute upper respiratory infection in people with positive antibody against SARS-CoV was higher (49.28%) than that in those with negative antibody (30.35%).

CONCLUSIONSInfection with SARS-CoV in traders of animal markets possibly related to their direct exposure to wild animals, particularly to civet cats. During the period of SARS epidemic, some of the traders did infect with SARS-CoV, but they were neglected due to clinically inapparent manifestations.

Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; China ; Contact Tracing ; Family ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Occupational Exposure ; Occupations ; classification ; Retrospective Studies ; SARS Virus ; immunology ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; immunology ; transmission

OBJECTIVETo provide the fittest model for forecasting schistosomiasis prevalence in Haokou village of "breaking dikes or opening sluice for waterstore" in Dongting Lake areas by comparing the results of Moving Average, Exponential Smoothing, Autoregressive Model and Autoregressive integrated moving average model (ARIMA model) from 1990 to 2002.

METHODSError sum of square of four statistical methods was compared and the fittest model was chosen.

RESULTSError sum of square of predicted schistosomiasis prevalence rates in Haokou village from 1994 to 2002 were 39.40, 39.86, 26.63, 22.54 respectively.

CONCLUSIONARIMA model seemed to be the fittest one in the prediction of schistosomiasis prevalence in Haokou village of "breaking dikes or opening sluice for waterstore" in Dongting Lake from 1990 to 2002.

Animals ; China ; epidemiology ; Epidemiologic Methods ; Forecasting ; Humans ; Models, Statistical ; Prevalence ; Risk Assessment ; Schistosomiasis japonica ; epidemiology ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the significance of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels in serum for detecting type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients at risk of developing nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD).

METHODSIndividuals with T2DM (n = 9489) were recruited from the Kailuan Company between 2006 and 2007 for the first phase of this community-based prospective cohort study. For the second phase of the study, the original cohort was recruited for follow-up (at two years from each subject's original enrollment date (baseline)). The total followed-up subjects (n = 2802; 2344 males, 458 females, 22-88 years old) were categorized into quartiles according to baseline measurements of serum hsCRP levels (less than or equal to 0.30, > 0.30-0.60, > 0.60-1.92 and > 1.92 mg/L) and used to determine the relationship between change in incidence rates of NAFLD and predictive value of baseline serum hsCRP levels by logistic regression analysis.

RESULTSTwenty-nine percent (n = 813) of the followed-up subjects developed NAFLD. The incidence (%) of NAFLD at the two-year follow-up had increased in conjunction with the level of serum hsCRP detected at baseline (quartile 1: 22.5%, 2: 27.3%, 3: 32.1%, and 4: 34.3%; all, P less than 0.01). It was found that the subjects in the highest quartile had an increased risk of NAFLD (odds ratio (OR) = 1.80, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.42-2.28, P less than 0.01), as compared with those in the lowest quartile. Moreover, when the regression model was adjusted for baseline factors of age, sex, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting serum glucose, and body mass index, the risk of NAFLD remained significantly higher for the highest quartile (vs. the lowest quartile; OR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.16-1.91, P less than 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSerum hsCRP levels may be predictive of development of NAFLD in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The risk of NAFLD increases in parallel with increasing levels of serum hsCRP.

C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Cohort Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Humans ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; diagnosis ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUNDGlioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most malignant kind of astrocytic tumors and is associated with a poor prognosis. In this retrospective study, we assessed the clinical, radiological, genetic molecular and treatment factors that influence clinical outcomes of patients with GBM.

METHODSA total of 116 patients with GBM who received surgery and radiation between January 2006 and December 2007 were included in this study. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression analysis were used to find the factors independently influencing patients' progression free survival (PFS) time and overall survival (OS) time.

RESULTSAge, preoperative Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) score, KPS score change at 2 weeks after operation, neurological deficit symptoms, tumor resection extent, maximal tumor diameter, involvement of eloquent cortex or deep structure, involvement of brain lobe, Ki-67 expression level and adjuvant chemotherapy were statistically significant factors (P < 0.05) for both PFS and OS in the univariate analysis. Cox proportional hazards modeling revealed that age or= 80, KPS score change after operation >or= 0, involvement of single frontal lobe, non-eloquent area or deep structure involvement, low Ki-67 expression and adjuvant chemotherapy were independent favorable factors (P < 0.05) for patients' clinical outcomes.

CONCLUSIONSAge at diagnosis, preoperative KPS score, KPS score change at 2 weeks postoperation, involvement of brain lobe, involvement of eloquent cortex or deep structure, Ki-67 expression level and adjuvant chemotherapy correlate significantly with the prognosis of patients with GBM.

Female ; Glioblastoma ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

Nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) is an important family of transcription factors that can be activated by calmodulin and calcineurin in human cells. To investigate the expression and clinical significance of NFAT isoforms and calcineurin in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), we collected tumor and adjacent normal tissues from 159 NSCLC patients and assembled them in a tissue microarray. Protein levels of NFAT1, NFAT2, NFAT3, NFAT4, and calcineurin were determined using immunohistochemistry. Correlations between NFAT and calcineurin expression and clinicopathologic characteristics were analyzed. We found that the positive rates of NFAT1 (52.8%, 84/159), NFAT2 (11.3%, 18/159), NFAT3 (28.3%, 45/159), NFAT4 (47.2%, 75/159), and calcineurin (47.8%, 76/159) expression were significantly higher in tumor tissues than in adjacent normal lung tissues (P<0.001), respectively. The positive rate of NFAT1 expression was significantly higher in patients with adenocarcinoma (63.5%, 47/74) than in those with squamous cell carcinoma (43.5%, 37/85) (χ2=6.340, P=0.012); with lymph node metastasis (61.6%, 53/86) than without lymph node metastasis (42.5%, 31/73) (χ2=5.818, P=0.016); and with stage-II and -III diseases (61.8%, 55/89) than with stage-I disease (41.4%, 29/70) (χ2=6.524, P=0.011). Moreover, the overexpression of NFAT1 was associated with poor survival of NSCLC patients (χ2=5.006, P=0.025). The positive rate of NFAT4 was significantly higher in patients with squamous carcinoma (57.6%, 49/85) than in those with adenocarcinoma (35.1%, 26/74) (χ2=8.045, P=0.005) and with high and moderate differentiation (54.9%, 61/111) than with low differentiation (29.2%, 14/48) (χ2=8.943, P=0.003). Calcineurin overexpression was significantly associated with histologic type (higher in squamous carcinoma than in adenocarcinoma, χ2=8.897, P=0.003), differentiation grade (higher in high-moderation grade than in low grade, χ2=9.566, P=0.002) and gender (higher in male than in female, χ2=5.766, P=0.016). Furthermore, calcineurin expression was significantly correlated with NFAT4 level (r=0.429, P<0.001). These results suggest that NFAT1 expression is associated with lung adenocarcinoma progression, and NFAT4 expression, which was higher in squamous lung cancer, is associated with calcineurin expression and differentiation grade.
Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Calcineurin ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; metabolism ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; NFATC Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Grading ; Neoplasm Staging ; Protein Isoforms ; metabolism ; Sex Factors ; Survival Rate ; Tissue Array Analysis

OBJECTIVETo study the incidence of injuries among residents living in the countryside of Huanghe delta area.

METHODSA household questionnaire survey was conducted to 15 276 residents in 20 villages of Dongying municipality of Shandong province with a stratified-cluster sampling on their injuries from March 1, 2002 to February 28, 2003. Data were analyzed with Excel 2000 and SPSS 11.0 software.

RESULTSThe crude incidence of injuries was 5.90% in total, and the standardized incidence was 5.93%. It was higher in men (7.79%) than in women (4.03%). There were 19 deaths with 20 cripples. The standardized death rate was 122.56 per 100 000 with leading causes of injuries was blunt or by sharp articles (24.61%), traffic accident (24.17%), falls (22.62%) and animal bites (13.08%). Peak incidence of age group was high in 25 - 54 age group and 0 - 4 age group (> 6.0%). 267 cases (29.60%) inpatients had had about 15.89 days hospitalization for each case. Rest of each case with injury had 19.20 days of rest. Direct economic loss for treatment would cost 904.85 RMB Yuan and 10.15 days with care takers and 221.88 RMB for other cost. The potential years of life lost was 24 years, the working years of life lost was 19.6 year, the valued years of life lost was 8.7 year, and the standardized period expected years of life lost was 31.73 year.

CONCLUSIONInjury was common and frequently occurred among residents in the countryside of rural Huanghe delta areas, that seriously endangered the health care systems and burden on families.

Accidental Falls ; economics ; prevention & control ; statistics & numerical data ; Accidents, Traffic ; economics ; prevention & control ; statistics & numerical data ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bites and Stings ; epidemiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Sampling Studies ; Suicide ; statistics & numerical data ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Wounds and Injuries ; economics ; epidemiology ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo examine whether the polymorphisms of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene are associated with the susceptibility to high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) in Chinese railway construction workers at Qinghai-Tibet where the altitude is over 4 500 m above sea level.

METHODSA case-control study was conducted including 149 HAPE patients in the construction workers and 160 healthy controls randomly recruited from their co-workers, matching the patients in ethnicity, age, sex, lifestyle, and working conditions. Three polymorphisms of eNOS gene, T-786C in promoter, 894G/T in exon 7, and 27bp variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) in intron 4, were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and confirmed with DNA sequencing.

RESULTSThe frequencies of 894T allele and heterozygous G/T of the 894G/T variant were significantly higher in HAPE patients group than in the control group (P=0.0028 and P=0.0047, respectively). However, the frequencies of the T-786C in promoter and the 27bp VNTR in intron 4 were not significantly different between the two groups. Haplotypic analysis revealed that the frequencies of two haplotypes (H3,T-T-b, b indicates 5 repeats of 27 bp VNTR; H6, C-G-a, a indicates 4 repeats of 27 bp VNTR) were significantly higher in HAPE patients (both Pü0.0001). On the contrary, the frequencies of H1 (T-G-b) and H2 (T-G-a) were lower in HAPE patients than in healthy controls (both Pü0.001).

CONCLUSIONSTwo haplotypes (T-T-b and C-G-a) may be strongly associated with susceptibility to HAPE. Compared with the individual alleles of eNOS gene, the interaction of multiple genetic markers within a haplotype may be a major determinant for the susceptibility to HAPE.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Altitude ; Base Sequence ; Case-Control Studies ; DNA Primers ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; genetics ; Occupational Diseases ; enzymology ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Pulmonary Edema ; enzymology ; genetics ; Tibet ; Young Adult