Abstracting and Indexing as Topic ; Neoplasms ; Periodicals as Topic

OBJECTIVETo investigate the pathogenicity of Leptospira interrogans fliR gene to J774A.1 cells.

METHODSfliR gene from L. interrogans serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae serovar lai strain 56601 and kana gene from plasmid pET42a were amplified by PCR. Suicide plasmid of fliR gene was constructed; and specific siRNA for fliR gene was designed and synthesized. fliR gene mutants were constructed by gene knock-out with suicide plasmid (56601fliR-Kana) and gene silencing with siRNA (56601siRNA-R2). The mutants were identified by PCR, sequencing and semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Adhesion to mouse mononuclear-macrophage J774A.1 and induction of cell necrosis and apoptosis by 56601fliR-Kana and 56601siRNA-R2 were examined by adhesion test and flow cytometry, respectively.

RESULTThe nucleotide and putative amino acid sequences of cloned fliR gene had 99.9% and 100% similarities to those of reported sequences in GenBank. The nucleotide sequence of the cloned kana gene was identical to the corresponding sequence in pET42a map. The results of PCR and sequencing confirmed that kana gene was inserted in the sequence of 56601fliR-Kana fliR gene. The mRNA level of fliR gene in 56601fliR-Kana was remarkably decreased (P<0.01) while the mRNA level of fliR gene in 56601siRNA-R2 was much lower than that in wild strain 56601 (P<0.05). 56601fliR-Kana and 56601siRNA-R2 lost the ability to adhere J774A.1 cells; and their ability to induce cell necrosis and apoptosis was markedly weakened (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONfliR is a virulence-associated gene of L. interrogans and the function of the gene is closely related to adhesion, induction of cell necrosis and apoptosis of the microbe.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Bacterial Adhesion ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Leptospira interrogans ; genetics ; pathogenicity ; Macrophages ; microbiology ; pathology ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mice ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics

Objective To investigate the clinical significance of serum cytokines concentrations and A- PACHE scores in evaluating the illness state for critical trauma patients.Methods A clinical prospective self-control trial was performed,in which 36 patients admitted to ICU by SIRS were enrolled.Objects were divided into mild and severe trauma group according to APACHE score.The TNF-?and IL-6 concentrations were determined on the 1st, 3rd and 5th day of admission,the APACHE score were assessed at the same time.Statistic analysis was performed according to this group.Results The TNF-?concentrations decreased continuously in the following days while IL-6 decreased from the 7th day in the mild trauma group.In the severe trauma group the TNF-?and IL-6,APACHE score concentrations kept increasing.There was a significant difference of TNF-?and IL-6 concentrations between severe trauma and mild trauma group.Conclusion Dynamic measurement of TNF-?and IL-6 concentrations with APACHE score provide great help to evaluate the illness state and predict the prognosis.

BACKGROUNDIt is a surgical dilemma when patients present with both severe heart disease and neoplasms. The best surgical treatment remains controversial. This study aimed to analyze the early and long-term results of simultaneous surgical treatment of severe heart disease and neoplasms.

METHODSWe reviewed the clinical records of 15 patients who underwent simultaneous neoplastic resection and cardiac surgery between September 2006 and January 2011. There were 5 male and 10 female patients. The mean age was (59.2 ± 12.5) years and the mean left ventricular ejection fraction was (57.4 ± 11.0)%. All patients were followed up completely for a period of 12 to 51 months (mean, (33.1 ± 11.2) months).

RESULTSFifteen patients underwent simultaneous cardiac surgery and neoplastic resection. Cardiac procedures consisted of off pump coronary artery bypass grafting (n = 7), aortic valve replacement (n = 3), mitral valve replacement (n = 3), mitral valve replacement with coronary artery bypass grafting (n = 1) and left atrial myxoma resection (n = 1). Neoplastic resection consisted of lung cancer resection (n = 5), colonic cancer resection (n = 3), gallbladder resection (n = 1), colonic cancer resection with gallbladder resection (n = 1), hysterectomy (n = 2), hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (n = 2) and left ovariectomy (n = 1). Pathological examination confirmed malignant disease in 10 patients and benign disease in 5 patients. There were no perioperative myocardial infarctions, stroke, pericardial tamponade, renal failure or hospital deaths. The most frequent complications were atrial fibrillation (33.3%), pneumonia (26.7%), low cardiac output syndrome (6.7%) and delayed healing of surgical wounds (6.7%). There was 1 late death 42 months after surgery for recurrent malignant disease. At 1 and 3 years, survival rates were 100% (Kaplan-Meier method).

CONCLUSIONSSimultaneous cardiac surgery and neoplastic resection was not associated with increased early or late morbidity or mortality. Cardiopulmonary bypass does not appear to adversely affect survival in patients with malignant disease. The long-term survival was determined by tumor stage.

Adult ; Aged ; Colonic Neoplasms ; surgery ; Female ; Heart Diseases ; surgery ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; adverse effects ; Lung Neoplasms ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ovariectomy ; adverse effects ; Thoracic Surgery ; statistics & numerical data ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinic effect of abdominal needling (AN) on post-cardiosurgical operational gastrointestinal dysfunction.

METHODSSixty patients were equally assigned to two groups, the AN group and the control group. AN applied on the AN group was conducted by needling at Xiawan (Ren 10), Qihai (Ren 6), Qipang, Guanyuan (Ren 4), Qixue, Shuifen (Ren 9), Tianshu (St. 25) and Daju (St. 27), starting from the first day after operation, once every day with the needle retained time of 20 min, 5 days as one therapeutic course. The control group was treated with the conventional post-operational measurement with intravenous injection of 20 mg Omeprazole once a day, for 3 successive days. The score on symptoms as anorexia, weakness, abdominal distension, constipation, laziness to speak, nausea and vomiting, weakened borborygmus, pale-yellow complexion and edema, etc. , were observed.

RESULTSThe symptom scores in the aspects of anorexia, weakness, abdominal distension, constipation, weakened borborygmus, nausea and vomiting in the AN group were significant difference when compared with before treatment and the control group (P <0.01). After treatment the improvement in the control group only showed in weakness and pale-yellow complexion (P <0.01). Observation on gastric emptying showed that 24 h gastric paresis occurred in 17 patients (56.7%) of the AN group, and 22 (73.3%) of the control group; the 24 h and 72 h barium residue (strip) in the AN group was 10.60 +/- 4.61 and 8.53 +/- 4.08 respectively, while in the control group 17.07 +/- 3.99 and 15.83 +/- 4.19; the 24 h, 72 h gastric emptying rate in the former was (47.00 +/- 23.07) % and (57.33 +/- 20.37) %, and in the latter (14.67 +/- 19.95) % and (20.83 +/- 20.97) %, all showed significant difference between them (P <0.05 or P <0.01). Levels of motilin in the two groups after operation were decreased showing significant difference in comparison with before operation (P < 0.01), and AN group was raised after teratment, also showing significant difference between groups (P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONAN can strengthen gastrointestinal peristalsis, promote gastrointestinal emptying, recover quickly gastrointestinal hormone to the normal range. Besides, it is safe and effective, with no pain or only slight pain, easy in locating the acupoint accurately, standard prescription, high compliance of patients, and convenient for clinical operating, therefore, it is worthy of spreading in clinical practice.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; etiology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and risk factors for its transmission among injection drug users (IDUs) in Liangshan Yizu Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province, China.

METHODSA community-based survey was conducted to investigate demographic characteristics, pattern and frequency of sharing injection equipment, and sexual behaviors in IDUs. Blood samples were also collected from them to detect for antibodies against HIV and syphilis.

RESULTSA total of 379 subjects were recruited with informed consent for study through community outreach and peer recruiting methods. Their prevalence of HIV infection was 11.3% (43/379). Ethnicity, frequency of sharing syringes and cotton swab during the past three months and syphilis infection associated with HIV infection by univariate analysis using chi-square test. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed odds ratio of frequency of sharing syringes for HIV infection during the past three months was 2.28 (95% CI 1.18 - 4.43), and that for syphilis infection 3.10 (95% CI 1.48 - 6.48).

CONCLUSIONFrequency of sharing syringes during the past three months associated with syphilis and HIV infection.

Adolescent ; Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Transmission, Infectious ; Female ; HIV Infections ; epidemiology ; transmission ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Needle Sharing ; adverse effects ; Prevalence ; Sexual Behavior ; Substance Abuse, Intravenous ; virology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the carrier ratio and the genotype of thalassemia in the rural people of reproductive age in Nanning, and to analyze the characteristics of hematologic parameter in thalassemia carriers.

METHODS2044 cases of productive age youths were detected with hemoglobin autoanalyse-Variant (HPLC) and Cell Dyn 1700 automatic hemocyte analysator. Among them,430 cases (75 couples randomly selected in thalassemia screening, 140 couples who were told that one or both of them were positive for thalassemia phenotype through hemocyte analysis) carried out thalassemia gene detection in synchronism.

RESULTS163 cases were detected beta-thalassemia and the thus beta-thalassemia carrier ratio was 7.97%. 13 cases were detected HbH disease, and 2 cases Hb Manitoba, 2 cases HbJ, and 1 case HbQ. As for genotypes,-alpha (3.7)/alpha,-alpha(CS)/alphaalpha and -alpha(WS)/alphaalpha were common ones with in alpha-thalassemia-2, --(SEA)/alphaalpha the most common one in alpha-thalassemia-1, and 41-42 were the most common ones in beta-thalassemia heterozygotes. The detection ratio of alpha,beta combination thalassemia was also relatively high. Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) were low in all cases of HbH disease and beta-thalassemia, also low in 86 cases of alpha-thalassemia-1 with the exception of normal MCH in 1 case, yet normal in 17 cases out of 66 cases of alpha-thalassemia-2. HbF raised in 32 cases out of 69 cases of beta-thalassemia heterozygote, no case showed raised HbF without the raise of HbA2. Hematologic characteristic of alpha, beta combination thalassemia was mainly caused by beta-thalassemia.

CONCLUSIONCarrier ratio of thalassemia in rural productive age youths in Nanning was high while alpha-thalassemia-2 with the genotype -alpha(WS)/alphaalpha and -alpha(CS)/ alphaalpha were common. To those with low MCV and MCH in high-risk region, thalassemia should be suspected.

Adult ; Carrier State ; China ; epidemiology ; Genotype ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Rural Population ; alpha-Thalassemia ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; genetics ; beta-Thalassemia ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the mortality among injecting drug users (IDUs) from an IDUs cohort in Liangshan of Sichuan province.

METHODSIn November 2002, 376 injecting drug users were recruited and followed up for 1 year as part of a prospective cohort study. Socio-demographics and risk behaviors on drug use were recorded. After one year, the mortality rate was estimated and risk factors for mortality were analyzed using Cox regression.

RESULTSOut of the original cohort of 376 participants, there were 28 reported and confirmed deaths during the one year follow-up period. The mortality rate of the cohort was 77.32 per 1000 person-years (95% CI: 48.68 - 105.95) with the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) as 47.62 (95% CI: 31.63 - 68.71). Out of the 28 deaths, 64.3% (18/28) caused by overdoses of drug. No variables were found to be associated with death of all causes, but being un-married and >or= 9 year history of injecting drugs were found to be associated with overdose-related mortality in the final model of Cox regression. The hazard ratios were 4.51 (95% CI: 1.03 - 19.67) and 2.77 (95% CI: 1.10 - 7.00) respectively.

CONCLUSIONOverdose served the most frequent cause of deaths in Liangshan of Sichuan province. Future studies should be conducted to focus on mortality and risk factors associated with mortality among IDUs to provide targeted interventions in reducing unnatural mortality.

Adult ; Cause of Death ; China ; epidemiology ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Heroin Dependence ; mortality ; Humans ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Substance Abuse, Intravenous ; mortality

OBJECTIVETo study and research the transcription pattern of UL131A-128 mRNA in human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) clinical low passage strains.

METHODSThe UL131A-128 mRNAs of from different clinical strains and kinetic periods were amplified using 3' RACE and analyzed by sequencing. Meanwhile, clones containing UL131A-128 transcripts in a HCMV cDNA library of clinical strain were selected and sequenced.

RESULTSIt is successful to obtain the transcription pattern of UL131A, UL130 and UL128 gene in HCMV clinical low passage strains, the UL131A gene consisted of two exons and the coding region of UL130 gene was not interrupted by any intron in the region as reported before. However, the transcript of UL128 gene showed two patterns, one pattern consisted of the three exons, the length is 519bp, and the other one contained the three exons and the sequence of the first intron further, the length is 642bp. The quantities of UL128 transcript containing the sequence of the first intron were higher than that of transcript only containing the three exons in the studied clinical strains at all kinetic classes. It was demonstrated that the UL131A-128 mRNA were expressed with immediately early, early and late kinetics. The result of 3'RACE and HCMV cDNA library of clinical strain is conformity.

CONCLUSIONSOur results demonstrated that the UL131A, UL130 and UL128 genes were transcribed with 3'-coterminal, although the initiation points of their mRNA may be different. The variation of the transcripts found in our study indicated complex nature of transcription of UL131A-128 genes in HCMV clinical strains.

Cytomegalovirus ; genetics ; Gene Library ; Humans ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Transcription, Genetic ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo establish Biological Limit Value (BLV) for N, N-dimethylacetamide (DMAC).

METHOD201 workers in 3 spandex factories exposed to DMAC were recruited. Air samples were collected using personal air samplers, and urine samples from each works were collected at the end of shift at end of workweek. The urinary metabolite NMAC and air samples of DMAC were determined by gas chromatography (GC). Percentile and relative internal exposure (RIE) were analyzed and proposed a BLV for DMAC.

RESULTSThe number of workers who exposure to DMAC below OELs were 133 (66.2%) among 201 workers monitored. Geometric mean (range) concentration of DMAC in air was 19.4 (0.40 ∼ 300.12) mg/m(3), and that of NMAC in urine was 23.7 (1.30 ∼ 189.42) mg/g Cr. A linear correlation was found between the personal air DMAC and creatinine-adjusted NMAC levels in urine collected at the end of shift at end of workweek (F = 188.872, R(2) = 0.487,P < 0.001). The relationship can be described by the equation Log (NMAC mg/g Cr) = 0.685 + 0.455 log (DMAC mg/m(3)). According to the equation the current China OELs value of 20 mg/m(3) would lead to a mean NMAC concentration of 18.92 mg/g Cr. The 90th percentile biomonitoring result below 20 mg/m(3) 8-hour TWA is 23.9 mg MMAC mg/g Cr, and that of NMAC in urine calculated by relative internal exposure (RIE) was 19.0 mg/g Cr.

CONCLUSIONA BLV of 20 mg/g Cr NMAC in urine at the end of shift at end of workweek for DMAC was recommend by reference to official values from other countries.

Acetamides ; analysis ; urine ; Adult ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Chromatography, Gas ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis ; Threshold Limit Values