Herpes zoster ( HZ, also known as shingles) , caused by reactivation of latent varicella zoster virus ( VZV) , is a viral disease characterized by a painful skin rash with blisters involving a limited area. Elderly individuals older than fifty years of age are at increased risk of contracting HZ. In China, HZ becomes a significant health burden along with population aging. The virological characteristics, clinical di-agnosis, epidemiological characteristics of HZ are summarized in this review. Moreover, the burden of HZ, risk factors as well as the prevention and control of HZ are also discussed.

Objective DryLab software was used to assist high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method to test and isolate six Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) probe substrates.Methods Six CYP450 probe substrates were selected and the right HPLC method was developed and validated with the assistance of DryLab software.Results The new HPLC method with the assistance of DryLab software could test and isolate six probe substrates with degrees of isolation more than 2.00. The correlation coefficients (R> 0.999 8) indicated high linear correlation between the concentrations and the peak areas among six probe substrates. Recovery studies showed good results for all the probe substrat from 86.38% to 110.29%. And therelative standard deviation (RSD) ranged from 1.69% to 3.80% with its intra-day and inter-day precision ranging from 0.42% to 2.01%, and 1.36% to 2.29%, respectively.Conclusions The developed HPLC method with the assistance of DryLab could test and isolate six probe substrates with shortertime than the HPLC method alone.

Objective To determine the content of total flavonoids and luteolin from Pteris multifida Poir. Methods The content of total flavonoids was determined by gradient elution of macroporous resin D101 and ultraviolet spectrophotometry. The content of luteolin was determined by HPLC. The analysis was performed on a RP-C18 column(4.6 mm×250 mm, 5 μm) with aceconitrile-0.2% phosphoric acid (35:65) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min, and 30 ℃ temperature. Results The detection of wave length was set at 349 nm. The content of luteolin was 0.015%, 0.019%, 0.016%, and the content of total flavonoids was 0.015%, 0.019%, 0.016%, respectively. Conclusions The method is suitable for the determination of flavonoids componets from Pteris multifida Poir.

Hereditary spastic paraplegia type 58 is rare, caused by pathogenic variations in KIF1C gene. Here, a case diagnosed in Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, was reported. The 15-year-old female suffered tremor in bilateral upper limbs which was aggravated gradually since age 8. Cerebellar ataxia, positive pyramidal tract sign and dystonic tremor were prominent on physical examination. The brain magnetic resonance imaging showed T 2-hyperintense signals in bilateral pyramidal tracts, optic radiations and superior cerebellar peduncles, with mild cerebellar atrophy. Whole exon sequencing revealed the unreported homozygous c.425_426delTG (p.V142Gfs*10) mutation which was presumed pathogenic.

Objective: To analyze the correlation between circumcision and incidence and clearance of male genital HPV infection. Methods: From May to July 2014, 18-55 year old men who had sexual behavior history were recruited from the general population in Liuzhou, Guangxi to set up a cohort. Totally, 113 circumcised and 560 uncircumcised men were enrolled and interviewed using a questionnaire (including information on demographic characteristics and sexual behaviors), then they were followed-up with 6-month interval for 2 times. On each visit, specimens of male external genitalia were collected and genotyped for HPV DNA. The differences of incidence and clearance of genital HPV infections between circumcised and uncircumcised men were analyzed by Log-rank test. Cox regression was used to analyze the relationship between circumcision and incidence and clearance of HPV infection. Results: The median age (P₂₅, P₇₅) of circumcised and uncircumcised men were 28 (24, 35) and 32 (24, 31), respectively. The incidences of any HPV infections were 9.1 (95%CI: 2.4-15.7) and 8.4 (95% CI: 5.6-11.2) per 1 000 person-months (χ²=0.10, P=0.758), respectively. The clearance of circumcised men [136.3 (95%CI: 70.0-202.7) per 1 000 person-months] was higher than that in uncircumcised men [89.6 (95%CI: 65.9-113.3) per 1 000 person-months] (χ²=8.19, P=0.004). In multivariate COX regression analysis, compared with uncircumcised men, circumcised men had higher possibility to clear any HPV infections (HR: 2.41, 95%CI: 1.30-4.46). Compared with men having one sexual partner, people having more than 4 sexual partners had lower possibility to clear any HPV infections (HR: 0.49, 95%CI: 0.25-0.96). Compared with 18-25 years old men, men aged 26-35 years old had higher possibility to clear high-risk HPV infections (HR: 2.14, 95%CI: 1.08-4.23). Conclusion Circumcised and uncircumcised men had similar incidence of genital HPV infection, whereas, men conducted circumcision and having fewer sexual partners could increase the clearance of genital HPV infections.

ObjectiveTo study the effect of Bazi Bushen capsules on delaying the aging process of naturally aging mice and its mechanism. MethodThe mice were randomly divided into four groups according to their body weight， namely， aging group， low-dose Bazi Bushen capsules group （1 g·kg^-1）， high-dose Bazi Bushen capsules group （2 g·kg^-1）， and rapamycin group （0.002 g·kg^-1）. The debilitating signs were detected by behavioral tests and the weakness index was measured. The percentages of spleen T and B lymphocytes， effector T cells （TE）， memory T cells （TM）， naive T cells （TN）， helper T cells （Th）， cytotoxic T cells （Tc） ，Th1 cells， Th2 cells， and regulatory T cells （Treg） were determined by flow cytometry. Cell proliferation and the cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay was used to detect the proliferation of lymphocytes in mice. The hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used to observe the histopathological changes in the mouse spleen. The expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A （p16） and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A （p21） was detected by immunohistochemistry （IHC）. The mRNA expression of senescence-related proteins p16 and p21 was determined by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）， and the inflammatory cytokines， including tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interferon-γ （IFN-γ）， interleukin （IL）-1β， IL-2， IL-4， IL-10， and IL-12 p70， in peripheral blood of mice were detected by Luminex. ResultAs compared with the aging group， mice in the Bazi Bushen capsules and rapamycin groups showed significantly improved debilitating signs and reduced weakness index scores （P<0.05， P<0.01）， increased proportions of T cells， TN cells， Tc cells， Th2 cells， and Treg cells in the spleen， decreased proportions of TE cells， TM cells， Th cells， Th1 cells （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and increased proliferation of splenic lymphocytes （P<0.05， P<0.01）. In the Bazi Bushen capsules and rapamycin groups， clear structure of the red and white marrow marginal zone was observed in the spleen of mice， the area of the white marrow was increased， and the area of the red marrow was correspondingly decreased. The protein and mRNA expression of aging-related proteins p16 and p21 in the spleen was decreased （P<0.01）， the levels of serum pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β， IL-2， IL-12 p70， IFN-γ， and TNF-α levels were decreased， and the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 were increased （P<0.05， P<0.01） in the Bazi Bushen capsules and rapamycin groups as compared with the aging group. ConclusionBazi Bushen capsules have the effect of regulating the debilitating signs of natural aging mice， regulating the immune homeostasis and inflammation level of the body， and reducing cell aging.

Objective: To investigate the seroprevalence and epidemiological characteristics of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in pregnant women in Xiamen. Methods: Sera samples of 910 pregnant women were collected from September 2014 to June 2015 in Xiamen Huli District Maternity and Child Care Hospital. Those who intended to give birth in target hospital were included in a subgroup which was asked to collect the second serum sample. All samples were tested for anti-HEV IgM and IgG antibody by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). HEV RNA was tested by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the positive samples of anti-HEV IgM antibody, meanwhile, the quantitative detections for anti-HEV IgG were conducted in specimens positive for anti-HEV IgG. Results: Of the 910 pregnant women, 8 (0.88%, 95%CI 0.45%-1.73%) were anti-HEV IgM positive. HEV RNA was found in 3 cases through RT-PCR and viral load values were between 600 and 700 copies/ml; 140 (15.38%, 95%CI 13.19%-17.68%) were anti-HEV IgG positive and geometric mean concentration of the samples was 0.385 Wu/mL (95%CI 0.332-0.445 Wu/ml). The positive rate of anti-HEV IgG increased with age (P=0.004). In the subgroup, 150 pregnant women were included and followed up, 4 of those were defined as 'new HEV infection cases’ and the incidence was evaluated as 10.7/100 person-year (95%CI 3.39-25.7/100 person-year). Conclusions There were a low percentage of HEV carriers in pregnant women in Xiamen, but the risk of new primary infection in pregnant women during pregnancy was much higher than the general population, suggesting that it is necessary to expand sample size to clarify the burden of HEV infection during pregnancy.