Toxoplasma gondii is a medically and agriculturally important protozoan parasite that can infect virtually all the mammalian and avian species. Previous studies showed that the family of rhoptry proteins (ROPs) plays a key role in the invasion process of T. gondii, and its several members can be potential marker for population genetic researches of Toxoplasma. In order to estimate whether other member is also suitable as the novel genetic marker, the variation of ROP41 gene among 11 T. gondii isolates from different hosts and geographical locations and two reference strains was examined in this study. Our results showed that all the examined sequence of TgROP41 gene was 1473 bp in length, and their A+T contents were between 48.47% and 48.88%. Sequence analysis presented 14 nucleotide mutation positions (0%-0.54%), leading to 5 amino acid substitutions (0%-0.61%) through alignment with T. gondii ME49 strain (ToxoDB: TGME49_266100). Furthermore, phylogenetic analyses by MP and BI methods based on deduced amino acid sequences of TgROP41 gene was only able to distinguish the type I strain, but not able to separate the two classical genotypes (Type II and III) into the respective clusters. These results indicated limited sequence diversity in the TgROP41 gene.

Objective To measure serum ghrelin level in elderly Chinese, and investigate the relationship of the serum ghrelin level with age, obesity and other metabolic disorders. Methods A total of 109 men aged over 60 years without history of smoking and alcohol consumption from health examination were enrolled in this study. Subjects were excluded if they had serious diabetic complications, coronary artery disease and hepatic or renal dysfunction. A cross sectional study was made on ghrelin level and the correlated metabolic disorders. Results Compared with ghrelin level in subjects with normal BMI [(823. 57±410.40) ng/L], the ghrelin level was significantly decreased in overweight and obese elderly male, [(442.42 ± 171.10) ng/L and (434.64 ± 177.65) ng/L respectively]. ghrelin was significantly lower in subjects with three or more metabolic disorders (420.84±165.91) ng/L than in those with less disorder. Single factor analysis showed ghrelin was inversely associated with BMI, TG and uric acid (r=-0.359,-0.243,-0.189), but it was not associated with age, blood pressure, fasting glucose and insulin levels. Multivariate analysis revealed only BMI significantly affected the level of ghrelin (β =-0.386). Conclusions BMI is closely associated with ghrelin in elderly male,ghrelin is significantly lower with increased number of metabolic disorders.

Objective: To evaluate the subjective well-being feelings of people aged ≥50 years in Shanghai by using the Day Reconstruction Method (DRM) and explore the related factors. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from October 2009 to June 2010 among people aged ≥50 years selected through multistage random cluster sampling in Shanghai. DRM was used to assess participants' subjective well-being by net effect and U-index. Univariate and multivariate linear regression models were used to explore the related factors. Results: A total of 8 075 participants were included, with average age of 63.1 years. The mean net effect value was 1.24 (95%CI:1.15-1.33), and the mean U-index was 1.55% (95%CI:1.10%-1.99%). After adjusted for demographic factors, univariate liner regression model indicated that age, education level, marital status, family wealth, residence, self-rated health status, WHODAS score and prevalence of chronic disease were associated with subjective well-being, and multivariate liner regression model indicated that higher WHODAS score was associated with lower net effect value (P<0.05). Conclusion: The subjective well-being feelings of people aged ≥50 years in Shanghai might be associated with age, education level, marital status, family wealth, residence, self-rated health status and WHODAS score. Enhanced social support and appropriate social security system might facilitate the improvement of the subjective well-being of the elderly.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Emotions ; Health Status ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Social Support

Objective: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, interstitial lung disease and pulmonary thromboembolism are the most common and severe respiratory diseases, which seriously jeopardizing the health of the Chinese citizens. Large-scale prospective cohort studies are needed to explore the relationships between potential risk factors and respiratory disease outcomes and to observe disease prognoses through long-term follow-ups. We aimed to develop a common data model (CDM) for cohort studies on respiratory diseases, in order to harmonize and facilitate the exchange, pooling, sharing, and storing of data from multiple sources to serve the purpose of reusing or uniforming those follow-up data appeared in the cohorts. Methods: The process of developing this CDM of respiratory diseases would follow the steps as: ①Reviewing the international standards, including the Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium (CDISC), Clinical Data Acquisition Standards Harmonization (CDASH) and the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership (OMOP) CDM; ②Summarizing four cohort studies of respiratory diseases recruited in this research and assessing the data availability; ③Developing a CDM related to respiratory diseases. Results: Data on recruited cohorts shared a few similar domains but with various schema. The cohorts also shared homogeneous data collection purposes for future follow-up studies, making the harmonization of current and future data feasible. The derived CDM would include two parts: ①thirteen common domains for all the four cohorts and derived variables from disparate questions with a common schema, ②additional domains designed upon disease-specific research needs, as well as additional variables that were disease-specific but not initially included in the common domains. Conclusion: Data harmonization appeared essential for sharing, comparing and pooled analyses, both retrospectively and prospectively. CDM was needed to convert heterogeneous data from multiple studies into one harmonized dataset. The use of a CDM in multicenter respiratory cohort studies would make the constant collection of uniformed data possible, so to guarantee the data exchange and sharing in the future.
Data Collection/standards* ; Databases, Factual/standards* ; Delivery of Health Care/organization & administration* ; Humans ; Information Dissemination ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of line probe assays for drug- resistant tuberculosis (TB) in China. Methods: Chinese databases (CNKI, Wanfang, SinoMed, VIP Information) and English databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library) were used to retrieve the literatures regarding the accuracy of line probe assays in the diagnosis of drug-resistant tuberculosis in China between January 1, 2000 and September 1, 2017. Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 was used to evaluate the quality of the included studies. Sensitivity and specificity in different studies (using drug sensitivity test or gene sequencing as gold standard) were combined by Meta-analysis using bivariate or univariate model. In addition, subgroup analysis (GenoType MTBDRplus, GenoType MTBDRsl and Reverse dot blot hybridization) and sensitivity analysis were also carried out. Results: A total of 24 literatures involving 82 studies were included in the final analysis. The sensitivity and specificity of line probe assays for rifampicin resistant TB were 0.91(0.88-0.94) and 0.98 (0.97-0.99), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of line probe assays for isoniazid resistant TB were 0.80 (0.77-0.83) and 0.98 (0.96-0.99), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of line probe assays for multidrug-resistant TB were 0.81 (0.76-0.85) and 0.99 (0.99-1.00), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of line probe assays for quinolone resistant TB were 0.92(0.88-0.95) and 0.94 (0.91-0.97), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of line probe assays for second-line injectable drug resistant TB (including kanamycin, Capreomycin, amikacin) were 0.79(0.58-0.91) and 0.98 (0.90-1.00), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of line probe assays for extensively drug-resistant TB were 0.46 (0.19-0.75) and 1.00 (0.98-1.00), respectively. Subgroup analysis showed that the overall diagnostic accuracy of GenoType MTBDRplus and GenoType MTBDRsl was higher than that of Reverse dot blot hybridization. According to the results of sensitivity analysis, the results of this study were robust. Conclusion: The diagnostic accuracy of line probe assays for drug-resistant TB is high.
Antitubercular Agents/therapeutic use* ; Biological Assay/methods* ; China ; Humans ; Isoniazid/pharmacology* ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests/methods* ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis/isolation & purification* ; Rifampin/pharmacology* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant/drug therapy*

Objective: To evaluate the randomness and representativeness of respondent- driven sampling (RDS) tool in conducting the investigation in MSM population, in Beijing, 2017. Methods: RDS tool was used to recruit MSM population for a face-to-face interview with structured questionnaire and serological tests. Results: A total of 600 MSM people were sampled and interviewed. The median number of personal network of seeds was 10, which was higher than other MSM people recruited. The numbers of recruitments by wave presented a skewed positive distribution and the highest number was in the fourth wave. It was also dramatically varied from different seeds. Three seeds had the longest chains and had recruited 184, 113 and 92 MSM people, respectively. In contrast, five seeds recruited less than 10 MSM people. Two college students were the most non-generative seeds and each recruited only 1 MSM person. After five to nine waves of sampling, the major demographic characteristics reached equilibrium. Both convergence and bottleneck plots of major demographic characteristics reached convergence, although the plots on marriage and education did not. The homophiles of characteristics were all closed to 1, except for education. The HIV positive rate appeared as 7.9% (95%CI: 4.4%-11.4%) . Conclusions: Results from this study showed that RDS could be used as a feasible sampling method for the study on MSM population with major demographic characteristics reached equilibrium. The process of recruitment appeared controllable and reasonable, showing that this could represent the MSM population in Beijing, in some degree.
Beijing/epidemiology* ; HIV Infections/epidemiology* ; Homosexuality, Male/statistics & numerical data* ; Humans ; Male ; Outcome Assessment, Health Care/statistics & numerical data* ; Patient Selection ; Prevalence ; Sampling Studies ; Sexual and Gender Minorities ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Verumontanum mucosal gland hyperplasia (VMGH) is a relatively common benign proliferative lesion which was first described by Gagucas et al in 1995. VMGH is usually found in radical prostatectomy or transurethral resection specimens and rarely in needle biopsy specimens. The histologic feature of VMGH is characterized by well-circumscribed proliferation of small glands and thus VMGH may mimic low grade adenocarcinoma. We report a case of VMGH from a 61-year-old man. The lesion coexisted with prostatic adenocarcinoma on radical prostatectomy specimen. The lesion was a well circumscribed microacinar proliferation which was present between the openings of ejaculatory ducts. The acini consisted of two cell layers with inner secretory cuboidal epithelium and outer basal cell. Typically, the lumen contained many corpora amylacea. Nuclear pleomorphism, prominent nucleolus, or mitotic figure was not identified. Because of small gland proliferation of VMGH, this lesion can be confused with other small gland proliferative lesions, such as low grade adenocarcinoma, atypical adenomatous hyperplasia, basal cell hyperplasia, mesonephric hyperplasia, and nephrogenic adenoma. To avoid misdiagnosis of VMGH as carcinoma, one should be familiar with this lesion.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adenoma ; Biopsy, Needle ; Diagnostic Errors ; Ejaculatory Ducts ; Epithelium ; Humans ; Hyperplasia* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostate ; Prostatectomy

Ovarian mature cystic teratoma containing benign prostatic tissue is rare and only 11 cases have been reported in the literature to date. We report a case of mature cystic teratoma of the ovary containing prostatic tissue. A 23-year-old female patient came to our hospital complaining of irregular menstruation for 3 months. Her menarche had occurred when she was 13 years old. The patient showed no evidence of virilization nor of endocrinopathy. A goose-egg-sized mass was palpable in the left lower abdomen on physical examination. Ultrasonography revealed a cystic ovarian mass with internal echogenecity. Microscopic finding was consistent with that of usual mature cystic teratoma except for a 1.5 cm focus of prostatic and bladder tissues. Prostatic tissue demonstrated strong immunoreactivity for prostatic specific antigen (PSA), prostatic alkaline phosphatase (PAP) and cytokeratin 7. Basal cells of the prostate glands were positive for high molecular weight cytokeratin (34betaE12). Although ovarian mature cystic teratoma containing prostatic tissue has been reported as a rare occurrence, a careful examination with immunohistochemical staining may increase the detection of prostatic tissue in mature cystic teratoma of the ovary.
Abdomen ; Adolescent ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Female ; Humans ; Keratin-7 ; Keratins ; Menarche ; Menstruation ; Molecular Weight ; Ovary ; Physical Examination ; Prostate ; Teratoma* ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Bladder ; Virilism ; Young Adult

Prostatic carcinoma is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States in men. Prostatic carcinoma in Korean men is uncommon and accounts for less than 1% of total cancer: however, the incidence of prostatic carcinoma is continuously increasing. Several clinicopathologic parameters including stage, Gleason score, and serum PSA level have been widely accepted as well established prognostic factors. To study the clinicopathologic features of prostatic carcinoma in Korean men, 58 cases of prostatic carcinoma, which were diagnosed on radical prostatectony specimens at Asan Medical Center from Jan. 1993 to June 1998 (1993; 3 cases, 1994; 3, 1995; 6, 1996; 12, 1997; 24, 1998; 10), were evaluated. The prostatic carcinomas were divided into three groups according to Gleason score. Tumors with Gleason score 6 or lower, 7, and 8 to 10 were categorized as low-grade, intermediate-grade and high-grade tumor, respectively. The overall mean age of the patients was 62.6 years (range, 4 6~76 years); mean age was 65.4, 62.8 and 61.1 in low, intermediate and high-grade tumor, respectively (p>0.05). The overall mean serum PSA level was 38.6 ng/ml (range, 0.3~276.0 ng/ml); mean serum PSA level was 17.0, 29.0 and 60.9 ng/ml in low, intermediate and high-grade tumor, respectively (p=0.002). The mean T stage was 2.3, 2.4 and 3.1 in low, intermediate and high-grade tumor (p=0.001). The percentage of positive resection margin was 33.3, 50.0 and 91.0 % in low, intermediate and high-grade tumor (p=0.001). The overall presence of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) was 79.3 %; percentage of the presence of PIN was 100, 79.2 and 68.2 % in low, intermediate and high-grade tumor (p>0.05). As reported in the literature, our results indicated that Gleason score was a good predictor of stage and prognosis. The higher Gleason score, the more cases were with positive surgical margins, advanced pathologic stage, and high serum PSA level (p<0.05).
Adenocarcinoma* ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 ; Neoplasm Grading ; Prognosis ; Prostatectomy* ; Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; United States

Prostatic carcinoma is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States in men. Prostatic carcinoma in Korean men is uncommon and accounts for less than 1% of total cancer: however, the incidence of prostatic carcinoma is continuously increasing. Several clinicopathologic parameters including stage, Gleason score, and serum PSA level have been widely accepted as well established prognostic factors. To study the clinicopathologic features of prostatic carcinoma in Korean men, 58 cases of prostatic carcinoma, which were diagnosed on radical prostatectony specimens at Asan Medical Center from Jan. 1993 to June 1998 (1993; 3 cases, 1994; 3, 1995; 6, 1996; 12, 1997; 24, 1998; 10), were evaluated. The prostatic carcinomas were divided into three groups according to Gleason score. Tumors with Gleason score 6 or lower, 7, and 8 to 10 were categorized as low-grade, intermediate-grade and high-grade tumor, respectively. The overall mean age of the patients was 62.6 years (range, 4 6~76 years); mean age was 65.4, 62.8 and 61.1 in low, intermediate and high-grade tumor, respectively (p>0.05). The overall mean serum PSA level was 38.6 ng/ml (range, 0.3~276.0 ng/ml); mean serum PSA level was 17.0, 29.0 and 60.9 ng/ml in low, intermediate and high-grade tumor, respectively (p=0.002). The mean T stage was 2.3, 2.4 and 3.1 in low, intermediate and high-grade tumor (p=0.001). The percentage of positive resection margin was 33.3, 50.0 and 91.0 % in low, intermediate and high-grade tumor (p=0.001). The overall presence of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) was 79.3 %; percentage of the presence of PIN was 100, 79.2 and 68.2 % in low, intermediate and high-grade tumor (p>0.05). As reported in the literature, our results indicated that Gleason score was a good predictor of stage and prognosis. The higher Gleason score, the more cases were with positive surgical margins, advanced pathologic stage, and high serum PSA level (p<0.05).
Adenocarcinoma* ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 ; Neoplasm Grading ; Prognosis ; Prostatectomy* ; Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; United States