Communicable diseases are the major threats to the health and security of all the people living in Liberia, including UN peacekeepers from China. The most prevalent communicable diseases in Liberia include malaria, HIV/AIDS, acute respiratory infection, sexual transmitted disease, schistosomiasis, onchocerciasis, tuberculosis, cholera, pertussis, hepatitis, meningococcal disease, typhoid fever, Lassa fever and yellow fever. An insight into the profiles and epidemiology of the above epidemics in Liberia would greatly help peacekeepers with disease diagnosis and epidemic prevention. According to the profiles of epidemics in Liberia and the authors' experience in epidemic prevention in Liberia, the authors recommend that peacekeepers strengthen their epidemic prevention as follows. Firstly, a combined vector control strategy is suggested for the prevention and control of vector-borne diseases. Secondly, water safety should be highlighted by water disinfection and regular water quality testing. Thirdly, vaccines, diagnostic reagents and medications should be accordingly outfitted. Then, the awareness of epidemic prevention and individual hygiene should be improved by education and strict management. Finally, the daily life management for peacekeepers is also very important. The epidemic overviews and strategies for epidemic prevention described in this paper are also useful for all the other peacekeepers deployed in Africa.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; metabolism ; pathology ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Mitochondria ; pathology ; Podocytes ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo explore the changes of metabolites in brain after treatment by analysis on 1H-MRS examination of the hippocampus and prefrontal lobe in the healthy volunteers and the depression patients.

METHODSSeventy-five cases of mild and moderate depression were randomly divided into groups A, B and C, 25 cases in each group. The group A was treated with oral administration of Prozac capsule, 20 mg/d; the group B by electroacupuncture for 30-40 min and the needle was retained for 1 h, once each day, with main points Baihui (GV 20), Yin-tang (GV 29) and adjuvant acupoints selected; the group C by combination of the treatment methods in the groups A and B. They were treated for 6 weeks. Use PROBE-J sequence at the MRI system on Single Voxel of ROI of each lateral of hippocampus and frontal lobe in the depression patients of the 3 groups. Compare the differences of N-acetylasp artate/creatine (NAA/Cr) and choline/creatine (Cho/Cr) between the healthy volunteers and the patients before and after treatment.

RESULTSBefore treatment, NAA/Cr in the bilateral hippocampus decreased in the 3 groups as compared with the control group, and after treatment, NAA/Cr in the bilateral hippocampus of the group B and in the right hippocampus of the group C increased compared with that before treatment (P < 0.05), and NAA/Cr in the left hippocampus of the group C significantly increased as compared with that before treatment (P < 0.01). Before treatment, Cho/Cr in the bilateral prefrontal lobe in the 3 groups increased as compared with that in the control group (P < 0.05), after treatment, Cho/Cr in the bilateral prefrontal lobes of the groups A, B and C significantly decreased as compared with that before treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThere are differences in contents of metabolites in corresponding parts in bilateral frontal lobes and hippocampus between the depression patient and healthy person.

Adult ; Choline ; metabolism ; Creatine ; metabolism ; Depression ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Frontal Lobe ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo provide genetic diagnosis and counseling for a 2-year-old girl with typical Rett syndrome through analyzing the methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MECP2) gene.

METHODSPotential mutation of the MECP2 gene was screened by DNA sequencing and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) analysis of members of the family as well as normal controls. Lymphocyte culture for karyotype analysis was carried out for the patient to exclude chromosomal abnormalities.

RESULTSThe karyotype of the girl was normal. No variation of the MECP2 gene was detected in the patient by direct sequencing. A heterozygosis variation, c.1072G>A in exon 4 of the MECP2 gene was detected in a normal female control, which was not found in other controls. The son and daughter of the female control were respectively heterozygous and homozygous carriers of the same mutation. By MLPA analysis, a heterozygosis deletion of exon 3 and part of exon 4 was detected in the patient. cDNA amplification and sequencing confirmed the presence of a 1176 bp deletion (c.27-1202del1176). The same deletion was not detected in the parents.

CONCLUSIONA large deletion in MECP2 gene was detected with MLPA in a patient featuring typical Rett syndrome. The same deletion was missed by sequencing analysis. With cDNA sequencing, the breakage point of the mutation can be mapped precisely.

Base Sequence ; Child, Preschool ; Exons ; Female ; Genetic Testing ; Genotype ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 ; genetics ; Mutation ; Rett Syndrome ; genetics

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HCM)is the second commonest form of heart muscle disease affecting children and adolescents and is a leading cause of sudden death in young athletes. The aetiology of HCM is heterogeneous in the paediatric population,and includes inborn errors of metabolism,neuromuscular disorders and malformation syndromes.However,most cases of apparently idiopathic HCM in childhood are caused by mutations in cardiac sarcomere protein genes. Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy(HOCM) is not uncommon in children who don't respond to drug treatment;for such children,surgical treatment is the only solution.Previous routine surgical methods include modified Konno operation,modified extended Morrow operation and interventional alcohol ablation or radiofrequency ablation for pediatric patients. At present,the reports and large-scale clinical experience are rare.

A simple, rapid and sensitive colorimetric reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) method was established to detect norovirus genotype GII. The method employed a set of six specially designed primers that recognized eight distinct sequences of RNA-dependant RNA polymerase and capsid protein gene for amplification of nucleic acid under isothermal conditions at 65 degrees C for 60 minutes. The amplification process of RT-LAMP was monitored by the addition of HNB (Hydroxy naphthol blue) dye prior to amplification. A positive reaction was indicated by a color change from violet to sky blue and confirmed by agarose electrophoresis. The specificity of the RT-LAMP was validated by detecting several different diarrhea viruses including norovirus genotype GII. The sensitivity was determined by serial dilutions of RNA molecules from in vitro transcription of norovirus genotype GII in parallel with conventional RT-PCR detection. The assay was further evaluated with 93 clinical specimens of diarrhea patients. The results showed that the sensitivity of RT-LAMP was 1 000 copies/microL with a high specificity and the relative sensitivity was at the same level as that of conventional RT-PCR. Positive rate of RT-LAMP in analysis of clinical specimens was approximately the same as that of conventional RT-PCR as well. This colorimetric RT-LAMP assay was potential for rapid detection of norovirus genotype GII on spot due to the observation of visual result with high specificity and sensitivity, time-saving and cost benefit.
Caliciviridae Infections ; diagnosis ; virology ; Colorimetry ; methods ; Feces ; virology ; Genotype ; Humans ; Norovirus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques ; methods

BACKGROUND: C-telopeptide and N-telopeptide cross-linked collagen type Ⅰ (CTx and NTx, respectively) are specific biochemical bone markers that can reflect bone formation and resorption. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association of CTx with disuse osteoporosis. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 180-220 g, were randomly divided into control and disuse osteoporosis groups. Right hind limbs of the rats in the disuse osteoporosis group were immobilitzed for 4 weeks by ankle-tail fixation to establish the rat model of disuse osteoporosis. Peritoneal venous blood was collected before and after modeling, and the femur was then removed to measure the serum CTx level and bone mineral density of the bilateral femurs. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The serum CTx level did not differ significantly between groups before modeling (P > 0.05). At 4 weeks after modeling, the serum CTx level in the disuse osteoporosis group was significantly higher than that in the control group and at baseline (P <0.01). The serum CTx level showed no significant change in the control group before and after modeling (P > 0.05). The increment of serum CTx in the disuse osteoporosis group exhibited a negative correlation with the bone mineral density of the bilateral femurs (r=0.426, P < 0.01). The bone mineral density of the right femur in the disuse osteoporosis group was significantly lower than that of the left one in the disuse osteoporosis group and the right one in the control group (P < 0.01), and there was no significant difference in the bone mineral density between left and right femurs in the control group (P > 0.05). These results imply that the model of disuse osteoporosis by ankle-tail fixation is established successfully. Disuse osteoporosis can promote the production of CTx further reducing bone mineral density; CTx is positively correlated with the degree of bone loss, so it can be used for therapeutic assessment and diagnosis of osteoporosis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the viral etiology in hospitalized children with acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRTI) plus platelet disorders.

METHODSA total of 255 children with ALRTI plus platelet disorders and 442 children with ALRTI and normal platelets, all of whom were hospitalized between March 2010 and February 2011, were included in the study. Their nasopharyngeal aspirate samples were collected, and RT-PCR or PCR was performed to detect 14 viruses.

RESULTSOf 255 ALRTI patients with platelet disorders, thrombocytosis was found in 253 cases (99.2%) and thrombocytopenia in 2 cases (0.8%). Among ALRTI patients with platelet disorders, 173 (67.8%) were infected with at least one virus, with human rhinovirus as the most common one, followed by parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV3) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The detection rate of PIV3 in the abnormal platelet group was significantly higher than in the normal platelet group (P<0.05). In contrast, the detection rate of influenza virus B (IFVB) in the abonormal platelet group was significantly lower than in the normal platelet group (P<0.05). The age distribution showed significant difference between the abnormal and normal platelet groups (P<0.01). Platelet disorders were mainly found in children under one year of age (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThrombocytosis is often found in children with ALRTI caused by viruses, especially PIV3, but infection with IFVB seldom causes platelet disorders. Hospitalized children with ALRTI under one year tend to develop platelet disorders.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Age Factors ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; blood ; complications ; virology ; Thrombocytopenia ; etiology ; Thrombocytosis ; etiology

Constitutive activation of nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB) exists in a variety of leukemia, and induction of apoptosis through blocking NF-κB activation may be an alternative strategy for leukemia treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the inducing effect of modified adenovirus 5-based adenovirus vector (i.e. chimeric Ad5F35 Vec)-mediated expression of mutant IκBα (IκBαDN) on apoptosis of HL-60 cells. The recombinant Ad5F35-IκBαDN Vec carrying IκBαDN cDNA which deleted the first 1-70 amino acids coding sequences at 5' terminal of human IκBα was transfected into HL-60 cells. The apoptosis, NF-κB DNA binding activity, the expressions of IκBα, cIAP-2 and xIAP in HL-60 cells were detected by DNA binding assay, flow cytometry, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot respectively. The results showed that apoptosis rates were 22.53 ± 2.999%, 6.08 ± 2.464% and 4.86 ± 1.366% for Ad5F35-IκBαDN Vec-infected or blank vector of Ad5F35-EGFP Vec-transfected and untransfected HL-60 cells respectively, which showed a significant difference between Ad5F35-IκBαDN Vec-transfected and untransfected cells (p < 0.001) and between Ad5F35-IκBαDN Vec-transfected and Ad5F35-EGFP Vec-transfected cells (p < 0.001, p < 0.002), while NF-κB DNA binding activity was decreased, the truncated IκBα was expressed, and IκBα mRNA expression was up-regulated, but the expression of cIAP-2 and xIAP mRNA was down-regulated after transduction for 48 hours. It is concluded that the chimeric Ad5F35 Vec can effectively mediate the expression of IκBαDN cDNA in HL-60 cells, leading to the inhibition of NF-κB DNA binding activity and inducing apoptosis of HL-60 cells.
Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Apoptosis ; Genetic Vectors ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; I-kappa B Proteins ; genetics ; NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha ; NF-kappa B ; genetics ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo study the epidemiology and strain variations of astrovirus infection among children under 5 years of age, hospitalized for acute diarrhea in China.

METHODSInpatients under 5 years of age with acute diarrhea in hospitals of seven provinces between 1998 and 2005 were enrolled in the study Stool specimens were collected and tested for astrovirus using the Dako Amplified IDEIA Astrovirus kits or reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Genetic identities of the strains were determined using RT-PCR with serotype-specific primers and confirmed by sequencing of the RT-PCR products.

RESULTSA total of 1668 diarrheal stool samples tested for both rotavirus and calicivirus negative were examined. The detection rate of astrovirus infection was 5.5% (91/1668) and the diarrhea cases caused by astrovirus infection could be found in any season of the year but mainly occurred in cold season from October to next January. Astrovirus detection-rates were: 7.4% among infants aged 9-11 months followed by 6.1% in 12-17 month-olds, and 6-8 months 5.6% & 0-2 months 5.6% before 8 months. Over 95% of astrovirus infections occurred in children before 2 years of age. Among 49 strains, typed, serotype 1(45/91) was most commonly seen while serotype 5 was in two cases and serotype 3 and 8 were detected in only one case respectively.

CONCLUSIONAstrovirus seemed an important etiologic agent in young children with acute diarrhea in China and Serotype 1 was the most prevalent one.

Acute Disease ; Astroviridae ; classification ; isolation & purification ; Astroviridae Infections ; complications ; epidemiology ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; DNA, Viral ; analysis ; Diarrhea ; virology ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Inpatients ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Seasons ; Serotyping