Objective To study the morphologic and pathological characteristics of cat scratch disease(CSD).Methods Eight cases with clinical data and tissue blocks were collected in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Hainan Province.The tissues were successively stained by hematox- ylin and eosin,Warthin-Starry(W-S),acid fast and periodic acid-schiff(PAS)methods to study the histopathological changes and pathogens.Results W-S positive Bartonella henselae was the major pathogen of CSD and there was no acid-fast or PAS positive pathogen could be found in the tissues. There were three forms of histological representation as follows:plasmocytoid monocytes(PMO)and monocytoid B-cells(MBC)hyperplasia plus neutrophils immersion in lymphatic sinus(2 cases); MBC rich granuloma and micro-abscess formation(3 cases); starlit abscess with little or no bacteria in the granuloma(3 cases).Conclusions Bartonella henselae mainly transmits through cats.Contact histo- ry with cats and lymphadenectasis suggest the possibility of CSD.The diagnosis can be confirmed by the presence of W-S staining positive bacteria,MBC rich granuloma or micro-abscess and neutrophil reactions in histopathological exam.

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the association between susceptibility to aflatoxin B1(AFB1)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the polymorphism of detoxication gene GSTM1.

METHODSThe peripheral white blood cell DNA samples were obtained from all the subjects including 140 HCC cases and 536 controls from an AFB1 high risk area in Guangxi province. The GSTM1 polymorphism was detected using PCR technique.

RESULTS(1) The GSTM1-present was associated with a decreased HCC risk. The GSTM1-null was associated with an increased HCC risk [adjusted OR (95% CI)= 2.07 (1.20-3.57)]. (2) In the cohorts of both low/median and high exposure levels of AFB1, GSTM1-null genotype was associated with a conspicuous significantly increased risk for HCC [adjusted OR (95% CI) = 1.92 (0.92-4.00) and 1.80 (0.77-4.17)].

CONCLUSIONThe results suggest that genetic polymorphism of GSTM1 was susceptible to HCC and individuals who are GSTM1-null have an increased risk of developing HCC. There is evidence of interaction between GSTM1 polymorphism and AFB1 exposure, especially with low/median degrees of AFB1 exposure.

Aflatoxin B1 ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Glutathione Transferase ; genetics ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo study the genetic susceptibility to chemical carcinogens of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients in a high-risk area in Guangxi.

METHODSPCR technique was used to examine the frequency of glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 gene deletion in a matched case-control study of 91 patients with NPC and 135 control subjects.

RESULTSThe deletion frequency of control subjects was 47.4% (65/135) for GSTM1 and 40.7% (55/135) for GSTT1, whereas that of NPC patients was 61.5% (56/91) for GSTM1 and 59.3% (54/91) for GSTT1 with statistically significant difference between the patients and the controls (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). Furthermore, the frequency of codeletion of both genes was also higher in NPC patients than the control with statistically significant difference (chi2 = 12.533, P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONIn high-risk area, nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients and local residents have high frequency of GSTM1 and/or GSTT1 gene deletion. It suggests that a genetic susceptibility to putative chemical carcinogens may be responsible for NPC clustering in the high-risk area studied.

Case-Control Studies ; China ; Gene Deletion ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Glutathione Transferase ; genetics ; Humans ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; enzymology ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the association between susceptibility to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-related hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) and the null genotypes of detoxication gene gstM1 and gstT1.

METHODSPeripheral blood white blood cells DNA samples were obtained from all the subjects including 140 HCC cases and 536 controls from AFB1 high risk area Guangxi. gstM1 and gstT1 polymorphisms were detected by polymerase chain reaction technique.

RESULTS(1) gstM1- and gstT1-present were associated with decreasing risk of HCC. gstM1- and gstT1-null were associated with the increasing risk of HCC [adjusted OR (95 % CI) = 2.07 (1.20-3.57) and 1.44 (0.85-2.45), respectively]; (2) The appearance of both gstM1- and gstT1-null genotypes were more susceptible to HCC than either one of them(adjusted OR and 95% CI are 2.43 and (1.19-4.97); (3) From low/median to high level of AFB1 exposure, both gstM1- and gstTl-null genotypes were associated with significantly conspicuous increasing risk of HCC [adjusted OR(95% CI) = 12.76(5.38-30.24) and 7.82(3.61-16.90) respectively].

CONCLUSIONIt was suggested that: genetic polymorphisms of gstM1 and gstT1 were susceptible to HCC; individuals who were gstM1- or gstT1-null would have an increasing risk of developing HCC while individuals with both nulls were more susceptible. There was evidence of interaction between gstM1- and gstT1-null and the level of AFB1 exposure which was associated with the increasing risk of HCC.

Adult ; Aflatoxin B1 ; toxicity ; Aged ; Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; complications ; etiology ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Environmental Exposure ; adverse effects ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Glutathione Transferase ; genetics ; Hepatitis B ; complications ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; complications ; etiology ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic

AIM: To investigate the relationship between the macular hemorrhage and refractive abnormalities,and analyze the occurrence probability and the factors of refractive abnormalities in high-risk neonates.

METHODS: From January 2017 to January 2018, a total of 1 229 neonates with high-risk factors invided into 3 groups, according to the different parts of retinal hemorrhage, examined by RetCamⅢ device. All the subjects were checked the refractive status by autorefractor when they were 1 to 1.5 years old. The abnormalities were checked their refractive status under using of 1% atropine oculentum after 7d. The relationship between the macular hemorrhage and refractive abnormalities, and the occurrence probability and the factors of refractive abnormalities were analyzed.

RESULTS: Among 205 eyes which were retinal hemorrhage irrelated macula 6 eyes had refractive abnormality(2.93%)in group A. 57 eyes which were macular hemorrhage 17 eyes had refractive abnormality(29.82%)in group B. 2 196 eyes which were no retinal hemorrhage 40 eyes had refractive abnormality(1.82%)in group C. It had significant difference between groups A and B, groups B and C(P<0.001), but had no significant difference between groups A and C(P=0.27). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that macular hemorrhage and neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy were the independent risk factors for refractive status.

CONCLUSION: The incidence of refractive abnormality was high in macular hemorrhage. Macular hemorrhage and neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy were the independent risk factors for refractive abnormality,and we should strengthen the observation and intervention of such new-borns.

OBJECTIVETo estimate the effect of influenza-like illness (ILI) on outpatient visits and assess its impact on public health.

METHODSWe analyzed the data of weekly number of ILI and outpatient visits in Departments of Internal Medicine, Pediatrics and Emergency at two influenza surveillance hospitals during a period of 137 weeks in Guangzhou. Spectral analysis and time-series analysis were performed to evaluate the variation of outpatient visits over time. The predictive model was fitted with weekly outpatient visits as the dependent variable and weekly number of ILI as the independent variable. The optimal model was established according to the coefficient of determination, Akaike-information criterion and residual analysis. The validity of the model was assessed prospectively using the 31-week data that were not used for the model establishment.

RESULTSThe outpatient visits increased significantly over time and showed significant seasonality (P<0.001). A significant correlation was found between the weekly number of ILI and outpatient visits (r=0.568, P<0.001). The residuals of the fitted autoregression model were white-noise series and the coefficient of determination was 75% for the data used to establish the model and 56% for the subsequent 31-week data.

CONCLUSIONSThe autoregression model can be used to estimate the effect of weekly number of outpatient visits based on the weekly number of ILI and thus assess the effects of influenza on public health.

Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; Logistic Models ; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital ; statistics & numerical data ; Outpatients ; statistics & numerical data

Oxygen enrichment of room air is an effective way to resist hypoxia at high altitude, but it may introduce a potential fire hazard. In common, the burning rate of light and thin homogeneous solid in oxygen enriched atmosphere was used to assess the fire hazard. For the purpose of measuring the burning rate of light and thin homogeneous solid in oxygen enriched atmosphere, we used the methods of laser contact ignition and direct calculation of burning rate, and invented a device that includes mixing gas system, ignition equipment, system of measuring the burning rate and self-made specimen frame. By using the homemade device, we studied the burning rate of filter paper under low pressure and in oxygen-enriched atmosphere and in that of the oxygen concentration of reached stationary burning rate. The results showed that this device was simple, and could obtain the burning rate of light and thin homogeneous solid quantitatively.
Air Pressure ; Altitude ; Atmosphere Exposure Chambers ; Environment, Controlled ; Equipment Design ; Fires ; prevention & control ; Oxygen ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo explore the association of the Thr241Met polymorphism of X-ray cross-complementing group 3 (XRCC3) gene with genetic susceptibility to aflatoxin B1(AFB-1)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)in Guangxi population.

METHODSWe conducted a hospital-based case-control study, including 257 HCC cases and 711 controls without cancers or liver diseases. The XRCC3 Thr241Met polymorphism was analyzed by PCR.

RESULTSThe XRCC3 genotypes XRCC3-Thr/Met or XRCC3-Met/Met were related with an elevated risk of HCC. The risk of HCC was associated with the number of mutant Met copies (adjusted OR were 2.20 and 8.56 for XRCC3-Thr/Met and Met/Met, respectively); moreover, there seemed to be combined effects for HCC risk between the variant genotypes and AFB1-DNA adduct levels from peripheral blood leukocytes (adjusted OR was 2.34 to 20.44, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThese results suggested that XRCC3 polymorphism may be associated with the risk of AFB1- related HCC among the Guangxi population, and interacts with AFB1 exposure in the development of HCC induced by AFB1.

Aflatoxin B1 ; toxicity ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; chemically induced ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; genetics

Objective To study protective and therapeutic measures to improve perioperative safety in extremely elderly patients with biliary diseases.Methods A retrospective case-control study was conducted.The clinical data of elderly patients with biliary diseases treated at the Department of General Surgery,Beijing Electric Power Hospital,from July 2013 to December 2018,were collected.According to age,the patients were divided into the high age (HA) group (≥80.0 years) and the middle-low age (MLA) group (60.0～79.0 years).The related indexes of perioperative safety such as preoperative coexisting diseases,functions of liver,kidney,heart and lung,surgical procedures,intraoperative blood loss,operation time,postoperative hospital stay and postoperative hospital stay were analyzed and compared between the two groups.Results Of the 372 included patients,there were 168 males and 204 females,aged 60.0 to 96.0 (72.0 ± 8.6) years.There were 69 elderly patients (37 males and 32 females) aged 80.0 to 96.0 (84.4 ±3.8) years in the HA group.There were 303 patients in the middle and lower age group (131 men and 172 women),aged 60.0 to 79.0(68.4 ±5.8) years (MLA group).(1) Preoperative coexisting diseases were significantly increased in the HA compared with the MLA group (all P ＜ 0.05),including the proportion of coexisting coronary heart disease [34.8％ (24/69) vs.18.5％ (56/303)],hypertension [68.1％ (47/69)vs.46.9％ (142/303)],chronic bronchitis with emphysema [17.4％ (12/69) vs.3.6％ (11/303)],hypoproteinemia [39.1％ (27/69) vs.26.7％ (81/303)],and anemia [42.0％ (29/69) vs.11.9％ (36/303)].(2) Laboratory examinations:the functions of liver,kidney,heart,lung and blood coagulation were significantly worse in the HA compared with the MLA group (P ＜ 0.05).(3) Surgical procedures:the proportion of open cholecystectomy with transcystic common bile duct exploration (OC + OTCBDE) was higher [17.4％ (12/69) vs.6.9％ (21/303)],while laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) was lower [43.5％ (30/69) vs.62.7％ (190/303)],in the HA compared with the MLA group (P ＜0.05,totally).(4) Operative effects:the intraoperative blood loss [30.0 (20.0,75.0) ml vs.20.0 (10.0,30.0) ml],operation time [90.0(72.5,137.5) min vs.77.0(55.0,115.0) min],postoperative hospital stay [10.0(6.0,18.0) d vs.7.0(4.0,11.0) d],and length of hospitalization [17.0(11.5,23.0) d vs.13.0(9.0,19.0) d] were significantly increased or prolonged in the HA compared with the MLA group (all P ＜0.05).(5) Postoperative complications:the incidence of postoperative complications was significantly higher [30.4％ (21/69) vs.12.2％ (37/303)] in the HA compared with the MLA group (P ＜ 0.05).(6) Therapeutic outcomes:there was a cure rate of 95.7％ (66/69) in the HA group,and 97.7％ (296/303)in the MLA group.No significant difference in the therapeutic effects was found between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Operation in extremely elderly patients with biliary diseases is safe and feasible.The key is to take measures such as actively treating preoperative coexisting diseases,strictly mastering operative indications,reasonably selecting surgical procedures,accurately carrying out precise operation,strictly monitoring and dealing with intraoperative emergency,timely preventing and treating postoperative complications,and especially focusing on maintaining cardiopulmonary function during the perioperative period.

Objective:To explore the expressions of long non-coding RNA LINC00673 and ISG15 protein in pancreatic cancer and their clinical significances.Methods:The clinical data of 57 patients diagnosed as pancreatic ductal carcinoma (PDAC) at the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya Medical College of Central South University from January 2014 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The relative expressions of LINC00673 in pancreatic cancer tissues and paracancerous normal tissues (within 3 cm from the edge of cancer tissues) were examined by using quantificational reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The ISG15 protein expressions in pancreatic cancer tissues and paracancerous normal tissues were examined by using immunohistochemistry. The difference in LINC00673 expression between ISG15 protein positive and negative patients was compared. The correlation between LINC00673 and ISG15 protein expressions in pancreatic cancer was analyzed by Spearman rank correlation analysis. Moreover, the correlations of LINC00673 and ISG15 protein expressions with clinical stage and pathological classification of pancreatic cancer patients were analyzed.Results:The positive expression of ISG15 protein in pancreatic cancer tissues was 40.4% (23/57), which was higher than that in paracancerous normal tissues [15.8% (9/57)] ( χ2 = 7.90, P = 0.004), and the relative expression of LINC00673 in pancreatic cancer tissues was 0.99±0.36, which was lower than that in paracancerous normal tissues (1.26±0.41) ( t = 4.80, P < 0.001). For 23 (40.4%) ISG15-positive patients and 34 (59.7%) ISG15-negative patients, the relative expression of LINC00673 was 0.77±0.46 and 0.45±0.27 ( P < 0.001). Spearman analysis showed that there was a correlation between LINC00673 and ISG15 protein expressions ( ρ = -0.429, P = 0.001). The relative expression of LINC00673 decreased in patients with low differentiated or undifferentiated tumor, vascular invasion and lymph node metastasis (all P < 0.05), but there was no correlation between LINC00673 expression and patients' age, tumor site, preoperative CA199 level, and TNM stage (all P > 0.05); ISG15 protein expression increased in patients with low differentiated or undifferentiated tumor, TNM stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ, vascular invasion and lymph node metastasis (all P < 0.05), but there was no correlation between ISG15 protein expression and patients' gender, age, tumor site, and preoperative CA199 level (all P > 0.05). Conclusions:The expression of LINC00673 in pancreatic cancer is related to vascular invasion, tumor differentiation degree and lymph node metastasis, and the expression of ISG15 in pancreatic cancer is related to vascular invasion, tumor differentiation degree, lymph node metastasis and TNM stage. The combined detection of LINC00673 and ISG15 protein could be a valuable prognostic indicator for pancreatic cancer. The therapies targeting LINC00673 and ISG15 protein signaling pathways are expected to be a potential option for immunotherapy of pancreatic cancer.