OBJECTIVETo investigate the similarity and difference in blood group serology and molecular biology of A2 and A2B phenotypes between healthy blood donors and patients.

METHODSThe A and AB phenotypes were screened with anti-A1. Exons 1 to 7 and intron 6 of the ABO gene were analyzed with polymerase chain reaction-sequence-based typing (PCR-SBT) method. The blood type was determined by referring to the Blood Group Antigen Gene Mutation Database (BGMUT).

RESULTSAmong 7111 tested individuals, 75 were assigned as A2 or A2B phenotypes. However, only 28 individuals still belonged to the A2-related allele group based on genetic analysis. Among these, A205/B101 was the most common genotype. Among those non-A2-related alleles, A102/B101 was the most common genotype. Based on serologic testing, there was an imbalance between the A2 and A2B subgroups. In both donor group and patient group, the proportion of A2B was significantly higher than that of the A2. There were statistical differences between different groups (χ² = 64.613, 33.137, 34.963, P< 0.01). At the gene level, the imbalance still existed in both the overall population and the donor group, though there was a statistical difference between the two (χ² = 17.678, 14.157, P< 0.01). The same imbalance did not exist in the patient group (with continuous correction, χ² = 2.351, P= 0.125).

CONCLUSIONThe concordance rate for blood type determined by serology and genetic analysis has been low and deserves attention. For A2 and A2B phenotypes by serological screening, A102/B101 was the most common gene among non-A2-related alleles. Further study is needed to clarify this phenomenon.

ABO Blood-Group System ; blood ; genetics ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Blood Donors ; Chi-Square Distribution ; China ; Exons ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Introns ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo study the mortality of children under five and the causes of death together with related trend of dynamics, from 2001 to 2013 in Sichuan province.

METHODSUsing the Children Death Monitoring Network under five in Sichuan province to obtain basic data. Descriptive statistics and chi-square were used to describe the mortalities in children and infants as well as the causes of death, in both rural and urban areas of Sichuan province.

RESULTSIn Sichuan province, the mortality of children under five decreased from 35.30‰ in 2001 to 11.77‰ in 2013. In 2013, mortality in the rural areas was 2.37 times more than that in the urban area. The proportion of neonatal deaths among the mortality in children under five was 44.72%. Pneumonia, congenital heart diseases and premature or low birth weigh were the top three causes of death for children under five. Among them, the top three causes of death for urban area were congenital heart disease, drowning, and premature or low birth weight/birth asphyxia. Meanwhile, the top three causes of death in rural areas were pneumonia, premature birth/low birth weight and birth asphyxia. Overall, the mortality rates of birth asphyxia, pneumonia and low birth weight gradually decreasd but drowning, diarrhea and traffic accidents fluctuated.

CONCLUSIONThe mortality of children under five in Sichuan province was 13‰, which had already met the goal set for the year 2020. However, reducing the mortality in rural areas, narrowing the gap between urban and rural areas seemed the main part of the future endeavor while focus of prevention should be adjusted according to the causes of death.