Dendrobium nobile Lindl. alkaloids (DNLA) promote the apoptosis of breast cancer and colon cancer cells, but whether they affect the malignant biological behavior of cervical cancer cells is unknown. Herein we explored the effects and possible mechanisms of DNLA on the proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion of cervical cancer SiHa cells. SiHa cells were transfected with si-NC, siKCNQ1OT1, miR-NC, miR-487a-3p mimics, pcDNA-NC or pcDNA-KCNQ1OT1. Different doses (15, 30, 60 ng/mL) of DNLA were applied. The CCK-8 method was used to detect cell proliferation; Tran-swell was used to detect cell migration and invasion; flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptosis; Western blotting was used to detect the expression of MMP2, MMP9 and Cleaved-Caspase-3 genes at the protein level; RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression of KCNQ1OT1 and miR-487a-3p. The dual luciferase reporter gene experiment verified the regulatory relationship between KCNQ1OT1 and miR-487a-3p. The results showed that different doses (15, 30, 60 ng/mL) of DNLA reduced the absorbance value, migration number, invasion number, the protein level of MMP2 and MMP9, reduced the expression of KCNQ1OT1, and increased the apoptosis rate, the abundance of Cleaved-Caspase-3 and the expression of miR-487a-3p (P<0. 05). Low expression of KCNQ1OT1 or high expression of miR-487a-3p reduced the absorbance value, migration number, invasion number, and the protein level of MMP2 and MMP9, but increased the apoptosis rate and the abundance of Cleaved-Caspase-3 (P<0. 05). KCNQ1OT1 negatively regulated the expression of miR-487a-3p. The effects of high expression of KCNQ1OT1 on the proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion of SiHa cells were opposite to that of low expression of KCNQ1OT1, and high expression of KCNQ1OT1 reduced the effects of 60 ng/mL DNLA on the proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion of SiHa cells. In summary, DNLA may reduce the proliferation, migration and invasion of cervical cancer SiHa cells and promote SiHa cell apoptosis by regulating the KCNQ1OT1/miR-487a-3p axis.

OBJECTIVETo characterize the meningococcal strains isolated from cases and close contacts with meningococcal disease associated with an outbreak in a jail in May 2010 by investigating the national distribution of hyperinvasive ST-4821 serogroup C clone associated with this outbreak.

METHODSThe cases were described based on the clinical symptoms and laboratory results. Pharyngeal swabs were cultured for N. meningitidis from men in the jail. Meningococcal isolates were identified by serogrouping, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST), respectively. Four hundred and sixteen serogroup C N. meningitidis strains were collected from 27 provinces between 2003 and 2010 for a nationwide survey and analyzed by PFGE and MLST.

RESULTSThree persons in a jail system were infected with invasive N. meningitidis serogroup C. All isolates tested had matching PFGE patterns and belonged to the multilocus sequence type (ST) 4821 clonal complex. All 47 N. meningitidis strains were identified from the pharyngeal swabs of 166 peoples in the jail, and 26 of them belonged to ST-4821 serogroup C clone, and 90.14% (375/416) serogroup C strains identified in the nationwide survey belonged to the ST-4821 complex. The ST-4821 serogroup C clone was spread nationwide, distributed in 24 provinces, especially in eastern provinces between 2003 and 2010.

CONCLUSIONEndemic transmission and carriage rate of ST-4821 serogroup C clone are high in this jail system. The ST-4821 serogroup C clone is spreading in China and nationwide distributed despite the existence of some effective vaccines.

Carrier State ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Humans ; Meningitis, Meningococcal ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Neisseria meningitidis ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Pharynx ; microbiology ; Prisons

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Shenfu Injection (SF) on the apoptosis of prostate cancer PC-3 cells and its possible mechanism.

METHODSWe divided prostate cancer PC-3 cells into a blank control group and three experimental groups, the latter treated with SF at 50, 100, and 200 microl/ml, respectively, for 24, 48, and 72 hours. Then we determined the proliferation of the cells by MTT assay, measured their apoptosis by Annexin V/PI flow cytometry, and detected the expression of P53 mRNA by RT-qPCR.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group, the survival rates of the prostate cancer PC-3 cells in the 50, 100, and 200 microl/ml SF groups were (93.76 +/- 2.63)%, (81.21 +/- 1.80)% and (18.01 +/- 3.84)% at 24 hours, (94.67 +/-1.11)%, (78.33 +/- 2.89)% and (10.34 +/- 1.44)% at48 hours, and (91.30 +/- 0.47)%, (36.67 +/- 1.56)% and (1.33 +/- 0.32)% at 72 hours, all significantly increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner (P < 0.05). The expression of p53 mRNA was also markedly increased in all the three experimental groups at 48 hours (P < 0. 05).

CONCLUSIONSF can inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of PC-3 cells, which may due to its upregulation of the p53 mRNA expression.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEThe aim of the study was to establish the contemporary epidemiological characteristics of Japanese encephalitis (JE) in Guizhou Province.

METHODSA retrospective study of National Notifiable Disease Reporting System (NNDRS) data from 1971 through 2009, was conducted to ascertain the geographical, seasonal, and age distributions of JE incidence in Guizhou Province, China.

RESULTSA total of 68 425 JE cases were reported in Guizhou from 1971-2009. The JE cases occurred sporadically in all 9 prefectures of Guizhou, mostly among residents of rural areas. Seasonal distribution of JE remained consistent over the period from 1971-2009 with the main transmission season starting from June to September and peaking in August. JE occurred mainly in children under the age of 15 years with peak incidence in the 0-6-year age group. Pearson's correlation analysis showed that JE vaccine distribution had a negative correlation with JE incidence rates during 1971-2009 (coefficient of correlation=-0.475, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONOver the period of 1971-2009, the JE incidence rate had declined dramatically in terms of geographical and age distributions due to JE vaccination to children at risk.

Adolescent ; Age Distribution ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Encephalitis, Japanese ; epidemiology ; mortality ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Seasons ; Time Factors ; Viral Vaccines ; immunology

Objective To assess the adherence,immunologic and survival responses in HIV-infected patients receiving free antiretroviral therapy (ART). Methods All adult HIV-infected patients in Wenxi county who started antiretroviral treatment (ART) between 01 July 2001 and 31 December 2006 and aged above 18 years were included in this study. Epidemiological survey and laboratory tests were performed before,0.5 months after, 1 months after, 2 months after and every 3 months after initiation of ART to recognize the adherence, efficacy (CD4+ T cell counts) and survival to the regimens. Results The median follow-up time period was 16.5 months (Interquartile: 15.5-20.8 months). At baseline, the median of CD4+ T cell counts were 154 cells/μl (Interquartile: 81-212 cells/μl). Treatment was effective in most of the patients, the CD4+ T cell count of patients increased after the initiation of ART. The maximum increase was recorded at month 3, from the median of 154 cells/μl to 220 cells/μl (P<0.001) ,and thereafter the count remained stable. When comparing with patients with baseline CD4+ T cell count≥100 cells/μl, those with baseline CD4+ T cell count < 100 cells/μl showed a higher mean increase in the first three months of treatment. The cumulative probability rates of remaining alive were 0.94,0.88 and 0.87 at 3,12,24 months, respectively. In multivariate Cox's proportional hazard models, after adjustment for the type ofinitial regimens (NVP vs. EFV/IDV), CD4+T cell count of less than 50 cells/μl (vs. 50 cells/μl or more) was strongly associated with death hazard ratio 0.21 (95% CI:0.06-0.68). Conclusion Our data showed that ART was effective for improving immunologic response of adult patients with HIV/AIDS. CD4+ T cell count at initiation was associated with survival time in patients starting ART,suggesting that monitoring of CD4+ T count should be strengthened to early initiate antiretroviral therapy for HIV-infected patients.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of osteoarthritis in inhabitants aged 40 years old and above from urban and rural areas in Heilongjiang province. Methods Through multistage stratified cluster random sampling methods, residents aged 40 years and above were selected. All subjects were given a standardized questionnaire and were conducted a radiographic examination on hands, knees, neck spine and lumbar spine after informed consent. All statistics were performed by SPSS13.0. Results A total of 1196 residents were surveyed, which including 573 males and 623 female subjects. The prevalence of osteoarthritis in cervical spine, lumbar spine, knee and hand for men were 26.00%, 31.20%, 11.87%, 15.53%, respectively and that were 34.80%, 30.20%, 20.06%, 27.93% for women respectively. The prevalence of osteoarthritis increased with aging both in men and women. Prevalence in 60-70 age group achieved the peak. The prevalence rates became relatively low among those over the 70 years old than expected. The most common sites of osteoarthritis were knees and hands (16.10%), followed by cervical and lumbar spine (12.40%).Conclusion The prevalence of osteoarthritis was generally high in middle and old-aged people in Heilongjiang province.

Aim To identify the molecular target of gabapentin in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia(PHN). Methods The molecular target of gabapentin for PHN was analyzed by network pharmacology and molecular docking and confirmed by coprecipitation test. Rats were randomly divided into control group, model group, model+50 mg·kg-1 gabapentin group, model+100 mg·kg-1 gabapentin group, and model+200 mg·kg-1 gabapentin group, with nine rats in each group. The pain-related behaviors of the rats were measured at different time points. The mRNA and protein expressions of CACNA2D1, Bax, and Bcl-2 in rat spinal cord were determined by immunofluorescence, Western blot, and qPCR. Results CACNA2D1 was the target gene of gabapentin that determined via network pharmacology, molecular docking, and co-precipitation tests. After modeling, mechanical pain threshold and thermal pain threshold significantly decreased, and the number of apoptotic GABA cells significantly increased. However, after intraperitoneal injection of 50, 100, and 200 mg·kg-1 gabapentin, mechanical pain threshold and thermal pain threshold significantly increased(P<0.05), and the number of apoptotic GABA cells significantly decreased(P<0.01). Immunofluorescence and Western blot results showed that compared with the model group, with the increase of gabapentin concentration, the positive expression rate of Bax significantly decreased, and the positive expression rate of Bcl-2 and CACNA2D1 significantly increased. The mRNA expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2 and CACNA2D1 detected by qPCR were consistent with the results of immunofluorescence and Western blot. Conclusions Gabapentin up-regulates the expression of target protein CACNA2D1, inhibits the proapoptotic protein Bax, and promotes the expression of apoptotic inhibitor Bcl-2.