Objective To investigate the population composition,seasonal dynamics,and infestation levels of cockroaches in Lanzhou,China,and to provide information for the scientific development of cockroach control strategies.Methods Monitoring was conducted at three locations using the sticky trap method.Habitats included farm product markets,catering establishments,hotels,hospitals,and residential areas.Results From 2016 to 2023,the average cockroach density was 0.77 insects per board,with an average infestation rate of 10.84%.Blattella germanica was the dominant species.Seasonal density of cockroaches showed an approximately unimodal distribution,peaking in September.The highest average density and infestation rates were observed in farm product markets.Conclusions Cockroach density and infestation levels in Lanzhou remained relatively low.A comprehensive prevention and control strategy focusing on environmental management in key areas should be implemented according to the seasonal fluctuations.

Objective: To study the influence of steroid withdrawal protection strategy on height growth in pediatric patients after kidney transplantation. Methods: The prospective cohort study enrolled 40 stage 5 chronic kidney disease children receiving kidney transplantation from July 2017 to September 2022 at Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center. Based on the primary preoperative disease, patients with immune abnormality-associated glomerular diseases or unknown causes were assigned to the steroid maintenance group, in which patients received steroid tapering within 3 months after surgery to a maintenance dose of 2.5 to 5.0 mg/d. While patients with hereditary kidney disease or congenital urinary malformations were assigned to the steroid withdrawal group, in which patients had steroids tapered off within 3 months. The characteristics of height catch-up growth and clinical data were compared between the 2 groups at baseline, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after kidney transplantation. T-test, repeated measurement of variance analysis, Mann-Whitney U test, and Fisher exact test were used for the comparison between the 2 groups. Results: Among the 40 children, 17 were males, 23 were females, 25 were in the steroid withdraw group ((7.8±2.8) years old when receiving kidney transplantation) and 15 cases were in the steroid maintenance group ((7.6±3.5) years old when receiving kidney transplantation). The study population was followed up for (26±12) months. The total dose per unit body weight of steroids in the steroid withdrawal group was lower than that in the steroid maintenance group ((0.13±0.06) vs. (0.36±0.19) mg/(kg·d), t=5.83, P<0.001). The height catch-up rate (ΔHtSDS) in the first year after kidney transplantation in the steroid withdraw and steroid maintenance groups was 1.0 (0.7, 1.4) and 0.4 (0.1, 1.0), respectively; in the second year, the ΔHtSDS in the steroid withdraw group was significantly higher than that in the steroid maintenance group (1.1 (0.2, 1.7) vs. 0.3 (0, 0.8), U=28.00, P=0.039). The HtSDS in the steroid withdrawal group at the five follow-up time points was -2.5±0.8, -2.0±0.8, -1.5±0.8, -1.3±0.9 and -0.5±0.3, respectively, while in the steroid maintenance was -2.4±1.3, -2.2±1.1, -2.0±1.0, -1.8±1.0 and -1.6±1.0, respectively. There were statistically significant differences in HtSDS at different follow-up time points in both 2 groups (F=19.81, P<0.01), but no statistical differences in overall impact between the 2 groups (F=1.13, P=0.204). The steroid treatment was interaction with the increase of follow-up time (F=3.62, P=0.009). At the 24^th month after transplantation, the HtSDS in the steroid withdrawal group was significantly higher than that in the steroid maintenance group (P=0.047). Six patients in the steroid withdrawal group experienced antibody-mediated immune rejection (AMR), while 3 did in the steroid maintenance group. Moreover, there was no significant difference in AMR between the two groups (χ²=0.06, P=0.814). Conclusion: The steroid withdrawal protection strategy favors the height catch-up growth in pediatric patients after kidney transplantation and does not increase the risk of postoperative antibody-mediated immune rejection.
Male ; Humans ; Child ; Female ; Child, Preschool ; Kidney Transplantation ; Prospective Studies ; Steroids/therapeutic use* ; Antibodies ; Body Weight

This study was aimed to investigate the influence of TIEG1 on apoptosis of HL-60 cells and the expression of Bcl-2/Bax. Different concentration of TIEG1 were used to treat HL-60 cells, the cell growth inhibition rate was detected by MTT method. After treating HL-60 cells with 12.03 ng/ml TIEG1, cell apoptosis was detected with flow cytometry. Bcl-2 and Bax was detected with RT-PCR. The results showed that TIEG1 had inhibitory effect on HL-60 cell proliferation, and in time-and dose-dependent manners. The more obvious inhibitory effect was observed in HL-60 cells treated with TIEG1 of 12.03 ng/ml. During the course of cell apoptosis, Bax expression increased, but Bcl-2 expression decreased (P < 0.05). It is concluded that TIEG1 inhibits HL-60 cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in time and dose-dependent manners. During the course of HL-60 cells apoptosis induced by TIEG1, Bcl-2/Bax are associated with HL-60 cell apoptosis induced by TIEG1.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Early Growth Response Transcription Factors ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

This study was aimed to investigate the effects of valproic acid sodium (VPA) on the proliferation and apoptosis of acute T-lymphoblastic leukemia Jurkat cells. Jurkat cells were treated with different concentration of VPA. Proliferation-inhibition curve was assayed and plotted by CCK-8 method and the cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry with Annexin V/PI double staining. The expression level of anti-apoptotic gene BCL-2 and pro-apoptosis gene Bak1 were detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The results showed that the VPA inhibited the proliferation of Jurkat cells in concentration-dependent manner. As compared with the control group, the apoptosis of cells increased along with adding concentration of VPA; VPA could decrease the expression of BCL-2 gene, but did not show obvious effect on the expression of Bak1. It is concluded that the VPA can inhibit proliferation of Jurkat cells which possibly associates with the decrease of BCL-2 expression.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Jurkat Cells ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Sodium ; pharmacology ; Valproic Acid ; pharmacology ; bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy and toxicity of recombinant humanized anti-Her-2/neu antibody (Herceptin) and Taxol for patients with Her-2/neu overexpressing metastatic breast cancer.

METHODSSixty patients with Her-2/neu overexpressing metastatic breast cancer were investigated. Of the 60 cases, 22 were treated with Herceptin and Taxol and 38 with Taxol and doxorubicin.

RESULTSThe total response rate (RR) of Herceptin and Taxol was 68.2%, and that of Taxol and doxorubicin was 44.7%. The RR of patients with Her-2/neu(+++) was 75%, while that of patients with Her-2/neu(++) was 50%. The major adverse effects were gastro-intestinal tract reactions, myopathy, bone marrow suppression and alopecia.

CONCLUSIONThe treatment with Herceptin and Taxol is effective and safe for patients with Her-2/neu overexpressing metastatic breast cancer. The therapeutic effect is related to the degree of Her-2/neu overexpression.

Adult ; Aged ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Breast Neoplasms ; chemistry ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Paclitaxel ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; analysis ; Trastuzumab