The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors of fascioliasis in yaks, Bos grunniens, from 3 counties of Gansu Province in China. A total of 1,584 serum samples, including 974 samples from white yaks from Tianzhu, 464 from black yaks from Maqu, and 146 from black yaks from Luqu County, were collected and analyzed using ELISA to detect IgG antibodies against Fasciola hepatica. The overall F. hepatica seroprevalence was 28.7% (454/1,584), with 29.2% in white yaks (284/974) and 27.9% in black yaks (170/610). The seroprevalence of F. hepatica in yaks from Tianzhu, Luqu, and Maqu was 29.2%, 22.6%, and 29.5%, respectively. Female yaks (30.9%) had higher F. hepatica seroprevalence than male yaks (23.4%). Also, F. hepatica seroprevalence varied by different age group from 24.1% to 33.8%. Further, the seroprevalence ranged from 21.8% to 39.1% over different seasons. Interestingly, the season and age of yaks were associated with F. hepatica infection in yaks in the investigated areas. These findings provided a basis for further studies on this disease in yaks from 3 counties of Gansu Province in northwestern China, which may ultimately support the development of effective control strategies of fascioliasis in these areas.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Cattle* ; China* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fasciola hepatica ; Fascioliasis* ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Male ; Ranunculaceae ; Risk Factors* ; Seasons ; Seroepidemiologic Studies*

In this study,field cultivation experiments of Notopterygium incisum had been carried out for three years, and samples had been collected monthly during growth seasons, and biomass and nutrient elements of aerial and underground part of sampled plants had been determined to assess their seasonal and interannual dynamics respectively. The results showed that biomass of underground part (dry weight) increased mainly in the second year after seedling transplanting, i.e., biomass increased about 32 times in the second year whilst less than 6 times and 2 times in the first year and in the third year, respectively. Therefore, efforts for yield improvement should be focused on the first two year in artificial cultivation of N. incisum. Accumulation of nutrient elements increased steady in the underground part during the first and second year, then showed a sharp decline in the first phase of growth season in the third year, while its accumulation in July to August of third year was higher than the value of second year. Ca, Fe, B and Zn were larger demand nutrient elements to meet growth demands whether for the underground part or aerial part during the second year and third year for N. incisum cultivation. This result provided instructional guidance and scientific basis for artificial cultivation and specific fertilizer of N. incisum.

OBJECTIVETo study the efficacy and safety of voluntary rehabilitation exercise in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, based on the traditional Chinese medicine theory of "treating muscle for bone".

METHODSNinety participants with early knee osteoarthritis were randomly divided into experimental group (=45) and control group (=45). Patients in experimental group were treated with voluntary rehabilitation exercise combined with isometric extension of quadriceps femoris. Patients in control group were treated with apparatus training combined with isometric extension of quadriceps femoris. The treatment course lasted for two weeks. Visual analogue scale (VAS), Lysholm score and total therapeutic effect were evaluated before and after treatments.

RESULTSAfter two weeks of treatment, cure-remarkable-effective rate in experimental group (86.67%) was higher than that in control group (71.11%). The VAS scores and Lysholm scores were significantly improved in both two groups (<0.05). The results were significantly better in experimental group those in control group (<0.05). There were no serious adverse events.

CONCLUSIONSVoluntary rehabilitation exercise combined with isometric extension of quadriceps femoris was effective and safe in the treatment of early knee osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza and Ligustrazine Injection (SML) on proliferation and apoptosis of human hepatic stellate cell LX-2 and the expression of N-myc downstreamregulated gene 2 (NDRG2, a tumor suppressor gene).

METHODSHSCs from the LX-2 cell line were cultured in vitro. The proliferative state of different initial LX-2 cell numbers was measured using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol- 2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetric assay. LX-2 cells were plated in 96-well plates at an approximate density of 2.50×10cells/mL and cultured for 24 h followed by the application of different concentrations of SML (1, 2, 4 and 8 μL/mL). Cell proliferation was measured using the MTT assay at 24 and 48 h. Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry at 24 h. LX-2 cells were treated with different concentrations of SML and extracted with protein lysis buffer. The levels of NDRG2 and β-catenin were measured by Western blot.

RESULTSWith the exception of the 1 and 2 μL/mL concentrations, 4 and 8 μL/mL SML inhibited cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner at 24 and 48 h (P<0.05). With the exception of the 1 and 2 μL/mL concentrations, the NDRG2 expression level was greatly increased in a concentration-dependent manner. However, the level of β-catenin was unaffected.

CONCLUSIONSML inhibit LX-2 cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner, and the mechanism may be associated with NDRG2 over-expression.

In order to study the chemical constituents of n-butanol fraction of ethanol extract from Chinese agarwood induced by artificial holing, various chromatographic techniques were carried out to isolate compounds, and the structures of compounds were determined through a combined analysis of physicochemical properties and spectroscopic evidence. Seven compounds were obtained and identified as selina-3,11-dien-9,15-diol (1), aquilarone D (2), 5α,6β,7α,8β-tetrahydroxy-2-[2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrochromone (3), 6,7-dimethoxy-2-[2-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]chromone (4), syringin (5), methyl (Z)-p-coumarate (6), and 4'-methoxycinnamic acid (7), among which compound 1 was a new compound and compounds 5-7 were isolated from agarwood for the first time. The bioactivity assay results concluded that compounds 6 and 7 showed certain nematicidal activity against Panagrellus redivivus, and compounds 4, 6 and 7 exhibited cytotoxicity against BEL-7402, SGC-7901 and A549 carcinoma cell lines.

BACKGROUNDThe International Prognostic Score (IPS) was developed based on the data of Western advanced Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) patients treated before 1992. Only a few studies ever evaluated the application value of IPS in Chinese population or in patients treated in the contemporary era whose outcomes has improved significantly than before.

METHODSWe conducted a retrospective study involving 208 previously untreated Chinese advanced HL patients, who were admitted to Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from January 1, 1999 to April 30, 2015 and received uniform first-line treatment. The prognostic value of both IPS and the seven IPS factors for freedom-from progression (FFP) and overall survival (OS) was assessed in this population. The statistical methods included Kaplan-Meier methodology, log-rank testing, and Cox proportional hazard regression analysis.

RESULTSWith a median follow-up time of 79 months (range, 15-210 months), the 5-year FFP and OS were 78.8% and 86.0% respectively, which improved obviously compared with the original IPS study. The IPS remained prognostic for both FFP (P = 0.041) and OS (P = 0.013), but the range narrowed obviously, with 5-year FFP ranging from 87.2% to 61.5%, 5-year OS ranging from 94.1% to 69.2%, and the separation of survival curves was not as good as before. Only two of the seven IPS factors showed a significant independent prognostic value in the multivariate analysis: Stage IV (for FFP, hazard ratio [HR] = 2.219, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.148-3.948, P = 0.016; for OS, HR = 2.491, 95% CI: 1.159-5.355, P = 0.019) and hemoglobin <105 g/L (for FFP, HR = 2.136, 95% CI: 1.123-4.060, P = 0.021; for OS, HR = 2.345, 95% CI: 1.099-5.042, P = 0.028). A simple prognostic score calculated by adding one point each for any of the two factors was prognostic both for FFP (P < 0.001) and OS (P < 0.001) with the survival curves separating very well, but the range still narrowed.

CONCLUSIONSThe IPS has decreased the prognostic value in Chinese advanced HL patients treated in the contemporary era. More prognostic factors are needed to supplement this original scoring system so as to identify different risk populations more accurately.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Female ; Hodgkin Disease ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Humans ; International Classification of Diseases ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDLiquid-based cytology (LBC) offers an alternative method to biopsy in screening endometrial cancer. Cell block (CB), prepared by collecting residual cytological specimen, represents a novel method to supplement the diagnosis of endometrial cytology. This study aimed to compare the specimen adequacy and diagnostic accuracy of LBC and CB in the diagnosis of endometrial lesions.

METHODSA total of 198 women with high risks of endometrial carcinoma (EC) from May 2014 to April 2015 were enrolled in this study. The cytological specimens were collected by the endometrial sampler (SAP-1) followed by histopathologic evaluation of dilatation and curettage or biopsy guided by hysteroscopy. The residual cytological specimens were processed into paraffin-embedded CB after LBC preparation. Diagnostic accuracies of LBC and CB for detecting endometrial lesions were correlated with histological diagnoses. Chi-square test was used to compare the specimen adequacies of LBC and CB.

RESULTSThe specimen inadequate rate of CB was significantly higher than that of LBC (22.2% versus 7.1%, P < 0.01). There were 144 cases with adequate specimens for LBC and CB preparation. Among them, 29 cases were atypical endometrial hyperplasia (11 cases) or carcinoma (18 cases) confirmed by histology evaluation. Taking atypical hyperplasia and carcinoma as positive, the diagnostic accuracy of CB was 95.1% while it was 93.8% in LBC. When combined LBC with CB, the diagnostic accuracy was improved to 95.8%, with a sensitivity of 89.7% and specificity of 97.4%.

CONCLUSIONSCB is a feasible and reproducible adjuvant method for screening endometrial lesions. A combination of CB and LBC can improve the diagnostic accuracy of endometrial lesions.

Adult ; Aged ; Biopsy ; methods ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Cytodiagnosis ; methods ; Early Detection of Cancer ; methods ; Endometrial Hyperplasia ; diagnosis ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Endometrium ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Specimen Handling

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of periprostatic nerve block anesthesia (PPNB) for pain relief in transrectal ultrasound-guided systematic prostate biopsy (PBx).

METHODSWe reviewed the data of patients undergoing initial PBx at our center from November, 2013 to January, 2015. Only the patients with 12-core systemic PBx were included and 111 patients were eligible for this study, among whom 52 patients received PPNB and 59 did not. PPNB was achieved by an injection of 5 mL of 1% lidocaine at the angle between the seminal vesicle and base of the prostate on each side before biopsy. The DRE pain score, probe insert pain score, and biopsy pain score were assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS) immediately after the biopsy. The complications were recorded and evaluated immediately after and at 7 days after the biopsy.

RESULTSThe mean age, prostate volume, total prostate specific antigen (tPSA), free PSA (fPSA), and abnormal DRE were comparable between the 2 groups (P>0.05). Immediately after the biopsy, no difference was found between the 2 groups in DRE pain score (1.40±0.98 vs 1.39±0.91, P=0.102) or probe insert pain score (2.07±0.96 vs 2.03±0.90, P=0.960), but the biopsy pain score was significantly lower in PPNB group than in no PPNB group (2.54±1.42 vs 3.07±1.43, P=0.033). The incidence of the procedure-related complications was similar between the 2 groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONPPNB can significantly lower the biopsy pain score in PBx without increasing the incidence of complications.

Biopsy ; Humans ; Lidocaine ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Nerve Block ; Pain ; prevention & control ; Pain Management ; methods ; Pain Measurement ; Prostate ; diagnostic imaging ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; blood ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUNDTakayasu arteritis (TA) is a rare inflammatory arteriopathy of unknown etiology. The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic susceptibility to TA in a Chinese population.

METHODSFour single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) those locate in the IL12B region (rs56167332), the MLX region (rs665268), the FCGR2A/FCGR3A locus (rs10919543), and the HLA-B/MICA locus (rs12524487), associated with TA in different population, were genotyped in 123 Chinese TA patients and 147 healthy controls from January 2013 to August 2014. A Chi-square test was used to test for genotype/allele frequencies variants.

RESULTSAmong the four SNPs, rs10919543 was found to be significantly associated with TA in the studied population. The GG genotype of rs10919543 at the FCGR2A/FCGR3A locus is a high risk factor (odds ratio [OR] = 6.532, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.402 - 17.763, P < 0.001) for TA. Among TA patients, the level of eosinophil granulocytes (Eos) in the peripheral blood was observed to be higher in the GG group of rs10919543 (n = 23, Eos = 0.11 [0.08, 0.17] ×109/L) than the GA + AA group (n = 100, Eos = 0.08 [0.05, 0.13] ×109/L, P = 0.028). No correlation between the genotypes of the other three SNPs and TA patients was observed.

CONCLUSIONSOur findings revealed unique genetic pattern in Chinese TA patients that may be partly responsible for the higher risk of TA in this population. FCGR2A/FCGR3A-related immune disorder might contribute to the etiology of TA.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Receptors, IgG ; genetics ; Takayasu Arteritis ; etiology ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) level and the prevalence rate of a high non-HDL-C level in children aged 9-11 years in the Mianyang Science City area in Sichuan Province, China.

METHODSFrom September to October, 2015, a field investigation was performed for the students from three primary schools in the Mianyang Science City area by cluster sampling. Fasting venous blood was collected for blood lipid tests. The cut-off value of serum non-HDL-C level and prevalence rate of a high non-HDL-C level in children aged 9-11 years in this area were calculated, as well as the prevalence rate of a high non-HDL-C level in obese children.

RESULTSIn the children aged 9-11 years in this area, the cut-off value of non-HDL-C level was 3.67 mmol/L, and the prevalence rate of a high non-HDL-C level was 3.7% (22/589). Compared with the non-obese children, the obese children had a significantly higher serum non-HDL-C level (P<0.01) and a significantly higher prevalence rate of a high non-HDL-C level (10.0% vs 2.9%; P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe cut-off value of serum non-HDL-C level in children aged 9-11 years in the Mianyang Science City area is established. Obesity is associated with an increased prevalence rate of a high non-HDL-C level in children aged 9-11 years.

Child ; China ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Lipoproteins ; blood ; Male ; Obesity ; blood