To investigate the existence of tick-borne pathogens infection of rodents at the border of China and the Demo-cratic People's Republic of Korea(DPRK).PCR was used to detect the spotted fever group rickettsiae(SFGR)ompA gene,Ehrlichia chaffeensis(Ec)and Anaplasma phagocytophilum(Ap)16S rRNA,Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis(CNm)groEL gene,Bartonella(Ba)rpoB gene,and Francisella tularensis(Ft)fopA gene in rodents samples collected from Ji'an of Jilin province and Kuandian of Liaoning Province.The positivity rates of 132 wild rats spleen samples,SFGR,Ec,Ap,CNm,Ba,and Ft were 9.85％,12.88％,5.30％,3.79％,51.52％,and 6.06％,respectively,with statistical differences in in-fection rates(x2=149.236,P=0.000).The infection rate of Ba was the highest in wild rats in this area.There was no signifi-cant difference in the infection rate of SFGR,Ec,Ap,CNm,and Ft among different rats species,but there were significant differences in the infection rate of Ba(x2=13.36,P=0.010).The infection rate of Apodemus agrarius was the highest.A-mong 132 wild rats specimens,the coinfection rate of the two pathogens was 15.9％(21/132),with Ba as the main species(15/132),and two cases of coinfection with three pathogens were detected.The infection of six tick-borne pathogens is common in wild rats at the China/DPRK border.Co-infection of two or three pathogens indicates a risk of multiple tick-borne pathogens and mixed natural foci of multiple tick-borne infec-tious diseases.

Transparency Ecosystem for Research and Journals in Medicine (TERM) working group summarized the essential recommendations that should be considered to review and publish a high-quality guideline. These recommendations from editors and reviewers included 10 components of essential requirements: systematic review of existing relevant guidelines, guideline registration, guideline protocol, stakeholders, conflicts of interest, clinical questions, systematic reviews, recommendation consensus, guideline reporting and external review. TERM working group abbreviates them as PAGE (essential requirements for Publishing clinical prActice GuidelinEs), and recommends guideline authors, editors, and peer reviewers to use them for high-quality guidelines.
Humans ; Practice Guidelines as Topic

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the composition of gut microbiota and its correlation with the severity of behavior symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS: A total of 30 children with ASD were enrolled as the ASD group, and 20 healthy children matched for age and sex were enrolled as the healthy control group. Related clinical data were analyzed. The V3-V4 hypervariable regions of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene in fecal samples were sequenced. The severity of behavior symptoms in children with ASD was assessed using the autism behavior checklist. The Spearman's correlation analysis was used to investigate the correlation between gut microbiota and the severity of behavior symptoms in children with ASD. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the composition of gut microbiota between the two groups. Compared with the healthy control group, the ASD group had significant reductions in Shannon index and Shannoneven index (P<0.05), as well as a significant reduction in the percentage of Firmicutes and a significant increase in the percentage of Acidobacteria in feces (P<0.05). In the ASD group, the dominant bacteria were Megamonas, Megasphaera, and Barnesiella, while in the healthy control group, the dominant bacteria were Eubacterium_rectale_group, Ezakiella, and Streptococcus. In the children with ASD, the abundance of Megamonas was positively correlated with the scores of health/physical/behavior and language communication (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The development of ASD and the severity of behavior symptoms are closely associated with the composition of gut microbiota.
Autism Spectrum Disorder ; Bacteria ; Child ; Feces ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of mumps in Hefei City from 2011 to 2016, in order to provide a basis for effective prevention of mumps. Methods The data of mumps in Hefei City from 2011 to 2016 was analyzed by descriptive epidemiology. Results There were a total of 9 678 cases of mumps in Hefei City from 2011 to 2016. The average annual incidence was 22.7/100 000, with the highest in 2013 being 40.56/100 000. Mumps had obvious seasonality with high incidence in spring. Mumps cases increased in winter but the peak was not distinct. The group with the largest number of cases was mainly students, accounting for 64.5% of the total number of cases, followed by childcare and residentially-scattered children. The average annual morbidity of nine counties existed differences( 2=256.845，P<0.001). Conclusions There was a high incidence of mumps in Hefei City from 2011 to 2016. More effective measures should be taken to prevent the incidence of mumps and reduce the spread of mumps virus.

Objective: To investigate the effect of aerobic exercise on the spermatogenic function of male rats and screen out differentially expressed proteins related to spermatonesis-regulation by proteomic analysis. METHODS: We randomly divided 24 SD male rats into groups A (non-exercise control), B (exercise), and C (weight-bearing exercise), those in the latter two groups made to swim for 60 minutes a day and those in group C bearing a load 3% of the body weight, both 6 times a week for 9 weeks. At 24 hours after the last exercise, we obtained the sperm count, measured the levels of such serum reproductive hormones as testosterone (T), luteotrophic hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH), and employed isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)-based proteomic analysis of the testicular tissue. RESULTS: Compared with group A, group C showed significant increases in sperm concentration (［2.12 ± 0.43］ vs ［3.54 ± 0.52］ ×10⁶/ml, P <0.01) and the levels of serum LH (［35.99 ± 2.90］ vs ［38.96 ± 1.34］ IU/L, P <0.01) and T (［19.99 ± 0.25］ vs ［21.36 ± 0.53］ nmol/L, P <0.01), but no statistically significant differences in GnRH (［623.95 ± 41.44］ vs ［641.82 ± 42.78］ ng/L, P >0.05) and FSH (［20.49 ± 2.44］ vs ［22.29 ± 2.31］ IU/L, P >0.05). No significant changes were observed in sperm concentration or reproductive hormone levels in group B as compared with A. Group B exhibited obviously more mature sperm and cell layers in the seminiferous epithelium than group A. A total of 47 differentially expressed proteins were identified, of which 37 were up-regulated and the other 10 down-regulated. In addition, another 5 significantly differentially expressed proteins closely related to reproductive function were identified, including up-regulated Anx A1, GPX3, Rimbp3, and Dpy19l2 and down-regulated CYP17. Enrichment analysis showed that the differentially expressed proteins were mainly involved in extracellular matrix-receptor interaction, protein digestion and absorption, and focal adhesion pathways. CONCLUSIONS Proper-intensity exercise can improve the spermatogenic function of rats. Aerobic exercise promotes spermatogenesis mainly by up-regulating the expressions of the proteins related to the production and differentiation of spermatozoa.
Animals ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; blood ; Luteinizing Hormone ; Male ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; methods ; Proteomics ; methods ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reproduction ; Resistance Training ; methods ; Sperm Count ; Spermatogenesis ; physiology ; Spermatozoa ; Testis ; Testosterone ; blood

The present study was aimed to investigate the role of cerebrospinal fluid-contacting nucleus (CSF-CN) neurons in modulation of inflammatory pain and underlying mechanism. The inflammatory pain model was made by subcutaneous injection of the complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) into the left hind paw of rats. The phosphorylation level of PKC (p-PKC) was examined by Western blot. Thermal withdrawal latency (TWL) of the rats was measured to assess inflammatory pain. The results showed that, compared with the sham controls, the inflammatory pain model rats showed shortened TWL on day 1, 3, and 7 after CFA injection, as well as increased level of p-PKC in CSF-CN neurons at 24 h after CFA injection. The administration of GF109203X, a PKC inhibitor, into lateral ventricle decreased the level of p-PKC protein expression and increased TWL in the model rats. These results suggest that blocking the PKC pathway in CSF-CN neurons may be an effective way to reduce or eliminate the inflammatory pain.
Animals ; Freund's Adjuvant ; Inflammation ; enzymology ; Neurons ; enzymology ; Pain ; enzymology ; Phosphorylation ; Protein Kinase C ; cerebrospinal fluid ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo observe the anti-virus effects of andrographolide (AD) on the retinoic acid-inducible gene-I (RIG-I)-like receptors (RLRs) signaling pathway when immunological cells were infected with H1N1.

METHODSLeukomonocyte was obtained from umbilical cord blood by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation, and immunological cells were harvested after cytokines stimulation. Virus infected cell model was established by H1N1 co-cultured with normal human bronchial epithelial cell line (16HBE). The optimal concentration of AD was defined by methyl-thiazolyl-tetrazolium (MTT) assay. After the virus infected cell model was established, AD was added into the medium as a treatment intervention. After 24-h co-culture, cell supernatant was collected for interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) detection while immunological cells for real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSThe optimal concentration of AD for anti-virus effect was 250 μg/mL. IL-4 and IFN-γ in the supernatant and mRNA levels in RLRs pathway increased when cells was infected by virus, RIG-I, IFN-β promoter stimulator-1 (IPS-1), interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-7, IRF-3 and nuclear transcription factor κB (NF-κB) mRNA levels increased significantly (P<0.05). When AD was added into co-culture medium, the levels of IL-4 and IFN-γ were lower than those in the non-interference groups and the mRNA expression levels decreased, RIG-I, IPS-1, IRF-7, IRF-3 and NF-κB decreased significantly in each group with significant statistic differences (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe RLRs mediated viral recognition provided a potential molecular target for acute viral infections and andrographolide could ameliorate H1N1 virus-induced cell mortality. And the antiviral effects might be related to its inhibition of viral-induced activation of the RLRs signaling pathway.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; genetics ; metabolism ; Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Coculture Techniques ; DEAD Box Protein 58 ; DEAD-box RNA Helicases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Dendritic Cells ; drug effects ; immunology ; virology ; Diterpenes ; pharmacology ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; drug effects ; immunology ; Influenza, Human ; drug therapy ; immunology ; virology ; Interferon-beta ; genetics ; metabolism ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; drug effects ; immunology ; virology ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; virology ; NF-kappa B ; genetics ; metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; drug effects ; immunology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; genetics ; immunology

BACKGROUNDSevoflurane is currently used as a volatile inhalation anesthetic with many clinical advantages. A representative degradation product, compound A, was quantitatively measured to investigate whether there are different reactions between two kinds of water content sevoflurane formulations with different carbon dioxide (CO2) absorbents.

METHODSA closed-circle breathe bag with the Dräger Fabius GS anesthesia apparatus was used as an artificial rubber lung. The experiments were grouped according to different sevoflurane formulations: group A: higher-water sevoflurane (Ultane); group B: lower-water sevoflurane (Sevoness). During the experiment, CO2 (200 ml/min) was continually perfused to keep the end-tidal pressure of CO2 (P(ET)CO2) at 35 - 45 mmHg. The artificial ventilation was set to 6 L/min, and the breathing rate at 12 breaths/min. The circuit was operated with constant fresh gas flow rate (1 L/min) and the sevoflurane concentration was kept at 1.0 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) for 240 minutes. At 0, 10, 20, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180 and 240 minutes, gas was collected from the Y-piece. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used to quantify the major degradation product, compound A, with different water content sevoflurane. PETCO2 and sevoflurane concentration, and the temperature of the canister were continuously monitored during the experiment.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in P(ET)CO2 and sevoflurane concentrations between the two groups. Drägersorb 800 plus produced the highest concentrations of compound A compared with other sodalimes, and Sevoness in Drägersorb 800 plus generated more compound A than Ultane (P < 0.05). There were significant differences in the peak and average compound A concentrations between Ultane and Sevoness with Drägersorb 800 plus (P < 0.05), while the compound A concentration produced by Sodasorb grase and sofonolime in the two groups showed no significant difference (P > 0.05). In the same group, the peak and average of compound A concentration produced by Sodasorb grase and sofonolime showed significant difference with Drägersorb 800 plus (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe water content of sevoflurane and potassium hydroxide in CO2 absorbent can influence compound A production.

Absorption ; Carbon Dioxide ; chemistry ; Ethers ; chemistry ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated ; chemistry ; Methyl Ethers ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mortality of HIV infected clients from methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) clinics in Yili Kazakh autonomous prefecture as well as the factors associated with mortality of HIV infected clients.

METHODSA retrospective cohort study was performed. Data of 860 cases were collected from National Methadone Maintenance Treatment database, National AIDS/HIV database and antiretroviral therapy (ART) treatment database for adults. Information collected included demographic information of HIV infected clients, methadone daily treatment information, CD4 testing information, ART treatment information and death information. Recruiting began from August, 2005 through May, 2011. Cox proportional regression was used to identify factors associated with mortality. The proportional hazard assumption was assessed using Schoenfeld's residuals test. Missing values were imputed using the multiple linear regression method. R software (version 2.13.0) was used to perform data analysis.

RESULTSA total of 860 HIV positive MMT clients were analyzed. The methadone dose for study subjects was (38.2 ± 20.7) mg/d. 27.8% (239/860) of study subjects participated in ART treatment, 38.7% (333/860) had never tested for CD4 count. The age for study subjects was (32.9 ± 6.4) years old. Among all these subjects, 67.3% (579/860) were married. During the observation period, 151 deaths were observed in 2192.9 person years. The average observation time was 2.6 year for each subject. The all-cause mortality rate was 68.9‰. Cox proportion model showed that ART treatment (HR = 0.53, 95%CI: 0.32 - 0.88), baseline CD4 count at 200 - 350 cells/µl (HR = 0.35, 95%CI: 0.20 - 0.60), baseline CD4 count more than 350 cells/µl (HR = 0.16, 95%CI: 0.09 - 0.29), and marriage (HR = 0.55, 95%CI: 0.37 - 0.82) were associated with less mortality compared with control group. Age (more than 45 years old) (HR = 5.20, 95%CI: 2.60 - 10.20) and sharing needles (HR = 1.40, 95%CI: 1.02 - 2.00) were risk factors associated with death.

CONCLUSIONHigh mortality rate was observed among HIV infected clients. Methadone clinic should provide ART treatment or ART referral services.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; drug therapy ; mortality ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Anti-HIV Agents ; therapeutic use ; China ; Female ; HIV Infections ; drug therapy ; mortality ; Humans ; Male ; Methadone ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate HIV risk behaviors among heroin drug users who were treated in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) clinics.

METHODSA prospective cohort study recruited and followed up clients of eight MMT clinics treated no more than two and half months in Guizhou province, China. Through face-to-face interviews, the baseline and following up informations were collected. And the baseline information included both demographic information and HIV risk behaviors, the following up informations included only HIV risk behaviors. The baseline investigation started in June, 2006 and the following up investigation finished in June, 2007. A total of 1003 heroin drug users were recruited at baseline, among them 666 (66.4%) were still at treatment by the end of follow up and 469 (70.4%) clients participated in the follow up interview. Wilcoxon two sample test and McNemar test were used to test for changes in HIV risk behaviors between baseline and following up investigation.

RESULTSAmong the 469 MMT clients who were followed up, the average days of reported heroin use decreased from 26.4 to 0.9 in the past 30 days (Z = 27.21, P < 0.05). Average days of alcohol use at baseline were 3.3 but 3.7 at follow up (Z = 0.45, P = 0.96). Needle-sharing behavior reported in the past 30 days decreased from 1.3% at baseline to 0.2% at follow up (χ(2) = 5.00, P = 0.025). At baseline, 5.5% (26/469) subjects reported having multiple sex partners in the past 30 days compared to 3.4% (16/469) at following up (χ(2) = 3.18, P = 0.08).6.4% (30/469) subjects reported casual sex with non-regular sex partners in the past 30 days at baseline compared to 5.1% (24/469) at following up (χ(2) = 0.95, P = 0.33). Of those who reported having casual sex relationship in the past 30 days 56.7% (17/30) reported using condoms at baseline but 58.3% (14/24) reported using condoms at follow up (χ(2) = 1.96, P = 0.16).

CONCLUSIONMMT was observed to decrease needle-sharing HIV risk behavior. However, decreased HIV sexual risk behaviors were not observed at statistical significant level.

Adult ; Female ; HIV Infections ; psychology ; Heroin Dependence ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Humans ; Male ; Methadone ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Opiate Substitution Treatment ; Prospective Studies ; Risk-Taking ; Sexual Behavior