Objective To characterize the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene in Schistosoma japonicum (SjEGFR gene) and investigate the role of the EGFR gene in regulating the growth, reproductive system, maturation and fecundity of S. japonicum. Methods Rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) was performed to obtain the full length of the SjEGFR gene, and the SjEGFR gene expression was quantified in different developmental stages of S. japonicum using a quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assay. The tissue localization of the SjEGFR gene was detected in 22-day parasite using whole-mount in situ hybridization (WISH). Following RNA interference (RNAi)-induced knockdown of the SjEGFR gene, the worm length, pairing rate and worm burden of S. japonicum were measured, and the worm morphology was observed using optical microscopy and confocal microscopy. Results The SjEGFR gene was identified with a conserved tyrosine-kinase active site, and the SjEGFR gene expression was detected at various developmental stages in male and female parasites. WISH showed that the transcript of the SjEGFR gene was localized on the tegument and in the digestive organs of S. japonicum. RNAi-induced SjEGFR knockdown resulted in marked suppression of the worm growth, smaller size of male testicles that contained more immature spermatocytes, and apparent impairment of ovary and vitelline gland development. In addition, no eggs were found in the uterus of SjEGFR knocked-down female parasites, indicating the interruption of egg production. Conclusions Inhibition of SjEGFR expression may remarkably suppress the growth and maturation of S. japonicum, and interrupt the egg production.

Objective To investigate the biomechanical effects of interbody cage height on cervical spine during anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgery,so as to provide references for selection of interbody cage.Metheds The finite element model of normal cervical spine (C2-7) was built and validated,and the cages with different height (5,6,7,8 mm) were implanted into C5-6 disc (cage 5,6,7,8 model).All the models were loaded with pure moment of 1.5 N · m to produce flexion,extension,lateral bending and axial rotation motions on cervical spine,and the effects of cage height on range of motion (ROM),facet joint stress,intervertebral pressure in cervical spine were investigated.Results The intervertebral angle at the fusion segment increased by 0.68° with per 1 mm-increase in height.The ROM in C5-6 after cage implantation was smaller than 0.44°.The influence of cage height on ROM in C4-5 was greater than that in C6-7,and the changes of ROM in non-fusion segments were smaller than 7.3％.The cage height variation had a smaller impact on the facet joint stress and intervertebral pressure.The stresses in the capsular ligament,cage and screw-plate system increased gradually with the increase of cage height,and the stresses in cage 6,7,8 models were much higher than those in cage 5 model.Conclusions For patients who need implanting fusion cage,the cage height should be 0-1 mm greater than the original intervertebral space height.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of abdominal acupuncture for adhesion-stage shoulder periarthritis.

METHODSOne hundred and fifty-seven cases of shoulder periarthritis were randomly divided into an abdominal acupuncture group (79 cases) and a body acupuncture group (78 cases). The abdominal acupuncture was applied at Zhongwan (CV 12), Shangqu (KI 17) and Huaroumen (ST 24) in the abdominal acupuncture group while conventional acupuncture was applied at Jianyu (LI 15), Jianliao (TE 14) and Jianzhen (SI 9) in the body acupuncture group. The treatment was given three times a week for both groups and ten times made an observation course. Before and after treatment, visual analogue scale (VAS) was adopted for pain assessment and functional activity score (Mallet score) was used for shoulder joint function assessment for all the patients. Also the efficacy of both groups was compared.

RESULTSThe total effective rate in the abdominal acupuncture group was 92.4% (73/79), which was superior to 71.8% (56/78) in the body acupuncture group. The score of VAS after the treatment was 2.58 +/- 1.64 in the abdominal acupuncture group while 3.12 +/- 1.93 in the body acupuncture group, which had no statistical significance between each other (P > 0.05). The functional activity score after the treatment was 8.34 +/- 3.02 in the abdominal acupuncture group while 7.49 +/- 3.36 in the body acupuncture group, which had no statistical significance between each other (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe abdominal acupuncture is an ideal treatment for adhesion-stage shoulder periarthritis, which has better total efficacy than conventional acupuncture. It achieves the same effect in relieving pain and improving functional activity as conventional acupuncture, but also has an advantage at fast selection of acupoint and less discomfort of needling sensation.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Periarthritis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Shoulder ; physiopathology

Objective To evaluate the possibility and curative effect of total en bloc spondylectomy (TES) for the treatment of primary tumors of the lumbar spine. MethodsBetween June 2005 and July 2009,nine cases of primary tumor of the lumbar spine were treated with total en bloc spondylectomy through a single posterior approach performed in seven cases(L1 giant cell tumor, L1 osteosarcoma, L2 giant cell tumor,L2 solitary plasmacytoma, L2 chondrosarcoma, L2 chordoma, and L3 histiocytic sarcoma), and two cases through a single stage anterior and posterior combined approach (L4 giant cell tumor with paraspinal mass and L4 fibrosarcoma). They were performed a single stage reconstruction after removing tumors of vertebra. Neurofunction was evaluated perioperatively and recurrence of tumor was tracked for all cases.ResultsThe follow up was obtained for 3-49 months (averaging 19 months). All patients attained significant clinical improvement after surgery without any severe complications. There was no local recurrence and distal metastasis in shortterm follow-up. ConclusionThe treatment by TES to remove tumors and reconstruction of spine are reliable for primary tumors of the lumbar spine. The curative effect of short-term follow-up is satisfactory. However, the long-term curative effect remain to be further follow-up.

OBJECTIVETo explore the occupational and reproductive health problems of migrant female workers in electron factory.

METHODSA total number of 2000 female migrant workers were randomly sampled from three electronic factories for the study. All were investigated by questionnaire and data were input to EpiData 3.0 data base, SPSS17.0 statistical software and analyzed by Chi-square test.

RESULTS1971 complete questionnaires were received, the recovery rate reached over 98.6%. The average age of interviewees is (21.1 ± 3.9) years. Junior employee between 16 and 18 years accounted for 19.04%. The average working age was (1.1 ± 2.2) years and about 90% were single including 0.11% of them were divorced. The main occupational hazards were: sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, formaldehyde, hydrochloric acid, stannic anhydride, benzene analogues, n-hexane methanol, glycol isopropanol, sulphuric acid, nitric oxide, noise, ultraviolet radiation, etc. Workplace monitoring indicated that benzene and noise levels and ultraviolet radiation were over the national OEL at fewer worksites. More than 50% female workers worked over 8 hours per day and 83% of them worked 22 days per month. The ergonomic problems: 63.86% of them worked with tedious repetitiveness and monotonous job task. About 42% of them need to be continuously with standing posture. As a consequence, there were 30% workers complain about LBP, 21% had experienced work injury; 15% ∼ 18% had some non-specific discomfort, such as insomnia, dysacusis, dizzy and headache. The incidence rate of reproductive system such as abnormal menstrual cycle (5.71%), dysmenorrhea (25.11%), congestion (8.91%), etc. The first four reproductive system disease were pelvic inflammation, adnexitis, cervical erosion, and vaginitis. There are significant differences between continuous and temporary standing work, and repeated and unrepeated job action in terms of dysmenorrheal and congestion related-discomfort(P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThere are many occupational hazards in electronic industry. And there is somewhat a serious occupational and reproductive health problems among female migrant workers, that seem to be a matter of great concern.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Health Status ; Humans ; Industry ; Occupational Exposure ; Occupational Health ; Reproductive Health ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Transients and Migrants ; Workplace ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of a non-lethal heat shock, in comparison with the treatment of interferon-gamma (IFN gamma), on the expression of major histocompatibility complex transactivator (CTA) and its downstream target gene of the human leukocyte antigens (HLA)-DR in Jurkat cells.

METHODSThe changes of CTA mRNA in Jurkat cells before and after the treatment of heat shock or IFN gamma were detected using real time RT-PCR. The changes of CTA protein were detected with Western blot. The expression of HLA-DR was detected with flow cytometry. : CTA mRNA and protein were induced in Jurkat cells under heat shock, but not with IFN-gamma. The expression of HLA-DR gene significantly increased after recovery (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe expressions of CTA and HLA-DR in Jurkat cells remarkably increase after heat shock, indicating that heat shock may help reconstruct relevant genes in cells with immunologic gene deficiencies.

HLA-DR Antigens ; metabolism ; Heat-Shock Response ; physiology ; Humans ; Jurkat Cells ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Trans-Activators ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the possibilities of an association between the degrees of HBV suppression with nucleoside treatments at week 24 and week 52 in hepatitis B patients and to find a useful predictor for treatment efficacy.

METHODSIn this phase III, double-blind, multicenter trial, we compared the efficacy of telbivudine treatment with lamivudine treatment in 332 Chinese compensated chronic hepatitis B patients. The patients were randomly assigned to a daily 600 mg telbivudine treatment group or daily 100 mg lamivudine group for 24 weeks. They were then categorized into 4 groups according to their serum HBV DNA levels (copies/ml) at week 24: a PCR-undetectable group (< 300 copies/ml); a QL- < 10(3) copies/ml group; a 10(3)-<10(4) copies/ml group; and a > or = 10(4) copies/ml group. The treatments were continued as they previously had been for another 28 weeks and the patients serum HBV DNA levels were examined again.

RESULTSAt week 52, mean reductions of serum HBV DNA were significantly greater in the telbivudine-treated patients than in the lamivudine-treated group (6.2 log10 vs 5.4 log10, t = 3.6, P < 0.01). Viral resistance was twice as common in lamivudine-treated patients compared to those receiving telbivudine. Telbivudine was well-tolerated with an adverse event profile similar to that of lamivudine. The lower the HBV DNA level achieved at week 24, the higher HBV DNA non-detectable by PCR. ALT normalization and HBeAg seroconversion achieved at week 52, and viral resistance at week 48 decreased parallel to the degree of HBV DNA inhibition.

CONCLUSIONHBV DNA PCR-undetectable at week 24 in nucleoside-treated hepatitis B patients suggests a better efficacy at week 52 and lower viral resistance at week 48. The degree of suppression of HBV at week 24 may be used as a predictor of 1-year outcome.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Lamivudine ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nucleosides ; therapeutic use ; Pyrimidinones ; therapeutic use ; Thymidine ; analogs & derivatives ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To explore the danger of lead exposure in newborns who accepted the blood stored in blood bank for blood change treatment.Methods The lead level of blood was examined before and after blood change treatment for 37 neonates with hyperbilirubinemia who accepted 53 cases blood stored in blood bank during Jun.to Dec.2006.The level of blood lead was measured by graphite stove atom absorb spectrum method.Results The average lead level of 53 cases blood stored in blood bank was 101.02 ?g/L,which had attained the level of lead poisoning.There were 15 cases(28.5%) whose blood lead levels was very high(≥100 ?g/L),3 cases whose blood lead level ≥200 ?g/L.After blood change treatment,the percentage of the blood lead level ≥100 ?g/L rose from 2.9% to 19.0%.The average level of blood lead after blood change treatment was higher than before(P

Adult ; Carrier State ; drug therapy ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; complications ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes ; complications ; Lamivudine ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Secondary Prevention

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of oxymatrine in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B.

METHODSA multicenter randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial was conducted. A total of 144 patients with chronic hepatitis B entered the study for 52 weeks; of them 72 received oxymatrine, and 72 received a placebo. Before and after the treatment, clinical symptoms, liver function, serum hepatitis B virus markers, and adverse drug reactions were observed.

RESULTSIn 144 patients, 14 were dropped and excluded due to inconsistencies in the included standard. Therefore, the efficacy and safety of 130 patients were analyzed. After being treated for 52 weeks, 70.77% of the patients in the study group had a normal ALT level, and in 43.08% and 33.33% their HBV DNA and HBeAg became negative. In the placebo group, 39.68% had normal ALT level, and 12.31% and 3.33% had their HBV DNA and HBeAg become negative. The rates of complete response and partial response in the oxymatrine group were 23.08% and 58.46%, and in the placebo group they were 3.08% and 44.62%. They were significantly higher in the oxymatrine group than in the placebo group. In the oxymatrine treated patients, 12 weeks after its withdrawal, 60.00% had a normal ALT level, 41.54% and 23.33% had both HBV DNA and HBeAg negative. In the placebo group, 31.75% had a normal ALT level, 3.08% and 1.67% had both HBV DNA and HBeAg negative. The rates of complete response and partial response in the oxymatrine group were 21.54% and 47.69%, and in the placebo group they were 0 and 41.54%. They were significantly higher in the study group than in the placebo group. The adverse reaction rates of oxymatrine in the study and the placebo group were 7.69% and 6.15%, respectively, but there was no statistical significant difference between them.

CONCLUSIONOxymatrine is an effective and safe agent for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Alkaloids ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Antiviral Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quinolizines