Berberine Promotes Mouse Breast Cancer Metastasis to Lung via Inducing Epithelial–mesenchymal Transition / 肿瘤防治研究

Objective To study the effect and mechanism of berberine (BBR) on the lung metastasis of mouse breast cancer via epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Methods CCK-8 and Transwell migration assays were utilized to investigate the proliferation and migration properties of breast cancer 4T1 cells after BBR treatment.Mouse 4T1-Luc cells were injected into mice under the fourth mammary fat pad, and the mice were then randomly divided into the control and BBR groups.The mice in the BBR group received daily intraperitoneal injections of BBR working solution and those in the control group were continuously intraperitoneally injected with the same volume of the solvent used to dissolve BBR powder.Tumor metastasis in the lungs of living mice was detected by using an in vivo imaging system.After 42 days of administration, lung metastasis was measured via microscopy and HE staining.Western blot analysis was used to examine the effects of BBR on the expression of EMT-related proteins (Vimentin and Snail) as well as the activation of the Akt and ERK signaling pathways. Results BBR significantly promoted 4T1 cell migration (P < 0.05).In vivo experiments showed that the number of lung metastases in the BBR group had significantly increased compared with that in control group (P < 0.05) as observed under microcopy and histological staining.Compared with the control group, BBR upregulated the expression levels of Vimentin and Snail as well as the phosphorylated levels of p-Akt and p-ERK (P < 0.05). Conclusion BBR may promote EMT and lung metastasis of breast cancer 4T1 cells by activating the expression of proteins in the p-Akt and p-ERK pathways.

Combination of biomarkers in predicting 28-Day mortality for septic patients

Objective: To estimate the value of combinative index [combination of routine biomarkers] for predicting 28-day mortality in patients with sepsis

Study Design: An observational study

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Intensive Care Unit, the Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China, from August 2016 to December 2016

Methodology: Logistic regressions of biomarkers and a combination of biomarkers were performed to investigate risk factors for mortality in patients with sepsis. Several biomarkers were analysed in combination using receiver operating characteristic curves to evaluate the diagnostic performance of combinative index

Results: A total of 59 patients were enrolled; 13 were diagnosed as septic shock. The 28-day mortality rate was 22.0%.Univariate analysis revealed that nonsurvival patients were much older [p=0.022], with higher level of lactate [p=0.012], and with higher level of NT-proBNP [p=0.008] than survival patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified arterial lactate [OR 8.62, 95% CI 1.07-71.43, p=0.043], NT-proBNP [OR 1.00, 95% CI 1.00-1.01, p=0.021], and CRP [OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.01-1.10, p=0.036] as independent predictors for 28-day mortality of septic patients. The combinative index [arterial lactate, NT-proBNP and CRP] displayed a better diagnostic performance than any single indicator [p=0.05, 0.02 and 0.02, respectively]

Conclusion: Combinative index [arterial lactate, NT-proBNP and CRP] could serve as a valuable predictor for the 28-day mortality rate in patients with sepsis

Value of BISAP score combined with red blood cell distribution width for the severity of acute pancreatitis / 中国现代普通外科进展

Objective:To investigate the bedside index for severity in acute pancreatitis(BISAP) score combined with red cell distribution width (red cell distribution width,RDW) on acute pancreatitis (AP) and early assessment of the severity of value.Methods:385 patients with acute pancreatitis were collected from October 2015 to November 2017 in our hospital,according to the severity of the disease were divided into mild group (MAP),moderately severe group (MSAP) and severe group (SAP),patients admitted to hospital within 24h,blood urea nitrogen,blood glucose,blood examination,collection of red blood cells in parallel the BISAP score distribution width,using analysis of variance statistical differences between three groups of data,and draw the RDW combined with BISAP score in predicting the progression of AP receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and its predictive value.Results:Mild group,moderately severe group,severe BISAP score and red blood cell distribution 0width increased sequentially.There was a significant difference in RDW and BISAP scores between the three groups (P＜0.05),and RDW was positively correlated with BISAP score (r=0.384,P＜0.01).The area under the curve of BISAP score,RDW combined with BISAP score for predicting AP disease was 0.879 and 0.894 respectively,and the sensitivity was 77.3％,95.5％,and the specificity was 85.3％ and 76.5％.Conclusion:With the aggravation of AP patients,both the BISAP score and the RDW increase.The combination of the two is helpful to predict the patient's condition.

Cloning and sequencing analyses of the complete genome of the provirus of the Inner-Mongolia pandemic strain of the Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus / 病毒学报

To investigate the kinship between the Inner Mongolia pandemic strain and representative strains of the Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV), total DNA from the lung tissue of a JSRV-infected sheep in Inner Mongolia was used to clone fragments of gag, pro and pol genes. The recombinant plasmid pMD-JSRV (including complete genomic sequence of the JSRV strain isolated from Inner Mongolia) was constructed by linking all the cloned fragments with long terminal repeat (LTR) and env gene fragments (cloned previous and reserved by our research team). Sequence analyses revealed that the genome was 7690 bp in length and contained several typical molecular markers for exogenous form of JSRV. These included the Sca I restriction site in the gag gene, two predicted "CCHC" motifs of zinc finger in the encoded nucleocapsid protein and the predicted "YXXM" motif in the TM region of Env. Homology analyses showed that the virus strain belonged to the JSRV type II. pMD-JSRV and AF105220 strains shared a nucleotide identification of 95%. The full length genomic clone of JSRV could provide a molecular basis for an infectious JSRV molecular clone as well as an experimental platform to study the detection and pathogenesis of JSRV.

B1a and b1b evolutionary branch of coxsackie virus A16 co-prevailed in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region / 病毒学报

To study on the molecular evolution of Coxsackie virus A16 (CVA16)isolated from clinical speci-mens of Hand, foot and mouth Disease( HFMD) patients in Inner Mongolia in 2010. A total of 921 clinical specimens including stools, throat swabs and vesicle fluids were collected from 888 HFMD patients in out-patient service in Inner Mongolia and viral isolation was then performed, the positive viral isolates were identified by using the real-time PCR method detecting CVA16. A total of 50 CVA16 isolates were selected from the patients presenting mild symptoms, severe symptoms and the death patients randomly, and the VP1 coding regions of representative CVA16 isolates were amplified and sequenced. Finally the phylogenetic tree was constructed among the VP1 coding regions of the different genotypes and subgenotypes of CVA16 strains. Eighty two viruses were isolated form 921 clinical specimens, the positive rate was 8. 90%, of which 3 viruses were isolated from severe cases and 1 viruses was from death cases. The nucleotide acid of 50 representative CVA16 strains in Inner Mongolia were closed to CVA16 strains isolated from mainland China since 1998, especially from Beijing in 2009 and from Henan in 2010, the identity were 96. 18% approximately 98. 88% and 94. 94a approximately 98. 76%, respectively. There was a little difference in the nucleotide acid between the CVA16 strains from Inner Mongolia in 2010 and in 2007, the identity were 91. 68% approximately 96. 52% The phylogenetic tree showed that all CVA16 strains clustered within Bla and B1b evolution branch of B1 genotype. There was slight difference in the nucleotide and the amino acid in VP1 region among the 50 Inner Mongolia CVA16 strains, the identity were 89. 99% approximately 100% and 98. 31% approximately 100%, respectively, indicating that these strains belonged to many different viral transmission chains. The CVA16 strains circulated in Inner Mongolia in 2010 were all belong to B1a and B1b evolution branch of B1 genotype, and the two evolutionary branchs of Coxsackie virus A16 were co-evolved and co-prevailed in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

The pathogenic spectrum of hand, foot and mouth disease and molecular characterizations of human enterovirus 71 in Inner Mongolia autonomous region in 2010 / 病毒学报

To study the pathogenic spectrum of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) and the molecular characterizations of human enteroviruses 71 (HEV71) isolated from the clinical specimens of HFMD patients in Inner Mongolia in 2010. A total of 921 clinical specimens including stools and throat swabs were collected from HFMD patients in outpatient service in Inner Mongolia and then viral isolation was performed, the positive viral isolates were identified by using the real-time PCR method (detecting EV, HEV71 and CVA16 in a single tube), and VP4 and VP1 coding region amplification and sequencing was performed with the viral isolates that were identified as non-HEV71, non-CVA16 HEVs. A total of 153 viruses were isolated form 921 clinical specimens, the positive rate was 16.61%, of which 61 (39.87%) were HEV71, 82 (53.59%) were CVA16, 7 (6.53%) were other HEVs(6 were CVB4 and 1 was polio vaccine virus type II) and 3 (1.96%) were adenoviruses. Nine viruses were isolated from severe cases, of which 6 were HEV71 and 3 were CVA16. Thirty two HEV71 isolates were selected from the patients presenting mild symptoms and the patients presenting severe symptoms randomly, and the VP1 coding regions of represented HEV71 isolates were amplified and sequenced. Finally the phylogenetic tree was constructed among the VP1 coding regions of the different genotypes and subgenotypes of HEV71 strains. The nucleotide acid and amino acid of 32 represented HEV71 strains in Inner Mongolia were closed to HEV71 strains isolated from mainland China since 2007, especially from Beijing in 2008, and it showed that all HEV71 strains clustered within the C4a evolution branch of C4 subgenotype. There was slight difference in the nucleotide and the amino acid sequence in VP1 region among the 32 Inner Mongolia HEV71 strains, the identity were 96.4%-100% and 98.14%-100%, respectively, and there was a little difference in the nucleotide acid sequence between the HEV71 strains from Inner Mongolia in 2010 and in 2007, the identity was from 96.95% to 97.87%. Thirty two HEV71 strains were in different lineages in the phylogenetic tree, and it indicated that these strains belonged to many different viral transmission chains. HEV71 and CVA16 were the main pathogens of HFMD in Inner Mongolia in 2010 and most severe cases were caused by HEV71. All the HEV71 strains circulated in Inner Mongolia belonged to C4a evolution branch within C4 subgenotype. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that 2010 Inner Mongolia HEV71 strains were located in different lineages, and had more nucleotide identity with 2008 Beijing HEV71 strains than with 2007 Inner Mongolia HEV71 strains. This indicated that Inner Mongolia HEV71 strains had not evolved independently, but co-evolved with the HEV71 strains in other provinces in mainland China.

A specific PCR assay and a nested PCR assay for the screening of ovine pulmonary adenomatosis / 病毒学报

Ovine pulmonary adenomatosis (OPA) is a naturally occurring contagious lung tumor of sheep which was caused by an exogenous retrovirus of sheep, jaagsiekte retrovirus (JSRV). Although no specific circulating antibodies against the virus coud be detected in infected sheep, exogenous JSRV proviral DNA sequences (exJSRV) and JSRV RNA transcripts could be detected in lung tumors, lymphoreticular system and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from sheep affected by OPA. The sheep genome carried 15 to 20 copies of endogenous retrovirus loci (enJSRV) that were similar to JSRV in structural genes but the divergene in U3. Therefore, primers specific for the U3 sequences of exJSRV were designed for the specific PCR and nested PCR (n-PCR). Sensitivity between specific PCR assay and n-PCR assay was compared by using serial dilutions of positive plasmid pJSRV-LTR in a background of 700ng sheep genome DNA. Sensitivity of n-PCR was ten-fold higher than specific PCR. The n-PCR was only available in blood test for detection of JSRV infected sheep and might be useful in epidemiological studies and disease control of OPA.

Biliary tract surgery; surgical complications

Surgical complication after biliary tract injury are serious complications of Hepatobiliary surgery. The incidence of iatrogenic bile duct injuries has increased significantly since the number of cholecystectomy operations have increased, laparoscopic cholecystectomy became the "gold standard", mini-cholecystectomy established for the treatment of cholelithiasis. Intraoperative hemorrhage can be life-threatening or may lead the death. The common uses of laparoscopic cholecystectomy and mini-cholecystectomy have made the young surgeons less familiar with open cholecystectomy procedure and the approaches to manage the biliary tract injuries. Uncommonly the patient had to undergo hepatic transplantation secondary to biliary tract surgery with several vessel injuries or biliary cirrhosis. Postoperative bile leakage can be managed by effective drainage as soon as possible. These complications uncommon with the expert surgeons, but common with comparatively inexperienced surgeons. There is no substitute of experience and caution in biliary surgery for optimization technique

Incidence rates of human immunodeficiency virus and syphilis as well as the rate of retention in a 6-month follow-up study of female sex workers in areas with heavy drug use in Xichang of Sichuan province, China / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis incidence rates as well as the retention rate in a cohort with 6-month follow-up study among female sex workers (FSWs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From December, 2004, to January, 2005, a community-based baseline survey was conducted to recruit 343 FSWs for a prospective cohort study in Xichang county of Sichuan province, China. Follow-up visits were conducted at 6 months to analyze risk factors associated with cohort retention for subjects' baseline sociodemographic and sexual behavioral characteristics. Blood specimens were also collected to test antibodies against HIV and syphilis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>During the 6-month follow-up period, HIV and syphilis incidence appeared to be 1.00 per 100 person-years and 6.23 per 100 person-years, respectively. The rate of retention in the cohort was 53.6% (184/343). Results from multivariate logistic regression model showed that factors were significantly associated with cohort retention including people with minority ethnic background (OR = 0.36; 95% CI: 0.18-0.74), people having participated in AIDS prevention program (OR = 1.83; 95% CI: 1.17-2.86) or being clients in the last 6 months > or = 50 (OR = 1.75; 95% CI: 1.11-2.77) and having changed living/working place (OR = 0.56; 95% CI: 0.33-0.94).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results of this study showed that the syphilis incidence and unprotected sex behavior were high among local FSWs. People belonged to Han nationality, having participated in AIDS prevention program and having a steady living/working place were associated with cohort retention at 6-month follow-up study among FSWs, respectively.</p>

Study on the relationship between hepatitis C virus infection and sharing injection equipment, sexual behavior among injecting drug users / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission through different modes of sharing injection equipment and sexual behavior among injecting drug users (IDUs) in Liangshan of Sichuan province.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A community-based survey was conducted to investigate past and current demographic data, injection equipment sharing patterns and sexual behavior of IDUs. Blood samples were also taken to test for HCV. The survey was conducted between Nov 8 and Nov 29, 2002. 379 subjects were screened through outreach recruitment and peer informing. SPSS (11.5) was used for data analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>HCV prevalence was 71.0% (269/379). Needles or syringes sharing in the past three months and past syphilis infection were strongly associated with HCV transmission after univariate analysis using chi-square test. Trend analysis indicated that HCV infection rate increased along with the increase of needles or syringes sharing, sharing of rinse water and the number of peers sharing the equipments. Data from multivariate logistic regression showed that sharing of needles or syringes and history of syphilis infection were significantly associated with HCV transmission. No significant difference was found between HCV infection and sexual behavior after univariate analysis using chi-square test.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Further sero-epidemiological prospective cohort studies should be conducted to clarify the relationship between different modes of sharing injection equipment, sexual behavior and HCV infection.</p>