Epidemiological analysis of syphilis in Songjiang District of Shanghai from 2007 to 2017 / 上海预防医学

Objective To understand the epidemiological characteristics of syphilis in Songjiang District of Shanghai from 2007 to 2017, and provide evidence for further improvement in the prevention and control measures. Methods Descriptive analysis was performed on the syphilis case data in Songjiang District from 2007 to 2017. Results In 2007-2017, a total of 8 546 cases of syphilis were reported in Songjiang District, with an average annual incidence of 48.23/100 000.The overall incidence showed a U-shaped upward trend, with the highest incidence in 2016 (68.17/100 000);the average annual incidence decreased by 6.13/100 000 from 2007 to 2010, whereas increased by 5.64/100 000 from 2011 to 2017.Syphilis was characterized as follows:1) The epidemic was dominated by the cases with local household registration, latent syphilis (51.84%), reported in June-September, aged 20-59 years (81.24%).The cases in the age group over 60 years showed a significant upward trend.2) In the local syphilis cases, there were more men than women, and the sex ratio was 1.3 : 1 (especially the sex ratio in the stage 1 and stage 2 syphilis was 1.73 : 1).In the foreign cases from other provinces, there were less men than women, and the sex ratio was 0.6 : 1. 3) In the primary syphilis cases, there were more men (35.50%) than women (20.98%), while more female cases in the latent syphilis and secondary syphilis cases.Local primary and secondary cases were mainly in the age group of 30 to 59 years (59.06%).The cases from other provinces were mainly 20 to 49 years old (85.24%). Conclusion The incidence of syphilis in Songjiang District is increasing.As primary syphilis are more likely to be male and young adults, we should strength the surveillance, establish standardized diagnosis and treatment of syphilis, advocate sexually transmitted diseases prevention and treatment and safe sexual behavior, and also promote active screening in women and the elderly for further control of syphilis.

NADPH oxidase-dependent formation of reactive oxygen species contributes to transforming growth factor β1-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in rat peritoneal mesothelial cells, and the role of astragalus intervention / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role of nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidasedependent formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1)-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in rat peritoneal mesothelial cells (RPMCs), and the effect of Astragalus injection (AGI) intervention.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Primary RPMCs were cultured to the second generation in vitro. After synchronization for 24 h, the cells were randomly assigned to the following groups: control (Group A), AGI (2 g/mL; Group B), TGF-β1 (10 ng/mL; Group C), TGF-β1 (10 ng/mL) + AGI (2 g/mL; Group D; pretreated for 1 h with AGI before TGF-β1 stimulation). Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis were employed to evaluate the mRNA and protein expression of the NADPH oxidase subunit p67phox, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and E-cadherin. The dichlorofluorescein-sensitive cellular ROS levels were measured by a fluorometric assay and confocal microscopy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>TGF-β1 significantly induced NADPH oxidase subunit p67phox mRNA and protein expression in RPMCs, as well as inducing the production of intracellular ROS. AGI inhibited this TGF-β1-induced up-regulation by 39.3% and 47.8%, respectively (P<0.05), as well as inhibiting the TGF-β1-induced ROS generation by 56.3% (P<0.05). TGF-β1 also induced α-SMA mRNA and protein expression, and down-regulated E-cadherin mRNA and protein expression (P<0.05). This effect was suppressed by AGI (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>NADPH oxidase-dependent formation of ROS may mediate the TGF-β1-dependent EMT in RPMCs. AGI could inhibit this process, providing a theoretical basis for AGI in the prevention of peritoneal fibrosis.</p>

Regulatory effect of Langchuang serial recipes on T-lymphocyte subsets Th and Tc in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the principle of clearing Fei (), cooling blood, and detoxification as well as nourishing yin and moisening Fei (abbr. as CCD-NM) in regulating the levels of peripheral T-lymphocyte subsets Th and Tc cells to explore its mechanism for lowering the incidence of infection in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty SLE patients without complicated infection were assigned to the treatment group and the control group, 30 in each group. The control group was treated with Western medicine alone, while the treatment group was treated with the same program of Western medicine, but additionally administered with either Langchuang No.1 (I) or 2 (II), serial concerted Chinese recipes, applied respectively in patients in the active stage or in the resting stage. The total time of treatment for both groups was 1 year. Further, a healthy control group was set up with 20 healthy subjects. The expressions of Th1, Th2, and Tc1 and Tc2 cells in peripheral blood were detected and compared with those in the healthy control group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) As compared with the healthy control group, ratios of Th1/Th2 and Tc1/Tc2 in SLE patients, whether complicated with infection or not, were significantly lower (P<0.05 or P<0.01). (2) Comparison between patients with complications and those uncomplicated with infection showed that the two ratios and Th1 expression were lower and Tc2 was higher in the former than those in the latter (all P<0.05). (3) Ratios of Th1/Th2 and Tc1/Tc2 increased after treatment in patients of both the treatment group and the control group (P<0.05 and P<0.01), but the changes in the treatment group were more significant (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The principle of CCD-NM could regulate the Th and Tc subsets toward equilibrium in SLE patients, which might be one of the mechanisms of action for alleviating complicated infection.</p>

Frequency and significance of CD4~+CD25~+FOXP3~+T regulator cells in the peripheral blood of systemic lupus erythematosus patients / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective To investigate the frequency of CD4~+CD25~+FOXP3~+Treg cells in the peripheral blood of systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE)patients and its association with disease activity.Methods Pe- ripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC)from 28 patients(including 18 active SLE)and 22 healthy controls were counted and stained for CD4,CD25 and intracellular FOXP3.Cells were examined by 3-color staining on the Epics XL-MC and data were analyzed using EXPO32 software.Disease activity was assessed by systemic lupus erythematousus activity index(SLEDAI).Results The frequency of CD4~+CD25~+FOXP3~+Treg cells was significantly decreased in patients with active SLE compared with patients with inactive SEE and controls [(1.08?0.43)%,(1.58?0.45)% and(1.66?0.34)%,P