Latent tuberculosis infection and tuberculosis incidence college freshmen in Chaoyang District during 2013 to 2015 / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To understand the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among college freshmen in Chaoyang District of Beijing from 2013 to 2015, and to provide evidence for prevention and control of tuberculosis in schools.@*Methods@#The latent tuberculosis infection was identified through a tuberculin purified-protein derivative (TB-PPD) skin test. TB-PPD test results of 65 233 college students in the Chaoyang District during 2013 to 2015 were collected and stored, by using descriptive statistical analysis.@*Results@#Among the 65 233 freshmen, 63 135 were effective PPD test results, 11 754 were PPD positive, 2 720 were PPD strong positive, the LTBI status: the PPD positive rate was 18.62% and the PPD strong positive rate was 4.31%. The positive rate and the strong positive rate in male (19.56%, 4.76%) were higher than that in female(17.87%, 3.95%)(χ2=29.37, 24.29), in ethnic minorities were higher than that in Han Nationality (18.25%,4.16%) and in Tibetans (29.45%, 8.69%) were the highest(χ2=102.01, 70.04), among freshmen from the western region (21.88%, 5.11%)were the highest and from Beijing city (16.25%, 3.46%) were lower (χ2=220.63, 99.03, P<0.01), among those with BCG scar (18.94%, 4.34%) are slightly higher than those without BCG scar(16.96%, 4.08%) (χ2=48.46, 10.43, P<0.01). 19 cases of tuberculosis patients were found, the prevalence rate was 29.13/100 000 (19/65 233), of which 68.42% (13/19) were found through the strong positive for PPD. Among the strong positive students (2 707), there were 1 433(52.94%) who received preventive therapy, and during the follow-up two years, 7 were newly diagnosed with tuberculosis, the annual incidence rate was 129.29/100 000 (7/2 707).@*Conclusion@#Freshmen from high-risk areas of tuberculosis are the focus of tuberculosis screening, for which we should continue to carry out PPD screening. Those with latent tuberculosis infection are high-risk groups of tuberculosis, and should be paid more attention in the prevention and control of tuberculosis in schools.

Therapeutic effects of Fuzhenghuayu decoction on nonalcoholic steatohepatic fibrosis rats by regulating ACE-Ang Ⅱ-AT1R axis / 解放军医学杂志

Objective To evaluate the influence of Fuzhenghuayu decoction on fibrotic liver tissue and angiotensin-converting enzyme-angiotensin Ⅱ-angiotensin Ⅱ 1 receptor (ACE-Ang Ⅱ-AT1R) axis using a nonalcoholic fatty liver fibrosis rat model system.Methods Forty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into the following groups:normal control group,liver fibrosis model group,and liver fibrosis model Fuzhenghuayu drug intervention at low-dose [0.75g/(kg.d)] group and high-dose [1.5g/(kg.d)] group.Except the normal control group,the other three groups were fed high-fat diet for 24 weeks to induce nonalcoholic hepatic fibrosis model.The drug intervention was administered via oral-gastric irrigation once daily for 6 times per week over a 6-week period.The rats were sacrificed at the end of 6 weeks for serum and liver tissue collection.The levels of serum total cholesterol (TC),triglycerides (TG),alanine aminotransferase (ALT),aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured by standard biochemical assays.The Ang Ⅱ contents of plasma and liver tissue were surveyed and evaluated by the radioimmunoassay method.Liver pathology was detected using HE staining and Masson trichrome staining.The mRNA and protein expressions of ACE,AT1R,α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in the liver tissue were evaluated with real time-PCR,immunohistochemical staining,respectively.Results Compared with the model group,the levels of serum ALT and AST in the low-dose group and high-dose group decreased conspicuously,especially in the high-dose group,with a statistically significant difference (P＜0.05);While the difference in the levels of serum TC and TG between the three groups was not statistically significant.Compared with the normal control group,Ang Ⅱ levels in plasma and liver tissue significantly increased in the other three groups;Further more,there was no significant difference in the plasma Ang Ⅱ level between the three groups (P＞0.05);While the level of liver tissue Ang Ⅱ decreased significantly in the low-dose group and high-dose group than that in model group (P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,the extent of pathological changes in hepatic tissues ameliorated after Fuzhenghuayu intervention according to HE and Masson staining,especially in the high-dose group.According to real time-PCR and immunohistochemical staining,the mRNA and protein expressions of ACE,α-SMA and AT1R decreased significantly in low-dose group and high-dose group than that in model group (P＜0.05),and the high-dose group showed the most robust decrease.Conclusions The Fuzhenghuayu decoction reduces nonalcoholic fatty hepatic fibrosis effectively,thereby leading to down-regulated the expressions of ACE-Ang Ⅱ-AT1R axis.These effects may represent the mechanism by which this drug suppresses hepatic fibrosis.

Analysis of the pregnancy outcomes of 13 723 tubes of sperm specimens from the sperm bank / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the safety of assisted reproductive technology (ART) with donated sperm from the sperm bank and the differences in the pregnancy outcomes of different means of promoting pregnancy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We analyzed and compared the feedback data on promoting pregnancy with donated sperm from the sperm bank by artificial insemination by donor (AID), in vitro fertilization (IVF), and intracytoplasm sperm injection (ICSI).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Totally, 13 723 tubes of sperm specimens were used for ART. The number of specimens used differed in different clinical reproductive centers, some using 1 tube and others using 2 tubes per cycle. The 13 723 tubes were used for a total of 7 743 cycles. Among the 7 123 cycles of AID, there were 1 415 clinical pregnancies (19.87%), 1 221 normal births (86.29%), 169 abortions (11.94%), 6 cases of birth defects (0.43%), 19 ectopic pregnancies (1.34%), and 0 sexually transmitted infection. Among the 571 cycles of IVF, there were 367 clinical pregnancies (64.27%), 330 normal births (89.92%), 35 abortions (9.54%), 0 birth defect, 2 ectopic pregnancies (0.54%), and 0 sexually transmitted infection. Among the 49 cycles of ICSI, there were 28 clinical pregnancies (57.14%), 25 normal births (89.29%), 3 abortions (10.71%), 0 birth defect, 0 ectopic pregnancy, and 0 sexually transmitted infection. There were statistically significant differences in the rate of clinical pregnancy among AID, IVF and ICSI (P < 0.05), but not between IVF and ICSI (P > 0.05), nor were there any significant differences in the rates of abortion, birth defects and ectopic pregnancy among AID, IVF and ICSI (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>None of the recipients of the donated sperm from the sperm bank was infected with sexually transmitted diseases. AID, IVF and ICSI showed no significant differences from natural conception in the rates of abortion, birth defects and ectopic pregnancy. ART with donated sperm from the sperm bank is safe. IVF and ICSI are associated with a higher rate of pregnancy than AID, though the latter costs less than the former two.</p>

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 gene transfer attenuates neointimal formation after carotid artery ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effects of lentiviral recombinant angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (LV-ACE2) gene transfer on the neointimal formation after carotid artery ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) and related mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>IRI was induced in SD rats through the carotid artery clipping and rats were divided into IRI, IRI+LV-GFP, IRI+LV-ACE2, IRI+ paclitaxel groups (n = 10 each). Sham operated rats serve as normal control. Four weeks later, neointimal formation was observed on HE stained carotid artery sections. The protein expression of ACE2, α-SM-actin, CD31, AT1R and P-ERK were detected by immunohistochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Carotid artery neointimal hyperplasia was readily shown in IRI group [I/M: 1.517 ± 0.151 (4 weeks later) vs. 0.011 ± 0.004 (Sham), P < 0.01], which was significantly reduced in IRI+LV-ACE2 (0.71 ± 0.17) and IRI+ paclitaxel (0.89 ± 0.21) groups. (2) The growth of vascular smooth muscle cells and neovascularization were also significantly inhibited in IRI+LV-ACE2 group and the expression of α-SM-actin (5 843 ± 839 vs. 12 648 ± 1 760, P < 0.01) and CD31 [(12.40 ± 4.01)/mm(2) vs. (96.20 ± 17.79)/mm(2), P < 0.01], AT1R (1 219 ± 175 vs. 4 861 ± 545, P < 0.01) and P-ERK1/2 phosphorylation (1 040 ± 215 vs. 2 938 ± 286, P < 0.01) in the neointimal of the injury arteries in IRI+LV-ACE2 group were significantly downregulated compared to IRI group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This data suggest that ACE2 gene overexpression is able to attenuate neointimal formation after ischemia-reperfusion injury possibly through downregulating AT1 receptor expression and signal pathway of ERK1/2 phosphorylation.</p>

The stability of the atherosclerotic plaque depends on the extent of injured endothelium:results from a novel model of ischemia/reperfusion induced atherosclerosis in carotid artery of rats / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the atherogenic lesion progress in a novel ischemia/reperfusion induced atherosclerosis model in the carotid artery of rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rats were divided into normal control, sham-operated control and ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) groups (n = 10 each). IRI was induced by 30 min carotid artery occlusion with a 2 cm long artery clips in anesthetized rats. Four weeks later, hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and immunohistochemical stain were performed on carotid arteries of various groups. The ratio of neointima area/media area (I/M) and expression of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM-1/CD31) were compared among groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Neointimal hyperplasia was detected in carotid artery of IRI group and the I/M ratio was significantly higher than in normal control and sham-operated groups (1.328 ± 0.301 vs. 0.011 ± 0.004 and 0.017 ± 0.008, all P < 0.01). (2) Small to large-sized neointima were found in the IRI group and the small sized intima was stable while large sized intima which covered the whole cavity was instable and underwent spontaneous rupture and thrombosis formation. (3) CD31 expression was significantly upregulated in carotid artery of IRI group corresponding to the instability of neointima in this group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Ischemia-reperfusion injury of carotid artery could result in atheroma in rats, this model could be used for future research on the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Our results show that endothelium injury of the arteries is the key factor to trigger atheroma and responsible for the disruption of the plaque.</p>