Application of mixture analysis methods in association between metals mixture exposure and DNA oxidative damage / 中华预防医学杂志

Objectives: To study the association between metals mixture exposure and DNA oxidative damage using mixture analysis methods, and to explore the most significant exposure factors that cause DNA oxidative damage. Methods: Workers from steel enterprises were recruited in Shandong Province. Urinary metals were measured by using the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry method. The level of urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) was determined by using the ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method. Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR), elastic net regression and quantile g-computation regression were used to analyze the association between urinary metals and urinary 8-OHdG. Results: A total of 768 subjects aged (36.15±7.40) years old were included in the study. BKMR, elastic net regression and quantile g-computation all revealed an overall positive association between the mixture concentration and increased urinary 8-OHdG. The quantile g-computation results showed that with a 25% increase in metal mixtures, the urinary 8-OHdG level increased by 77.60%. The elastic net regression showed that with a 25% increase in exposure risk score, the urinary 8-OHdG level increased by 26%. The BKMR summarized the contribution of individual exposures to the response, and selenium, zinc, and nickel were significant contributors to the urinary 8-OHdG elevation. Conclusion: Exposure to mixed metals causes elevated levels of DNA oxidative damage, and selenium, zinc, and nickel are significant exposure factors.

Clinical Observation of Moxibustion at He-Sea and Front-Mu Points for Chronic Atrophic Gastritis / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of moxibustion at He-Sea plus Front-Mu points in treating chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) due to deficient cold in spleen-stomach, and its effect on serum pepsinogen (PG) and gastrin. Method Sixty-three eligible patients with CAG due to deficient cold in spleen-stomach were divided into a control group (31 cases) and a treatment group (32 cases) by using random number table. The control group was intervened by Wei Fu Chun tablets, while the treatment group received moxibustion at He-Sea plus Front-Mu points, 12 weeks as a treatment course. Clinical efficacy, symptoms score of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), serum PGⅠ, PG Ⅱ and gastrin levels were evaluated. Result The total effective rate was 93.8% in the treatment group, significantly better than that in the control group (P<0.05); the TCM symptoms scores dropped significantly in both groups after the treatment and in the follow-up study (P<0.01), and the treatment group was markedly superior to the control group (P<0.01); the levels of PG Ⅰ, PG Ⅰ/Ⅱ ratio (PGR) and gastrin-17 (G-17) increased significantly in the treatment group after the intervention (P<0.01), and PG Ⅱ dropped significantly (P<0.05); after the treatment, thelevels of PG I, PGR and G-17 increased significantly in the control group (P<0.05); after the intervention, the treatment group was significantly better than the control group in comparing the levels of PG Ⅰ, PGR and G-17 (P<0.01), and there was a significant difference in comparing the level of PG Ⅱ between the two groups after the intervention (P<0.05). The follow-up showed that the HP positive rate was 3.1% in the treatment group, significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Moxibustion at He-Sea plus Front-Mu points can significantly improve CAG symptoms, enhance HT clearance and lower the relapse; its action mechanism is possibly through up-regulating PGⅠ, PGR and G-17 and down-regulating PG Ⅱ.

Observation on effects of moxibustion at abdominal acupoints for slow transit constipation due to yang deficiency of the spleen and kidney / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: To observe the clinical effects of moxibustion at abdominal acupoints for slow transit constipation (STC) due to yang deficiency of the spleen and kidney. Methods: A total of 52 cases with slow transit constipation in conformity with the inclusion criteria were selected and divided into a control group and an observation group according to their visit order and random digital table, 26 cases in each group. Patients in the control group received routine nursing guide. Besides the same routine nursing guide, patients in the observation group received moxibustion at the abdominal acupoints, once every day. The course of the treatment was 4 weeks in the two groups, and the 3-month follow-up was given after the course was finished, for comparing the clinical symptoms, results of colon transit tests, scores of depression/anxiety scale and nursing satisfaction. Results: The total effective rate was 92.3% in the observation group and 69.2% in the control group, with a significant difference between the two groups. After the treatment and during the follow-up checks, the scores of Chinese medical symptoms in the two groups were remarkably decreased than those before the treatment (all P<0.01); the scores of the observation group were obviously lower than those in the control group (all P<0.01). The discharge rates of the markers in the two groups were remarkably increased than those at the same time period before the treatment; moreover, the discharge rates of the markers at various time periods were remarkably better in the observation group than those in the control group (P<0.01). SDS and SAS scores were remarkably decreased after the treatment in the two groups (P<0.01). In comparison of SDS score between the two groups after the treatment, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01). In comparison of SAS score between the two groups after the treatment, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The nursing satisfaction was 96.2% in the observation group after the treatment, obviously better than that in the control group (73.1%). The recurrence rate was 8.3% in the observation group, remarkably lower than that in the control group (33.3%). Conclusion: Moxibustion at the abdominal acupoints plus routine nursing can remarkably improve the colon transit functions and anxious and depressive emotion in patients with STC, and the therapeutic effects are remarkable. Not only the clinical satisfaction is higher, but the recurrence rate is obviously lower than that of routine nursing.

Risk factors for 5-year recurrence of spontaneous symptomatic epileptic seizures in infants and young children / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the recurrence rate and risk factors of spontaneous symptomatic epileptic seizures after the first episode in infants and young children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of infants and young children who experienced the first episode of spontaneous symptomatic epileptic seizures between April 2009 and April 2011 in Suzhou Children's Hospital were collected. Follow-up visits were performed once every 1-3 months, and the follow-up time was 1-60 months. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards model were applied to calculate the recurrence rate of spontaneous symptomatic epileptic seizures and analyze the risk factors for seizure recurrence.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Sixty-three children experiencing a first episode of spontaneous symptomatic epileptic seizures were enrolled. Within 5 years after the first episode, 43 children experienced the recurrence of spontaneous symptomatic epileptic seizures, with a 5-year cumulative recurrence rate of 69.4%. Among all recurrent cases, 86% experienced recurrence within 1 year after the first episode. The multivariate analysis with the Cox proportional hazards model showed that epileptiform discharges on electroencephalography were the independent risk factor for recurrence of spontaneous symptomatic epileptic seizures (HR=5.349, 95%CI: 2.375-12.048).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The recurrence rate of spontaneous symptomatic epileptic seizures after the first episode is high in infants and young children. Epileptiform discharges on electroencephalography are the independent risk factor for the recurrence, and thus it is suggested to perform antiepileptic therapy for these children.</p>

Diagnostic values of neopterin and S100b for central nervous system infections in children / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the diagnostic values of cerebrospinal concentrations of neopterin (NPT) and S100b for central nervous system infections in children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determinate the cerebrospinal concentrations of NPT and S100b in children with central nervous system infections and control children. The two groups of children were compared in terms of the two indicators, and the diagnostic values of the two indicators were evaluated by ROC curve analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Children with viral encephalitis had significantly increased cerebrospinal concentrations of NPT and S100b compared with the control group and children with purulent meningitis (P<0.01); there was no difference in the cerebrospinal concentration of NPT between children with purulent meningitis and the control group, while the concentration of S100b in the purulent meningitis group was significantly higher than in the control group (P<0.01). According to the ROC curves, S100b was more valuable than NPT in the diagnosis of viral encephalitis; when cerebrospinal concentration was more than 0.384 ng/mL, S100b had a sensitivity of 93.3% and a specificity of 97.9%; a combination of the two indicators had a higher diagnostic value for viral encephalitis, with a sensitivity of 96.7% and a specificity of 97.9%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Both NPT and S100b have certain values in the diagnosis of central nervous system infections in children, and S100b is better than NPT.</p>

Surgical treatment of refractory cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea with recurrent bacterial meningitis in 1 case and literature review / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To explore the surgical treatment of refractory cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea with recurrent bacterial meningitis.Methods The clinical data of 1 case of a 10-year-old boy who had 9 episodes of bacterial meningitis and underwent 4 surgical repair procedures for congenital cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea at the Children's Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University were analyzed,and the related literatures were reviewed.Results During the intervals of 9 episodes of bacterial meningitis,the patient experienced 4 neurosurgical repairs of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea,including 2 endoscopic repairs via the lateral nasal cavity,a craniotomy approach repair via forehead epidural,and an endoscopic repair in combination with a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt.The first 3 surgeries were all failed,but the final surgery was successful,with no recurrence of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea or bacterial meningitis in 3.5 years of follow-up.Conclusions For recurrent meningitis and refractory cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea,the ventriculo-peritoneal shunt can be considered in addition to conventional nasal endoscopic cerebrospinal fluid repair to eliminate the increased cerebrospinal fluid attributable to long-term chronic compensation,and effectively reduce postoperative intracranial hypertension to make the operation success.

Sperm DNA damage and sperm-nucleoprotein transition correlate to acrosin activity and seminal parameters / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the correlation of sperm DNA damage and sperm-nucleoprotein transition with acrosin activity and seminal parameters.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We collected 535 semen samples, assessed sperm DNA damage by sperm chromatin dispersion test, and analyzed the correlation of sperm DNA damage and sperm-nucleoprotein transition with acrosin activity and seminal parameters according to the WHO criteria.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Statistically significant differences were observed in sperm DNA damage among sperm-nucleoprotein transition, acrosin activity, sperm concentration and the percentage of grade a + b sperm (P < 0.01). Sperm DNA damage was positively correlated with age, sperm-nucleoprotein transition, sperm concentration and the percentage of grade d sperm (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), but negatively correlated with acrosin activity (P < 0.001). Stepwise linear regression analysis demonstrated that age, sperm concentration, the percentage of grade d sperm, sperm-nucleoprotein transition and acrosin activity were independent variables related to the DNA fragmentation index (DFI). The abnormality rates of sperm-nucleoprotein transition, acrosin activity, sperm concentration and graded a + b sperm were significantly higher in the sperm DNA damage group (DFI > or = 30%) than in the normal control (DFI < 30%) (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Sperm DNA damage is closely related with sperm-nucleoprotein transition, acrosin activity and seminal parameters, which may become another important independent parameter for the evaluation of sperm quality.</p>

Antitumor effect of natural killer cells in vitro by blocking transforming growth factor-β signaling / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the antitumor effect of natural killer (NK) cells on human colorectal cancer cells HT-29 in vitro by blocking transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling in NK cells transfected with vector containing dominant negative TGF-β type 2 receptor (DNTβR2).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>TGF-β1 was added at the final concentration of 10 ng/ml for HT-29 cells. Primary NK cells were transfected with recombinant plasmid pIRES2-AcGFP-DNTβR2 and control plasmid pIRES2-AcGFP using Amaxa Nucleofector technology respectively. The cytotoxicity of these two types of NK cells to HT-29 cells was detected and analyzed by cell counting kit-8.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The transfection efficiency of primary NK cells was 18.85% for the plasmid pIRES2-AcGFP-DNTβR2 and 35.28% for the control plasmid pIRES2-AcGFP. The expression of DNTβR2 in NK cells was confirmed by Western blotting and RT-PCR. Primary NK cells displayed significantly lower cytotoxicity against HT-29 cells incubated with TGF-β1 than that without TGF-β1 (effect-target cell ratio 10:1,14.40%∓ 2.00% vs. 26.14% ∓ 2.50%, P > 0.05; effect-target cell ratio 20:1, 19.18% ∓ 2.49% vs. 40.81% ∓ 3.50%, P > 0.05). The cytotoxicity of NK cells transfected with DNTβR2 vector was significantly higher than that with control vector against HT-29 cells cultured with 10 ng/ml TGF-β1 (effect-target cell ratio 10:1, 21.17% ∓ 2.49% vs. 11.48% ∓ 1.11% ,P > 0.05; and effect-target cell ratio 20:1, 35.30% ∓ 3.78% vs. 17.19% ∓ 2.29%, P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>NK cells transfected with DNTβR2 vector show better antitumor effect, which may provide new method for NK-based adoptive immunotherapy for cancer.</p>

Study on the pathogens correlated to sexually transmitted diseases in 285 pre-pubertal girls with vulvovaginitis in Beijing / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the relationship between vulvovaginitis in pre-pubertal girls and pathogens as Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct), N. gonorrhoeae (Ng), Mycoplasma, Ureaplasma urealyticum (Uu), Mycoplasma hominis (Mh), M. genitalium (Mg), M. fermentans (Mf) and M. penetrans (Mpe), as well as to find out the proportion of mycoplasma which is correlated to sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and AIDS. METHODS Vulvae swab specimens from 285 pre-pubertal girls with vulvovaginitis (case group) and 128 healthy girls (control group) were collected and detected by nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) to identify the existence of pathogens as Ct, Ng, Uu, Mh, Mg, Mf and Mpe. nPCR with both high specificity and sensitivity, would not be influenced by the amount of pathogens in specimens or inactivated during the process of storage or transportation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The rate of detection on pathogens was 59.65% in the 285 specimens from case group including 'one kind of pathogen in one specimen' as 37.54% and 'two kinds' as 16.84% and 'three kinds' as 5.26%. However, in the 128 specimens from control group, the detectable rate of pathogen was 6.25%. Relationships were found between Ng (P < 0.01), Ct (P < 0.01), Uu (P < 0.01), Mg (P < 0.01), Mf (P < 0.05), Mpe (P < 0.01) and vulvovaginitis in pre-pubertal girls. In control group the pathogens were detected from 7 specimens including 5 Uu and 2 Mh.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Some of the pathogens were correlated to STD and were important in causing vulvovaginitis in pre-pubertal girls. Vulvovaginitis might have been caused by more than one kind of pathogen in pre-pubertal girls. The locations of Mg, Mf and Ng in outer genital tracts were correlated to seasonal change. Macrolide seemed to be quite effective clinically in treating urogenital tract infection caused by mycoplasma and Ct.</p>

Meiotic segregation results of male reciprocal chromosome translocations / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the meiotic segregation results of male reciprocal chromosome translocation by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Multi-color FISH using 3 combined probes located in any 3 chromosome segments on both sides of two breakpoints was performed on the de-condensed sperm head to analyze the sperm chromosomal contents and segregation patterns.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Four male reciprocal translocation carriers were included in the study, with the karyotypes of 46, XY, t(2;18) (p16; q23); 46, XY, t(4;6) (q34;q21); 46, XY, t(8;13) (q23;q21) and 46, XY, t(4;5) (4q31;5q13), respectively. The results showed that 4 carriers had different proportions of various segregated spermatozoa. The spermatozoa of alternate, adjacent-1, adjacent-2, 3:1, non-disjunction in meiosis II, and 4:0 or diploidy accounted for 27.1%-49.4%, 26.9%-37.6%, 2.7%-15.7%, 8.6%-32.7%, 0.2%-1.9%, and 0.1%-0.4%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>For each-reciprocal translocation carrier seems to have a particular meiotic segregation results, FISH analysis on sperm head should be done for each carrier in order to provide an accurate genetic counseling.</p>

Cloning, purification, and antigenic characterization of three recombinant fragments derived from SARS-CoV S1 domain / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The present study aimed to clone and express three fragments of genomic RNA derived from SARS associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) S1 domain and to study its immunogenicity.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The S1 domain gene was amplified by PCR with specific primers and was inserted into the prokaryotic expression vector pQE-30. Three fragments (40-751, 746-1344 and 746-2001 bp) derived from S1 domain produced after the recombinant plasmid (pQE-30/S1) was digested by restriction endonucleases. The three fragments were cloned into pQE-30 and expressed in M15 strains of Escherichia coli. The expression products, designated S1a, S1b and S1c respectively, were purified by Ni affinity chromatography. The immunogenicity was analyzed by Western Blot and ELISA using serologically confirmed sera from SARS patients and the sera from healthy donors was used as control at the same assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Three recombinant plasmids (pQE-30/S1a, pQE-30/S1b, pQE-30/S1c) were constructed.Fusion proteins with relative molecular mass of 26,700, 22,500 and 46,000 dalton were successfully expressed with amounts of 35%, 35% and 30% of total cell protein and purified by Ni affinity chromatography, respectively. Western Blot and ELISA analysis showed that the S1c protein could be specifically recognized by the sera from SARS patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The recombinant S1c protein was a good immunogen and has the potential to be used as a vaccine against SARS-CoV infection.</p>

Resistance Analysis of Streptococcus Pneumoniae in Children with Lower Respiratory Tract Infection in Wenzhou Area between 2004 and 2007 / 实用儿科临床杂志

95%).Strains of PNSP were significantly more common than those PSSP(72.56% vs 22.72%),and strains of Sp resistant to erythromycin were significantly more common than susceptible to erythromycin too(94.42% vs 0.88%).Conclusions The antimicrobial resistance of Sp from children with lower respiratory tract infection in Wenzhou area has became a severe problem.Multi-drug resistance of Sp has been observed to chlorodeoxylincomycin,erythromycin,tetracycline and so on.The results will provide some important information for the therapy and the choice of antibiotics of Sp infection.