Significance of jellyfish sign in predicting adverse perinatal outcomes of complete placenta previa combined with placenta accreta spectrum disorders / 中华围产医学杂志

Objective:To explore the value of jellyfish sign, an abnormal ultrasonographic sign, in predicting adverse perinatal outcomes of women with complete placenta previa combined with placenta accreta spectrum disorders (PAS).Methods:This retrospective study analyzed the ultrasound images of 72 singleton gravidas, diagnosed with complete placenta previa combined with PAS, who underwent cesarean section at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University between January 2020 and February 2023. Based on the presence and absence of the jellyfish sign in ultrasound images, these gravidas were divided into the jellyfish-sign group (15 cases, 20.8%) and the non-jellyfish-sign group (57 cases, 79.2%). The clinical data and perinatal outcomes of the two groups were analyzed. The adverse perinatal outcomes encompassed conditions such as abdominal aorta balloon block, uterine artery embolism, hysterectomy, postpartum hemorrhage, and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission of their neonates. Statistical analysis was performed using two independent samples t-test, the Mann-Whitney U test and the Chi-square (or Fisher's exact) test. Results:(1) The jellyfish-sign group exhibited a higher parity [(1.6±0.7) times vs (1.2±0.6) times, t=2.01] and higher prenatal scores of placenta accreta [(12.3±1.5) scores vs (8.6±2.9) scores, t=6.59] than those in the non-jellyfish-sign group (both P<0.05). Among the 57 cases in the non-jellyfish-sign group, there were 14 cases of placenta creta (24.6%), 40 cases of placenta increta (70.2%), and three cases of placenta percreta (5.3%). Among the 15 cases in the jellyfish-sign group, nine cases were diagnosed with placenta increta, six with placenta percreta, and none with placenta creta. The difference in distribution between the two groups was statistically significant (Fisher's exact test, P<0.001). (2) Intraoperative blood loss [(for those who accepted abdominal aorta balloon block, 1 973±1 057) ml vs (1 211±576) ml, t=2.55], red blood cells transfused [4.0 U (2.0-23.0 U) vs 2.5 U (0.0-11.0 U), Z=－2.53], postoperative hospitalization time [(9.7±2.4) vs (7.5±2.2) d, t=3.36], the incidence of abdominal aorta balloon block [15/15 vs 38.6% (22/57), χ2=17.92], uterine artery embolism [for those who accepted abdominal aorta balloon block, 3/15 vs 1.8% (1/57), Fisher's exact test], and requiring blood transfusion [15/15 vs 63.2% (36/57), Fisher's exact test] were higher in the jellyfish-sign group than those in the non-jellyfish-sign group. However, the non-jellyfish-sign group had lower gestational age at delivery [(33.6±1.5) weeks vs (35.2±1.8) weeks, t=－3.24], and lower neonatal Apgar score at 1 min and 5 min [1 min: 8 scores (3-10 scores) vs 9 scores (4-10 scores), Z=－2.46; 5 min: 9 scores (7-10 scores) vs 10 scores (6-10 scores), Z=－2.02] (all P<0.05). There were no significant differences in emergency surgery rate, 24 h postoperative blood loss, neonatal birth weight, and proportion of NICU admission between the two groups. Additionally, no cases of hysterectomy or death were observed in the two groups. Conclusions:Ultrasound examination revealing jellyfish signs in patients with complete placenta previa and PAS is associated with an increased likelihood of adverse perinatal outcomes. Consequently, the management of these patients should be given greater attention.

Analysis of the relationship between prenatal bleeding and pregnancy outcome of placenta previa / 中国实用妇科与产科杂志

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of antepartum haemorrhage on pregnancy outcomes in placenta previa cases.METHODS: A total of 404 cases of placenta previa in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from Oc-tober 2012 to December 2017 were compared. The high-risk factors of prenatal hemorrhage were analyzed,and pregnan-cy outcomes were compared between no-bleeding group(n=254)and repeated-bleeding group(n=150).RESULTS: Uni-variate Logistic regression analysis suggested:when the number of gravidity and uterine cavity operation reached 3 times,prenatal bleeding risk was higher than those less than 3 times(OR=1.937,95%CI 1.054-3.562;OR=2.174,95%CI1.050-4.504),respectively.The risk of prenatal hemorrhage was the highest at 28-<32 weeks of gestation,and the riskof of prenatal bleeding decreased with the increase of gestational weeks.The risk of prenatal hemorrhage in patients withplacenta previa was higher than that in patients with posterior wall placenta(OR=3.978,95%CI 2.220-7.195).The riskof prenatal hemorrhage in women with central placenta previa was higher than that in women with marginal or partial pla-centa(OR=3.346,95%CI 2.050-5.460).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis suggested:the risk of recurrent prenatalbleeding in central placenta previa was higher than that in marginal and partial ones(OR=3.344,95%CI 1.955-5.722).The risk of prenatal bleeding in placenta previa was higher than that in posterior wall placenta(OR=3.954,95%CI 2.196-7.387).The risk of prenatal bleeding was significantly re-duced at ≥36 weeks of gestation,and the risk was signifi-cantly lower than that at other gestational weeks(OR=0.086,95% CI 0.030-0.240).The emergency operationrisk of pregnant women with repeated prenatal hemor-rhage was higher than that of those without prenatal hemorrhage(OR=252,95%CI 60.173-1055.359),and the risk of using blood products was higher than no-bleeding group(OR=2.103,95%CI 1.394-3.171).Compared with women in no-bleeding group,the risk of low birth weight,and mildand severe asphyxia of the newborn increased(OR=7.982,95%CI 2.410-26.426),(OR=2.987,95%CI 1.529-5.837)and(OR=13.941,95%CI 1.690-114.626),respectively,and the risk of admission and treatment in neonatal intensive careunit(NICU)was increased in repeated-bleeding group(OR=3.379,95%CI 2.102-5.430).CONCLUSION: The risk factorsof prenatal haemorrhage of placenta previa are gravidity,uterine cavity operation,gestational weeks at termination ofpregnancy,and placental type and position;central placenta and anterior placenta are independent risk factors for in-creasing prenatal bleeding;repeated prenatal bleeding increases the risk of using blood products,low birth weight of thenewborn,neonatal asphyxia and neonatal NICU admission.

Application of mutated inbred animal models in the experimental teaching of medical genetics / 中国比较医学杂志

Objective Mutated inbred animal model is introduced to the practical course of genetic diagnosis in the hope that medical students are able to apply what they have learned to clinical cases, based on a deep understanding of principle and technology on gene mutation detection. Methods We integrated DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction, agarose gel electrophoresis, and gel imaging analysis into a comprehensive experiment and arranged 4-year-programme undergraduates majoring in preclinical medical sciences to conduct it with the purpose of investigating the internal relations between phenotype and genotype in a hairless Uncv mouse model. Subsequently, the questionnaire aimed at evaluating learning effect on the part of students was handed out and their feedbacks were analyzed. Results More than 90% of respondents are satisfied with the general learning effect. Especially, 98. 7% of students support the enhancing effect of the new teaching mode on their research skills and 96% consider the practical course helpful to their problem-solving ability. Conclusions The introduction of mutated inbred animal model to the practical system of molecular diagnostics proves beneficial to boost students' learning effect and scientific research quality. Our practice also provokes thoughts on the further utilization of animal models in teaching system of medical sciences.

Application of mutated inbred animal models in the experimental teaching of medical genetics / 中国比较医学杂志

Objective Mutated inbred animal model is introduced to the practical course of genetic diagnosis in the hope that medical students are able to apply what they have learned to clinical cases, based on a deep understanding of principle and technology on gene mutation detection. Methods We integrated DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction, agarose gel electrophoresis, and gel imaging analysis into a comprehensive experiment and arranged 4-year-programme undergraduates majoring in preclinical medical sciences to conduct it with the purpose of investigating the internal relations between phenotype and genotype in a hairless Uncv mouse model. Subsequently, the questionnaire aimed at evaluating learning effect on the part of students was handed out and their feedbacks were analyzed. Results More than 90% of respondents are satisfied with the general learning effect. Especially, 98. 7% of students support the enhancing effect of the new teaching mode on their research skills and 96% consider the practical course helpful to their problem-solving ability. Conclusions The introduction of mutated inbred animal model to the practical system of molecular diagnostics proves beneficial to boost students' learning effect and scientific research quality. Our practice also provokes thoughts on the further utilization of animal models in teaching system of medical sciences.

Suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 improves proliferation and migration of human trophoblast cells during pre-eclampsia / 中华围产医学杂志

Objective To investigate the expression of suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 (SOCS-3) gene in placenta,its role in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia and its effect on proliferation and migration of HTR-8/SVneo cells.Methods Fifteen women with severe pre-eclampsia hospitalized in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from October 2010 to March 2011 and t 5 normal pregnant women during the same time period were investigated.Cultured HTR-8/SVneo cells were transfected with SOCS-3 specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) or negative siRNA as the controls.The expression of SOCS-3 mRNA and protein in placenta and these cells was detected by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot.Cell proliferation was detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium,cell cycle by flow cytometry and migration by the Transwell test.Two independent t tests were used for statistical analysis.Results The SOCS-3 mRNA and protein levels in the severe pre-eclampsia group were lower than those in the normal group (0.25±0.03 vs 0.71±0.08 and 0.21±0.05 vs 0.75±0.12,t=15.94 and 14.29,respectively,both P＜0.05).SOCS-3 mRNA and protein levels in the transfection group at 24 hours were lower than those in the negative control group (0.39±0.02 vs 1.00±0.04 and 0.003 7±0.001 4 vs 1.514 9±0.035 7,t=27.58 and 73.35,respectively,both P＜0.05).The integral absorbance values of cell proliferation in the transfection group at 48,72 and 96 hours after transfection were 0.23 ± 0.01,0.32±0.02 and 0.37± 0.02,respectively,which were lower than those in the negative control group (0.39± 0.02,0.55 ± 0.04 and 0.86± 0.04,t=2.60,6.64 and 42.44,respectively,all P＜0.05).The cell clonal formation was lower in the transfection group compared with the negative group (116± 15 vs 312±24,t=9.96,P＜0.05).The ratios of G1/G0 and S phase cells in the transfection group were (55.75±2.21) ％ and (31.59±0.83) ％,respectively,and were significantly different from those in the negative control group [(47.88± 1.87) ％ and (37.38± 1.34) ％,t=45.43 and 20.06,respectively,P＜0.05].After 48 hours,cell migration in the transfection group was lower than that in the negative control group (93 ± 11 vs 167± 17,t=21.36,P＜O.05).Conclusion SOCS-3 expression is probably involved in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia by being down-regulated and therefore impeding proliferation and migration of the trophoblast.

Effect of inflammatory stress on hepatic cholesterol accumulation and hepatic fibrosis in C57BL/6J mice / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate whether inflammatory stress exacerbates hepatic cholesterol accumulation and liver fibrosis using a C57BL/6J mouse model of chronic inflammation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twelve male C57BL/6J mice were given a high-fat diet (15.0% fat, 1.25% cholesterol, 0.5% cholic acid) and randomly assigned to the normal control group (n=6; subcutaneously injected with 0.5 mL of isotonic saline, every other day for 14 weeks) or the chronic inflammation model group (n=6; subcutaneously injected with of 0.5 mL of 10% casein, every other day for 14 weeks). At the end of week 14, the animals were sacrificed and blood was collected from the left ventricle for serological analysis of inflammatory markers and lipid profile, including serum amyloid A (SAA), interleukin-6 (IL-6), total cholesterol (TC) and free cholesterol (FC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)). Extracted liver tissues were divided for use in histological analysis (lipid accumulation and fibrosis evaluated by Oil Red O, Sirius red and Masson's trichrome staining) and quantitative fluorescence real-time PCR (to measure b-actin normalized expression of TNF-a MCP1, SREBP-2, LDLr, HMGCoA-r, ATF-6, GRP78, BMP-7, TGF-b, and collagens type I and type IV). Comparisons between groups were made by the two-samples t-test or Satterthwaite t-approximation test, collagen type I and type IV.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared to the normal control group, the inflammation model group showed elevated serum IL-6 (12.55+/-4.75 vs. 32.41+/-7.42 pg/mL, P less than 0.01), reduced serum TC (14.82+/-1.56 vs. 10.62+/-0.48 mmol/L, P less than 0.01), up-regulated hepatic TNF-a mRNA expression (1.05+/-0.35 vs. 2.12+/-0.72, P less than 0.01), and elevated hepatic TC (12.10+/-2.57 vs. 23.21+/-8.75 mmol/L, P less than 0.05). In addition, the inflammation group showed abnormal lipid deposition, and increased and thickened reticular fibers. The livers of the inflammation group also showed up-regulated mRNA expression of SREBP-2 (normal control: 1.01+/-0.19 vs. 2.63+/-0.13, P less than 0.05), GRP78 (1.07+/-0.47 vs. 2.21+/-0.99, P less than 0.05), TGF-b (1.01+/-0.14 vs. 1.38+/-0.28, P less than 0.05), and collagen type I (1.02+/-0.27 vs. 1.71+/-0.51, P less than 0.05) and down-regulation of BMP-7 (1.01+/-0.15 vs. 0.55+/-0.25, P less than 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Activation of the inflammatory system exacerbates hepatic cholesterol accumulation and hepatic fibrosis in C57BL/6J mice.</p>

Sorafenib and octreotide combination therapy can inhibit proliferation of and induce apoptosis in human hepatoma cells / 中华肝脏病杂志

To investigate the effects of sorafenib and octreotide combination treatment on cellular proliferation and explore the underlying molecular mechanisms by using an in vitro cell culture system with the human hepatoma cell line, HepG2. HepG2 cells were treated with different concentrations of sorafenib and octreotide alone or in combination. Untreated HepG2 cells were used as controls. Treatment-induced cytotoxicity was determined with the cell counting kit-8 by Sigma-Aldrich, and rate of apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. Fluorescent microscopy was used to observe rates of cell growth under the various treatments. Treatment-induced changes in protein expressions were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)) and Western blotting (for the Mcl-1 apoptosis mediator and the ERK1/2 and PERK1/2 kinases). Sorafenib and octreotide, used alone or in combination, inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells. Combination treatment was more effective than either mono-treatment (F = 200.398, P less than 0.05). Fluorescent microscopy showed that combination treatment stimulated phosphatidylserine, the marker of early apoptosis, better than either mono-treatment. VEGF expression in cultures exposed to combination treatment was also significantly lower than in mono-treatment or untreated control cultures (F = 1019.725, P less than 0.05). Western blotting showed that octreotide mono-treatment had no effect on Mcl-1 expression (vs. control group; P more than 0.05) and that combination treatment significantly lowered Mcl-1 expression (vs. mono-treatment and control groups; P less than 0.05). None of the treatments affected ERK1/2 expression (all, P more than 0.05), while all treatments significantly lowered PERK1/2 expression (vs. control group; F = 2.401, P less than 0.05) and the combination treatment lowered PERK1/2 significantly more than either mono-treatment (P less than 0.05). Sorafenib and octreotide can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in the human hepatoma cell line, HepG2. Combination treatment is significantly more efficacious (P less than 0.05) and produced synergistic effects. The mechanism underlying this phenomenon may depend on synergistic inhibition of VEGF, the anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1, and the proliferation-inducing PERK1/2.

Inhibitory effect of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate combined with matrine on the growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma xenografts / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relationship between activation of nuclear factor-K-gene binding (NF-κB) and apoptosis induced by matrine(MT) in transplanted tumor of human hepatocellular carcinoma in nude mouse.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Tumors were established by injection of hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2 into the back of nude mice. The mice were divided randomly into four groups: Control group, MT group (35 mg/kg), PDTC group (120 mg/kg) and Combination group: PDTC + MT group (120 mg/kg + 35 mg/kg), the reagents were injected peritoneally. The tumor growth curve of nude mice bearing transplanted tumor were observed and the inhibition ratios were evaluated. Apoptosis of carcinoma cells was analyzed by TUNEL. The DNA-binding activity of NF-κB was determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). Expression of bcl-2 and bax in carcinoma tissue were detected by immunohistochemical method. NF-κB mRNA, bcl-2 mRNA and bax mRNA in carcinoma tissue were detected by RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) could enhance the inhibition of matrine on carcinoma proliferation (P < 0.05). The apoptosis and activation of NF-κB in carcinoma cells could be induced by matrine. PDTC significantly suppressed NF-κB activation induced by matrine in carcinoma cells from 93.64 ± 2.95 to 65.78 ± 5.65 (F = 124.754, P < 0.01). Meanwhile, PDTC increased the apoptosis induced by matrine from 55.9% ± 2.8% to 74.3% ± 4.8% (P < 0.05).A positive correlation observed between the expressions of NF-κB and of bcl-2 (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.983, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Matrine could induce apoptosis and activation of NF-κB in transplanted tumor. PDTC could increase apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells might be due to the suppression of NF-κB activation and the enhancement of bcl-2 expression.</p>

Functional prediction of KIAA0101 gene in human non-small cell lung cancer / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To predict the function of KIAA0101 gene over-expressed in human non-small cell lung cancer by bioinformatics methods.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The gene expression profiles of the lung cancer tissues and the adjacent normal tissues were compared by dChip software analysis, and the differential genes coexpressed with KIAA0101 gene were identified. The biological functions of these genes were analyzed using the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID), Gene Ontology (GO) and Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins (STRING), and the common transcription factors of these genes were predicted using Gene Annotation Tool to Help Explain Relationships (GATHER).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Nine genes were found to have at least two-fold overexpressions in the lung cancer tissues in comparison with the expression level in the adjacent normal tissues, and showed similar pattern of expression variations in the lung cancer tissue. Most of these genes had the E2F1 binding sites in the promoter region.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>KIAA0101 gene may participate in the cell cycle regulation of the non-small cell lung cancer, and the expression levels of the 9 genes identified may be regulated by the transcription factor E2F1.</p>

Intercellular transfer of P-glycoprotein in hepatocellular cell line HepG2 / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate whether there is intercellular transfer of functional P-glycoprotein(P-gp) from P-gp-positive cells to P-gp-negative cells in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>HepG2/GFP cells, a HepG2 cell line stably expressing GFP, were co-cultured with HepG2/ADM cells, an adriamycin-resistant cell line derived from HepG2 cells. The distribution of P-gp in hepatocellular carcinoma cell was observed under laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM). Immunomagnetic beads were used to separate HepG2/GFP cells from the mixed culture. The abundance of P-gp was analyzed by western blot, and the expression of mdr1 mRNA was detected by qRT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Yellow fluorescence was detected in HepG2/aqMDR cells, green fluorescence was detected in HepG2/GFP cells, red fluorescence was detected in HepG2/ADM cells by LSCM. The level of P-gp protein in HepG2/aqMDR cells was lower than that in HepG2/ADM cells, but higher than that in HepG2/GFP cells (q = 35.07, P < 0.05) and HepG2 cells (q = 36.87, P < 0.05). The expression of mdr1 mRNA in HepG2/ADM cells was higher than that in HepG2/aqMDR, HepG2 and HepG2/GFP cells, but there was no significant difference in mdr1 mRNA among HepG2/aqMDR, HepG2 and HepG2/GFP cells (F = 2.30, P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>P-gp can transfer from drug resistant hepatocellular cells to sensitive hepatocellular carcinoma cells. This study suggests a novel mechanism of multidrug resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma.</p>

Laparoscopic radical cystectomy for 43 patients with invasive bladder carcinoma / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To report initial experience with laparoscopic radical cystectomy in 43 patients with invasive bladder carcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From December 2003 to October 2006, 29 men and 14 women underwent laparoscopic radical cystectomy with extracorporeal-assisted urinary diversion for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder (n=40), adenocarcinoma (n=2) and squamous cell arcinoma (n=1). We report the specific technical details and present initial results of our series.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean operative time of laparoscopic radical cystectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection was 195.4 min, the mean blood loss 273.7 ml, and the transfusion rate 6.9%. Two procedures converted to open techniques. Lymphadenectomy detected lymph node metastasis in three patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>We demonstrate that the combination of laparoscopic radical cystectomy and extracorporeal urinary diversion is possible and remains a safe, feasible, and repeatable surgical technique. The laparoscopic surgery with extracorporeal urinary reconstruction is emerging as a viable alternative to open radical cystectomy while characterized by less trauma, short recovery time and low complications. Intermediate oncologic outcomes are encouraging and comparable to those of open series. To determine the oncologic outcome long-time follow-up will be necessary.</p>

Investigation on hantaviruses infection in rodents from free markets in Beijing areas / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>In order to find out the factors related to hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) infection, and to evaluate the probability of ecdemic hantaviruses (HV) infection in rodents in Beijing areas.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rodents were collected in a large-scale railway station and a produce market with 'trap nights' method from April to May, 2004. The IgG reacting sera to HV antigen were detected using ELISA. The partial M and S segment of HV from captured rodent lung samples were amplified with RT-PCR. The PCR products were purified and sequenced. BLAST program was then used to perform on nucleotide pairwise alignment with all available sequence in GenBank. The alignment of the multiply nucleotide and the deduced amino acid sequences, together with phylogenetic analysis were completed with DNASTAR software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average population density was 3.49% (24/690). The overall seroprevalence of HV infection was 8.3% (2/24). RT-PCR positive rates were 8.3% (2/24). The nucleotide sequences of 356 bp region (1958 - 2313) of M segment obtained from 2 samples were all identified to Seoul virus (SEOV), with 7.6% heterogeneity. The dc501 strain from railway station was closely related to SD227 and Hebei4 from Shandong and Hebei provinces respectively. BjFT01 strain from the farm product market had more special nucleotide transitional mutations than other known SEOV from Beijing in GenBank. This strain, together with known HN71 from Hainan province, K24-E7 from Zhejiang province, L99 from Jiangxi province and R22 from Henan province, represented a monophylogentic linkage.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The higher HV prevalence of rodents in transportation center was the potential and important risk for HFRS epidemic in Beijing. The increasing prevalence of M. musculus should call for attention. It was possible that SEOV in Beijing was imported by infected rodents through vehicles from other provinces.</p>

Study on the association between hantavirus infection and Rattus norvegicus / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To further understand the association of hantavirus (HV) harbored and transmitted in wild brown rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rattus norvegicus (n = 570) were trapped in 10 sites in Beijing. RT-PCR was used to test rodent lung samples for hantavirus infection. Unconditional multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed, with PCR positive as the dependent variable and the characteristics of Rattus norvegicus population as independent variables.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The overall HV prevalence in Rattus norvegicus was 9.1% (52/570). Significant association between HV infection in Rattus norvegicus and some biological characteristics of host population was observed. Adult Rattus norvegicus had a higher HV prevalence than juveniles. Males in the reproduction periods and rats with wounds were more likely to be infected with HV than others.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>It was further confirmed that there existed parallel transmission of HV in Rattus norvegicus hosts. Aggression might be the primary mode of HV transmission among male Rattus norvegicus.</p>

Combination of laparoscopic and open procedure in dismembered pyeloplasty: report of 51 cases / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Laparoscopic dismembered pyeloplasty with less trauma than open surgery is commonly performed for ureteropelvic junction obstruction despite a longer operating time and a long learning curve. We describe in this paper a new technique, which combines laparoscopic and open procedure in dismembered pyeloplasty, that we have developed in 51 patients and achieved excellent results.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The surgical procedure can be divided into two steps: laparoscopic dissection of the renal pelvis and proximal ureter transperitoneally; then accomplishing the pyeloplasty through the extended port incision above the ureteropelvic junction as in open surgery.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All 51 operations were successful without conversion to open surgery. No intraoperative complications were observed. The operating time was 40 minutes to 90 minutes with an average of 57.5 minutes. The estimated blood loss was 15 ml to 30 ml with an average of 21.2 ml. Aberrant artery vessel and primary stricture as the cause of ureteropelvic junction obstruction was noted in 2 and 49 patients, respectively. Thirty-nine patients had fever to differing extents in the 4 days postoperation and no severe infection was observed. Four patients had urinary leakage with their drains being retained for 6 days, 6 days, 5 days or 8 days after the operation. The mean followup was 10.8 months (range 3 months to 36 months). The followup showed good results with symptom resolution in all the patients. Renal ultrasonography demonstrated that the average separation of the collecting systems decreased from preoperative 2.7 cm (range 2.0 cm to 4.7 cm) to postoperative 1.5 cm (range 1.0 cm to 2.3 cm). Excretory urography at 3 months postoperatively showed improved drainage. Of the 51 patients, 35 underwent two or more excretory urograms, demonstrating stable renal function, improved drainage and no evidence of recurrent obstruction. At the last followup visit, each patient was doing well.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Combination of laparoscopic and open procedure in dismembered pyeloplasty offers a simpler, timesaving method in a minimally invasive fashion with low morbidity for patients with ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Ensuring quality of repair, the method provides a minimally invasive alternative with good results. It is worth future clinical application.</p>

Study on the correlation between positive rates of SARS RNA in clinical confirmed SARS patients and the appearance of RNA in relation to the development of the disease / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To study the correlation between positive rates of RNA in clinical confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patients and its appearance in relation to the development of the disease in order to provide scientific basis for early diagnosis, effective prevention and treatment of the disease.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One-step reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to amplify the SARS RNA in the clinical specimens from different courses of the disease. The representative amplicons were then sequenced. Chi-square for trend test was performed to study the correlation between positive rates of RT-PCR and at different periods after the onset of the disease.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The fragments amplified from the sputum specimens of SARS patients were shown to share 100% homology with the published SARS-associated coronavirus. Of the different clinical specimens, positive rate in the stools appeared to be the highest (21.55%). Chi-square for trend test revealed that the positive rates of stools and sputa of SARS patients decreased with the development of the disease (chi(2) for trend = 12.55 and 16.408, P = 0.0004 and P = 0.000 05 respectively).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>One-step RT-PCR proved to be an effective method for the detection of SARS-associated coronavirus from clinical specimens. Data as indicated that the positive rates of SARS coronavirus were decreasing in SARS patients along with the disease progression.</p>

Study on the molecular epidemiology of hantaviruse carried by hosts in northern suburb of Beijing / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate hantanvirus infection of captured rodents in Haidian district and Changping district of Beijing and to type hantavirus using molecular technique.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The captured mice were classified and the density of distribution was calculated. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique was used to amplify the partial M fragnments of hantaviruse. Several representative positive samples were sequenced and analysed by ClustalX (5.0) and DNAClub software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 414 animals were captured, among which Battus norvegicus was the dominant group. In Haidian district, the median infection rates with hantavirus were 13.14% in Battus norvegicus and 0 in Mus musculus Linnaeus. In Changping district, the average infection rates were 17.46% in Battus norvegicus and 3.57% in Mus musculus Linnaeus. Nucleotide sequences analysis showed that the virus detected all belonged to SEO-type. They clustered with Z37 virus and could be branched into 2 different subclades.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The major hosts of hantavirus in Haidian and Changping district were Battus norvegicus and the epidemic strains in the two districts of Beijing were genotyped as SEO-type. Nucleotide sequence and deduced amino acid sequence from different rodents were highly homologous, while nucleotide mutation had also been observed. Further studies are required to explore the possible virus sequence mutation.</p>

Study on ligustrazine in reversing multidrug resistance of HepG2/ADM cell in vitro / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the reverse effect of ligustrazine (TMP) on HepG2/ADM, a herd of hepatocellular carcinoma cell, multidrug resistance (MDR) and the influence of P-gp170 expression.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The reverse effect of ligustrazine on HepG2/ADM cell was observed, with the methods of cell culture, MTT's analyze, RT-PCR and Flow cytometric, etc.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Ligustrazine could make MDR of cell line of HepG2/ADM reduce the expression of P-gp170, enhance the density of adriamycin in cell and increase the adriamycin's cytotoxicity. With the Flow cytometric, the results of RT-PCR showed the transcriptional activity of the MDR1 decreased.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Ligustrazine can reverse MDR of HCC cell line of HepG2/ADM and has prospect in clinical use.</p>

Laparoscopic technique combined with open surgical technique in pyeloplasty(report of 45 cases) / 中华泌尿外科杂志

Objective To assess the laparoscopic technique combined with open surgical technique in pyeloplasty.Methods Overall,45 patients with ureteropelvic junction obstruction underwent laparo- scopic dissection of the renal pelvis and upper ureter transperitoneally,and pyeloplasty was performed through a expanded trocar-incision(extension of 1-2 cm)as open surgery was performed.Results The opera- tion was successful in all 45 patients.The mean operative time was 58 min(range,40-85 min),and the mean blood loss was 22 ml(range,15-30 ml).No complication was observed during and after operation. Follow-up for 3-36 months was available in 34 patients.Intravenous urography(IVU)showed no obstruc- tion of the anastomotic stoma,and B-ultrasound indicated relief of hydronephrosis.Conclusions Laparo- scopic approach combined with open surgery in pyeloplasty is an effective way to treat ureteropelvic junction obstruction.This technique can simplify the operative manipulation and shorten the operative time without more trauma to the patients.It is worth general application in clinical practice.