Clinical features, prevention and treatment of respiratory distress syndrome in neonates of different gestational ages in tertiary hospitals in Northwest China / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical features, prevention and treatment of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in neonates of different gestational ages (GA) in the tertiary hospitals in Northwest China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 440 neonates diagnosed with RDS between January and December, 2011 in 12 tertiary hospitals in Northwest China were enrolled and classified into three groups: early preterm (GA<34 weeks; n=247), late preterm (GA 34-36(+6) weeks; n=131) and full-term (GA≥37 weeks; n=62). The clinical data, including perinatal factors, prevention and treatment, complications and prognosis, were comparatively analyzed among the three groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The rate of multiple births in the early preterm group was higher than the other two groups. The two preterm groups showed a higher incidence of premature rupture of membranes than the full-term group. The full-term group had a higher rate of cesarean section without contractions than the two preterm groups. The early preterm group had the highest application rate of antenatal steroids. Compared with the other two groups, the early preterm group had a higher application rate of pulmonary surfactants (PS) and an earlier time of first application of PS. The full-term group had a lower resuscitation rate than the two preterm groups. The early preterm group showed a higher incidence of patent ductus arteriosus and intracranial hemorrhage than the other two groups. The cure rate of RDS (78.2%) was the highest in the full-term group, followed by the late preterm group (58.6%) and the early preterm group (42.9%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>RDS infants of different GA in Northwest China have significant differences in perinatal factors, antenatal prevention, PS treatment, complications and prognosis.</p>

Ethnic differences on nutritional status of children under 3 years old in poor counties of the western China / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To explore the ethnic differences on nutritional status of children under three years old,in the western areas of China and to indentify the affecting factors.Methods 14 072children under the age of three years and their mothers were recruited,using the proportion population sampling method in 45 counties in the western areas of China.Height and weight were used as the measurement on nutrition of children.Results Height and weight of children with Han,Uyghur,Tibetan and Zhuang ethnicities were all lower than the WHO standards and with differences on height and weight among them.There were also ethnic differences on the status of malnutrition.Prevalence rates of stunting were 14.7％,20.3％,26.9％ and 26.5％ for Han,Uyghur,Tibetan and Zhuang ethnicities,respectively.Prevalence rates of underweight were 6.1％,10.7％,6.8％ and 15.5％ among the Han,Uyghur,Tibetan and Zhuang ethnicities,respectively.The prevalence rates of wasting were 4.2％,5.3％,2.9％,8.9％,and of under nutrition were 19.2％,25.5％,30.3％ and 36.5％ for the Han,the Uyghur,the Tibetan and the Zhuang ethnicities,respectively.When factors as family size,years of schooling of parents,family numbers,sex,age (months),mother' s height and weight,ways of feeding and sources of family income etc.were adjusted,children with Uyghur,Tibetan,Zhuang and other ethnicities were still presented more malnutrition than the children with Han ethnicity.Conclusion There were differences on malnutrition status of children under the age of three years among the studies on different ethnicities.Undemutrition was less than nutritional status,seen in children of the Han nationality than other minority ethnicites.Ethnicity seemed to be related to differences in the nutritional status of children in western China while children of the Han nationality would be better than other minorities on nutritional status if they were in same living conditionals.

Study on the indeterminate results of characterization and verification of HIV antibody from Western blot test / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To study the serological characterization of indeterminate Western blot(WB)results of HIV antibody and to find a new way to verify the HIV antibody indeterminate results and provide references for editing"National Guideline for Detection of HIV/AIDS".Methods All of the 42 subjects who were confirmed as indeterminate HIV antibody in People'Libaretion Amry HIV Confirmation Laboratory from 2005 to 2006,were collected.Line immunoassay.HIV viral load test and HIV-1 p24 were tested and followed up for 3-6 months'to compare the changes of WB bands patterns.Results (1)For the 42 individuals with indeterminate HIV antibody.a total of 8 different patterns of bands were found in WB test including 45.2% of them were p24 monoband,30.9% were gp160 monoband,11.9% were gp160 with p24,2.4%(only one case)were gp160gp120 ±,gp41p24,p24p17,gp41 or gp120respectively.It was noticed that the most patterns of common bands with indeterminate results were p24 monoband.gpl60 monoband and gpl60 with p24.which composed 88.0% of the whole indeterminate WB band patterns.(2)Twenty three cases had been followed up for more than 3 months with 22 giving no WB band image change and were confirmed as HIV sero-negative.The other one with case gp160 and p24 had developed to more bands in the period of 77 days follow-up with more bands,including gpl60,gp120,p66,p31,p24 and p17,showed up and was confirmed as HIV primary infection.(3)Line immunoassay was applied to all of those 23 cases who had been followed up and the results showed that only one serological change was found and the case was confirmed to be HIV-positive.Among the other 22 cases without serological changes.16 cases were proved to be HIV-negative,6 cases were still indeterminate.The specificitv was 72.7%.P24 antigen test showed negative in all the 23 cases,including the case which later was confirmed as HIV-positive.Of all the 23 originally indeterminate cases,viral loads were tested in 7 eases.Positive result was found in the case which was proved later to be HIV-positive.No viral loads were detected in the other 6 cases(＜LDL).Conclusion The most common band patterns of indeterminate HIV antibody were mainly p24 monoband,gp160 monoband or with p24.Most of them (95.6%)were not infected by HIV,the bands showed up in WB test and demonstrated as non-specific reactions.Line immunoassay could determine about 70% of the indeterminate reactions.Results from viral load test also suggested that it was an efficient method to discriminate indeterminate results.With these two techniques,HIV serology could be diagnosed without 3 months'follow-up in primary infection which gave indeterminate WB results.

The protective role of adiponectin in Con A-induced mouse liver injury / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the role of adiponectin in regulating tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) production and preventing fulminant autoimmunological damage of hepatocytes following concanavalin A (Con A) injection into mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Three days after recombinant plasmids pAA-neo-mAd were injected into the mice via the tail veins, Con A was injected into the mice. Mice transfected with empty pAA-neo vector served as controls. The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), TNF alpha and adiponectin were detected, and histological examination of livers was carried out at different time points after the Con A injection. All results were subjected to statistical analyses.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Histological examinations showed that the damage in livers of mice with high serum adiponectin levels was milder than that of the controls. The serum levels of ALT and TNF alpha were both lower than those of the controls (P less than 0.01, respectively). Statistical analyses showed the serum levels of ALT was negatively related to the levels of adiponectin in the sera (r=-0.5034).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Adiponectin is effective in protecting hepatocytes from Con A-induced immunological injury. The mechanism of this protective effect may be caused by inhibiting the synthesis and/or release of TNF alpha.</p>

Cloning, expression and identification of functional fragment rC3B of human complement C3 in E. Coli / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was purposed to verify the binding part of human complement C3 to complement receptor III (CRIII) in monocytes, the peptide rC3B, including the binding-site, was expressed, purified and identified. rC3B, the binding part of human complement C3 to CRIII, was selected by computer-aided modeling and summarizing researches published. Then, rC3B gene fragment was amplified by PCR, and cloned into prokaryotic vector pQE30a. The fusion protein rC3B was expressed in E.coli M15 and purified by Ni(2+)-chelating affinity chromatography. The activity of rC3B was identified by Western blot and adherence assay with monocytes. The results showed that rC3B fragment was obtained, and a prokaryotic expression vector pQE30-rC3B was constructed. rC3B was efficiently expressed and purified. In Western blot, the target protein showed the activity of binding with C3 antibody, while the purified protein showed the activity of adherence with monocytes. It is concluded that the recombinant C3B was obtained and identified, and this study lay the basis for the further functional analysis of C3.

The introduction of breastfeeding in children under age of three in the counties of western China in 2005 / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The study was to describe the breastfeeding status of children under the age of three in counties of western China and to provide evidence to the government for decision-making on intervention.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A cross-sectional study with probability-proportional-to-size (PPS) sampling method was used. The information on breastfeeding was obtained through memory of the mothers. Fourteen thousand and seventy-seven children were studied. Data on breastfed status in counties of western China was compared with those of the children from the survey of the counties of western China in 2001.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The breastfeeding rate of children under 3 years old in western China was 96.5%. However, the overall breastfed rate of children under 6 months were only 33.4%, with rates of 11.4% and 22.0% on exclusively and predominantly breastfed groups respectively. Timely first-suckling rate was 43.5% with the continued breastfeeding rate (1 year) as 64.9%, but the continued breastfeeding rate (2 year) was only 9.7%. Reasons causing mothers to wean would include according to her own intention and to be able to attend the physical labor while exclusive breastfeeding under 6 months was for the growth and development of children, which might reduce the two-week prevalence of diarrhea. Major risks of exclusive breastfeeding of children under 6 months were seen as: level of education of the mothers, economic depression of the counties and mother's nationality (if as minority).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Most of the children were ever or being breastfed at the time of interview with timely first-suckling took place earlier than in 2001. However continued breastfeeding did not last long. During these five years, the exclusive breastfeeding rate had been at low level, especially at the economic depression and the minority area.</p>

Study on maternal health care status to agricultural and nomadic counties in Tibet Autonomous Region of China / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To understand the current situation of maternal health care and the association between maternal health care and relevant factors.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>According to a cross sectional study design, 1512 mothers having children under 3 years old were drawn under stratified random sampling method and interviewed at their households in 15 counties, Tibet Autonomous Region of China.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>77.6% of the pregnant women received at least one antenatal checkup with an average of 3.89 times while the rate of antenatal checkup over 5 times was 26.3%. The hospital delivery rate was 40.4% in this area. 83.9% of the women received education under the health care program during pregnancy and 66.2% of them were visited by health workers after delivery. Major factors of the antenatal checkups would include the resource of income, living in nomadic area, personal sanitation, antenatal health care education, mobilization of delivery at hospital, knowledge of antenatal health care etc.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>There had been great improvement in women's health care in this area as compared with the status in 1999, but the frequency of receiving antenatal checkup was still not enough and the rate of hospital delivery was also low as compared with 46 counties in western areas of China. Poor knowledge of health care during pregnancy seemed to be the major factor that limited the utilization of antenatal health care. Knowledge on health and common sense of health care should be disseminated to improve the antenatal care and to enhance the hospital delivery rate.</p>

Effect of beta-lactam antibiotics in drug-induced hemolysis / 中国实验血液学杂志

The study was purposed to evaluate synergistic effect of beta-lactam antibiotics in drug-induced hemolysis. The general information, including primary diseases, therapeutic drugs, infection pathogens in 6 patients with pulmonary infection and unknown reason anemia were integrated and analyzed. The leukocyte and reticulocyte counts, total bilirubin (TB), direct bilirubin (DB), fasting blood glucose (Glu in peripheral blood) were all determined by conventional method. At the same time, the erythrocyte direct antiglobulin test (DAT), complement fixation test (CFT), cell culture and smear examination were carried out. The antibodies in plasma were also detected by indirect antiglobulin test (IAT). The result showed that levels of WBC, TB, DB, Glu and reticulocyte in six patients treated with beta-lactam antibiotics were raised remarkably. DAT was strongly positive, but no RBC antibodies were detected in the plasma by IAT. The binding of red cells by monocytes or lymphocytes was great, and the hemolysis of red cells by alexin not appeared. After stopping above-mentioned beta-lactam antibiotic administration, patient's WBC, TB, DB, and Glu levels returned to normal values. Furthermore, DAT test result turned to negative. It is concluded that beta-lactam antibiotics lead to drug-induced hemolysis by non-specific adsorption of some proteins onto RBC surface, and their proteins may be considered as direct cause for this hemolysis.

A study on the inhibitory effect on transplanted tumor growth expressing HCV NS3 protein by HCV minigene vaccine based on invariant chain substitution in mice / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To establish a transplanted tumor producing HCV NS3 protein in mice and study the therapeutic effect of minigene vaccine based on invariant chain substitution.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>SP2/0-NS3 cells expressing HCV NS3 antigen were injected subcutaneously into BALB/ c mice. After three days of inoculation, different therapeutical reagents were injected intramuscularly into different groups of mice. The boost immunization was carried out two weeks after the first immunization. The efficiency of HCV NS3 Th1 minigene vaccine was estimated after 60 days observation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>For saline, pCI-neo, pHCV-NS3 and pHCV-NS3-Th1 treated groups, the induction period needed for tumor growth was 16.17+/-2.55, 14.40+/-1.82, 16.75+/-2.36, and 24.00+/-5.57 days (t =2.623, P =0.034 vs saline, t =3.713, P =0.010 vs pCI-neo and t =2.425, P =0.045 vs pHCV-NS3) respectively. The tumorigenesis rates were 100%, 100%, 57.1% (8/14, chi2 = 6.190, P = 0.013 vs saline and chi2 = 6.608, P = 0.010 vs pCI-neo) and 46.7% (7/15, chi2 = 9.707, P = 0.002 vs saline and chi2 = 10.311, P = 0.001 vs pCI-neo ) respectively. The survival rates were 0, 0, 50.0% (7/14, chi2 = 5.787, P = 0.016 vs saline and chi2 = 9.333, P = 0.002 vs pCI-neo) and 53.3% (8/15, chi2 = 6.651, P = 0.010 vs saline and chi2 = 10.311, P = 0.001 vs pCI-neo) respectively. The average tumor diameter of the pHCV-NS3-Th1 treated group was significantly smaller compared with the control groups and the pHCV-NS3 treated group (P =0.001). Moreover, the average survival time of tumor-bearing mice immunized with pHCV-NS3-Th1 was 6 days longer compared with the saline treated group, 12 days longer compared with the pCI-neo treated group (P =0.001), and 6 days compared with the pHCV-NS3 treated group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HCV NS3 Th1 epitope vaccine might be a potential biotherapy candidate against HCV infection.</p>

Assessment on nutritional status among children under 3 years using anthropometry in 40 counties of western China / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess nutritional status among children younger than 3 years in 40 counties of western China, using anthropometry.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>With cross-sectional study and random sampling, a survey with a sample size of 7252 was conducted in 40 counties of western China on children under 3 years old. Height and weight were measured and nutrition status was evaluated with WHO/NCHS reference using Z scores.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>SD of height for age (HA) and weight for age (WA) were 1.10 - 1.30 and 1.06 - 1.40, respectively and SD of WAZ for infants varied. The distribution of HA Z and WAZ shifted downward to 1 unit and 0.4 unit for distribution of weight for height (WHZ). The prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting were 23.0%, 22.6% and 7.5% respectively. The prevalence rates were low among those yourger than 3 months. Stunting and underweight increased sharply after 6 months and reached 20% - 30%. Significant correlation was found between underweight and stunting or wasting with coefficients of 0.815 and 0.636, respectively. No correlation was found between stunting and wasting.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The nutrition status adversely affected children as a whole but not only for individuals. There was a higher prevalence of malnutrition mainly on low height to children. Weight for age must be interpreted cautiously because of the inability of this indicator in distinguishing stunting and wasting just by itself. Assessment by anthropometry called for accurate information on age and measurement of height and weight.</p>

Cloning and expression of a biotinylated multiple-epitope HCV fusion antigen gene / 中国实验血液学杂志

The aim was to develop a single multiple-epitope fusion antigen which incorporates all of the major immunodominant epitopes from the six functional regions of the HCV genome. A nucleic acid sequence consisting of viral core, E1, E2, NS3, NS4, and NS5 regions was constructed and inserted into the Promega Pinpoint Xa-1 T vector for inducing expression. The protein was expressed in JM109 (DE3) as a fusion protein with a 13 kD biotinlated tag to be used for detection and affinity purification. Immunogenicity and biotinylated tag of the fusion protein were detected by Western blot analysis with positive anti-HCV serum and streptavidin alkaline phosphatase. After purified by Promega SoftLink Soft Release Avidin Resin, the protein was pre-coated on microwell and detected with anti-core, anti-NS3, anti-NS4 and anti-NS5 positive sera by EIA, respectively. The results indicated that the recombinant soluble protein was expressed and labelled with biotin successfully, it reacted with anti-HCV positive serum, and exposed all of the major immunogenic epitopes chosen. In conclusion, this recombinant antigen may be used to design an double antigen sandwich anti-HCV immunoassay.

The effect of methylene blue/photochemical method for virus inactivation on plasma components / 中国实验血液学杂志

Virus inactivation of plasma can be achieved by methylene blue/photochemical method. To investigate the effect of this method on immunological properties and biochemical functions of plasma components, the virus-inactivation method was performed on single-donor plasma that was exposed to visible light (40,000 lux) at room temperature for 1 h in the presence of 1 micro mol/L methylene blue. The results showed that activities of the factor VIII, PT and APTT were decreased to a certain degree while most of other plasma proteins were not affected significantly. Human plasma components including albumin, glucose and minerals as well as plasma pH were also not affected. By using different electrophoreses and immunochemical techniques, no neoantigens were found in photodynamically treated plasma and electrophoretic mobility revealed identical patterns for untreated and treated plasma. In conclusion, methylene blue/photochemical method dose not considerably influence the properties of major of plasma components.

Inhibiting effect of arsenic trioxide on telomerase activity of NB4 and Jurkat cell lines / 中国实验血液学杂志

To investigate the inhibiting effect of arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3)) on the telomerase activity of leukemia cell lines NB4 and Jurkat cells, MTT assay, electrophoresis of genomic DNA, protein/DNA dual parameter flow cytometry as well as a semi-quantitative telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay and RT-PCR were used to examine the effect of As(2)O(3) on cell proliferation, telomerase activity and expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins. The results showed that cell proliferation and telomerase activity were significantly inhibited and apoptosis was induced in these cells after exposure to As(2)O(3). Furthermore, the expression of some cell cycle and apoptosis related proteins, such as Bcl-2, Rb, P16, caspase-3, cyclin A and cyclin E, was altered in As(2)O(3) treated NB4 cells. Cell cycle was arrested at G(1) and G(2)/M phases in both cells. It is concluded that the change of cell cycle regulatory proteins plays an important role in decline of the telomerase activity during the proliferation inhibition and apoptosis of NB4 and Jurkat cells induced by As(2)O(3).

Purification of HLA-DR molecules / 军事医学科学院院刊

Objective:To purify HLA-DR molecules. Methods: Anti-HLA-DR antibody L243 was purified and coupled with CNBr activated Sepharose 4B gel. Immunoaffinity column was used to purify HLA-DR molecules. Results:Twenty micrograms of HLA-DR molecules were isolated from about 5 g Epstein-Barr virus-transformed human B lymphoblastoid cell line RAJI lysates by affinity chromatography. The purified HLA-DR molecules existed in α/β heterodimers form and could bind to conformation-dependent antibody L243. These HLA-DR molecules were separated into two strands,α and β,by boiling denaturation. These results are the basis for studying MHC Ⅱ binding peptide motif and CD4＋ T cell epitopes of antigens in future.