Analysis of the clinical characteristics and misdiagnosis of area postrema syndrome manifesting as intractable nausea, vomiting, and hiccups in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders / 中华内科杂志

Objective: To investigate the misdiagnosis of area postrema syndrome (APS) manifesting as intractable nausea, vomiting and hiccups in neuromyelitis optic spectrum disease (NMOSD) and reduce the risk of misdiagnosis. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from NMOSD patients attending the Department of Neurology at the First Medical Center of PLA General Hospital between January 2019 and July 2021. SPSS25.0 was then used to analyze the manifestations, misdiagnosis, and mistreatment of APS. Results: A total of 207 patients with NMOSD were included, including 21 males and 186 females. The mean age of onset was 39±15 years (range: 5-72 years). The proportion of patients who were positive for serum aquaporin 4 antibody was 82.6% (171/207). In total, 35.7% (74/207) of the NMOSD patients experienced APS during the disease course; of these patients, 70.3% (52/74) had APS as the first symptom and 29.7% (22/74) had APS as a secondary symptom. The misdiagnosis rates for these conditions were 90.4% (47/52) and 50.0% (11/22), respectively. As the first symptom, 19.2% (10/52) of patients during APS presented only with intractable nausea, vomiting and hiccups; 80.8% (42/52) of patients experienced other neurological symptoms. The Departments of Gastroenterology and General Medicine were the departments that most frequently made the first diagnosis of APS, accounting for 54.1% and 17.6% of patients, respectively. The most common misdiagnoses related to diseases of the digestive system and the median duration of misdiagnosis was 37 days. Conclusions: APS is a common symptom of NMOSD and is associated with a high rate of misdiagnosis. Other concomitant symptoms often occur with APS. Gaining an increased awareness of this disease/syndrome, obtaining a detailed patient history, and performing physical examinations are essential if we are to reduce and avoid misdiagnosis.

Progress of researches on infection with two species of Echinococcus causing human diseases in animal hosts and influencing factors / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Echinococcosis is a serious zoonotic parasitic disease caused by infections with larval Echinococcus. The life cycle of Echinococcus involves a variety of animal hosts, including hoofed animals and rodents as intermediate hosts and carnivores as definitive hosts. The transmission of human echinococcosis is closely associated with the life cycle of E. granulosus and E. multilocularis among animal hosts in nature. This review summarizes the recent advances in the prevalence and influencing factors of E. granulosus and E. multilocularis infections in animal hosts, so as to provide insights into precision control of echinococcosis.

Effectiveness of a new health education pathway for echinococcosis control among primary school students in hyper-endemic regions / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To investigate the effectiveness of a new health education pathway for echinococcosis control among primary school students in regions highly prevalent for echinococcosis in China. Methods Six primary schools were randomly selected from echinococcosis hyper-endemic regions, with 13 classes assigned to the intervention group and 9 to the control group, and all students in these 21 classes were recruited as the study subjects. Echinococcosis health education was performed through the pathway of assessing the current status-strengthening the building of teaching resources-focusing on practices in the intervention group, while routine health education was given in the control group. A questionnaire survey was performed to assess the score of echinococcosis control knowledge (including theoretical knowledge score and mean daily practical capability score) before and after the health education interventions to evaluate the effectiveness of this new health education pathway for echinococcosis control. Results The mean score of echinococcosis control knowledge was 68.86 ± 18.70 points at baseline, with the mean theoretical knowledge score of 40.97 ± 10.75 points, and the mean daily practical capability score of 27.89 ± 12.50 points. Clustering analysis showed three types of populations, including “unsatisfactory”, “learn and apply creatively”, and “rote learning”, which accounted for 24.62% (240/975), 45.74% (446/975) and 29.64% (289/975), respectively. The mean score of echinococcosis control knowledge was 81.08 ± 18.15 points in the intervention group during the final assessment, with the mean theoretical knowledge score of 43.65 ± 9.40 points, and the mean daily practical capability score of 37.43 ± 12.22 points, and both were significantly higher relative to baseline (t = −4.201 and −15.202, both P values < 0.01). The mean score of echinococcosis control knowledge was comparable between at baseline (70.55 ± 19.46 points) and final assessment (71.74 ± 19.37 points) in the control group (t = −0.87, P > 0.05). Conclusions The awareness of echinococcosis control knowledge is fair among primary school students in echinococcosis hyper-endemic regions; however, the capability of combining theoretical learning and practices requires to be improved. The health education mode based on the pathway of assessing the current status-strengthening the building of teaching resources-focusing on practices seems to remarkably improve the understanding of echinococcosis control knowledge among primary school students in echinococcosis hyper-endemic regions.

Efficacy and Safety of Teriflunomide in Chinese Patients with Relapsing Forms of Multiple Sclerosis: A Subgroup Analysis of the Phase 3 TOWER Study / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

Background@#Disease-modifying therapy is the standard treatment for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) in remission. The primary objective of the current analysis was to assess the efficacy and safety of two teriflunomide doses (7 mg and 14 mg) in the subgroup of Chinese patients with relapsing MS included in the TOWER study.@*Methods@#TOWER was a multicenter, multinational, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group (three groups), placebo-controlled study. This subgroup analysis includes 148 Chinese patients randomized to receive either teriflunomide 7 mg (n = 51), teriflunomide 14 mg (n = 43), or placebo (n = 54).@*Results@#Of the 148 patients in the intent-to-treat population, adjusted annualized relapse rates were 0.63 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.44, 0.92) in the placebo group, 0.48 (95% CI: 0.33, 0.70) in the teriflunomide 7 mg group, and 0.18 (95% CI: 0.09, 0.36) in the teriflunomide 14 mg group; this corresponded to a significant relative risk reduction in the teriflunomide 14 mg group versus placebo (-71.2%, P = 0.0012). Teriflunomide 14 mg also tended to reduce 12-week confirmed disability worsening by 68.1% compared with placebo (hazard ratio: 0.319, P = 0.1194). There were no differences across all treatment groups in the proportion of patients with treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs; 72.2% in the placebo group, 74.5% in the teriflunomide 7 mg group, and 69.8% in the teriflunomide 14 mg group); corresponding proportions for serious adverse events were 11.1%, 3.9%, and 11.6%, respectively. The most frequently reported TEAEs with teriflunomide versus placebo were neutropenia, increased alanine aminotransferase, and hair thinning.@*Conclusions@#Teriflunomide was as effective and safe in the Chinese subpopulation as it was in the overall population of patients in the TOWER trial. Teriflunomide has the potential to meet unmet medical needs for MS patients in China.@*Trial Registration@#ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00751881; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00751881?term=NCT00751881&rank=1.

Epidemiological characteristics of echinococcosis death cases in China from 2008 to 2016 / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To understand the epidemiological characteristics of death cases of echinococcosis in China from 2008 to 2016,so as to provide an important reference for the prevention and control of echinococcosis.Methods The death in-formation registration and management system data were selected to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of the death cas-es of echinococcosis.The data were analyzed by SPSS 21.0 and the map was drawn by ArcGIS 10.1 software.Results From 2008 to 2016,a total of 367 death cases of echinococcosis were reported in China,and the number of deaths in turn was 33,30,21,32,35,54,55,and 81 in each year,with an annual average crude mortality of 129.29/105.The average age of death was(56 ± 18)years;the sex ratio of male to female was 100:94.There was no statistical difference between the male and fe-male death cases(Χ2=0.33,P>0.05).The death cases of echinococcosis were mainly distributed in endemic areas of Qinghai,Sichuan,Ningxia,Xinjiang,Gansu,Inner Mongolia,Yunnan and non-endemic areas of Heilongjiang,Jiangsu,Henan and Shandong.The death cases in the first eleven provinces accounted for 87.5％(321/367)of the total death cases,among which the highest proportions of the nationality,occupation,educational level,highest diagnostic units,and the place of death were Han(52.0％,191/367),farmer(46.6％,171/367),junior high school or below(57.2％,210/367),provincial or three-level hospitals(46.6％,171/367),and at home(59.9％,220/367).Conclusions Since 2014,the death cases of echinococcosis in China have been increasing year by year,indicating that the prevention and treatment of echinococcosis is still very serious.The causes for the rise of the fatality rate remain to be further studied.

A case-control study on risk factors of cystic echinococcosis in humans in Ti-betan areas / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objectives To understand the risk factors of cystic echinococcosis in Tibetan population,so as to provide the reference for development of prevention and control strategies.Methods Four cystic echinococcosis highly-prevalent townships were selected from Naqu County of Tibet and Shiqu County of Sichuan Province,which had similar environmental and altitude conditions,from August to September,2017.Applying the 1:1 case-control study,a household survey was conducted to investi-gate the risk factors of echinococcosis in humans. Results A total of 378 residents were investigated,of which the numbers of cases and non-cases were both 189.The univariate analysis showed that the years of keeping dogs(OR=1.032,P<0.05),the number of keeping dogs(OR=1.260,P<0.05),the way of raising dogs(OR=1.434,P<0.05),feeding with raw viscera (OR=1.531,P<0.05),and there being stray dogs around(OR=1.946,P<0.05)were the risk factors of echinococcosis.As a result of the multivariate logistic regression analysis,only three risk factors,feeding with raw viscera,there being stray dogs around,and drinking water resource,were included in the regression model.Conclusion Feeding with raw viscera,there be-ing stray dogs around,and drinking water resource are the risk factors of echinococcosis in humans.

Analysis on Serum Trace Element Levels of Echinococciasis Patients in Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan, China, 2011 / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

In Garze Tibetan autonomous prefecture in Sichuan province, China, 41 echinococciasis patients who had received surgical treatment were recruited in the study, and 82 health persons who had lived in Garze for at least 10 years were selected as controls. The serum levels of Zn, Se and Cu of the cases and controls were detected. The results showed that most echinococciasis cases were distributed in Shiqu county (17.1%, 7/41), and only 1 case was distributed in Yajiang county (2.4%). The male to female ratio of the cases was 1:1.56. The echinococciasis patients were mainly aged 30-39 years (36.59%, 15/41). And, the cases aged 20-49 years accounted for 68.29% (28/41). Compared with health controls, the serum levels of Zn and Se of the cases significantly declined. However, the serum level of Cu of the cases had no significantly change. It was confirmed that the serum levels of Zn and Se were interrelated with the prevalence of echinococciasis.

C-reactive Protein -717A>G and -286C>T>A Gene Polymorphism and Ischemic Stroke / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Inflammation plays a pivotal role in the formation and progression of ischemic stroke. Recently, more and more epidemiological studies have focused on the association between C-reactive protein (CRP) -717A > G and -286C > T > A genetic polymorphisms and ischemic stroke. However, the findings of these researches are not conclusive.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We performed a meta-analysis to determine whether these two polymorphisms are associated with the risk of ischemic stroke. Eligible studies were identified from the database of PubMed, Medline, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, Weipu, and Wanfang. We calculated odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to assess the strength of the association.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Four articles were included in our study, including 1926 cases and 2678 controls for -717A > G polymorphism, 652 cases and 1103 controls for -286C > T > A polymorphism. The results of meta-analysis showed that single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) -717A > G was not significantly associated with the risk of ischemic stroke (GG vs. AA, OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 0.83-1.50, P = 0.207; GG + GA vs. AA, OR = 1.04, 95% CI = 0.93-1.17, P = 0.533; GG vs. GA + AA, OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 0.82-1.47, P = 0.220). Meta-analysis of SNP - 286C > T > A also demonstrated no statistical evidence of a significant association with the risk of ischemic stroke (AA vs. CC, OR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.59-1.25, P = 0.348; AA vs. CC, OR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.80-1.06, P = 0.609; AA vs. CC, OR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.62-1.30, P = 0.374).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>This meta-analysis demonstrated little evidence to support a role of CRP gene -717A > G, -286C > T > A polymorphisms in ischemic stroke predisposition. However, to draw comprehensive and more reliable conclusions, further larger studies are needed to validate the association between CRP gene polymorphisms and ischemic stroke in various ethnic groups.</p>

Correlation between lacunar cerebral infarction and serum uric acid level in elderly male hypertension patients / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the correlation between lacunar cerebral infarction and level of serum uric acid in elderly male hypertension patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety-eight elderly male hypertension patients were enrolled in this study. They all underwent cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, and their clinical and laboratory data were collected. The patients were divided into the 1st group (n = 32), the 2nd group (n = 32) and the 3rd group (n = 34) according to the level of serum uric acid.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The numbers of lacuner infarction, serum creatinine, urea and high density lipoprotein(HDL) were significantly diferrent from the other groups. The numbers of lacuner infarction were positively related with serum uric acid and urea. Multiple variant analysis showed that serum uric acid was the independent factor of the numbers of lacuner infarction.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The elevated level of serum uric acid may contribute to the risk factors of lacuner infarction.</p>

The associated research on the expression of RUNX3 mRNA and protein in hepatic cell carcinoma as well as the relationship with clinical pathological parameters / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression of RUNX3 mRNA and protein in hepatic cell carcinoma (HCC) and surrounding normal tissue, to analyze the relationship between RUNX3 expression and clinical pathological parameters.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were performed to detect the expression of RUNX3 mRNA and protein in HCC and surrounding normal tissue respectively, and their relationship with clinical pathological parameters were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The relative expression value of RUNX3 mRNA found in 51 cases HCC was 0.4509 +/- 0.0963, and that did in 51 cases surrounding normal tissue was 0.9147 +/- 0.0222. The difference of RUNX3 mRNA expression between two kinds of samples was statistically significant (t = 33.6087, P < 0.001). The positives rate of RUNX3 protein expression found in 51 cases HCC tissue was 49.02% (25/51) and that did in 51 cases surrounding normal tissue was 82.35% (42/51). The difference of RUNX3 protein expression between two kinds of samples was statistically significant (chi2 = 12.5706, P < 0.005). The difference of RUNX3 mRNA and protein expression in some clinical pathological parameters involving differentiation degree, invasion, cancer thrombus and diversion in liver were statistically significant (P < 0.05). However that were not in another clinical pathological parameters involving gender, cancer diameter, cancer location as well as hemorrhage and necrosis of cancer, histotype (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The expression of RUNX3 mRNA and protein in HCC were significantly lower than that in surrounding normal tissue. The lower expression of runx3 protein in the HCC probably plays an important role in the tumorigenesis and development of HCC. The RUNX3 gene may be an anti-oncogene of HCC.</p>

Distribution of the intermediate hosts of Echinococcus multilocularis in Shiqu County, Sichuan, China / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The rodentia and lagomorpha animals are the intermediate hosts of Echinococcus multilocularis, their distribution and infection of this parasite may facilitate the infection of definitive hosts such as dogs. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of the intermediate hosts of Echinococcus multilocularis in Shiqu County, Sichuan, China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A systematic sampling method was used to investigate the density of burrows of rodents and lagomorphs at 97 pasture sites in winter and summer pastureland and remote sensing (RS) technology was used to correlate their densities to the distribution of these animals in different landscape types.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Based on the densities of Ochotona curzoniae, Microtus fuscus (dependent variable) and their burrow densities (independent variable) in survey points, regression equations were fitted respectively (Ochotona curzoniae, P < 0.0001, R(2) = 0.8705; Microtus fuscus, P < 0.0001, R(2) = 0.9736). Their burrow density in summer pastureland was higher than in winter pastureland (F = 36.65, P < 0.0001). The burrow densities of Ochotona curzoniae and Microtus fuscus in bareland and half-bareland are higher than in grassland (F = 7.73, P < 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The regression relationship between the densities of Ochotona curzoniae and Microtus fuscus and their burrow densities indicate that the burrow densities could reflect the animal densities and that the burrow density was greater in summer pastureland than in winter pastureland. The main distribution areas of the intermediate hosts were in bareland and half-bareland.</p>

Seroprevalence and diagnostic value of aquaporin-4 antibody in patients with inflammatory central nervous system demyelinating diseases / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the seroprevalence and diagnostic value of aquaporin-4 antibody (AQP4-Ab) in patients with inflammatory central nervous system demyelinating diseases.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-two patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO), 68 with multiple sclerosis (MS), 4 with optic neuritis (ON), and 41 with transverse myelitis (TM) were included in this study. The TM group comprised 19 patients with non-longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (nLETM), 14 with monophasic longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (mLETM), and 8 with recurrent longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (rLETM). The serum levels of AQP4-Ab was detected by indirect immunofluorence assay in these patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>AQP4-Ab was detected in 72.2% (52/72) patients with NMO, 5.9% (4/68) patients with MS, 25.0% (1/4) patients with ON, and 17.1% (7/41) patients with TM, showing a significant difference in the positivity between NMO and MS groups (P<0.01). AQP4-Ab seropositivity rate was 5.3% (1/19) in nLETM patients, 62.5% (5/8) in rLETM patients and 7.1% (1/14) in mLETM patients, significantly higher in rLETM than in nLETM (P<0.01) and mLETM groups (P<0.05), but no statistical difference was found between rLETM and NMO groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>A high seroprevalence of AQP4-Ab is observed in patients with NMO and rLETM, which support the hypothesis that NMO and rLETM belong to NMO spectrum disorders. AQP4-Ab can serve as a useful index for diagnosing NMO and differential diagnosis from MS. More attention and effective immunosuppressive treatments should be given to patients positive for AQP4-Ab.</p>

Magnetic resonance imaging characteristics of spinal cord lesions and brain abnormalities in Chinese patients with neuromyelitis optica / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics of neuromyelitis optica (NMO) in Chinese patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We retrospectively reviewed the MRI films of 61 patients with NMO (including 57 female and 4 male patients) admitted in our department.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of these patients, 39 (79.6%) showed positivity for serum aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody. On MRI, 18 patients showed involvement of the cervical cord alone, 27 had both cervical and thoracic segment involvement, and 16 displayed thoracic segment involvement. The lesions appeared linear (9 cases), diffuse (23 cases), or both (29 cases), mostly located axially with occasional lateral distribution. Thirty-nine of the 61 patients (63.9%) had brain abnormalities, 31 presented with supratentorial lesions (mostly in the juxtacortical, subcortical, deep white matter and lateral ventricle-adjacent regions, n=27), 15 showed infratentorial lesions (mostly in the preiaqueduct-fourth ventricular-central canal, n=13), and 7 had supra- and infratentorial lesions simultaneously.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>NMO has complex MRI presentation, and linear lesions in the spinal cord and preiaqueduct-fourth ventricular-central canal lesions, where AQP4 is high expressed, can be characteristic for NMO. MRI and AQP4 antibody detection are suggested for suspected cases for early diagnosis.</p>

Expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha and matrix metalloproteinase-2 in degenerative lumbar intervertebral disc / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in degenerative human intervertebral disc.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Specimens of the nucleus pulposus of the degenerative discs were obtained from patients with lumbar disc herniation (experimental group), and those from young patients suffering thoracolumbal vertebral bursting fracture served as the control. The experimental group was divided into three subgroups according to the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results. The tissue specimens from all the groups were examined for HIF-1alpha and MMP-2 expressions using immunohistochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The tissues in the experimental group showed significantly higher expressions of HIF-1alpha and MMP-2 than those in the control group (P<0.05), and the expressions increased significantly with the severity of the degenerative changes of the intervertebral discs (P<0.05). A positive correlation was found between the expressions of the HIF-1alpha and MMP-2 in degenerative intervertebral discs.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HIF-1alpha and MMP-2 may participate in the degeneration of human intervertebral discs, in which process their expressions show a common pattern of enhancement with the progression of the condition.</p>

Value of tumor markers in the cerebrospinal fluid in the diagnosis of meningeal carcinomatosis / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the diagnostic value of tumor markers in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for meningeal carcinomatosis (MC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-one MC patients (including 13 adenocarcinoma and 8 non-adenocarcinoma patients), 72 patients with tuberculous meningitis (TBM) and 23 with primary intracerebral tumors (PIT) were enrolled in this study. Blood and CSF tumor markers including CEA, CA125, CA15-3, CA19-9, CA72-4, CYFRA21-1, AFP and NSE were measured by Roche E170 electrochemiluminescence analyzer and sandwich assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>CSF tumor markers CEA, CA125, CA199 and CYFRA21-1 and the serum tumor markers CEA, CA125, CA153, CA199 and AFP were significantly higher in MC group than in the other two groups. CSF CEA and CA15-3 were significantly higher in adenocarcinoma MC than in non-adenocarcinoma MC patients, but no significant differences were found in the serum tumor markers between the two groups (P>0.05). CSF tumor markers including CEA, CA125, CA15-3, CA72-4 and CYFRA21-1 were positively correlated to the serum tumor markers (P<0.05). CA199 was positively correlated to the disease course (P<0.05), and age was not correlated to any of the indexes (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Detection of the tumor markers in the CSF, especially CEA, CA125, CA19-9 and CYFRA21-1, may help in the early diagnosis of MC. CEA and CA15-3 can serve as indicators for differential diagnosis of adenocarcinoma and non-adenocarcinoma.</p>

Expression and significance of liver X receptor-alpha in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in rats / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Preparing rat model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by fat-rich diet to observe the expression and the role of LXR-alpha in rat nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-six SD rats were randonmized into basic diet-control group and high-fat diet group. Each of the two groups was subdivided into 3 subgroups (4, 8, 12 weeks). Changes in animal weight, liver exponent and the level of TG and TC in serum and liver were observed dynamically. Meanwhile,the expression of hepatocyte LXR-alpha and SREBP-1c were assayed by Reverse transcript-polymerase chain reaction at 4, 8, 12 weeks. The level of steatosis was observed under light microscope after haematoxylon-eosin (HE) staening.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with control group, body weight, liver exponent, TG and Tc in serum and liver were increased dynamically in model groups. Compared with control group, the mRNA of LXR-a and SREBP-1c were obviously increased dynamically in model groups (P < 0.05) .</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The increase of LXR-alpha and SREBP-1c in liver may be concered with energy disorder and closely associated with the activity of inflammation and the severity of the liver damage in NAFLD rats.</p>

Study on time-space clustering regarding the distribution of visceral leishmaniasis in Kashgar Re-gion,Xinjiang / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To probe time-space clustering on the distribution of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Kashgar Region.Methods Based on the geographic information system,a Poisson model of time-space statistical software was applied to analyze data over the past 11 years in the Kashgar Region.Zones with clustering phenomenon were conformed by geographic location and remote sensing images.Results There existed three high risk clustering zones and corresponding time frames of VL in Kashgar Region.The center location of zone A was located in E 76.08°,N 39.52°,with radius as 6.58 km.The high risk time frame was from January 1st of 1999 to December 31st of 2003.Within the zone and time frame,the relative risk (RR) of VL incidence was 45.98 times higher than those outside the scope (P＜0.0001).Zone B's center location was at E 79.20°,N 39.91°,with the radius as 4.93 km.Its high risk time frame was from January 1st of 2002 to December 31st of 2006.Within the zone and time frame,the RR of VL incidence was 9.58 times higher than those outside of the scope (P＜0.0001).Zone C's center location was in E 76.23°,N 39.40°,and the radius was 7.63 km,with the high risk time frame from January 1st of 2000 to December 31st of 2004.Within the zone and time frame,the RR of VL incidence was 5.18 times higher than the one from outside of the scope (P＜0.0001).Conclusion The incidence of VL in Kashgar Region was non-randomly distributed while there existed obvious time-space clustering,with all of three high risk clustering zones located in oasis area where appeared the focus area for control and surveillance of VL.

Clinical characteristics of bocavirus infection among children / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinical characteristics of human bocavirus (HBoV) among children and to understand the association of HBoV with human diseases.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Totally 148 nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA) samples were collect from hospitalized children with acute respiratory infection during Oct. 2005 to Feb. 2006. Two serum samples were obtained from HBoV positive patients. PCR was used to assay all these samples and PCR products were sequenced.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>HBoV was positive in 11 of 148 NPA samples. The positive rate was 7.4 percent. The serum samples of HBoV infected patients showed that serum contained HBoV by PCR assay. All these HBoV positive patients had the clinical symptoms of bronchitis, bronchopneumonia and pneumonia. Some patients had diarrhea.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>All patients infected with HBoV had upper and lower respiratory tract infections. HBoV is a probable important pathogen of upper and lower respiratory tract infection. The HBoV could cause viremia. In addition, some HBoV patients had diarrhea. HBoV infection probably could also result in intestinal disease and other related symptoms.</p>

Release and balance of the soft tissue in total hip arthroplasty for patients with Crowe III and IV type developmental dysplasia of hip / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To summarize the surgical experience of release and balance of soft tissues around hip in total hip arthroplasty for patients with severe hip dysplasia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2001 to January 2006, 29 patients (31 hips) of adult dysplasia of hip were included in the study. Among them, there were 22 females and 7 males, age from 38 to 65 years with average of 53 years. According to Crowe classification system, there were 22 in type III, 9 in type IV, and Harris score was 42.6 preoperatively. Total hip arthroplasty was performed via lateral approach. All the acetabular cups were reconstructed at the original anatomic location through release of soft tissue around hip to restore limb length, and techniques of balance of soft tissue were applied to extend force arm of hip abductor and improve its function.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the patients had restoration of limb length (ranged from 2.5 cm to 4.5 cm). One case of postoperative dislocation was occurred due to slight large of acetabular obtuse angle. Follow-up for 1-5 years (average 3.2 years) in 29 patients, the Harris score increased to 85.4 postoperatively. All hips had released from pain and functioned well.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In order to restoration anatomic structure and physiologic function of affected hip, the technique of release and balance of soft tissues around hip should be applied and cautioned in arthroplasty of dysplastic hip.</p>

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumor of uterus: report of 5 cases and literature review / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the pathologic features, diagnosis, differential diagnosis and biologic behavior of uterine perivascular epithelioid tumor.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Five cases of uterine perivascular epithelioid cell tumor were studied by light microscopy and immunohistochemistry. Follow-up information was reviewed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the five tumors were composed by clear or eosinophilic cells arranged in nests and cords, associated with abundant small vessels and hyalinization in the stroma. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells demonstrated positive staining for melanocytic markers (HMB45 and/or Melan-A), desmin and smooth muscle actin. The staining for cytokeratin and CD10 was negative. All the patients followed for a certain period are still alive, with no evidence of disease recurrence.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Perivascular epithelioid cell tumor is a rare mesenchymal tumor of uterus, with distinctive histologic and immunohistochemical features. It should be distinguished from clear cell carcinoma and epithelioid leiomyoma of uterus. Positivity for melanocytic markers (especially HMB45) plays an important role in the diagnosis of this tumor. In general, the tumor is categorized as benign, with uncertain malignant potential and malignant.</p>