Epidemiology of Sepsis-3 in a sub-district of Beijing: secondary analysis of a population-based database / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

Background@#With the publication of Sepsis-3 definition, epidemiological data based on Sepsis-3 definition from middle-income countries including China are scarce, which prohibits understanding of the disease burden of this newly defined syndrome in these settings. The purpose of this study was to describe incidence and outcome of Sepsis-3 in Yuetan sub-district of Beijing and to estimate the incidence rate of Sepsis-3 in China.@*Methods@#The medical records of all adult residents hospitalized from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2014 in Yuetan sub-district of Beijing were reviewed. Patients with sepsis-3 and severe sepsis/septic shock were identified. The incidence rates and mortality rate of sepsis-3 and sepsis/septic shock were calculated, incidence rates and in-hospital mortality rates were normalized to the population distribution in the 2010 National Census. Population incidence rate and case fatality rate between sexes were compared with the Z test, as the data conformed to Poisson distribution.@*Results@#Of the 21,191 hospitalized patients, 935 patients were diagnosed with Sepsis-3, and 498 cases met severe sepsis/septic shock criteria. The crude annual incidence rate of Sepsis-3 in Yuetan sub-district was 363 cases per 100,000 population, corresponding to standardized incidence rates of 236 cases per 100,000 population per year, respectively. The overall case fatality rate of Sepsis-3 was 32.0%, the crude population mortality rates of Sepsis-3 was 116 cases per 100,000 population per year, the standardized mortality rate was 67 cases per 100,000 population per year, corresponding to a speculative extrapolation of 700,437 deaths in China. The incidence rate and mortality rate of Sepsis-3 were significantly higher in males, elderly people, and patients with more comorbidities. The 62.1% of patients with Sepsis-3 had community-acquired infections, compared with 75.3% of infected patients without Sepsis-3 (P < 0.001). The most common infection in patients with Sepsis-3 was lower respiratory tract infection. When compared with patients with Sepsis-3, patients diagnosed as severe sepsis/septic shock were more likely to have higher case fatality rate (53.4% vs. 32.0%, P < 0.001)@*Conclusions@#This study found the standardized incidence rate of 236 cases per 100,000 person-year for Sepsis-3, which was more common in males and elderly population. This corresponded to about 2.5 million new cases of Sepsis-3 per year, resulting in more than 700,000 deaths in China.@*Clinical trial registration@#NCT02285257, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/record/NCT02285257.

Epidemiology of Sepsis-3 in a sub-district of Beijing: secondary analysis of a population-based database / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#With the publication of Sepsis-3 definition, epidemiological data based on Sepsis-3 definition from middle-income countries including China are scarce, which prohibits understanding of the disease burden of this newly defined syndrome in these settings. The purpose of this study was to describe incidence and outcome of Sepsis-3 in Yuetan sub-district of Beijing and to estimate the incidence rate of Sepsis-3 in China.@*METHODS@#The medical records of all adult residents hospitalized from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2014 in Yuetan sub-district of Beijing were reviewed. Patients with sepsis-3 and severe sepsis/septic shock were identified. The incidence rates and mortality rate of sepsis-3 and sepsis/septic shock were calculated, incidence rates and in-hospital mortality rates were normalized to the population distribution in the 2010 National Census. Population incidence rate and case fatality rate between sexes were compared with the Z test, as the data conformed to Poisson distribution.@*RESULTS@#Of the 21,191 hospitalized patients, 935 patients were diagnosed with Sepsis-3, and 498 cases met severe sepsis/septic shock criteria. The crude annual incidence rate of Sepsis-3 in Yuetan sub-district was 363 cases per 100,000 population, corresponding to standardized incidence rates of 236 cases per 100,000 population per year, respectively. The overall case fatality rate of Sepsis-3 was 32.0%, the crude population mortality rates of Sepsis-3 was 116 cases per 100,000 population per year, the standardized mortality rate was 67 cases per 100,000 population per year, corresponding to a speculative extrapolation of 700,437 deaths in China. The incidence rate and mortality rate of Sepsis-3 were significantly higher in males, elderly people, and patients with more comorbidities. The 62.1% of patients with Sepsis-3 had community-acquired infections, compared with 75.3% of infected patients without Sepsis-3 (P < 0.001). The most common infection in patients with Sepsis-3 was lower respiratory tract infection. When compared with patients with Sepsis-3, patients diagnosed as severe sepsis/septic shock were more likely to have higher case fatality rate (53.4% vs. 32.0%, P < 0.001) CONCLUSIONS:: This study found the standardized incidence rate of 236 cases per 100,000 person-year for Sepsis-3, which was more common in males and elderly population. This corresponded to about 2.5 million new cases of Sepsis-3 per year, resulting in more than 700,000 deaths in China.@*CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION@#NCT02285257, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/record/NCT02285257.

Cytologic diagnosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma of salivary glands and distinction from basal cell adenoma / 中华病理学杂志

Objective@#To describe the cytologic features of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ADCC) of salivary glands, and to identify distinguishing cytologic features of ADCC and basal cell adenoma (BCA).@*Methods@#A retrospective review of cytology smears of 30 cases of ADCC and 12 cases of BCA of salivary glands were performed. All cases were collected from Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2010 to January 2017. Except for 2 aspirate smears of ADCC, all were touch imprint smears. All cases had further histological confirmation.@*Results@#Neoplastic ductal cells of ADCC were arranged in three-dimensional clusters, sheets and singles. Hyaline globules were found in most cases (20/30, 66.7%). The nuclei were round to oval, showing varying degrees of nuclear atypia. These included (1) the nuclei were hyperchromatic, demonstrating coarse or slightly coarse, irregularly distributed chromatin; (2) the nuclei were slightly large and vary in size; (3) appearance of the nuclei had a different degree of irregularity (often mild). Nucleoli were common seen (21/30, 70.0%), and were prominent in some cases. Mitosis and necrosis were rare. Cytologically, BCA showed cell arrangements and nuclear features overlapped with those of ADCC. The cytologic difference between these two tumors included: (1) the tumor cells presented rarely in singles; (2) hyaline globules were very uncommon (1/12) in BCA; (3) nuclei of BCA were hypochromatic or slightly hyperchromatic, homogeneous and uniform in appearance and size, overall without nuclear atypia and they were smaller and slender then those of ADCC and (4) individual cells of BCA showed relatively abundant cytoplasm.@*Conclusions@#The cytologic features of ADCC and BCA both overlap and different from each other. Most cases can be diagnosed by cytologic examination. The presence of hyaline globules is an important diagnostic clue of ADCC, although not pathognomonic. Nuclear atypia of neoplastic ductal cells is an essential cytological feature in the diagnosis of ADCC, and is the most reliable point for differential diagnosis of ADCC and BCA.

Dynamic changes of pH2AX expression in the reversibility of mouse testicular reproductive function impaired by single heat stress / 中华男科学杂志

Objective@#To investigate the role of pH2AX in the reversibility of mouse testicular reproductive function impaired by single heat stress.@*METHODS@#Twenty-four C57 male mice were randomly divided into heat stress and control groups and immersed in water at 43℃ and 25℃, respectively, for 15 minutes. At 1, 7, and 14 days of heat exposure, all the mice were sacrificed and their testis tissues collected for determining the apoptosis of the germ cells by TUNEL and measuring the expression level of the pH2AX protein by immunohistochemistry and Western blot.@*RESULTS@#The highest percentage of apoptotic cells were found in the seminiferous tubules of the mice in the heat stress group on the 1st day of the exposure and almost no apoptosis was observed at 7 and 14 days. The pH2AX protein was expressed in the nuclei of the basement membrane of adjacent seminiferous tubules. Compared with the control group, the expression of pH2AX was significantly increased on the 1st day of exposure (0.47 ± 0.02 vs 1.61 ± 0.04, P <0.01), then decreased at 7 days (0.85 ± 0.03) in comparison with that on the 1st day (P <0.01), and again elevated at 14 days (1.72 ± 0.02) as compared with either those at 1 and 7 days (P <0.01) or that of the control (P <0.01).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Heat stress causes dynamic changes of the pH2AX expression in the testis of the mouse, which are associated with heat stress-induced proliferation and division of the testicular spermatogenic cells.

Study of the detection and significance of intracellular bacterial communities in patient with catheter-associated urinary tract infections / 中华泌尿外科杂志

Objective To detection the urine of bacteria hyphae and intracellular bacterial communities in patients with indwelling urinary catheter and discuss intracellular bacterial comnmunities in the pathogenesis of catheter-related urinary tract infection.Methods From May 2014 to February 2016,95 cases with D-J stent indwelling were enrolled in this study,including 38 male patients and 57 female patients.The mean age was (43 ±21)years old,ranging from 25 to 83 years old.We recorded those patient g clinical symptoms,middle urine culture results.If the middle urine culture was positive,further pathology test and scanning electron microscopy for bacteria hyphae and intracellular bacterial communities would be considered.Results The middle urine culture showed positive in 21 cases (22％,21/95);The classification of bacteria included E.coli in 11 cases,dung enterococcus in 2 cases,klebsiella pneumonia in 4 cases,pseudomonas aeruginosa in 3 cases,epidermis staphylococcus aureus in 1 case.Among those 21 patients,9 cases had the symptoms of fever and shiver.Urine pathology testing found hyphae in 6 cases (6％,6/95).all others were E.coli infection.For scanning electron microscope,6 cases were found rodshaped bacteria and hyphae.3 cases were found intracellular bacterial communities.Conclusions The presence of intracellular bacterial communities made urothelial itself the source of endogenous bacteria of urinary tract infection.Catheter-related urinary tract infections in patients with recurrence maybe basically homology bacteria.

Effects of single heat stress treatment on spermatogenic cells in mice / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of single heat stress treatment on spermatogenic cells in mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We randomly divided 36 C57 male mice into a control and a heat stress treatment group and submerged the lower part of the torso in water at 25 °C and 43 °C, respectively, both for 15 minutes. At 1, 7, and 14 days after treatment, we obtained the testicular organ indexes, observed the changes in testicular morphology by HE staining, and determined the location and expression levels of the promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger (PLZF) and synaptonemal comlex protein-3 (SCP-3) in the testis tissue by immunohistochemistry and Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The testicular organ index was significantly lower in the heat stress treatment than in the control group (P < 0.05). Compared with the controls, the heat shock-treated mice showed loosely arranged spermatogenic cells scattered in the seminiferous tubules at 1 day after heat stress treatment, atrophied, loosely arranged and obviously reduced number of spermatogenic cells at 7 days, and relatively closely arranged seminiferous tubules and increased number and layers of spermatogenic cells at 14 days. The number of SCP-3 labelled spermatocytes obviously decreased in the heat stress-treated animals at 1 and 7 days and began to increase at 14 days. The PLZF protein expression was significantly reduced in the heat stress treatment group at 1 day as compared with that in the control (0.19 ± 0.12 vs 0.64 ± 0.03, P < 0.01), but elevated to 0.77 ± 0.02 at 7 and 14 days, even remarkably higher than in the control animals (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Heat stress treatment can induce short-term dyszoospermia in mice, which can be recovered with the prolonged time after treatment.</p>

High aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A1 (ALDH1A1) expression correlated with risk of lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relationship between ALDH1A1 expression and lymph node metastasis (LNM) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and fifty-three paraffin-embedded specimens of PTC treated in the Beijing Tongren Hospital of Capital Medical University were selected from January 2006 to December 2013. The expression of ALDH1A1 was detected in both tumor tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues by immunohistochemistry and several clinicopathological parameters (size, bilaterality, multifocality, tumor border and extrathyroidal extensions) were assessed by HE staining. The correlation of ALDH1A1 expression with LNM was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In 153 cases of PTC, there were 82 cases with LNM, 126 cases with high ALDH1A1 expression in tumor tissues, and 112 cases with high ALDH1A1 expression in adjacent non-tumor tissues. On univariate analysis, patient age < 45 years, tumor size of 10 mm or more, invasive tumor border, and high ALDH1A1 expression in tumor tissues predicted LNM in PTC (P < 0.05), whereas gender, bilaterality, multifocality, extra-thyroidal extensions and high ALDH1A1 expression in adjacent non-tumor border did not (P > 0.05). On multivariate analysis, invasive tumor border, high ALDH1A1 expression in tumor tissues were found to be independent predictive factors for LNM in PTC (P < 0.05). After a follow-up of 42 months (median time), four patients developed locoregional recurrences, but no distance recurrence or disease related death were seen in 82 patients of follow up. The estimated 5-year locoregional recurrence was 4.88%. Of these four logcoregional recurrences, three involved lymph nodes and one involved the remaining thyroid. The ALDH1A1 expression in tumor tissues was high in all of recurrence cases.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>High ALDH1A1 expression in tumor tissues is correlated with lymph node metastasis in PTC and may be used as an independent predictive factor of LNM, and may improve treatment and follow-up strategies for PTC.</p>

Expressions of aquaporins decrease in the prostate and seminal vesicles of castrated rats / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the levels of secretions from the prostate and seminal vesicles and their association with the expressions of aquaporins (AQP) in the prostatic tissue and seminal vesicles of castrated rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We randomly divided 18 eight-week-old male SD rats into a control, a castration, and a testosterone (T) replacement group. Four weeks after surgical castration, we detected the plasma T level and measured the volumes of the secretions and the expressions of AQPs 3, 7, and 10 - 12 in the prostate and seminal vesicles of the rats.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The plasma T level was significantly lower in the castrated models ([30. 98 ± 28. 84] ng/dl) than in the rats of the control ([700.78 ± 123.8] ng/dl) and T replacement groups ([688.08 ± 132. 47] ng/dl) (P <0. 05). The castration group, in comparison with the control and T replacement groups, showed remarkably reduced ratios of prostatic secretion volume / prostate weight ([11.1 ± 0.30] vs [2.32 ± 0.61] and [2.13 ± 0.56] %, P <0. 05) and seminal vesicle secretion volume / seminal vesicle weight ( [4. 78 ± 1. 97 ] vs [57. 36 ± 11. 86] and [55. 74 ± 7. 21] %, P < 0. 05). Immunohistochemistry revealed the expressions of AQPs 3 and 7 in the epithelial envelop and cytoplasm and that of AQP 11 the in endothelial envelop and cytoplasm of the prostate and seminal vesicles. Western blot exhibited significantly lower expressions of AQPs 3, 7, and 10 - 12 in the prostate and seminal vesicles of the castrated rats than in the animals of the control and T replacement groups (P <0. 05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Significant decreases of the secretions from the prostate and seminal vesicles may be related to the reduced expressions of AQPs 3, 7, and 10 - 12 in the prostatic tissue and seminal vesicles in castrated rats.</p>

Preparation of Lingyi Formula multicomponent microemulsion and its anti-lung cancer activity / 中草药

Objective: To prepare Lingyi Formula multicomponent microemulsion and evaluate its anti-lung cancer activity. Methods: Lingyi Formula multicomponent microemulsion was prepared by aqueous titration method using polysaccharides solution of Ganoderma lucidum and Coix lachryma-jobi var. ma-yuen as aqueous phase and coix seed oil as oil phase, loading ganoderma triterpenes. The average particle size, Zeta potential, and stability were detected. The results of antitumor efficacy including tumor inhibitory rate, body weight change, immune organ index, and concentration of TNF-α and IL-6 were investigated. Besides, pathological section of tumor tissue and TUNEL labeling were conducted subsequently. Results: The prepared microemulsion displayed spherical surface with mean droplet size of (69.92 ± 8.43) nm, polydispersity (PDI) of 0.060 ± 0.008, and Zeta potential of (-11.30 ± 1.34) mV. Tumor inhibitory rate of microemulsion (57.25%) was significantly higher than that of suspension (45.89%), immune tissue index as well as the concentration of TNF-α and IL-6 were increased significantly. TUNEL labeling and pathological section of tumor tissue showed that the antitumor activity of microemulsion was significantly effective compared with that of suspensions. Conclusion: Lingyi Formula multicomponent microemulsion has a good anti-lung cancer activity.

Impact of chronic diseases on erectile function / 中华男科学杂志

Erectile dysfunction (ED) results from the interaction of many pathological factors. Studies show that a high incidence of ED is associated with chronic diseases of various systems, and its pathogenesis is not fully understood. This article outlines the progress in recent studies on the impact of chronic diseases on erectile function.

Imaging and histopathological findings of lacrimal sac lymphoma / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Lymphoma of the lacrimal sac is rare, often misdiagnosed clinically. This study aimed to investigate the imaging features of these tumors and provide suggestions to aid the diagnosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In this retrospective study, five cases were assessed according to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and pathological findings. All five patients underwent MRI and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted imaging (CE-T1WI), of which four patients underwent dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI and three patients underwent CT.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Four cases and one case had a lymphoma in left and right medial canthus, respectively. Soft tissue surrounding the eyelids, subcutaneous tissue in the nasal dorsum, and involvement of the entire nasolacrimal canal were demonstrated in all five lesions. In two cases, the mass invaded the extraconal space. In one case, the mass invaded the adjacent medial rectus muscle and nasal area. Well-defined margins were observed in three cases and ill-defined margins in two cases. All cases showed homogeneous isointense lesions on T1WI. Four cases showed homogeneous isointensity and one case demonstrated heterogeneous isointensity on T2WI. After contrast injection, the lesion showed slight homogeneous isointensity and moderate enhancement in four cases and heterogeneous isointensity and moderate enhancement in one case. In the four patients who underwent DCE-MRI, a plateau pattern was revealed in three cases and washout pattern in one case. In the three cases who underwent CT, two cases had isointense and one case had hyperintense lesions. The lacrimal duct was remodeled and the surrounding bone compressed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Tumors of the lacrimal sac showed homogeneous and isointense patterns on T1WI and T2WI with mildto- moderate enhancement and a plateau pattern on DCE-MRI. CT showed remodeling of the lacrimal duct with bone compression.</p>

Identification and genetic characteristics on the bacteria isolate from a case of human Brucellosis in Guizhou province / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>A suspected Brucella (B.) strain(GZZA), isolated from a case of anti-Brucella antibody positive patient was identified and its' genetic characteristics was analyzed, to provide etiologic basis for the confirmation of patient in Guizhou province.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Conventional methods and polymerase chain reaction(PCR)were used to identify the bacteria strain, with genetic characteristics analyzed by MLVA-16.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The bacteria strain was identified as B. melitensis biovar 3 under the conventional and PCR methods. Results from the MLVA-16 analysis indicated that the bacteria strain was closely clustered with B. melitensis biovar 3, and differences of repeated numbers at VNTR loci bruce42, bruce04, bruce09 and bruce16 were also displayed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Both traditional and molecular methods to identify one bacteria strain isolated from the human patient as B. melitensis biovar 3 and the genetic characteristics of the strain was closely related to that of B. melitensis biovar 3. Differences of repeated numbers at part of VNTR loci were also showed. The results of this study provided etiologic evidences for the confirmation of Brucella infection of the patient, also providing scientific basis for the control and prevention of Brucellosis in Guizhou province.</p>

Fever monitoring program in areas with high incidence of typhoid and paratyphoid fever in Guizhou province / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To understand the incidence rates of both typhoid fever and paratyphoid fever in the high prevalent areas of Guizhou province so as to provide evidence for the development of programs on comprehensive intervention and effectiveness evaluation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Six townships in Pingba county were selected as intervention areas while six townships in Kaiyang county were taken as control. All hospitals and clinics were classified into A, B and C types according to its level and the capacity of the blood culture. Surveillance on typhoid and paratyphoid fever was conducted based on all population and all hospitals, clinics and county CDCs among the patients with unknown fever.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the surveillance area in those two counties, there were 12 944 blood samples from patients with unknown fever which have been tested and cultured. Among them, 200 strains of Salmonella including 16 typhoid strains, 184 paratyphoid A strains were identified, with the total positive rate as 1.55%. The positive rate before the intervention program was higher than the after. The detection rate was 1.91% in the type A hospitals. 39 strains of Salmonella have been cultured from 2039 samples which accounting for 19.50% (39/200) of the total strains. 4315 blood samples were cultured at the 'Class B' sites which isolated 82 strains of Salmonella, accounting for 41.00% (82/200), with a detection rate as 1.90%. 6590 samples were cultured at the 'Class C' sites, which identified 79 strains of Salmonella, accounting for 39.50% (79/200), with a detection rate as 1.20%. The detection rate was much higher before the use of antibiotics than after using them (P < 0.05). The annual peak time of positive detection was in spring and fall. The outbreaks or epidemics often appeared in the same places, with farmers, students as the high-risk populations. Symptoms of both typhoid and paratyphoid fever were not typical.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Typhoid and paratyphoid monitoring programs which covered primary health care institutions in the high incidence area seemed to be effective in reflecting the pictures as well as the burden of both typhoid and paratyphoid.</p>

Genotype features of norovirus associated with acute gastroenteritis through sentinel surveillance in Guizhou Province, 2011 / 病毒学报

To study the genotype of Norovirus associated with acute gastroenteritis in Guizhou Province 2011, the patients' fecal specimens were collected from the Guizhou Province People's Hospital in the period of May to December 2011. Noroviruses in specimens were detected by a real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (Real-time RT-PCR). VP1 genes of norovirus-positive strains were then cloned and sequenced. Out of 70 clinical samples, the positive rates for norovirus G I (1 strain) and G II (34 strains) were 1.43% and 48.57, respectively. The VP1 sequencing results of seven norovirus G II showed thatthree strains were genotype G II . 4 and four strains were genotype G II . 3 Those genotype GIL . 4 strains were new variants (GII . 4 2011),closest to GII . 4 2006b variant. One amino acid appeared back mutation. Those genotype G II . 3 strains were divided into 2 gene clusters. One cluster was closest to Korean strain (HM635118) and Shanghai strain(GU991355). One cluster was closest to Japaness strain (AB629943) and 2007 Indian strain (EU921389), Four amino acids appeared back mutations.

Etiologic diagnosis and analysis of the first case of human brucellosis in Guizhou province / 中国地方病学杂志

Objective To etiologically diagnose and analyze a patient with suspected cases of brucellosis,and to provide a experimental basis for the confirmation of the first case of human brucellosis in Guizhou province.Methods Conventional and molecular techniques [genus specific Brucella surface protein 31 PCR (BCSP31-PCR)and Brucella suis species-specific PCR (AMOS-PCR)] were used to identify suspicious bacteria strains isolated from the suspected patient of brucellosis.Results The results showed that the Brucella suspicious colonies were identified as Brucella melitensis biotype 3 using conventional tests and were further identified as Brucella spp.by genus specific Brucella surface protein 31 PCR (BCSP31-PCR) and classified as Brucella melitensis with Brucella abortus,Brucella melitensis,Brucella ovis,Brucella suis species-specific PCR(AMOS-PCR).Conclusions Laboratory diagnostic results show that the bacteria strain isolated from the suspected patient of brucellosis is Brucella melitensis biotype 3.It is the first case of human brucellosis in Guizhou province.

PCR-SSCP molecular identification of Panax ginseng and P. quinquefolius based on ITS2 bar coding SNPs / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a method for identifying Panax ginseng and P. quinquefolius with PCR-SSCP, on the basis of specific SNP identification sites of their ITS2 bar codes.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>ITS2 sequences of P. ginseng and P. quinquefolius recorded in GenBank were searched to conduct a comparative analysis and screen out specific SNP identification sites of their ITS2 bar codes. Based on that, the Polymerase Chain Reaction-Single Strand Conformation Polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) method was adopted for analyzing 11 P. ginseng samples and 10 P. quinquefolius samples and verifying sequencing of their PCR products.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The P. ginseng and P. quinquefolius samples had the same agarose mages of PCR-SSCP with the standard medicines. There were significant differences between the PCR-SSCP agarose mages of P. ginseng and P. quinquefolius, with identifical identification results between PCR-SSCP and sequencing.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compared with the sequencing method, PCR-SSCP is so rapid and accurate that it can be used for identifying P. ginseng and P. quinquefolius medicines.</p>

Effects of mast cells on degradation of collagen fibers in dimethylnitrosamine-induced hepatic fibrosis of rat / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relationship between mast cell and hepatic fibrosis by histopathological method and semi-quantitative measurement.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-two Wistary male rats, the control group and the normal group of each only 16, experimental group of 40 rat liver fibrosis was induced by injection of DMN and was sampled at eight different time points. HE, histochemistry, immunohistochemistry (ABC method) and immunofluorescence were performed. The size of fibrosis and the number of mast cells were counted. The expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 was documented and electron microscopic examination was performed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After injection of DMN, the fibrosis was the most severe in the 2 week (3.72%) and the first month (3.73%, P = 0.2626), and then gradually diminished, although residual fibrosis was still present at 12 months (1.42%, P = 0.0003). The appearance of mast cells began at 2 weeks (1.73 per 200 power field in average by light microscope) after the injection and reached the peak at 4 months (3.06, P = 0.008). Residual amount of mast cells were present at 12 months (1.04, P = 0.045). However, the degree of fibrosis was not proportional or overlapping with the number of mast cells in this experiment model. Mast cells expressed MMP-2 but not TIMP-2.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In the DMN-induced rat liver fibrosis model, mast cell may be an integral player in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis and may contribute to the degradation of fibrosis by synthesizing and secreting MMP-2.</p>

Molecular typing of Leptospira interrogans strains isolated from Rattus tanezumi in Guizhou Province, Southwest of China / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify and type three leptospires isolated from Rattus tanezumi in Guizhou Province by using three molecular techniques (PFGE, MLVA, and MLST), reveal the molecular characteristic of causative agents of local leptospirosis and evaluate these three molecular methods based on their detection resolution and efficiency.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Three Leptospira strains were isolated from the kidney of Rattus tanezumi and cultured with EMJH medium. PFGE, MLVA, and MLST assays were applied to type the three strains isolated from Rattus tanezumi in Guizhou Province.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>PFGE, MLVA, and MLST typing showed that the three leptospiral isolates matched with leptospiral serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae serovar Lai. The findings of the genotyping methods were consistent. MLVA and MLST defined genotypes, whereas PFGE allowed the recognition of additional subgroups within the genotypes, and the findings of molecular typing were also consistent with those of traditional techniques.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Three leptospiral isolates from Guizhou Province matched with leptospiral serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae serovar Lai, and PFGE, MLVA, and MLST, as reliable molecular techniques for identifying and typing of Leptospira interrogans, would contribute to the active surveillance, outbreak investigation and source tracking for leptospirosis in Guizhou Province.</p>

Analysis of the genetic differences in the nucleoprotein between rabies virus and its vaccine strains in Guizhou province from year 2005 to 2010 / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This study was to explore the differences in the nucleoprotein gene between rabies virus (RABV) and its vaccine strains in Guizhou province from year 2005 to 2010.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Samples from 4 rabies patients and cerebral tissue samples of 28 rabies infected dogs were collected from different districts in Guizhou province between year 2005 and 2010. Direct Immunofluorescence Assay (DFA) and RT-nested PCR assay were applied to detect the overall length of N gene sequence. Meanwhile, based on the comparison between the homology and phylogenetic tree, the differences in N gene sequence between the prevalent RABV and the RABV vaccine strains collected from NCBI database in these years.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>According to DFA and RT-nested PCR assay, the antigen and nucleic acid of the 21 dogs and 4 human samples were both confirmed positive; whose full length of N gene sequences were both 1353 bp. The homological analysis showed that the 25 strains of RABV virus and the RABV type I virus stored by GenBank database shared a high homology in N gene nucleotide and amino acid sequences, which were 89%-100% and 98%-100%, respectively. Besides, the homology between the 25 strains of RABV virus and its vaccines in nucleotide and amino acid sequences were separately 86%-95% and 96%-100%. The N gene of vaccines for livestock shared the highest homology with HEP-Flury strain in the nucleotide and amino acid, which were 88%-89% and 98%-99%, respectively. The vaccines for human use showed its greatest homology with the CTN strain in nucleotide (86%-100%) and amino acid (96%-100%). The phylogenetic tree analysis indicated that the 25 strains of RABV virus, RABV type I virus and the CTN vaccine strains constituted one individual cluster, which was least different from the CTN vaccine for human use.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The prevalent RABV virus, the vaccine HEP-Flury for livestock and the vaccine CTN for human use were found to be highly similar in N gene expression in Guizhou province from 2005 to 2010.</p>

Clinicopathologic study of invasive fungal rhinosinusitis caused by Aspergillus and Mucorales / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the differences in clinicopathologic features of invasive fungal rhinosinusitis caused by Aspergillus and Mucorales, and to discuss the pathogenesis of tissue injury induced by these two kinds of fungi.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical and pathologic features of 19 patients with invasive fungal rhinosinusitis due to Aspergillus (group A) and 16 patients with invasive fungal rhinosinusitis due to Mucorales (group M) were retrospectively reviewed. HE, PAS and GMS stains were performed on all the paraffin-embedded tissues. The diagnosis was confirmed by histologic examination and microbiological culture results.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Amongst the group A patients, the clinical course was acute in 4 cases and chronic in 15 cases. Thirteen cases had underlying predisposing conditions, including diabetes (number = 4), malignant tumor (number = 5), history of trauma (number = 1) and radical maxillary sinus surgery (number = 3). Follow-up information was available in 13 patients. Seven of them died, 4 due to fungal encephalopathy and 3 due to underlying diseases. Amongst the group M patients, the clinical course was acute in 14 cases and chronic in 2 cases. Fourteen cases had underlying predisposing conditions, including diabetes (number = 8), malignant tumor (number = 5) and history of wisdom tooth extraction (number = 1). Follow-up information was available in 14 patients. Four of them died of fungal encephalopathy. There was significant difference in clinical onset between the two groups (P = 0.01). There was however no difference in terms of underlying predisposing conditions and disease mortality. Histologically, the microorganisms in group A patients formed fungal masses and attached to the mucosal surface, resulting in necrotic bands (11/19). Epithelioid granulomas were conspicuous but multinucleated giant cells were relatively rare. Deep-seated necrosis, granulomatous inflammation against fungal organisms (3/19) and vasculitis with thrombosis (4/19) were not common. On the other hand, large areas of geographic necrosis involving deep-seated tissue could be seen in group M patients (13/16). Isolated multinucleated giant cells were commonly seen. Granulomatous inflammation against fungal organisms were identified (16/16). Vasculitis and thrombosis were also observed (10/16).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The invasiveness of Mucorales is remarkable; and when it causes invasive fungal rhinosinusitis, the clinical course is often acute and large areas of tissue necrosis can be seen. The invasiveness of Aspergillus in tissue is relatively mild. Granulomas are more common and the disease often runs a chronic clinical course. There is however no significant difference in long-term mortality. The pathogenesis may be related to the different components of the fungi.</p>