Viruses and clinical features associated with hospitalized children with acute respiratory infections in Lhasa, Tibet / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the viral etiology and clinical features of hospitalized children with acute respiratory tract infections in Tibet.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Nasopharyngeal aspirate samples were collected from children with acute respiratory tract infection hospitalized at the department of Pediatrics, Tibet Autonomous Region People's Hospital from April to July, 2011. The specimens of nasopharyngeal aspirate were screened for antigens of 7 common respiratory viruses by direct immunofluorescence (DIF) [respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus (ADV), parainfluenza viruses type I-III, influenza virus A and B] and human metapneumovirus. Clinical data of the children were analyzed by statistical software SPSS16.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>A total of 167 children with acute respiratory tract infections hospitalized from April to July 2011 were enrolled in this investigation. Sixty-five out of 167 specimens were positive for viral antigens. The virus positive rate for specimens was 38.9% (65/167). Two of 65 positive specimens were positive for 2 virus antigens (RSV + influenza B) and (hMPV + parainfluenza virus type III), respectively. RSV was detected in 45 cases (67.2%, 45/67) which was the most predominant, followed by parainfluenza virus type III detected in 7 cases (10.4%, 7/67), ADV in 6 cases (9.0%, 6/67), parainfluenza virus type I in 4 cases (6.0%, 4/67), influenza virus type B in 3 cases (4.5%, 3/67), and hMPV in 2 cases (3.0%, 2/67). In addition to clinical manifestations of pneumonia, such as cough and shortness of breath, only 3 virus positive cases (6.67%) presented with wheezing, but the signs of severe cyanosis, fine rales in lung were common. Most of the children in this study recovered soon, only a few younger children with underlying diseases or complications had severe illness.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Virus is an important pathogen for acute respiratory infections for hospitalized children in Tibet. RSV was the most predominant etiological agent, especially for those younger than 3 years old.</p>

Preliminary analysis on respiratory syncytial virus identified in children with acute respiratory infections in Tibet Autonomous Region, China / 病毒学报

To understand the role of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in children with acute respiratory infections (ARI) in Tibet Autonomous Region and the contribution of two major groups of RSV, nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA) were collected from hospitalized children with ARI in Department of Pediatrics, Tibet People's Hospital in Lasa, Tibet from April to July in 2011 and tested for seven common respiratory viruses and human metapneumovirus (hMPV) by direct immunofluorescence assay (DFA). Total RNAs were extracted from RSV positive samples by DFA and reverse transcripted to cDNA. Nested-PCR was employed to determine the genogroups of RSV, which were confirmed by real time-PCR and sequence analysis for G protein encoding gene. The Characteristics and variations of G genes from RSV in this project were identified by sequence comparison with those G genes in GenBank. Out of 167 samples, 65 were positive for respiratory viruses with a total positive rate of 38.9%, including 45 (69.2%, 45/65)positive samples for RSV. Among 42 samples that were positive for RSV and genotyped, 40 were identified as group A and 2 as group B. Sequence analysis of full-length G genes for 7 RSV of group A indicated that all of these belonged to subgroup GA2. The nucleotide identities between RSVs from Tibet and prototype A2 strain were 90.7%-91.8%, with 86.5%-87.2% identities of amino acid. The mutations of amino acids were mainly located in both ends of a highly conserved region in the ectodomain of the G proteins. The data indicated that RSV was the most important viral etiologic agent of ARI in spring of 2011 in Tibet and group A of RSV was predominant during the study period. High divergence existed in the ectodomain of G proteins of RSVs from Tibet.

Clinical characteristics and changes in blood electrolyte and renal function of neonates with polycythemia at high altitude / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the relationship between neonatal hypoxia and polycythemia and to study clinical characteristics of Tibetan neonates whose family lived in Tibetan plateau for generations and Han neonates whose family moved to the plateau.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>From Jan. 2005 to Oct. 2006, totally 739 patients were hospitalized in the ward of neonatology of the hospital. Of these patients, 40 (20 were Tibetan and the other 20 were Han) with neonatal polycythemia. The clinical features, transcutaneous oxygen saturation (TcSO₂), peripheral routine tests and myocardial enzyme profile were studied.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The values of hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (HCT), and erythrocyte count (RBC) of the Han neonates were significantly higher than those of the Tibetan newborns. Han neonates with polycythemia had lower TcSPO₂ than Tibetan neonates (P < 0.01). Comparison of myocardial enzymes showed that Han neonates had higher CKMB than that of Tibetan groups before treatment (P < 0.01), troponin was not significantly different between the Han and Tibetan groups before treatment (P > 0.05). The major common clinical manifestations of the Han and Tibetan newborns were tachypnea, cyanosis, irritability, weak reflexes and hypoxemia. The Han neonates additionally had poor responses, apnea, lower muscle tone, confusion and asphyxia.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The clinical characteristics, TcSO₂, peripheral blood routine tests and myocardial enzyme profile are helpful in diagnosis and treatment of neonatal polycythemia. Newborn infants born to mothers who moved to the plateau area may be more susceptible to neonatal polycythemia and are prone to impairments of other organs, esp. the functions of the heart and brain.</p>

Inhibition of HCV IRES controlled reporter gene expression by RNA interference / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To develop a RNAi approach that specifically targets the HCV IRES sequence by vector-expressed short hairpin RNA (shRNA) in vitro, and to assess the inhibitory effect of the shRNA on reporter gene expression.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eukaryotic expressing plasmids, pIRES-GFP and p5' UTR-Luc containing GFP or luciferase gene controlled by HCV IRES were cotransfected into HepG2 cells with either a RNAi plasmid pshRNA-HCV or a control plasmid pTZU6+1. At 24, 48, 72 hours post transfection, the fluorescence in the transfected cells was studied using fluorescence microscopy. The levels of GFP RNA were determined using RT-PCR and those of protein were determined using Western blot. The activities of luciferase were assayed using a dual luciferase assay system.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The introduction of RNAi plasmid efficiently and specifically down-regulated the expression of the reporter gene. RT-PCR showed that the RNAs of GFP gene were distinctly reduced (about 60%) when the pIRES-GFP was cotransfected with pshRNA-HCV, whereas the control vector did not exhibit inhibitory effect on the mRNA level, according to Western blot assay. The luciferase activity also decreased by 60%-70% in comparison to the control plasmid.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our results demonstrate that the shRNA targeting HCV IRES shows a strong inhibitive effect on the expression of the reporter gene controlled by this sequence, suggesting that RNAi-based anti-HCV strategy may represent a potential approach in the therapy of HCV infection.</p>

Content Determination of Active Component in Epimedium Koreanum Nakai of Different Pharmaceutical Genetic in Liaoning Province / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To determine the content of icariin and flavonids in Epimedium koreanum Nakai of different place of production and different pharmaceutical genetic in Liaoning Province. Methods Icariin was used as the chemical reference substance to establish HPLC and ultraviolet spectrophotometry methods for content determination of icariin and total flavonoids. Results The content of icariin in leaves was from 0.197% to 0.347%,and in stem was from 0.043% to 0.050%. The content of total flavonids in leaves was from 6.68% to 8.85%,and in stem was from 1.3% to 2.7%. The calibration curves of icariin was in good linearity over the range of 0.3～1.8 ?g (r=0.999 9) and total flavonids was 0.5～3 ?g/mL (r=0.999 9). The average recovery of icariin was 99.43% (n=6,RSD=0.29%) and total flavonids was 100.38% (n=9,RSD= 1.60%). Conclusions The content of flavonids in Epimedium koreanum Nakai of different place of production and different pharmaceutical genetic has large difference,the content in leaves is far higher than in stem.

A study on the methodology regarding the prevalence survey of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in China / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the methodology on prevalence study of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in line with the world, to obtain accurate epidemic data of COPD in China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A national multi-center cross-sectional survey on prevalence, risk factors and burden of COPD was conducted in China. In each area, a population-based cluster sample of approximately 1450 individuals aged 40 years or older was interviewed, using standardized questionnaires that were revised on the methodology of burden of lung diseases (BOLD) study and according under the context of China. All participants were submitted to pre-bronchodilator spirometry. Those with airflow limitation received post-bronchodilator spirometry, physical examination, X-rays of chest and EKG (electrocardiogram) tests. The post-bronchodialators FEV1/FVC < 70% was identified as having COPD.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Investigation has been completed with the same standardized procedures by all sites, up to the requirement of quality control. Over 85.0% of the spirometry tests and 95.0% of questionnaires had met the criteria of quality control in each area. Overall, 95.2% of the data was valid with acceptable spirometry and questionaire, and the valid response rate was 79.0%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The protocol was in line with the international standards, by which the prevalence of COPD in China was of adequate quality and valid.</p>