Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the management of imported malaria in China / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To examine the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the epidemic status of imported malaria and national malaria control program in China, so as to provide insights into post-elimination malaria surveillance. Methods All data pertaining to imported malaria cases were collected from Anhui Province, Hubei Province, Henan Province, Zhejiang Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region during the period from January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2021. The number of malaria cases, species of malaria parasites, country where malaria parasite were infected, diagnosis and treatment after returning to China, and response were compared before (from January 1, 2018 to January 22, 2020) and after the COVID-19 pandemic (from January 23, 2020 to December 31, 2021). Results A total of 2 054 imported malaria cases were reported in Anhui Province, Hubei Province, Henan Province, Zhejiang Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region during the period from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2021, and there were 1 722 cases and 332 cases reported before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, respectively. All cases were reported within one day after definitive diagnosis. The annual mean number of reported malaria cases reduced by 79.30% in Anhui Province, Hubei Province, Henan Province, Zhejiang Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region after the COVID-19 pandemic (171 cases) than before the pandemic (826 cases), and the number of monthly reported malaria cases significantly reduced in Anhui Province, Hubei Province, Henan Province, Zhejiang Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region since February 2020. There was a significant difference in the constituent ratio of species of malaria parasites among the imported malaria cases in Anhui Province, Hubei Province, Henan Province, Zhejiang Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region before and after the COVID-19 pandemic (χ2 = 146.70, P < 0.05), and P. falciparum malaria was predominant before the COVID-19 pandemic (72.30%), while P. ovale malaria (44.28%) was predominant after the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by P. falciparum malaria (37.65%). There was a significant difference in the constituent ratio of country where malaria parasites were infected among imported malaria cases in Anhui Province, Hubei Province, Henan Province, Zhejiang Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region before and after the COVID-19 pandemic (χ2 = 13.83, P < 0.05), and the proportion of malaria cases that acquired Plasmodium infections in western Africa reduced after the COVID-19 pandemic that before the pandemic (44.13% vs. 37.95%; χ2 = 4.34, P < 0.05), while the proportion of malaria cases that acquired Plasmodium infections in eastern Africa increased after the COVID-19 pandemic that before the pandemic (9.58% vs. 15.36%; χ2 = 9.88, P = 0.02). The proportion of completing case investigation within 3 days was significantly lower after the COVID-19 pandemic than before the pandemic (96.69% vs. 98.32%; χ2= 3.87, P < 0.05), while the proportion of finishing foci investigation and response within 7 days was significantly higher after the COVID-19 pandemic than before the pandemic (100.00% vs. 98.43%; χ2 = 3.95, P < 0.05). Conclusions The number of imported malaria cases remarkably reduced in Anhui Province, Hubei Province, Henan Province, Zhejiang Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a decreased proportion of completing case investigations within 3 days. The sensitivity of the malaria surveillance-response system requires to be improved to prevent the risk of secondary transmission of malaria due to the sharp increase in the number of imported malaria cases following the change of the COVID-19 containment policy.

An epidemiological investigation of an border-imported case with Plasmodium vivax malaria / 预防医学

Abstract@#On March 12, 2022, a case with Plasmodium vivax malaria was reported in the First Hospital of Jiaxing City. The case sought healthcare services due to persist, sharp distending pain of the brain and fever on February 25, 2022, and the symptoms showed no improvements following symptomatic treatment. Microscopy identified malaria parasites on March 12, and the case was definitively diagnosed as P. vivax malaria on March 13. The case was discharged from hospital on March 16 and relapsed on June 15. The case was a veteran from the China-Myanmar border, where malaria is highly prevalent, and had no history of travel after returning to Jiaxing City on October 2021. Based on epidemiological history and laboratory tests, the case was diagnosed as a cross-border mosquito-borne imported case of P. vivax malaria. The case was given treatment with mosquito vector isolation, and the case's family members, neighbors and colleagues were all tested negative for malaria parasites. There was no Anopheles sinensis detected in the case' residence; however, Anopheles was detected in the neighboring areas, indicating a risk of re-establishment. Returners from high-risk regions including borders and labor exporters are recommended to be included in malaria surveillance, and the sensitivity of malaria surveillance requires to be maintained and the diagnostic and treatment capability of malaria requires to be improved in medical institutions.

Analysis of surveillance results of paragonimiasis in Zhejiang Province from 2005 to 2020 / 中华地方病学杂志

Objective:To ascertain the endemic status of paragonimiasis in Zhejiang Province.Methods:From 2005 to 2020, 2-3 villages in 1-2 counties (cities, districts, hereinafter refferred to as counties) in historical endemic areas of paragonimiasis in Zhejiang Province were selected for monitoring each year. In each village, 50 to 150 local residents were selected as monitoring subjects, venous blood samples were collected, and serum Paragonimus antibody was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Fifty to 100 intermediate hosts crabs or crayfish were collected in each village, and the infection of Paragonimus metacercaria was detected by crushing precipitation. Results:The positive rate of Paragonimus antibody was 2.9% (94/3 297); 3 929 crabs or crayfish were divided into 2 749 groups, 790 of which were found to have Paragonimus metacercaria infection, with a Paragonimus metacercaria infection rate of 28.7%. Conclusions:Paragonimus transmission chain exists in some counties of Zhejiang Province, which still has the potential risk of Paragonimus epidemic. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen monitoring and carry out extensive health education to improve residents' self-protection awareness.

Surveillance of soil-borne nematodiasis among rural populations in Tiantai County / 预防医学

Objective@#To investigate the prevalence of soil-borne nematode infections among rural residents in Tiantai County, Zhejiang Province, so as to provide insights into improving the control strategy. @*Methods@#According to the Zhejiang Provincial Surveillance Programme on Soil-borne Nematodiasis and Clonorchiasis, 5 administrative villages were randomly selected in Tiantai County according to geographical locations on April, 2021, and all permanent residents at ages of 3 years and older were sampled from each village using a cluster sampling method. Subjects' gender, age, occupation, education level and deworming were collected. Subjects' stool samples were collected, and soil-borne nematode eggs were detected using the modified Kato-Katz technique, and larval culture was performed using a filter-paper culture method among hookworm egg positives for identification of hookworm species. In addition, the intensity of infection was evaluated using hookworm eggs per gram stool sample. @*Results@#A total of 1 013 residents participated in the survey, including 495 men (48.86%) and 518 women (51.14%), and there were 502 participants at ages of 51 to 70 years (49.56%), 874 farmers (86.28%) and 436 subjects with an education level of primary school (43.04%). However, no subjects received deworming. The prevalence of hookworm infections was 3.85% among the study subjects, and only Necator americanus was identified. There were 31 cases with mild infections (79.49%), 5 cases with moderate infections (12.82%) and 3 cases with severe infections (7.69%), and all infections occurred in farmers. The prevalence of hookworm infections was 3.84% among men and 3.86% among women. No hookworm infection was detected among residents at ages of <41 years, and the prevalence of hookworm infections appeared a tendency towards a rise with age among residents at ages of 51 years and older (χ2trend=24.091, P<0.001), while the prevalence of hookworm infections appeared a tendency towards a decline with educational levels among residents (χ2trend=19.534, P<0.001). The greatest prevalence of hookworm infections was found in Qianyang Village (10.95%).@*Conclusions@#Hookworm disease is the predominant type of soil-borne nematodiasis in Tiantai County, and the middle-aged and elderly farmers with a low education level are high-risk populations for soil-borne nematodiasis control.

Epidemiological characteristics and diagnosis of imported malaria cases in Zhejiang Province from 2017 to 2020 / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To analyze the epidemiological features and diagnosis of imported malaria cases in Zhejiang Province from 2017 to 2020, so as to provide the scientific evidence for the management of imported malaria in the province. Methods The data of malaria cases reported in Zhejiang Province were captured from the Information Management System for Parasitic Disease Control of China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention from 2017 to 2020, and the temporal, spatial and human distribution, and initial and definitive diagnosis of imported malaria cases were descriptively analyzed. Results A total of 593 malaria cases were reported in Zhejiang Province from 2017 to 2020, and all were overseas imported cases, including 532 men and 61 women, with a mean age of 41 years. There were 93.93% of the malaria cases from African countries, and the malaria parasites infecting these cases included Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae and mixed infections, with P. falciparum as the predominant species (76.73%, 455/593). All malaria cases received totally correct initial diagnoses in county- and city-level centers for disease control and prevention (CDC) and entry-exit inspection and quarantine sectors, and the proportion of malaria cases with confirmation at the day of initial diagnosis was 41.48% (207/499) in medical institutions and 66.18% (45/68) in CDC (χ2 = 14.779, P < 0.001). In addition, the median interval [M (QR)] of malaria cases was 1 (2) d from onset to initial diagnosis and 1 (2) d from initial diagnosis to confirmation in Zhejiang Province from 2017 to 2020, and the median interval [M (QR)] of severe malaria cases was significantly longer than that of non-severe cases [2 (3) d vs. 1 (2) d; Z = −3.002, P < 0.05]. Conclusions Zhejiang Province faces great challenges of malaria control, and post-elimination surveillance of malaria still requires to be reinforced. Meanwhile, the awareness of seeking medical services requires to be improved among returners from malaria-endemic regions and the diagnostic capability of malaria requires to be improved among medical professionals.

Effect of acupuncture combined with rehabilitation training on cognitive function and amino acid metabolism in children with cerebral palsy / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of acupuncture combined with rehabilitation training on cognitive function and amino acid metabolism in children with cerebral palsy.@*METHODS@#Twenty children with cerebral palsy (cerebral palsy group) were randomly divided into an acupuncture and rehabilitation group (11 cases) and a rehabilitation group (9 cases), and 10 healthy children were included as the normal group. The rehabilitation group was treated with rehabilitation training, 30 min each time; on the basis of rehabilitation training, the acupuncture and rehabilitation group was treated with acupuncture at Sishenzhen, Zhisanzhen, Naosanzhen, Niesanzhen, Dazhui (GV 14), Shenzhu (GV 12), Mingmen (GV 4), etc. The Sishenzhen (left and right points) and the ipsilateral Niesanzhen were respectively connected with a group of electrodes, intermittent wave, frequency of 2 Hz for 30 min. Both groups were treated once every other day, three times a week, totaling for 3 months. The Gesell developmental diagnostic scale (GESELL) was used to evaluate the developmental quotient (DQ) scores before and after treatment, and the blood samples of children with cerebral palsy before and after treatment and normal children were collected for amino acid metabolomics.@*RESULTS@#Compared before treatment, the DQ scores of adaptation, fine motor and social in the acupuncture and rehabilitation group was increased after treatment (@*CONCLUSION@#Acupuncture combined with rehabilitation training could improve cognitive function in children with cerebral palsy, and the effect may be related to the down-regulation of L-histidine and L-citrulline metabolism.

Application value of whole exome sequencing in critically ill neonates with inherited diseases / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the application value of whole exome sequencing (WES) in critically ill neonates with inherited diseases.@*METHODS@#A total of 66 critically ill neonates with suspected inherited diseases or unclear clinical diagnosis who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit were enrolled as subjects. The clinical data of the neonates were collected, and venous blood samples were collected from the neonates and their parents for WES. The clinical manifestations of the neonates were observed to search for related pathogenic gene mutations.@*RESULTS@#Among the 66 critically ill neonates with suspected inherited diseases or unclear clinical diagnosis (34 boys and 32 girls), 14 (21%) were found to have gene mutations by WES. One neonate had no gene mutation detected by WES but was highly suspected of pigment incontinence based on clinical manifestations, and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification detected a heterozygous deletion mutation in exons 4-10 of the IKBKG gene. Among the 15 neonates with gene mutations, 10 (67%) had pathogenic gene mutation, 1 (7%) was suspected of pathogenic gene mutation, and 4 (27%) had gene mutations with unknown significance. Among the 15 neonates, 13 underwent chromosome examination, and only 1 neonate was found to have chromosome abnormality.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Chromosome examination cannot be used as a diagnostic method for inherited diseases, and WES detection technology is an important tool to find inherited diseases in critically ill neonates with suspected inherited diseases or unclear clinical diagnosis; however WES technology has some limitation and it is thus necessary to combine with other sequencing methods to achieve an early diagnosis.

Value of Head and Neck CT Angiography in the Clinical Evaluation of Intraoperative Bleeding Volume of Carotid Body Tumours / 中国医学科学院学报

To investigate the value of head and neck CT angiography(CTA)in the evaluation of intraoperative hemorrhage of carotid body tumours. Head and neck CTA images of 36 patients with carotid body tumours confirmed by pathology were retrospectively analyzed.Patients were divided into two groups based on the intraoperative bleeding volume:<500 ml and≥500 ml groups.The patient's age,sex,Shamblin classification,size of the lesion,number of blood supply arteries,course of the disease,plain scan,and enhanced CT value between two groups were compared and analyzed.Logistics regression equation was established based on the CTA parameters with significant differences between the two intraoperative bleeding volume groups,and combined parameter was acquired.The receiver operating characteristic curve was established based on CTA single and combined parameters. The bleeding volume during the operation of carotid body tumors was significantly correlated with the age of patients(=0.019),the maximum diameter of tumours on axial images(=0.003),the maximum upper and lower diameters(=0.004),Shamblin classification(=0.012),and number of blood supply arteries(<0.001).The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the number of feeding arteries,the maximum diameter of axial images,maximum upper and lower diameters,Shamblin classification,and combined parameters were 0.865,0.781,0.806,0.766,and 0.927,respectively.When the optimal critical value was 0.408,the Youden index was 0.794,and the corresponding accuracy,sensitivity,and specificity were 0.919,0.909,and 0.923,respectively. Preoperative head and neck CTA can be used to evaluate the intraoperative blood loss.Combined parameters has the best diagnostic performance compared with single parameters.

Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis: A Case Report

Primary amebic encephalitis (PAM) is a devastating central nervous system infection caused by Naegleria fowleri, a free-living amoeba, which can survive in soil and warm fresh water. Here, a 43-year-old healthy male was exposed to warm freshwater 5 days before the symptom onset. He rapidly developed severe cerebral edema before the diagnosis of PAM and was treated with intravenous conventional amphotericin B while died of terminal cerebral hernia finally. Comparing the patients with PAM who has similar clinical symptoms to those with other common types of meningoencephalitis, this infection is probably curable if treated early and aggressively. PAM should be considered in the differential diagnosis of purulent meningoencephalitis, especially in patients with recent freshwater-related activities during the hot season.

Analysis of hidden blood loss after percutaneous kyphoplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture and its influencing factors / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the hidden blood loss and related risk factors of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures after percutaneous kyphoplasty.@*METHODS@#The clinical data of 153 patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures who underwent percutaneous kyphoplasty from March 2015 to December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed, including 55 males and 98 females, aged 68 to 87(78.6±11.4) years old. Erythrocyte specific volume was collected before and after operation to calculate the hidden blood loss. The influence of sex, age, body mass index, bone mineral density, diabetes mellitus and hypertension, operation mode (unilateral or bilateral), operation time, operative segment and number, loss height of vertebral body and recovery height ratio on hidden blood loss was analyzed by multiple linear regression model.@*RESULTS@#Postoperative hidden blood loss was (287.7±68.5) ml. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that the history of diabetes mellitus (β=2.405, =0.012), the mode of operation(β=3.042, <0.001), the time of operation (β=2.043, =0.038), the operative segment (β=1.993, =0.043), the number (β=0.374, <0.001), the loss of vertebral height (β=2.785, =0.003) and the recovery ratio(β=7.301, <0.001) were correlated with occult hemorrhage.@*CONCLUSIONS@#There is a certain degree of occult hemorrhage in kyphoplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. The risk factors of hidden hemorrhage are diabetes history, operation method, operation time, operative segment and number, loss of vertebral height and recovery ratio.

Ultrasound-guided minimal traverse-cross technique repair for acute closed Achilles tendon ruptures / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To explore clinical effects of ultrasound-guided minimal traverse-cross technique repair for acute closed Achilles tendon ruptures.@*METHODS@#From January 2015 to March 2017, 20 patients with acute closed Achilles tendon rupture were treated by minimal traverse-cross technique repair with ultrasound guided. Among them, including 13 males and 7 females, aged from 28 to 49 years old with an average of(31.3 ±4.5) years old. All patients were single side injury. Fifteen patients on the left side and 5 patients were on the right side. The time from injury to operation ranged from 1 to 5 days with an average of (2.5±0.7) days. Operative time, postoperative complications were observed, and AOFAS score before and after operation at 12 months were compared.@*RESULTS@#All patients were followed up for 12 to 27 months with an average of(15.2±4.9) months. Operative time ranged from 33 to 65 min with an average of(43.7±5.6) min. Incision of one patient were continued oozing and improved after changing dressings, other patients were healed at stage I. No sural nerve irritation symptoms and palindromic rapture of heel tendon occurred. AOFAS score was improved from 65.2±7.4 before operation to 97.7±4.7 after operation at 12 months (t=22.5, <0.01); 18 patients got excellent results and 2 good.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Ultrasound-guided minimal traverse-cross technique repair for acute closed Achilles tendon ruptures, which promise minimal incision, protect sural nerve, ensure quality of tendon anastomosis and fixation, and is a ideal method for repairing acute closed Achilles tendon ruptures.

Genetic Diversity and Natural Selection in 42 kDa Region of Plasmodium vivax Merozoite Surface Protein-1 from China-Myanmar Endemic Border

Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein-1 (PvMSP1) gene codes for a major malaria vaccine candidate antigen. However, its polymorphic nature represents an obstacle to the design of a protective vaccine. In this study, we analyzed the genetic polymorphism and natural selection of the C-terminal 42 kDa fragment within PvMSP1 gene (Pv MSP142) from 77 P. vivax isolates, collected from imported cases of China-Myanmar border (CMB) areas in Yunnan province and the inland cases from Anhui, Yunnan, and Zhejiang province in China during 2009–2012. Totally, 41 haplotypes were identified and 30 of them were new haplotypes. The differences between the rates of non-synonymous and synonymous mutations suggest that PvMSP142 has evolved under natural selection, and a high selective pressure preferentially acted on regions identified of PvMSP133. Our results also demonstrated that PvMSP142 of P. vivax isolates collected on China-Myanmar border areas display higher genetic polymorphisms than those collected from inland of China. Such results have significant implications for understanding the dynamic of the P. vivax population and may be useful information towards China malaria elimination campaign strategies.

Epidemiological analysis of imported malaria in Zhejiang Province from 2007 to 2016 / 中华地方病学杂志

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of imported malaria in Zhejiang Province from 2007 to 2016,in order to provide a scientific basis for further improving the level of imported malaria control.Methods Data on malaria cases in Zhejiang Province from 2007 to 2016 were collected through the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention (CISDCP).Descriptive epidemiological method was used to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of the imported malaria cases reported (including time distribution,regional distribution and population distribution).Results A total of 1 298 imported malaria cases were reported in Zhejiang Province from 2007 to 2016,including 988 falciparum malaria cases,237 vivax malaria cases,45 ovale malaria cases,12 quartan malaria cases,7 mixed infection and 9 unclassified cases.Most cases were 20 to 49 years old,accounting for 82.43％ (1 070/1 298) of the total and the male to female ratio of the cases was 9.30:1.00.The main groups of imported malaria cases were labor export staff,accounted for 46.92％ (609/1 298);followed by business services,accounted for 38.91％ (505/1 298).The cases mainly distributed in Jinhua,Hangzhou,Wenzhou,Lishui and Taizhou,which accounted for 75.96％ (986/1 298) of the total.Totally 87.21％ (1 132/1 298) of cases were imported from Africa,and 12.63％ (164/1 298) were from Asian.Imported malaria cases were reported every month in the whole year without seasonal peaks.Conclusion Imported malaria cases in Zhejiang Province are given priority to with labor export and business services,so it is necessary to strengthen monitoring,diagnosis,and treatment of imported malaria cases among overseas workers and businessmen from the malaria prevalent areas in Africa and Asian countries.

Limb remote ischemic preconditioning attenuates liver ischemia reperfusion injury by activating autophagy via modulating PPAR-γ pathway / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effect of limb remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) on hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury and the underlying mechanisms.
@*METHODS@#Rats were subjected to partial hepatic IR (60 min ischemia followed by 24 hours reperfusion) with or without RIPC, which was achieved by 3 cycles of 10 min-occlusion and 10 min-
reperfusion at the bilateral femoral arteries interval 30 min before ischemia. Some rats were treated with a new PPAR-γ inhibitor, T0070907, before RIPC.
@*RESULTS@#At the end of reperfusion, liver injury was significantly increased (increases in Suzike's injury score, AST and ALT release), concomitant with elevated oxidative stress (increases in MDA formation, MPO activity, as well as the decrease in SOD activity) and inflammation (increases in TNF-α and IL-6 levels, decrease in IL-10 content). RIPC improved liver function and reduced histologic damage, accompanied by the increased PPAR-γ activation and autophagosome formation as well as the reduced autophagosome clearance. The beneficial effects of RIPC were markedly attenuated by T0070907, an inhibitor of PPAR-γ.
@*CONCLUSION@#RIPC exerts the protective effects on liver by activation of autophagy via PPAR-γ.

Mini-open repair for the treatment of acute closed achilles tendon ruptures / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical efficacy of mini-open repair for the treatment of acute closed achilles tendon ruptures.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From April 2012 and October 2013,14 patients (14 feet) with acute closed achilles tendon ruptures were treated in our department. They were 9 males and 5 females, with an average age of 30.5 years old (ranged, 25 to 49 years old). The interval between injury and operation ranged from 1 to 13 days (8 days on average). A longitudinal incision approximately 1.5 to 2.0 cm in length was made around the ruptured achilles tendon for mini-open repair after insertion of oval clamp. Postoperative rehabilitation was carried out.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The wounds healed at the first stage except 2 cases with slow recovery. All the patients were followed up for 6 to 24 months, with an average of 11 months. According to the ankle-hindfoot scoring system of American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS),the score was 92.71 ± 6.58 (82 to 100).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The surgical treatment of acute achilles tendon rupture with mini-open repair has advantages of little invasion, a low rate of incision problems, quick function recovery, and simple operation, and it is suitable for primary hospital.</p>

Study on effect of Xiaoaiping in enhancing efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer and its mechanism / 中国中药杂志

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Xiaoaiping shows a pharmacological activity in treatment of breast cancer. Although neoadjuvant chemotherapy has been more and more widely used in treatment of breast cancer in recent years, no report has been made about the clinical efficacy and mechanism of the combined application of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and Xiaoaiping in treatment of breast cancer. In this study, 66 patients with breast cancer were selected and divided into the control group and the treatment group evenly with the random number table method. All patients received TEC neoadjuvant chemotherapy. On that basis, the treatment group also received the adjuvant therapy of Xiaoaiping injection (60 mL, i. v. , qd). The short-term response rate and the follow-up survival rate of the two groups were observed and compared. Surgical specimens of the patient were collected to observe and compare their expressions of estrogen receptor ER-α36 in breast cancer tissues with the immunohistochemical method. According to the findings, the overall response rate of the treatment group was 78.79%, which was significantly higher than that of the control group (57.58% , χ2 = 5.48, P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the treatment group showed significant increases in the disease-free survival (DFS) rate and the total survival rate at the 3rd year and 5th year (all P < 0.05) , and a notable reduction in ER-α36 expression in breast cancer tissues (P < 0.05). Based on the our results, Xiaoaiping can significantly enhance short-term ad long-term efficacies of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer. Its mechanism may be correlated with the inhibition of ER-α 36 expression in breast cancer tissues.

Yishen Jiangzhuo Granules affect tubulointerstitial fibrosis via a mitochondrion-mediated apoptotic pathway / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of Yishen Jiangzhuo Granules, YSJZG) on mitochondrial injury and regeneration and renal tubular epithelial cell apoptosis in chronic renal failure (CRF) rats and explore its mechanism from molecular pathology, gene, protein levels, and relative pathway.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The CRF rat model was established using 5/6 nephrectomy. Sixty rats were randomly divided into six groups: sham-operation group, model (CRF) group, Niaoduqing Granules-treated group [5 g/(kg.day)], low-, moderate-, and high-dose [L-YSJZG, M-YSJZG, H-YSJZG at 3, 6, and 9 g/(kg day)] YSJZG-treated group (n=10 each). The levels of serum creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and 24-h urine protein were assessed after 10 weeks of treatment. The tubulointerstitial injury and collagen deposition were evaluated using periodic acid-schiff stain and Masson staining. Renal tubular epithelial cell apoptosis was assessed using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay, mitochondrial injury was observed using an electron microscope, and superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were assessed using chromometry. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) expression was assessed using immunohistochemistry. The expressions of Bax, Bcl-2, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator- 1α (PGC-1α), mitochondrial transcription factor A (Tfam), mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) phosphorylation were evaluated by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>YSJZG decreased the 24-h urine protein, BUN, Scr, remnant kidney weight-to-body weight ratio, renal tubular injury, deposition of collagen, and the apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells in a dose-dependent manner. YSJZG dose-dependently restored the number and structure of mitochondria and the expression of Tfam and PCG-1α, up-regulated the expression of Bcl-2, and inhibited the expression of Bax. YSJZG also dose-dependently inhibited TGF-β1 expression, increased SOD and GSH activity, decreased the MDA level, and inhibited p38MAPK and pERK1/2 phosphorylation (all P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>YSJZG improved the renal function in rats with CRF and inhibited the progression of tubulointerstitial fibrosis by dose-dependently alleviating mitochondrial injury, restoring the expression of Tfam and PCG-1α, and inhibiting renal tubular epithelial cell apoptosis through inhibiting activation of reactive oxygen species-MAPK signaling.</p>

Oxi-inflamm-aging and its association with the polymorphism of ApoE genes / 生理学报

The lifelong exposure of antigens and stressors results in chronic oxidative stress situation in the organism. The free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) with high reactivity produced by our cells under oxidative stress will cause oxidative damage in biomolecules. The oxidative damage leads to the releases of both damage-associated-molecular patterns (DAMPs) and intracellular cytokines. DAMPs activate pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs) and non-PRRs. Intracellular cytokines activate signalling pathways downstream of PRRs. Activation of these receptors results in the upregulation of cytokines and chemokines, which are released to recruit and activate additional inflammatory cells and cause the systemic and chronic sterile inflammation. The regulatory system, especially immune systems play an important role in homeostasis maintenance in the organism. The cells of immune systems are very vulnerable to oxidative damage. Once the homeostasis is destroyed, an imbalance between inflammatory and anti-inflammatory networks will occur. Genetic factor also is an important factor of oxi-inflamm-aging and age-related diseases. Many genes are involved in oxidative stress, inflammation process, and the genomic variations within most of these genes might produce different effects on oxi-inflamm-aging. The polymorphism of ApoE genes can affect the antioxidant and immunomodulatory/anti-inflammatory properties of the organism. ApoE genotype-phenotype is associated with the progress and prognosis of oxi-inflamm-aging, age-related diseases as well. Anti-inflammation together with regulation of the expression of ApoE might be an efficient method against oxi-inflamm-aging. Based on our previous studies, the progresses in these areas are reviewed.

Silencing of MST1 expression by siRNA diminishes TNF-α- mediated human umbilical vein endothelial cell apoptosis / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To elucidate the effects of mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 1 (MST1) gene on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-mediated human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) apoptosis.@*METHODS@#Cultured HUVECs were treated with either vehicle or TNF-α (1-100 ng/mL) for 24 hours. Cell apoptosis was measured by TUNEL staining, and MST1 activity was analyzed by Western blot. In order to knock down MST1 expression in HUVECs, cells were transfected with 100 nmol/L MST1 small interference RNA (siRNA) using Lipofectamine 2000 for 24 hours, and the transfection efficiency was analyzed by Western blot. MST1 siRNA-transfected cells were treated with 10 ng/mL TNF-α for an additional 24 hours. Cell apoptosis was measured by TUNEL staining and caspase-3 activity was detected by Western blot.@*RESULTS@#MST1 activity was stimulated in a dose-dependent manner after TNF-α treatment (10, 40, 100 ng/mL) and reached the maximal effect at 100 ng/mL. MST1 activity also paralleled the onset of apoptosis as determined by TUNEL staining (P<0.001). Transfection with MST1 siRNA markedly diminished MST1 gene expression in a dose-dependent manner. MST1 siRNA (100 nmol/L) significantly silenced MST1 gene (P<0.05) and reduced TNF-α-induced endothelial cells apoptosis (P<0.05) by way of inhibiting MST1 gene activation and, accordingly, suppressing caspase-3 activity.@*CONCLUSION@#Silencing of MST1 expression by siRNA diminishes TNF-α-mediated human umbilical vein endothelial cell apoptosis by inhibiting the cascade effect of caspase-3.

Clinical application progress of hip arthroscopy / 中国骨伤

The hip arthroscopy develops quickly in the past 20 years. Its use in the diagnosis and treatment of the hip injury get more notably. Many of pathologic conditions previously unrecognized through X-ray, CT or MRI have been diagnosed correctly under hip arthroscopy. The technology has become gradually a golden standard to confirm the hip discords. In the present, the examining path of the hip arthroscopy contains mainly the outside path, the anterior path, the outside-posterior path. The application range of the hip arthroscopy includes the management of labral tears, the femoroacetabular impingement, the ligamentum tear injuries, the chondral lesions, the synovical abnormalities, the intra-articular infection, the loose bodies in the joint etc. The hip arthroscopy is a comprehensive technology. Its superiority can be reflect well if the doctors are familiar with the indication, the contraindication and the operation procedure. And also the thorough physical examination and imaging examination should be made before operation, as well as reasonable and effective postoperative function training should be conducted.