Clinical value of inflammatory biomarkers in predicting prognosis of patients with ureteral urothelial carcinoma / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the clinical value of inflammation-related markers in predicting the prognosis of patients with ureteral urothelial carcinoma.@*METHODS@#200 patients with ureteral urothelial carcinoma were randomly divided into two groups by split sample validation: modeling group and validation group. Paraffin embedded pathological specimens of the patients were reviewed. Immunohistochemical method was used to detect tumor-infiltrating neutrophil (TIN) (CD66b+), tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) (CD163+), lymphocyte (CD+, CD4+, CD8+) counts, peripheral blood neutrophil / lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and tumor tissue neutrophil/monocyte ratio (NMR). According to the results of pathological staging, the patients were divided into non-muscle-invasive and muscle-invasive ureteral urothelial carcinoma group. The resolution of the models was evaluated, and the prognostic nomogram models including only peripheral blood parameters and all parameters were established to compare the accuracy of the two models in predicting the prognosis of patients with urothelial carcinoma of the ureter.@*RESULTS@#The median follow-up time was 36 months, the progression-free survival was 40 months, and 42 cases (21.0%) showed tumor progression within 3 years. Tumor size, pathological stage and pathological grade were all single-factor variables predicting the first recurrence of ureteral urothelial carcinoma three years after operation. Tumor size, pathological stage, pathological grade, TIN, TAM, NLR and NMR were multi-factor variables predicting the first recurrence three years after operation. Among 104 cases of non-muscle-invasive ureteral urothelial carcinoma, 10 cases (9.6%) recurred for the first time 3 years after operation, 96 cases (33.3%) of muscle invasive ureteral urothelial carcinoma, and the diffe-rence between the two groups was statistically significant (χ2=15.53, P < 0.05). The predictive nomogram model of progression free survival was established. The concordance index of progression free survi-val was 0.722 (95%CI: 0.70-0.78) in non-muscle-invasion group, and 0.725 (95%CI: 0.71-0.79) in muscle-invasion group, which was in good agreement with the observed 3-year survival rate. The results of discrimination test showed that the concordance index of the whole parameter prediction model of ureteral urothelial carcinoma was 0.726, which was higher than that of peripheral blood parameters (consistency index 0.672). The immune microenvironment of ureteral urothelial carcinoma improved the prediction accuracy of the model.@*CONCLUSION@#The prognosis prediction model based on immune inflammation-related markers was established as a perfection and supplement for the existing pathological grading and staging system, providing a basis for accurate individualized treatment of patients with urete-ral urothelial carcinoma. The prognosis prediction model based on the relevant indicators of peripheral blood samples is established, which is easy to obtain specimens, and the detection method is simple and economical, which is more conducive to clinical application.

Association between the incidence of typhoid and paratyphoid fever and meteorological variables in Guizhou, China / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Typhoid/paratyphoid fever (TPF) is endemic in Guizhou. We conducted wavelet analysis and Spearman's rank correlation analysis to explore the impact of meteorological variations on TPF infection in Guizhou, in an attempt to assess the risk factors associated with TPF epidemics.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We examined the association between TPF incidence in Guizhou and temperature, precipitation and relative humidity using 24 years of data from 1984 to 2007. Periodicities of TPF incidence and the impact of climate factors on the TPF were detected by Spearman's rank correlation and wavelet analysis,</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Temperature and precipitation with a 1-month lag were positively correlated with the monthly incidence of TPF. The multiyear incidence pattern of TPF in Guizhou was explicitly periodic. Moreover, the association and driving effect of precipitation on TPF were observed, and the results showed that the incidence of TPF in Guizhou had a closer correlation with precipitation than with temperature.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Safe water supply is the key issue for TPF control in Guizhou. Moreover, climate variation might impact the enteric infections, which may inform policy assessment for TPF control in Guizhou.</p>

Analysis of the spatial and temporal characteristics of measles patients younger than 1 year old in Shandong province / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the spatial and temporal characteristics of measles patients younger than 1 year old in Shandong province.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 5309 cases of measles, whose patients were younger than 1 year old in Shandong province between year 1999 and 2008 were collected. The epidemic features of measles were described, and the annual infant incidence was calculated. Software ArcGIS9.3 was applied to draw the spatial map of the disease, and the software GeoDa0.95i-beta was adopted to analyze the spatial autocorrelation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The incidence among infants younger than 1 year old reported in Shandong province rose from 23.45/100 000 (206 cases) in 1999 to 269.60/100 000 (2791 cases) in 2008.5309 cases covered all month-aged infants under 1 year old, except 12 months old. Most patients (3494 cases) aged between 6 - 9 months old; especially the infants around 8 months old, accounting for 20.7% (1100/5309). The epidemic peak was between March and May, accounting for 45.5% (2414/5309). The spatial and temporal distribution features showed an up and down temporal trend and an increase from east to west in spatial trend. The global Moran's I values of measles incidence among infants in Shandong province were 0.346, 0.150, 0.396, 0.213, 0.477, 0.354 and 0.331 in year 1999, 2001 - 2002, 2005 - 2008 (P < 0.01) and 0.076 in year 2004 (P < 0.05). The local spatial autocorrelation analysis showed that southwest and northwest districts of Shandong were highly clustered districts of measles.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In Shandong, the measles incidence among infants younger than 1 year old rose obviously; especially the infants aged between 6-9 months age. The epidemic peak was between March and May. A positive spatial correlation was found, the disease showed a distinct regional distribution feature, and a cluster district was found.</p>

Design and implementation of Geographical Information System on prevention and control of cholera / 中华流行病学杂志

To build the Geographical Information System (GIS) database for prevention and control of cholera programs as well as using management analysis and function demonstration to show the spatial attribute of cholera.Data from case reporting system regarding diarrhoea,vibrio cholerae,serotypes of vibrio cholerae at the surveillance spots and seafoods,as well as surveillance data on ambient environment and climate were collected.All the data were imported to system database to show the incidence of vibrio cholerae in different provinces,regions and counties to supoport the spatial analysis through the spatial analysis of GIS.The epidemic trends of cholera,seasonal characteristies of the cholera and the variation of the vibrio cholerae with times were better understood.Information on hotspots,regions and time of epidemics was collected,and helpful in providing risk prediction on the incidence of vibrio cholerae.The exploitation of the software can predict and simulate the spatio-temporal risks,so as to provide guidance for the prevention and control of the disease.

PPARGC1A gene Thr394Thr G/A polymorphism and its association with type 2 diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance in a Chinese population / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To examine the association of the Thr394Thr polymorphism of PPARGC1A gene with type 2 diabetes (T2DM), insulin resistance (IR) and other metabolic disorders in a Chinese population.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Three hundred and seven subjects including 151 T2DM patients and 156 normal glucose tolerant controls (NC) were enrolled in this study. The Thr394Thr G/A polymorphism was genotyped using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Glucose, insulin, lipids levels were determined in all subjects. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumferences, index of homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and blood pressure were also measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The diabetic subjects had higher levels of BMI, waist circumferences, blood systolic pressure, triglycerides and lower levels of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) compared with those of control subjects (P<0.05). About 43.7% (66/151) of the T2DM subjects had the AG genotype, while 37.2% (58/156) in the NC group. The frequency of the A allele was 0.225 in T2DM, and 0.186 in the NC subjects. There were no significant differences either in genotype or allelic distribution of G/A polymorphism between the two groups. In the T2DM group, subjects with AA and GA genotypes had significantly higher levels of HOMA-IR, waist circumferences and lower levels of HDL-C (P<0.05) than those carrying GG genotype. HOMA-IR in subjects with AA and AG were significantly higher than those with GG genotype in both groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The A allele of the Thr394Thr (G-->A) polymorphism of the PPARGC1A gene was associated with insulin resistance, and may be related to central obesity and decreased HDL-C levels in Chinese population. The relationship between this polymorphism and T2DM needs further investigation.</p>

Molecular scanning of candidate mtDNA gene fragment in diabetic pedigrees / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore novel pathogenic mutation in the mitochondrial DNA gene in diabetic pedigree.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-eight suspected mitochondrial DNA diabetic families were recruited. The gene fragment was produced by PCR, and mutation was detected by direct sequencing.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In one pedigree, the proband and her mother were found carrying the most common nt3243 A --> G mutation and another 16S rRNA 3205C --> T mutation. But only 3205C --> T was found in her affected brother. All the two patients were deaf and developed diabetes in early age, characterized by impaired beta cell function and low body mass index (BMI). The proband had relatively higher lactic acid concentration than normal individuals. A novel ND1 gene 3434 A --> G(TAT --> TGT) mutation was explored in another proband with deafness and her affected family members.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>16SrRNA 3205C --> T mutation was found in a mitochondrial diabetes mellitus pedigree, implying its potential pathogenic role in diabetes. Another novel ND1 3434 A --> G mutation was found in another diabetic pedigree. Because this mutation causes amino acid change (Tyr --> Cys) and is co-segregated with diabetes, it may be diabetogenic.</p>