Analysis on infection sources and transmission chains of three outbreaks caused by 2019-nCoV Omicron variant in Beijing, China / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective: To investigate the infection sources and the transmission chains of three outbreaks caused by 2019-nCoV Omicron variant possibly spread through cross-border logistics in Beijing. Methods: Epidemiological investigation and big data were used to identify the exposure points of the cases. Close contacts were traced from the exposure points, and the cases' and environmental samples were collected for nucleic acid tests. Positive samples were analyzed by gene sequencing. Results: The Omicron variant causing 3 outbreaks in Beijing from January to April, 2022 belonged to BA.1, BA.1.1 and BA.2. The outbreaks lasted for 8, 12 and 8 days respectively, and 6, 42 and 32 cases infected with 2019-nCoV were reported respectively. International mail might be the infection source for 1 outbreak, and imported clothes might be the infection sources for another 2 outbreaks. The interval between the shipment start time of the imported goods and the infection time of the index case was 3-4 days. The mean incubation period (Q1, Q3) was 3 (2,4) days and the mean serial interval (Q1, Q3) was 3 (2,4)days. Conclusions: The 3 outbreaks highlighted the risk of infection by Omicron variant from international logistics-related imported goods at normal temperature. Omicron variant has stronger transmissibility, indicating that rapid epidemiological investigation and strict management are needed.

Impact of social support for schizophrenia patients on their quality of life and family life satisfaction / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective: To explore the relationship of social support to patients with schizophrenia, family burden with patients' quality of life and family life satisfaction. Methods: Multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling was used to select 358 patients with schizophrenia and 358 patients' family members in Gansu Province who met the inclusion criteria were included. The Social Support Rating Scale, Family Burden Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale and Quality of Life Scale were used in the survey. AMOS 24.0 was used to explore the pathway of influence of family burden on social support to patients with schizophrenia, patients' quality of life and patients' family life satisfaction. Results: There was a two-by-two significant correlation between patients' access to social support, family burden, patients' life quality and family life satisfaction (P<0.05), and the total score of the social support scale negatively predicted the total score of the life quality scale (β=-0.28, P<0.05) and positively predicted the total score of the life satisfaction scale (β=0.52, P<0.05). Family burden was a full mediator between the social support to the patient and the patient's quality of life, and as a partial mediator between the social support to the patient and the family's life satisfaction. Conclusions: Social support to people with schizophrenia is a significant predictor of their quality of life and family life satisfaction. Family burden mediates the relationship of social support to patients with their quality of life and family life satisfaction. Interventions can focus on increasing social support for the patient and reducing the burden on the patient's family to improve the patient's quality of life and increase the satisfaction of the patient's family.

Survey of possible aerosol transmission of a COVID-19 epidemic caused by 2019-nCoV Delta variant / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective: To investigate the epidemiological characteristics and the transmission chain of a family clustering of COVID-19 cases caused by severe acute respiratory 2019-nCoV Delta variant in Changping district of Beijing. Methods: Epidemiological investigation was conducted and big data were used to reveal the exposure history of the cases. Close contacts were screened according to the investigation results, and human and environmental samples were collected for nucleic acid tests. Positive samples were analyzed by gene sequencing. Results: On November 1, 2021, a total of 5 COVID-19 cases caused by 2019-nCoV Delta variant were reported in a family detected through active screening. The infection source was a person in the same designated isolation hotel where the first case of the family cluster was isolated from 22 to 27, October. The first case was possibly infected through aerosol particles in the ventilation duct system of the isolation hotel. After the isolation discharge on October 27, and the first case caused secondary infections of four family members while living together from October 27 to November 1, 2021. Conclusion: 2019-nCoV Delta variant is prone to cause family cluster, and close attention needs to be paid to virus transmission through ventilation duct system in isolation hotels.

Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Psychological Effects of Overactive Bladder in Chinese University Students / 대한배뇨장애요실금학회지

Purpose@#The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of overactive bladder (OAB) in young adults and to explore the influence of OAB on mental health. @*Methods@#Between October 2019 and January 2020, 14,010 anonymous questionnaires were distributed to freshmen at 2 universities in Henan, China. The students came from all over the country. The questionnaire included general items and information necessary to calculate the overactive bladder symptom score, the Chinese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score, Self-Esteem Scale (SES) score, and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) score. The relationships between the prevalence of OAB and its risk factors were evaluated. @*Results@#The overall prevalence of OAB was 6.0%, with 4.3% of participants characterized as having dry OAB and 1.7% as having wet OAB. The prevalence of mild OAB was 5.5%, and that of moderate OAB was 0.5%; no severe OAB was observed. Higher prevalence rates of OAB were found among women, respondents with constipation, and respondents with primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE) (P <0.05). Compared to healthy controls, the OAB group exhibited a higher mean SDS score (52.12±8.986 vs. 47.71±9.399, P<0.001) and mean PSQI score (5.28±2.486 vs. 4.27±2.431, P<0.001), but a lower mean SES score (27.78±3.599 vs. 29.57±4.109, P<0.001). @*Conclusions@#OAB significantly affects the mental health of young adults. Female sex, constipation, and PNE are risk factors for OAB.

Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Psychological Effects of Primary Nocturnal Enuresis in Chinese Young Adults / 대한배뇨장애요실금학회지

Purpose@#This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, risk factors, and effects of primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE) on physical and mental health in young adults in mainland China. @*Methods@#An anonymous questionnaire was used to collect information including the sociodemographic characteristics, history of PNE, family history, daytime voiding symptoms, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores, Self-Esteem Scale (SES), and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). A total of 22,500 university students from 23 provinces and 368 cities in mainland China were included. @*Results@#In total, 21,082 questionnaires were collected, and 20,345 of them qualified for statistical analysis. The PNE prevalence was 1.17%, and the distribution of monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (MNE) and nonmonosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (NMNE) was 66.1% and 33.9%, respectively. In total, 28% of respondents with PNE reported bedwetting daily, 31.6% between 1 and 7 times weekly, and 40.4% between 1 and 4 times monthly; 80% of PNE cases had no history of treatment. The prevalence of PNE in patients with a family history, frequency, urgency, urinary incontinence, and recurrent urinary tract infections was significantly higher than in those without these conditions (P<0.001). PNE was significantly correlated with the PSQI total score (sleep quality) (P=0.011). The SES score was lower and the SDS was higher (P<0.001) in the PNE group than in those without PNE. @*Conclusions@#In mainland China, the PNE prevalence among young adults was found to be high, and PNE had significant effects on physical and mental health. Risk factors included a family history, daytime voiding symptoms, and lack of treatment.

Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Psychological Effects of Primary Nocturnal Enuresis in Chinese Young Adults / 대한배뇨장애요실금학회지

Purpose@#This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, risk factors, and effects of primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE) on physical and mental health in young adults in mainland China. @*Methods@#An anonymous questionnaire was used to collect information including the sociodemographic characteristics, history of PNE, family history, daytime voiding symptoms, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores, Self-Esteem Scale (SES), and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). A total of 22,500 university students from 23 provinces and 368 cities in mainland China were included. @*Results@#In total, 21,082 questionnaires were collected, and 20,345 of them qualified for statistical analysis. The PNE prevalence was 1.17%, and the distribution of monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (MNE) and nonmonosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (NMNE) was 66.1% and 33.9%, respectively. In total, 28% of respondents with PNE reported bedwetting daily, 31.6% between 1 and 7 times weekly, and 40.4% between 1 and 4 times monthly; 80% of PNE cases had no history of treatment. The prevalence of PNE in patients with a family history, frequency, urgency, urinary incontinence, and recurrent urinary tract infections was significantly higher than in those without these conditions (P<0.001). PNE was significantly correlated with the PSQI total score (sleep quality) (P=0.011). The SES score was lower and the SDS was higher (P<0.001) in the PNE group than in those without PNE. @*Conclusions@#In mainland China, the PNE prevalence among young adults was found to be high, and PNE had significant effects on physical and mental health. Risk factors included a family history, daytime voiding symptoms, and lack of treatment.

Lyme Borreliosis-associated Risk Factors in Residents of Beijing Suburbs: a Preliminary Case-control Study / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

A population-based case-control study was conducted to evaluate the relative factors in the environments, agricultural works, outdoor activities, and the effectiveness of Lyme borreliosis (LB)- associated personal protective measures in Beijing. Thirty-four cases and 272 controls were personally interviewed by well-trained interviewers. Venous blood samples were taken from each subject. Sowing or harvesting in summer (OR=2.571, 95% CI: 1.109-5.962), living in house with weeding in the yard (OR=2.247, 95% CI: 1.062-4.755), and residence at the plain area (OR=2.630, 95% CI: 1.050-6.588) were the independent relative factors for seropositive LB. Wearing long pants and clothes with cuffs was the only protective behavior against tick bite (OR=0.186, 95% CI: 0.041-0.846). The findings showed that local farmers were easily infected with LB and almost no protective measure was taken against LB infection. Infection with LB was easier in residents of plain regions. Pets raising and outdoor activities were not the risk factors for infection with LB. Further studies are needed to fully understand the risk of infection with LB in China.

Efficacy of modified Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in the treatment of non-obese type 2 diabetes mellitus:one year follow-up / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the one year effect of modified Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGP) in the treatment of non-obese type 2 diabetes and to investigate the reasonable indications for surgery.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 72 patients diagnosed as type 2 diabetes underwent RYGP from May 2009 to June 2010. There were 45 male and 27 female patients, with an average age of (47 ± 10) years. Preoperative body mass index (BMI) of the patients was 18.69 to 31.22 kg/m(2), average (26 ± 4) kg/m(2). The follow-up data included fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2 h plasma glucose after oral glucose challenge (2hPG), weight, BMI and medication usage in 1, 3, 6 and 12 months postoperative; hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fasting C-peptide (C-P), fasting serum insulin (Fins) and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) in 6 and 12 months postoperative, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the preoperative, FPG, 2hPG, weight and BMI in 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery were improved (t = 7.014 to 10.254, P = 0.000), while HbA1c, C-P and HOMA-IR in 6 and 12 months after surgery were improved (t = 1.782 to 7.789, P = 0.000 to 0.103) and there was no significant difference in Fins (P > 0.05). The rates of complete remission in 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery were gradually improved to 22.2%, 27.8%, 36.1% and 60.6%, respectively, and the rate of remission in 1 year was 94.3%. The complete remission of 1 year after surgery was associated with normal C-P, insulin antibody and oral antidiabetic drugs (χ(2) = 11.730, P = 0.003; χ(2) = 7.131, P = 0.028;χ(2) = 6.149, P = 0.046).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Modified RYGP is safely and effectively in the treatment of no-obese type 2 diabetes patients. The function of islet cells is significantly improved after operation. Especially for the patients of whom C-P is normal, insulin antibody is negative before surgery, the rate of complete remission after 1 year is better.</p>

Evaluation of four candidate VNTR Loci for genotyping 225 Chinese clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex strains / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate four candidate variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) loci for genotyping Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex strains.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Genomic sequences for two M. tuberculosis strains (CCDC5079 and CCDC5180) were generated, and using published sequence data, four candidate VNTR loci were identified. The VNTRs were used to genotype 225 Chinese clinical M. tuberculosis complex strains. The discriminatory power of the VNTRs was evaluated using BioNumerics 5.0 software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The Hunter-Gaston Index (HGI) for BJ1, BJ2, BJ3, and BJ4 loci was 0.634, 0.917, 0.697, and 0.910, respectively. Combining all four loci gave an HGI value of 0.995, thus confirming that the genotyping had good discriminatory power. The HGI values for BJ1, BJ2, BJ3, and BJ4, obtained from Beijing family strain genotyping, were 0.447, 0.878, 0.315, and 0.850, respectively. Combining all four loci produced an HGI value of 0.988 for genotyping the Beijing family strains. We observed unique patterns for M. bovis and M. africanum strains from the four loci.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>We have shown that the four VNTR loci can be successfully used for genotyping M. tuberculosis complex strains. Notably, these new loci may provide additional information about Chinese M. tuberculosis isolates than that currently afforded by established VNTR loci typing.</p>

Epidemiological characteristics and molecular typing of Salmonella in Beijing from 2008 to 2009 / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the epidemiological characteristics and molecular phenotypes of Salmonella by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) in Beijing from 2008 to 2009.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of one hundred thirty-seven isolates recovered from the WHO Global Salmonella Surveillance system and entero clinic surveillance system were identified by biochemical tests and serotyping. The related epidemiological informations were also analyzed. The isolates were further typed by PFGE.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The prevalence of Salmonella from 2008 to 2009 showed obvious seasonal character. High incidence occurred from June to September, and 64.1% (84/131) isolates were recovered in this period. Patients of 18 - 40 year-old were 46.1% (58/128) and 80 patients were male and 40 patients were female with the ratio of 1.57:1. These 137 Salmonella isolates belonged to 20 serotypes, including Enteritidis (46.7%, 64/137) and Typhimurium (17.5%, 24/137) as the dominant serotype. In total, 71 PFGE profiles were identified. Four PFGE patterns of S. Enteritidis isolates (JEGX01.CN0001, JEGX01.CN0003, JEGX01.CN0002, JEGX01.CN0019) and S. Typhimurium pattern of JPXX01.CN0001 were dominant patterns.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The prevalence of Salmonella from 2008 to 2009 showed distribution characteristics of sex, age and seasons. The numerous PFGE patterns of Salmonella showed diversity of these isolates and different clones existed in Beijing.</p>

Estimation on the real number of novel influenza A (H1N1) cases, Beijing, 2009 / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To estimate the real number of novel influenza A(H1N1 ) infection in Beijing, 2009. Methods A multiplier model (Impact 2009 v 1.0 software) based on Monte Carlo approach was used to estimate the real number of novel influenza A (H1N1 ) based on the number of influenza-like illness (ILI) cases, novel influenza A(H1N1 ) positive rate among ILI cases and rate on clinical visit of ILIs in secondary and tertiary hospitals. Results There were 1.80 million (90%CI: 1.46-2.30) estimated novel influenza A (H1N1) cases in 2009 in Beijing with the rate of infection as 11.0%. One reported case would represent 167 real infections. The highest age groups of infection were 0-4 years and 5-14 years, being 32.5% and 33.3%, respectively. Conclusion Laboratory-confirmed infections with novel influenza A (H1N1 ) only represented a fraction of the total cases in a population, suggesting that it was imperative to estimate the real number of novel influenza A (H1N1) infection.

The expression and significance of decorin in chronic rejection of liver transplantion / 国际外科学杂志

Objective To investigate expression and significance of decorin(DCN)in liver tissue and serum of liver transplant patients with chronic rejection(CR).Methods Immunohistochemistry(SP method)was used to detect expression of DCN in liver tissue of 16 normal controls, 20 patients with cirrhosis, 46 liver translantion patients without CR and 8 patients with CR.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method(ELISA method)was used to determined the content of DCN in serum of all research subjects.Results The expression of DCN was negative in normal hepatic tissues and with/without CR, cirrhosis tissues showed strong expression of DCN.The positive expression rate and the average optical density value of DCN in liver transplant tissues with CR had significant difference comparing with Cirrhosis tissues(25% vs 55%, 0.1249 ±0.0039 vs 0.2357 ±0.0396, P <0.01,while no statistic siqnificance compared to normal liver tissues and those without CR.The level of DCN in serum was significantly higher in liver transplant patients with CR, with significant difference comparing with normal people, liver cirrhosis and transplant liver patients without CR(54.0833 ± 6.0325)μg/L vs(1.0232 ± 0.9105)μg/L,(12.6202 ± 1.5370)μg/L,(17.7102 ± 2.3562)μg/L, P < 0.01).The concentration of DCN in serum showed a positive correlation with the degree of CR.Conclusions DCN showed negative expression in liver tissue and increased significantly in serum of liver transplantation patients with CR.This suggests that DCN may be involved in occurrence and development of CR.At the same time the determination of DCN in serum maybe become an important indicator of the early diagnosis, development and prognosis of CR for liver transplant patients.

Etiological analysis of enteric infectious diseases during Beijing Olympic Games / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To understand pathogen patterns of enteric infectious diseases and its impact on this pattern due to aggregation of a great deal of foreign visitors during Beijing Olympic Games.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The diarrheal patient's rectal swabs and stool specimens were collected from Olympic stadium and hospitals of four districts, including Dongcheng, Xicheng, Haidian and Chaoyang. Enteric multiple pathogens were detected from the total 45 specimens. The culture method was used for the enteric bacteria, ELISA and RT-PCR for the enteric viruses. Molecular typing of Salmonella Enteritidis isolation was completed by PFGE.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>It was found that 26 out of 45 cases were positive with 57.8 percent for pathogen detection, and 24 were identified as enteric pathogenic bacteria, including Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Salmonella, diarrheagenic Escherichia coli and Campylobacter jejuni, two as norovirus. There were mixed infections of two pathogenic bacteria for three cases. Ten kinds of pathogens were detected from foreign cases, while five kinds from Chinese cases. A total of 5 PFGE patterns were identified in 10 Salmonella Enteritidis isolates from national and foreign diarrheal cases, which were concentrative in some extent.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Salmonella, diarrheagenic Escherichia coli and Campylobacter jejuni were found to be the primary bacterial pathogens during the Olympic Games. Enteric virus infection existed in summer diarrhea.</p>

Investigation on the source of the first human of avian influenza A (H5N1) case in Beijing / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To investigate the source of the first human case of avian influenza A (H5N1) infection in Beijing. Methods Interviewing the relatives of the case and other key persons, collecting and detecting samples of related biological, epidemiological and environmental data of the case were conducted. Later, the infection source was thoroughly investigated. Results The case ever contacted a slaughtered duck 5 days prior to the onset of illness, and the duck was bought from a stall of a wet market in Yanjiao area of Hebei province. Ten environmental samples were collected in this stall and the neighboring stall of the market. Another 6 samples were tested positive for H5N1 virus by PCR method, with 5 virus strains isolated. The whole-genome sequencing indicated that the amino acid homology between the H5N1 virus strains from the environment and the virus isolated from the case reached 99.8%-100%. Conclusion From both epidemiological and virological evidence, it was proved that the first human case of avian influenza A (H5N1) infection in Beijing was infected by a duck that carrying H5N1 virus the case contacted 5 days proceeding the onset of illness.

Outbreak of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis in Beijing City in 2007 caused by coxsackievirus A24 variant: molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis / 病毒学报

In 2007, an outbreak of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC) occurred in Beijing. In order to identify the etiology of this outbreak, 57 eye conjunctival swabs were collected from 57 outpatient patients, and detected for adenovirus, human enterovirus 70 (HEV70) and Coxsackievirus A24 variant (CVA24v) genes by using RT-PCR or PCR methods. The results showed that 38 were positive for CVA24v, the positive rate was 66.7%, but none was positive for HEV70 and adenovirus, showing that this outbreak was caused by CVA24v. 9 viral isolates were obtained from 57 clinical specimens by using viral isolation method, and all were identified as CVA24v by molecular typing method. All 9 CVA24v isolates were performed by VP1 sequencing, the results showed that except for strain 0744/BJ/CHN/2007, the variability at nucleotide acid level and amino acid level among other 8 CVA24v were relatively low, and the homologies were more than 99.6% and 100.0%, respectively; the homologies of nucleotide acid and amino acid between strain 0744/BJ/CHN/2007 and other 8 CVA24v were 96.8%-97.2% and 99.7%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of 9 CVA24v revealed that they represented the Clade 4 and Clade 5 in Group I, showed that this outbreak was caused by at least 2 viral transmission chains. Comparing to 3C region of CVA24v frequently used before, VP1 region was considered as the most rigorous target for molecular epidemiology study of CVA24v. To enhance the research of sero-epidemiology and molecular epidemiology of CVA24v and to know the genetic characterizations and molecular evolution of CVA24v are most important to prevent and control the outbreaks of AHC in China.

Laparoscopy-assisted D2 total gastrectomy in advanced gastric cancer / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the efficacy and advantages of laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy (LATG) with D2 dissection of lymph nodes versus conventional open D2 total gastrectomy (OTG) in advanced gastric cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and twenty-five patients with advanced gastric cancer in the middle or upper third of the stomach were operated on from July 2005 to March 2007. Of the patients, 59 cases received LATG and 66 OTG with D2 lymph nodes dissection. Clinical data were recorded and compared between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No patient in the LATG group converted to conventional operation with laparotomy. No operation mortality and no severe morbidity occurred in LATG group. As compared with OTG group, in LATG group operation time was longer [(330 +/- 71) min vs. (261 +/- 54) min, P =0.005] in LATG group, but with similar number of lymph node retrieval (36 +/- 13 vs. 34 +/- 16, P =0.450), less operation blood loss [(175 +/- 101) ml vs. (359 +/- 210) ml, P =0.003], earlier recovery of bowel activity (P = 0.015), and a shorter duration of fever after operation (P = 0.024).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>LATG with D2 lymph node dissection in advanced gastric cancer is safe and technically feasible with better operative access and visual field, less operation blood loss and earlier recovery.</p>

Effect of ethyl pyruvate on renal high mobility group box-1 protein expression and acute kidney injury in rats with delayed resuscitation after thermal injury / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of ethyl pyruvate (EP) on high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) expression in renal tissue and acute kidney injury in rats with delayed resuscitation after thermal injury.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-eight Wistar rats subjected to 30% total body surface area full-thickness thermal injury followed with delayed resuscitation were divided into 3 groups: sham group (n = 18), injury group (n = 30) and EP group (n = 30). Renal tissue and blood samples were harvested to determine HMGB1 mRNA as well as its protein expression and renal function parameter at the 8, 24, 72 h post the "injury". HMGB1 mRNA was semi-quantitatively measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction taking GAPDH as an internal standard, and HMGB1 protein expression was determined by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels were measured with automatic biochemistry analyzer. The pathological changes of renal tissues were examined using HE staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with sham controls, both mRNA and protein expressions of HMGB1 in injury group were significantly enhanced in kidneys at 8 - 72 h after thermal injury (P < 0.05), meanwhile serum BUN levels were markedly increased (P < 0.05). Compared with injury group, the renal HMGB1 mRNA and protein expressions were markedly down-regulated in EP group at 8 h, 24 h and 72 h post injury (P < 0.05), respectively, and meanwhile serum BUN levels were reduced significantly (P < 0.05). Inflammatory cell infiltration was found in renal tissues following injury, and kidney injury was markedly alleviated after treatment with EP.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>It indicated that HMGB1 appears to be involved in the pathogenesis of post-burn acute kidney injury. Treatment with EP reduces renal HMGB1 expression, and protects against acute kidney injury secondary to delayed resuscitation after major burns.</p>

Isolation of a down-regulated novel gene with lower abundance in gastric cancer / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To clone novel gene from suppression subtraction library established for screening down-regulated genes in gastric carcinoma, and the effects of novel gene on gastric tumorigenicity were analyzed.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sequencing results of 860 positive colonies chosen randomly were compared by Blast program in GenBank. Novel gene fragment was amplified by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The mRNA expression of novel gene was detected by Northern blot and semi-quantitative PCR in 25 cases of gastric carcinoma tissue and counterpart normal gastric mucosa. The structure and chromosomal location of novel gene were investigated by Bio-message technique.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A 233 bp novel gene fragment was screened out from 860 clones and a 802 bp novel gene was obtained by RACE. The novel gene was named as GDDM, registered in the number of AF494508 by GenBank. The mRNA expression of GDDM in gastric carcinoma tissue (4.496+/-0.637) was significantly lower than that in the counterpart normal gastric mucosa (36.919+/-6.290)(P<0.01). Chromosomal location of GDDM gene was at 4q31.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The cloned novel gene, GDDM, is down-regulated in gastric carcinoma, and it is likely to be involved in gastric tumorigenicity.</p>

Effect of Xuebijing injection on renal high mobility group box-1 protein expression and acute kidney injury in rats after scald injury / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the change in renal high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) levels, and the effect of Chinese traditional medicine-Xuebijing injection on HMGB1 expression as well as acute kidney injury in rats after scald injury.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Wistar rats were subjected to 30% full-thickness scald injury followed with delayed resuscitation. Totally 78 animals were divided into sham scald group (n=18), scald injury group (n=30), and Xuebijing injection treatment group (n=30). All animals were sacrificed at 8, 24, and 72 hours postburn. Renal tissue and blood samples were harvested to determine HMGB1 mRNA as well as protein expression and organ functional parameters. HMGB1 mRNA level was semi-quantitatively measured by the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction taking GAPDH as an internal standard, and protein expressions of HMGB1 were detected by both Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Serum creatinine (Cr) contents were measured by automatic biochemistry analyzer. In addition, pathological lesions in kidney were observed under light microscope using HE staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with sham scald group, both mRNA and protein expressions of HMGB1 were significantly enhanced in the kidney at 8, 24, and 72 hours after scald injury (P<0.05, P<0.01), meanwhile serum Cr contents were markedly increased following acute insults (P<0.05, P<0.01). Treatment with Xuebijing injection could markedly down-regulated renal HMGB1 mRNA expression and protein release at 24 hours and 72 hours (P<0.05, P<0.01), and significantly reduced serum Cr content following scald injury (P<0.05). Many inflammatory cells in renal tissues were observed using light microscope following scald. The histological morphology of kidney lesions was a-HMGB1, a late mediator, appears to be inmeliorated after treatment with Xuebijing injection.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>volved in the pathogenesis of excessive inflammatory response and acute kidney damage. Treatment with Xuebijing injection can inhibit HMGB1 synthesis and release in renal tissues, and may prevent the development of acute kidney injury induced by serious scald injury.</p>

Study on the epidemiologic characteristics of norovirus infection in Beijing / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of norovirus infection in Beijing.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Both outbreaks and sporadic cases of acute gastroenteritis were studied through questionnaires while the stools of patients were collected. Noroviruses were detected by ELISA or RT-PCR, and PCR products were cloned and sequenced.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Eight outbreaks were reported between November 2006 and March 2007, which were confirmed as nosocomial infections. A total of 158 positive cases were detected among 409 sporadic cases of acute virus gastroenteritis with a positive rate of 38.63%. The highest positive rate (55.00%) was found in group aged from 40 to 44, while the lowest positive rate (21.74%) fell into groups aged from 55 to 59. The positive cases aged from 6 months to 91 years with the mean age of 40 years old including 84 males and 74 females. Data from sequence analysis showed that norovirus epidemic strains helonged to the GII/4 variants in Beijing, which were almost identical to the variants causing epidemics both in the Netherlands and in Japan.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Norovirus was important, causing virus-borne diarrhea between 2006 and 2007 in Beijing, and the epidemic strains were consistent with those isolated from both the Netherlands and Japan in 2006.</p>