Tick-Borne Pathogens in Ixodid Ticks from Poyang Lake Region, Southeastern China

Ticks are the vectors of various pathogens, threatening human health and animal production across the globe. Here, for the first time we detected Ricketssia spp., Borrelia spp. and protozoan in ticks from Poyang Lake region in Jiangxi Province of eastern China. In 3 habitat categories and on 12 host species, 311 ticks from 11 species were collected. Haemaphysalis longicornis was the predominant species, accounting for 55.63%, followed by Rhipicephalus microplus, Haemaphysalis flava and Ixodes granulatus. Of the collected ticks, 7.07% were positive for tick-borne pathogens, and H. longicornis and H. flava were found to be co-infected with Ricketssia spp. and protozoan. H. flava was the most detected positive for tick-borne pathogens, whereas H. longicornis had the lowest infection rate, and the difference in infection rates between tick species was significant (χ²=61.24, P < 0.001). Furthermore, adult ticks demonstrated remarkably greater infection rate than immature ticks (χ²=10.12, P=0.018), meanwhile ticks on Erinaceidae showed significantly higher positivity than ticks collected on other host species (χ²=108.44, P < 0.001). Genetic fragment sequencing and analyses showed at least 4 pathogen species presence in ticks, namely Borrelia yangtzensis, Rickettsia slovaca or Rickettsia raoultii related genospecies, Babesia vogeli and Hepatozoon canis or Hepatozoon felis related genospecies. The finding indicates that the abundant ticks can carry diverse pathogens in Poyang Lake region, and pathogen infection is highly related to species, vertebrate hosts and life stages of ticks.

Dipyrone & 2,5-dimethylcelecoxib suppress Th2-related chemokine production in monocyte.

Background & objectives: Selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor is a form of non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and is commonly used in autoimmune and rheumatic diseases to control inflammation and alleviate pain. Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) production and an imbalance of T helper 1 (Th1)/Th2 contribute to the pathogenesis of autoimmune and also anti-tumour activity. Dipyrone is a NSAID used to treat pain worldwide. The celecoxib analogue, 2,5-dimethylcelecoxib (DMC), lacks COX-2 inhibitory activity but exhibits anti-tumour properties. However, the effects and the mechanisms of dipyrone and 2,5-dimethylcelecoxib on tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and Th1- and Th2-related chemokines in monocytes remain poorly defined. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of dipyrone and 2,5-dimethylcelecoxib on the expression of Th1 (IP-10) and Th2 (I-309 and MDC) and TNF-α in human monocytes and the associated intracellular mechanism. methods: THP-1 cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were pre-treated with dipyrone (10-9 – 10-4 M) and 2,5-dimethylcelecoxib (10-9 – 10-5 M) 2 h before lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. Cell supernatant was collected 24 h after LPS stimulation. TNF-α, I-309, MDC and IP-10 concentrations of cell supernatants were determined using ELISA. Intracellular signaling was evaluated by western blot. results: Dipyrone and 2,5-dimethylcelecoxib downregulated LPS-induced Th2-related chemokine I-309 and macrophage derived chemokine (MDC) production. Only high dose of 2,5-dimethylcelecoxib (10-5 M), but not dipyrone downregulated LPS-induced IP-10. Only very high dose of 2,5-dimethylcelecoxib had effect on LPS-induced TNF-α expression in PBMCs. Dipyrone and 2,5-dimethylcelecoxib suppressed LPS-induced p65 and JNK MAPK (C-Jun N-terminal kinase mitogen activated protein kinase). expression. Interpretation & conclusions: Dipyrone and 2,5-dimethylcelecoxib downregulated LPS-induced Th2-related chemokine I-309 and MDC in THP-1 cells. The suppressive effect on Th2-related

Degenerate oligonucleotide primed-PCR technology establishment and its sensitivity test analysis / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To establish a whole genome amplification testing system based on degenerate oligonucleotide primed-PCR (DOP-PCR) and to explore its reliability and sensitivity.@*METHODS@#DOP-PCR amplified production was detected by fluorescent labeled multiplex STR amplification and capillary electrophoresis detection system to determine reliability and sensitivity of DOP-PCR system.@*RESULTS@#DOP-PCR system was successfully established and the detection sensitivity reached 5 cells (30 pg) by pretreatment of DOP-PCR and then detection of STR genotyping.@*CONCLUSION@#The system established in this study is reliable and more testing sensitive for forensic trace evidence.

Application of continuous infusion of remifentanil during induction of general anesthesia in elderly patients / 上海第二医科大学学报

Objective To study the application of continuous infusion of remifentanil combined with propofol with different velocity du-ring induction of general anesthesia in elderly patients. Methods Sixty elderly patients were divided into 4 groups randomly(n=15) and given remifentanil with continuous infusion rate of 0.1,0.15,0.2 and 0.3 ?g?kg-1?min-1,respectively.After given midazolam and propofol,remifentanil infusion started with different velocity.Three minutes later,vecuronium was given and intubation performed 2 min later.After that,propofol infusion rate was adjusted according to the changes of blood pressure and kept at 4 mg?kg-1?h-1 5 min before incision.Blood pressure(BP),heart rate(HR),intubation score(following Grant's method) and all side effects and adjuvant drugs used were recorded. Results Grant scores in all patients were less than 8.Atropine and ephedrine were given more in large dose groups and with decreasing of usage of propofol.HR decreased markedly in 0.3 ?g?kg-1?min-1 group after remifentanil began(P

Correlation between PMI and DNA degradation of costicartilage and dental pulp cells in human being / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To probe the correlation between the postmortem interval (PMI) and the DNA degradation of costicartilage and dental pulp cells in human being after death, and to seek a new method for estimating PMI.@*METHODS@#The image cytometry was used to measure the DNA degradation under different ambient temperatures (30-35 degrees C, 15-20 degrees C) in 0-15 days after death.@*RESULTS@#The average DNA content of two kinds of tissue was degradated with the prolongation of PMI. But there was a plateau period of 0-4 days for dental pulp cells of human being in 15-20 degrees C. There was a high negative correlativity P<0.01 between the average DNA content and PMI.@*CONCLUSION@#PMI could be estimated accurately according to the DNA degradation of costicartilage and dental pulp cells in human being after death.

Behavioral treatment for female sexual dysfunction (56 case reports) / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effects of the behavioral treatment on female sexual dysfunctions for the popularization of improved methods in China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-six voluntary female patients with psychiatric sexual disorders were treated after the basic training model of sensate focus by Masters and Johnson. Stress was laid on such aspects as breaking-away from the traditional thought, teaching healthy sex concepts, and imparting sexual knowledge and techniques. In addition to psychotherapy and behavioral treatment, the patients were required to correctly deal with their matrimonial and social problems. Their husbands were also required to participate actively in the treatment process.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Twenty-six cases recovered, 24 cases improved, and 6 cases failed(10.71%) the general rate of effectiveness being 89.29%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The behavioral treatment is remarkably effective in treating female sexual dysfunctions. However, there still remain such problems as long course of treatment and high requirement of doctor's expertise.</p>