[Application value of image fusion technology in transcatheter aortic valve implantation].

Objective: To analysis the application value of image fusion technology in transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Methods: A total of 35 patients underwent trans-femoral TAVI using the first-generation VENUS-A valve in Heart Center of Henan Provincial People's Hospital from January 2020 to May 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. Among them, there were 21 males and 14 females, aged from 64 to 81 years, with a mean (SD) of (71.37±5.66) years. They were divided into conventional group (n=22) and fusion group (n=13), according to whether image fusion technology was used during operation. The preoperative general data, intraoperative data, differences of postoperative renal function and residence time in intensive care unit (ICU) were analyzed and compared between the two groups. The postoperative echocardiography and 12 lead ECG were observed. Results: All 35 patients in this study were with severe aortic stenosis, of which, 10 patients were complicated with moderate to severe regurgitation. Compared with the conventional group, the intraoperative fusion group had fewer angiography times [3.0 (3.0, 4.0) vs 5.0 (5.0, 6.0)], X-ray absorbed dose [342.0 (44.5) mGy vs 388.4 (71.0) mGy], and contrast dosage [(73.5±10.5) ml vs (90.3±10.3) ml], and shorter rapid pacing time [(14.0±1.6) seconds vs (16.5±2.0) seconds] (all P<0.05). There was no significant differences in X-ray irradiation time, operation time, sizing of the pre-dilated balloon, valve implantation depth and other indicators (all P>0.05). There was no significant differences in ICU retention time and postoperative renal function (all P>0.05). Postoperative echocardiography showed that the function of aortic valve was good, with mild perivalvular leakage in 2 cases in the conventional group and 1 case in the fusion group; and one patient was implanted with permanent pacemaker after TAVI in the conventional group. Conclusion: Image fusion technology simplifies the TAVI process, shortens the ventricular pacing time and reduces the dosage of X-ray and contrast, and has certain clinical application value.

[Association of glutamate receptor metabotropic 5 polymorphisms with schizophrenia susceptibility in a Chinese Han population].

Objectives: To investigate the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of glutamate receptor metabotropic 5 (GRM5) gene with schizophrenia susceptibility(SZ) in a Chinese Han population. Methods: Twenty-two SNPs located in GRM5 gene in 528 paranoid SZ patients and 528 control subjects recruited from northern Henanwere analyzed. The clinical features of 267 first-episode SZ patients were assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Results: The SZ group included 264 males and 264 females, aged (27±8) years; the healthy control group had 264 males and 264 females, aged (28±8) years.The differences in the genotypic and allelic frequencies of two SNPs (rs567990 and rs12421343) were statistically significant between the SZ patients and control groups (all P<0.05). The allele frequency of rs504183 was also statistically different between the two groups (P=0.030). When the subjects were stratified by sex, the genotypic and allelic frequencies of rs12421343 in female subjects were statistically different between the SZ patients and control groups. The allele frequencies of SNPs (rs12422021, rs567990, and rs7101540) were also statisticallydifferent between the two groups (all P<0.05). Meanwhile, rs567990 AG+GG carriers had a higher risk for SZ than AA carriers in female subjects(OR=1.946, 95%CI: 1.264-2.995). In addition, the patients with different genotypes (GG, AA+AG) of rs12422021 showed statistically significant differences in PANSS total score(84.8±24.4 vs 75.3±18.6), positive (16.2±4.3 vs 14.4±4.2), excitement (12.4±5.1 vs 10.2±4.1) and cognitive impairment factor scores (15.2±6.8 vs 13.3±3.9) (all P<0.05). The patients with AC and the other two genotypes (AA and CC) of rs504183 showed statistically significant differences in PANSS negative factor score(27.4±9.9 vs 24.7±8.4 and 23.4±8.1, both P<0.05). Conclusion: The current study provides further evidence that GRM5 is associated with SZ, and suggests a putative sex difference.

[Efficacy and safety of percutaneous closure of ventricular septal rupture after acute myocardial infarction: a clinical study of 69 cases].

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous closure of ventricular septal rupture (VSR) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and the risk factors of all-cause mortality at 30 days after operation. Methods: This is a retrospective case series study. A total of 69 patients with post-AMI VSR, underwent percutaneous closure of VSR from October 2013 to May 2020 in Department of Cardiology of Henan Provincial People's Hospital and Department of Cardiology of Central China Fuwai Hospital, were included. Patients were divided into survival group (53 cases) and non-survival group (16 cases) according to the status at 30 days after operation. Clinical data were collected and analyzed during hospitalization. Telephone follow-up was performed 30 days after operation. The primary safety endpoint was occlusion failure and all-cause mortality at 30 days post operation. The secondary safety endpoint was the operation related or non-operation related complications. Efficacy endpoint included NYHA classification of cardiac function, index measured by right heart catheterization and echocardiography. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to analyze the risk factors of all-cause mortality at 30 days after operation. Results: A total of 69 patients, aged 67 (64, 71) years, including 42 women (60.9%), were enrolled in this study. All-cause death occurred in 16 patients (23.2%), including 13 in-hospital death and 3 death during follow-up. There were 4 cases of closure failure (5.8%). Among the 65 patients with successful closure, 12 (18.5%) experienced operation-related complications, among which 8 (12.3%) experienced valve injury. The mortality was significantly higher in patients with operation-related complications than that in patients without operation-related complications (41.7% (5/12) vs. 13.2% (7/53), P = 0.022). One case received percutaneous closure of VSR and PCI, this patient experienced new-onset AMI immediately post procedure and died thereafter (1.5%). One case (1.5%) developed multiple organ failure and 2 cases (3.1%) developed gastrointestinal bleeding post operation. All of the 65 patients with successful occlusion completed postoperative echocardiography, 56 patients completed cardiac function assessment at discharge, and 53 patients who survived up to 30 days post discharge completed clinical follow up by telephone. The NYHA cardiac function at discharge and 30 days after operation were significantly improved as compared to that before operation (P<0.001), the ratio of NYHA Ⅰ and Ⅱ patients was significantly higher post operation at these two time points as compared to baseline level (76.8% (43/56) vs. 23.1% (15/65), P<0.001, 77.4% (41/53) vs. 23.1% (15/65), P<0.001). The pulmonary circulation/systemic circulation blood flow ratio (Qp/Qs), pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVDd) were decreased, aortic systolic pressure (ASP) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were increased post operation (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that WBC>9.8×109/L (OR=20.94, 95%CI 1.21-362.93, P=0.037) and NT-ProBNP>6 000 ng/L (OR=869.11, 95%CI 2.93-258 058.34, P=0.020) were the independent risk factors of mortality at 30 days. Conclusions: Percutaneous closure in VSR after AMI is safe and effective. The increase of WBC and NT-ProBNP are the independent risk factors of all-cause mortality at 30 days after operation.

Executive Function Predicts the Validity of Subjective Memory Complaints in Older Adults beyond Demographic, Emotional, and Clinical Factors.

BACKGROUND: Although evidence suggests that subjective memory complaints (SMCs) could be a risk factor for dementia, the relationship between SMCs and objective memory performance remains controversial. Old adults with or without mild cognitive impairment (MCI) may represent a highly heterogeneous group, based partly on the demonstrated variability in the level of executive function among those individuals. It is reasonable to speculate that the accuracy of the memory-monitoring ability could be affected by the level of executive function in old adults. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effects of executive function level on the consistency between SMCs and objective memory performance while simultaneously considering demographic and clinical variables in nondemented older adults. SETTING: Participants were recruited from both the memory clinics and local communities. PARTICIPANTS: Participants comprised 65 cognitively normal (CN) older adults and 54 patients with MCI. MEASUREMENTS: Discrepancy scores between subjective memory evaluation and objective memory performance were calculated to determine the degree and directionality of the concordance between subjective and objective measures. Demographic, emotional, genetic, and clinical information as well as several executive function measurements were collected. RESULTS: The CN and MCI groups exhibited similar degrees of SMC; however, the patients with MCI were more likely to overestimate their objective memory ability, whereas the CN adults were more likely to underestimate their objective memory ability. The results also revealed that symptoms of depression, group membership, and the executive function level together predicted the discrepancy between the subjective and objective measures of memory function; however, the executive function level retained its unique predictive ability even after the symptoms of depression, group membership, and other factors were controlled for. CONCLUSION: Although both noncognitive and cognitive factors were necessary for consideration, the level of executive function may play a unique role in understanding the equivocal relationship of the concurrence between subjective complaints and objective function measures. Through a comprehensive evaluation, high-risk individuals (i.e., CN individuals heightened self-awareness of memory changes) may possibly be identified or provided with the necessary intervention during stages at which objective cognitive impairment remains clinically unapparent.

Genetic Structure Analysis of Y-Chromosome STR and SNP in Population of Wujiang Area, Suzhou City.

ABSTRACT: Objective To analyze the genetic phenotypes of Y-chromosome STR and SNP in Han male population of Wujiang area, Suzhou City and explore the genetic structure of population of Wujiang area for further examination of regional-specific Y-SNP genetic markers ancestor haplogroups. Methods Blood samples of 472 Wujiang area Han males were randomly collected and genotyped by YfilerTM Plus PCR Amplification Kit. The allele frequencies and haplotype frequencies of each locus were obtained using the direct calculation method. Y-SNP haplogroups of each sample were estimated using Y-Predictor software and verified through experiments by amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction （ARMS-PCR）. Results A total of 453 haplotypes were found in the 27 Y-STR genetic markers in 472 Han males of Wujiang area. The haplotype diversity （HD） was 0.997 696 93, among which, the highest gene diversity （GD） value was DYF387S1a/b （GD=0.953 1） and the lowest was DYS438 （GD=0.321 8）. Based on genotyping data of 27 Y-STRs and 472 samples, 132 haplogroups from C, D, N, O and Q, etc downstream Y-SNP haplogroups were estimated and then verified through experiments. Conclusion This study is based on Y-chromosome STR haplotypes, and predicts Y-SNP haplogroups by Y-Predictor software, then uses ARMS-PCR to verify. Y-SNP genetic markers were introduced to achieve precise analysis of the genetic structure of male families in population of three towns in Wujiang area.

How patients' use of social media impacts their interactions with healthcare professionals.

INTRODUCTION: Patients are increasingly accessing online health information and have become more participatory in their engagement with the advent of social media (SM). This study explored how patients' use of SM impacted their interactions with healthcare professionals (HCPs). METHODS: Focus groups (n=5) were conducted with 36 patients with chronic conditions and on medication who used SM for health-related purposes. The discussions lasted 60-90min, were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and thematically analysed. RESULTS: Participants did not interact with HCPs on SM and were not expecting to do so as they used SM exclusively for peer interactions. Most reported improvement in the patient-HCP relationship due to increased knowledge, better communication, and empowerment. Participants supplemented HCP-provided information with peer interactions on SM, and prepared themselves for consultations. They shared online health information with HCPs, during consultations, to validate it and to actively participate in the decision-making. Although some participants reported HCP support for their online activities, most perceived overt or tacit opposition. CONCLUSION: Participants perceived that their SM use positively impacted relationships with HCPs. They felt empowered and were more assertive in participating in decision-making. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: HCPs should be aware of patients' activities and expectations, and support them in their online activities.

Modest Overweight and Healthy Dietary Habits Reduce Risk of Dementia: A Nationwide Survey in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Evidence of the associations of dietary habits and body mass index with dementia is inconsistent and limited in East Asian countries. OBJECTIVE: We aim to explore the associations of dietary habits and body mass index with the odds of dementia. DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study. SETTING: A nationwide, population-based, door-to-door, in-person survey. PARTICIPANTS: Selected by computerized random sampling from all 19 counties in Taiwan. MEASUREMENT: Diagnosis of dementia using the criteria recommended by the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer's Association. Lifestyle factors, dietary habits and demographic data were compared between normal subjects and participants with dementia. RESULTS: A total of 10432 residents were assessed, among whom 2049 were classified as having a mild cognitive impairment (MCI), 929 were diagnosed with dementia, and 7035 were without dementia or MCI. After adjustment for age, gender, education, body mass index (BMI), dietary habits, habitual exercises and co-morbidities, including hypertension, diabetes and cerebrovascular diseases, we found inverse associations of dementia with the consumption of fish (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.41-0.94), vegetables (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.13-0.95), coffee (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.35-0.97), green tea (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.34-0.75) and other types of tea (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.28-0.60). There was no association between dementia and fruit consumption. Compared with people who had a normal BMI (18 < BMI <= 24), older overweight people (24 < BMI <=30) had a reduced risk of dementia with an adjusted OR of 0.77 (95% CI 0.61-0.96). CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides preliminary evidence that suggests that the consumption of fish, vegetables, tea, and coffee has potential benefits against dementia in East Asian population. Being modestly overweight (nadir risk at BMI = 25) in late life was associated with decreased odds of dementia. The benefit of fruits may be offset by their high sugar content.

MiR-15a expression analysis in non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells under local hypoxia microenvironment.

OBJECTIVE: Lung cancer is a common tumor in the clinic. Hypoxia is an important biological characteristic in the solid malignant tumor. MiRNA participates in cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. This study tested hypoxia-inducible factor 1-α (HIF-1α) in lung cancer patients and analyzed the microRNA-15a (miR-15a) expression in A549 cells under different local hypoxia microenvironments. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 40 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients in First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University between Jan 2015 and Jan 2016 were involved in this study. The serum and tissue samples of lung cancer were collected. Serum HIF-1α level was tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assay. HIF-1α expression in tissue was evaluated by using the immunohistochemistry. A549 cells were cultured under normoxic, hypoxic, and anaerobic environment, respectively. HIF-1α mRNA and miR-15a levels were determined by RT-PCR. RESULTS: HIF-1α levels were up-regulated in serum and tissue (p<0.05). HIF-1α mRNA increased, while miR-15a down-regulated in A549 from hypoxia and anaerobic groups compared with control (p<0.05). HIF-1α shRNA transfection significantly reduced HIF-1α and elevated miR-15a level (p<0.05). MiR-15a shRNA transfection exhibited no statistical impact on HIF-1α expression (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: HIF-1α highly expressed in lung cancer patients. MiR-15a levels were down-regulated in A549 cells under hypoxia and anaerobic conditions.

Effect of intra-operative autonomic nerve stimulation on pelvic nerve preservation during radical laparoscopic proctectomy.

AIM: This study assessed the effect of intra-operative electrical nerve stimulation (INS) on pelvic autonomic nerve preservation (PANP) during laparoscopic resection for rectal cancer. METHOD: A total of 189 consecutive cases of radical laparoscopic proctectomy were included. PANP was assessed visually or with INS. Urinary function was evaluated by residual urine volume (RUV), International Prostatic Symptom Score (IPSS) and recatheterization rate. Erectile function was evaluated using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) scale. RESULTS: INS successfully confirmed PANP in 65 (91.5%) patients, while direct vision confirmed PANP in only 72 (61.0%) patients. Compared with the successfully confirmed patients, failed patients in the INS group exhibited higher postoperative RUV (100.0 ± 34.6 vs 25.2 ± 13.6 ml, P = 0.003), higher IPSS (7 days, 20.0 ± 8.6 vs 6.5 ± 2.4, P = 0.012; 1 month, 13.5 ± 6.0 vs 5.3 ± 1.9, P = 0.020; 6 months, 11.7 ± 5.1 vs 4.5 ± 1.7, P = 0.018), a greater number of incidences of a micturition disorder (66.7% vs 1.5%, P = 0.000), higher recatheterization rates (33.3% vs 1.5%, P = 0.017) and a lower IIEF score at 3 months (8.25 ± 0.96 vs 10.93 ± 1.99, P = 0.012) and 6 months (12.50 ± 1.29 vs 15.63 ± 1.65, P = 0.001) postoperatively. Compared with the vision group, the INS group had less deterioration in postoperative RUV (31.5 ± 26.4 vs 54.0 ± 46.7 ml, P = 0.000), lower IPSS (7 days, 7.7 ± 5.0 vs 11.0 ± 6.6, P = 0.000; 1 month, 6.0 ± 3.3 vs 7.6 ± 5.4, P = 0.012) and higher IIEF score (3 months, 10.69 ± 2.07 vs 9.42 ± 2.05, P = 0.001; 6 months, 15.36 ± 1.85 vs 13.64 ± 2.00, P = 0.000) as well as a lower incidence of urination disorders (7.0% vs 17.8%, P = 0.038). CONCLUSION: INS is effective for the accurate evaluation of PANP during radical laparoscopic proctectomy. Combined with INS, laparoscopic proctectomy is more effective in urogenital function protection.

Relationships Between Pharmacovigilance, Molecular, Structural, and Pathway Data: Revealing Mechanisms for Immune-Mediated Drug-Induced Liver Injury.

Immune-mediated drug-induced liver injury (IMDILI) can be devastating, irreversible, and fatal in the absence of successful transplantation surgery. We present a novel approach that combines the methods of pharmacoepidemiology with in silico molecular modeling to identify specific features in toxic ligands that are associated with clinical features of IMDILI. Specifically, from pharmacovigilance data multivariate logistic regression identified 18 drugs associated with IMDILI (P < 0.00015). Eleven of these drugs, along with their known and proposed metabolites, constituted a training set used to develop a four-point pharmacophore model (sensitivity 75%; specificity 85%). Subsequently, this information was combined with information from immune-pathway reviews and genetic-association studies and complemented with ligand-protein docking simulations to support a hypothesis implicating two putative targets within separate, possibly interacting, immune-system pathways: the major histocompatibility complex within the adaptive immune system and Toll-like receptors (TLRs), in particular TLR-7, which represent pattern recognition receptors of the innate immune system.

A retrospective study of psychotropic drug use among individuals with mental illness issued a community treatment order.

BACKGROUND: Community treatment orders (CTOs) are legal orders which require individuals with mental illness to accept treatment in the community. Previous studies report that long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics are associated with CTOs, however, little is known about the specific treatment plans prescribed in CTOs. The objective of this study was to describe the patterns of psychotropic drugs prescribed to individuals issued a CTO, focusing on LAI antipsychotics, antipsychotic polypharmacy and high-dose antipsychotics. METHODS: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of 378 individuals randomly selected from a sample of 1317 individuals with a CTO expiry date up to and including 30 April 2010, taken from all 2856 individuals issued a CTO by the New South Wales Mental Health Review Tribunal, Australia, in 2009. De-identified information relating to individuals' treatment plans, demographic and clinical details were systematically extracted. RESULTS: A total of 377 (99.7%) individuals were prescribed at least one antipsychotic. Of these, 310 (82%) were prescribed a LAI antipsychotic, either alone (45%), or in combination with, an oral antipsychotic (37%). Risperidone was the most prevalent antipsychotic, prescribed to 164 (43%) individuals. Antipsychotic polypharmacy was prescribed to 121 (32%) individuals and between 20% and 27% of individuals were prescribed high-dose antipsychotics. Antipsychotic polypharmacy accounted for 74-80% of individuals prescribed high-dose antipsychotics. CONCLUSIONS: The results from this study confirm that LAI antipsychotics are commonly prescribed in CTOs. Antipsychotic polypharmacy was also common, and accounted for the majority of individuals prescribed high-dose antipsychotics. Further research is needed to determine the potential outcomes and implications of the patterns observed.

New assay for old markers-plasma beta amyloid of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease.

Although there is a consensus on the reduced levels of Aß1-42 in the CSF of patients with AD, studies of plasma Aß levels were inconsistent and have limited clinical value. We developed an immunomagnetic reduction assay (IMR) to determine the plasma levels of Aß. We surveyed patients with varying AD severity (CDR = 0.5, n=16; CDR ≥ 1, n=18) and controls (n=26). Significant group differences were apparent in the levels of Aß1-42 (F = 5.54, p = 0.002) and the Aß1-42/Aß1-40 ratio (F = 24.198, p < 0.001). Post-hoc analyses showed significant differences in the Aß1-42 levels of controls and AD patients (p = 0.001) and in the Aß1-42/Aß1-40 ratio of control, MCI and AD subjects (all p ≤ 0.001). Regression analysis of Aß1-42/Aß1-40 ratios on dementia severity showed an adjusted R2 of 0.553 (p = 0.001). We identified a cut-off of 16.1 pg/ml for Aß1-42 to differentiate control subjects from patients (both AD and MCI) with 85.3% sensitivity and 88.5% specificity. We also obtained a cut-off value of 0.303 for Aß1-42/Aß1-40 ratios with 85.3% sensitivity and 96.2% specificity. APOE 4 carriers had significantly higher Aß1-42/Aß1-40 ratios than the non-carriers (F = 4.839, p = 0.015). An independent group of case-control subjects validated both cut-off values for Aß1-42/Aß1-40 (100% sensitivity and 83.3% specificity) and for Aß1-42 (100% sensitivity and 75.3% specificity). In a subgroup of longitudinal follow- up study, we found that the plasma Aß was relatively stable with an interval of approximately 3 months. In conclusion, we found that the plasma Aß1-42 is a useful biomarker for AD. The Aß1-42/Aß1-40 ratio improves the diagnostic power of the plasma Aß biomarkers. The iron nanoparticles and IMR provides a novel method to measure plasma Aß and could serve as an important clinical tool for the diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases.

Effectiveness of interventions to improve antidepressant medication adherence: a systematic review.

Non-adherence to antidepressant medications is a significant barrier to the successful treatment of depression in clinical practice. This review aims to systematically assess the effectiveness of interventions for improving antidepressant medication adherence among patients with unipolar depression, and to evaluate the effect of these interventions on depression clinical outcomes. MEDLINE, PsycINFO and EMBASE databases were searched for English-language randomised controlled trials published between January 1990 and December 2010 on interventions to improve antidepressant adherence. The impact of interventions on antidepressant medication adherence (compliance and persistence) and depression clinical outcomes was evaluated. Data concerning the quality of the included studies were also extracted. Twenty-six studies met the inclusion criteria. Interventions were classified as educational, behavioural and multifaceted interventions. A total of 28 interventions were tested, as two studies investigated two interventions each. Sixteen (57%) of the 28 interventions showed significant effects on antidepressant adherence outcomes, whereas 12 (43%) interventions demonstrated significant effects on both antidepressant adherence and depression outcomes. The interventions which showed significant improvement in outcomes were primarily multifaceted and complex, with proactive care management and involvement of mental health specialists. The most commonly used elements of multifaceted interventions included patient educational strategies, telephone follow-up to monitor patients' progress, as well as providing medication support and feedback to primary care providers. Overall, educational interventions alone were ineffective in improving antidepressant medication adherence. In conclusion, improving adherence to antidepressants requires a complex behavioural change and there is some evidence to support behavioural and multifaceted interventions as the most effective in improving antidepressant medication adherence and depression outcomes. More carefully designed and well-conducted studies are needed to clarify the effect of interventions in different patient populations and treatment settings.

Determinants of mental health stigma among pharmacy students in Australia, Belgium, Estonia, Finland, India and Latvia.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare professionals commonly exhibit negative attitudes toward people with mental disorders. Few international studies have sought to investigate the determinants of stigma. OBJECTIVE: To conduct an international comparison of pharmacy students' stigma towards people with schizophrenia, and to determine whether stigma is consistently associated with stereotypical attributes of people with schizophrenia. METHOD: Students (n = 649) at eight universities in Australia, Belgium, India, Finland, Estonia and Latvia completed a seven-item Social Distance Scale (SDS) and six items related to stereotypical attributes of people with schizophrenia. RESULTS: Mean SDS scores were 19.65 (+/- 3.97) in Australia, 19.61 (+/- 2.92) in Belgium, 18.75 (+/- 3.57) in India, 18.05 (+/- 3.12) in Finland, and 20.90 (+/- 4.04) in Estonia and Latvia. Unpredictability was most strongly associated with having a high social distance in Australia (beta = -1.285), the perception that people will never recover in India (beta = - 0.881), dangerousness in Finland (beta = -1.473) and the perception of being difficult to talk to in Estonia and Latvia (beta = -2.076). Unpredictability was associated with lower social distance in Belgium (beta = 0.839). CONCLUSION: The extent to which students held stigmatizing attitudes was similar in each country, however, the determinants of stigma were different. Pharmacy education may need to be tailored to address the determinants of stigma in each country.

Serological investigation and genomic characterization of PCV2 isolates from different geographic regions of Zhejiang province in China.

Sera collected from 46 swine farms in Zhejiang province were evaluated for the presence of antibodies to PCV2 using an indirect-fluorescent antibody procedure. In addition PCV2 isolated from superficial inguinal lymph node samples collected from 40-to 90-day-old pigs with clinical signs of post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) using the PK-15 cell line were sequenced and compared. Overall seroprevalence of PCV2 antibody averaged 58.34% for all samples. Breakdown of serology by groups was as follows: 59.38% for sows, 57.41% for post-weaning piglets, 44.83% for Landrace sows and 64.28% for Landrace piglets. The seroprevalence of Landrace sows was higher than that of Yorkshire and Duroc sows, but non-significant (p > 0.05). Serological analysis also showed that seroprevalence of PCV2 antibody was a negative correlation to that of PRRSV antibody. The complete genomes of five PCV2 isolates identified in the herds with PMWS consisted of 1767nt, containing the 11 potential ORFs. Genome of the virus isolates shared 93.8% to 99.8% identity with PCV2 reference strains from GenBank, 76.6% to 77.9% identity with PCV1. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that there were two subgenotypes within PCV2: subgenotype I (1767 nt) and subgenotype II (1768 nt).

DNA haplotype analysis of CAG repeat in Taiwanese Huntington's disease patients.

We studied the expanded CAG repeat and adjacent CCG repeat in 53 Huntington's disease (HD) patients and 172 unrelated normal subjects matched to the patients for ethnic origin. The range of the CAG repeat varied from 38 to 109 in the HD patients and from 10 to 29 in the control group. A significant negative correlation was found between the age at onset and the CAG expansion, with no significant influence of the adjacent CCG repeat on the age at onset by multiple regression analysis. Allelic association using CCG repeat and 2 flanking dinucleotide repeat markers within 150 kb of the HD gene revealed linkage disequilibrium for 2 of 3 markers. Haplotype analysis of 24 HD families using these markers identified 3 major haplotypes underlying 87.5% of HD chromosomes. The data suggested frequent haplotypes in the Taiwanese population on which one or more mutational events leading to the disease occurred.

Inhibitory mechanisms of kinetin, a plant growth-promoting hormone, in platelet aggregation.

Kinetin has been shown to have anti-aging effects on several different systems including plants and human cells. The aim of this study was to examine the detailed inhibitory mechanisms of kinetin in platelet aggregation. In this study, kinetin concentration-dependently (50-150 microM) inhibited platelet aggregation in human platelets stimulated by agonists. Kinetin (70 and 150 microM) also concentration-dependently inhibited intracellular Ca2+ mobilization and phosphoinositide breakdown in platelets stimulated by collagen (1 microg/ml). Kinetin (70 and 150 microM) significantly inhibited thromboxane A2 formation stimulated by collagen (1 microg/ml) and arachidonic acid (60 microM) in human platelets. In addition, kinetin (70 and 150 microM) significantly increased the formation of cyclic AMP. Intracellular pH values were measured spectrofluorometrically using the fluorescent probe BCECF-AM in platelets. The thrombin-evoked increase in pHi was markedly inhibited in the presence of kinetin (70 and 150 microM). Rapid phosphorylation of a platelet protein of molecular weight (Mr) 47000 (P47), a marker of protein kinase C activation, was triggered by collagen (1 microg/ml). This phosphorylation was inhibited by kinetin (70 and 150 microM). In conclusion, these results indicate that the anti-platelet activity of kinetin may be involved in the following pathways: kinetin's effects may initially be due to inhibition of the activation of phospholipase C and the Na+/H+ exchanger. This leads to lower intracellular Ca2+ mobilization, followed by inhibition of TxA2 formation and then increased cyclic AMP formation, followed by a further inhibition of the Na+/H+ exchanger, ultimately resulting in markedly decreased intracellular Ca2+ mobilization and phosphorylation of P47. These results suggest that kinetin has an effective anti-platelet effect and that it may be a potential therapeutic agent for arterial thrombosis.