[Epidemiological and etiological surveillance on infectious diarrhea in Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 2013-2017].

Objective: To understand the epidemiological characteristics of infectious diarrhea pathogens in Pudong New Areas of Shanghai from 2013 to 2017 to provide evidence for control and prevention of the disease. Methods: From Jan 2013 to Dec 2017, active surveillance program on diarrhea was conducted in 14 sentinel hospitals (three tertiary-level and nine secondary-level, and two primary-level hospitals) in Pudong New Areas of Shanghai, based on location, catchment areas and number of patients. All recruited outpatients were interviewed in hospitals, using a standard questionnaire. Stool specimens were collected and tested for five viral and eight bacterial pathogens. Results: A total of 9 301 cases with infectious diarrhea were included, and the overall positive rate was 55.7% (5 179). Positive rates of single virus, single bacteria and mixed infections were 26.7% (2 481), 17.0% (1 579) and 12.0% (1 119), respectively. For single infection, the most commonly detected viruses appeared as norovirus (15.4%, 1 428/9 301) and rotavirus (7.2%, 667/9 301). The most commonly detected bacteria were diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (6.7%, 619/9 301) and non-typhoid Salmonella (3.3%, 305/9 301). The most common mixed infections were caused by virus-bacteria (4.9%, 459/9 301). Norovirus (17.0%, 838/4 938) showed the highest positive rates, followed by Escherichia coli (7.2%, 354/4 938), both seen in the age group of 20-59 years old group. Rotavirus (9.4%, 178/1 896) and non-typhoid Salmonella (4.9%, 93/1 896) were the most common pathogens found in the age group of 0-4 years old. The prevalence of norovirus peaked both in spring and autumn. The other peaks were seen as: Rotavirus in winter, diarrheagenic Escherichia coli in summer and non-typhoid Salmonella in summer. Conclusions: Our data showed that the positive rates of infectious diarrhea pathogens were high in Pudong New Areas of Shanghai from 2013 to 2017. The dominant pathogens would include norovirus, rotavirus and diarrheagenic Escherichia coli but with differenct distributions in age groups. Obvious seasonal patterns were also observed.

Effects of siRNA-targeting BMP-2 on the abilities of migration and invasion of human liver cancer SMMC7721 cells and its mechanism.

To observe the effects of small interfering RNA (siRNA)-targeting bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2 on the abilities of migration and invasion of human liver cancer SMMC7721 cells and its mechanism. Three siRNAs-targeting BMP-2 gene were synthesized. There were six groups including group I (non-transfected cells), group II (only liposome-transfected cells), group III (non-specific siRNA-transfected cells) and groups IV-VI (siRNA-A, siRNA-B and siRNA-C-targeting BMP-2 transfected cells, respectively). SMMC7721 cells were instantaneously transfected using lipofectamine method. The levels of mRNA and protein of BMP-2 in cells were determined with reverse transcription-PCR and western blotting. The abilities of migration and invasion of transfected cells were assessed using scratch test and in vitro invasion assay, respectively. The protein levels of p-ERK, p-JNK and p-p38 and the protein levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were evaluated with western blot 48 h after siRNA-B-targeting BMP-2 was transfected into liver cancer SMMC7721 cells. Expression of mRNA and protein of BMP-2 in groups IV-VI were significantly inhibited, especially in group V. Cell scratch width was significantly greater in group V than in group I and III (P<0.01). In vitro invasion assay suggested that the number of invasion of cells was significantly lower in group V than in group I and III (P<0.05). Western blot indicated that the level of p-ERK was significantly decreased (P<0.05), the levels of p-JHK and p-p38 were not significantly changed and the levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were significantly downregulated (P<0.05). siRNA-targeting BMP-2 can markedly inhibited the expression of BMP-2 in liver cancer SMMC7721 cells, and decrease the abilities of migration and invasion of liver cancer cells, especially siRNA-B. The inhibitory effects of siRNA-B-targeting BMP-2 on the abilities of migration and invasion of human liver cancer SMMC7721 cells may be caused by the downregulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 through MAPK/ERK pathway, whereas is not related to MAPK/JNK and MAPK/p38 pathway.

The clinicopathological significance of BUBR1 overexpression in hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: BUBR1 is a key component of the mitotic spindle checkpoint, and its roles in human cancers are controversial and unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinicopathological significance of BUBR1 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: The BUBR1 protein and its mRNA levels were measured in 58 HCCs, nine high-grade dysplastic nodules and their paired non-tumorous liver tissues by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and western blot, respectively. In addition, immunochemical analysis of the BUBR1 protein was performed in 458 HCCs and 46 dysplastic nodules, and the clinicopathological significance of the BUBR1 expression was evaluated. RESULTS: The BUBR1 expression at both mRNA and protein levels was elevated in two of nine high-grade dysplastic nodules and in 37 of 58 (64%) HCCs. BUBR1 was overexpressed in 207 of 458 (45%) HCCs by immunohistochemistry. Intriguingly, high expression of the BUBR1 was correlated with larger tumour size, higher histological grade, advanced pathological stage, and poor overall and recurrence-free survival. There was a higher frequency of BUBR1 overexpression in cases with positive serum HBsAg than those with negative HBsAg. Moreover, BUBR1 overexpression was associated with P53 staining and high Ki67 labelling indices in HCC tissues. CONCLUSIONS: BUBR1 was overexpressed in about 45% HCCs, and its overexpression may be a relative lately event in HCC progression. Overexpression of BUBR1 was associated with worse prognosis and is a potential prognostic factor for patients with HCC.

G1 arrest and relative protein expressions in mouse thymocytes induced by whole body X-ray irradiation.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the molecular regulation of G1 arrest of mouse thymocytes induced by ionizing radiation. METHODS: Cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM) following staining of cells with propidium iodide. Fluorescent staining and flow cytometry analysis were employed for measurement of protein expression. RESULTS: It was demonstrated that G1 phase of mouse thymocytes increased significantly at 12 h after whole body irradiation (WBI) with the doses of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 Gy, and at 24 h following 2.0 Gy exposure, measured by FCM. In the time course experiment, it was found that G1 phase of thymocytes increased significantly at 4 h, reached a peak level at 24 h and came down toward 48 h after WBI with 2.0 Gy X-rays. The results also showed that after 2.0 Gy exposure, the expression of proteins in mouse thymocytes increased significantly from 1 h to 8 h for p53, for p21 from 4 h to 48 h, and for MDM2 at 4 h and 8 h, measured by FCM. But no change was found for GADD45 protein expression. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that G1 arrest could be induced by a single dose of 0.5 Gy, 1.0 Gy or 2.0 Gy, and its molecular control might be established through the p53-p21 pathway.

[Anaerobes in biliary tract infection].

Bile specimens from sixty-nine patients who had undergone biliary tract surgery or PTC have been subjected to bacteriological study by anaerobic and aerobic techniques. Among 50 specimens from the patients with hepatolithiasis, anaerobes were detected in 74.0%, and aerobes in 98.0%. 11 bile specimens from cholecystolithiasis, only 27.3% anaerobes and 36.4% aerobes were detected. Eight patients with biliary duct tumour had sterile bile. The most common isolated anaerobes was bacteroides and with an average of 1.7 species detected. All bile specimens are mixed infections. The incidence of bacterial infection are higher in the pigmented calcium stone than cholesterol stone. This study showed that metronidazole is the drug of choice in the treatment of anaerobic bile infection.

[Effects of quingre-lidan prescription on bacteria in the bile of patients with biliary diseases].

After giving Quingre-Lidan Prescription to the patients with biliary diseases, the authors observed the changes of bacteria in their bile employing anaerobic and aerobic culture techniques. The results suggested that among the bile specimens from 38 patients (hepatolithiasis in 32 and biliary duct tumour in 6), the anaerobes were detected in 68.4%, aerobes in 84.2%. The mean number of the isolated bacteria from those specimens was 3.3 species. Having taken the prescription for 3-14 days (mean 6.5 days), 33 cases among them received an operation for biliary diseases (hepatolithiasis in 32, biliary duct tumour in 1). The positive rate of anaerobes and aerobes in the bile was 42.4%, 97.0% respectively. The mean of bacteria was 2.5 species. The statistical analysis showed that the positive rate of anaerobic bacteria and the mean of bacteria all had significance before and after patients taking the prescription. The above observation explored the mechanism of Qingre-Lidan Prescription used for biliary infections in microbiology.