Governmental supervision and rapid detection on dengue vectors: An important role for dengue control in China.

BACKGROUND: China experienced an unprecedented outbreak of dengue fever in 2014, the National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People's Republic of China (NHFPC) carried out a series of supervision work on integrated vector management (IVM), and Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) conducted a rapid detection on vector density in some areas with high dengue incidence. The goal of this study was to explain the effect of these actions, which play an important role for dengue control, and we wish to give a good example for dengue control in China, even in the world. METHODS: Compare mosquito vector density with Breteau Index (BI) and dengue incidence after or along with control work vs. before. Data was entered and analyzed by Microsoft Excel 2007 and SPSS19.0. RESULTS: Average value of BI from 22.82 in September dropped to 3.93 along with supervision and rapid detection. BI showed a significant decrease (paired sample t-test, t=3.061, P=0.018≺0.05). Dengue incidence decreased gradually along with supervision and rapid detection. CONCLUSIONS: Supervised work on IVM by NHFPC and the rapid detection on dengue vector Aedes by China CDC promoted to cut down the dengue vector density, then reduced dengue incidence; both played an important role for dengue control throughout China in 2014.

High prevalence and genetic heterogeneity of rodent-borne Bartonella species on Heixiazi Island, China.

We performed genetic analysis of Bartonella isolates from rodent populations from Heixiazi Island in northeast China. Animals were captured at four sites representing grassland and brushwood habitats in 2011 and examined for the prevalence and genetic diversity of Bartonella species, their relationship to their hosts, and geographic distribution. A high prevalence (57.7%) and a high diversity (14 unique genotypes which belonged to 8 clades) of Bartonella spp. were detected from 71 rodents comprising 5 species and 4 genera from 3 rodent families. Forty-one Bartonella isolates were recovered and identified, including B. taylorii, B. japonica, B. coopersplainsensis, B. grahamii, B. washoensis subsp. cynomysii, B. doshiae, and two novel Bartonella species, by sequencing of four genes (gltA, the 16S rRNA gene, ftsZ, and rpoB). The isolates of B. taylorii and B. grahamii were the most prevalent and exhibited genetic difference from isolates identified elsewhere. Several isolates clustered with strains from Japan and far-eastern Russia; strains isolated from the same host typically were found within the same cluster. Species descriptions are provided for Bartonella heixiaziensis sp. nov. and B. fuyuanensis sp. nov.

[Eco-geographic landscapes of natural plague foci in China v. biological characteristics of major natural reservoirs of Yesinia pestis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the biological characteristics of natural reservoirs of Yesinia (Y.) pestis in China. METHODS: Species and genera of natural reservoirs of Y. pestis in China and their faunal distribution were characterized with modern taxonomic techniques. The ecological roles of natural reservoirs of Y. pestis in the natural plague foci were determined according to the animal ecological experiments. RESULTS: There were 86 species of natural reservoirs of Y. pestis including 14 major reservoirs and 72 kinds of the secondary or occasional reservoirs. CONCLUSION: The biological characteristics of major reservoirs of Y. pestis and their roles in natural plague foci were defined.

[Ecological-geographic landscapes of natural plague foci in China VII. Typing of natural plague foci].

OBJECTIVE: To group and characterize natural plague foci in China. METHODS: A novel two-class typing method as well as a three-indication nomenclature method were established to group and characterize the natural plague foci, on the basis of eco-geographical landscapes of plague foci, genetics of Yersinia pestis, zoology of rodent reservoirs and the entomology of flea vectors. RESULTS: A total of 12 distinct natural plague foci (including 19 subtypes) as well as their biological features were characterized. CONCLUSION: Natural plague foci in China were grouped and characterized in this study.

[Roles of mitochondria in vitamin E succinate-induced apoptosis in human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells].

OBJECTIVE: In order to investigate the roles of mitochondria in vitamin E succinate (VES)-induced apoptosis in human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells. METHODS: Mitochondrial transmembrane potential (deltapsi(m)) was observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy, while the expression of cytochrome c in cytosol and caspase-3 was measured by western blotting after the cells were treated with VES at 5, 10, 20 microg/ml. RESULTS: VES obviously decreased deltapsi(m) with dose- and time-dependent relationship, increased the expression of cytochrome c in cytosol and caspase-3 and activated caspase-3 as well. CONCLUSION: VES-induced apoptosis in SGC-7901 cells might involve mitochondrial permeability transition, release of cytochrome c and activation of caspase-3 downstream.

c-Jun N-terminal kinase is required for vitamin E succinate-induced apoptosis in human gastric cancer cells.

AIM: To investigate the roles of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway in vitamin E succinate-induced apoptosis in human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells. METHODS: Human gastric cancer cell lines (SGC-7901) were treated with vitamin E succinate (VES) at 5, 10, 20 mg/L. Succinic acid and vitamin E were used as vehicle controls and condition medium only as an untreated (UT) control. Apoptosis was observed by 4', 6-diamidine-2'-phenylindole dihydrochloride (DAPI) staining for morphological changes and by DNA fragmentation for biochemical alterations. Western blot analysis was applied to measure the expression of JNK and phosphorylated JNK. After the cells were transiently transfected with dominant negative mutant of JNK (DN-JNK) followed by treatment of VES, the expression of JNK and c-Jun protein was determined. RESULTS: The apoptotic changes were observed after VES treatment by DNA fragmentation. DNA ladder in the 20 mg/L VES group was more clearly seen than that in 10 mg/L VES group and was not detected following treatment of UT control, succinate and vitamin E. VES at 5, 10 and 20 mg/L increased the expression of p-JNK by 2.5-, 2.8- and 4.2-fold, respectively. VES induced the phosphorylation of JNK beginning at 1.5 h and produced a sustained increase for 24 h with the peak level at 12 h. Transient transfection of DN-JNK blocked VES-triggered apoptosis by 52%. DN-JNK significantly increased the level of JNK, while decreasing the expression of VES-induced c-Jun protein. CONCLUSION: VES-induced apoptosis in human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells involves JNK signaling pathway via c-Jun and its downstream transcription factor.