LncRNA AFAP1-AS1 Promotes Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Development by Ubiquitin-Mediated Proteolysis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) dysregulation has been reported to play a pivotal role in the development of cancers. In this study, we aimed to screen the key lncRNA in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) via bioinformatics analysis and further validate the function of lncRNA in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: Bioinformatics analysis was conducted to identify differentially expressed lncRNAs between control and OSCC samples. Quantitative real-time-polymerase chain reaction was employed to detect the expression of differentially expressed lncRNAs in human tongue squamous cell carcinoma and human oral keratinocytes cell lines. The biological function of lncRNA and its mechanism were examined via the experimental assessment of the cell lines with the lncRNA overexpressed and silenced. Additionally, to further explore the function of lncRNA in the progression of OSCC, xenograft tumour mouse models were established using 25 mice (5 groups, each with 5 mice). Tumour formation was observed at 2 weeks after the cell injection, and the tumours were resected at 5 weeks post-implantation. RESULTS: Two lncRNAs, LINC00958 and AFAP1-AS1, were found to be correlated with the prognosis of OSCC. The results of the quantitative real-time-polymerase chain reaction indicated that the 2 lncRNAs were highly expressed in OSCC. In combination with the previous literature, we found AFAP1-AS1 to be a potentially important biomarker for OSCC. Thus, we further investigated its biological function and found that AFAP1-AS1 silencing inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion whereas AFAP1-AS1 overexpression reversed the effect of AFAP1-AS1 silencing (P < .05). Mechanism analysis revealed that AFAP1-AS1 regulated the development of OSCC through the ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis pathway. CONCLUSIONS: AFAP1-AS1 is an oncogene that aggravates the development of OSCC via the ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis pathway. It also provides a novel potential therapy for OSCC.

Ultrafine Pt nanoparticles anchored on core-shell structured zeolite-carbon for efficient catalysis of hydrogen generation.

Ammonia borane (AB) is a potential hydrogen storage material with high-efficiency hydrolytic dehydrogenation under a suitable catalyst. Noble metal catalysts have drawn a lot of attention. In this study, a carbon-coated zeolite was obtained by calcination at high temperatures using glucose as a carbon source. Pt nanoparticles were fixed on a core-shell composite support by a simple chemical reduction method. A series of catalysts were prepared with different synthesis parameters. The results show that PSC-2 has excellent catalytic performance for hydrolytic dehydrogenation of AB in alkaline solution at room temperature, and the turnover frequency (TOF) is 593 min-1. The excellent catalytic performance is attributed to the carbon layer on the zeolite surface which inhibits the aggregation or deformation of metals in the catalytic reaction. The metal-support interaction activates the water and accelerates the rate-limiting step of hydrolysis. The activation energy (E a = 44 kJ mol-1) was calculated based on the reaction temperature. In addition, the kinetics of AB hydrolysis was studied, and the effects of catalyst concentration, AB concentration and NaOH concentration on AB hydrolysis rate were further investigated. The high-efficiency catalyst prepared in this work provides a new strategy for the development of chemical hydrogen production in the field of catalysis.

Zirconia-Pillaring in Layered HNb3 O8 and HNbMoO6.

In this work, the pillaring of two layered niobium-based oxides (HNb3 O8 and HNbMoO6 ) with zirconia was investigated in detail. Two novel zirconia-pillared layered metal oxides, zirconia-pillared layered HNb3 O8 and zirconia-pillared layered HNbMoO6 , have been successfully prepared. Both pillared products exhibited a higher thermal stability exceeding 673 K. For the pillaring of layered HNb3 O8 , two different pre-expanding agents, 1-dodecanamine and 1,12-dodecanediamine, were alternatively used, and two kinds of zirconium-pillaring solutions containing zirconium(IV) polyoxocations obtained through two different ways were employed. The 1,12-dodecanediamine-pre-expanded layered intermediate was applicable and 1-dodecanamine-pre-expanded one was not applicable to the intercalation of zirconium(IV) polyoxocations in interlayer regions of the layered niobium-based oxides. More interestingly, the zirconium-pillaring solutions prepared by using an appropriate amount of diethylene glycol as stabilizing agent was advantage for constructing the ordered zirconia-pillared product, whereas the zirconium-pillaring solutions obtained in the case of absence of diethylene glycol seemed not to conduct well an ions-exchange reaction with the alkylamine-pre-expanded layered intermediates. The order degree of zirconia-pillared layered transition metal oxides was closely related to the host sheets. The zirconia-pillared layered HNb3 O8 contained more defects, while the zirconia-pillared layered HNbMoO6 had fewer defects.

Predicting the factors associated with central lymph node metastasis in clinical node-negative (cN0) papillary thyroid microcarcinoma.

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the risk factors associated with central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). METHODS: A total of 553 patients with PTMC confirmed by histological examination, who underwent thyroidectomy and central neck dissection (CND), were enrolled. The clinicopathological and ultrasonographic features from the patients were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: PTMC patient age, Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT), tumor location, extrathyroidal extension (ETE), microcalcification and higher E values were correlated with the incidence of CLNM. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age, HT, tumor location, ETE and Emax were related to the extent of CLNM. Chi-squared automatic interaction detection (CHAID) classification tree model showed that patients with tumor in upper/lower third combined ETE had a high risk of CLNM. Furthermore, cN0 PTMC patients with age ≤ 45 years and ETE had more extensive CLNM. CONCLUSION: Our observations could be helpful for the assessment of prognostic factors of PTMC patients with CLNM.

A Leaf Modeling and Multi-Scale Remeshing Method for Visual Computation via Hierarchical Parametric Vein and Margin Representation.

This paper introduces a novel hierarchical structured representation for leaf modeling and proposes a corresponding multi-resolution remeshing method for large-scale visual computation. Leaf modeling is a very difficult and challenging problem due to the wide variations in the shape and structures among different species of plants. Firstly, we introduce a Hierarchical Parametric Veins and Margin (HPVM) representation approach, which describes the leaf biological structures and exact geometry via interpolation of parametric curves from the extracted vein features from non-manifold data. Secondly, a parametric surface model is constructed using HPVM with geometric and structured constraints. Finally, for a given size, we adapt a multi-step discrete point resampling strategy and a CDT-based (Constrained Delaunay Triangulation) meshing method to generate a mesh model. Our representation consists of three coupled data structures, a core hierarchical parametric data structure of veins and margin for the leaf skeleton, the corresponding parametric surface model, and a set of unstructured triangular meshes with user-specified density for the leaf membrane. Numerical experiments show that our method can obtain high quality meshes from the scanned non-manifold mesh data with well-preserved biological structures and geometry. This novel approach is suitable for effective leaf simulation, rendering, texture mapping, and simulation of light distribution in crop canopies.

Manipulation and detection of single nanoparticles and biomolecules by a photonic nanojet.

Optical methods to manipulate and detect nanoscale objects are highly desired in both nanomaterials and molecular biology fields. Optical tweezers have been used to manipulate objects that range in size from a few hundred nanometres to several micrometres. The emergence of near-field methods that overcome the diffraction limit has enabled the manipulation of objects below 100 nm. A highly free manipulation with signal-enhanced real-time detection, however, remains a challenge for single sub-100-nm nanoparticles or biomolecules. Here we show an approach that uses a photonic nanojet to perform the manipulation and detection of single sub-100-nm objects. With the photonic nanojet generated by a dielectric microlens bound to an optical fibre probe, three-dimensional manipulations were achieved for a single 85-nm fluorescent polystyrene nanoparticle as well as for a plasmid DNA molecule. Backscattering and fluorescent signals were detected with the enhancement factors up to ∼103 and ∼30, respectively. The demonstrated approach provides a potentially powerful tool for nanostructure assembly, biosensing and single-biomolecule studies.

Expression and functional characterization of Smyd1a in myofibril organization of skeletal muscles.

BACKGROUND: Smyd1, the founding member of the Smyd family including Smyd-1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, is a SET and MYND domain containing protein that plays a key role in myofibril assembly in skeletal and cardiac muscles. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that zebrafish genome contains two highly related smyd1 genes, smyd1a and smyd1b. Although Smyd1b function is well characterized in skeletal and cardiac muscles, the function of Smyd1a is, however, unknown. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: To investigate the function of Smyd1a in muscle development, we isolated smyd1a from zebrafish, and characterized its expression and function during muscle development via gene knockdown and transgenic expression approaches. The results showed that smyd1a was strongly expressed in skeletal muscles of zebrafish embryos. Functional analysis revealed that knockdown of smyd1a alone had no significant effect on myofibril assembly in zebrafish skeletal muscles. However, knockdown of smyd1a and smyd1b together resulted in a complete disruption of myofibril organization in skeletal muscles, a phenotype stronger than knockdown of smyd1a or smyd1b alone. Moreover, ectopic expression of zebrafish smyd1a or mouse Smyd1 transgene could rescue the myofibril defects from the smyd1b knockdown in zebrafish embryos. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Collectively, these data indicate that Smyd1a and Smyd1b share similar biological activity in myofibril assembly in zebrafish embryos. However, Smyd1b appears to play a major role in this process.

[Comparative study on the effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in patients with HIV infection acquired by blood transfusion and paid plasma donation].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of HAART in patients with AIDS acquire by blood transfusion and paid plasma donation. METHODS: All AIDS patients whose disease was caused by blood transfusion and commercial plasma donation came from the domicile of Hebei Province. In the group of cases of blood transfusion in whom the infection was caused by one-time blood transfusion before and after 1995, there were 189 cases, of whom 105 cases on HAART were designated as observation group, and 84 cases who were not on HAART were designated as control group. The group of AIDS patients who were former commercial plasma donors (FCPDs) had 120 patients who were identified in the survey of 1995, of whom 63 cases on HAART were designated as observation group and 57 cases who were not on HAART were as control group. Onset dates were defined as the dates into the queue. Death due to AIDS was regarded as an outcome event. Subjects who were enrolled into the observation group and control group were epidemiologically followed up regularly. Observation was ended on December 31, 2010. RESULTS: Mortality of patients after HAART from groups of FCPDs and blood recipients were 4.42/100 person-years and 6.13/100 person-years, respectively. The survival rates of HAART groups were 80% in FCPDs for 110 months and 72% in blood recipients for 90 months, respectively. Meanwhile the mortality of no HAART groups were 182.05/100 person-years and 250.66/100 person-years, respectively. Mean survival of patients whose disease was caused by plasma donation and blood transfusion were 4 months and 3 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Whether the HIV infection was caused by plasmapheresis or blood transfusion, the effects of HAART did not show difference. HAART cold reduce the death intensity and prolong survival.

[A retrospective cohort study on the natural history of AIDS caused by blood transfusion].

OBJECTIVE: To study the natural history of AIDS, caused by blood transfusion. METHODS: All HIV infections and AIDS patients were from Hebei province, including those infected through blood transfusion around 1995, that were identified as through general census of former commercial plasma donors (FCPDs). Among those objects being observed during the incubation period, 354 had HIV infections (including 142 cases infected via plasmapheresis and 212 cases caused by transfusion) but had not been treated by HAART before the onset of disease. Objects being observed during the survival period, 141 were AIDS patients (including 57 cases infected via plasmapheresis and 84 cases causes by transfusion) but had not been treated by HAART before and after the onset of disease. All infectors and AIDS patients were under follow-up on the progress of illness or death, respectively. RESULTS: By December 31, 2010, the cumulative incidence among HIV infections was 88.70% (314/354), with the incidence density as 9.14/100 person-years (314/3435.75) and the median incubation period was 113 months. Of 142 HIV infections in the blood donation group and 212 infections in the blood transfusion group, the incubation periods were 112 months and 115 months, respectively. All of the 141 patients died 34 months after the onset, with the death-strength as 204.70/100 person-years (141/68.88) and the period of survival was 4 months. Among those 57 FCPDs infections, they were all died 24 months after the onset, with the death-strength as 250.66/100 person-years (57/22.74) and the survival was 3 months. The other 84 infections who were blood recipients, all died 34 months after the onset, with the death-strength as 182.05/100 person-years (84/ 46.14) and the survival was 4 months. CONCLUSION: Through this study, we noticed that the natural history of all the AIDS patients was caused by blood transmission. It was important to evaluate the natural history of HIV epidemics among both FCPDs and blood recipients, occurred before and after 1995.

[Retrospective cohort study on period of incubation and survival among former commercial plasma donors infected with HIV in Hebei province].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the state of incubation period and survival time of former commercial plasma donors (FCPDs) infected with HIV. METHODS: All objects infected with HIV were from Hebei province and found from general investigation for FCPDs in 1995. The infector cohort by 142 cases was used to estimate incubation period. In the infector cohort, the time which infectors entered the cohort was their infection time, which was the middle value of the origin date, which was January 1, 1995. The onset of AIDS was defined as an outcome event. End point of observation was Dec 31, 2010. There were 192 months in all from beginning to end. The AIDS cohort by 57 cases was used to estimate the survival of the patients. In the patient cohort, the time of AIDS onset was defined as the time entering the cohort, and death of AIDS was defined as an outcome event. The cumulative incidence ratio, cumulative mortality, illness intensity and mortality intensity were analyzed through Kaplan-Meier. RESULTS: During the observation period, 123 cases of 142 infectors developed into AIDS, the cumulative incidence was 86.42% (123/142) and the intensity was 8.53/100 person-years and the median time of incubation period was 112.0 months (95%CI: 108.8 - 115.2). The death dates of 57 patients were from 1 to 24 months after onset. The cumulative mortality was 100%, and the intensity was 250.66/100 person-years and the median survival time was 3.0 months (95%CI: 1.8 - 4.2). It was estimated that the median time was 115.0 months (9.6 years) from infection to death. CONCLUSION: The median times of incubation and median survival time were 112.0 and 3.0 months, respectively.

[Analysis of factors of formation and development about degenerative lumbar scoliosis].

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the correlation between scoliosis angle and the asymmetric index of degenerative lumbar scoliosis, the degree of intervertebral disc degeneration, decreased bone density. METHODS: As a retrospectively study, a total of 96 patients with degenerative lumbar scoliosis were retrospectively enrolled from January 2002 to August 2010 as scoliosis group, meanwhile 96 patients with lumbar spinal stenosis matched in gender, age and body mass index (BMI) were selected as control group. All patients were studied with plain radiographs, MRI and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry at presentation. Radiographic measurements include Cobb angle, the height of the convex and concave side of the apical disc and the contiguous disc superiorly and inferiorly, the height of the convex and concave side of the apical and the contiguous vertebral body superiorly and inferiorly in scoliosis group, the height of L(2-3), L(3-4), L(4-5) discs and the height of L(2-4) vertebral body in control group. The average relative signal intensity of lumbar intervertebral disc and cerebrospinal fluid in T2WI sagittal image was measured in apex intervertebral disc and adjacent discs by Adobe Photoshop 6.0 in scoliosis group, which was measured in L(2-3), L(3-4), L(4-5) disc in control group. The bone density of lumbar, femoral neck, trochanter, and Ward's triangle regions were measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: The intervertebral disc height in convex side was greater than the height in the concave side [(40 ± 7) mm vs. (28 ± 7) mm, P < 0.01], the vertebral body height in convex side was greater than the height in the concave side [(76 ± 12) mm vs. (72 ± 10) mm, P = 0.016] in scoliosis group. There was significant statistically difference in the degenerative degree of intervertebral discs between two groups (P = 0.003). There was significant statistically difference of the average T-value and the rate of osteoporosis between two groups (P < 0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the asymmetric disc index, the degenerative degree of intervertebral disc and osteoporosis were the predominant correlative factors, which affected the development of degenerative lumbar scoliosis. CONCLUSIONS: Degenerative lumbar scoliosis is always accompanied by the height asymmetry of intervertebral discs and vertebral body from convex and concavity sides. There is positive correlation between the angle of scoliosis and the asymmetric disc index, the degeneration of intervertebral disc, and negative correlation between the angle of scoliosis and the bone density (T-value).

[Post-stroke speech disorder treated with acupuncture and psychological intervention combined with rehabilitation training: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical efficacy on post-stroke speech disorder treated with acupuncture and psychological intervention combined with rehabilitation training. METHODS: The multi-central randomized controlled study was adopted. One hundred and twenty cases of brain stroke were divided into a speech rehabilitation group (control group), a speech rehabilitation plus acupuncture group (observation group 1) and a speech rehabilitation plus acupuncture combined with psychotherapy group (observation group 2), 40 cases in each one. The rehabilitation training was conducted by a professional speech trainer. In acupuncture treatment, speech function area in scalp acupuncture, Jinjin (EX-HN 12) and Yuye (EX-HN 13) in tongue acupuncture and Lianquan (CV 23) were the basic points. The supplementary points were selected according to syndrome differentiation. Bloodletting method was used in combination with acupuncture. Psychotherapy was applied by the physician in psychiatric department of the hospital. The corresponding programs were used in each group. Examination of Aphasia of Chinese of Beijing Hospital was adopted to observe the oral speech expression, listening comprehension and reading and writing ability. RESULTS: After 21-day treatment, the total effective rate was 92.5% (37/40) in observation group 1, 97.5% (39/40) in observation group 2 and 87.5% (35/40) in control group. The efficacies were similar in comparison among 3 groups. The remarkable effective rate was 15.0% (6/40) in observation group 1, 50.0% (20/40) in observation group 2 and 2.5% (1/40) in control group. The result in observation group 2 was superior to the other two groups (P<0.01, P<0.001). In comparison of the improvements of oral expression, listening comprehension, reading and writing ability, all of the 3 groups had achieved the improvements to different extents after treatment (P<0.01, P<0.001). The results in observation group 2 were better than those in observation group 1 and control group. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture and psychological intervention combined with rehabilitation training is obviously advantageous in the treatment of post-stroke speech disorder.

[Prostatic middle lobe hyperplasia correlates with bladder outflow obstruction: analysis of 131 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the correlation between the size of prostatic middle lobe hyperplasia and the degree of bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). METHODS: This study included 131 BPH patients who presented with dysuria between May 2008 and June 2010. The prostate volume and intravesical prostatic protrusion (IPP) were measured by transabdominal ultrasound, Qmax and detrusor pressure at Qmax (P(det@ Qmax)) detected by urodynamic examination, the obstruction degree and detrusor contractility judged using the LinPURR Figure, and the AG value calculated (AG = P(det@ Qmax) -2Qmax). The degrees of BOO were compared between different groups of IPP by variance analysis, and the prostate volume, IPP and AG values underwent Bivariate correlation analysis. RESULTS: IPP was highly positively correlated with BOO when it was > 10 mm (r = 0.821, P < 0.01), while PV and BOO had a lower correlation (r = 0.475, P < 0.01). There was also a high positive correlation between IPP and P(det@ Qmax) (r = 0.865, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: A close correlation exists between prostatic middle lobe hyperplasia and BOO, and evaluating IPP by ultrasound is a reliable method to determine the degree of BOO.

[Correlation between intervertebral disc-endplate degeneration and bony structural parameter in adult degenerative scoliosis and its significance].

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the correlation between intervertebral disc-endplate degeneration and bony construction parameter and to explore its roles in adult degenerative scoliosis. METHODS: The imaging data of 79 patients with adult degenerative scoliosis from March 2005 to March 2010 were retrospectively reviewed as the study group. The imaging data of 41 patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis were selected as the control group. The vertebral body and intervertebral height in both sides on frontal X-ray, and the facet joint orientation in both sides on CT scan were measured respectively. The average vertebral body height, average intervertebral disc height and average facet orientation were regarded as bony structural parameters. The quantitative grading methods were used in the intervertebral disc and endplate degeneration. The relationship of bony construction parameter and intervertebral disc-endplate degeneration, and the relationship of bony construction parameter and Cobb's angle of scoliosis were analyzed by comparing all bony construction parameters in both groups. RESULTS: Analyzed by paired-t test, the intervertebral height, vertebral body height and facet joint orientation between convex and concave sides of the study group were of significant difference (t = 3.411, 2.623 and 2.085, P < 0.05). The intervertebral height between convex and concave sides of the control group were of significant difference (t = 3.276, P < 0.01), while the vertebral body height and the facet joint orientation were of no statistical significance (t = 1.572 and 1.493, P > 0.05). By linear correlation and regression analysis, the asymmetric degree of bony construction parameter showed good correlation with the score of intervertebral disc-endplate degeneration (-1 < r < 1, P < 0.05), which was positively correlated with Cobb's angle of scoliosis (0 < r < 1, P < 0.05). Linear regression existed between asymmetric degree of bony construction parameter and Cobb's angle (F = 427.342, P < 0.01). The regression function was obtained: Cobb's angle = -8.904+8.136 × IAD + 3.274 × VAD-0.713 × FAD (IAD: intervertebral asymmetry degree, VAD: vertebral asymmetry degree, FAD: facet joint asymmetry degree). CONCLUSIONS: The asymmetric change of bony construction exists in adult degenerative scoliosis, which significantly correlated with intervertebral disc-endplate degeneration and Cobb's angle of scoliosis. The asymmetric bony construction parameter probably plays a biomechanical role in the progression of scoliosis, which maybe the reason for the asymmetric degeneration of intervertebral disc-endplate.

[Epidemiological investigation of adult metatarsal fractures].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate retrospectively the adult metatarsal fractures within last five years and analyze their epidemiological characteristics. METHODS: The X-ray films taken from January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2007 at department of radiology of Hebei provincial orthopedic hospital were reviewed to screen and classify according to OTA fracture comprehensive classification method. The epidemiological characteristics of adult metatarsal fractures were summarized and analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 1949 adult metatarsal fractures were included. The single and multiple types were 1465 and 484 respectively. The 31-50-yr age group was the largest one with 45.26% of the patients. The fifth metatarsal fracture was the most common metatarsal fracture accounting for 42.45% of the total; 58.37% of metatarsal fractures occurred in proximal metaphysis; 87.61% of multiple metatarsal fractures occurred in adjacent metatarsals; 81-A1 group fracture was the most common metatarsal fracture accounting for 35.42% of the total. CONCLUSION: Epidemiological studies of metatarsal fracture offer aids in the diagnosis and treatment of metatarsal fractures.

[Analysis of epidemiological features of pelvic fracture].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the epidemiological features of patients with pelvic fractures. METHODS: The data of patients with pelvic fractures treated between 2003 and 2007 at our hospital were collected and analyzed through the PACS system and case reports checking system. And analytic items included gender, age, injured sites and type of AO or Young-Burgess classification. RESULTS: A total of 1953 pelvic fractures including 917 males and 930 females were selected and 379 patients hospitalized. The high-risk age of all patients was between 31 and 40 years old. And 81 cases were combined with acetabular fractures and 312 cases other parts fracture. The 61-A type fractures are the most common type fractures of AO classification including 766 males and 853 females. The 61-A2 fracture was one of the most common subtype fractures including 562 males and 433 females. In the Young-Burgess classification, the most common fracture was of APC type including 119 males and 70 females. The APC-I fracture was the most common subtype fractures including 68 males and 41 females. CONCLUSION: The current investigation has implied the epidemiological features of pelvic fractures treated between 2003 - 2007 in our hospital.

[Retrospective cohort study on the rate of mother-to-child transmission among mothers infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 through blood transfusion].

OBJECTIVE: To study the rate of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) on HIV-1. METHODS: All local residents from 8 townships in a region were screened for mothers who had a history of only one blood transfusion and 63 were found HIV-1 positive. A further study on these HIV-1 positive mothers and their children was conducted with the emphasis on the date of receiving blood transfusion, date and type of nationality, history regarding breastfeeding and so on. Sera specimens from 84 children born from 63 HIV-1 positive mothers were screened, using ELISA for HIV-1 antibody, and positive specimens were confirmed by Western-blot. RESULTS: The rate of MTCT was 32.1% (27/84) for children with all risk factors related to MTCT. Another 36.8% (7/19) were related to factors on intrauterine, intrapartum and breastfeeding, 35.7% (5/14) to intrapartum and breastfeeding factors, 14.3% (2/14) to intrauterine and intrapartum factors, 37.9% (11/29) to breastfeeding factor alone. By group combination analysis, the MTCT rate was 36.9% (24/65) with breastfeeding, 11.8% (2/17) with artificial feeding, and the former was significantly higher than the latter. CONCLUSION: HIV-1 MTCT rate among mothers caused by a single blood transfusion varied with different risk factors. Breastfeeding played an important role in MTCT, appeared in our study.

Posterolateral transforaminal interbody fusion for thoracic disc herniation: a retrospective study of 38 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical results of posterolateral transforaminal interbody fusion (PTIF) for the treatment of thoracic disc herniation (TDH). METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with TDH were treated with PTIF in our hospital from November 1999 to November 2003. The mean follow-up period was 5.8 years (range, 4.2 to 6.5 years). There were 24 men and 14 women, ranging from 30.5 to 67.5 years, with an average of 46.5 years. The interval between onset of symptoms and surgery ranged from 5 to 12 months with an average of 9 months. In this group, the disc herniation involved T(9-10) or T(10-11) in 26 (68.5%) patients, T(8-9) in 4 (10.5%), T(11-12) in 4 (10.5%) and T(12)L(1) in 4 (10.5%). All patients underwent X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination. Twenty-two patients underwent myelography, while 25 patients underwent computer tomography (CT) or CT myelography (CTM) examination. The clinical results were evaluated using the Otani scoring system. RESULTS: The outcome according to the Otani scoring system was excellent in 16 patients, good in 18, fair in 2 and poor in 2. No neurological symptoms, wound infection or clinical or radiographic evidence of instability were found; and the fusion rate was 100% by final follow-up. An excellent or good outcome was achieved in 89.5% of patients. CONCLUSION: PTIF is an effective strategy for the treatment of TDH.

[Investigation on status of HIV-1 infection among blood recipients from 1994 to 1998 in certain areas of China].

OBJECTIVE: To study the infection status of HIV-1 among blood recipients from 1994 to 1998 in certain areas of Hebei province. METHODS: A general investigation was set up among all the people in 15 townships of certain areas from November 2003 to February 2005. An epidemiological investigation was conducted among people who had received blood from donors, during 1994 and 1998. Blood samples were collected. ELISA was used in preliminary screening and Western-blot (WB) was used among people who showed a positive result in the preliminary screening. RESULTS: The infection rate of HIV-1 after blood receipt was 15.54% (92/592), and the infected persons were all appeared in five medical centers of 6 townships which located at the west part of the area. HIV-1 infection happened over the years, and reaching the zenith in the year 1995. Most of the infected persons were young women. Procreation was the main cause of blood transfusion for women and trauma was for men. CONCLUSION: A typical HIV outbreak happened in certain areas after blood transfusion in Hebei.

[Following surveillance on HIV infection after blood transfusion].

OBJECTIVE: To study epidemiological features of HIV infection after blood transfusion and the situation of transmission among members of family. METHODS: The persons infected with HIV through blood transfusion and their intrafamilial transmission in some city were analyzed and testing methods of ELISA, Western-blot, RT-PCR and subtype analyzing were used. The whole surveillance data came from residents investigation around problem medical centres and HIV monitoring network around Hebei province. RESULTS: 173 people infected with HIV after blood transfusion in some city, including 89 cases found in hospital and 84 cases in CDC, accounted for 68.7% (173/252) of all of infected persons by blood transfusion in Hebei province. The rate of intrafamilial transmission, spousal transmission and mother-to-child transmission((MTCT) were 32.0% (49/153),17.0% (26/153) and 32.7% (32/98), respectively. Most of persons infected with HIV were youth among who the female were more than the male. Childbearing and women's ailments were the main cause of blood transfusion from 1990 to 1999, and traumatism surgery took second place. Infected persons by HIV blood, whose time to diagnostic were the year from 1999 to 2009, spread over Kangtai hospital and other hospital which accounted for 45.1% (78/173) and 42.2% (73/173), respectively. The genetype of all patients were B' subtype. CONCLUSION: The medical centers at the grass-roots level in some city resulted in outbreak of infected persons by HIV blood because of having no screening test antibody of HIV for liid blood donors.