A Functional Polymorphism in HIF-3α Is Related to an Increased Risk of Ischemic Stroke.

Hypoxia-inducible factor-3α (HIF-3α), a member of HIF family, can mediate adaptive responses to low oxygen and ischemia. It is believed that HIF plays crucial roles in stroke-related diseases. However, there are no reports on the association between HIF-3α genetic variants and ischemic stroke (IS) susceptibility. Therefore, we examined the association between HIF-3α gene polymorphisms (rs3826795, rs2235095, and rs3764609) and IS risk. The study population included 302 controls and 310 patients with ischemic stroke. Three polymorphisms in HIF-3α (rs3826795, rs2235095, and rs3764609) were genotyped using SNPscan technique. Our study showed a strong association of rs3826795 in HIF-3α with the risk of IS. The genotype and allele frequencies were shown to differ between the two groups. The rs3826795 in an intron of HIF-3α was related to a prominent increased IS risk (AA vs GG adjusted odd ratio [OR], 2.21; 95% confidence intervals [95% CI], 1.10-4.44; P = 0.03; AA vs AG/GG OR = 1.74, 95% CI, 1.02-2.97, P = 0.04; A vs G OR = 1.48, 95% CI, 1.05-2.07, P = 0.02). Logistic regression analysis suggested that rs3826795 posed a risk factor for IS in addition to common factors. Furthermore, when compared to controls, increased levels of homocysteic acid and level of non-esterified fatty acid were found in the cases (P < 0.01). However, no significant association was found between rs2235095 or rs3264609 and IS risk. These findings indicated that the rs3826795 polymorphism may be a potential target for predicting the risk of IS.

Prognostic significance of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in pancreatic cancer: a meta-analysis.

AIM: To conduct a meta-analysis evaluating the association between the peripheral blood neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the outcome of patients with pancreatic cancer. METHODS: Studies evaluating the relationship between the peripheral blood NLR and outcome of patients with pancreatic cancer published up to May 2014 were searched using electronic databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and Ovid. A meta-analysis was performed to pool the hazard ratios (HRs) or odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using either a fixed-effects model or a random-effects model to quantitatively assess the prognostic value of NLR and its association with clinicopathological parameters. RESULTS: Eleven studies containing a total of 1804 patients were eligible according to our selection criteria, and combined hazard ratios indicated that high NLR was a poor prognostic marker for pancreatic cancer patients because it had an unfavorable impact on the overall survival (OS) (HR = 2.61, 95%CI: 1.68-4.06, P = 0.000) and cancer specific survival (HR = 1.66, 95%CI: 1.08-2.57, P = 0.021). Subgroup analysis revealed that high NLR was associated with poor OS in patients with mixed treatment (HR = 4.36, 95%CI: 2.50-7.61, P = 0.000), chemotherapy (HR = 2.08, 95%CI: 1.49-2.9, P = 0.000), or surgical resection (HR = 1.2, 95%CI: 1.00-1.44, P = 0.048). Additionally, high NLR was significantly correlated with tumor metastasis (OR = 1.69, 95%CI: 1.10-2.59, P = 0.016), poor tumor differentiation (OR = 2.75, 95%CI: 1.19-6.36, P = 0.016), poor performance status (OR = 2.56, 95%CI: 1.63-4.03, P = 0.000), high cancer antigen 199 (OR = 2.62, 95%CI: 1.49-4.60, P = 0.000), high C-reactive protein (OR = 4.32, 95%CI: 2.71-6.87, P = 0.000), and low albumin (OR = 3.56, 95%CI: 1.37-9.27, P = 0.009). CONCLUSION: High peripheral blood NLR suggested a poor prognosis for patients with pancreatic cancer, and it could be a novel marker of survival evaluation and could help clinicians develop therapeutic strategies for pancreatic cancer patients.

Eight-year survival of AIDS patients treated with Chinese herbal medicine.

Treatment of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) currently relies on the use of antiretroviral drugs. Little is known about Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) outcomes in patients living with AIDS. We conducted a cohort study to investigate long-term survival among CHM-treated AIDS patients. Patients were poor farmers who contracted HIV-1 infection when selling blood in the 1990s. Symptoms of AIDS included recurring respiratory tract infections with a clinical diagnosis of pneumonia, swollen lymph nodes and weight loss. 385 patients with AIDS were included and 165 of them used a 16-herb formula for 14 days to 9 months. The eight-year survival rate was 87% for the CHM users and 34% for the non-users (increased survival probability for CHM user, 9.6; 95% CI = 6.0-15.4; p < 0.0001). Survival probability further increased 14.6-fold (95% CI = 8.2-26.1), when excluding the users who received CHM for less than three months. Zero deaths were found in patients who used CHM for six to nine months. All the survivors regained their body weight and none of them experienced a relapse of AIDS or any severe adverse events. After the CHM treatment for an average of 3.6 months, the plasma HIV load was 74.7% lower (paired t-test, p = 0.151) and the number of blood CD4+ lymphocytes increased from 253 to 314 (paired t-test, p = 0.021). Without life-long medication, CHM may be beneficial for long-term survival of AIDS patients.

[Investigation of chigger mites on the rat Eothenomys miletus in Yunnan].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the species, species distribution, the dominant species and their interspecies interaction of chigger mites on Eothenomys miletus(a dominant species of rats) in Yunnan. METHOD: The rats were captured with mouse traps in 16 counties (or cities) during 2000-2004. All mites on the surface of two auricles of the hosts were collected and identified. The patch index (m*/m) and the coefficient of association (V) were adopted to judge the spatial distribution patterns and interspecies interaction of the dominant chigger mite species among different individuals of the rats (E. miletus). RESULTS: 1157 individuals of E. miletus were captured from 16 counties (citys). 37613 chigger mites (belonging to 3 subfamily, 9 genus and 80 species) were collected from the auricles (body surface) of 1157 rat hosts with a high "overall mite infestation rate" (68.2%) and "overall mite index" (32.5). Six species of mites were found dominant on E. miletus: Leptotrombidium scutellare, Leptotrombidium sinicum, Helenicula simena, Leptotrombidium eothenomydis, Herpetacarus hastoclavus and Leptotrombidium hiemalis. The distribution of the chigger mites among different individuals of E.miletus showed an aggregation pattern. Both positive and negative association existed between each two dominant species of chigger mites. CONCLUSION: The species composition of chigger mites on Eothenomys miletus is complex with abundant individuals, which reflects a high species diversity of the mites. The main species of chigger mites tend to an aggregation on the body surface of E. miletus.

[Study of chigger communities on major species of rodents in Yunnan Province].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the characteristics of the chigger communities on the major species of rodent hosts. METHODS: Rats were captured in 16 counties (or towns) of Yunnan. All the mites on the two auricles of the host were collected and identified. Shannon-Weiner's indices (H,E), the richness indices and dominance indices were adopted to judge the diversity and community structure of chiggers on their hosts (7 species of rodents). RESULTS: From the 7 species of dominant rodent hosts, 131 species of chiggers were identified, belonging to 17 genera of Trombiculidae. Among them, abundant individuals were collected from 6 species which were considered to be dominant chigger species. Shannon-Weiner's indices (H) of the chigger communities showed the following sequence: Rattus norvegicus>Apodemus chevrieri>Eothenomys miletus>Mus pahari>Rattus nitidus>Rattus flavipectus>Mus caroli, and the richness indices were similar to this tendency. The niche breadth of the 6 dominant chigger species showed the following tendency: Herpetacarus hastoclavus>Leptotrombidium scutellare>Leptotrombidium sinicum>Helenicula siena>Leptotrombidium hiemalis>Leptotrombidium eothenomydis. There was a wide niche overlap between any two chigger species with all indices beyond 0.76. Slight positive association existed between each two dominant species of chigger mites by the coefficient of association (V). CONCLUSION: The community structure of chigger mites on the 7 major species of rodent hosts is complex, reflecting a high diversity of mite species. The niche breadth of the 6 dominant chigger species is different with a wide niche overlap.