[Development and application syndromic surveillance and early warning system in border area in Yunnan Province].

Objective: To establish a dynamic syndromic surveillance system in the border areas of Yunnan Province based on information technology, evaluate its effectiveness and timeliness in the response to common communicable disease epidemics and improve the communicable disease prevention and control in border areas. Methods: Three border counties were selected for full coverage as study areas, and dynamic surveillance for 14 symptoms and 6 syndromes were conducted in medical institutions, the daily collection of information about students' school absence in primary schools and febrile illness in inbound people at border ports were conducted in these counties from January 2016 to February 2018 to establish an early warning system based on mobile phone and computer platform for a field experimental study. Results: With syndromes of rash, influenza-like illness and the numbers of primary school absence, the most common communicable disease events, such as hand foot and mouth disease, influenza and chickenpox, can be identified 1-5 days in advance by using EARS-3C and Kulldorff time-space scanning models with high sensitivity and specificity. The system is easy to use with strong security and feasibility. All the information and the warning alerts are released in the form of interactive charts and visual maps, which can facilitate the timely response. Conclusions: This system is highly effective and easy to operate in the detection of possible outbreaks of common communicable diseases in border areas in real time, so the timely and effective intervention can be conducted to reduce the risk of local and cross-border communicable disease outbreaks. It has practical application value.

Improving rowing performance by adjusting oar blade size and angle.

The principal aim of the work presented here is to investigate and demonstrate that a forward tilted rowing blade would result in a more efficient and effective motion of the blade through the water that would result in a higher boat speed when an equal input power is provided. A 1:5 scaled rowing boat is used to determine the performance of rowing blades with different sizes and blade angles. This is used to validate the results of a previous study where the optimal blade angle of 15 ∘ with respect to the oar shaft was determined ( 1). The input power and speed of the rowing boat can be compared between original and modified oar blades. Measurements in a towing tank demonstrate that a modified rowing blade result in faster rowing by 0.4% at the same input power. Maintaining the same stroke rate, the improvement of the blade efficiency is compensated by using a 4-6% increased blade area to yield the same input power.

The CnB1 p.D102A variant is linked to dilated cardiomyopathy via impaired Calcineurin activity.

BACKGROUND: The role of calcineurin (protein phosphatase 2B (PP2B)) in the pathogenesis of human dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) has not been fully elucidated. We determined the potential involvement of calcineurin in the pathogenesis of DCM caused by mutations in CnB1, a subunit of calcineurin. METHODS: By whole-exome sequencing, we identified a new CnB1 variant in a Han Chinese proband with cardiomyopathy from a 3-generation family with 2 normal individuals and 3 individuals with familial dilated cardiomyopathy. The potential pathogenic variant was validated by Sanger sequencing. We performed functional and mechanistic experiments in a CnB1-knockin (KI) mouse model and at the cellular level. RESULTS: We detected a rare heterozygous CnB1 variant (p.D102A) in a proband with dilated cardiomyopathy. This variant was localized to the EF hand 3 region of CnB1, where no variants have been previously reported. KI mice harboring the p.D102A variant exhibited decreased cardiac function and cardiac dilatation. Immunoblotting, RT-PCR and immunofluorescence results showed decreased cardiomyocyte size and heart failure-related protein expression. A calcineurin activity assay demonstrated decreased calcineurin activity in the KI mice, accompanied by the decreased ability of CnB1 to bind CnA. CONCLUSIONS: CnB1 p.D102A is a disease-associated variant that confers susceptibility to cardiac dilatation. This variant is associated with impaired calcineurin activity and a subsequent decrease in the ability of CnB1 to bind CnA.

[Summary of clinical research progression of apatinib combined with docetaxel in second-line treatment of advanced gastric cancer].

Objective: To investigate the progression-free survival (PFS) and safety of apatinib combined with docetaxel treated patients with advanced gastric cancer after failure of first-line chemotherapy. Methods: From March 2017 to May 2018, 23 patients with advanced gastric cancer who had received a failure of first-line chemotherapy (either fedocetaxel or paclitaxel) were treated with apatinib combined with docetaxel. The short-term efficacy and safety of the patients were observed. Results: The therapeutic effects of 20 patients were evaluated. Among them, 4 cases were partial response (PR), 13 patients were stable disease (SD), 3 patients were progressive disease (PD). The objective remission rate (ORR) was 20.0%, the disease control rate (DCR) was 85.0%, the median PFS (mPFS) was 4.5 months. The main adverse reactions were hypertension, vomiting and weakness. Conclusion: Apatinib combined with docetaxel applied in the second-line treatment of gastric cancer is safe and effective.

Knockdown of neuropilin-1 suppresses invasion, angiogenesis, and increases the chemosensitivity to doxorubicin in osteosarcoma cells - an in vitro study.

OBJECTIVES: Neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) is a novel co-receptor for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). NRP-1 expression in osteosarcoma tissues was significantly higher, and high NRP-1 expression was more frequently occurred in osteosarcoma tissues with advanced clinical stage, positive distant metastasis and poor response to chemotherapy. We tested a hypothesis that the NRP-1 gene plays a role in the invasiveness, angiogenesis and chemoresistance of human OS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To determine the role of NRP-1 in OS, NRP-1 was stably transfected into the human OS cell line MG-63 to increase the NPR-1 level, and NRP-1 siRNA was stably transfected into the human OS cell line SaOS-2 to knockdown of NRP-1. The effect of NRP-1 on invasion and angiogenesis was assessed by Matrigel invasion assay and in vitro angiogenesis assay. Chemosensitivity to doxorubicin was assessed by MTT assay in the MG-63 and SaOS-2 cells following NRP-1 overexpression or siRNA-induced downregulation of NRP-1. RESULTS: The NRP-1 transfected MG-63 cells showed a markedly higher level of invasion in Matrigel invasion assay. The capillary-like structure formation of endothelial cells was also increased by coculture with the NRP-1 transfected MG-63 cells. On the contrary, the NRP-1 siRNA transfected SaOS-2 cells showed a markedly lower level of invasion in Matrigel invasion assay. The capillary-like structure formation of endothelial cells was also repressed by coculture with the NRP-1 siRNA transfected SaOS-2 cells. NRP-1 overexpression in MG-63 cells increased survival of cells after exposure to doxorubicin. In contrast, downregulation of NRP-1 expression in SaOS-2 cells markedly increased chemosensitivity after exposure to doxorubicin. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that NRP-1 could be used as a biomarker for OS progression and a novel therapeutic or chemopreventive target for human OS treatment.

Artificial vascular graft for inferior vena cava reconstruction in living donor liver transplantation: a case report.

Artificial grafts are not recommended because of the high incidence of thrombogenic effects. However, in some situations, such as emergency or when no vascular bank is available, an artificial graft must be used. We present a case in which a polytetrafluoroethyline graft was used as a conduit to reconstruct the retrohepatic vena cava severed during living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). A 48-year-old woman had end-stage primary biliary cirrhosis for 5 years received a right lobe liver graft from her son. The retrohepatic vena cava was divided and ligated in several sequences. The upper end of the severed retrohepatic vena cava retracted into the liver parenchyma. The lower end of the severed vena cava was distended, with multiple stitches. A 16-mm artificial graft was used as a conduit to replace the inferin vena cava for outflow reconstruction. The patient tolerated the complicated procedure well. No anticoagulant was used throughout the entire course. The patient has been well with excellent liver function after follow-up for more than 5 years. Magnetic resonance imaging and Doppler ultrasonographic studies showed good patency of the cava with no evidence of thrombosis. We suggest use of an artificial graft in living donor liver transplantation, in particular in urgent situations when autologous or allogeneic vessels are not available.

Improvement of conversion efficiency for multi-junction solar cells by incorporation of Au nanoclusters.

We studied the photoluminescence (PL) and photovoltaic current-voltage characteristics of the three-junction InGaP/InGaAs/Ge solar cells by depositing Au nanoclusters on the cell surface. The increases of the PL intensity and short-circuit current after incorporation of Au nanoclusters are evident. An increase of 15.3% in energy conversion efficiency (from 19.6 to 22.6%) is obtained for the three-junction solar cells in which Au nanoclusters have been incorporated. We suggest that the increased light trapping due to radiative scattering from Au nanoclusters is responsible for improving the performance of the three-junction solar cells.

Automation model of sewerage rehabilitation planning.

The major steps of sewerage rehabilitation include inspection of sewerage, assessment of structural conditions, computation of structural condition grades, and determination of rehabilitation methods and materials. Conventionally, sewerage rehabilitation planning relies on experts with professional background that is tedious and time-consuming. This paper proposes an automation model of planning optimal sewerage rehabilitation strategies for the sewer system by integrating image process, clustering technology, optimization, and visualization display. Firstly, image processing techniques, such as wavelet transformation and co-occurrence features extraction, were employed to extract various characteristics of structural failures from CCTV inspection images. Secondly, a classification neural network was established to automatically interpret the structural conditions by comparing the extracted features with the typical failures in a databank. Then, to achieve optimal rehabilitation efficiency, a genetic algorithm was used to determine appropriate rehabilitation methods and substitution materials for the pipe sections with a risk of mal-function and even collapse. Finally, the result from the automation model can be visualized in a geographic information system in which essential information of the sewer system and sewerage rehabilitation plans are graphically displayed. For demonstration, the automation model of optimal sewerage rehabilitation planning was applied to a sewer system in east Taichung, Chinese Taiwan.

Usefulness of technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile liver single photon emission computed tomography to detect hepatocellular carcinoma.

Technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile (Tc-99m MIBI) has been shown to be useful in identifying several types of tumors, such as breast, lung and thyroid cancers. The usefulness of Tc-99m MIBI liver imaging in detecting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still controversial. In this study, 22 patients with HCC performed Tc-99m MIBI liver single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Twenty of 22 patients (90.9%) showed negative liver SPECT findings without significant Tc-99m MIBI uptake in HCC, and only 2 patients (9.1%) showed positive liver SPECT findings with significant Tc-99m MIBI uptake in HCC. In addition, no significant correlation between liver SPECT findings with sex, age, alpha feto-protein serum level, HCC differentiation, and virus hepatitis status was found. We concluded that Tc-99m MIBI liver SPECT is not a sensitive tool to detect HCC.

The use of dual phase 201Tl thyroid scan for equivocal fine-needle aspiration results in cold thyroid nodules.

We assessed the usefulness of dual phase 201Tl thyroid scan for equivocal fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy results to differentiate malignant from benign lesions. The findings of the dual phase 201TI thyroid scan were compared with those of surgical histopathology for 27 patients with cold thyroid nodules. The FNA results were assessed and classified by experienced pathologists equivocal ENS results. Dual phase thyroid scan, including an early image and a delayed image, were acquired 10 minutes and 3 hours, respectively after mCi (74 MBq) of 201TI was injected intravenously. Dual phase 201Tl thyroid scan findings were visually interpreted as positive or negative results. Based on the final diagnoses of the surgical histopathology results, the dual phase Tl thyroid scan showed a sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 100%, 90%, and 96%, respectively. We concluded that dual phase Tl thyroid scan was very helpful in differentiating between benign and malignant thyroid nodules when FNA results were equivocal.

The Chinese medicine Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang inhibited proliferation of hepatoma cell lines by inducing apoptosis via G0/G1 arrest.

Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang (BZYQT), a Chinese herbal medicine, inhibited the proliferation of human hepatoma cell lines (Hep3B, HepG2 and HA22T) dose-dependently. The IC50s of BZYQT on the proliferation of Hep3B, HepG2 and HA22T were 432.5+/-31.8 microg/ml, 455.4+/-24.2 microg/ml, and 2284.3+/-77.2 microg/ml respectively on day 3. However, BZYQT did not significantly inhibit the proliferation of normal human hepatocytes (Chang liver, CCL-13) at the concentration under 5,000 microg/ml. Major compounds of BZYQT, including astragaloside IV, ginsenoside Rb1 and Rg1, saikosaponin a and c, and glycyrrhizin, have been identified. To investigate the key inhibitors of BZYQT. Hep3B cells were treated with BZYQT, individual major compounds of BZYQT, and mixture of major compounds in the same ratio as present in BZYQT. Significant inhibition of proliferation was detected in BZYQT and its major compounds mixture in a comparable level. Not any individual major compound examined could suppress the proliferation of Hep3B cells. This data indicated that there could be synergistic or additive effects of the ingredients in BZYQT. BrdU incorporation, cell cycle analysis and DNA fragmentation assay revealed that BZYQT suppressed the proliferation of hepatoma cells via G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and inhibition of DNA synthesis followed by apoptosis.

Ellagic [correction of ellagica] acid inhibits arylamine N-acetyltransferase activity and DNA adduct formation in human bladder tumor cell lines (T24 and TSGH 8301).

The fact that vitamin C (ascorbic acid) exhibits a protective effect in certain types of cancer is well documented. Our previous studies demonstrated that human bladder tumor cell line (T24) has N-acetyltransferase (NAT) activity in cytosols and intact cells. The present studies examined the inhibition of arylamine NAT activity and carcinogen (2-aminofluorene)-DNA adduct formation by ellagic acid (EA) in human bladder tumor cell lines (T24 and TSGH 8301). Two assay systems were performed, one with cellular cytosols (9,000 g supernatant), the other with intact bladder tumor cell suspensions. NAT activity and 2-aminofluorene-DNA adduct formation in T24 and TSGH 8301 cells was inhibited by EA in a dose-dependent manner in both systems, i.e.. the greater the concentration of EA in the reaction the greater the inhibition of NAT activity (dose- and time-course dependent effects). The data also indicated that EA decreased the apparent Km and Vmax of NAT enzymes from T24 and TSGH 8301 cells in cytosols. NAT activity and 2-aminofluorene-DNA adducts in T24 is higher than in TSGH 8301. This report is the first to demonstrate that EA affects human bladder tumor cell NAT activity.

Immunomodulation of Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang on in vitro granulocyte colony-stimulating-factor and tumor necrosis factor-alpha production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang (BZYQT) is a Chinese medicine, and has been used for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. At present, we still do not fully understand the effects of BZYQT on the cellular physiology. Present in vitro study demonstrated that BZYQT is capable of increasing granulocyte colony-stimulating-factor (G-CSF) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in healthy volunteers and patients with HCC. The productions of G-CSF and TNF-alpha by PBMC of volunteers were significantly stimulated by more than 125 microg/ml of BZYQT. G-CSF levels stimulated by PBMC of healthy volunteers were higher than in PBMC of the HCC patients when more than 625 microg/ml of BZYQT was administrated. The reason may be due to the impaired immunologic reactivity of mononuclear cells in HCC patients. However, the production levels of TNF-alpha in HCC patients can be stimulated to levels as high as those in healthy volunteers. When adding high concentration (3.125 mg/ml) of BZYQT to the cultured PBMC, the increments of G-CSF and TNF-alpha production decreased although there were no obvious changes in the number of metabolic active PBMC changed. TNF-alpha andG-CSF are known to play important roles in the biological defensive mechanism. These findings show that BZYQT is a unique formula for the stimulation of PBMC to produce G-CSF and TNF-alpha. Administration of BZYQT may be beneficial for patients with HCC to modulate these cytokines.

Cytomegalovirus colitis in an immunocompetent old woman successfully treated with ganciclovir: a case report.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) diseases occur almost exclusively in the immunocompromised hosts. Persons most commonly affected are patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). On rare occasions, however, CMV diseases can be seen in apparently immunocompetent persons. A CMV colitis in a 68-year old immunocompetent woman presenting with watery diarrhea, malaise, and body weight loss of about 5 kg over a three week period is reported. Colonoscopy and mucosal biopsy revealed CMV colitis involving the sigmoid colon. Treatment for two weeks with ganciclovir (10 gm/kg/day I.V. in 2 divided doses) resulted in resolution of colitis and clinical symptoms without any noticeable side-effects. There was no relapse of infection by six months of follow-up. The possibility of CMV colitis should be considered in any elderly person with watery diarrhea, general debilitation, marked body weight loss and with negative stool cultures. CMV colitis may be more frequent than is usually believed. It has a favorable response to ganciclovir without further relapse after the successful treatment in patients with normal immune function.

Isolation and some properties of glycated D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase from rabbit muscle.

Glycated D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenases (GAPDH) from rabbit muscle and human erythrocytes have been investigated. The specific activity of the non-glycated GAPDH from rabbit muscle is approx. 180 units. (One unit is defined as the specific activity required to convert 1 microM of substrate/min per mg of enzyme.) The activity of the glycated enzyme, consisting of two sugars per tetramer, is lower than that of the non-glycated GAPDH. Non-enzymic transamination of the N-termini of glycated GAPDH (gGAPDH) indicates that they are not blocked by glycation. The rate of modification of thiols (Cys-149) with 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) was greater for the glycated than the non-glycated enzymes. The rate of modification of amino groups of Lys residues of gGAPDH with o-phthalaldehyde was greater for the non-glycated enzyme. In 0.18 M guanidine-HC1 solution, the emission intensity at 410 nm of a fluorescent NAD+ derivative introduced into the active site decreased to 80%, whereas that of gGAPDH decreased to 50%. This suggests that the glycated sites are near the active site; glycation of the enzyme leads to a change of the microenvironment of Cys-149, alters the conformation of the active site and decreases the activity.