The Complex Interaction of Mitochondrial Genetics and Mitochondrial Pathways in Psychiatric Disease.

While accounting for only 2% of the body's weight, the brain utilizes up to 20% of the body's total energy. Not surprisingly, metabolic dysfunction and energy supply-and-demand mismatch have been implicated in a variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Mitochondria are responsible for providing the brain with most of its energetic demands, and the brain uses glucose as its exclusive energy source. Exploring the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the etiology of psychiatric disease is a promising avenue to investigate further. Genetic analysis of mitochondrial activity is a cornerstone in understanding disease pathogenesis related to metabolic dysfunction. In concert with neuroimaging and pathological study, genetics provides an important bridge between biochemical findings and clinical correlates in psychiatric disease. Mitochondrial genetics has several unique aspects to its analysis, and corresponding special considerations. Here, we review the components of mitochondrial genetic analysis - nuclear DNA, mitochon-drial DNA, mitochondrial pathways, pseudogenes, nuclear-mitochondrial mismatch, and microRNAs - that could contribute to an observable clinical phenotype. Throughout, we highlight psychiatric diseases that can arise due to dysfunction in these processes, with a focus on schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Effectiveness of 10-year vaccination (2001-2010) on Hepatitis A in Tianjin, China.

Vaccination is an effective strategy to prevent and control the transmission of hepatitis A. Hepatitis A immunization program has been taken into effect since 2001 in Tianjin, China. This study evaluated the effectiveness of strategies in the prevention and control of hepatitis A. Data of serological survey, annual hepatitis A incidence, immunization coverage and the positive rate of hepatitis A IgG before and after the immunization program in residents under 15 years old were used to do the analysis. The results indicated that hepatitis A vaccine induced a striking decrease of hepatitis A incidence and a significant increase in the positive rate of anti-HAV IgG among the children younger than 15 years old. Hepatitis A vaccination in children was proved to be effective in the prevention and control of hepatitis A in Tianjin, China.

Interchangeability and tolerability of two inactivated hepatitis A vaccines in Chinese children.

In China, no data are available to evaluate the interchangeability between Chinese domestic inactivated hepatitis A vaccines (Healive) and imported inactivated hepatitis A vaccines (Havrix). A double-blind, randomized controlled study was to compare interchangeability and safety of Healive and Havrix among Chinese children. Vaccine was administered to 303 healthy children at 0 and 6 months in one of four vaccine regimens: Healive-Healive; Healive-Havrix; Havrix-Healive or Havrix-Havrix. We collected sera samples at 0 (before vaccination), 6 (before second dose) and 7 months (after second dose), and compared groups in terms of proportion of sero-conversions which is defined as ≥ 20 mIU/ml, and geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) of anti-hepatitis A virus (HAV) antibody. Seroconversion rates were 133/133 (100%) for those received one dose of Healive and 105/131 (80.2%) for those received one dose of Havrix at 6 months, respectively (P<0.001), GMCs for Healive and Havrix were 126.1 and 40.9 mIU/ml (P<0.001), respectively. At 7 months, the seroconversion rate was 100% among all groups. The GMC after two doses of Healive was 8905.5 mIU/ml compared with 1900.9 mIU/ml after two doses of Havrix (P<0.001). The GMC in the Healive-Havrix group was 3275.8 mIU/ml compared with 4165.8 mIU/ml in the Havrix-Healive group (P=0.058). There is not different of reported adverse reactions across the groups. The present study indicated that both vaccines can be recommended for interchangeable using of immunization among Chinese healthy children.

[Sero-epidemiological investigation on Rickettsia typhi, Bartonella henselae and Orientia tsutsugamushi in farmers from rural areas of Tianjin, 2007 - 2009].

OBJECTIVE: To study the sero-epidemiological status regarding Rickettsia (R.) typhi, Bartonella (B.) henselae and Orientia (O.) tsutsugamushi in farmers from rural areas of Tianjin. METHODS: Field epidemiological surveys were performed in 8 districts (county) of Tianjin city from 2007 to 2009. 886 farmers were randomly recruited and their serum samples collected to detect the specific antibodies of R. typhi, B. henselae and O. tsutsugamushi by micro-indirect immunofluorescence (IFA). RESULTS: The total antibody positive rates of R. typhi increased from 5.0% to 58.2% while B. henselae had an increase from 2.6% to 14.5% and O. tsutsugamushi increased from 1.8% to 39.8%. Geographic distribution showed that farmers living in the central and southeast areas were higher than that in other areas. CONCLUSION: Infections of both R. typhi, B. henselae and O. tsutsugamushi in farmers from Tianjin areas were popular and the antibody positive rates of R. typhi, B. henselae and O. tsutsugamushi had an annual increase.

[Cross immunity study of two different influenza A3 virus vaccine strain].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the cross immunity response between two similar strains of influenza A3 virus vaccine from 2007 to 2008. METHODS: Healthy adults aged 18-60 years old without history of flu vaccination were inoculated Anflu ™( 52 cases) or VAXIGRIP ® (137 cases) influenza split vaccine. A micro-hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay was used to test the serum specimens collected from the subjects before and after vaccination. The seroconversion rate, geometric mean titer (GMT) and antibody protective rate were used to evaluate the effect. RESULTS: The seroconversion rates of Anflu ™ and VAXIGRIP ® tested by A/Hiroshima/52/2005 virus antigen were 82.7% (95%CI: 69.2% - 91.8%) and 80.3% (95%CI: 72.4% - 86.5%) respectively and there was no significant difference (χ(2) = 0.141, P > 0.05). The seroconversion rates of Anflu™ and VAXIGRIP ® tested by A/Wisconsin/67/2005 (H3N2)-like virus antigen were 71.2% (95%CI: 56.7% - 82.8%) and 73.7% (95%CI: 65.4% - 80.8%) respectively and there was no significant difference observed (χ(2) = 0.126, P > 0.05). GMT of Anflu™ and VAXIGRIP ® tested by A/Hiroshima/52/2005 virus antigen after vaccination increased 11.5 (95%CI: 7.5 - 17.5) times and 13.0 (95%CI: 10.0 - 16.9) times without significant difference (F = 0.497, P > 0.05). GMT of Anflu ™ and VAXIGRIP ® tested by A/Wisconsin/67/2005 (H3N2)-like virus antigen after vaccination increased 9.5 (95%CI: 6.3 - 14.3) and 10.9 (95%CI: 8.5 - 13.7) times, and there was no significant difference either (F = 0.554, P > 0.05). The antibody protective rate of two vaccines before and after immunity tested by A/Hiroshima/52/2005 virus antigen were 48.1% and 54.7% before vaccination and 98.1% and 95.6%after vaccination respectively without significant difference (χ(2) = 0.135 - 0.673, P > 0.05). The antibody protective rates of two vaccines tested by A/Wisconsin/67/2005 (H3N2)-like virus antigen were 11.5% and 13.9%before vaccination and 80.8% and 86.1%after vaccination respectively, and there was no significant difference (χ(2) = 0.178 - 0.834, P > 0.05). But the results tested by A/Hiroshima/52/2005 virus antigen were higher than those of A/Wisconsin/67/2005 (H3N2)-like virus antigen (χ(2) = 7.111 - 52.155, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The two similar seasonal influenza vaccine strains recommended by WHO had a good cross immunity response, but the systematic error of test existed in two similar stains and the same strains should be used.

[Safety and immunogenicity on three lots of influenza split vaccines among adults].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the immunogenicity, safety and stability of the manufacture process regarding three consecutive lots of influenza split vaccines (Anflu). METHODS: A double-blind, randomized and controlled clinical trial was conducted in healthy volunteers. A total of 566 subjects aged 18 to 60 years were recruited and stratified into four age groups before randomly assigned into four groups. Each group would receive one dose of influenza vaccine from either one of the three lots of Anflu or one lot of the licensed control vaccine. Each dose of the vaccines contained 15 microg of each of the H1N1, H3N2 and B type antigen. Safety was assessed through 30-minute observation for immediate allergic reaction and three-day observation after vaccination. HI antibody titers were determined before vaccination and on day 21, after vaccination. RESULTS: Mild adverse reaction was reported and the overall incidence rates on fever of the four groups were from 1.4% to 2.8% but no significant difference was observed between groups. Seroconversion rates of the three viral strains in four groups were 80.3% and above with fold increase as > or = 11.1 and protection rate was > or = 93.4%. For the three lots of investigated vaccines, all of the indexes of the three viral strains in four groups exceeded the standards on EMEA and FDA for influenza vaccine. CONCLUSION: The three consecutive lots of Anflu appeared to be good, with both consistent immunogenicity and safety, indicating the stability of manufacture process.

[Effects of occupation on health of traffic policemen in a city].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the health and work status of traffic policemen in a city, and analyze the effect of the occupation on health of them. METHODS: The prevalent investigation was used to investigate the health status of on-the-job traffic policemen and the effect of the occupation on the health of traffic policemen was studied. RESULTS: Among 4486 traffic policemen, 1604 working outside. The average time of working outside was (12.0 +/- 7.9) years and the average time of standing was (7.0 +/- 1.7) hours/day. The incidence of naso-pharyngitis, arthropathy, photosensitive dermatitis, heat stroke and chilblain, noise-induced deafness in the outside-traffic policemen were higher than that of the policemen working indoors. Eye diseases were higher in those who worked outside for 20-25 years. The varicosis of the lower extremity was higher in those who stood outside over 4 hours every day. The average period of onset of disease was 7-8 years. CONCLUSION: The occupational stress of outside-traffic policemen was bigger in the city. The environmental pollution and the bad condition are the risky factors of 8 kinds of diseases among traffic policemen. The average period of onset of the disease is 7-8 years.

[Evaluation on the role of hepatitis A vaccine in the prevention and control of hepatitis A in Tianjin city].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of prevention and control strategies on hepatitis A. METHODS: Surveillance data on hepatitis A from 1990 to 2006 in Tianjin was analyzed, and the coverage rate of hepatitis A vaccine among targeted population was estimated, to compare the anti-HAV IgG level of children younger than 15 years old in 1999 and in 2005. RESULTS: Results showed that a) the morbidity of hepatitis A decreased from 25.26/10(5) in 1990 to 0.82/10(5) in 2006; b) the ratio of hepatitis A in viral hepatitis decreased from 30.43% in 1990 to 1.05% in 2006; c) the estimated coverage rate was 72.7%; d) the positive rate of anti-HAV among children younger than 15 years old in 2005 was distinctly higher than that in 1999. CONCLUSION: Positive results showed that it was successful to use hepatitis A vaccine as the strategy to prevent and control hepatitis A in the past five years in Tianjin.

[Epidemiological characteristics of severe acute respiratory syndrome in Tianjin and the assessment of effectiveness on measures of control].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the epidemiologic characteristics of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and to evaluate the effectiveness on its major control measures in Tianjn. METHODS: Adopting two case reports 1 and 2, designed by the Tianjin Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop a unified case-tracing table including the map of the distribution of close contacts to SARS patients. With those methods, investigation on patients and their close contacts at hospital wards, families, communities and institutions of the patients were carried out. RESULTS: From April 13 through May 8, 2003, there were 175 SARS cases including imported ones, were identified with an incidence rate of 1.9 cases per 100,000. Among them, 14 died with a fatality of 8.0%. The whole process of epidemic in Tianjin was less than one month with the following features: (1) 93.7% of the total SARS cases in Tianjin were directly or indirectly transmitted by a super-spreader. (2) 68.6% of the total SARS patients were concentrated in 3 hospitals A, B and C which was menifastated in 'clustering'. Through study on the rest of the SARS patients, results showed that 16.8% of them were transmitted through family close contact and 2.3% due to contact to colleagues. However, 12.6% of the patients were not able to show evidence that they had any contact to a diagnosed SARS patient. At the early stage of the epidemic, a number of medical practitioners were infected, taking up 38.2% of the total SARS cases. Among the total number of 1 975 medical workers who participated in the SARS medical cares and treatments, 3.4% of them got infected. During the outbreak, all index cases and chains of transmission seemed to be clear, with only 3 patients not able to be traced for the source of infection, taking up 2% of the total SARS patients in Tianjin. Among the 10 index cases, only the super spreader and another one index case transmitted the virus to their contacts but the rest of index cases did not cause any secondary infection. CONCLUSION: Though SARS is clinically severe and can be spreaded quickly, the epidemic can be under control within a short period of time if chains of SARS transmission are broken down and effective measures as isolation and quarantine against patients as well as underscoring awareness among the publics in a scientific way, being carried out.