Changes in the intestinal expression of drug metabolism-related genes in a piglet model of parenteral nutrition.

BACKGROUND: Parenteral nutrition (PN) may serve as a nutritional supportive therapy accompanied by oral medication, but the effect of PN on intestinal expression of drug metabolism-related genes remains unknown. METHODS: Twelve Bama piglets receiving PN for 14 days were used as in vivo model. Changes in intestinal drug metabolism-related genes were examined by proteomic analysis. Serum levels of fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) were determined by ELISA, and the effect of FGF19 on the expression of drug metabolism-related genes was examined using murine ileum organoids. RESULTS: A total of 1063 differentially expressed proteins were identified in PN group. Of note, two drug transporters (Abcb1 and Abcc2) were significantly decreased in PN group, along with two glutathione-related drug-metabolizing enzymes, glutathione peroxidase (Gpx2) and glutathione S-transferase (Gsta1). Serum FGF19 levels were dramatically reduced in PN group. Treatment with recombinant FGF19 in vitro dose-dependently up-regulated the expression of Abcb1, Abcc2, Gpx2 and Gsta1 in organoids. CONCLUSION: Our data indicated that intestinal drug metabolism-related genes were significantly dysregulated under PN, and some of the changed genes were attributed to gut-derived FGF19.

[DNA methylation diversity analysis of Lycium barbarum samples from different cultivation areas based on MSAP].

Obvious epigenetic differentiation occurred on Lycium barbarum in different cultivation areas in China. To investigate the difference and change rule of DNA methylation level and pattern of L. barbarum from different cultivation areas in China, the present study employed fluorescence-assisted methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism(MSAP) to analyze the methylation level and polymorphism of 53 genomic DNA samples from Yinchuan Plain in Ningxia, Bayannur city in Inner Mongolia, Jingyuan county and Yumen city in Gansu, Delingha city in Qinghai, and Jinghe county in Xinjiang. The MSAP technical system suitable for the methylation analysis of L. barbarum genomic DNA was established and ten pairs of selective primers were selected. Among amplified 5'-CCGG-3' methylated sites, there were 35.85% full-methylated sites and 39.88% hemi-methylated sites, showing a high degree of epigenetic differentiation. Stoichiometric analysis showed that the ecological environment was the main factor affecting the epigenetic characteristics of L. barbarum, followed by cultivated varieties. Precipitation, air temperature, and soil pH were the main ecological factors affecting DNA methylation in different areas. This study provided a theoretical basis for the analysis of the epigenetic mechanism of L. barbarum to adapt to the diffe-rent ecological environments and research ideas for the introduction, cultivation, and germplasm traceability of L. barbarum.

A case of group infections with Paraginimus species in Henan, Central China.

In July of 2012, mass infections with Paragonimus species were detected in the Henan province sickening 11 of 51 people. In May 2011, these individuals had participated in an excursion during which freshwater crabs were caught and served after being toasted. Before the group infections with Paraginimus species was confirmed, 5 of the 11 patients had been misdiagnosed as tuberculosis (TB) and treated with an anti-TB drug regimen for six months. The most common and typical manifestations were eosinophilia (11/11, 100%) and pulmonary manifestations including, among others, stethalgia and cough (7/11 63.6%). Sero-examination revealed that all 11 patients were seropositive for Paragonimus species. Surprisingly, in our case, one patient presented with hemoptysis and eggs in respiratory secretions, and this is the first time P. skrjabini eggs are detected in the sputum of a patient from the Henan province. Paragonimus metacercariae were collected from 6 of 11 (54.5%) crabs caught at the infection site and were identified as Paraginiumus skrjabini by morphological and molecular examinations. Epidemiological and laboratory evidence confirmed that this is a case of group infection with P. skrjabini. As one of the most neglected tropical diseases (NTD), paragonimiasis should be differentiated diagnosed from TB to avoid the delay of treatment. To our knowledge, this is the second report of a case of group infections with Paraginimus species in Henan, Central China. The first case was reported in 1995. As a kind of food-borne parasitic disease, paragonimiasis should be included in the public health education agenda.

Analysis of polymorphisms in the circumsporozoite protein gene of Plasmodium vivax isolates from Henan Province, China.

BACKGROUND: Plasmodium vivax malaria has historically been a major source of disease in Henan, China. In the 1970s, the morbidity of malaria was highest in the country. With support from the government and the efforts of healthcare personnel, the reported malaria cases have declined dramatically and a national elimination programme was launched in 2010. To achieve the goal, it is essential to study the diversity of autochthonous malaria and transmission of Plasmodium parasites, which will provide baseline data for disease control and management. METHODS: Thirty-two P. vivax isolates from Henan province were collected from 2008 to 2011, and circumsporozoite protein (csp) genes were analysed to estimate the genetic diversity of this parasite. RESULTS: The assessment of csp sequences indicated that all the isolates were the VK210 type, however, none of them was identical to the VK210 strain. The sequences displayed variations in the central region, and eight sub-types were observed. Among the sub-types, HN7 was the most prevalent (37.5%), followed by HN3 (34.4%). A total of 653 repeat units were discovered in 32 Henan isolates. Nucleotide sequences were grouped in 13 unique repeat nucleotide sequence allotypes that coded for 7 different repeated amino acid allotypes. B (GNGAGGQAA) and D (GDRAAGQPA) were more frequent based on the results; they represented 53.9% (352/653) of the total. In comparison to the basic repeat units of VK210, more than 75% of the central repeat units had at least one non-synonymous nucleotide change. CONCLUSIONS: Recent P. vivax populations in Henan province showed some degree of genetic diversity in csp, with 8 sub-types among 32 samples. Meantime, the results also suggested its relative conserved parasite populations. This could provide interesting baseline data that allow identifying whether potential new cases differ from the parasites already circulating in the area.

In vitro the differences of inflammatory and oxidative reactions due to sulfur mustard induced acute pulmonary injury underlying intraperitoneal injection and intratracheal instillation in rats.

This study was to investigate the differences of inflammatory reaction and oxidative stress due to sulfur mustard (SM)-induced acute pulmonary injury via two ways in rats. In intraperitoneal and tracheal SM groups, injected intraperitoneally and instilled intratracheally with 0.1mL diluted SM (0.96 LD50=8mg/kg) and SM (0.98 LD50=2mg/kg) were administered in rats. In bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, serum, and alveolar septum, lactate dehydrogenase, glutathione peroxidase, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1ß, interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, l-selectin, r-glutamyl transpeptidase, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances levels as well as the expression of CD4, CD20, CD68, 8-hydroxy deoxyguanosine, nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2, and heme oxygenase-1 measured by ELISA, immune scatter turbidimetry and immunohistochemical method in the intraperitoneal SM group were increased at each time-point compared with the tracheal SM groups, respectively. These data demonstrated an increased inflammatory reaction and oxidative stress indices in rat via intraperitoneal injection under similar SM LD50 doses.

[Polymorphisms of tryptophan-rich antigen gene of Plasmodium ovale subspecies from imported malaria cases in Henan Province].

Objective: To analyze the genetic sequence of tryptophan-rich antigen (PoTRA) gene of Plasmodium ovale subspecies from imported malaria cases in Henan Province in 2015. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 22 imported ovale malaria cases in Henan Province in 2015. After DNA extraction, PoTRA was amplified by nested PCR, and was inserted into the pMD18-T vector. The plasmid was extracted and sequenced, and the results were blasted in GenBank to determine the subspecies of P. ovale. The sizes and species of the PoTRA gene were analyzed. The amino-acid sequence of PoTRA was also aligned to analyze the difference in amino acid sequence. The phylogenetic tree was constructed to analyze the genetic relationship among the samples by neighbor-joining. Results: Of the 22 imported cases, eight (36.4%) were infected with P. ovale wallikeri, which had two sizes, the predominant 245 and 299 bp. The other 14 cases (63.6%) were infected with P. ovale curtisi, which had three sizes, the predominant 299, 317 and 335 bp. Amino-acid sequence alignment revealed that the two types of P. ovale wallikeri differed in two amino-acid units, MANPINMANPIN and AITPIN, while the three types of P. ovale curtisi differed in amino-acid units TITPIS and TINPIN. The phylogenetic tree showed that the 22 samples belonged to two subpopulations of P. ovale curtisi and P. ovale wallikeri, wherein the P. ovale curtisi was further divided into two sub-branches, and samples with sizes of 317 and 335 bp were in the same sub-branch with a closer genetic relationship. Conclusion: Two subspecies, P. ovale curtisi and P. ovale wallikeri, are identified from the imported ovale malaria cases in Henan Province in 2015. The P. ovale curtisi has three genetic types and P. ovale wallikeri has two genetic types of PoTRA gene, revealing genetic polymorphisms of PoTRA.

Molecular mutation profile of pfcrt in Plasmodium falciparum isolates imported from Africa in Henan province.

BACKGROUND: Anti-malarial drug resistance is a primary public health problem. Haplotypes of pfcrt gene have been implicated to be molecular markers of chloroquine (CQ) resistance. This study aims to explore the prevalence of polymorphisms in pfcrt in Plasmodium falciparum-infected patients imported from Africa in Henan province. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 502 patients who were infected with P. falciparum returning from Africa in Henan province during 2012-2015. The single nucleotide polymorphisms in pfcrt (codons 72-76) were assessed by nested PCR with DNA sequencing and restriction digestion, the haplotype prevalences were also determined. RESULTS: Four haplotypes coding 72-76 of pfcrt were found including CVMNK (wild type), CVIET (mutation type), CVIEK (mutation type), and CV M/I N/E/D/K K/T (mixed type), with 61.95 % (311/502), 33.07 % (166/502), 0.20 % (1/502), and 4.78 % (24/502) prevalence, respectively. Except mixed type, CVIET and CVIEK were the largest proportion of the mutant type in West Africa, accounting for 44.83 % (91/203), followed by East Africa (8/21, 38.10 %), North Africa (4/11, 36.36 %), Central Africa (36/135, 26.67 %), and South Africa (28/132, 21.21 %). There was significant difference among the groups (χ(2) = 23.78, P < 0.05). Mixed type was the largest proportion in North Africa (9.09 %), followed by Central Africa (6.67 %), East Africa (4.76 %), South Africa (4.55 %), and West Africa (3.45 %). There was no significant difference among the groups (χ(2) = 2.31, P > 0.05). The position 72 and 73 of pfcrt showed predominance for the wild type with rates of 100 % (502/502). CONCLUSIONS: This study identified four haplotypes of pfcrt in P. falciparum-infected patients imported from Africa in Henan province. The prevalence of mutations in the pfcrt was dropped comparing with other people's researches. It establishes fundamental data for detection of P. falciparum CQR with molecular markers for the imported P. falciparum in China, and it also provides complementary information of CQR for the malaria endemic countries and assesses the evolution of anti-malarial drug resistance.

[The Role of Medical Institutions in the Control of Imported Malaria Since the Initiation of Malaria Elimination Program in Henan Province].

Objective: To retrospectively overview the diagnosis and treatment of malaria during 2010-2014 in Henan Province and understand the role of medical institutions in imported malaria control. Methods: Information on malaria epidemic situation as well as its diagnosis and treatment during 2010-2014 in Henan Province was collected from the infectious disease surveillance system and information management system for the prevention and treatment of parasitic disease. Descriptive analysis was performed to determine the role of medical institutions in the reporting, diagnosis and treatment of malaria. Results: A total of 821 imported malaria cases were reported during 2010-2014 in Henan Province, among whom 12 died, with a case fatality rate of 1.7%. The 12 deaths were all due to falciparum malaria and from Africa. The number of cases reported by medical institutions and disease control agencies were 432（52.6%） and 389（47.4%）, respectively. Among the 569 imported malaria cases with diagnosis records, 380 were determined to be malaria at first-diagnosis, with a diagnostic accuracy of 66.8%（380/569）. The accuracy of first diagnosis by medical institutions（49.2%, 178/362） was significantly lower than that by disease control agencies（97.6%, 202/207）（χ2=139.147, P<0.01）. The accuracy of first diagnosis by medical institutions at the town-ship level or below, the county level, the city/prefecture level and the provincial level was 14.2%（18/127）, 43.4% （23/53）, 73.6%（67/97） and 76.9%（70/91）, respectively（χ2=112.764, P<0.01）. However, there was no significant difference in the accuracy among disease control agencies of the above levels（χ2=0.380, P＞0.05）. The cases diagnosed by medical institutions and disease control agencies constituted 48.9%（278/569） and 51.1%（291/569）, respectively, with no significant difference（χ2=0.594, P＞0.05）. In addition, the cases diagnosed by medical institutions at the town-ship level or below, the county level, the city/prefecture level and the provincial level constituted 1.2%（7/569）, 3.7%（21/569）, 12.5%（71/569） and 31.5%（179/569）, respectively（χ2=299.143, P<0.01）. Similar results were also obtained for disease control agencies of the above levels（χ2=91.569, P<0.01）. Conclusion: There are considerable differneces of the first diagnosis accuracy and the diagnosis rate among medical institutions of different levels. Medical institutions of lower levels, which establish a diagnosis mainly based on microscopic examination, have lower diagnosis rate than the disease control agencies at same levels.

[Analysis of Pfcrt Gene Polymorphism in Imported Falciparum Malaria Cases in Henan Province in 2015].

Objective: To analyze Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistant transporter (Pfcrt) gene polymorphism in imported falciparum malaria cases in Henan Province in 2015. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 132 cases of imported falciparum malaria in Henan Province in 2015. DNA was extracted from the samples, and the Pfcrt was amplified by nested PCR using specific primers. The PCR products were digested by restriction endonuclease enzyme Apol I and sequenced. Pfcrt gene polymorphism and distribution were analyzed. Results: Most of the 132 cases of imported malaria were young male adults returning from the Africa, with the highest percentage in those from West Africa（38.6%, 51/132）, then Central Africa（26.5%, 35/132）, South Africa（25.0%, 33/132）, East Africa（8.3%, 11/132）, and North Africa（1.5%, 2/132）. The nested PCR yielded a 145-bp product for each sample, and 66.7%（88/132） of the products were completely digested by Apol I, resulting in two fragments of 114 bp and 31 bp; 32.6%（43/132） could not been digested and only a single fragment of 145 bp was shown; and 0.8%（1/132） were incompletely digested, yielding three fragments of 145 bp, 114 bp and 31 bp. By blasting against chloroquine sensitive strain 3D7, we found mutations of Pfcrt at sites correspondig to residues 74, 75 and 76 from ATG, AAT and AAA to ATT, GAA and ACA （i.e. M74I, N75E and K76T） in 43 of the 132 blood samples, and mixed type mutations into ATG/T, A/GAA/T and AA/CA at sites correspondig to residues 74, 75 and 76（CVM/I, N/E/D/K, T/K） in one blood sample. The other 88 blood samples showed a wild type with no mutation (CVMNK). Mutations occurred mainly in cases from West Africa（41.2%, 21/51）, then East Africa（36.4%, 4/11）, South Africa（30.3%, 10/33）, and Central Africa（22.9%, 8/27）（χ2=4.07, P＞0.05）. The 2 cases from the North Africa both had wild type Pfcrt; the one with mixed type mutation was from West Africa. Conclusion: Three haplotypes of Pfcrt have been found, including wild type (CVMNK), mutation type (CVIET) and mixed type (CVM/I, N/E/D/K, K/T) in the imported malaria cases. The wild type occupies the highest proportion （66.7%）, while the mutation type possesses a high proportion of 41.2% in cases from West Africa.

[Tracing Investigation of One Vivax Malaria Case by Detecting the Gene Encoding Circumsporozoite Protein in Henan].

A vivax malaria case in Henan Province was diagnosed as an indigenous case firstly in June 2013, and replased in April 2014. The clinical data of this case were collected and the epidemiological investigation was conducted. The blood samples were examined by Giemsa-stained blood smear, rapid diagnostic test strip (RDT) and nested PCR. This patient stayed at Myanmar for about one week in May 2013, had the symptoms of chills, fever and sweating in June, and was diagnosed as vivax malaria. After treated with artesunate, the symptoms disappeared. The CSP sequence was amplified from the blood samples of the first and second attack, and there was no difference in the central repeat domain of CSP gene. The identity of our two CSP gene sequences to that of Myanmar isolates (GenBank accessssion No. ABS95455, ABS95456) was 95.1% and 100%, while their nucleotide sequence was with 88.8% and 67.1% identity with that of Henan isolates (accessssion No. KP888996, KP889000), respectively. This patient is therefore confirmed as an imported relapse case of Plasmodium vivax infection.

Knockdown resistance of Anopheles sinensis in Henan province, China.

BACKGROUND: Vivax malaria was historically epidemic in Henan Province of China and Anopheles sinensis was the main vectors and poor farming communities bare the greatest burden of disease. Knockdown resistance in An. sinensis is one of the mechanisms of resistance against pyrethroids. In the present study, the frequency of mutations from An. sinensis was examined in Henan province, China. METHODS: Anopheles was collected from Kaifeng, Tongbai, Tanghe, Pingqiao, Shihe, and Yongcheng counties of Henan province in 2013. Molecular identification of Anopheles species was conducted by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplifying the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2). Part of the IIS6 domain of the para-type sodium channel protein gene was polymerase chain reaction-amplified and directly sequenced. Frequency and geographic difference of kdr gene mutant types were analysed. RESULTS: 208 Anopheles were received molecular identification, of which 169 (81.25%) were An. sinensis, 25 (12.02%) were Anopheles yatsushiroensis, and 12 (5.77%) were Anopheles lesteri. A 325 bp fragment of the para-type sodium channel gene including position 1014 was successfully sequenced from 139 Anopheles, of which 125 (89.93%) were An. sinensis, 12 (8.63%) were An. yatsushiroensis, 2 (1.44%) were An. lesteri. The molecular analyses revealed that mutations existed at codon 1014 in An. sinensis but not in An. yatsushiroensis and An. lesteri. Frequency of kdr mutation was 73.60% (92/125) from population of An. sinensis in Henan province, of which L1014F (TTT + TTC) allele frequencies accounted for 46.40% (58/125), and was higher than that of L1014C(TGT) which accounted for 27.20% (34/125) ( χ2 = 55.423, P < 0.001). The frequency of kdr mutation in Kaifeng county was 100% (49/49), and was higher than that of 37.93% (11/29) in Tongbai, 54.55% (6/11) in Pingqiao, 50.00% (3/3) in Shihe, and 62.50% (10/16) in Yongcheng county, respectively (χ2 = 39.538, P < 0.001; χ2 = 24.298, P < 0.001; χ2 = 25.913, P < 0.001; χ2 = 20.244, P < 0.001). While 92.86% (13/14) frequency of kdr mutation was found in Tanghe county, which was higher than that in Tongbai county (χ2 = 11.550, P = 0.0018). CONCLUSIONS: A high frequency of kdr gene mutations from population of An. sinensis in Henan province was found.

First imported relapse case of Plasmodium vivax malaria and analysis of its origin by CSP sequencing in Henan Province, China.

In recent years, there has been a substantial increase of imported Plasmodium vivax incidence in Henan Province. As China is in a pre-elimination phase, the surveillance of imported malaria is essential, but there is no good way to distinguish imported cases from indigenous cases. This paper reports a case of a 39-year-old man who acquired P. vivax while staying in Indonesia for one month in 2013, and relapsed in Henan, China in 2014. This was diagnosed as vivax malaria based on rapid diagnostic test, Giemsa-stained peripheral blood smear and Plasmodium species-specific nested PCR. The genetic sequence for the circumsporozoite protein genes was analysed and the genetic variations were compared with a previously constructed database of Chinese isolates. The results from the circumsporozoite protein (CSP) gene sequence analysis centered on the repeat patterns showed that the imported cases had completely different sequences from any subtypes from Chinese isolates, but well matched with the countries travelled by the patient. The imported vivax cases were able to clearly distinguish from the indigenous vivax cases by detecting the CSP gene and were able to confim its origin by genotyping.

Correlation analysis between single nucleotide polymorphisms of pulmonary surfactant protein A gene and pulmonary tuberculosis in the Han population in China.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in SFTPA1 and SFTPA2 genes encoding pulmonary surfactant protein A (SP-A) with the susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in the Han population in China. METHODS: This study included 248 patients with active PTB (case group) and 124 normal individuals (control group). SNPs at loci aa19, aa50, aa62, aa133, and aa219 of SFTPA1, and at loci aa9, aa91, aa140, and aa223 of SFTPA2 were analyzed with PCR. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the correlation of age, sex, and SNPs with PTB. RESULTS: The frequencies of the G allele at aa91 and T allele at aa140 in SFTPA2 were significantly higher in the case group than in the control group (p=0.0002 and p=0.045). The distribution of haplotype CGAAC in SFTPA1 was significantly lower in the case group than in the control group (p=0.025). In SFTPA2, the distributions of haplotypes 1A(6), 1A(10), 1A(9), and 1A(2) were higher (all p<0.05), but the distributions of haplotypes 1A(13), 1A(5), and 1A(12) were lower in the case group than in the control group (all p<0.05). When SFTPA1 and SFTPA2 were combined and analyzed, haplotype 6A(11)-1A(8) was only found in the case group (4.1%, p=0.001 compared with the control group), but the distribution of haplotype CGAAC-1A(0) or 6A(4)-1A(12) was significantly lower in the case group than in the control group (all p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: SNP in SP-A is associated with PTB in the Han population in China. The G allele at aa91, T allele at aa140, and haplotype 6A11-1A8 are risk factors for PTB, but haplotype CGAAC-1A(0) and 6A(4)-1A(12) are protective factors for PTB.

[Assessment of malaria knowledge and capability on Plasmodium detection among professionals from class III malaria-endemic counties of Henan Province in 2012].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the capability of malaria parasite detection among professionals from Class III malaria endemic counties of Henan Province in 2012. METHEDS: The capacity assessment of professionals from the Centres for Disease Control and the medical institutions was done in September to December 2012. The content of the assessment included malaria knowledge (including malaria etiology, clinical manifestation, diagnosis, treatment and epidemiology and so on, 100 scores as full marks and 60 as passing score), making blood slides of Plasmodium (4 slides in 1 hour, including Giemsa staining, 40 scores as full marks and 24 as passing score) and identification of species with microscopy (6 slides, 8 min per slide 60 scores as full marks and 36 as passing score). All the participanats were grouped by gender, age, professional title, level and type of institution. Their scores were statistically analyzed by SSPS 17.0 software. RESULTS: The average total score in 891 participants was 162.1, the highest was 200 (full markers), and the lowest was 96, and 871 (97.8%) participants passed the test (> or = 120 scores). There were no significant differences for the scores of blood slide making among gender, age, professional title and level of institution (P > 0.05). No significant differences in the scores of malaria knowledge and blood slide reading among gender female participants (162.97 +/- 17.64) was higher than that of males (159.01 +/- 20.33) (P < 0.05). The film-reading and total scores of 50-plus age group (34.62 +/- 14.82, 144.62 +/- 20.33) was significantly lower than the other three groups (under age 30 group: 45.75 +/- 13.58 and 162.50 +/- 18.90, age 31-40 group: 46.53 +/- 12.72 and 163.51 +/- 17.77, age 41-50 group: 46.22 +/- 13.38 and 159.80 +/- 17.32) (P < 0.05). The scores of malaria knowledge in 50-plus age group (84.38 +/- 9.41) was lower than that of under age 30 group (89.91 +/- 7.81), age 31-40 group (89.96 +/- 7.74) (P < 0.05). The scores of malaria knowledge (88.33 +/- 8.23, 90.00 +/- 7.76, 92.37 +/- 7.29), film-reading (44.88 +/- 13.62, 46.59 +/- 12.88, 49.57 +/- 11.98) and total scores (159.61 +/- 18.37, 163.81 +/- 18.03, 169.15 +/- 16.38) of primary, intermediate and senior groups was proportional to the level of the titles, and the difference between the groups was statistically significant (P< 0.05). The theory (88.28 +/- 8.30, 90.84 +/- 7.32, 93.54 +/- 6.10), film-reading (44.54 +/- 13.14, 47.69 +/- 13.40, 52.62 +/- 11.04) and total scores (159.48 +/- 18.33, 165.92 +/- 17.31, 171.97 +/- 15.53) of the three institution level groups (township, county and province) were proportional to their level, and the difference between the groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). There was no significant differences for the scores between the CDCs and hospitals (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The capabilities of malaria parasite detection in Class III malaria endemic counties of Henan Province is balanced. It needs to strengthen the skills training for the professionals of the junior, intermediate and primary care units.

[Malaria situation in Henan Province in 2013].

In 2013, 197 cases were reported in Henan Province and all of them were imported cases. Among them, 154 (78.2%) were Plasmodium falciparum cases, 18 (9.1%) were P. vivax cases, 2 (1.0%) were P. malariae cases, and 23(11.7%) were P. ovale cases. The ratio of males to females was 97.5 : 1. The average age was (37.8±9.9) years old. 183(92.9%) patients were returned from Africa. Most of the cases were peasants, export labours and workers. Cases were reported every month with 28 cases in May. The median interval from symptom appearing to diagnosis was 4 d, only 17 patients (8.6%) were diagnosed within 24 h. 61 cases (31.0%) were reported by provincial medical institutions. 60 cases (30.5%) were reported by county CDCs. A total of 193 cases recovered with chemotherapy and 4 cases died.

[Polymorphism analysis on the genotypes of circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium vivax with PRC-RFLP].

Thirty-seven blood samples from Plasmodium vivax-infected patients were collected in Henan Province in 2011. The gene for circumsporozoite protein (PvCSP) was amplified by nested PCR. According to the epidemiological data, among the 37 Plasmodium vivax malaria cases, 26 were indigenous cases and 11 were imported cases. A fragment of 750 bp was obtained in the 37 blood samples. The 750 bp PCR product was digested with restriction endonuclease Alu-I and Mva-I, and genetic polymorphism was investigated with PCR-RFLP. PCR-RFLP analysis of PvCSP revealed that the parasites were PV-I type (97.3%, 36/37) and PV-II type (2.7%, 1/37). 26 samples from indigenous cases were exclusively PV-I type with PV-I-b type (57.7%, 15/26) and PV-I-a type (42.3%, 11/26). Among 11 samples from imported cases, PV-I-a type accounted for 90.9% (10/11), and 1 PV-II type accounted for 9.1% (1/11), no PV-I-b type were detected.

Synthesis, interaction with DNA and bovine serum albumin of the transition metal complexes of demethylcantharate and 2-aminobenzothiazole.

Four new transition metal complexes (Habtz)(2)[M(DCA)(2)]·6H(2)O (M=Co(II) (1), Ni(II) (2), Cu(II) (3), Zn(II) (4); DCA=demethylcantharate, 7-oxabicyclo [2.2.1]heptane-2,3-dicarboxylate, C(8)H(8)O(5); Habtz=2-aminobenzothiazole acid, C(7)H(7)N(2)S) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductance, infrared spectra and thermogravimetric analysis. The coordination number of complex was six. The X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that complex 3 crystallized in the triclinic crystal system with P1¯ space group. The DNA-binding properties of the complexes were investigated by electronic absorption spectra, fluorescence spectra, viscosity measurements. Title complexes could bind to DNA via partial intercalative mode. The K(b) of the complexes were 5.33×10(4) (1), 7.04×10(4) (2), 9.91×10(4) (3) and 5.03×10(4) L mol(-1) (4). The results of agarose gel electrophoresis showed that Cu(II) complex could cleave pBR322 plasmid DNA via radical-based mechanism. The complexes could quench the intrinsic fluorescence of bovine serum albumin (BSA) through a static quenching with the binding constants K(a) of 1.11×10(4) (1), 1.24×10(6) (2), 8.42×10(5) (3) and 1.75×10(4) L mol(-1) (4). The complexes had intense antiproliferative activities against human hepatoma cell lines (SMMC7721) and human gastric cancer cells (MGC80-3) lines in vitro. Cu(II) complex had the strongest activity against human gastric cancer cells.

{4-[5-(4-tert-Butyl-phen-yl)-1,3,4-oxa-diazol-2-yl]phen-yl}methanol.

In the title compound, C(19)H(20)N(2)O(2), the 1,3,4-oxadiazole ring is almost coplanar with the two neighboring benzene rings [dihedral angles = 3.76 (4) and 5.49 (4)°]. In the crystal, mol-ecules are connected by strong inter-molecular O-H⋯N hydrogen bonds, forming chains parallel to the c axis.

(3-Allyl-oxypicolinato-κN,O)bis-[3,5-difluoro-2-(2-pyrid-yl)phenyl-κC,N]iridium(III).

The title complex, [Ir(C(11)H(6)F(2)N)(2)(C(9)H(8)NO(3))], consists of one Ir(III) ion, two C,N-bidentate 3,5-difluoro-2-(2-pyrid-yl)phenyl (F(2)ppy) ligands and one N,O-bidentate 3-allyl-oxypicolinate (pic-3-Oall) ligand. The Ir(III) ion is hexa-coordinated by two C atoms and two N atoms from the F(2)ppy ligands and one N atom and one carboxyl-ate O atom from the pic-3-Oall ligand, displaying a distorted octa-hedral geometry. In the crystal structure, weak inter-molecular C-H⋯F and C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the complex mol-ecules into a three-dimensional supra-molecular structure.