[Mutation analysis of keratin 9 gene in a family with epidermolytic palmoplantar keratoderma].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze potential mutation of keration 9 gene (KRT9) in a Chinese family affected with epidermolytic palmoplantar keratoderma (EPPK) and to correlate genotype with the phenotype. METHODS: Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples of 12 patients and 13 healthy individuals from the family and 100 unrelated individuals. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify exons 1 and 6 of KRT9 gene. PCR products were sequenced bidirectionally in order to identify potential mutations. RESULTS: A heterozygous transversional mutation, 488G→A, was identified in exon 1 of KRT9 gene in all patients, which has resulted in substitution of a glutamine residue for arginine acid at position 163 (R163Q) of the KRT9 protein. The same mutation was not found in the 13 healthy members from the family and 100 unrelated individuals. CONCLUSION: The 488G→A mutation of KRT9 gene is probably the cause of EPPK in this Chinese family.

[Trends of maternal mortality ratio during 1996-2010 in China].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze time trend and regional disparities in maternal mortality ratio (MMR) and major causes of maternal death in China from 1996 to 2010. METHODS: Data used in this study were based on national maternal mortality surveillance system. From 1996 to 2005, it included 176 monitoring districts (countries) in 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in the inner land. From 2006 to the present, it covered 336 districts (countries). MMR, major causes of maternal death and their reduction margin, average annual reduction rate in different times and regions from 1996 to 2010 were analyzed. The trend and regional differences in MMRs and major causes of mortality were analyzed using Cochran-Armitage trend and Poisson Test. RESULTS: From 1996 to 2010, Chinese MMR has decreased by 53.2% from 64.7 in 1996 to 30.0 per 100 000 live births in 2010. MMR was higher in rural areas (30.1/100 000) than in urban areas (29.7/100 000), and highest in the west region (46.1/100 000) followed by the middle region (29.1/100 000) and the east region (17.8/100 000) in 2010. MMR in east, middle and west regions have decreased by 37.76%, 57.02% and 66.27% respectively from 1996 to 2010. The disparities between different regions were decreasing. From 2006 to 2010, MMR in rural areas has dropped to 1.82 times of the city, and that in the west was 3 times of the east. Obstetric hemorrhage was still the leading cause of maternal death, responsible for 47.9% maternal deaths in 1996 and 27.8% in 2010. The risk of death due to obstetric hemorrhage was decreasing. CONCLUSION: The MMR in China showed the decreasing trends. Although the regional disparities were still remarkable, they demonstrated narrowing trends. Interventions on maternal death should be focused in rural areas and west regions.

Role of activation-induced cell death in pathogenesis of patients with chronic hepatitis B.

AIM: To study and compare the difference of activation-induced cell death (AICD) in peripheral blood T-lymphocytes(PBL-Ts) from patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and the normal people in vitro, and to explore the role of AICD in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and the pathogenesis of CHB. METHODS: Twenty-five patients and fourteen healthy people were selected for isolation of PBL-Ts. During cultivation, anti-CD3 mAb, PMA and ionomycin were used for AICD of PBL-Ts. AICD ratio of PBL-Ts was detected with TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling and assessed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: When induced with anti-CD3, PMA and ionomycin in vitro, AICD ratio of PBL-Ts from CHB patients was significantly higher than that from healthy control (17.24+/-1.21 vs. 6.63+/-1.00, P<0.01) and that from CHB patients without induction (17.24+/-1.21 vs. 9.88+/-1.36, P<0.01). There was a similar AICD ratio of PBL-Ts between induction group and without induction group, but no difference was found before and after induction in healthy control. The density of INF-gamma in culture media of induction groups of CHB was lower than that of other groups (P<0.01). There was no difference between these groups in density of IL-10 (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: When induced during cultivation in vitro, PBL-Ts from CHB have AICD very commonly. This phenomenon has a potentially important relation with pathogenesis of CHB and chronicity of HBV infection.

[Analysis on maternal mortality in China, 2000 - 2005].

OBJECTIVE: To analyzes the characteristics, the trend and the leading causes of maternal deaths in China between 2000 and 2005. METHODS: Data under analysis were those from a population-based epidemiological survey conducted by the national maternal mortality surveillance network which covered a total population of about 80 000 000 in China. RESULTS: Maternal mortality ratio (MMR) was both higher in the countryside than that in the city and in the remote area than that in the inland and in the coastal region. From 2000 to 2005, the overall MMR in China dropped from 53.0/100 000 livebirths to 47.6/100 000 livebirths, from 67.2/100 000 livebirths to 59.2/100 000 livebirths in rural area, from 28.8/100 000 livebirths to 27.6/100 000 livebirths in urban area. The descending ranges of maternal mortality were 10.2%, 11.9%, 4.2%, respectively. The top three leading causes of maternal deaths in China were obstetric hemorrhage, pregnancy induced hypertension and amniotic fluid embolism in 2000, but minor changes in the ranking of top three leading causes: hemorrhage, cardiac disorders and pregnancy induced hypertension in 2005. The main causes led to hemorrhage were retention of placenta, uterine inertia and rupture of uterine. CONCLUSION: MMR in China appeared a trend less change during 2000- 2005. The number one cause of maternal deaths was obstetric hemorrhage. Reducing MMR in rural area and improving the skill of treating obstetric hemorrhage were essential to achieve the goal of reducing maternal death in the Outline of Chinese Women's Development (2000-2010).

[Analysis on factors affecting maternal mortality in China].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the factors related to maternal mortality rate in 1000 counties of projects on reducing maternal mortality rate (MMR) and eliminating tetanus neonates in China, 2003. METHODS: Study on the association was performed using data on average income per capita, hospital delivery rate and MMR. RESULTS: Data showed that income per capita and hospital delivery rate had strong association with MMR. MMR for women with income less than 1000 Chinese Yuan per capita was 100.9 per 100 000 live births, and with income over 2000 Yuan per capita was 61.8 per 100 000 live births. MMR was 107.2 per 100 000 live births for women with hospital delivery rate less than 50%, and 54.1 per 100 000 live births with hospital delivery rate over 75%. The hospital delivery rate was less than 50% in the counties with income less than 1000 Yuan per capita, and over 75% with income over 2000 Yuan per capita. Only 19.1% of the counties with income less than 1000 Yuan per capita and 66.7% over 2000 Yuan per capita reached 75% hospital delivery rate. CONCLUSION: MMR and hospital delivery rate were affected by economic level of individuals. MMR seemed inversely proportional to income per capita and hospital delivery rate. The hospital delivery rate in 1000 counties was closely associated with income per capita. MMR could be reduced by enhancing hospital delivery rate.