Inhibitory effects of recombinant porcine interferon-α on porcine transmissible gastroenteritis virus infections in TGEV-seronegative piglets.

Our previous research obtained purified recombinant porcine interferon-α (rPoIFN-α) containing thioredoxin (Trx) fusion tag in E. coli Rosetta (DE3). Here, we evaluate the efficacy of this rPoIFN-α to prevent piglets from the infection of the transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) attack. In this experiment, twenty-five TGEV-seronegative piglets were randomly divided into five groups. Group 1 was positive control and only challenged with TGEV; Pigs in groups 2-4 were pretreated with 2 × 10(7)IU/pig, 2 × 10(6)IU/pig, and 2 × 10(5)IU/pig rPoIFN-α before TGEV challenge. The fifth group is a negative control group. The animals of this group are pretreated only with Trx protein-containing PBS solution without TGEV challenge. After 48 h of rPoIFN-α pretreatment, the pigs in groups 1-4 were challenged by TGEV, and the pigs in group 5 were administered with PBS. The surveillance results show that Pigs pre-treated with 2 × 10 (7) IU/pig rPoIFN-α are fully aligned with the violent TGEV attack. Pigs pretreated with 2 × 10 (6) IU/pig rPoIFN-α are partially aligned with the violent TGEV attack. Though piglets pretreated with 2 × 10(6) IU/pig or 2 × 10(5)IU/pig rPoIFN-α cannot be adapted to the challenge of TGEV. However, the use of this dose of rPoIFN-α could put off the clinical signs of pigs than the positive control group of the above. These results indicate that rPoIFN-α can protect pigs from the infection of potential TGEV or delay the appearance of clinical symptoms, and its effect is dose-dependent.

Endoscopic ultrasonography is useful in the diagnosis and treatment of rectal neuroendocrine neoplasms: a case series.

Rectal neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are low-grade malignancies, which are slow-growing and usually become symptomatic late in the course of the disease (Basuroy et al., 2016). In recent years, rectal NENs are increasingly frequently detected, with the widespread availability and accessibility of endoscopy and cross-sectional imaging modalities (Kos-Kudla et al., 2017). Multiple studies have shown that endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is an advanced endoscopic technique and is currently used in the diagnosis and preoperative assessment of NENs (Kim, 2012; Liu et al., 2013; Zhang et al., 2017). However, EUS imaging of rectal NEN and differential diagnosis with other submucosal tumors (SMTs) has not been adequately reported. In this study, we reviewed and summarized the EUS imaging and pathological features of rectal NENs of 38 cases to improve preoperative diagnosis rate and reduce unreasonable treatment.

[Serological survey of Toxoplasma gondii infection in women with adverse pregnancy outcomes in Longhua region, Hebei Province].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the status of Toxoplasma gondii infection in women with adverse pregnancy outcomes in Longhua region, Hebei Province. METHODS: A total of 393 women with adverse pregnancy outcomes were chosen as respondents in the Longhua County Maternal and Child Health Care Center between January 2013 and June 2016 and were divided into an acute infection group, a previous infection group, and an active infection group according to the test results. Totally 256 women without adverse pregnancy outcomes were selected as a control group. IgM and IgG antibodies to T. gondii were detected by using ELISA in each group. The risk factors of T. gondii infection were surveyed by questionnaires. RESULTS: The T. gondii infection rate of the women with adverse pregnancy outcomes was 27.23% (107/393), which was significantly higher than 8.20% (21/ 256) in the control group (χ2 = 35.46, P＜0.01). The rates of acute infection, previous infection, active infection in the women with adverse pregnancy outcomes were 6.87% (27/393), 18.58% (73/393), and 2.54% (10/393) respectively, which was significantly higher than thoseï¼»1.17% (3/256), 7.03% (18/256), 0 (0/256) ï¼½in the control group (χ2 = 11.43, 17.15, 7.90 respectively, P＜0.01). The ratios of the career in contact with raw meat, feeding pets (dog and cat), tasting raw meat, chopping board regardless of uncooked or cooked food, frequently eating rinsing boiler or barbecue, frequently eating outside of the women with T. gondii infection were significantly higher than those of the women without T. gondii infection (χ2 ＝12.08, 29.23, 8.55, 13.41, 7.28, 6.06 respectively, P < 0.01 or 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: T. gondii infection could lead to serious adverse pregnancy outcomes. Therefore, to avoid contacting with pets, not eating undercooked food, and strengthening personal health protection are the important keys to avoid T. gondii infection.

Centralized isolation of Helicobacter pylori from multiple centers and transport condition influences.

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of centralized culture and possible influencing factors. METHODS: From January 2010 to July 2012, 66452 patients with suspected Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection from 26 hospitals in Zhejiang and Jiangsu Provinces in China underwent gastrointestinal endoscopy. Gastric mucosal biopsies were taken from the antrum for culture. These biopsies were transported under natural environmental temperature to the central laboratory in Hangzhou city and divided into three groups based on their transport time: 5, 24 and 48 h. The culture results were reported after 72 h and the positive culture rates were analyzed by a χ (2) test. An additional 5736 biopsies from H. pylori-positive patients (5646 rapid urease test-positive and 90 (14)C-urease breath test-positive) were also cultured for quality control in the central laboratory setting. RESULTS: The positive culture rate was 31.66% (21036/66452) for the patient samples and 71.72% (4114/5736) for the H. pylori-positive quality control specimens. In the 5 h transport group, the positive culture rate was 30.99% (3865/12471), and 32.84% (14960/45553) in the 24 h transport group. In contrast, the positive culture rate declined significantly in the 48 h transport group (26.25%; P < 0.001). During transportation, the average natural temperature increased from 4.67 to 29.14 °C, while the positive culture rate declined from 36.67% (1462/3987) to 24.12% (1799/7459). When the temperature exceeded 24 °C, the positive culture rate decreased significantly, especially in the 48 h transport group (23.17%). CONCLUSION: Transportation of specimens within 24 h and below 24 °C is reasonable and acceptable for centralized culture of multicenter H. pylori samples.

[Effect of acupuncture intervention on airway remodeling and transforming growth factor-beta1 expression in asthma rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupuncture stimulation of "Dazhui" (GV 14), bilateral "Fengmen" (BL 12) and "Feishu" (BL 13) on the thickness of the bronchial tubal wall and smooth muscle and expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) in asthma rats so as to reveal its mechanism underlying improvement of asthma. METHODS: Forty SD rats were randomly assigned to control, model, acupuncture and medication groups. The asthma model was induced by subcutaneous injection of 1% egg albumin solution and forced inhalation of atomized ovalbumin. Rats of the acupuncture group were treated by acupuncture stimulation of GV 14, bilateral BL 12 and BL 13 (once daily for 10 days), and rats of the medication group treated by intraperitoneal injection of Aminophylline Injection (100 mg/kg, once daily for 10 days). The thickness of the bronchial tubal wall and airway smooth muscle of the lung tissue were measured by image analyzer for assessing the degree of airway remodeling. The expression of TGF-beta1 in the small airway was detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, the thickness of the airway wall and smooth muscle, and the expression level of TGF-beta1 were remarkably increased in the model group (P < 0.01). After acupuncture intervention and medication treatment, the thickness of the airway wall and smooth muscle, and the expression level of TGF-beta1 were remarkably down-regulated in both groups in comparison with those of the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and the expression of TGF-beta1 in the acupuncture group was obviously lower than that of the medication group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture stimulation of GV 14, bilateral BL 12 and BL 13 can down-regulate bronchial asthma-induced increase of TGF-[, expression in the lung tissue in asthma rats, which may contribute to its effect in improving airway remodeling.

[Professor Shao Jing-ming: a famous expert of acupuncture and moxibustion].

Professor SHAO Jing-Ming devotes his life in clinical practices for more than 80 years. He is an eminent specialist acupuncture with abundant clinical experiences. He establishes the unique method of needling of tri-points and penta-needles which achieves significant effectiveness for the treatment of asthma. He has taught for more than 50 years with unique educational method. A great amount of experts appear in the circle of TCM after receiving his unique training. He devotes his life to composing books on acupuncture and moxibustion. He devotes his life and his heart to promoting the development of acupuncture and moxibustion, and makes remarkable contribution in this field.