Intracellular presence of Helicobacter pylori antigen and genes within gastric and vaginal Candida.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori infections are generally acquired during childhood and affect half of the global population, but its transmission route remains unclear. It is reported that H. pylori can be internalized into Candida, but more evidence is needed for the internalization of H. pylori in human gastrointestinal Candida and vaginal Candida. METHODS: Candida was isolated from vaginal discharge and gastric mucosa biopsies. We PCR-amplified and sequenced H. pylori-specific genes from Candida genomic DNA. Using optical and immunofluorescence microscopy, we identified and observed bacteria-like bodies (BLBs) in Candida isolates and subcultures. Intracellular H. pylori antigen were detected by immunofluorescence using Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled anti-H. pylori IgG antibodies. Urease activity in H. pylori internalized by Candida was detected by inoculating with urea-based Sabouraud dextrose agar, which changed the agar color from yellow to pink, indicating urease activity. RESULTS: A total of 59 vaginal Candida and two gastric Candida strains were isolated from vaginal discharge and gastric mucosa. Twenty-three isolates were positive for H. pylori 16S rDNA, 12 were positive for cagA and 21 were positive for ureA. The BLBs could be observed in Candida cells, which were positive for H. pylori 16S rDNA, and were viable determined by the LIVE/DEAD BacLight Bacterial Viability kit. Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated antibodies could be reacted specifically with H. pylori antigen inside Candida cells by immunofluorescence. Finally, H. pylori-positive Candida remained positive for H. pylori 16S rDNA even after ten subcultures. Urease activity of H. pylori internalized by Candida was positive. CONCLUSION: In the form of BLBs, H. pylori can internalize into gastric Candida and even vaginal Candida, which might have great significance in its transmission and pathogenicity.

Tail nerve electrical stimulation promoted the efficiency of transplanted spinal cord-like tissue as a neuronal relay to repair the motor function of rats with transected spinal cord injury.

Following transected spinal cord injury (SCI), there is a critical need to restore nerve conduction at the injury site and activate the silent neural circuits caudal to the injury to promote the recovery of voluntary movement. In this study, we generated a rat model of SCI, constructed neural stem cell (NSC)-derived spinal cord-like tissue (SCLT), and evaluated its ability to replace injured spinal cord and repair nerve conduction in the spinal cord as a neuronal relay. The lumbosacral spinal cord was further activated with tail nerve electrical stimulation (TNES) as a synergistic electrical stimulation to better receive the neural information transmitted by the SCLT. Next, we investigated the neuromodulatory mechanism underlying the action of TNES and its synergism with SCLT in SCI repair. TNES promoted the regeneration and remyelination of axons and increased the proportion of glutamatergic neurons in SCLT to transmit brain-derived neural information more efficiently to the caudal spinal cord. TNES also increased the innervation of motor neurons to hindlimb muscle and improved the microenvironment of muscle tissue, resulting in effective prevention of hindlimb muscle atrophy and enhanced muscle mitochondrial energy metabolism. Tracing of the neural circuits of the sciatic nerve and tail nerve identified the mechanisms responsible for the synergistic effects of SCLT transplantation and TNES in activating central pattern generator (CPG) neural circuits and promoting voluntary motor function recovery in rats. The combination of SCLT and TNES is expected to provide a new breakthrough for patients with SCI to restore voluntary movement and control their muscles.

A novel loop-mediated isothermal amplification-lateral flow dipstick method for Helicobacter pylori detection.

Introduction: To eradicate Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and reduce the risk of gastric cancer, a sensitive, specific, convenient, and simple detection method is needed. This study aimed to establish a novel loop-mediated isothermal amplification-lateral flow dipstick (LAMP-LFD) method for H. pylori detection. Methods: LAMP primer design software was used to design primers for the conserved sites of the H. pylori ureB gene. UreB-FIP-labeled biotin was used for LAMP amplification, and FAM-labeled probes were specifically hybridized with LAMP amplification products, which were then detected by LFD. In addition, a clinical study was conducted to assess LAMP-LFD in 20 fecal samples. Results: The results of the optimization indicated that H. pylori could be specifically detected by LFD without cross-reaction with other non-H. pylori bacteria when the LAMP was performed at 65°C for 60 min. The lower limit of the detection method was 102 copies/µL, which was 100 times the sensitivity of polymerase chain reaction (PCR). H. pylori-positive fecal samples were detected by LAMP-LFD in 13/20 patients. Discussion: In conclusion, a new LAMP-LFD assay has been fully established and confirmed for H. pylori detection. The entire process can be completed in approximately 1.5 h, with the advantages of strong specificity, high sensitivity, and simple operation. This study provides a novel potential method for the detection of H. pylori in the clinical settings of primary hospitals and low-resource countries.

125I seed implantation enhances arsenic trioxide-induced apoptosis and anti-angiogenesis in lung cancer xenograft mice.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Arsenic trioxide (ATO) exerts anticancer effects on lung cancer. However, the clinical use of ATO is limited due to its systemic toxicity and resistance of lung cancer cells. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of ATO, alone and in combination with 125I seed implantation on tumor growth and proliferation in lung cancer xenograft mice, and investigate the possible molecular mechanisms. METHODS: The transmission electron microscope observed the tumor ultrastructure of lung cancer xenograft mice. The proliferation index of Ki-67 and the number and morphology of tumor microvessels were detected with immunohistochemical staining. The protein and mRNA expression were examined by western blot and real-time PCR assay. RESULTS: The in vivo results demonstrated that ATO combined with 125I seed significantly inhibited tumor growth and proliferation, as well as promoted apoptosis, and decreased the Ki-67 index and microvessel density in lung cancer xenograft mice. Moreover, ATO combined with 125I seed decreased the protein and mRNA expression levels of HIF-1α, VEGF, and BCL-2, and increased those of BAX and P53. CONCLUSIONS: ATO combined with 125I seed significantly inhibited tumor growth and proliferation in lung cancer, which may be accomplished by inhibiting tumor angiogenesis and inducing apoptosis.

MicroRNA 101 Attenuated NSCLC Proliferation through IDH2/HIFα Axis Suppression in the Warburg Effect.

Lung cancer is the most diagnosed and deadly cancer in China. MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNA gene products that exhibit multifunctional regulation in cancer cell progressions. MiR-101 loss was illustrated in about 29% of lung cancer patients, and sophisticated mechanisms of miR-101 regulation in NSCLC are eager to be disclosed. Here, using specimens from NSCLC patients and Dural-luciferase reporter assay, we got a clue that miR-101 correlated with IDH2. MiR-101 overexpression and IDH2 deficiency both suppressed NSCLC tumor growth in mice. Moreover, in NSCLC, miR-101 suppressed IDH2 expression levels, further increased α-KG concentration, and finally inhibited the Warburg effect under hypoxic conditions through downregulating HIF1α expression by promoting HIF1α hydroxylation and degradation. In conclusion, miR-101 attenuated the Warburg effect and NSCLC proliferation through IDH2/HIF1α pathway.

Phycocyanin inhibits Helicobacter pylori-induced hyper-proliferation in AGS cells via activation of the ROS/MAPK signaling pathway.

Background: Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced oxidative stress (OS) and hyper-proliferation of gastric epithelial cells (GECs) due to Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection are important mechanisms that lead to gastric carcinoma. Phycocyanin is a marine functional food additive with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Methods: The flow cytometry was used to detect the effect of 150 µM phycocyanin intervention on the cell cycle of human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line (AGS) infected with Hp. The transcriptomics of AGS cells intervened by 150 µM phycocyanin for 24 h and infected by Hp were detected. Differential gene expression analysis was performed using a cutoff at the normalized gene expression (log2) of 2 and a P-value of <0.05. Comparisons of the transcriptomes were made between the following groups: (I) AGS cells not infected with Hp and not using phycocyanin action and AGS cells infected with Hp only; (II) AGS cells not infected with Hp and not using phycocyanin action and AGS cells infected with phycocyanin action only; and (III) AGS cells infected with Hp only and phycocyanin treated and infected with Hp cells. c-myc and CyclinD1 was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunoblotting. Phosphorylation and non-phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and p38 Mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) were detected by immunoblotting. Intracellular ROS was detected by immunofluorescence. Results: Phycocyanin alleviates the Hp infection-induced increased cell viability and expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins c-myc and CyclinD1. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes in phycocyanin-treated Hp-infected AGS cells were most significantly enriched in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. Phycocyanin could inhibit the Hp infection-induced phosphorylation of JNK, ERK, and p38MAPK and reduce the level of cellular ROS. Conclusions: This study suggests that phycocyanin can regulate the ROS/MAPK signaling pathway and reduce c-myc and CyclinD1 expression to inhibit the hyper-proliferation of AGS cells. Phycocyanin may serve as an inhibitor of malignant progression of Hp infection-induced gastric disease.

Correlation analysis of gastric mucosal lesions with Helicobacter pylori infection and its virulence genotype in Guiyang, Guizhou province, China.

Background: Helicobacter Pylori (H. pylori) infection is the most important factor affecting clinical outcome in patients with gastric mucosal lesions. This study aimed to investigate H. pylori infection in patients with gastric mucosal lesions and their virulence genotype in Guiyang, China. Methods: Pathological examinations of 1,364 biopsies from patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms and H. pylori infection were analyzed according to different pathological types. The bacterial genome DNA was extracted from H. pylori strains isolated from gastric biopsies, and the cagA, vacA, and iceA virulence genes were detected and typed to analyze the correlation of their genotypes between different pathological lesions. Results: The positive rate of H. pylori infection was approximately 19.9% (272/1,364), as determined by histopathological examination (HPE). It was more frequently detected in men than in women. A total of 85 H. pylori isolates were obtained from 280 clinical samples (positive rate 30.4%, 85/280). Of these 85 strains, cagA, vacA, and iceA genes were identified in 85.9%, 100%, and 83.5% of samples, respectively. Approximately 74.1% of strains were cagA East Asian type (cagA-ABD), and 11.8% of were cagA Western strains (cagA-AB, cagA-ABC), only present in patients with chronic non-atrophic gastritis. Gastric intraepithelial neoplasia and gastric cancer harbored both Asian strains. A total of 7 combinations of vacA genotypes were noted, among which s1c/m1b (30.6%) and s1c/m2 (41.2%) were the dominant genotypes. The predominant iceA genotype was iceA1 (64.7%). Conclusions: We observed that the positive rate of H. pylori infection was related to the pathological type of patients' gastric mucosal lesions. Isolated H. pylori strains showed a unique genotype, mainly East Asian type cagA (ABD), vacA s1c/m2 genotype, and iceA1. These results provide an important reference for further studies of H. pylori in Guizhou province, China.

Heterogeneity of Helicobacter pylori Strains Isolated from Patients with Gastric Disorders in Guiyang, China.

PURPOSE: Chronic Helicobacter pylori infection causes peptic ulcers in a subpopulation of individuals and is a risk factor for the development of gastric cancer. Multiple infections and heteroresistant H. pylori contribute to poor treatment efficacy. Here, we investigated the extent of genetic diversity among H. pylori strains within a given host and its influence on the results of antibiotic (metronidazole, levofloxacin, clarithromycin, amoxicillin, and tetracycline) susceptibility testing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Gastric mucosa biopsy samples were obtained from patients with gastric disorders, including 48 H. pylori positive patients, who were never previously treated for H. pylori infection. Five potential H. pylori colonies isolated from each sample were subcultured for enrichment. Enriched H. pylori colonies were identified through Gram staining and assays for urease, oxidase, and catalase. For each H. pylori monoclonal colony, the antibiotic susceptibility was assessed, genomic DNA was sequenced, and the cytotoxin-associated gene A (cagA) genotype was verified. Co-infection with multiple H. pylori strains was determined using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: Thirteen gastric mucosa biopsy samples were positive for H. pylori. Five monoclonal strains isolated from each of these 13 patients were identified as H. pylori. RAPD-PCR indicated that intra-patient monoclonal strains of H. pylori in 10 of the 13 samples exhibited heterogeneity. Among the 13 patients, intra-patient monoclonal strains isolated from 4 patients had identical cagA genotype, whereas intra-patient monoclonal strains isolated from the other 9 patients harbored more than one cagA genotype. The antibiotic susceptibility of five intra-patient monoclonal strains from seven patients was inconsistent. CONCLUSION: The existence of heterogeneous H. pylori strains with resistance to different drugs and virulence were common within the gastric mucosa of an individual patient.

Proteomic Analysis of Perihematoma Tissue from Patients with Intracerebral Hemorrhage Using iTRAQ-Based Quantitative Proteomics.

Intracerebral hemorrhage is a complicated disorder with limited proven prognostic and therapeutic targets and elusive mechanisms. With proteomic methods, we aimed to explore the global protein expression profile of perihematomal tissue from ICH patients and identify potential pathophysiological pathways and protein markers. Using iTRAQ-labeling quantitative proteomics technology, four ICH brain sample and four non-ICH brain samples were analyzed. Among the 3740 quantifiable proteins, 884 were dysregulated in the patients compared to those in the controls (p < 0.05). After bioinformatics analysis, the differentially expressed proteins were found to be mostly involved in hemostatic processes, nutrient metabolism signaling pathways, and antioxidation pathways. Moreover, fibronectin 1 was revealed to be at the center of the protein-protein interaction networks. In summary, the potential pathways and brain protein markers that could potentially be used to predict the prognosis of ICH were obtained from the altered proteomic profile of perihematomal tissue. Thus, these data may yield novel insights into the mechanisms of ICH-induced secondary brain injury.

IGF2BP2 Regulates MALAT1 by Serving as an N6-Methyladenosine Reader to Promote NSCLC Proliferation.

Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) mRNA-binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2) is an important posttranscriptional regulatory for stability and m6A modification. Here, we investigated the role of IGF2BP2 in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) proliferation. TCGA database was used to predict the expression and clinical significance of IGF2BP2 in normal and NSCLC samples. The expression of IGF2BP2 was further validated in NSCLC samples from surgery. Then we performed the functional study in NSCLC cell lines through overexpressing and knocking down IGF2BP2 in NSCLC cell lines in vitro and in vivo. The mechanism of interaction between IGF2BP2 and lncRNA metastasis associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) in NSCLC proliferation was determined by RIP assay. We demonstrated that IGF2BP2 is highly expressed in NSCLC and positively associated with poor overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). We identified that lncRNA MALAT1 is a target of IGF2BP2 in NSCLC. IGF2BP2 promotes MALAT1 stability in an m6A-dependent mechanism, thus promoting its downstream target autophagy-related (ATG)12 expression and NSCLC proliferation.

AEBP1 as a potential immune-related prognostic biomarker in glioblastoma: a bioinformatic analyses.

BACKGROUND: Adipocyte enhancer binding protein 1 (AEBP1) has been shown to be closely related to cancer progression; however research on its potential role in glioblastoma (GBM) remains limited. METHODS: Following an expression analysis of AEBP1 in GBM through the Oncomine database, other critical findings were accessed via The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype Tissue Expression (GTEx) databases. Specifically, in addition to identifying differentially expressed genes, the Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were further investigated. Additionally, a gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed to examine the enrichment pathways in the AEBP1 high-expression group. To examine the prognostic role of AEBP1 in GBM, survival information was obtained from the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) database. Finally, the relationship between the expression of AEBP1 and immune infiltration in GBM was examined by using the "Gene Module", "Survival Module", and "SCNA Module" on the website "Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER)". RESULTS: The Oncomine database revealed that AEBP1 was highly expressed in GBM. The prognostic analyses of 4 independent databases (i.e., TCGA, GTEx, Oncomine, and CGGA) revealed that AEBP1 was an independent predictable marker of GBM. The results of the GSEA showed that protein export, prion disease, cytokine receptor interaction, hematopoietic cell lineage, cell adhesion molecules, apoptosis, and the complement and coagulation cascades were differentially enriched in highly expressed AEBP1 phenotypes. Hence the conclusion is that the high expression of AEBP1 is closely correlated to poor prognosis of GBM. The immune analysis demonstrated that AEBP1 copy number alteration might affect immune infiltration in GBM tissues, and thus the survival outcomes of GBM patients. CONCLUSIONS: High AEBP1 expression in GBM is closely correlated to patient prognosis. AEBP1 is a potential therapeutic target for the inhibition of cancerous progression and the development of new immunotherapies for GBM.

Transcranial Pulsed Ultrasound with Alteplase Intravenous Thrombolysis for Vascular Recanalisation in Acute Ischemic Stroke.

The objective of study was to investigate the effect of transcranial pulsed ultrasound combined with alteplase on treatment of vascular recanalisation in acute ischemic stroke patients. Eighty-two patients were randomly divided equally into two groups. Group A was treated with transcranial pulsed ultrasound combined with alteplase intravenous thrombolysis. Group B received alteplase intravenous thrombolytic treatment. At 2 and 24 hours after treatment, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of group A was lower than that of group B (both p<0.001), and vascular recanalisation rate of patients in group A was higher than that of group B (p=0.004, and 0.002 respectively). At 90 days after treatment, rate of favourable prognosis [(modified rankin scale (mRS) ≤2 points)] of group A was higher than that of group B (p=0.001). Transcranial pulsed ultrasound combined with alteplase intravenous thrombolytic treatment can improve vascular recanalization rate and prognosis. Key Words: Transcranial pulsed ultrasound, Acute ischemic stroke, Alteplase, Thrombolysis, Vascular recanalisation.

Development and Feasibility of a Mobile Health-Supported Comprehensive Intervention Model (CIMmH) for Improving the Quality of Life of Patients With Esophageal Cancer After Esophagectomy: Prospective, Single-Arm, Nonrandomized Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with esophageal cancer often experience clinically relevant deterioration of quality of life (QOL) after esophagectomy owing to malnutrition, lack of physical exercise, and psychological symptoms. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of a comprehensive intervention model using a mobile health system (CIMmH) in patients with esophageal cancer after esophagectomy. METHODS: Twenty patients with esophageal cancer undergoing the modified McKeown surgical procedure were invited to join the CIMmH program with both online and offline components for 12 weeks. The participants were assessed before surgery and again at 1 and 3 months after esophagectomy. QOL, depressive symptoms, anxiety, stress, nutrition, and physical fitness were measured. RESULTS: Of the 20 patients, 16 (80%) completed the program. One month after esophagectomy, patients showed significant deterioration in overall QOL (P=.02), eating (P=.005), reflux (P=.04), and trouble with talking (P<.001). At the 3-month follow-up, except for pain (P=.02), difficulty with eating (P=.03), dry mouth (P=.04), and trouble with talking (P=.003), all other QOL dimensions returned to the preoperative level. There were significant reductions in weight (P<.001) and BMI (P=.02) throughout the study, and no significant changes were observed for physical fitness measured by change in the 6-minute walk distance between baseline and the 1-month follow-up (P=.22) or between baseline and the 3-month follow-up (P=.52). Depressive symptoms significantly increased 1 month after surgery (P<.001), while other psychological measures did not show relevant changes. Although there were declines in many measures 1 month after surgery, these were much improved at the 3-month follow-up, and the recovery was more profound and faster than with traditional rehabilitation programs. CONCLUSIONS: The CIMmH was feasible and safe and demonstrated encouraging efficacy testing with a control group for enhancing recovery after surgery among patients with esophageal cancer in China. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR-IPR-1800019900); http://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=32811.

Ghrelin attenuates secondary brain injury following intracerebral hemorrhage by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation and promoting Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway in mice.

Ghrelin, a brain-gut peptide, has been proven to exert neuroprotection in different kinds of neurological diseases; however, its role and the potential molecular mechanisms in secondary brain injury (SBI) after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) are still unknown. In this study, we investigate whether treatment with ghrelin may attenuate SBI in a murine ICH model, and if so, whether the neuroprotective effects are due to the inhibition of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation and promotion of nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/antioxidative response element (ARE) signaling pathway. Stereotactically intrastriatal infusion of autologous blood was performed to mimic ICH. Ghrelin was given intraperitoneally immediately following ICH and again 1 h later. Results showed that ghrelin attenuated neurobehavioral deficits, brain edema, hematoma volume, and perihematomal cell death post-ICH. Ghrelin inhibited the NLRP3 inflammasome activation and subsequently suppressed the neuroinflammatory response as evidenced by reduced microglia activation, neutrophil infiltration, and pro-inflammatory mediators release after ICH. Additionally, ghrelin alleviated ICH-induced oxidative stress according to the chemiluminescence of luminol and lucigenin, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and total superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity assays. These changes were accompanied by upregulation of Nrf2 expression, Nrf2 nuclear accumulation, and enhanced Nrf2 DNA binding activity, as well as by increased expressions of Nrf2 downstream target antioxidative genes, including NAD(P)H quinine oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1), glutathione cysteine ligase regulatory subunit (GCLC), and glutathione cysteine ligase modulatory subunit (GCLM). Together, our data suggested that ghrelin protected against ICH-induced SBI by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation and promoting Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway.

Intractable Hiccups Associated with Chiari Type I Malformation: Case Report and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: The authors report the case of a 34-year-old man who presented with intractable hiccups. The imaging examination showed that the patient was suffering from syringomyelia associated with Chiari type I malformation. CASE DESCRIPTIONS: The patient underwent posterior fossa decompression combined with bilateral tonsillectomy and duroplasty. The intractable hiccups completely resolved 1 week after operation and had not recurred at 2 months after surgery. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging showed the atrophy of the tonsils of the cerebellum and disappearance of the cavities of the spinal cord. CONCLUSIONS: Intractable hiccups as the main symptoms of Chiari type I malformation are extremely rare in the clinic. Decompression surgery should be an appropriate method to relieve the symptoms.

Prevalence, Incidence, and Mortality of Stroke in China: Results from a Nationwide Population-Based Survey of 480 687 Adults.

BACKGROUND: China bears the biggest stroke burden in the world. However, little is known about the current prevalence, incidence, and mortality of stroke at the national level, and the trend in the past 30 years. METHODS: In 2013, a nationally representative door-to-door survey was conducted in 155 urban and rural centers in 31 provinces in China, totaling 480 687 adults aged ≥20 years. All stroke survivors were considered as prevalent stroke cases at the prevalent time (August 31, 2013). First-ever strokes that occurred during 1 year preceding the survey point-prevalent time were considered as incident cases. According to computed tomography/MRI/autopsy findings, strokes were categorized into ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and stroke of undetermined type. RESULTS: Of 480 687 participants, 7672 were diagnosed with a prevalent stroke (1596.0/100 000 people) and 1643 with incident strokes (345.1/100 000 person-years). The age-standardized prevalence, incidence, and mortality rates were 1114.8/100 000 people, 246.8 and 114.8/100 000 person-years, respectively. Pathological type of stroke was documented by computed tomography/MRI brain scanning in 90% of prevalent and 83% of incident stroke cases. Among incident and prevalent strokes, ischemic stroke constituted 69.6% and 77.8%, intracerebral hemorrhage 23.8% and 15.8%, subarachnoid hemorrhage 4.4% and 4.4%, and undetermined type 2.1% and 2.0%, respectively. Age-specific stroke prevalence in men aged ≥40 years was significantly greater than the prevalence in women (P<0.001). The most prevalent risk factors among stroke survivors were hypertension (88%), smoking (48%), and alcohol use (44%). Stroke prevalence estimates in 2013 were statistically greater than those reported in China 3 decades ago, especially among rural residents (P=0.017). The highest annual incidence and mortality of stroke was in Northeast (365 and 159/100 000 person-years), then Central areas (326 and 154/100 000 person-years), and the lowest incidence was in Southwest China (154/100 000 person-years), and the lowest mortality was in South China (65/100 000 person-years) (P<0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Stroke burden in China has increased over the past 30 years, and remains particularly high in rural areas. There is a north-to-south gradient in stroke in China, with the greatest stroke burden observed in the northern and central regions.

Effect of passive smoking on female breast cancer in China: a meta-analysis.

The objective is to explore the relationship between passive smoking and female breast cancer using meta-analysis. Literature on risk factors for female breast cancer published from January 2001 to December 2011 was collected from CBM, CAJD, VIP, WanFangData, and MEDLINE databases. The meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.0.24. A total of 8 studies were included according to inclusion and exclusion standards. The results of the meta-analysis indicated that the combined odds ratio (OR) estimate for those who had been exposed to passive smoke from tobacco was 1.67 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.27-2.21). Results of the subgroup analysis were consistent with an OR = 1.98 (95% CI = 1.63-2.42) for 1:1 paired design research and 1.60 (95% CI = 1.08-2.37) for the group design research. Results suggest a possible association between passive tobacco smoke and female breast cancer in China.

[Identification of Taenia solium with abnormal number of scolex hooklets].

OBJECTIVE: To identify 3 suspected adults Taenia solium with abnormal number of hooklets on scolex collected from 3 patients of Dali in Yunnan Province. METHODS: Tapeworms were observed with unaided eyes. Morphology of the scolices and gravid proglottids was observed under microscope. DNA of gravid proglottids of the 3 adult tapeworms was extracted. T. solium mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (cox1) fragment and the full coxz1 gene were amplified by PCR. The cox1 gene of one isolate was sequenced. Eggs were hatched and oncospheres were inoculated into mice subcutaneously. Each mouse was subcutaneously injected with 1 mg dexamethasone once daily. Sixty days after infection, all mice were sacrificed and the morphology of cysticerci was observed. Two macaque monkeys were fed with eggs (2.5 x 10(5) per monkey). Euthanasia and autopsy were performed on day 47. Morphology of cysticerci were observed by light and scanning electron microscopy, and pathological changes of livers were observed. RESULTS: The number of hooklets on scolices of the three tapeworms was 0, 4 and 10, respectively, and lateral uterine branches in gravid proglottids were 7-12. PCR results of co1l gene fragment with species-specific primer for T. solium were all positive. The complete sequence of cox1 gene had 99.8% identity to the reported T. solium sequences. Cysticerci were obtained from hypoderm of mouse, muscles and hearts of monkey. Four suckers and 26-28 hooklets ranged in two rows around rostellum on scolex were microscopically observed. Milia-like lesions were found in monkey liver. Histological examination showed that there was fibrous connective tissue hyperplasia and eosinophil infiltration around lesion, and parasites were found in some cysts. CONCLUSION: The three tapeworms with abnormal number of hooklets have all been identified as T. solium. The larvae can infect macaque and lead to muscle and liver cysticercosis.

[Penetrability and therapeutic effect of vancomycin to the prostates of rats with bacterial prostatitis (BP) or BPH-BP].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the penetrability and therapeutic effect of vancomycin to the prostates of rats with bacterial prostatitis (BP) or benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH)-BP. METHODS: The experimental rats with BP or BPH-BP were injected with vancomycin through the tail vein. The prostate tissues and sera were isolated respectively from the rats at 10 min to approximately 24 h after treatment and the antibiotic activities of the samples were detected by serial dilution test and agar diffusion test. The rats with BP or BPH-BP were treated with vancomycin by intravenous injection daily for 5 days. The prostates were collected the second day after injection and bacteria were isolated and determined. One to five weeks after treatment, the prostates of the animals were isolated and pathologic tests were done. RESULTS: No bacteria could be isolated from the prostates of the normal rats, but positive isolation was achieved from the prostates of the infected animals 28th day after infection. In the first 4 days after treatment, a decrease of bacteria could be detected in the prostate samples of the rats treated with BP or BPH-BP. After 5th day, no bacteria could be detected from 91.7% prostates of the treated groups. Obvious antibiotic activity in both sera and prostates could be detected 10 to approximately 150 min after the antibiotic injection. Antibiotic activity of the prostate tissues could be lower or higher than or equal to that of the sera in the same period. Pathologic tests detected obvious exudation and leukocyte invasion in the prostate tissues of the BP rats and gland proliferation in the BPH rats. Vancomycin treatment and the consequent reduction of bacteria obviously alleviated the inflammatory pathological changes in the prostates of the BP rats. CONCLUSION: Vancomycin given intravenously has more penetrability to the prostates of either BP or BPH-BP rats. The antibiotic concentration in the prostate tissues may be equal to or higher than that of the sera, so that the susceptive bacteria in the prostates will be killed and the alleviation of the inflammation and repair of the tissues accelerated effectively.

[Experimental study on the penetrability of trypan blue to the rat prostate].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the penetrability of trypan blue to the normal prostate as well as to the inflammatory prostate and the prostate with benign hyperplasia in rats. METHODS: Sixty SD male rats were randomized into 4 groups: NP (normal prostate) group (n = 15), BP (bacterial prostatitis) group (n = 15), BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) group (n = 15), and BPH-BP (benign prostatic hyperplasia with bacterial prostatitis) group (n = 15). Five rats were taken from each group as non-staining controls (NC, n = 5 x 4) and the other 10 were injected by tail intravenation with 1% trypan blue and then the prostates were isolated from the rats killed by anaesthesia after 2 hours. The color of the prostates and other tissues of the animals were observed and the contents of the trypan blue in the tissues of the prostates were determined separately by colorimetry. RESULTS: Apart from the tissues of brains and spinal cord the surface and the inner tissues of the prostates with NP, BP, BPH and BPH-BP from the rats injected with the dye were also dyed blue similar to that of the muscles, livers, intestines and others. The content of the trypan blue in the tissues of the prostates with NP, BP and BPH-BP was obviously higher than those with NP and BPH. CONCLUSION: The penetrability of trypan blue with properties of ionization and larger molecular weight is high in either the normal prostate or the prostate with BP, BPH and BPH-BP, and much higher in inflammatory prostate than in the normal prostate and the prostate with BPH.