[Thalassemia Genotypes and HbA2 levels of Children in Wuzhou, Guangxi].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze thalassemia genotypes and distribution of children in Wuzhou Guangxi, and evaluate the diagnostic value of HbA2 in children's thalassemia screening, so as to provide scientific evidence for the prevention and control strategies of thalassemia. METHODS: Four hundred and fifty-eight children suspected with thalassemia in Wuzhou were enrolled from March 2017 to June 2022. The level of HbA2 was detected using Bio-Rad VARIANT II Hb analysis system. The deletion of α-thalassemia was measured with gap-PCR assay, and the point mutation of α- and ß-thalassemia was tested with DNA reverse dot blot hybridization assay. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the diagnostic value of HbA2 for children's thalassemia. RESULTS: A total of 304 thalassemia carriers were detected in 458 children, accounting for 66.38%. One hundred and seventy-five cases were defined to be α-thalassemia, with the main type of --SEA/αα (54.86%). Thirty-six cases were defined to be intermediate α-thalassemia, with the main type of -α3.7/--SEA (9.72%). In 108 cases with ß-thalassemia, ßCD41-42/ßN was the main type, accounting for 49.07%, followed by ßIVS-Ⅱ-654 /ßN (14.81%). Seven cases were moderate/severe ß-thalassemia (predominantly ß-28/ß-28 and ßCD41-42/ßCD17/). Twenty-one genotypes of α- and ß-thalassemia were found in the children. There was significant difference of HbA2 level between the children with different types of thalassemia and healthy controls (all P < 0.001). ROC curve analysis showed that the sensitivities of HbA2 for α-thalassemia, ß-thalassemia and αß-thalassemia were 74.3%, 82.4% and 85.7%, with the optimal cut-off values of 2.60%, 3.60% and 3.70%, respectively, the specificities were 64.3%, 96.1% and 96.8%, and the area under the curve were 0.690, 0.887 and 0.916, respectively. CONCLUSION: The thalassemia genotypes of children in Wuzhou are diverse. It is necessary to further strengthen the prevention and control measure of thalassemia to reduce birth defects and improve birth quality.

ED50 of remimazolam combined with different doses butorphanol for first trimester artificial abortion.

Introduction: Remimazolam (RMZ) is a novel intravenous sedative drug of ultra-short benzodiazepine. The optimal dose of RMZ plus butorphanol for sedation during first trimester artificial abortion is unknown. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the median effective dose (ED50) of RMZ combined with different doses of butorphanol on the sedative effect for first-trimester artificial abortion. Methods: Sixty-one female patients were randomly assigned to Group B10 (31 patients) and Group B15 (30 patients). RMZ was administered 5 min after IV butorphanol at doses of 10 µg/kg (Group B10) and 15 µg/kg (Group B15). Cervical dilatation at the time of using a cervical dilating rod, if the patient has body movement and affects the gynecologist's operation, we define it as "Ineffective." Therefore, the dose of RMZ was increased in the next patient. Otherwise, it was defined as "Effective," and the dose of RMZ was reduced in the next patient. According to the pre-experiment, the first dose of RMZ in the first patient was 0.35 mg/kg, and the adjacent geometric dose ratio was 0.9. The centered isotonic regression was performed to determine the ED50 of RMZ. The total RMZ dose administered, recovery time, and anesthesia-related adverse events were all recorded. Results: The ED50 (90% CI) of RMZ was 0.263 (0.215-0.310) mg/kg in Group B10, and 0.224 (0.191-0.261) mg/kg in Group B15, respectively. The recovery time in Group B10 was significantly shorter than in Group B15 (9.8 ± 2.3 vs. 12.5 ± 3.6 min, p ≤ 0.001). There was no significant difference in the incidence rate of all anesthesia-related adverse events between the two groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The ED50 of RMZ combined with a 10 µg/kg or 15 µg/kg dose of butorphanol was 0.263 and 0.224 mg/kg during painless first trimester artificial abortion. However, RMZ combined with a 10 µg/kg dose of butorphanol seems to have a shorter recovery time. Clinical trial registration: https://www.chictr.org.cn/bin/project/edit?pid=166623.

Contributing factors and interventions for fear of falling in stroke survivors: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to provide a comprehensive overview of the prevalence, measurement tools, influencing factors, and interventions for fear of falling (FOF) in stroke survivors. METHODS: A PRISMA-guided systematic literature review was conducted. PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, and Web of Science were systematically searched. The search time was up to February 2023. All observational and experimental studies investigating FOF in stroke patients were included. The assessment tool of the Joanna Briggs Institute was used to assess the quality of the included studies and the risk of bias assessment. (PROSPERO: CRD42023412522). RESULT: A total of 25 observational studies and 10 experimental studies were included. The overall quality of the included studies was "low" to "good." The most common tool used to measure the FOF was the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I). The prevalence of FOF was 42%- 93.8%. Stroke survivors with physical impairments have the highest prevalence of FOF. The main risk factors for the development of FOF in stroke survivors were female gender, use of assistive devices, balance, limb dysfunction, and functional mobility. The combination of cognitive behavioral and exercise interventions is the most effective strategy. CONCLUSIONS: This review suggests that the prevalence of FOF in stroke survivors is high and that understanding the factors associated with FOF in stroke patients can help develop multifactorial prevention strategies to reduce FOF and improve quality of life. In addition, a uniform FOF measurement tool should be used to better assess the effectiveness of interventions for stroke survivors. ETHICS APPROVAL: PROSPERO registration (CRD42023412522).

The median effective dose of propofol combined with butorphanol during artificial abortion: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: Propofol-opioids are the most common drug combination and can reduce the dose of propofol and the incidence of adverse events in painless artificial abortion. We hypothesized that butorphanol may reduce the median effective dose (ED50) of propofol, propofol injection pain, and postoperative uterine contraction pain. Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, controlled study. A total of 54 female patients, who had ASA I or II, aged 18-49 years, undergoing painless artificial abortion, were randomly assigned into two groups, namely, Group P (propofol) and Group PB (propofol plus 10 µg/kg butorphanol). According to the pre-experiment, the initial dose of propofol for the P and PB groups was 3 and 2.5 mg/kg, respectively, with a dose gradient of 0.25 mg/kg. The ED50 of propofol was analyzed using probit regression analysis. The total propofol dose consumed, recovery time, and anesthesia-related adverse events were also recorded. Results: There were 25 and 29 patients in the P and PB groups, respectively. The ED50 (95% CI) of propofol for artificial abortion were 2.477 (2.186-2.737) and 1.555 (1.173-1.846) mg/kg in the P and PB groups, respectively. The total propofol dose consumed was (150.7 ± 21.7) mg and (110.4 ± 28.2) mg in the P and PB groups, respectively (P < 0.001). Compared with the P group, injection-site pain (76 vs. 20.7%) and uterine contraction pain (72 vs. 6.9%) in the PB group had a significant decrease (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Combination of propofol with 10 µg/kg butorphanol reduced the ED50 of propofol and decreased the incidence of propofol injection-site pain and postoperative uterine contraction pain during painless artificial abortion compared with propofol alone. Clinical trial registration: https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=166610, identifier: ChiCTR2200059795.

Molecular Epidemiology and Antibiotic Resistance Analysis of Non-Typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) in Guangzhou: A Representative City of Southern China.

This study aimed to investigate the molecular epidemiology and antibiotic resistance of Haemophilus influenzae in Guangzhou, China. A total of 80 H. influenzae isolates were collected from the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from January 2020 to April 2021. Species identification, antimicrobial susceptibility, molecular capsular typing, multilocus sequence typing and the clinical characteristics analysis of patients were performed. For all recruited isolates, the majority of H. influenzae strains from patients with respiratory symptoms were found to be non-typeable H. influenzae (NTHi). The isolates were relative susceptible to third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins, quinolones and chloramphenicol, despite having a high ampicillin resistance rate (>70%). The genotyping results reveal a total of 36 sequence types (STs), with ST12 being the most prevalent ST. Remarkably, the 36 STs identified from 80 NTHi isolates within a short period of 15 months and in a single medical setting have revealed a high genetic diversity in NTHi isolates. In comparison, it is noteworthy that the most prevalent STs found in the present study have rarely been found to overlap with those from previous studies. This is the first study on the molecular epidemiology of NTHi isolates in Guangzhou, a city that is representative of southern China.

Subacute infective endocarditis due to Lodderomyces elongisporus: a case report and review of the literature.

Lodderomyces elongisporus, a rare emerging pathogen, can cause fungemia often related to immunosuppression or intravenous devices. Herein, we report the case of a 58-year-old woman with subacute infective endocarditis due to Lodderomyces elongisporus identified by blood fungal culture and whole-genome sequencing, who was treated with antifungals, mitral replacement and endocardial vegetation removal surgery.

Effective dose of propofol combined with a low-dose esketamine for gastroscopy in elderly patients: A dose finding study using dixon's up-and-down method.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the optimal dose of propofol combined with esketamine to inhibit the response to gastroscope insertion in elderly patients. Methods: This is a prospective, non-controlled, non-randomized, single-center study. Elderly patients aged 65-80 years were enrolled in the study with the American society of anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I or II undergoing elective gastroscopy. All patients were administered propofol after an intravenous esketamine at the dosage of 0.3 mg/kg 30 s, the subsequent dose of propofol was determined by the response of the previous patient to gastroscope insertion (choking, body movement, etc.) using Dixon's up-and-down method. The initial dose of propofol administered to the first elderly patient was 3.0 mg/kg, and the standard ratio of propofol dose in adjacent patients was 0.9. At least six crossover points were obtained before the conclusion of the study. By using Probit analysis the median effective dose (ED50), 95% effective dose (ED95), and the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) for propofol were determined. Results: The study continued until we obtained seven crossover points and 32 elderly patients (17 males and 15 females) were collected. The ED50 of propofol combined with esketamine inhibiting response to gastroscope insertion in elderly patients were found to be 1.479 mg/kg (95% CI 1.331-1.592 mg/kg), and ED95 was found to be 1.738 mg/kg (95% CI 1.614-2.487 mg/kg). Conclusion: According to the present study, propofol combined with 0.3 mg/kg esketamine is safe and effective for elderly patients undergoing gastroscopy. The ED50 and ED95 doses of propofol inhibiting response to gastroscope insertion in elderly patients when combined with 0.3 mg/kg esketamine were 1.479 and 1.738 mg/kg, respectively, without apparent adverse effects.

Identification of a novel drug-resistant community-acquired Nocardia spp. in a patient with bronchiectasis.

A previously unknown Nocardia species was isolated from the lung tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of a 58-year-old woman with bronchiectasis and recurrent pneumonia. This Nocardia (GZ2020T), which grew readily in Columbia blood agar and could induce pneumonia in a mouse model, represents a novel Nocardia species, and its closest known relatives are Nocardia anaemiae NBRC 100462T, Nocardia pseudovaccinii NBRC 100343T and Nocardia vinacea NBRC 16497T. However, unlike all previously known species, GZ2020T is the first genus of Nocardia spp. that is not susceptible to multiple drugs but does show susceptibility to linezolid and moxifloxacin, and thus, GZ2020T potentially represents a substantial health threat to patients with bronchiectasis and immunocompromised individuals. Although the original pathogen source and method of spreading remain uncertain, a mode of transmission from the environment to humans could exist. Vigilance with respect to its spread in the population and the transmission of antibiotic resistance genes in the environment should be maintained.

Accuracy of Oxygen Saturation Measurements in Patients with Obesity Undergoing Bariatric Surgery.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to determine the magnitude, direction, and influencing factors of the concordance between arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) and peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SpO2) in patients with obesity undergoing bariatric surgery, supporting the measurement of SaO2 and SpO2 in key populations. METHODS: Patients with obesity undergoing bariatric surgery from 2017 to 2020 were included. Preoperative SpO2 and SaO2 were collected. Linear correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to characterize the relationships between body mass index (BMI), age, and sex with pulse oximetry and arterial blood gas (ABG) parameters. Bland-Altman analysis was applied to determine the concordance between SpO2 and SaO2 and the limits of this concordance. RESULTS: A total of 134 patients with obesity undergoing bariatric surgery were enrolled. SaO2 was negatively associated with BMI (p < 0.0001) and age (p = 0.006), and SpO2 was negatively associated with BMI (p = 0.021) but not with age. SpO2 overestimated SaO2 in 91% of patients with a bias of 2.05%. This bias increased by 203% in hypoxemic patients compared with nonhypoxemic patients (p < 0.0001). The bias was 1.3-fold higher (p = 0.023) in patients with a high obesity surgery mortality risk score (OS-MRS) than in those with low or intermediate scores. CONCLUSION: Compared with SpO2, preoperative SaO2 can more accurately reflect the real oxygen saturation in patients with obesity undergoing bariatric surgery, especially for those with BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2, age ≥ 40 years, and high OS-MRS. ABG analysis can provide a more reliable basis for accurate and timely monitoring, ensuring the perioperative safety of susceptible patients.

Magnesium-L-threonate exhibited a neuroprotective effect against oxidative stress damage in HT22 cells and Alzheimer's disease mouse model.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress results in the production of excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) and triggers hippocampal neuronal damage as well as occupies a key role in the pathological mechanisms of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). A recent study confirmed that magnesium had an inhibitory effect against oxidative stress-related malondialdehyde in vitro. However, whether Magnesium-L-threonate (MgT) is capable of suppressing oxidative stress damage in amyloid ß (Aß)25-35-treated HT22 cells and the AD mouse model still remains to be investigated. AIM: To explore the neuroprotective effect of MgT against oxidative stress injury in vitro and in vivo, and investigate the mechanism. METHODS: Aß25-35-induced HT22 cells were preconditioned with MgT for 12 h. APPswe/PS1dE9 (APP/PS1) mice were orally administered with MgT daily for 3 mo. After MgT treatment, the viability of Aß25-35-treated HT22 cells was determined via conducting cell counting kit-8 test and the cognition of APP/PS1 mice was measured through the Morris Water Maze. Flow cytometry experiments were applied to assess the ROS levels of HT22 cells and measure the apoptosis rate of HT22 cells or hippocampal neurons. Expression of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X (Bax), hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α, NADPH oxidase (NOX) 4, Aß1-42 and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) pathway proteins was quantified by Western blot. RESULTS: In vitro data confirmed that Aß25-35-induced HT22 cells had a significantly lower cell viability, higher ROS level and higher apoptosis rates compared with those of control cells (all P < 0.001). MgT prevented the Aß25-35-triggered oxidative stress damage by elevating viability and decreasing ROS formation and apoptosis of HT22 cells (all P < 0.001). APP/PS1 mice exhibited worse cognitive performance and higher apoptosis rate of hippocampal neurons than wild-type (WT) mice (all P < 0.01). Meanwhile, significant higher expression of Aß1-42 and NOX4 proteins was detected in APP/PS1 mice than those of WT mice (both P < 0.01). MgT also ameliorated the cognitive deficit, suppressed the apoptosis of hippocampal neuron and downregulated the expression of Aß1-42 and NOX4 proteins in APP/PS1 mouse (all P < 0.05). Moreover, MgT intervention significantly downregulated HIF-1α and Bax, upregulated Bcl-2 and activated the PI3K/Akt pathway both in vitro and in vivo (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: MgT exhibits neuroprotective effects against oxidative stress and hippocampal neuronal apoptosis in Aß25-35-treated HT22 cells and APP/PS1 mice.

Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction, Identification, and Quantification of Antioxidants from 'Jinfeng' Kiwifruit.

Kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis) is a nutrient-dense fruit abundant in vitamin C and phenolic compounds, and it exhibits strong antioxidant capacity. However, the antioxidants in 'Jinfeng' kiwifruit have seldom been extracted and analyzed, and the conditions for the extraction of kiwifruit antioxidants by ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) have seldom been investigated. In this study, response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize UAE conditions to extract antioxidants from 'Jinfeng' kiwifruit. In addition, the antioxidant capacity, contents of total phenolics and total flavonoids, ascorbic acid, and the profiles of antioxidants were also analyzed. The results showed that the optimal UAE conditions included 68% ethanol, liquid/solid ratio at 20 mL/g, extraction time at 30 min, extraction temperature at 42 °C, and ultrasonic power at 420 W. Under these conditions, the ABTS value of kiwifruit was 70.38 ± 1.38 µM TE/g DW, which was 18.5% higher than that of the extract obtained by conventional solvent extraction. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were 15.50 ± 0.08 mg GAE/g DW and 5.10 ± 0.09 mg CE/g DW, respectively. Moreover, 20 compounds were tentatively identified by UPLC-MS/MS, and the content of main compounds, such as procyanidin B2, neochlorogenic acid, and epicatechin, were determined by HPLC-DAD. This research revealed the profiles of antioxidant phytochemicals in 'Jinfeng' kiwifruit, which can be a good dietary source of natural antioxidants with potential health functions.

Prognostic value of CD247 in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: bioinformatic analysis of TCGA database.

Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) is the 7th most common type of cancer in the world. Through the advantages of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) large-scale sequencing-based genome analysis technology, we can explore the potential molecular mechanisms that can improve the prognosis of HNSC patients. Methods: The HNSC transcriptome and clinical data were downloaded from TCGA database. A univariate survival analysis and differential expression analysis were conducted to obtain the intersection gene set. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis, modular analysis, and Gene Ontology (GO)/Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) functional enrichment analysis were then conducted to identify the hub genes. Clinical correlation analysis, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed on the identified hub genes to determine the prognostic impact of hub genes on HNSC patients. Results: In total, 601 intersecting gene sets were obtained. A modular analysis was conducted, and the highest scoring module was 19.304. Based on the GO/KEGG enrichment analysis results, CD247 molecule (CD247) was ultimately selected as the gene for this study. The CD247 were divided into a high-expression group and a low-expression group. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that there was a significant difference between the 2 groups (P<0.0001). The median survival time of the low-expression CD247 group was 30.9 months, and the 5-year survival rate was 36.4%. While the median survival time of the high-expression CD247 group was 68.8 months, and the 5-year survival rate was 52.3%. The clinical correlation analysis showed that CD247 was significantly negatively correlated with pathological tumor stage (pT) and pathological nodal extracapsular spread. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) showed that CD247 activating KEGG pathway hsa04650 and hsa04660. Conclusions: CD247 is an independent protective factor in the prognosis of HNSC patients. By activating the hsa04650 and hsa04660 pathways, the expression of interferon gamma, interleukin (IL)-2, and IL-10 is promoted, which in turn improves the tumor immune monitoring ability of the body, induces tumor cell apoptosis, and inhibits tumor cell growth. CD247 is a potential target for improving the clinical treatment effect of HNSC and the prognosis of patients.

Phenolic Content, Main Flavonoids, and Antioxidant Capacity of Instant Sweet Tea (Lithocarpus litseifolius [Hance] Chun) Prepared with Different Raw Materials and Drying Methods.

This study aims to investigate the effects of raw materials and drying methods on the phytochemical and antioxidant capacities of instant sweet tea powder. Four raw materials of sweet tea leave powders (STUT) were extracted and dried with two methods (freeze-drying and spray-drying). The antioxidant capacity, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and phlorizin and trilobatin contents of obtained instant sweet tea powders were compared. In addition, the single-factor experiments coupled with response surface methodology were used to study the influences of solvent-to-sample ratio, extraction temperature, extraction time, and their interactions on instant sweet tea yield. Results showed that the optimal conditions for extraction were the solvent-to-sample ratio of 19:1 mL/g, extraction temperature of 88 °C, and extraction time of 30 min. The TPC, TFC, antioxidant capacities, and phloridzin and trilobatin contents of instant sweet teas were higher than those of STUT, and the TPC and TFC of freeze-dried instant sweet teas were higher than those of spray-dried instant sweet teas. Significant correlations were found among TPC, TFC, and antioxidant capacities (p < 0.01). The freeze-dried instant sweet tea produced by young leaves (prepared by oven-drying) showed the highest TPC, TFC, and antioxidant capacities, compared with other raw materials and drying methods.

Cancer stem-like cells with increased expression of NY-ESO-1 initiate breast cancer metastasis.

Breast cancer stem-like cells (BCSLCs) with a CD44+/CD24-/low phenotype initiate the invasion and metastasis of breast cancer. The expression of New York oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma 1 (NY-ESO-1), one of the most immunogenic cancer-testicular antigens, is largely restricted to cancer and germ cells/placental trophoblasts, with little to no expression in normal adult somatic cells. Currently, few studies have reported the expression or function of NY-ESO-1 in BCSLCs. In the present study, immunohistochemistry indicated enhanced expression levels of NY-ESO-1/CD44 (P<0.01) and decreased expression levels of CD24 (P<0.01) in metastatic breast cancer tissues (MBCT) compared with non-MBCT. Additionally, the co-localization of CD44, CD24 and NY-ESO-1 in tissue samples was determined using immunofluorescence analysis. The results revealed that the expression of NY-ESO-1/CD44/CD24 was associated with breast cancer metastasis. Moreover, Spearman's rank correlation analysis indicated that CD44/CD24 expression was significantly correlated with that of NY-ESO-1. In the present study, mammosphere culture, a valuable method of BCSLC enrichment, was used to enrich MCF-7 and SK-BR-3 BCSLCs; immunofluorescence, western blotting and flow cytometry demonstrated increased expression levels of NY-ESO-1 and CD44, and low expression levels of CD24 in BCSLCs. Furthermore, the cell migration and invasion assays verified that BCSLCs with an increased NY-ESO-1 expression level exhibited greater invasive and migratory capacity compared with parental breast cancer cells. In addition to previously reported findings from the Oncomine database, it was ascertained that CD44+/CD24-/low BCSLCs with an increased level of NY-ESO-1 expression initiated the invasion and metastasis of breast cancer; therefore, NY-ESO-1 may serve as a novel target for metastatic breast cancer immunotherapy.

Inflammatory bowel disease in children of middle eastern descent.

Increasing rates of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are now seen in populations where it was once uncommon. The pattern of IBD in children of Middle Eastern descent in Australia has never been reported. This study aimed to investigate the burden of IBD in children of Middle Eastern descent at the Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick (SCHR). The SCHR IBD database was used to identify patients of self-reported Middle Eastern ethnicity diagnosed between 1987 and 2011. Demographic, diagnosis, and management data was collected for all Middle Eastern children and an age and gender matched non-Middle Eastern IBD control group. Twenty-four patients of Middle Eastern descent were identified. Middle Eastern Crohn's disease patients had higher disease activity at diagnosis, higher use of thiopurines, and less restricted colonic disease than controls. Although there were limitations with this dataset, we estimated a higher prevalence of IBD in Middle Eastern children and they had a different disease phenotype and behavior compared to the control group, with less disease restricted to the colon and likely a more active disease course.

Concordance between antioxidant activities in vitro and chemical components of Radix Astragali (Huangqi).

Five Radix Astragali (RA) extracts were prepared and their antioxidant activities were measured in vitro using ABTS [2, 2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid diammonium salt)], DPPH · (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical), reducing power, •O2⁻ and •OH assays. Their chemical contents were then determined, including total phenolics, total flavonoids, total saponins and total sugars. The 1/IC50 values of the various antioxidant assays were used to evaluate the level of antioxidant activity of the RA extracts (plot showing 1/IC50 values vs. chemical contents), and the average R values (correlation coefficients) of total phenolics and total flavonoids were 0.762 and 0.638. In contrast, the average R values of the total saponins and total sugars were -0.0386 and -0.132, respectively. This large difference clearly demonstrates that the antioxidant effects of RA in vitro might be generally considered to be a result of the presence of phenolic compounds (including flavonoids) but not astragalosides and polysaccharides.

[Genotype of wild-type measles viruses circulating in Beijing in 2003].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate genotype of wild-type measles viruses circulated in Beijing in 2003. METHODS: Throat swabs specimens were collected from patients seen during an outbreak of measles and from clinically suspected sporadic measles patients in 2003. Vero/SLAM cell lines recommended by WHO were used to isolate measles virus. Four hundreds and fifty nucleotides of COOH-terminal of nucleoprotein (N) genes were amplified by using PR-PCR. The amplified products were sequenced and the sequences were compared with references viruses from GeneBank. RESULTS: Eight strains of measles viruses were isolated from throat swabs of patients who came from seven districts and counties of Beijing. Sequence analysis of the 450 nucleotides of COOH-terminal of nucleoprotein (N) genes indicated that these 8 strains belonged to H1a genotype. The average genetic distances of these 8 strains to H1a genotype, Chin9322, H1b genotype, Chin9475 and H1c genotype, Chin9427, were 0.004 - 0.011, 0.026 - 0.031 and 0.015 - 0.022, respectively. The average genetic distances of these 8 strains to H1a genotype, Anhui 01 - 1/Anhui 02 - 2, were 0.000 - 0.009 (0 - 5 nucleotide variation). CONCLUSIONS: Major genotypes of wild-type measles viruses circulated in Beijing in 2003 were H1a genotype. The genotypes H1c, H1b and H2 may have disappeared in Beijing.