[Current status and prospects of studies on biological occupational hazards].

Biological occupational hazards have occurred frequently for a long time, which have seriously affected the health of relevant occupational groups. The infection of medical staff caused by improper occupational protection in public health emergencies also sounds alarms to practitioners with biological hazards. In order to further carry out the research work of biological occupational hazards, this paper combs and summarizes the research status of biological occuational hazards in agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, fishery and other industries, and puts forward suggestions for in-depth research from three aspects of research scope, research methods and research contents, to provide some reference for the development of biological occupational hazards research in the future.

[Clinical comparative analysis of comprehensive laparoscopic and laparotomic staging of early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer].

Objective: To investigate the value of laparoscopy in comprehensive early ovarian cancer staging by comparing the feasibility and safety of laparoscopy and laparotomy in surgical staging of early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Methods: A total of 102 patients with EOC who underwent comprehensive laparoscopic (LPS group, n=71) or laparotomic (LPT group, n=31) staging at Southwest Hospital from November 2007 to November 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. The perioperative parameters, postoperative complication rate and the long-term curative effect were compared between the two groups. Results: (1) LPS group had less intra-operative blood loss [(288±239) vs (631±463) ml], lower rate of blood transfusion (14% vs 58%) , larger number of pelvic dissected lymph nodes (18.1±5.6 vs 15.5±4.6), lower vasual analogue scalescore (VAS) pain score (2.1±1.6 vs 3.0±1.1), shorter gastrointestinal recovery time [(2.6±0.8) vs (3.5±0.9) days] and shorter hospital stay [(9.9±2.9) vs (11.3±5.0) days] when compared with LPT group (all P<0.01). No significant difference were found in operation time, number of para-aortic lymph nodes, rate of postoperative upstaging and adjuvant chemotherapy between the two groups (all P>0.05). (2) No significant difference was found in postoperative rate of complications [11%(8/71) vs 19% (6/31), χ(2)=1.192, P=0.275]. (3) No significant difference was found in recurrence rate [17%(11/66) vs 14%(4/29), χ(2)=0.125, P=0.724] and 5-year overall survival (86.7% vs 86.8%, P=0.874) . Conclusion: Compared with LPT group, there are no significance differences in recurrence rate and mortality between two groups, laparoscopic staging, which could be recommended as a choice of surgical treatment of early ovarian cancer, shows more favorable operative outcomes including minimally invasive, less intra-operative blood loss, less postoperative pain and quicker recovery.

Clinical features, STAT3 gene mutations and Th17 cell analysis in nine children with hyper-IgE syndrome in mainland China.

Hyper-IgE syndrome (HIES) is a rare primary immunodeficiency disease characterized by eczema, recurrent staphylococcal aureus skin abscesses, pneumonia with pneumatocele formation, remarkably high serum IgE levels, eosinophilia and involvement of skeleton and connective tissues. Heterozygous signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) mutations were shown to be the cause of autosomal dominant HIES (AD-HIES). In this study, we diagnosed nine patients with HIES from 9 unrelated families on the basis of a National Institutes of Health (NIH) score of ≥40 points, sequenced the STAT3 gene of all nine patients, and quantified Th17 cells in peripheral blood of seven patients by flow cytometry in mainland China. All nine patients had characteristic manifestation of HIES with the range of NIH scores 45-77 points. STAT3 hot mutations V637M or R382W/Q were identified in five patients. We identified two novel heterozygous missense mutations (T620S and R609G) located in Src homology 2 (SH2) domain in two patients, respectively. In two other patients, no STAT3 mutations were found. Quantified Th17 cell numbers were markedly decreased or absent (0-0.28% of CD4(+) T cells) in six patients with STAT3 mutations and almost normal (0.53% of CD4(+) T cells) in one wild-type STAT3 patient compared with healthy controls (0.40-2.25% of CD4(+) T cells). These results suggest that not all patients with HIES who had NIH scores over 40 points carry STAT3 mutations, those whose Th17 cell numbers strikingly decreased probably had AD-HIES with STAT3 mutations.

Matrix metalloproteinase 12 (MMP12) as an adverse prognostic biomarker of vascular invasion in hepatic cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Vascular invasion is closely associated with tumor recurrence and poor outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we evaluated the potential prognostic value of matrix metalloproteinase-12 (MMP12) as a biomarker of vascular invasion in HCC patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Gene Expression Omnibus GSE77509 and TCGA Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma datasets were analyzed to explore the relationships between genes, vascular invasion, and patient survival. The role of MMP12 in HCC was analyzed in terms of DNA methylation, immune cell infiltration, and patient survival, as well as in silico analysis. RESULTS: Overexpression of MMP12 was associated with poor prognosis in HCC patients with vascular invasion. MMP12 was identified as an independent predictor of overall survival (OS) (HR 2.543; 95% CI 1.224, 5.285; p = 0.012) and disease-free survival (DFS) (HR 2.034; 95% CI 1.160, 3.566; p = 0.013) in multivariate Cox analysis in HCC patients. MMP12 expression, vascular invasion, tumor status, and AJCC T stage were independent predictors of OS with a concordance index (C-index) of 0.713 (95% CI, 0.671, 0.756). MMP12 expression was related to hypomethylation status and positively correlated with tumor immune cell infiltration and the expression of immune cell-related biomarkers. CONCLUSIONS: Upregulation of MMP12 was associated with poor prognosis and vascular invasion in HCC. These data suggest that MMP12 may have potential as a therapeutic target and biomarker in HCC.

[Reconstruction of teaching mode of Human Parasitology among rural order-oriented medical students in the context of curriculum ideology and politics].

To set the cultivation goal with adaptation to rural order-oriented medical students, the teaching mode of Human Parasitology was reformed in the context of curriculum ideological and political education. The new teaching mode not only enables students to harvest medical knowledge during the school education stage, but also plays a guiding role in cultivation of humanistic qualities and professional spirit, which provides a basis for cultivating general practitioners serving for grassroots healthcare.

High HBXIP expression is related to poor prognosis in HCC by extensive database interrogation.

OBJECTIVE: The involvement of HBXIP in cancer development and cancer cell survival is well known. This work probed the potential of HBXIP as a prognostic biomarker in hepatic cell cancer (HCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: First, pan-cancer analysis of HBXIP expression was conducted using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database to validate the expression of HBXIP in different cancers. The GSE14520 (GPL3721 Subset) database was used to validate HBXIP in HCC. The association between survival outcomes and prognostic factors was assessed employing univariate and multivariate survival analyses for TCGA Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma. The biological function of the HBXIP Gene was annotated by gene set enrichment analysis. The relationship between HBXIP expression and immune cells and immune markers was analyzed from the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) database. RESULTS: Malignant tissues demonstrated evident upregulation of HBXIP at transcriptional and protein levels over normal tissues (p < 0.05) with this elevated expression linked to an advanced tumor stage in HCC cohorts. Univariate analysis revealed an evident correlation emerged between prognosis and HBXIP for GSE14520 databases (p < 0.05). The disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) (five-year values) were lower in samples demonstrating elevated HBXIP (HR: 2.413; 95% CI 1.601, 3.638; p < 0.001) and (HR: 1.613; 95% CI 1.446, 1.844; p = 0.003), respectively vs. lower HBXIP expression. HBXIP emerged as an independent factor in OS prognosis (HR 2.184; 95% CI 1.495, 3.196; p < 0.001) and DFS (HR 1.764; 95% CI 1.261, 2.466; p < 0.001), respectively according to multivariate analysis. Further, multiple Cox analyses in the validation cohort revealed that independent factors for OS were HBXIP, AJCC T stage, vascular invasion, and tumor status with the C-index score of 0.727 (95% CI, 0.704 to 0.750). HBXIP level showed a significantly positive association with tumor immune cell infiltration, and biomarkers of immune cells; besides, the rectum Rho GTPase effectors signaling pathway was also identified. CONCLUSIONS: HCC advancement and survival involves HBXIP, which also emerged as a functional biomarker for HCC survival prediction.

Structural coloration and photonic pseudogap in natural random close-packing photonic structures.

Scales on the elytra of longhorn beetle Anoplophora graafi display diverse non-iridescent colors ranging from blue, green, yellow, and red to purple. By structural characterizations, optical measurements, and theoretical calculations, we found that the scale colors stem from an amorphous photonic structure possessing only short-range order: random close-packing of chitin nanoparticles. Our results showed that direction-independent photonic pseudogaps found in the photon density of states of the random close-packing photonic structure are the ultimate physical origin for non-iridescent coloration of scales. The color steering strategy of scales is ingenious, simply by varying the size of chitin nanoparticles. Revealed natural random close-packing photonic structures and the color steering strategy of scales could render valuable inspiration for the artificial fabrication and design of photonic structures and devices as well.

Clinical characteristics and molecular analysis of 21 Chinese children with congenital agammaglobulinemia.

Congenital agammaglobulinemia is a humoral primary immunodeficiency and affected patients have extremely low levels of peripheral B cells and profound deficiency of all immunoglobulin isotypes. Mutations of the Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) gene are responsible for most of the congenital agammaglobulinemia. In this study, the phenotypes of congenital agammaglobulinemia were investigated in 21 male children from 21 unrelated Chinese families. Sixteen different mutations of BTK gene were identified in 18 patients, and three patients did not have BTK gene mutations. Nine mutations had been reported previously including one gross deletion (c.722_2041del), one missense mutation (c.1764G>T), three non-sense mutations (c.194C>A, c.895C>T and c.1821G>A) and four invariant splice-site mutations (c.971+2T>C, c.1481+2T>A, c.1482-2A>G, c.1699-2A>G). Seven novel mutations were identified (c.373_441del, c. 504delG, c.537delC, c.851delA, c.1637G>A, c.1879T>C and c. 1482_1882 del). Ten of the eighteen mutations of BTK gene were located in the TK domain, four in the PH domain, three in the SH3 domain and one spanned the TH, SH3, SH2 and TK domain. Candidate genes of autosomal-recessive agammaglobulinemia, including IGHM, CD79a, CD79b and IGLL1, were screened in three patients without mutations in the BTK gene. A compound heterozygosity mutation in the IGHM gene (c.1956G>A, c.175_176insC) was identified in one patient. The results of our study further support that molecular genetic testing represents an important tool for early confirmed diagnosis of congenital agammaglobulinemia and may allow accurate carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis.

Characteristics of pleomorphic adenomas, adenolymphomas, and malignant tumors of the salivary glands on color doppler ultrasonography and contrast enhanced ultrasonography.

OBJECTIVE: To provide a comprehensive description of the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of pleomorphic adenomas, adenolymphomas, and malignant tumors of the salivary glands on color doppler ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: 64 patients with 35 pleomorphic adenomas, 24 adenolymphomas, and 12 malignant tumors were enrolled in this study. All patients were examined by color doppler ultrasonography and CEUS before operation. In color Doppler ultrasonography, degree of vascularity, peak systolic velocity (PSV) and the vascular resistance index (RI) were obtained. In CEUS, type of enhancement, rim enhancement and area of enhancement were assessed. After the time-intensity curves (TIC) were drawn, the time to peak enhancement (TTP), peak intensity (PI) and the time from peak to one half (TFP) were calculated for the tumors and surrounding salivary parenchyma. Postoperatively, histopathologic examination of surgical specimens was used as the gold standard. RESULTS: Color Doppler ultrasonography showed no significant differences in PSV between tumors, significantly less adenolymphomas had Grade 0-1 vascularity compared to pleomorphic adenomas, and the RI was significantly lower in adenolymphomas compared to pleomorphic adenomas and malignant tumors. CEUS had acceptable diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for differential diagnosis of pleomorphic adenomas and adenolymphomas based on the diagnostic criteria of rim enhancement and slow wash-out rate, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for differential diagnosis of malignant tumors based on the diagnostic criteria of an ill-defined enhancement margin, an enlarged enhancement area or a fast wash-in rate were also satisfactory. CONCLUSIONS: Accurate diagnosis of salivary gland tumors in clinical practice can be increased using color Doppler ultrasound and CEUS in combination with a case history and other imaging.

[Effect of integrated schistosomiasis control measures in Hunan Province from 2004 to 2019].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of the integrated schistosomiasis control measures in Hunan Province from 2004 to 2019, so as to provide insights into the development of the schistosomiasis elimination strategy. METHODS: The integrated schistosomiasis control measures implemented by the health, agriculture, water resources, forestry, land and resources sectors were retrospectively collected in Hunan Province from 2004 to 2019, and the completion of each measure, cost of control measures, Schistosoma japonicum infections in humans and bovines, and snail status were analyzed each year. An index system for assessing the integrated schistosomiasis control effect was constructed using the Delphi method to calculate the integrated schistosomiasis control effect index. In addition, a cost-effect analysis was performed in terms of the decline in the prevalence of S. japonicum infections in humans and bovines, areas with snails in inner embankments, and areas with infected snails. RESULTS: A total of 7 110 926 500 Yuan were invested into the integrated schistosomiasis control program of Hunan Province from 2004 to 2019. During the 16-year period, a total of 277 437.12 hm2 snail habitats received molluscicidal treatments, 6 927 230 person-times given expanded chemotherapy, 2 116 247 bovine-times given expanded chemotherapy, 954 850 harmless toilets built, 290 359 bovines fenced, 136 666 bovines eliminated, 141 905 machines used to replace bovines, 39 048.63 hm2 water lands improved as dry lands, 724.12 km irrigation regions improved, 3 994 300 populations covered with safe water, 191 102.89 hm2 forests planted and 38 535.27 hm2 lands leveled. The prevalence of S. japonicum infections was 4.29% in humans and 4.48% in bovines in Hunan Province in 2004, with 2 449.37 hm2 snail habitats in inner embankments and 3 423.74 hm2 infected snail areas. In 2019, the prevalence of S. japonicum infections reduced to 0 in both humans and bovines, and areas of snail habitats reduced to 540.92 hm2 (77.92% reductions), while the areas with infected snails reduced to 0. The overall integrated schistosomiasis control effect index appeared a tendency towards a rise over years since 2004, and the integrated schistosomiasis control effect index was 97.35 in 2019; the annual mean costs for a 1% reduction in the prevalence of S. japonicum infections in 100 populations and 100 bovines were 70.11 Yuan and 4 204.78 Yuan, and the annual mean costs for a 1% reduction in the snail areas in inner embankments and infected snail areas were 2 010.20 Yuan and 1 298.09 Yuan, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The integrated control measures achieve remarkable effectiveness for schistosomiasis control in Hunan Province, with a remarkable decline in the prevalence of S. japonicum infections in humans and bovines and great shrinking of snail areas in inner embankments and infected snail areas. Adequate fund investment is required to improve the integrated schistosomiasis control measures and consolidate the control achievements.

[Endemic situation of schistosomiasis in Hunan Province in 2019].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the endemic situation of schistosomiasis in Hunan Province in 2019, so as to provide insights into the achievement of transmission interruption of schistosomiasis in the province in 2020. METHODS: The data pertaining to Schistosoma japonicum infections in humans and livestock and snail status were captured from Hunan Province in 2019 and analyzed. RESULTS: Schistosomiasis was endemic in 281 townships (towns) from 41 counties (districts) of 6 cities in Hunan Province by the end of 2019. A total of 991 900 persons received blood testing in Hunan Province in 2019, and 22 773 were positive for the blood testing, with sero-prevalence of 2.30%. All stool examinations were negative in 22 933 individuals detected. The high sero-prevalence was seen in Nanxian County, Anxiang County and Ziyang District. Currently, there were 5 034 cases with advanced schistosomiasis detected in Hunan Province, and they were predominantly identified in Yuanjiang City, Heshan District and Yueyang County. There were 44 963 bovines fenced in schistosomiasis-endemic villages in Hunan Province in 2019, which were predominantly distributed in Yuanjiang City, Hanshou County and Ziyang District, and no positives were detected in 1 996 bovines receiving blood testing or 20 684 bovines receiving stool examinations. In 2019, there were snail habitats of 1.73 billion m2 found in Hunan Province, which were mainly found in Yuanjiang City, Hanshou County and Yueyang County. CONCLUSIONS: The endemic situation of schistosomiasis further decreases in Hunan Province in 2019; however, there is still a risk of schistosomiasis transmission in local areas of the province.

Effect of bradykinin on rats with thromboangiitis obliterans through PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of bradykinin on rats with thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) through the phosphatidylinositol 3-hydroxy kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The female Wistar rats were injected with lauric acid via the femoral artery to establish the TAO model, and they were randomly divided into control group (healthy rats), model group (TAO rats) and bradykinin group (TAO rats injected with bradykinin B2 receptor-specific inhibitor). The control was set in each group before the operation. The level of serum bradykinin in each group was detected via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, Caspase-3 activity and PI3K/Akt protein concentration in vascular tissues were measured via ELISA, Western blotting, ROS assay, and Caspase-3 activity assay, respectively. Moreover, the specific therapeutic mechanism of bradykinin was analyzed. RESULTS: In control group, the intima of the lower extremity venous tissues was smooth, the extima had no evident changes, and there was no inflammatory cell invasion around the arteries and veins. In model group, there was massive inflammatory cell invasion into the lower extremity venous tissues. In bradykinin group, fibrosis and atrophy occurred in venous tissues, the extima was thickened without fibrosis, and there was phagocytosis of neutrophils and mononuclear macrophages around the arteries and veins, as well as massive inflammatory infiltration. The PI3K/Akt protein concentration in lower extremity venous tissues was the highest in control group and the lowest in bradykinin group, and there were statistically significant differences (p<0.01). At 24 h after administration of doxorubicin (DOX), the level of ROS in lower extremity venous tissues was higher in bradykinin group than that in model group (p<0.05), and it was also higher in model group than that in control group (p<0.05). Besides, the activity of Caspase-3 in lower extremity venous tissues was significantly increased in bradykinin group compared with that in model group and control group, while it was slightly higher in model group than that in control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The low expression of bradykinin can promote TAO in rats by the mechanism that it inhibits the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway to raise the oxidative stress level, thereby aggravating TAO.

[Expression and significance of tumor necrosis factor alpha, matrix metalloproteinase 2 and collagen in skin tissue of pressure ulcer of rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the expressions of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and collagen in local skin tissue of pressure ulcer of rats, and to explore the possible mechanism of the pathogenesis of pressure ulcer. METHODS: Forty male SD rats were divided into normal control group, 3 d compression group, 5 d compression group, 7 d compression group, and 9 d compression group according to the random number table, with 8 rats in each group. The rats in normal control group did not receive any treatment, whereas the rats in the latter 4 groups were established the deep tissue injury model (3 d compression group) and pressure ulcer model (the other 3 groups) on the gracilis muscle on both hind limbs using a way of cycle compression of ischemia-reperfusion magnet. The rats in 3 d compression group received only three cycles of compression, while the compressed skin of the rats in 5 d compression group, 7 d compression group, and 9 d compression group were cut through and received pressure to 5, 7 and 9 cycles after three cycles of compression, respectively. The rats in 3 d compression group were sacrificed immediately after receiving compression for 3 d (the rats in normal control group were sacrificed at the same time), and the rats in the other 3 groups were respectively sacrificed after receiving compression for 5, 7, and 9 d, and the skin tissue on the central part of gracilis muscle on both hind limbs were harvested. The morphology of the skin tissue was observed with HE staining. The expression of collagen fiber was observed with Masson staining. The expressions of collagen type Ⅳ and MMP-2 were detected by immunohistochemical method. The expressions of TNF-α and phosphorylated NF kappa B (NF-κB) were determined by Western blotting. Data were processed with one-way analysis of variance and LSD test. RESULTS: (1) In normal control group, the skin tissue of rats was stratified squamous epithelium, with the clear skin structure, and there was no obvious infiltration of inflammatory cells. In 3 d compression group, the skin layers of rats were clear, with quite a few fibroblasts, and the inflammatory cells began to infiltrate. In 5 d compression group, 7 d compression group, and 9 d compression group, the epidermis of rats thickened, with the number of fibroblasts reduced, and the infiltration of inflammatory cells enhanced with the compressed time prolonging. (2) In normal control group, the collagen fibers in skin tissue of rats were arranged in order, with rich content. In 3 d compression group, the collagen fibers in skin tissue of rats were arranged orderly, with high expression level, which was similar to that in normal control group (P>0.05). In 5 d compression group and 7 d compression group, the collagen fibers in skin tissue of rats were arranged in disorder, with the expression level gradually reduced, which were significantly lower than that in normal control group (with P values below 0.01). In 9 d compression group, the expression of collagen fiber in skin tissue of rats was a little higher than that in 7 d compression group, but it was still significantly lower than that in normal control group (P<0.01). (3) The expressions of collagen type Ⅳ in skin tissue of rats in normal control group, 3 d compression group, 5 d compression group, 7 d compression group, and 9 d compression group were respectively 11.0±2.8, 9.0±1.7, 8.3±2.8, 5.1±1.8, and 5.4±1.2. The expression of collagen type Ⅳ in skin tissue of rats in 3 d compression group was similar to that in normal control group (P>0.05). The expressions of collagen type Ⅳ in skin tissue of rats in 5 d compression group, 7 d compression group, and 9 d compression group were significantly lower than that in normal control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The expression of MMP-2 in skin tissue of rats in 3 d compression group was similar to that in normal control group (P>0.05). The expressions of MMP-2 in skin tissue of rats in 5 d compression group, 7 d compression group, and 9 d compression group were significantly higher than that in normal control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). (4) The expression of TNF-α in skin tissue of rats in normal control group was 0.48±0.11, and the expressions of TNF-α in skin tissue of rats in 3 d compression group, 5 d compression group, 7 d compression group, and 9 d compression group were respectively 0.84±0.08, 1.13±0.19, 1.34±0.16, and 1.52±0.23, which were all significantly higher than that in normal control group (with P values below 0.01). The expressions of phosphorylated NF-κB in skin tissue of rats in 3 d compression group and 9 d compression group were similar to that in normal control group (with P values above 0.05), and the expressions of phosphorylated NF-κB in skin tissue of rats in 5 d compression group and 7 d compression group were significantly higher than that in normal control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The high expression of MMP-2 and reduction of collagen induced by inflammatory reaction mediated by the high expression of TNF-α in local skin tissue of pressure ulcer of rats may be one of the important reasons for the formation of pressure ulcer.

Immunoglobulin G subclasses in serum and circulating immune complexes in patients with Kawasaki syndrome.

IgG subclass concentrations in sera of 17 patients with Kawasaki syndrome were determined. Significantly increased IgG1 (P less than 0.001) and IgG3 (P less than 0.001) were found in the patients compared with 22 age-matched healthy children, whereas IgG2 and IgG4 were normal or slightly decreased. IgG immune complexes were measured by protein A-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) combined polyethylene glycol precipitations. Eight of 17 patients (47.1%) were found to have circulating immune complexes (CIC) values above the normal control range (geometric mean +2 SD). IgG subclass composition in CIC was analyzed. The subclasses in CIC were predominantly IgG1 and IgG3. Because the antibody responses to different antigens exhibit IgG subclass restriction, it would suggest that the change of serum and CIC IgG subclasses in Kawasaki syndrome may have relevance to the pathogenesis of the disease.

Immunoglobulin G subclass deficiency in children with recurrent respiratory tract infections.

With monoclonal antibodies serum immunoglobulin G(IgG) subclasses were measured in seventy children aged 2 to 13 years with recurrent respiratory tract infections including upper respiratory tract infections, otitis media, sinusitis, asthmatic bronchitis and pneumonia. 211 healthy, aged-matched children served as control. IgG subclass deficiency was found in 19 out of the 70 patients (27.1%, single IgG1 deficiency in 7, IgG2 deficiency in 4, combined IgG1-IgG3 deficiency in 5, IgG1-IgG2-IgG3-IgG4 deficiency, IgG1-IgG2-IgG4 deficiency and IgG2-IgG4 deficiency each in 1). The incidence of IgG subclass deficiencies was in the sequence as follows: IgG1, 20%; IgG2, 10%; IgG3, 8.6% and IgG4, 4.3%. The results suggest that IgG subclass deficiency indicate a common disorder in children with recurrent respiratory tract infections.

Optical response of a disordered bicontinuous macroporous structure in the longhorn beetle Sphingnotus mirabilis.

We studied the structural and optical properties of scales in the longhorn beetle Sphingnotus mirabilis. Structural characterizations revealed that the scale interior possesses a disordered bicontinuous macroporous structure, resembling a phase-separated structure obtained by spinodal decomposition. Its optical response was investigated both experimentally and theoretically. Our results show that this structure has interesting optical properties due to the existence of only short-range order and the lack of well-defined local structures.