TXNDC5 mediates serum starvation-induced proliferation inhibition of HeLa cell / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role of TXNDC5 in serum starvation-induced proliferation inhibition of HeLa cell.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>TXNDC5 was either over-expressed or knocked down by small interfering RNA (siRNA) in HeLa cells which were then cultured in conventional medium or serum starvation medium. The protein level of TXNDC5 was evaluated by Western blot analysis. The mRNA level of TXNDC5 was measured by quantitative real-time PCR. Cell growth rate was determined by cell proliferation assay kit (MTS method). Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Serum starvation mildly reduced the mRNA level of TXNDC5 (P<0.05), but dramatically increased the protein level of TXNDC5 in HeLa cells. The stability of TXNDC5 mRNA remained unchanged. Cycloheximide abolished the serum starvation-induced up-regulation of TXNDC5 protein. Over-expression of TXNDC5 had no effect on cell proliferation. However, suppression of TXNDC5 attenuated the proliferation inhibition of HeLa cell induced by serum starvation (P<0.05), increased the proportion of cells in S phase (P<0.05), but had no effect on cell apoptosis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TXNDC5 mediates serum starvation-induced proliferation inhibition of HeLa cell.</p>

Morphological characteristics of hyoid bone and its gender difference / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To understand and analyze the morphological characteristics of hyoid bone and its gender difference in order to find out its forensic significance.@*METHODS@#The hyoid bones of 68 adult corpses were dissected from redundant soft tissues after heating. The connection status of body of hyoid, greater cornu and lesser cornu, the morphological characteristics of hyoid bone and the degree of ossification were observed by visual inspection. The height of hyoid bone and the arched height of hyoid bone were measured and compared the differences between male and female in order to deduce the analytic equation for gender estimation by hyoid bone.@*RESULTS@#Five connection conditions of hyoid bone were identified by the morphological characteristics, including complete ossification in both sides, no ossification in both sides, partial ossification in both sides, complete ossification in one side (partial ossification in the other side), and complete ossification in one side (no ossification in the other side). The values of the arched height of hyoid bone (x1) and the height of hyoid bone (x2) in male were both higher than that in female (P < 0.01). The analytic equation for gender estimation (y) was y = 0.438 x1 + 1.042x2-12.979. The discriminant value was -0.272 5 and the resolution was 88.2%.@*CONCLUSION@#According to the gender characteristics of hyoid bone, the data of hyoid bone can provide helps for forensic practices.

Grass height and transmission ecology of Echinococcus multilocularis in Tibetan communities, China / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Alveolar echinococcosis is a major zoonosis of public health significance in western China. Overgrazing was recently assumed as a potential risk factor for transmission of alveolar echinococcosis. The research was designed to further test the overgrazing hypothesis by investigating how overgrazing influenced the burrow density of intermediate host small mammals and how the burrow density of small mammals was associated with dog Echinococcus multilocularis infection.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The study sites were chosen by previous studies which found areas where the alveolar echinococcosis was prevalent. The data, including grass height, burrow density of intermediate host small mammals, dog and fox fecal samples as well as Global Positioning System (GPS) position, were collected from field investigations in Shiqu County, Sichuan Province, China. The fecal samples were analyzed using copro-PCR. The worms, teeth, bones and hairs in the fecal samples were visually examined. Single factor and multifactor analyses tools including chi square and generalized linear models were applied to these data.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>By using grass height as a proxy of grazing pressure in the homogenous pasture, this study found that taller grass in the pasture led to lower small mammals' burrow density (chi(2) = 4.670, P = 0.031, coefficient = -1.570). The Echinococcus multilocularis worm burden in dogs was statistically significantly related to the maximum density of the intermediate host Ochotona spp. (chi(2) = 5.250, P = 0.022, coefficient = 0.028). The prevalence in owned dogs was positively correlated to the number of stray dogs seen within a 200 meter radius (Wald chi(2) = 8.375, P = 0.004, odds ratio = 1.198).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Our findings support the hypothesis that overgrazing promotes transmission of alveolar echinococcosis and confirm the role of stray dogs in the transmission of alveolar echinococcosis.</p>

Snail control by using soil pasting mixed with niclosamide / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effect of snail control through soil pasting mixed with niclosamide.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Four sites were selected in different epidemic areas in Sichuan province. Soil pasting mixed with niclosamide was carried on, and the dosage was 0 g/m2, 4 g/m2, 6 g/m2, 8 g/m2 and 10 g/m2 respectively. The mortality rate of snail and the density of snail were observed after 7, 15, 30, 90 and 180 days.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mortality rate of snail was more than 43.3% in blank group after 30 days. The mortality rate of snail was from 75.3% to 100.0% at 4 g/m2 group after 30 days. The mortality rate of snail in 4 g/m2 group was significantly higher than that in the blank group (chi2 = 31.27, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the mortality rate of snail among all study groups (chi2 = 1.07, P > 0.05). The decrease rate of snail density was more than 90%. The mortality rate of snail was about 30% higher in Chantu group than Qutu group. The unit cost of Pasting-Mixing Drug with Soil was from 5 to 7 times of spray method, but the total cost was similar for the. two methods at the endpoint of the snail control.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The effect of soil pasting mixed with niclosamide is good, and the dosage of 4-6 g/m2 is suggested in snail control.</p>

Modeling transmission dynamics and control of schistosomiasis in the mountainous region, Sichuan / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To use a mathematical model and computer simulation to study transmission dynamics and control of schistosomiasis in mountainous regions of Sichuan.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Based on studies of schistosomiasis japonica transmission in 20 villages in mountainous regions of Sichuan, a mathematical model was developed to characterize the impact of local environmental factors on transmission intensity. The model integrated site-specific factors and was calibrated to field epidemiological data from 3 subset villages. The dichotomic method was then used to predict different control measures.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The study showed high variations in prevalence of infection and infection intensity across villages, ranging between 3%-73%, 0.1-100 epg (eggs per gram stool), respectively. Important factors including occupation of local residents, exposure to contaminated water, microclimatic characteristics were integrated in the model. The predictions of dichotomic models showed that continuing chemotherapy (coverage between 50%-60%) could reduce infection intensities to 30%-80%, but could not change local transmission potential; therefore, the termination of chemotherapy would be followed by bouncing back of transmission. Sustaining targeted environmental interventions through snail and parasite oval control at certain coverage (30%-50%, respectively) could reduce the transmission to relatively stable levels. The model predictions showed that an integrated control (e.g., including both chemotherapy and environmental interventions) could suppress the transmission to an undetectable level even interruption of transmission between 5-10 years.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The study demonstrated the feasibility of using a dynamic model, calibrated to local data, to gain insights into complicated processes underlying the transmission and informing site-specific control strategies.</p>

Water exposure modes and times of different populations in mountainous schistosomiasis endemic areas near Qionghai lake / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate water exposure modes and times of different populations in mountainous schistosomiasis endemic areas and to inform about the control strategies.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>All 1054 residents from populations around Qionghai Lake were randomly sampled according to occupation for a retrospective questionnaire survey in November 2001. Each individual was interviewed for his/her mode, frequency, and duration of water exposure occurring between April and October 2001.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average exposure times and intensity were higher in farmers (median: 16 - 18 min/day and 2.41 - 2.5, respectively) who grow rice, tobacco, and vegetables than others (median: 3.74 - 7.39 min/day and 0.81 - 1.52, respectively); exposure frequency was found highest in farmers (median: 2.04 times/day) in all occupations; schoolchildren had low exposure frequency and times, but very high exposure intensity (median 2.34). Between April and June it is an agriculturally busy season, that is also a peak season of water exposure of adults. Schoolchildren's water exposure peaks on July and August, mainly due to playing water and swimming. Exposure times and intensities were higher in females than in males.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Water exposure modes, times, and intensities of different populations were different in mountainous schistosomiasis endemic areas of Xichang. Between April and June should be the peak infection season of adults who are engaging in agricultural activities, while July to August should be the peak infection season for schoolchildren with non-agricultural activities.</p>

[The change of activity of protective enzyme around sprout tumble of Pinellia ternate under high temperature stress].

OBJECTIVE: To study the change of the activity of protective enzyme to avoid sprout tumble of Pinellia ternata. METHOD: A high temperature stress was given to P. ternata. Then the activity of protective enzyme (SOD, POD and CAT) and the content of membrane lipid peroxidation (MDA) were detected after different treating days. RESULT AND CONCLUSION: By stress time increasing, the content of MDA in lamina and petiole increased obviously, but it increased invisibly in tuber. After high temperature stress, the activity of both SOD and CAT decreased gradually. The activity of POD increased at first but then decreased rapidly.

The change of activity of protective enzyme around sprout tumble of Pinellia ternate under high temperature stress / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the change of the activity of protective enzyme to avoid sprout tumble of Pinellia ternata.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>A high temperature stress was given to P. ternata. Then the activity of protective enzyme (SOD, POD and CAT) and the content of membrane lipid peroxidation (MDA) were detected after different treating days.</p><p><b>RESULT AND CONCLUSION</b>By stress time increasing, the content of MDA in lamina and petiole increased obviously, but it increased invisibly in tuber. After high temperature stress, the activity of both SOD and CAT decreased gradually. The activity of POD increased at first but then decreased rapidly.</p>