[Spatio-temporal variations of functional diversity of fish communities in Haizhou Bay.] / æµ·å·žæ¹¾é±¼ç±»ç¾¤è½åŠŸèƒ½å¤šæ ·æ€§çš„æ—¶ç©ºå˜åŒ–.

As the link among species, ecological environment, and ecosystem function, functional diversity can help us to better understand the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem function. We analyzed functional diversity with thirteen functional traits reflecting the characteristics of food acquisition, locomotion, ecological adaptation, reproduction and population dynamics of fish species. The seasonal, interannual and spatial variations of functional diversity of fish communities were examined using functional richness index (FRic), functional evenness index (FEve), functional divergence index (FDiv) and community weighted mean index (CWM) based on the data from the bottom trawl surveys in spring and autumn from 2011 to 2017 (except 2012) in Haizhou Bay. The results showed that functional diversity indices were significantly different in spring and autumn, with FRic was significantly higher in autumn than that in spring and FDiv was significantly higher in spring than that in autumn. Migration might be the main reason for the seasonal change of functional diversity indices. CWM analysis showed that dominant fish species were cold-temperate or warm-temperate species, with higher trophic level, strong motion ability, and relatively high growth coefficient, resilience and vulnerability in spring. In autumn, the dominant species showed the opposite traits. In both spring and autumn, fish species with pelagic eggs dominated the fish communities. Inter-annual variations in functional diversity indices were observed in spring and autumn. The functional diversity indices showed an annual fluctuation during the study period in both spring and autumn, indicating the low stability of fish community in Haizhou Bay. Significant spatial changes in functional diversity of fish assemblages were observed, with FDiv being higher in the offshore coastal waters (>20 m) than that in the shallow waters (<20 m). The functional diversity showed obvious spatio-temporal variation. The ecological niches and resource utilization of fish species varied with season, year and space in Haizhou Bay.

High prevalence of thalassemia in migrant populations in Guangdong Province, China.

BACKGROUND: The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of thalassemia and to analyze the need for public health services for migrant populations in different cities in Guangdong Province, China. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 21 cities of Guangdong Province. Twenty-three types of a- and ß-globin gene mutations were detected in a total of 14,230 pregnant women and 14,249 husbands. RESULTS: There was a 16.45% prevalence of thalassemia among the 28,479 individuals, and the prevalences of α-, ß-, and combined α-/ß- thalassemia were 12.03%, 3.80%, and 0.63%, respectively. Compared with the native city residents in the province, the migrants from within the province and the immigrants from outside the province had lower prevalences of thalassemia, but the prevalence values were >11%. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence values for thalassemia gene mutations were high in all three population groups studied in Guangdong Province. The results indicate that all segments of the Guangdong population should be screened for thalassemia.

Noninvasive prenatal diagnosis of common aneuploidies by semiconductor sequencing.

Massively parallel sequencing (MPS) of cell-free fetal DNA from maternal plasma has revolutionized our ability to perform noninvasive prenatal diagnosis. This approach avoids the risk of fetal loss associated with more invasive diagnostic procedures. The present study developed an effective method for noninvasive prenatal diagnosis of common chromosomal aneuploidies using a benchtop semiconductor sequencing platform (SSP), which relies on the MPS platform but offers advantages over existing noninvasive screening techniques. A total of 2,275 pregnant subjects was included in the study; of these, 515 subjects who had full karyotyping results were used in a retrospective analysis, and 1,760 subjects without karyotyping were analyzed in a prospective study. In the retrospective study, all 55 fetal trisomy 21 cases were identified using the SSP with a sensitivity and specificity of 99.94% and 99.46%, respectively. The SSP also detected 16 trisomy 18 cases with 100% sensitivity and 99.24% specificity and 3 trisomy 13 cases with 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Furthermore, 15 fetuses with sex chromosome aneuploidies (10 45,X, 2 47,XYY, 2 47,XXX, and 1 47,XXY) were detected. In the prospective study, nine fetuses with trisomy 21, three with trisomy 18, three with trisomy 13, and one with 45,X were detected. To our knowledge, this is the first large-scale clinical study to systematically identify chromosomal aneuploidies based on cell-free fetal DNA using the SSP and provides an effective strategy for large-scale noninvasive screening for chromosomal aneuploidies in a clinical setting.

Etiologic and epidemiologic analysis of hand, foot, and mouth disease in Guangzhou city: a review of 4,753 cases

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to review etiological and epidemiological data for hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) cases that occurred between 2008 and 2010 in Guangzhou City, to help develop and implement precautionary measures applicable for future outbreaks. METHODS: The characteristics of 4,753 HFMD episodes were retrospectively reviewed in 4,636 patients reported between 2008 and 2010 by the Guangdong Women and Children's Hospital, which is the national enterovirus monitoring agent and the designated hospital in China for treating severe HFMD. RESULTS: Out of 4,753 incident episodes reviewed, 525 patients were hospitalized; 60% were males. Most patients (93.8%) were children under 5 years old, with a median age at onset of 2.4 years. HFMD incidence peaked in April/May and September/October. From the total, 1,067 (22.4%) infections were positive for human enterovirus 71 (HEV71), 1,094 (23.0%) were positive for coxsackievirus A16 (CA16), and 941 (19.8%) were positive for other common enteroviruses. In contrast, 1,666 (35.0%) cases were negative to HEV71, CA16, and other common enteroviruses. Cross-correlation coefficients demonstrated associations between the number of cases, seasonal temperatures, and humidity. Among hospitalized cases, HEV71 was positive in 261 (24.5%), and 42 (3.9%) critical cases were positive for HEV71. CONCLUSION: Seasonal fluctuations and HEV71 and CA16 were the two key factors influencing the Guangzhou HFMD epidemic. The infection predominantly affected children younger than 5 years old.

Etiologic and epidemiologic analysis of hand, foot, and mouth disease in Guangzhou city: a review of 4,753 cases.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to review etiological and epidemiological data for hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) cases that occurred between 2008 and 2010 in Guangzhou City, to help develop and implement precautionary measures applicable for future outbreaks. METHODS: The characteristics of 4,753 HFMD episodes were retrospectively reviewed in 4,636 patients reported between 2008 and 2010 by the Guangdong Women and Children's Hospital, which is the national enterovirus monitoring agent and the designated hospital in China for treating severe HFMD. RESULTS: Out of 4,753 incident episodes reviewed, 525 patients were hospitalized; 60% were males. Most patients (93.8%) were children under 5 years old, with a median age at onset of 2.4 years. HFMD incidence peaked in April/May and September/October. From the total, 1,067 (22.4%) infections were positive for human enterovirus 71 (HEV71), 1,094 (23.0%) were positive for coxsackievirus A16 (CA16), and 941 (19.8%) were positive for other common enteroviruses. In contrast, 1,666 (35.0%) cases were negative to HEV71, CA16, and other common enteroviruses. Cross-correlation coefficients demonstrated associations between the number of cases, seasonal temperatures, and humidity. Among hospitalized cases, HEV71 was positive in 261 (24.5%), and 42 (3.9%) critical cases were positive for HEV71. CONCLUSION: Seasonal fluctuations and HEV71 and CA16 were the two key factors influencing the Guangzhou HFMD epidemic. The infection predominantly affected children younger than 5 years old.

Characterization of human cytomegalovirus UL145 and UL136 genes in low-passage clinical isolates from infected Chinese infants.

BACKGROUND: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised individuals. The unique long b' (ULB') region of HCMV contains at least 19 open reading frames (ORFs); however, little is known about the function of UL145 and UL136. We characterized UL145 and UL136 in low-passage clinical isolates from Chinese infants. MATERIAL/METHODS: The clinical strains of HCMV were recovered from the urine from HCMV-infected infants. Human embryonic lung fibroblasts (HELFs) were infected with clinical isolates of HCMV, and the viral DNA and mRNA for UL145 and UL136 were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing techniques. We also predicted the structure and function of UL145 and UL136 proteins. RESULTS: Sixty-two Chinese infants infected with HCMV were recruited into this study and the clinical isolates were recovered from the urine. Two strains among the low-passage isolates, D2 and D3, were obtained. The UL145 and UL136 sequences were deposited with GenBank under accession numbers of DQ180367, DQ180381, DQ180377, and DQ180389. The mRNA expression of both UL145 and UL136 was confirmed by reverse transcription (RT-PCR) assays. UL145 was predicted to contain 1 protein kinase C phosphorylation site, 2 casein kinase II phosphorylation sites and a zinc finger structure. UL136 was predicted to contain a protein kinase C phosphorylation site, N-myristoylation site, cAMP- and cGMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylation site and tyrosine kinase II phosphorylation site. Both UL145 and UL136 are highly conserved. CONCLUSIONS: UL145 may act as an intranuclear regulating factor by direct binding to DNA, while UL136 may be a membrane receptor involving signal transduction.

[Effect of vascular endothelial growth factor small interfering RNA (siRNA) on retinal microvascular endothelial cells under hypoxia condition in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To explore VEGF siRNA's effect on the immature fetal retinal microvascular endothelial cells in vitro. METHOD: The fresh retinal micrangium was primarily cultured to obtain microvascular endothelial cells. CoCl2 was used to simulate oxygen-deficient conditions. siRNA directed against human VEGF was designed and chemically synthesized. There were 3 groups in our experiment: VEGF siRNA group, hypoxia control group, and negative siRNA control group. The fetal retinal micrangium vascular endothelial cells were transfected by using liposome. The expression levels of VEGF mRNA and protein were evaluated by RT-PCR and Western blotting 24, 48, 72 h after transfection, cell proliferation was evaluated by MTT method. RESULT: The expression levels of VEGF mRNA decreased by 21.05%, 79.67%, and 90.48% 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h after transfection as compared to those in hypoxia control group, the expression level of VEGF protein had decreased by 14.58%, 66.97%, and 81.61% as compared to those in hypoxia control group. The siRNA could decrease cell proliferation under hypoxia too, the multiplication rate after 12, 24, 48, and 72 h decreased by 15.0%, 42.9%, 78.3% and 65.9%. CONCLUSION: VEGF siRNA could down-regulate the expression of VEGF in immature fetal retinal microvascular endothelial cells and suppressed cell proliferation. Application of siRNA to inhibit expression of VEGF may be a hopeful way to prevent and cure ROP.

New insights into the structural characteristics and functional relevance of the human cytochrome P450 2D6 enzyme.

To date, the crystal structures of at least 12 human CYPs (1A2, 2A6, 2A13, 2C8, 2C9, 2D6, 2E1, 2R1, 3A4, 7A1, 8A1, and 46A1) have been determined. CYP2D6 accounts for only a small percentage of all hepatic CYPs (< 2%), but it metabolizes approximately 25% of clinically used drugs with significant polymorphisms. CYP2D6 also metabolizes procarcinogens and neurotoxins, such as 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline, and indolealkylamines. Moreover, the enzyme utilizes hydroxytryptamines and neurosteroids as endogenous substrates. Typical CYP2D6 substrates are usually lipophilic bases with an aromatic ring and a nitrogen atom, which can be protonated at physiological pH. Substrate binding is generally followed by oxidation (5-7 A) from the proposed nitrogen-Asp301 interaction. A number of homology models have been constructed to explore the structural features of CYP2D6, while antibody studies also provide useful structural information. Site-directed mutagenesis studies have demonstrated that Glu216, Asp301, Phe120, Phe481, and Phe483 play important roles in determining the binding of ligands to CYP2D6. The structure of human CYP2D6 has been recently determined and shows the characteristic CYP fold observed for other members of the CYP superfamily. The lengths and orientations of the individual secondary structural elements in the CYP2D6 structure are similar to those seen in other human CYP2 members, such as CYP2C9 and 2C8. The 2D6 structure has a well-defined active-site cavity located above the heme group with a volume of approximately 540 A(3), which is larger than equivalent cavities in CYP2A6 (260 A(3)), 1A2 (375 A(3)), and 2E1 (190 A(3)), but smaller than those in CYP3A4 (1385 A(3)) and 2C8 (1438 A(3)). Further studies are required to delineate the molecular mechanisms involved in CYP2D6 ligand interactions and their implications for drug development and clinical practice.

[Study on the changes of incidence rates on birth defects through hospital based surveillance program in Guangdong province during 1997-2007].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the tendency of hospital based surveillance incidence rates of birth defects in Guangdong province to provide reference evidence for related intervention program. METHODS: Data from hospital based birth defects surveillance of Guangdong province during 1997 - 2007 were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The overall surveillance rates of birth defects in Guangdong province showed an increasing trend form 98.9 per 10 000 birth in 1997 to 244.2 per 10 000 birth in 2007. Among the frequently seen birth defects, the rate of congenital heart diseases increased sharply, but the rates of congenital talipes equinovarus, polydactyly, cleft lip with/without cleft palate showed a slight increasing trend. It seemed that there was a significant difference between different maternal age interval and gender of the infants. Mother's illness, drug use, and exposure to environment harmful factors in early pregnancy stage, high maternal age, negative bearing history were the suspect risk factors for birth defects. CONCLUSION: The increasing trend of surveillance rate of birth defects seemed to be comprehensively affected by the factors as: method being adopted, target and extension of birth defects surveillance, technology used for diagnosis, kinds of risk factor, and quality control on surveillance programs.

[Survey of health status and healthcare service demand of perimenopausal women in Guangdong].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the health status and healthcare service demand of perimenopausal women in Guangdong Province so as to explore the mode and methods for implementing climacteric and senectitude healthcare. METHOD: Using the method of stratified and cluster sampling and according to the geographical features of Guangdong Province, we selected 4 500 perimenopausal women aged 40-65 years from 5 relatively small cities (representatives of the urban areas) and 4 counties (representatives of the rural areas) for this survey. RESULTS: The average age of natural menopause was 48.6 years in this cohort of women, and was 48.9 years in women from the urban areas and 48.3 years in those from the rural areas. The total incidence of diseases was similar in the urban and rural areas (38.5% vs 39.5%), accounting for an incidence of 39% in the total subjects. The 6 most prevalent diseases were bone and joint disease (12.5%), hypertension (9.2%), myoma of the uterus (6.8%), gastric or duodenal ulcer (5.2%), cardiac disease (2.7%) and diabetes mellitus (2.2%). In bone and joint disease, knee joint disease and lumbar vertebrae disease were the commonest (34.3% vs 32.8%), and the incidence of bone fracture was 2.5%. Perimenopausal syndrome had a prevalence rate of 68.1%, and the most distressful symptoms were sleeplessness, muscular, bone and joint pain, fidgety, dizziness, of which 86.8% were mental symptoms and 86.0% body symptoms. Women(71.2%) with perimenopausal symptoms received no medical treatment, and only 20.5% had ever sought medical care in the department of obstetrics and gynecology, often taking traditional Chinese medicines (53.9%). Only 1.4% of the symptomatic women received hormone therapy, the rate varied from 1.0% in the rural areas to 1.8% in the urban areas. CONCLUSION: Perimenopausal syndrome and its related diseases severely affect the physical and mental health of perimenopausal women, who demand extensive healthcare services.