[Effect of cultivation for snail control on schistosomiasis in Changsha urban section of Xiangjiang River].

OBJECTIVE: To study a reliable, friendly environmental and sustainable Oncomelania snail control method in marshlands of the Xiangjiang River. METHODS: According to the special characteristics of the marshlands of the Xiangjiang River, smoothing and cultivating in beaches were applied for snail control. In sections with scarce distribution of snails, lowering parts of 4.4 beaches and raising other parts were added. RESULTS: Since 2003, the project has been practiced for 8 years. The average snail density declined by 99.83% with the simple smoothing beaches and then cultivation there. The average snail density declined by 100% with lowering parts of beaches and raising other parts and then cultivation. The schistosome infection rate was 0.31% with a declined rate of 93.84% in residents in 2006. The schistosome infection rate was 1.03% in 2010. The test result of water contamination was negative. CONCLUSIONS: The method of simple smoothing beaches and then cultivation can control the density of snails in marshlands and the method of lowering parts of beaches and raising other parts and then cultivation is more effective.

[Effects of TIMP-2 gene transfer on atherosclerotic plaque in rabbits].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of TIMP-2 local gene transfer on atherosclerotic plaque. METHODS: Atherosclerosis models were induced by denuding femoral artery endothelium plus high lipid diet in rabbits. TIMP-2 gene was transferred locally by balloons eluted with pcDNA3-TIMP-2. RT-PCR and Western blot were performed to verify exogenous genes transfer. MMPs activity in atherosclerotic plaque was evaluated by zymography. HE and VG staining and automatic image analysis system were used for pathological analysis of atherosclerotic femoral arteries. The lumen area of the vessel and the collagen contents in the atherosclerotic plaque were measured. RESULTS: The expression of TIMP-2 gene in pcDNA3-TIMP-2 transferred group was significantly higher than control-vector transferred group at the end of week 2 after operation and reached the peak at the end of week 4. Comparing with the control group, the expression of TIMP-2 protein in treated group was also higher at the end of week 2, 4, and 8 after operation. Correspondingly, the MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities were lower in treated group. The thickness of fibrous cap of atherosclerotic plaque and the amount of collagen of the lesion were increased significantly in treated group compared with the control group, but there were no significant differences in vessel lumen area. CONCLUSION: TIMP-2 gene transfer locally in atherosclerotic plaque could inhibit the activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the lesion, increase the thickness of fibrous cap and the amount of collagen of the lesion, but may have no effect on the degree of the stenosis.

[Analysis of platelets in the monitoring of systemic inflammatory response syndrome of critically ill patients].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical significance of the variance of platelets in systemic inflammatory response syndrome(SIRS) of critical illness. METHODS: Two hundred and thirteen critically ill patients in ICU, who suffered from SIRS, sepsis and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), were enrolled in this study and divided into two groups, survivor group (n=151) and non-survivor group (n=62). Platelet, white blood cell counts and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) score were performed immediately after hospitalization, 3 days, 7 days, and 10 days later. At the same time, the serum was collected and the level of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) was measured. RESULTS: APACHE II score was much higher, but no difference in the two groups immediately after the hospitalization. However, it increased markedly in non-survivor group, and lowered dramatically in survivor group 7 days after therapy. There was a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.01). Platelets were slightly lower in both groups immediately after the hospitalization. After three days' therapy, it increased to the normal range in the two groups. However, it progressively dropped in non-survivor group 7 days and 10 days later, and it was significantly different from survivor group (P<0.001). The white blood cell counts revealed that there was no significant difference between the two groups. The level of TNF-alpha in serum was much higher in both groups immediately after the hospitalization. After three days' therapy, it further increased and was maintained at the high level in the two groups. However, it progressively dropped in survivor group, while it remained in higher level in non-survivor group 7 days and 10 days later, which was significantly different from survivor group (both P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Refractory thrombocytopenia is sensitively responsive to poor prognosis and severity of SIRS in critical illness.