CircFADS2: A potential prognostic biomarker of colorectal cancer.

IMPACT STATEMENT: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy worldwide with the second highest mortality rate. Although multidisciplinary cooperative therapies are helpful for improving the survival of CRC patients, the prognosis remains poor. Therefore, it is imperative to seek new biomarkers for the development of individualized treatment for each CRC patient. Circular RNA, an endogenous transcript with specific covalent closed loop, exhibits higher stability, conservation and expression abundance than the corresponding linear component and thus may be utilized as a promised biomarker. Although the majority of studies have focused on circular RNA expression profiling in various types of cancers, evidence supporting their critical role in the diagnosis and prognosis of CRC is limited. This study aimed to screen and identify novel circular RNA biomarkers of CRC by chip analysis and qPCR verification, and to highlight their potential as targets for CRC prognosis, and therapy.

Epidemiological characteristics of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis in Nanchang, China: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is an autoimmune disease that typically follows a monophasic course and may affect any age group. The precise population-based incidence of ADEM is still unknown in most countries. In China, there is no ADEM surveillance system. The exact incidence of ADEM is difficult to estimate, and other epidemiological characteristics of ADEM are unknown. The purpose of this study is to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of ADEM in Nanchang, China. METHODS: A retrospective investigation was conducted with ADEM patients admitted to second-level and third-level hospitals in Nanchang from 2008 to 2010, aiming to analyse the epidemiologic characteristics of ADEM in the population in Nanchang. ADEM patients, defined as patients who were diagnosed according to the consensus definition of ADEM provided by the International Pediatric MS Study Group, were enrolled in the study. The data were extracted from the ADEM patients' medical records. RESULTS: Forty-seven ADEM patients were investigated. The average annual incidence was 0.31/100,000; the incidence among males (0.31/100,000) was nearly equal to that among females (0.31/100,000). The median age of onset was 25.97 years old, and the peak incidence was observed in the 5- to 9-year-old age group (0.75/100,000), followed by the over-60 age group (0.55/100,000). ADEM occurs throughout the year, but it occurs most frequently in March (n = 7) and least frequently in April and July (both n = 2). The patient numbers are roughly even in the other months. In the 2 months before the onset of ADEM, 15 patients presented with a preceding infection, but none of the patients received a vaccination. An increased number of vaccination was not accompanied by a corresponding increased number of cases of ADEM. CONCLUSIONS: The average annual incidence of ADEM was 0.31/100,000 in Nanchang. The incidence among males was nearly equal to that among females. The peak age of onset was 5-9 years old. The peak season of onset was not apparent. There was no evidence of an association between increased number of vaccines administered and number of cases of ADEM in Nanchang, China.

[Analysis of molecular subtypes and microflora structure of Neisseria meningitidis strains isolated in Jiangxi province].

OBJECTIVE: To study the molecular subtypes and microflora structure of Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) strains isolated in Jiangxi province. METHODS: A total of 123 Nm strains separately isolated from patients, close contacts and health people in 1976-1987 and 2005-2008 were investigated by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and PorA subtyping, to test the characteristics of gene Nm and sequence porA. Minimum spanning tree was constructed by using BioNumerics software based on data of MLST; and the microflora structure was then analyzed. RESULTS: The serogroups of 67 Nm strains isolated in 1976-1987 included group A (43 strains), group B (18 strains), group C (1 strains) and group W135 (5 strains); while the serogroups of 56 Nm strains isolated in 2005-2008 included group A (3 strains), group B (7 strains), group C (45 strains) and 1 ungrouped strain. The total 123 Nm strains could be divided into 40 MLST types; while the 46 strains in group A could be divided into 14 MLST types, 29 out of which belonged to ST-3 type, accounting for 63.0% (29/46) as the dominant type. All of the 29 strains were isolated between 1976 and 1987, while 14 strains were isolated from patients, 9 were from close contacts and 6 were from health people. The 46 strains in group C could be divided into 5 MLST types, 41 out of which belonged to ST-4821 type, accounting for 89.1% (41/46). All of the strains were isolated between 2005 and 2008, 6 strains were isolated from patients, 6 were from close contacts and 29 were from health people. The porA gene of the total 123 Nm strains were classified to 32 different types, including 24 different VR1 types and 22 different VR2 types. The dominant PorA type of the prevalent strain (ST-3 type, group A) between 1976 and 1987 was P1.7-1, 10, accounting for 39.1% (18/46) of the strains in group A; while the 18 strains were isolated from 11 patients, 4 close contacts and 3 health people. The dominant PorA type of the prevalent strain (ST-4821 type, group C) between 2005 and 2008 was P1.20, 9, accounting for 46.3% (19/41) of the ST-4821 strains in group C; while the 19 strains were isolated from 1 close contacts and 18 health people. P1.7-2, 14 dominated since 2006, including 22 strains, accounting for 53.7% (22/41) of the ST-4821 strains in group C, isolated from 6 patients, 5 close contacts and 11 health people. There were no dominant PorA type found in group B and all the 5 strains in group W135 belonged to ST-174 and the PorA type was P1.21, 16, isolating from 3 close contacts and 2 health people between 1979 and 1980. CONCLUSION: Nm isolated in Jiangxi province showed significant gene polymorphism, as well as predominant lineages existing. In different periods, the prevalent lineages varied a lot, as translating from serogroup A: ST-3:P1.7-1, 10 to serogroup C: ST-4821:P1.7-2, 14 nowadays.

[Molecular typing on Leptospira interrogans isolates from Jiangxi province, by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis].

OBJECTIVE: To perform a molecular epidemiological investigation on the types of Leptospira interrogans isolates from leptospirosis patients and animal hosts in Jiangxi province, using a pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). METHODS: The extracted chromosomal DNA from leptospiral isolates were digested with restriction endonuclease Not I and the DNA segments were separated by using PFGE. By BiOnurerics V4.0 software and 75% similarity as the standard, the obtained PFGE images from leptospiral isolates were managed to establish a digitization database and then the PFGE maps of leptospiral isolates were compared with those of reference standard strains belonging to 15 serovars in 15 serogroups of L. interrogans, for cluster analysis. RESULTS: 139 strains of L. interrogans isolated from different areas of Jiangxi province were classified into 46 PFGE types. Among the PFGE types, LepNot I.0071, LepNot I.0072 and LepNot I.0043 were the predominant types that accounting for 28.06%, 15.11% and 7.19% of all the leptospiral isolates, respectively. The PFGE maps from 84.89% (118/139) of the 139 leptospiral isolates were found to basically match those of 6 reference standard strains belonging to 6 serovar in 6 serogroups of L. interrogans. In the 118 matched leptospiral isolates, 32.37% (45 strains), 15.83% (22 strains) and 15.11% (21 strains) belonged to sero-groups Icterohaemorrhagiae serovar Lai, sero-groups Australis serovar Australis and sero-group Javanica serovar Javanica, respectively. CONCLUSION: PFGE seemed a fast, accurate and effective method for typing of L. interrogans isolates. Serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae serovar Lai and followed by serogroup Australis serovar Australis as well as serogroup Javanica serovar Javanica were the predominant L. interrogans species in humans and animal hosts in Jiangxi province.

[A systematic review on the protective efficacy of BCG against children tuberculosis meningitis and millet tuberculosis].

OBJECTIVE: To Understand the protective efficacy of Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) vacciation against children tuberculosis meningitis and millet tuberculosis, to provide the data to improve immune tactics of BCG. METHODS: A search CHKD full text database (1979-2007) and CHKD meeting paper database (1999-2008) and WANGFANG database (1982-2007), with BCG, tuberculosis meningitis, millet tuberculosis, then to analyze information from qualified literatures. RESULTS: 28 paper were involved. 25 were correlated with tuberculosis meningitis, 1 correlated with millet tuberculosis, 2 correlated with both. The study about protections of BCG against tuberculosis meningitis showed that BCG has protective action in ecology study. The inoculation of BCG in tuberculosis meningitis cases was 0-69.08%, millet tuberculosis BCG inoculating with 82.76%. Result of Mete analysis showed that it was 81% to the protection tuberculosis meningitis, 95% CI is 57%-91%. CONCLUSION: BCG vaccine has protective effect for preventing tuberculous meningitis. Due to lack of case-control study, cases in vaccinated and unvaccinated ratio should not an objective description of the effect of BCG vaccination. Protective effect of miliary tuberculosis research literature was less, unable to come to precise conclusions.

[Evaluation on effectiveness of training for the national expanded program on immunization].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of training for the national expanded program on immunization. METHODS: 384 trainees were selected random. A questionnaire was developed and distributed to the trainees before and after training. A satisfactory survey was conducted by questionnaire after training. RESULTS: The knowledge level increased obviously after training. <60 score decreased from 41.7% to 1.8%, > or = 60 score increased from 58.4% to 98.2% (chi2=179.12, P = 0.00). Total 384 trainees, the average correct rate of knowledge before and after training were 60% and 83% respectively. The age, working year, ethnic, gender and education level were factors influencing the effectiveness of training. Working unit and training location had no significant statistic difference. 78% trainees thought that the training materials were easy understand, 81% and 80% trainees were satisfied with training logistic and training skill respectively. It was suggested that training time should be longer; the training contents should base on the real case; and frequency of training should be increased in the future. CONCLUSION: National expanded immunization program should strengthen training to the staff so as to improve the immunization service ability.