Polymorphisms of angiotensin converting enzyme and nitric oxide synthase 3 genes as risk factors of high-altitude pulmonary edema: a case-control study and meta-analysis.

High-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) is a non-cardiogenic type of pulmonary edema developing altitudes > 2,500 m. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and nitric oxide synthase 3 (NOS3) play important roles in regulating pulmonary vascular tone. To assess associations between genetic variants in the ACE and NOS3 genes and HAPE risk, 27 HAPE patients and 108 matched controls were genotyped and analyzed. The indicated HAPE association of the NOS3 G894T (Glu298Asp) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), which may change NO production, was further evaluated by a meta-analysis of six studies involving 399 HAPE patients and 495 controls. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were determined with fixed-effects models. Stratification analyses of ethnicity and geographic location were performed. Significant associations were observed for the dominant model in two ACE tag SNPs influencing serum ACE concentrations (rs8066114 polymorphism: GG+CG vs. CC; rs4461142 polymorphism: TT+CT vs. CC). Furthermore, Single-locus analysis indicated significantly different distributions of G allele frequency between the cases (29.63%) and controls (17.13%) for the ACE rs8066114 polymorphism. The case-control distributions of genotype frequencies and T allele frequency of NOS3 G894T (Glu298Asp) polymorphism were significantly higher in the cases than controls, and the NOS3 G894T (Glu298Asp) SNP showed elevated HAPE risk under the dominant model (TT+GT vs. GG). Meta-analysis showed overall association of NOS3 G894T SNP with HAPE risk under the allele contrast and dominant genetic models, which remained significant for Asians. In conclusion, ACE rs8066114 and rs4461142 and NOS3 rs1799983 (G894T) polymorphisms may be associated with increased HAPE risk in Asians.

[Effects of distance between residence and hemodialysis unit on cardiovascular complications and treatments of maintenance hemodialysis patients].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of etiological classification and the distance between residence and hemodialysis unit on cardiovascular complications and treatments in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. METHODS: A total of 756 MHD patients were collected from 12 hemodialysis centers of Guiyang, China between January 2011 and May 2012. Their distribution characteristics and correlations were based on medical records. And statistical analyses were performed. RESULTS: The ratio of males and females was 1.45: 1. And their mean age was (49.1 ± 14.7) years old. And 496 (65.6%) cases suffered from cardiovascular complications. The analysis of multi-factor Logistic regression revealed that distance between residence and dialysis unit was an independent risk factor of cardiovascular complications. The group of the farthest distance ( > 30 km) had the worst influence on dialysis adequacy Kt/V score, urea clearance rate, dialysis frequency and time per week. And the levels of blood phosphorus, triglyceride and cholesterol in the fourth group had marked elevations. It had a significant positive correlation with distance (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The distance between residence and dialysis unit is an independent risk factor of cardiovascular complications in MHD patients. The farthest distance ( > 30 km) has the greatest influence on dialysis adequacy.

Molecular characterization of Tb, a new approach for an ancient Brucellaphage.

Tb (Tbilisi), the reference Brucellaphage strain, was classified as a member of the Podoviridae family with icosahedral capsids (57 +/- 2 nm diameter) and short tails (32 +/- 3 nm long). Brucellaphage DNA was double stranded and unmethylated; its molecular size was 34.5 kilobase pairs. Some sequences were found through RAPD analysis, TA cloning technology, and structural proteins were observed by using SDS-PAGE. Thus, the results have laid the foundation for the wider use of Brucellaphage's basic mechanisms and practical applications.

[Molecular characterization of embB306 gene in Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from tuberculosis patients in Chongqing municipality].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the characteristics of embB gene mutation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) isolates from tuberculosis patients in Chongqing, and the value of embB306 as a molecular marker used to diagnose ethambutol (EMB)-resistant MTB strains. METHODS: Direct sequencing was used to analyze the polymorphism of embB mutation in 51 EMB-resistant MTB strains and 50 EMB-sensitive MTB strains. And diagnostic testing was used to evaluate the value of embB306 as a molecular marker of EMB -resistant MTB strains as compared with the traditional sensitivity test. RESULTS: All 34 of 51 EMB-resistant strains (66.7%) and 3 of 51 EMB-sensitive strains (6%) had had embB306 mutation. The embB306 mutation rate in EMB-resistant strains coming from previously treated case was 87.5%, showing significantly higher than that from new cases (48.1%, P < 0.01); embB306 mutation rate was increased with the number of the resistant drugs; embB306 mutation serving as a marker to diagnose EMB-resistant MTB strains comparing with the traditional sensitivity test, had the rate of sensitivity = 66.7%, specificity = 94.0%, accuracy = 80.2% and Youden index = 60.7%. CONCLUSION: embB306 mutation should be the main mechanism of MTB resistance to EMB in Chongqing, showing an association with the history of the treated and numbers of the resistant drugs. embB306 mutation should be a good marker to diagnose EMB-resistant MTB strains.

Effects of Sevoflurane Inhalation During Cardiopulmonary Bypass on Pediatric Patients: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

The effects of sevoflurane inhalation during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) on postoperative courses and serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentrations in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery have not been extensively investigated. In this single-center, prospective, randomized trial, an anesthetic regimen containing 2% sevoflurane used throughout the CPB process was compared with a total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) regimen. One hundred and three patients undergoing congenital heart defect repair with CPB were included in this prospective randomized controlled study. They were randomized into two groups: the sevoflurane group, who received 2% sevoflurane during CPB via an oxygenator, and the control group, who received only an oxygen-air mixture. The pre- and intra-operative parameters were comparable between the two groups. There was a slight but significant increase of arterial diastolic pressure in the sevoflurane group immediately after CPB compared with control patients (46.9 ± 9.3 mm Hg vs. 43.6 ± 8.9 mm Hg; p = 0.033). There was no death in either group. The postoperative ventilation time (in mean [95% confidence interval]) was shorter in the sevoflurane group than that in the control group (26.1 [19.2, 33.0] h vs. 37.7 [24.4, 50.9] h; p = 0.014). The postoperative ICU time, hospital days, and serial serum cTnI concentrations were not significantly different between the two groups. Inhalation of 2% sevoflurane during CPB is beneficial to the recovery of pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery but has no significant effect on postoperative cTnI release.

[Effect of qiangyi jiangtang capsules on diabetes mellitus model rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the pharmacodynamics of qiangyi jiangtang capsules (QJC) to offer the scientific foundation for clinical treatment to model rats of diabetes millitus induced by high lipid forage and streptozotocin. METHODS: The model rats of diabetes mellitus were induced by intraperitoneal injection of 0.6% streptozotocin (30 mg/kg body weight) given to Wistar rats after feeding with high lipid forage for a month and followed by fasting for 18 hours. Rats with level of blood glucose over 10.0 mmol/L 5 days after modelling was regarded as the successful model. Besides, a group of blank control was set up with rats fed with general forage and injected with equal volume of citric acid buffer solution. The successfully modelled rats were randomly divided into the model group, the positive control group and the high (2.0 g/kg), middle (1.2 g/kg) and low (0.4 g/kg) dose QJC treated groups. Meanwhile, the same volume of normal saline was given to rats in the blank control group and the model group, while Matfarmin (0.5 g/kg) was given to the rats in the positive control group. The levels of blood glucose (BG), serum fructose amine (SFA), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) were measured after one month of medication, and the amount of water drinking and food intake were measured at the second and the fourth week of the treatment. RESULTS: The levels of BG, SFA, HbA1c, the amount of water drinking and food intake in the 3 QJC treated groups were obviously lower than those in the model group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: QJC could remarkably lower the levels of BG, HbA1c, SFA and the amount of food intake and water-drinking of DM model rats, it is a Chinese herbal preparation worthy of further development and research.

[Systematic review of water treatment technologies in the natural disaster striken area].

Systematical evaluate the literature about application and effect of post-disaster water treatment methods in the recent 20 years through a comprehensive search and collection, to provide the best evidence for decision-making of post-disaster water treatment in the future. The main conclusion are the methodology of water treatment and supply in disaster rescue of developed countries and the world has been comparatively formal and mature. Some simple methods of water supply and treatment play a relatively important part in the disaster rescues.

[Development of a model for the diagnosis and risk classification on anthrax through artificial neural network].

OBJECTIVE: Based on data through clinical and epidemiological studies, a model regarding the diagnosis and risk classification on anthrax was developed by artificial neural network (ANN). The model could integrally diagnose anthrax cases, judge the risk tendency in time, and increase the ability of recognizing the anthrax accidents. METHODS: Clinical, laboratory and epidemiological data from anthrax cases was collected and analyzed. The important factors which could greatly influence the results on diagnosis and judgment was chosen and used as the neural units. Through the use of artificial neural network analytic method (back propagation, BP), an intelligent model on the diagnosis and risk classification was developed. RESULTS: Results from the multivariate analysis revealed that: 11 factors including incubation period, chest radiographic and microscopic findings, characteristics on professions etc. were associated with the judgment on the diagnosis and intensity of the epidemics. Through 500 times training on the neural network, the performance error decreased from 6.669 59 to 5.051 19 x 10(-11). The model was then validated. With 100% average correct rate, the predictive value was good. CONCLUSION: It was feasible to use the disease information to develop a diagnosis and risk classification model on anthrax by artificial neural network. With 100% average correct rate, the established model was valuable in practice.

[Studies on the germination of Bacillus anthracoides spores induced by nutrient germinant].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the germination effects of Bacillus anthracoides spores germinant to nutrient germinant. METHODS: Heat factors and nutrient germinant were used to stimulate the Bacillus anthracoides spores and to germinate. Ultraviolet spectrophotometer was used to measured the A value of spore solution in the wavelength of 600 nm. Accrding to the A value, the germination rates in different condition. Transmission electron microscope was used to observe the ultrastructure changes of spores. RESULTS: The rate of germination effects were 68.0% under 6 mmol/L inosine at 37 degrees C, pH 7.9; 74.5% under 70 mmol/L L-alanine at 30 degrees C, pH 8.9; and 85.6% under 6 mmol/L inosine and 70 mmol/L L-alanine at 37 degrees C, pH 8.2. Under transmission electron microscope, the germinated spores' coat and cortex were brokendown and degraded with its core completely exposed. CONCLUSION: Under suitable environment, the nutrient germinant with inosine and L-alanine might be helpful for germinating the bacillus anthracoides spores.

[Study on the nucleic acid of E. coli bacteriophage with broad host range and its sterilization effect to sewage samples from the environment].

OBJECTIVE: To study the change of nucleic acid sequence and the germicidal effect of an E. coli bacteriophage with broad host range isolated from hospital sewage as well as to study the mechanism of phage host specificity and the effect of killed bacteria by phage-disinfectant to the samples from sewage water. METHODS: To extract the nucleic acid from phage f(2) and phage with broad host range using anti-serum-carbamidine hydrochloride assay. Purity with agarose gel electrophoresis was then evaluated. Differences of nucleic acid sequence between phage f(2) and phage with broad host range with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR were also comparing and analysed. Through observing the germicidal test of phage f(2) and phage with broad host range to samples from environment, different sterilization effects between the two phages were compared. RESULTS: Analystic test for nucleic acid revealed that the two phages both belonged to 6000 bp, single-stranded RNA bacteriophage. Significant differences in their specificity of RAPD-PCR and RT-PCR were found during the changed of host range; with 26 RAPD-cDNA differential fragments found that in two phages RAPD-PCR products. The RT-PCR product of phage f(2) was 450 bp cDNA fragment, but the phage with broad host range did not show PCR product. Treating the sewage water with phage under broad host range, the germicidal test showed that the cleaning rate of E. coli bacteria and phage f(2) in water samples from environment could reach 36.75% - 56.28%, 30.84% - 47.96%, 19.19% - 35.06% and 13.05% - 27.85%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The cleaning rates to E. coli and bacteria by phage with broad host range were obviously higher than phage f(2) (P = 0.000). Analytic test for nucleic acid indicated that host-specific lytic effect of phage with broad host range had been changed at genetic level.

[Study on meteorological factors-based neural network model of malaria].

OBJECTIVE: In order to provide reliable data for strategies development on prevention, a meteorological factors-based predicating model for malaria forecast was studied. METHODS: Data on malaria occurrence and climate changes from 1994 to 1999 in counties in Yunnan province was collected and analyzed with software packages of FoxPro 6.0 and Excel 5.0. The forecasting model for malaria occurrence was established, using the Neural Network Toolbox of Matlab 6.1 software package. In the studies of forecasting model, data of malaria and meteorological factors from 1994 to 1999 in Honghe state in Yunnan province was chosen. The meteorological factors included average monthly pressure, air temperature, relative humidity, monthly maximum air temperature, minimum air temperature, rainfall, rainday, evaporation and sunshine hours in the study. The established forecasting model was also tested and verified. RESULTS: The BP network model was established according to data of diseases and meteorological factors from Honghe state in Yunnan province. After training the neural network for 100 times, the error of performance decreased from 3.23608 to 0.035862. Verified by fact data of malaria, the efficiency of malaria forecasting was 84.85%. CONCLUSION: Neural network model was effective for forecasting malaria. It showed advantages as: strong ability for analysis, lower claim for data, convenient and easy to apply etc. Neural network model might be used as a new method for malaria forecasting.

Clinical analysis of 135 patients with severe eye burn / 中华烧伤杂志

<p><b>UNLABELLED</b>To investigate the clinical characteristics, prognosis, and complications of acute severe burn injury of the eyes.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and thirty-five patients (155 eyes) with acute severe burn injury of the eyes admitted to our hospital from 1977 to 2002 were analyzed retrospectively. The recovery rate and time, causes and incidence of blindness, and complications of burn injury of different depth and causes of burns were analyzed statistically.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The recovery time of patients with full-thickness burn of the eye ball was obviously shorter than that with IV degree eye burn, and the recovery rate of those with III degree burn was also evidently higher than that with IV degree burns (P < 0.01). Among the patients with non-repaired IV degree eye burn, the incidence of corneal perforation (6 eyes) in patients injured by acid was markedly higher than that by alkali (1 eye, P < 0.05). There were 38 III degree injured eyes with the visual acuity more than 0.05 and 51 with that less than 0.05. While there was no eye with the visual acuity more than 0.05 but 66 with that less than 0.05. Fifty-two out of 78 eyes injured by acid and alkali went blind with occoecatio ratio of 66.7%. But 65 out of 77 eyes injured by heat went blind with occoecatio ratio of 84.4%. The complication in patients with III degree eye burn was lower than that with IV degree burns. The incidence of corneal perforation and symblepharon in patients with III degree eye burn was 1.1% and 36.0%, which was obviously lower than that with IV degree eye burn (27.3% and 59.1%, P < 0.01). The highest incidence of corneal perforation and symblepharon was in those with eye burn injured by acid (29.2%, 37.5%). While the highest incidence of the symblepharon in those with thermal eye burn was 53.2%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Among the patients with IV degree burns, those with acid, alkali and heat burns have bad prognosis, with high blindness rate. Current therapies cant improve eye function and prognosis of the patients thoroughly, which need further study in the future.</p>

Involvement of endothelin-1 in hypoxia-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate the effect of endogenous endothelin-1 (ET-1) on cardiomyocyte apoptosis induced by hypoxia and its possible mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were divided into control group and ET receptor antagonist group. Control group was given DMEM only and ET receptor antagonist group was treated with ET receptor subtype A (ET(A)) receptor antagonist BQ610 and BQ123 or ET(B) receptor antagonist BQ788 and subjected to hypoxia for 24 h. The presence of apoptosis in cardiomyocytes was evaluated by TUNEL analysis and flow cytometry (FCM).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>TUNEL analysis showed that the percentage of positive apoptotic cells in BQ610 5 micromol/L group was 13.2% +/- 3.7%, significantly lower than that in hypoxia group (24.2% +/- 2.2%, P < 0.01). FCM showed that BQ123 (0.04, 0.2 and 1.0 micromol/L) inhibited hypoxia-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis and increased cardiomyocyte survival rate in a dose-dependent manner, while BQ788 did not show such effects.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>These findings suggest that endogenous ET-1 aggravates hypoxia-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis and this effect is mediated through ET(A) receptor-dependent pathways.</p>