Factors influencing herpes zoster vaccination among older people in China: results from a discrete choice experiment.

OBJECTIVES: Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent herpes zoster (HZ) and related complications. This study aimed to investigate the preference of HZ vaccine among older people. STUDY DESIGN: A discrete choice experiment was performed. METHODS: In total, 178 adults aged ≥50 years were invited to choose between HZ vaccination scenarios using six vaccine attributes. Two equations were used to calculate participants' willingness to pay for the vaccine and their predicted choice probability. RESULTS: The attributes that significantly influenced participants' vaccine choices were lower cost, higher effectiveness, reduced side-effects and vaccination of others in their surroundings. CONCLUSIONS: Improving medical insurance coverage or reducing the cost of the HZ vaccine will encourage more people to be vaccinated, resulting in reduced burden of disease among older people.

[Comparative analysis of population distribution, severity, emotional, and cognitive characteristics among different side idiopathic tinnitus patients].

To provide basis for prevention and treatment by analyzing the clinical features, emotional and cognitive states and their correlations of idiopathic tinnitus. Cross-sectional study was used. Thirty-six right, 44 left, and 46 bilateral idiopathic tinnitus patients diagnosed in Beijing Tongren Hospital were prospectively enrolled from October, 2020 to February, 2022. The clinical data was recorded and the THI, DBI, STAI, and MoCA were evaluated. The clinical features and the incidence of severe tinnitus, hearing lose, anxiety, and cognitive impairment were compared by one-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis H, and chi-square test. The correlation between tinnitus or hearing and emotional and cognitive states were evaluated by multivariable correlation analysis. There was no significant difference in age, BMI, years of education, tinnitus duration, and the incidence of hearing loss among groups (F=0.730,P=0.484;F=1.535,P=0.219;F=1.506,P=0.226;χ²=4.242,P=0.120;χ²=6.672,P=0.083). In right, left, and bilateral tinnitus patients, the number of severe tinnitus was 12, 7, and 20 cases and the incidence was 33.3%, 15.9%, and 43.5%; the number of depression was 13, 14, and 26 cases and incidence was 36.1%, 31.8%, and 53.5%; the number of trait anxiety was 3, 2, and 10 cases and the incidence was 8.3%, 4.5%, and 21.7%. Compared with left tinnitus patients, the incidence of severe tinnitus, depression, and trait anxiety was higher in bilateral tinnitus patients (χ²=8.139,P=0.004;χ²=5.558,P=0.018;χ²=5.753,P=0.007). The incidence of state anxiety and cognitive impairment were no significant difference among groups (χ²=0.142,P=0.931;χ²=1.338,P=0.512). The overall incidence of state anxiety and cognitive impairment were 16.7%(21/126) and 37.3%(47/126) respectively. There was positive correlation between THI score and BDI, S-AI, and T-AI scores (r=0.529,P=0.001; r=0.649,P<0.001; r=0.483,P=0.003) and negative correlation between THI and MoCA scores (r=-0.364,P=0.029) in right tinnitus group. The positive correlation was found between THI score and BDI, S-AI, and T-AI scores in left tinnitus group (r=0.508,P<0.001; r=0.506,P<0.001; r=0.357,P=0.017). The positive correlation between THI score and BDI, S-AI, and T-AI scores (r=0.753,P<0.001; r=0.527,P<0.001; r=0.536,P<0.001) and the positive correlation between tinnitus duration and MoCA score(r=0.334,P=0.023) were also found in bilateral tinnitus group.

[Study of the inhibitory effect of cell entry inhibitory ezetimibe on hepatitis B virus in vitro].

Objective: To study the inhibitory effect of ezetimibe in an experimental model of human hepatoma cell line (HepaRG) infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) positive human serum in vitro. Methods: Mature HepaRG cells were divided into a treatment group (received drugs) and a control group (did not receive drugs). In the ezetimibe prevention experiment, the cells in the treatment group was treated with drugs 2 h before infection and 24 h during infection. In the ezetimibe treatment experiment, the cells in the treatment group were treated with drugs for 6 ~ 10 days continuously after 24 hours of HBV infection. The expression of HBV DNA and intracellular cccDNA in the supernatant was detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) content in the cell supernatant were detected by chemiluminescence. Analysis of variance was used to compare the differences between multiple groups. Pairwise comparisons among groups were followed by t- test with normal distribution. P < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: Ezetimibe prevention experiment showed that compared with control group, the treatment group was added with 20, 60, and 100 µmol/L ezetimibe before and during infection, and the HBV DNA content in the supernatant 2 days before was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in the treatment group. Compared with the control group, the HBsAg expression level 2 days before was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) with the addition of 60 µmol/L ezetimibe in the treatment group. Compared with the control group, the expression level of intracellular cccDNA was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) after 10 days with the addition of 100µmol/L ezetimibe in the treatment group. Ezetimibe treatment experiment showed that cccDNA content in the cells were significantly lowered with the immediate addition of 60µmol/L ezetimibe 24 hours after infection for 10 days when compared to control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Ezetimibe, as a cytosolic inhibitor, has a certain inhibitory effect on hepatitis B virus infection in both prevention and treatment experiment.

Exogenous 3-Deoxyglucosone-Induced Carbonyl and Oxidative Stress Causes ß-Cells Dysfunction by Impairing Gut Permeability in Rats.

3-Deoxyglucosone (3DG) is a highly reactive dicarbonyl species, and its accumulation evokes carbonyl and oxidative stress. Our recent data reveal the role of 3DG as an independent factor for the development of prediabetes and suggest that intestine could be its novel target tissue. The present study investigated whether exogenous 3DG increases intestinal permeability by triggering carbonyl and oxidative stress, thus contributing to ß-cell dysfunction. Rats were administered 3DG for two weeks by gastric gavage. Then levels of insulin, ROS, MDA, SOD, NLRP3, TNF-α and IL-1ß in blood plasma as well as the ROS level and content of TNF-α and IL-1ß in pancreas were assessed. Also, the expression of E-cadherin and ZO-1 as well as levels of 3DG, protein carbonylation, ROS, TNF-α and IL-1ß in colon were determined. The 3DG-treated rats showed an elevation in systemic oxidative stress (ROS, MDA and SOD) and in inflammation (TNF-α and IL-1ß), decreased plasma insulin level 15 min after the glucose load, and increased levels of TNF-α, IL-1ß and ROS in pancreatic tissue. In colon tissues of the 3DG-treated rats, decreased E-cadherin expression and increased ROS production as well as an elevation of TNF-α and IL-1ß levels were observed. Interestingly, elevation of colon protein carbonylation was observed in the 3DG-treated rats that displayed 3DG deposition in colon tissues. We revealed for the first time that 3DG deposition in colon triggers carbonyl and oxidative stress and, as a consequence, impairs gut permeability. The enhanced intestinal permeability caused by 3DG deposition in colon results in systemic and pancreatic oxidative stress and inflammatory process, contributing to the development of ß-cell dysfunction.

[Construction of chemical information database based on optical structure recognition technique].

OBJECTIVE: To create a protocol that could be used to construct chemical information database from scientific literature quickly and automatically. METHODS: Scientific literature, patents and technical reports from different chemical disciplines were collected and stored in PDF format as fundamental datasets. Chemical structures were transformed from published documents and images to machine-readable data by using the name conversion technology and optical structure recognition tool CLiDE. In the process of molecular structure information extraction, Markush structures were enumerated into well-defined monomer molecules by means of QueryTools in molecule editor ChemDraw. Document management software EndNote X8 was applied to acquire bibliographical references involving title, author, journal and year of publication. Text mining toolkit ChemDataExtractor was adopted to retrieve information that could be used to populate structured chemical database from figures, tables, and textual paragraphs. After this step, detailed manual revision and annotation were conducted in order to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the data. In addition to the literature data, computing simulation platform Pipeline Pilot 7.5 was utilized to calculate the physical and chemical properties and predict molecular attributes. Furthermore, open database ChEMBL was linked to fetch known bioactivities, such as indications and targets. After information extraction and data expansion, five separate metadata files were generated, including molecular structure data file, molecular information, bibliographical references, predictable attributes and known bioactivities. Canonical simplified molecular input line entry specification as primary key, metadata files were associated through common key nodes including molecular number and PDF number to construct an integrated chemical information database. RESULTS: A reasonable construction protocol of chemical information database was created successfully. A total of 174 research articles and 25 reviews published in Marine Drugs from January 2015 to June 2016 collected as essential data source, and an elementary marine natural product database named PKU-MNPD was built in accordance with this protocol, which contained 3 262 molecules and 19 821 records. CONCLUSION: This data aggregation protocol is of great help for the chemical information database construction in accuracy, comprehensiveness and efficiency based on original documents. The structured chemical information database can facilitate the access to medical intelligence and accelerate the transformation of scientific research achievements.

Changes in flowering functional group affect responses of community phenological sequences to temperature change.

Our ability to predict how temperature modifies phenology at the community scale is limited by our lack of understanding of responses by functional groups of flowering plants. These responses differ among species with different life histories. We performed a reciprocal transplant experiment along four elevation gradients (e.g., 3,200, 3,400, 3,600 and 3,800 m) to investigate the effects of warming (transferred downward) and cooling (transferred upward) on plant flowering functional groups (FFGs) and community phenological sequences (i.e., seven phenological events). Warming significantly decreased early-spring-flowering (ESF) plant coverage and increased mid-summer-flowering plant (MSF) coverage, while cooling had the opposite effect. All community phenological events were advanced by warming and delayed by cooling except for the date of complete leaf-coloring, which showed the opposite response. Warming and cooling could cause greater advance or delay in early-season phenological events of the community through increased coverage of MSF species, and warming could delay late-season phenological events of the community by increased coverage of ESF species. These results suggested that coverage change of FFGs in the community induced by temperature change could mediate the responses of the community phenological events to temperature change in the future. The response of phenological events to temperature change at the species level may not be sufficient to predict phenological responses at the community-level due to phenological compensation between species in the community.

Frequencies of dendritic cells and Toll-like receptor 3 in neonates born to HBsAg-positive mothers with different HBV serological profiles.

To investigate the frequencies of dendritic cells (DCs) and Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) in neonates of HBsAg-positive mothers with different HBV serological profiles, we conducted a study in Taiyuan, China. The study included 144 HBsAg-positive mothers and their neonates. The frequencies of DCs and TLR3 were determined using four-colour flow-cytometric analysis. DC and TLR3 frequencies were not related to HBV intrauterine transmission, maternal HBeAg positivity, maternal HBV DNA positivity and HBeAg/HBV DNA double-positivity. The plasmacytoid dendritic cell (pDC) frequencies in neonates whose maternal HBV DNA was >5 × 107 copies/ml decreased significantly compared to that in neonates whose maternal HBV DNA was ⩽5 × 107 copies/ml (Z = - 2·170, P = 0·03) or whose maternal HBV DNA was negative (Z = - 1·981 P = 0·048). This study suggests that neonatal pDC frequencies decrease when maternal HBV DNA loads are >5 × 107 copies/ml.

Evaluation of neonatal Toll-like receptors 3 (c.1377C/T) and 9 (G2848A) gene polymorphisms in HBV intrauterine transmission susceptibility.

To investigate whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in Toll-like receptors (TLRs) 3 and 9 affect the susceptibility of hepatitis B virus (HBV) intrauterine transmission, we genotyped 399 neonates for TLR3 (c.1377C/T) [rs3775290] and TLR9 (G2848A) [rs352140] using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). A femoral venous blood sample was obtained from these subjects. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) were measured using chemiluminescence immunoassay kits and hepatitis B virus DNA (HBV DNA) levels were determined by fluorescence quantitative PCR assay. Our results showed that when adjusting for maternal HBeAg, maternal HBV DNA and mode of delivery, allele 'T' for SNP c.1377C/T was significantly associated with HBV intrauterine transmission susceptibility [adjusted OR (aOR) 0.55, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.34-0.91, P = 0.020] and the TT genotype decreased the risk of HBV intrauterine transmission (aOR 0.28, 95% CI 0.09-0.91, P = 0.033). Allele 'A' for SNP G2848A was significantly associated with HBV intrauterine transmission susceptibility (aOR 0.62, 95% CI 0.39-1.00, P = 0.048) and the GA genotype protected neonates from HBV intrauterine transmission (aOR 0.45, 95% CI 0.22-0.93, P = 0.031). The TLR3 (c.1377C/T) and TLR9 (G2848A) polymorphisms may be relevant for HBV intrauterine transmission susceptibility, although the reduction in risk to HBV intrauterine transmission is modest and the biological mechanism of the observed association merits further investigation.

Effects of CYP3A5 and CYP2D6 genetic polymorphism on the pharmacokinetics of diltiazem and its metabolites in Chinese subjects.

PURPOSE: To assess the possibility of using CYP2D6 10 +/- CYP3A5*3 as biomarkers to predict the pharmacokinetics of diltiazem and its two metabolites among healthy Chinese subjects. METHODS 41 healthy Chinese were genotyped for CYP3A5 3 and CYP2D6 10, and then received a single oral dose of diltiazem hydrochloride capsules (300 mg). Multiple blood samples were collected over 48 h, and the plasma concentrations of diltiazem, N-desmethyl diltiazem and desacetyl diltiazem were determined by HPLC-MS/MS. The relationships between the genotypes and pharmacokinetics were investigated. RESULTS: The pharmacokinetics of diltiazem, N-desmethyl diltiazem were not significantly affected by both CYP3A5 3 and CYP2D6*10 alleles. However, the systemic exposure of the pharmacologyically active metabolites, desacetyl diltiazem, was 2-fold higher in CYP2D6 10/10 genotype carriers than in 1/10 or 1/1 ones (AUC(o-inf) of CYP2D6 1/1, 1/10 and 10/10 are 398.2 +/- 162.9, 371,0 69.2 and 726.2 +/- 468.1 respectively, p <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Two of the most frequent alleles, CYP3A5 3 and CYP2D6 10, among Chinese do not have major impacts on the disposition of diltiazem and N-desmethyl diltiazem. However, the desacetyl diltiazem showed 2-fold accumulation in individuals with CYP2D6 10/10 genotype. Despite this, the effect of genotype of CYP2D6 on clinical outcome of diltiazem treatment is expected to be limited.

Genetic divergence, range expansion and possible homoploid hybrid speciation among pine species in Northeast China.

Although homoploid hybrid speciation in plants is probably more common than previously realized, there are few well-documented cases of homoploid hybrid origin in conifers. We examined genetic divergence between two currently widespread pines in Northeast China, Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica and Pinus densiflora, and also whether two narrowly distributed pines in the same region, Pinus funebris and Pinus takahasii, might have originated from the two widespread species by homoploid hybrid speciation. Our results, based on population genetic analysis of chloroplast (cp), mitochondrial (mt) DNA, and nuclear gene sequence variation, showed that the two widespread species were divergent for both cp- and mtDNA variation, and also for haplotype variation at two of eight nuclear gene loci surveyed. Our analysis further indicated that P. sylvestris var. mongolica and P. densiflora remained allopatric during the most severe Quaternary glacial period that occurred in Northeast China, but subsequently exhibited rapid range expansions. P. funebris and P. takahasii, were found to contain a mixture of chlorotypes and nuclear haplotypes that distinguish P. sylvestris var. mongolica and P. densiflora, in support of the hypothesis that they possibly originated via homoploid hybrid speciation following secondary contact and hybridization between P. sylvestris var. mongolica and P. densiflora.

Simvastatin-induced myopathy with concomitant use of cyclosporine: case report.

OBJECTIVE: Simvastatin has been shown to play an important role in reducing the risk of cardiovascular events caused by atherosclerosis. To promote the understanding of the potential toxicity of simvastatin and individualized treatment in genetic factors, we report a case of a renal transplant in a female patient who had developed acute myopathy after taking simvastatin. METHODS: By PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and allele-specificity polymerase chain reaction (AS-PCR) and direct sequencing. The genotypes of CYP3AP1, CYP3A5, CYP3A4 and SLCO1B1 were analyzed. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The patient was identified to have mutant genotypes of CYP3AP1*3/*3 (-44G > A), CYP3A5*3/*3 (6986A > G) and wild genotype of CYP3A4*1/*1 and SLCO1B1*1/*1, which finally led to the elevation of her cyclosporine level except the SLCO1B1*1/*1 genotype and the acceleration of simvastatin-induced acute myopathy. CONCLUSION: Genetic factors have partly contributed to the development of simvastatin-induced myopathy with concomitant use of cyclosporine, and provided information on the adverse reactions of statins. What is different from other studies is that the SNP of SLCO1B1*5 does not take part in this adverse reaction.

Interactions between CYP7A1 A-204C and ABCG8 C1199A polymorphisms on lipid lowering with atorvastatin.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: Cholesterol excretion by ATP binding cassette transporters G5 and G8 (ABCG5/G8) and bile acid biosynthesis by 7a-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) are major pathways for the removal of cholesterol into bile. This suggests that variations in the CYP7A1 and ABCG8 genes may influence the statin response. We aimed to investigate the effect of CYP7A1 A-204C and ABCG8 C1199A polymorphisms and their interactions on the lipid-lowering response to atorvastatin in a Chinese population. METHODS: Genotypes were determined by using polymerase chain reaction-restrict fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in 185 hyperlipidaemic patients treated with atorvastatin, 20 mg once daily for 4 weeks. Serum levels of triglycerides (TGs), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were determined before and after treatment. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: For 181 patients (89 males), variant allele frequencies of CYP7A1 -204C and ABCG8 1199A were 0.347 and 0.128, respectively. Among all patients, homozygotes for the -204A allele showed a slightly significant mean percentage reduction from baseline in TG level after treatment than heterozygotes and homozygotes for the -204C allele (-25.49 ± 8.12%vs. -22.80 ± 8.72%, P = 0.054, and -25.49 ± 8.12%vs.-22.51 ± 8.82%, P = 0.048, respectively). For patients with the ABCG8 C1199A variant allele, the difference in percentage reduction from baseline in TG level was increased between the CYP7A1 A-204C wild-type allele homozygotes and variant allele homozygotes after atorvastatin treatment (-28.35%vs.-19.28%, P = 0.001), and increased differences were found between the CYP7A1 A-204C wild-allele homozygotes and variant allele homozygotes (-18.95%vs.-15.61%, P = 0.009) and between the CYP7A1 A-204C variant allele heterozygotes and homozygotes (-18.69%vs.-15.61%, P = 0.012, respectively). WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: The CYP7A1 -204A and ABCG8 1199A alleles appear to interact to affect lipid-lowering response to atorvastatin. However, given the relatively small number of subjects with the influential variant allele combinations, and the heterogeneity in response, even in the selected sub-populations, testing would be of little clinical utility in the Chinese population sampled.

Association of human micro-opioid receptor gene polymorphism A118G with fentanyl analgesia consumption in Chinese gynaecological patients.

One hundred and seventy-four Chinese gynaecology patients were studied for the impact of A118G polymorphism in the micro-opioid receptor gene (OPRM1) on pain sensitivity and postoperative fentanyl consumption. Pre-operatively, the pain threshold and pain tolerance threshold were measured using electrical stimulation. A118G polymorphism was genotyped using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Intravenous fentanyl patient-controlled analgesia provided postoperative pain management, assessed using a visual analogue scale and fentanyl consumed in the first 24 h after surgery was noted. We found the prevalence of G118 allele was 31.3%. The A118G polymorphism had a gene-dose-dependent effect on electrical pain tolerance threshold. Fentanyl consumption was also significantly different in patients with different OPRM1 genotypes (homozygotes for 118G consumed more than did heterozygotes or homozygotes for 118A). Fentanyl consumption increased in accordance with the number of 118G alleles. We conclude that OPRM1 gene analysis may help predict individual opioid sensitivity and so optimise postoperative pain control.

MicroRNA-23a induces apoptosis of hepatocarcinoma cell line MHCC97H via down-regulating KIAP: a mechanism study.

OBJECTIVE: Hepatocarcinoma is a great threat to global health. MicroRNA-23a was suggested to regulate growth and apoptosis in certain cell lines. Our study was focused on growth, proliferation, and apoptosis of hepatocarcinoma cell line MHCC97H under the influence of microRNA-23a, and explored the mechanism of pro-apoptosis microRNA-23a. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MicroRNA-23a and control microRNA (scramble miRNA, for short as miRNA) were synthesized with the routine protocol. Lipofection transfection was performed in hepatocarcinoma cell line MHCC97H. 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, caspase-3 activity detection, and flow cytometry were performed to examine growth, proliferation, and apoptosis of hepatocarcinoma cell line MHCC97H, respectively. Kidney inhibitor of apoptosis protein (KIAP) and small interfere RNA (siRNA) was synthesized for inhibition of KIAP. KIAP plasmid was established for activation of KIAP. Western blot was performed to examine the protein expression of KIAP and caspase protein family after transfection of KIAP siRNA or KIAP plasmid. RESULTS: Compared with miRNA transfection, microRNA-23a transfection significantly reduced the growth of MHCC97H cells, and decreased the expression of KIAP (p < 0.05). Enhanced translocation of phosphatidylserine and activation of caspase-3 were observed in microRNA-23a transfection cells. Moreover, inhibition of KIAP enhanced the pro-apoptosis effect of microRNA-23a, while activation of KIAP abrogated pro-apoptosis effect of microRNA-23a. CONCLUSIONS: MicroRNA-23a inhibits growth and proliferation of MHCC97H cells, and induces apoptosis of MHCC97H cells via down-regulating KIAP. KIAP could be a potential therapeutic target for hepatocarcinoma treatment.

Hybrid characteristics of oligonucleotides consisting of isonucleoside 2',5'-anhydro-3'-deoxy-3'-(thymin-1-yl)-D-mannitol with different linkage modes.

Oligonucleotides consisting of the isonucleoside repeating unit 2',5'-anhydro-3'-deoxy-3'-(thymin-1-yl)-D-mannitol (4) were synthesized with the monomeric unit 4 incorporated into oligonucleotides as 1'-->4' linkage 4a (oligomer I) or 6'-->4' linkage 4b (oligomer II). The hybrid properties of the two oligonucleotides I and II with their complementary strands were investigated by thermal denaturation and CD spectra. Oligonucleotide I (4a) formed a stable duplex with d(A)(14) with a slightly reduced T(m) value of 36.6 degrees C, relative to 38.2 degrees C for the control duplex d(T)(14)/d(A)(14), but oligomer II (4b) failed to hybridize with a DNA complementary single strand. The spectrum of the duplex oligomer I/d(A)(14) showed a positive CD band at 217 nm and a negative CD band at 248 nm attributable to a B-like conformation. Molecular modeling showed that in the case of oligomer I: the C6' hydroxy group of each unit could be located in the groove area when hybridized to the DNA single strand, which might contribute additional hydrogen bonding to the stability of duplex formation.

[Effects related to HBeAg status and mode of delivery as well as the interactions on intrauterine transmission among HBsAg-positive mothers].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between HBeAg status, mode of delivery and intrauterine transmission of the HBsAg-positive mothers as well as their interactions. METHODS: A total of 344 HBsAg-positive pregnant women and their infants were enrolled in this study. The mothers were recruited from the Third People's Hospital of Taiyuan, from July 2011 to January 2013. Serum HBV-M and HBV DNA were measured using the electro-chemiluminescence immune-assay (ECLIA) kits and fluorescene quantitative polymerase chain reaction (FQ-PCR) assay, respectively. Univariate analysis and unconditional logistic regression analysis were used to explore the risk factors on intrauterine transmission. RESULTS: Among 344 neonates born to HBsAg-positive mothers, 42 were validated as HBV intrauterine transmitted, with the rate of intrauterine transmission as 12.21% (42/344). The rates of intrauterine transmission among HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative mothers were 18.52% (30/162) and 6.59% (12/182), respectively. The rates of intrauterine transmission were 22.22% (34/153) and 4.19% (8/191) in the groups of vaginal birth or caesarean delivery, respectively. RESULTS from unconditional logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting the confounding factors, HBeAg-positive mothers (OR=3.003, 95% CI: 1.368-6.593) and vaginal birth (OR=7.333, 95% CI: 3.108-17.302) might serve as the risk factors for the HBV intrauterine transmission. Data from the interaction analysis showed that there were additive interactions [relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI) as 14.229; the attributable proportion (AP) due to interaction as 0.587; the synergy index (SI) as 2.579] and multiplicative interaction (OR=1.084, 95%CI: 0.720-1.632) between HBeAg status and the modes of delivery. CONCLUSION: Vaginal birth and HBeAg-positive might serve as the risk factors for HBV intrauterine transmission. There also appeared additive interactions between HBeAg status and the mode of delivery.

[Relationship between the mode of HBV marker and immune status in neonates and non-/hyporesponse to hepatitis B vaccine].

OBJECTIVE: A prospective study was conducted to explore the influence of neonatal modes of HBV marker (HBVM) on non-/hypo-response to hepatitis B vaccine in infants. METHODS: From July 2011 to July 2013, a total of 386 pregnant women who showed serum HBsAg positive with their neonates at birth and another 227 infants at 12 months admitted in the Third People' s Hospital of Taiyuan in Shanxi province, China. All infants received hepatitis B vaccine with the 0-1-6 month schedule. Maternal, neonatal and infantile HBsAg, anti-HBs, HBeAg, anti-HBe and anti-HBc were measured by chemiluminescence-immunoassay. The neonatal/infantile PBMC TLR3 expression level and the quantities of T cell subsets, B cells, DCs were measured by Flow Cytometry. The neonatal/infantile Th1/Th2 cytokines were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: Four types of common neonatal modes of HBVM appeared as " HBeAg(+) anti-HBe(+) " , "HBsAg(+)HBeAg (+) anti-HBe(+) " , "HBsAg(+) " and "HBVM(-)" , respectively. The overall rate of non-/hypo-response to hepatitis B vaccine in neonatal mode of " HBeAg(+) anti-HBe(+) " was 5.2%, lower than that seen in the other three types of mode (20.0%, 40.0% and 22.5%, respectively). The frequencies of circulating CD4(+) T cells and CD8(+) T cells were significantly different among four common modes of HBVM in infants. Meanwhile, the level of IL-6 in mode of " HBeAg(+) anti-HBe(+) " was higher than that in the mode of " HBVM(-)" at two points. There was a positive correlation appeared between the level of IL-6 and the level of anti-HBs. It was quite unlikely to show non-/hypo-response to hepatitis B vaccine, when neonates were at the level as IL-6> 1 112.0 pg/ml (OR=0.386, 95% CI: 0.266-0.561, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Neonates who were with the mode of " HBeAg (+) anti-HBe (+) " and high level of IL-6 showed a lower non-/hyporesponse rate on hepatitis B vaccine. It is necessary to further study the relationship between neonatal mode of HBVM and the immune status.

Expression, deletion [was deleton] and mutation of p16 gene in human gastric cancer.

AIM: To investigate the relationship between the expression of p16 gene and the gastric carcinogenesis, depth of invasion and lymph node metastases, and to evaluate the deletion and mutation of exon 2 in p16 gene in gastric carcinoma. METHODS: The expression of p16 protein was examined by streptavidin-peroxidase conjugated method (S-P);the deletion and mutation of p16 gene were respectively examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and polymerase chain reaction single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis (PCR-SSCP) in gastric carcinoma. RESULTS: Expression of p16 protein was detected in 96.25% (77/80) of the normal gastric mucosa, in 92.00% (45/50) of the dysplastic gastric mucosa and in 47.54% (58/122) of the gastric carcinoma. The positive rate of p16 protein expression in gastric carcinoma was significantly lower than that in normal gastric mucosa and dysplastic gastric mucosa (P < 0.05). The positive rate of p16 protein expression in mucoid carcinoma 10.00% (1/10) was significantly lower than that in poorly differentiated carcinoma 51.22% (21/41), undifferentiated carcinoma 57.69% (15/26) and signet ring cell carcinoma 62.50% (10/16) (P < 0.05). The positive rate of p16 protein in 30 cases paired primary and lymph node metastatic gastric carcinoma: There was 46.67% (14/30) in primary gastric carcinoma, 16.67% (5/30) in lymph node metastatic gastric carcinoma. The positive rate of lymph node metastatic carcinoma was significantly lower than that of primary carcinoma (P < 0.05). There was of p16 gene mutation in exon 2, but 5 cases displayed deletion of p16 gene in exon 2 in the 25 primary gastric carcinomas. CONCLUSIONS: The expression loss of p16 protein related to the gastric carcinogenesis, gastric carcinoma histopathological subtypes and lymph metastasis. The mutation of p16 gene in exon 2 may not be involved in gastric carcinogenesis. But the deletion of p16 gene in exon 2 may be involved in gastric carcinogenesis.

Changes of tissue fluid hyaluronan (hyaluronic acid) in peripheral lymphedema.

Hyaluronan (hyaluronic acid or HA) is an important component of the extracellular matrix which is synthesized in the tissue, transported in lymph and catabolized mainly in lymph nodes and the liver. In 39 patients with chronic peripheral lymphedema, the HA content in lymphedematous interstitial fluid was measured using radioimmunoassay. For comparison, the concentration of HA in serum and normal tissue fluid were also determined. These samples were also tested for protein concentration. The results showed that the HA concentration in interstitial fluid of a lymphedema limb was 22 x 10(3) +/- 10(3) (aspiration) and 30 x 10(3) +/- 4 x 10(3) (wick) ng/ml which were significantly higher than that in interstitial fluid, serum and lymph of normal limbs (control) and interstitial fluid of limbs with venous edema (p < 0.001). The protein concentration in these fluids did not show significant differences between lymphedema and those with normal limbs. The findings suggest that HA stagnates in the limb with impaired lymph drainage which may exert a deleterious effect on the interstitium.

[Cytogenetic studies on 3 esophageal cancer cell lines].

The cytogenetic studies on three esophageal cancer cell lines established in China were done. Thirty metaphases showing suitable chromosome length and good G-banding pattern from each of the cell lines were chosen and subjected to karyological analysis. The typical karyotypes from these cell lines were listed, and the variation of chromosome number as well as the morphological characteristics, possible sources and the incidence of the marker chromosomes were analysed. Eca 109 is the cell line first established and used extensively in China. A strictly regular karyotype pattern was found in it: the modal number of chromosomes being 63-64; the number of each type of chromosome varying between 1-5; a distal deletion of short arm of chromosome No. 1 being discernible in all metaphases, with break sites located within 1p22-1p33. Also a distal deletion of long arm of chromosome No. 4 was usually visible. There were seven marker chromosomes with high incidence. Among them, M1 marker chromosome was a large subacrocentric chromosome which was observed in the early passages of this cell line. The chromosome number of Ec 17 cell line was usually subtetraploid. In addition to the numerical variation in some of the chromosomes, six marker chromosomes were usually observed. Among them, M1 involved reciprocal translocation between chromosome No. 1 and No. 4. M3 of Ec 17 was in correspondence with M5 of Eca 109. Both were Rob (13q;14q). The chromosome number of Ec 56 was usually subtetraploid, and in addition to the numerical variation in some of the chromosomes, seven marker chromosomes were usually observed.