Panmictic structure of the genetic diversity of apomictic Meloidogyne nematodes (Nematoda: Tylenchida)

Species delineation in parthenogenetic tropical species of Meloidogyne nematodes is particularly difficult although they are strictly apomictic. In fact, parthenogenesis in Meloidogyne nematodes is a recent phenomenon and the structure of the genetic diversity is mainly explained by crosses prior to the establishment of parthenogenesis. Under such hypothesis, increasing the size of a characterized sample by adding individuals should result in the decrease of the diversity structure. Twelve individuals from different geographical origins were added to the initial pool of 26 lines characterized in a previous study and an AFLP study was conducted on the whole set of 38 lines. As expected under the panmixy hypothesis, this resulted in a loss of genetic structure. This confirms thus that the genetic structure of tropical parthenogenetic Meloidogyne is due to crosses anterior to the establishment of apomixy.     

The mouse small ubiquitin-like modifier-2 (SUMO-2) inhibits interleukin-12 (IL-12) production in mature dendritic cells by blocking the translocation of the p65 subunit of NFκB into the nucleus

Post-translational modification by small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) is involved in several significant cellular events. In particular, SUMO-1 and SUMO-4 modifications of IκBα have been shown to be actively involved in NFκB regulation. However, among the SUMO family, the specific function of SUMO-2/3 remains relatively unknown. In addition, it is not clear whether SUMO-2/3 follows the same functional role as SUMO-1 and SUMO-4 during the activation of NFκB. In this study, we examined the influence of mouse SUMO-2 during the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs). Our results showed that the ectopic expression of SUMO-2 does not affect the cell surface expression of MHC class II molecule (A^b) and co-stimulatory molecules (CD80 and CD86), and the efficiency of antigen uptake. However, the ectopic expression of mouse SUMO-2 inhibited IL-12 secretion by blocking the translocation of the p65 subunit of NFκB into the nucleus, which led to the polarization of naïve CD4⁺ T cells to T helper 2 (Th2) shift in vitro. Further analyses showed that SUMO-2 directly modified IκBα. These results indicate that the functional role of SUMO-2/3 in the regulation of NFκB activity was conserved during evolution.     

云南省文山州边远山区村民麻风病健康知识调查

目的了解云南省麻风病高发区村民对麻风病健康知识了解的状况,探讨麻风病健康教育的最佳和可行的教育模式。方法采用到村庄集中村民现场随机抽样、现场问卷的调查方法,运用SPSS软件进行统计分析。结果在收到的155份有效问卷中,知道麻风病者99%(153/155);74%(114/155)对麻风病恐惧;认为麻风病是可治之症占92%(143/155);了解麻风病临床症状的为95%(148/155),但了解麻风病早期症状者较少。获取麻风病知识的途径主要为听医生介绍,按年龄组分析(根据年龄分为4组):5～14岁年龄组中81%主要通过广播获取麻风病科普知识;随着年龄的增长,通过接触病人了解该病的比率增多,在大于55岁年龄组中达到32%;而最惧怕麻风病的是最低年龄组,提示曾接触过病人的村民对麻风病的恐惧心理降低。结论在麻风病高发区村民对该病存在恐惧和歧视心理,向村民提供麻风病健康教育普及、咨询和服务,提高当地医务工作人员的麻风病知识水平,是早期发现病人、消除歧视和恐惧心理的关键,。     

69例广州管圆线虫病患者脑脊液特点及临床意义

广州管圆线虫病（angiostron gyliasis cantonensis）又称嗜酸粒细胞增多性脑膜脑炎或嗜酸粒细胞增多性脑脊髓膜炎，主要是因进食生的或不熟的含有广州管圆线虫幼虫的螺肉而感染，幼虫寄生在中枢神经系统而致病。其主要临床表现为剧烈头痛、发热、颈项强直、皮肤异常感觉等，可伴有面部或肢体麻痹、畏光、复视等，重症患者可有持续高颅压，脑部、肺部定位性损坏造成的相应表现，     

Body mass index (BMI) at an early age and the risk of dementia

BMI change and BMI at an early age have not been investigated as risks for dementia. This case-control study included 286 dementia patients and 268 controls from two medical centers between 2007 and 2009. BMI information was collected from medical records and questionnaires. Men and women with low BMIs at the time of the study, in their 20s, and in their 40s had significantly increased risks of Alzheimer's disease (AD) (odds ratio = OR = 2.62–3.97) and increased vascular dementia (VaD) risk (20s and 40s: OR = 6.23–11.11) compared with those with normal BMIs. High BMI in the 20s and 40s was associated with increased VaD risk (OR = 15.29 and 10.32) among women. For BMI changes from the 20s or 40s, the second and third tertiles were significantly associated with decreased AD risk among women (OR = 0.15–0.35) compared to the first tertile. The third tertile of BMI change from the 20s or 40s was associated with decreased VaD risk among women (OR = 0.06 and 0.14). Low BMIs in the 20s and 40s were stronger predictors of AD and VaD. There was a U-shaped association between BMI at different ages and dementia among participants with VaD.     

Associations of diabetes mellitus with site-specific cancer mortality in the Asia-Pacific region

BackgroundOwing to the increasing prevalence of obesity and diabetes in Asia, and the paucity of studies, we examined the influence of raised blood glucose and diabetes on cancer mortality risk.Materials and methodsThirty-six cohort Asian and Australasian studies provided 367 361 participants (74% from Asia); 6% had diabetes at baseline. Associations between diabetes and site-specific cancer mortality were estimated using time-dependent Cox models, stratified by study and sex, and adjusted for age.ResultsDuring a median follow-up of 4.0 years, there were 5992 deaths due to cancer (74% Asian; 41% female). Participants with diabetes had 23% greater risk of mortality from all-cause cancer compared with those without: hazard ratio (HR) 1.23 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12, 1.35]. Diabetes was associated with mortality due to cancer of the liver (HR 1.51; 95% CI 1.19, 1.91), pancreas (HR 1.78; 95% CI 1.20, 2.65), and, less strongly, colorectum (HR 1.32; 95% CI 0.98, 1.78). There was no evidence of sex- or region-specific differences in these associations. The population attributable fractions for cancer mortality due to diabetes were generally higher for Asia compared with non-Asian populations.ConclusionDiabetes is associated with increased mortality from selected cancers in Asian and non-Asian populations.     

非艾滋病病毒感染临床病例肺孢子菌肺炎的流行病学研究

目的 了解非HIV感染临床病例肺孢子菌肺炎(PCP)的流行现状.方法 用六亚甲基四胺银(GMs)染色镜检和PCR对851例非HIV感染肺炎患者进行检测,从患者痰液或支气管肺泡灌洗液中查到肺孢子菌包囊或DNA为确诊PCP的依据.结果 851例肺炎患者中,肺孢子菌GMS阳性123例(14.5%),PCR阳性202例(23.7%);有免疫功能低下表现的肺炎患者肺孢子菌检出率最高,GMS和PCR阳性率分别高达28.2%和39.4%;在高龄慢性病患者和无明确免疫受损史、肺感染原因待查患者中亦检出PCP患者,GMS阳性率分别为8.7%和10.9%,PCR阳性率分别为17.5%和19.6%.结论 非HIV感染临床病例发生PCP的风险较高,临床医师应注意鉴别有无PCP的可能.