vWF和EPCR检测在AMI中的临床意义

目的：观察急性心肌梗死（Acute Myocardial Infarction,AMI）患者循环内皮细胞（CEC）核DNA改变的特点,检测血浆中血管性血友病因子（Von Willebr and factor,vWF）、内皮细胞蛋白C受体（vascular endothelial cell protein C receptor,EPCR）的含量变化,探讨其临床意义。方法：应用单细胞凝胶电泳技术（SCGE）检测102例AMI组患者和75例健康对照组CEC核DNA的损伤;以酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）进一步检测两组vWF、EPCR的含量。结果：SCGE显示,AMI组患者93.72%±6.75%CEC核DNA电泳呈明显的＂彗星＂状,其彗尾DNA%含量为42.22%±1.56%;对照组10.24%±4.33% CEC核DNA表现为＂彗星＂状,其彗尾DNA%含量为6.31%±2.41%。AMI组与对照组彗星率、彗尾DNA%含量相比均有显著性差异（P〈0.001）。AMI组vWF、EPCR的含量显著高于对照组（P〈0.01）。结论：AMI组患者血管内皮细胞明显损伤;血浆中vWF、EPCR的含量明显升高,早期检测血浆vWF、EPCR的含量可能有利于AMI的治疗,甚至预防。     

解剖型钢板微创治疗Pilon骨折的临床观察

目的探讨应用解剖型钢板微创治疗Pilon骨折的效果及临床应用价值。方法对38例Pilon骨折患者行有限切开（微创操作）复位解剖型钢板内固定治疗,评价其治疗效果。结果 31例获得随访,平均随访时间（14.5±6.2）个月,骨折全部愈合,无需II期植骨。按Mazur等制定的评分系统,临床疗效优21例,良6例,可2例,差2例,优良率87.1%。结论解剖型钢板微创治疗Pilon骨折疗效确切,是较理想的内固定材料,在临床应用上值得推广。     

Molecular epidemiology of HCV genotypes among injection drug users in Taiwan: Full‐length sequences of two new subtype 6w strains and a recombinant form_2b6w

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV‐1) circulating recombinant form (CRF) 07_BC strain has caused serious outbreaks among injection drug users in Taiwan since 2004. The objective of this study was to conduct a molecular epidemiological study of HCV genotypes in intravenous drug users in Taiwan. Blood samples and questionnaires from 591 intravenous drug users infected with HIV‐1 were collected nationwide. In total, 180 samples were selected for HCV genotyping using multiplex PCR and phylogenetic analysis of the core, E1 and NS5B regions. The Inno‐Lipa assay was used to confirm multiple infections with different genotypes. Eighty percent had a single infection with subtype 1b being the most common subtype (24%), 12% had double infections and two had triple infections. In addition, three recombinant forms (RFs)‐2a1a, 3a1b, and 2b6w were identified. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the 3a, 6a, and 6n strains were clustered with strains present in Thailand and mainland China. Full‐length sequence analysis showed that two 6w strains shared 89.4–90.2% sequence homology with the 6(r) strain from the Guangdong Province, China. Bootscan analysis revealed that the recombination breakpoint of RF_2b6w was located at the NS2‐NS3 junction. In summary, the distribution of HCV genotypes among Taiwanese intravenous drug users was complex and more than 12% of the drug users were infected with more than one genotype of HCV. J. Med. Virol. 82:57–68, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Hantaviruses in small mammals and humans in the coastal region of Zhejiang Province,China

To gain more insights into the epidemiology of hantaviruses in the coastal region of Zhejiang Province, China, the morbidity and mortality of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) were analyzed in two coastal areas: Cixi (hilly terrain) and Wenzhou (mountainous terrain). More HFRS cases have been reported in Cixi than in Wenzhou. Annual incidence rate of HFRS in Cixi had been on the level of approximately 1.5/100,000 from 1968 (when the first HFRS case was reported) to 2007, with the highest incidence rate of 8.54/100,000 in 1999. The annual incidence rate in Wenzhou has been relatively low, less than 0.5/100,000 since the first HFRS case was reported in 1981. A total of 461 rodents and 199 shrews were captured in these two areas. Hantavirus antibodies were detected in 16 of 241 (6.64%) Rattus norvegicus and 13 of 122 (10.66%) R. flavipectus. Interestingly, hantavirus antigens were identified in 6 of 196 (3.06%) Suncus murinus. Genetic analysis showed that partial M and S segment sequences recovered from rats in the two regions belong to Seoul virus (SEOV) and can be assigned into two genetic lineages. SEOV variants that belong to these two lineages of viruses are distributed widely in China and have been found outside China. As most trapped rodents were rats and SEOV was the only hantavirus detected, these results suggested that SEOV plays an important role in human hantavirus infections. They also reinforce the need for vigilance in preventing HFRS caused by hantaviruses in the coastal region. J. Med. Virol. 82:987–995, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Molecular characterization of SMN copy number derived from carrier screening and from core families with SMA in a Chinese population

Screening for carriers of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is necessary for effective clinical/prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling. However, a population-based study of SMA prevalence in mainland China has not yet been conducted. In this study, the copy number of survival motor neuron (SMN) genes was determined in 1712 newborn cord blood samples collected from southern China and from 25 core families, which included 26 SMA patients and 44 parents, to identify SMA carriers. The results presented 13 groups with different SMN1/SMN2 ratios among 1712 newborn individuals, which corresponded to 1535 subjects with two copies of SMN1, 119 with three copies of SMN1, 17 with four copies of SMN1, and 41 with a heterozygous deletion of SMN1 exon 7. Simultaneously, two ‘2+0'' genotypes and two point mutations were found among the 44 obligate carriers in the core families, including a novel SMN1 splice-site mutation that was identified in the junction between intron 6 and exon 7 (c. 835–1G>A). These results indicated that the carrier frequency is 1/42 in the general Chinese population and that duplicated SMN1 alleles and de novo deletion mutations are present in a small number of SMA carriers. In addition, we developed and validated a new alternative screening method using a reverse dot blot assay for rapid genotyping of deletional SMA. Our research elucidated the genetic load and SMN gene variants that are present in the Chinese population, and could serve as the basis for a nationwide program of genetic counseling and clinical/prenatal diagnosis to prevent SMA in China.     

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) enhances sympathetic neurite growth in rat hearts at early developmental stages

Molecular signaling of sympathetic innervation of myocardium is an unresolved issue. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of neurotrophic factors on sympathetic neurite growth towards cardiomyocytes. Cardiomyocytes (CMs) and sympathetic neurons (SNs) were isolated from neonatal rat hearts and superior cervical ganglia, and were co-cultured, either in a random or localized way. Neurite growth from SNs toward CMs was assessed by immunohistochemistry for neurofilament M and α-actinin in response to neurotrophic factors-nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and a chemical repellent, semaphorin 3A. As a result, GDNF as well as NGF and BDNF stimulated neurite growth. GDNF enhanced neurite outgrowth even under the NGF-depleted culture condition, excluding an indirect effect of GDNF via NGF. Quantification of mRNA and protein by real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry at different developmental stages revealed that GDNF is abundantly expressed in the hearts of embryos and neonates, but not in adult hearts. GDNF plays an important role in inducing cardiac sympathetic innervation at the early developmental stages. A possible role in (re)innervation of injured or transplanted or cultured and transplanted myocardium may deserve investigation.     

Lack of the cerebral peduncle involvement in a series of adult supratentorial AVM: A diffusion tensor imaging study

Congenital as arteriovenous malformation(AVM) is, most patients with AVM would be asymptomatic until adults. During the past 2 years, 23 cases of adult supratentorial AVM patients had DTI after admission. The region of interest was placed in the cerebral peduncle. Their FA value and fiber number was compared with those of cavernous malformation (CM) and tumor (glioma and meningioma). In the AVM group, there was no significant difference in FA of the cerebral peduncle (ipsilateral 0.758 ± 0.055 versus contralateral 0.755 ± 0.049; P > 0.05) and fiber number (319.6 ± 82.9 versus 304.7 ± 89.1; P > 0.05). In the CM group, FA of the cerebral peduncle on ipsilateral side (0.711 ± 0.092) was significantly lower than that of contralateral side (0.768 ± 0.043) (P < 0.01). Similar result was in fiber number of the CM group (251 ± 82.1 versus 307.3 ± 77.0; P < 0.05). In tumor group, FA of ipsilateral side (0.713 ± 0.084) was lower than that of contralateral (0.751 ± 0.052) without significant difference. There was no significant difference in fiber number between ipsilateral and contralateral sides in the tumor group (308.9 ± 112.4 versus 287.9 ± 62.4). Unlike non-AVM lesions (CM and tumor), FA value and fiber number of the ipsilateral cerebral peduncle is less influenced in the AVM group. The lack of the cerebral peduncle involvement indicates that there is plasticity of white matter in AVM.     

FAK is involved in invasion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Studies have shown that focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is overexpressed in several human tumors and plays an important role in tumor progression. However, the role and underlying mechanisms of FAK in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression remains to be elucidated. In this study, we examined FAK and phosphorylated FAK Tyr397 expression in a large series of HCCs. We found that both FAK and phosphorylated FAK Tyr397 were overexpressed in HCC samples and HCC cell lines. Increased FAK and phosphorylated FAK Tyr397 expressions were correlated with tumor stage, vascular invasion and intrahepatic metastasis in HCC. Furthermore, HCC cell adhesion, migration and invasion were substantially impaired by siRNA-mediated knockdown of FAK expression, whereas cell growth, apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were not affected. In addition, depletion of FAK induced a significant reduction in expressions and activities of both MMP-2 and MMP-9. Taken together, FAK contributes to invasion and metastasis of HCC partly through regulating expressions and activations of both MMP-2 and MMP-9, suggesting FAK could be a promising therapeutic target for HCC.     

Effects of temperature, salinity, and pH on the survival and activity of marine cercariae

Alterations of abiotic factors due to global climate change are predicted to impact disease dynamics, particularly for pathogens with complex life cycles involving free-living infectious stages, such as the cercariae of trematode parasites. Previous investigations of cercarial output, longevity, and infectivity suggest an overall increase in trematode transmission in response to elevated temperature. However, while increased temperature will likely be accompanied by changes in salinity and pH in marine ecosystems, little is known regarding their influence on cercariae. We investigated the response of trematode cercariae of the intertidal horn snail Cerithidea californica to altered temperature, salinity, and pH. The survival and activity of one trematode species, Euhaplorchis californiensis (Heterophydae), appears to be largely unaffected by increased temperature, while that of a second species, Acanthoparyphium spinulosum (Echinostomatidae), decreased at the warmer temperature (25°C). Cercariae of E. californiensis generally fared best at the highest salinity (40 ppt), whereas A. spinulosum showed the opposite effect. Neither species was affected by pH alone although there were interactions with salinity and time. These results may reflect different emergence patterns of the two species and demonstrate that trematode parasitism in intertidal zones may be impacted by alterations of the marine environment resulting from climate change.     

心理干预对产后抑郁症疗效的影响

目的探讨心理干预对产后抑郁症疗效的影响。方法将产后抑郁症患者随机分为心理干预组和对照组,治疗6周,分别给予心理干预配合药物治疗和单独使用药物治疗,采用汉密尔顿抑郁量表(HAMD)和临床疗效总评量表对病情严重程度(CGI-SI)评定疗效。结果 1治疗第6周末心理干预组有效率优于对照组,差异有显著性(χ2=5.455,P=0.020);2两组治疗后各周末HAMD评分较治疗前均极显著降低(P0.01);两组间比较,治疗后2周开始心理干预组HAMD评分明显低于对照组,差异有显著性(P0.05);3治疗第6周末两组病情严重程度(CGI-SI)均较治疗前有极显著改善(t=14.46及14.42,均为P0.01);治疗后心理干预组CGI-SI评分低于对照组,差异有显著性(t=2.50,P=0.015)。结论心理干预可显著改善产后抑郁症患者的抑郁症状,提高其生活质量。