This study aimed to estimate hepatitis B incidence and chronicity risk in rural adults in China under the background of eliminating viral hepatitis.
Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) screening was ...conducted every 2 years in demonstration areas since 2011. Individuals with baseline HBsAg-negative were included. Incidence was calculated as the number of HBsAg-positive cases divided by the total person-times. HBsAg-positive individuals were followed up to study the persistent infection (> 6 months), chronic infection (> 12 months), and recovery with hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs). The chi-square test and cox proportional regression analysis were performed.
There were 8,942 incident cases over 2,138,532 person-years, yielding an average incidence of 0.42 per 100 person-years. HBV incidence decreased rapidly in both genders and all age groups and then kept stable. Male gender, low population density, low gross domestic product per capita, and islanders were associated with higher incidence. Of the positive cases, 4,989 (55.8%) patients were followed up. The persistent infection, chronic infection, and recovery with anti-HBs rates were 32.3%, 31.0%, and 31.4%, respectively. Persistent or chronic infection was more common in younger adults and males, while seroconversion had no concern with gender or age.
HBV incidence in adult rural residents was decreasing and stayed low. The chronicity rate was relatively high and protective antibodies were induced in only one third. The importance of population-based screening and vaccination for susceptible individuals should be addressed.
Vulnerability mapping is necessary to reduce the effects of a landslide disaster. This study presents an approach to map vulnerability induced by a landslide hazard. The vulnerability was assessed by ...improved multi-criteria decision making (MCDM), in which the effects of human factors were incorporated. In the proposed approach, the weights of the indicators and factors were calculated using an integration method, including a grey decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory and the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) to calculate each index and factor's weight. The effect of human factors is expressed as the ability of residents to cope with hazards in a community, which is evaluated by the adaptability index layer. The adaptability index layer includes four factors: gender ratio, age, education and medical resources. VIKOR is used to score and rank the adaptability index layer. The vulnerability is then mapped using geographic information system (GIS). A case study of historical landslides in Heyuan, China, was used for validation. The results demonstrate that 17.91 % of Heyuan has the highest vulnerability, which is higher than that from the traditional method (13.76 %). The model, considering adaptability, can predict areas with high vulnerability more accurately. Management recommendations are proposed via the following four specific aspects: i) urban vulnerability management and planning; ii) inter-regional differences in socio-economic vulnerability; iii) individual perceptions of landslides and iv) enhancing urban planning and strategies in similar cities.
The optimal surgical strategy for treatment of patients with synchronous colorectal liver metastases (SCLRM) remains controversial. We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis of all ...observational studies to define the safety and efficacy of simultaneous versus delayed resection of the colon and liver. A search for all major databases and relevant journals from inception to April 2012 without restriction on languages or regions was performed. Outcome measures were the primary parameters of postoperative survival, complication, and mortality, as well as other parameters of blood loss, operative time, and length of hospitalization. The test of heterogeneity was performed with the Q statistic. A total of 2,880 patients were included in the meta‐analysis. Long‐term oncological pooled estimates of overall survival (hazard ratio HR: 0.96; 95% confidence interval CI: 0.81‐1.14; P = 0.64; I2 = 0) and recurrence‐free survival (HR: 1.04; 95% CI: 0.76‐1.43; P = 0.79; I2 = 53%) all showed similar outcomes for both simultaneous and delayed resections. A lower incidence of postoperative complication was attributed to the simultaneous group as opposed to that in the delayed group (modified relative ratio RR = 0.77; 95% CI: 0.67‐0.89; P = 0.0002; I2 = 10%), whereas in terms of mortality within the postoperative 60 days no statistical difference was detected (RR = 1.12; 95% CI: 0.61‐2.08; P = 0.71; I2 = 32%). Finally, selection criteria were recommended for SCRLM patients suitable for a simultaneous resection. Conclusion: Simultaneous resection is as efficient as a delayed procedure for long‐term survival. There is evidence that in SCRLM patients simultaneous resection is an acceptable and safe option with carefully selected conditions. Due to the inherent limitations of the present study, future randomized controlled trials will be useful to confirm this conclusion. (HEPATOLOGY 2013;57:2346–2357)
ObjectivesWhether the routine delivery of diabetes-related knowledge can change patients’ attitudes and hence influence their self-management activities remains unknown in primary healthcare settings ...in China. Thus, this study aims to explore the complex transformation process between knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) among patients with diabetes in a city in China.DesignA cross-sectional study.SettingYuhuan City, Zhejiang Province, China.ParticipantsA total of 803 patients with diabetes were invited to attend a questionnaire survey and 782 patients with type 2 diabetes completed the survey. The average age of participants was 58.47 years old, 48.21% of whom only attended primary school or below.Primary and secondary outcome measuresA questionnaire based on existing scales and expert consultation was applied to assess patients’ socio-demographic information (SI), disease progression risk and diabetes-related KAP. A structural equation model was built to analyse the relationships between patients’ characteristics and KAP.ResultsNo significant association was found between patients’ knowledge and attitude (β=0.01, p=0.43). Better knowledge and attitude were both found to be associated with better diet and physical activities (β=0.58, p<0.001; β=0.46, p=0.01). However, patients with a more positive attitude toward diabetic care showed worse foot care practice (β=−0.13, p=0.02), while better knowledge was associated with better foot care practice (β=0.29, p<0.001). In addition, patients with higher SI (β=0.88, p<0.001) and/or disease progression risk (β=0.42, p<0.001) tended to present higher levels of disease knowledge.ConclusionsWhile successful KAP transformation has been achieved in practice for diet and physical activities, there is a need to improve foot care practice. Health education should also prioritise the prevention, detection and care of diabetic foot. Also, appropriate methods should be adopted to deliver health education to vulnerable patients, such as the elderly, those living in rural areas, those with minimal education, the unemployed and low-income patients.
Mono, di and heptanuclear metal(II) complexes with chemical formulae Cu(L1) (1), Co2(L2)2·2CH3CN (2) and Ni7(L3)3(μ3-OEt)2(μ3-OH)6(EtOH)6 (3), have been synthesized by variational tetradentate ...Salamo-type ligands based on 3,5-dichlorosalicylaldehyde, and characterized structurally. Display omitted
Mono, di and heptanuclear metal(II) complexes with chemical formulae Cu(L1) (1), Co2(L2)2·2CH3CN (2) and Ni7(L3)3(μ3-OEt)2(μ3-OH)6(EtOH)6 (3) have been synthesized by variational tetradentate Salamo-type ligands based on 3,5-dichlorosalicylaldehyde, and characterized by elemental analyses, FT-IR, UV–Vis spectra and X-ray crystallography. The Cu(II) complex 1 is a mononuclear complex with tetracoordinate Cu(II) atom lies in the N2O2 coordination sphere. The Co(II) complex 2 is a dinuclear complex with a central Co2O2 bridged unit via CoO bonds to form a head-to-head dimer, the pentacoordinate Co(II) atoms (Co1 and Co2) have a distorted square pyramidal (τ1=0.454) and trigonal bipyramidal (τ2=0.538) geometries, respectively. Interestingly, the Ni(II) complex 3 is a novel heptanuclear complex with an unprecedented 3:7 ligand to metal stoichiometry. Furthermore, fluorescence properties of the Cu(II) and Ni(II) complexes have been studied.
Atherosclerotic lesions are lipometabolic disorder characterized by chronic progressive inflammation in arterial walls. Previous studies have shown that macrophage-derived lipoprotein lipase (LPL) ...might be a key factor that promotes atherosclerosis by accelerating lipid accumulation and proinflammatory cytokine secretion. Increasing evidence indicates that microRNA-27 (miR-27) has beneficial effects on lipid metabolism and inflammatory response. However, it has not been fully understood whether miR-27 affects the expression of LPL and subsequent development of atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E knockout (apoE KO) mice. To address these questions and its potential mechanisms, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-treated THP-1 macrophages were transfected with the miR-27 mimics/inhibitors and apoE KO mice fed high-fat diet were given a tail vein injection with miR-27 agomir/antagomir, followed by exploring the potential roles of miR-27. MiR-27 agomir significantly down-regulated LPL expression in aorta and peritoneal macrophages by western blot and real-time PCR analyses. We performed LPL activity assay in the culture media and found that miR-27 reduced LPL activity. ELISA showed that miR-27 reduced inflammatory response as analyzed in vitro and in vivo experiments. Our results showed that miR-27 had an inhibitory effect on the levels of lipid both in plasma and in peritoneal macrophages of apoE KO mice as examined by HPLC. Consistently, miR-27 suppressed the expression of scavenger receptors associated with lipid uptake in ox-LDL-treated THP-1 macrophages. In addition, transfection with LPL siRNA inhibited the miR-27 inhibitor-induced lipid accumulation and proinflammatory cytokines secretion in ox-LDL-treated THP-1 macrophages. Finally, systemic treatment revealed that miR-27 decreased aortic plaque size and lipid content in apoE KO mice. The present results provide evidence that a novel antiatherogenic role of miR-27 was closely related to reducing lipid accumulation and inflammatory response via downregulation of LPL gene expression, suggesting a potential strategy to the diagnosis and treatment of atherosclerosis.
In recent years, studies of traditional medicinal plants have gradually increased worldwide because the natural sources and variety of such plants allow them to complement modern pharmacological ...approaches. As computer technology has developed, in silico approaches such as virtual screening and network analysis have been widely utilized in efforts to elucidate the pharmacological basis of the functions of traditional medicinal plants. In the process of new drug discovery, the application of virtual screening and network pharmacology can enrich active compounds among the candidates and adequately indicate the mechanism of action of medicinal plants, reducing the cost and increasing the efficiency of the whole procedure. In this review, we first provide a detailed research routine for examining traditional medicinal plants by in silico techniques and elaborate on their theoretical principles. We also survey common databases, software programs and website tools that can be used for virtual screening and pharmacological network construction. Furthermore, we conclude with a simple example that illustrates the whole methodology, and we present perspectives on the development and application of this in silico methodology to reveal the pharmacological basis of the effects of traditional medicinal plants.
Protein acetylation is a reversible posttranslational modification, which is regulated by lysine acetyltransferase (KAT) and lysine deacetyltransferase (KDAC). Although protein acetylation has been ...shown to regulate synaptic plasticity, this was mainly for histone protein acetylation. The function and regulation of nonhistone protein acetylation in synaptic plasticity and learning remain largely unknown. Calmodulin (CaM), a ubiquitous Ca2+ sensor, plays critical roles in synaptic plasticity such as long-term potentiation (LTP). During LTP induction, activation of NMDA receptor triggers Ca2+ influx, and the Ca2+ binds with CaM and activates calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIα (CaMKIIα). In our previous study, we demonstrated that acetylation of CaM was important for synaptic plasticity and fear learning in mice. However, the KAT responsible for CaM acetylation is currently unknown. Here, following an HEK293 cell-based screen of candidate KATs, steroid receptor coactivator 3 (SRC3) is identified as the most active KAT for CaM. We further demonstrate that SRC3 interacts with and acetylates CaM in a Ca2+ and NMDA receptor-dependent manner. We also show that pharmacological inhibition or genetic downregulation of SRC3 impairs CaM acetylation, synaptic plasticity, and contextual fear learning in mice. Moreover, the effects of SRC3 inhibition on synaptic plasticity and fear learning could be rescued by 3KQ-CaM, a mutant form of CaM, which mimics acetylation. Together, these observations demonstrate that SRC3 acetylates CaM and regulates synaptic plasticity and learning in mice.
The occurrence and development of coronary heart disease (CHD) are closely linked to fluctuations in blood glucose levels. While the efficacy of intensified treatment guided by HbA1c levels remains ...uncertain for individuals with diabetes and CHD, this review summarizes the findings and conclusions regarding HbA1c in the context of CHD. Our review showed a curvilinear correlation between regulated level of HbA1c and therapeutic effectiveness of intensified glycemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease. It is necessary to optimize the dynamic monitoring indicators of HbA1c, combine genetic profiles, haptoglobin phenotypes for example and select more suitable hypoglycemic drugs to establish more appropriate glucose-controlling guideline for patients with CHD at different stage of diabetes.
SignificanceDespite the identification of neural circuits and circulating hormones in olfactory regulation, the peripheral targets for olfactory modulation remain relatively unexplored. Here we show ...that dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) is expressed in the cilia and somata of mature olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs), while nasal dopamine (DA) is mainly released from the sympathetic nerve terminals, which innervate the mouse olfactory mucosa (OM). We further demonstrate that DA-DRD2 signaling in the nose plays important roles in regulating olfactory function using genetic and pharmacological approaches. Moreover, the local DA synthesis in mouse OM is reduced during hunger, which contributes to starvation-induced olfactory enhancement. Altogether, we demonstrate that nasal DA and DRD2 receptor can serve as the potential peripheral targets for olfactory modulation.
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