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The recent sporadic infections of humans in China with previously unrecognized avian influenza A virus of the H7N9 subtype (A(H7N9)) have caused concern. The aim is to find out the epidemiological and molecular analysis of the PB1-F2 proteins in H7N9 influenza viruses, in Jiangsu province. Sequences were obtained from GISAID database. Data were analyzed by using Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Analysis software and Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo method. From March 1, 2013, to May 31, 2014, 53 patients were confirmed to be infected with the H7N9 virus; one was a retrospective case in Jiangsu province. 38 sequences of PB1 in H7N9 of Jiangsu were obtained from the GISAID online and were then divided into three lineages. Of these sequences, 4 sequences and 3 sequences encode an N-terminally truncated PB1-F2 (52aa)polypeptide and C-terminally truncated PB1-F2 (76aa) polypeptide, respectively. The remaining sequences encode a full-length PB1-F2 (90aa). We estimated a mean evolutionary rate of 3.053 × 10−3 subs/site/year (95% HPD: 2.021 × 10−3–4.051 × 10−3). The site-by-site analysis of selection pressure analysis revealed positively and negatively (12, 3), respectively, selected sites. Influenza A (H7N9) virus adapting into new host, PB1-F2 of H7N9, might be faced with higher selection pressures.

In epidemiological studies, tuberculosis (TB) appears intimately with vitamin D insufficiency whereas its relationship with vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphism caused by radical difference remains unspecified. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between vitamin D genetic polymorphism and tuberculosis in Han ethnic group.Meta-analysis was adopted in the synthetic quantitative analysis of documents home and abroad on the relationship between vitamin D genetic polymorphisms and tuberculosis, which were openly published during June 2000 to January 2010. Random effect model and fixed effect model analyses were used to calculate the incorporated odds ratio (OR) based on the heterogeneity test data.A total of 6 eligible studies were included in this analysis. The FokI-ff genotype showed a significant marginal association (Fixed effect model: OR 1.91, 95%CI 1.44-2.52; Random effect model: OR 1.91, 95%CI 0.94-3.88), yet TaqI polymorphisms was not significantly related to TB.The interaction between FoKI genotype polymorphism and TB observed demonstrates that vitamin D deficiency might exist as a risk factor during the development of TB in Han ethnic group and more evidences needed to validate the conclusion.

To investigate the effectiveness of high frequency induced thermotherapy in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.We included a 65 proven cases of hepatocellular carcinoma in which the diagnosis was confirmed by pathology, radio-imaging and AFP value. The patients were randomly divided into 2 group by odd or even hospitalization number. A total of 32 patients were enrolled in the TACE + PEI only group and 33 patients were enrolled in the TACE + HITT therapy group.For the 32 patients in TACE + PEI only therapy group, the 1, 2, and 3 year of survival rates were 73%, 56%, and 23%, respectively, with a median survival of 1.876 years. For patients in the therapy group, the 1, 2, and 3 year survival rates were 87%, 76%, and 51%, respectively, with a median survival of 2.134 years. Survival rate and duration in the therapy group was significantly greater in the combination therapy group compared to the control group (P0.05). There was a negative correlation between the effectiveness of combination therapy and the mortality risk (P0.05).HiTT + TACE can significantly increase survival rate and extend length of survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

To evaluate the therapeutic effects and adverse effects of transarterial oily chemoembolization combined with interstitial laser thermotherapy (TOCE+ILT) in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.Totally 120 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were randomized into two groups and received interventions with TOCE+ILT or TOCE combined with percutaneous ethanol injection (TOCE+PEI). The treatment was repeated when necessary until the tumor was completely ablated, after which the therapeutic effects were evaluated and the patients were the followed up for observing long-term clinical outcome.Of the 120 patients enrolled in this observation, 105 were followed up for two years (54 in TOCE+ILT group and 51 in TOCE+PEI group). The complete tumor necrosis rate of TOCE+ILT group was significantly higher than that of the TOCE+PEI group (84.8% vs 73.9%,Chi(2)=4.405, P=0.036), and TOCE+ILT was associated with a significantly higher negative conversion rate of AFP positivity (77.8% vs 56.1%, Chi(2)=4.592, P=0.032). The 1-year survival rate were similar between two groups, but the 2-year survival rate was significantly higher in patients with TOCE+ILT (79.6% vs 60.8%, Chi(2)=4.477, P=0.034). The hepatic function was comparable between the two groups before treatment, and 1 week after treatment, the ALT level in patients undergoing TOCE+ILT was significantly lower than that in patients with TOCE+PEI (95.90-/+56.06 U/L vs 116.31-/+45.27 U/L, t=2.04, P=0.043). Post-embolization syndrome was observed in the patients in two groups, but no severe adverse events were found.TOCE+ILT has good therapeutic effects and mild side effects in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

To compare the efficacy of metal versus plastic biliary stent implantation in the treatment of malignant biliary obstruction.Percutaneous transhepatic self-expandable metal stent (MS, n=61) and 10F plastic stent (PS, n=34) were placed in 95 patients with malignant biliary obstruction in three hospitals of Guangdong province. All patients were followed up until death or at least one year after the procedure. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare the survival of the patients and the rates of stent patency.The 30-day mortality rate was lower in the MS group (6/61, 9.8%) than in the PS group (9/34, 26.5%, P0.05). The 30-day reobstruction rate and the complication rate were 15.0%, 16.4% in the MS group and 32.4%, 29.4% in the PS group, respectively (P0.01). The median patency period of stents and median survival period of the patients were 230 days, 224 days in the MS group and 90 days, 94 days in the PS group, respectively (P0.01).Metal stent is clinically superior to plastic stent in the treatment of malignant biliary obstruction.