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As we can see from Jiang Hong's introduction in the Guest Editor's Column, SHEN Dan or Dan Shen in English is an internationally famous scholar and one of the most influential and respected scholars in the humanities in China. Her research spans several fields, including narrative studies, stylistics, and translation studies. This interview singles out some important issues to discuss. Shen first shares her insights into the following issues: the essential relation between classical narratology and post classical narratologies, the contextual potential of the second and third generations of the Chicago School (rhetorical narrative theory), the complementary relation between narratology and stylistics, and Derrida's misrepresentation of Saussure's theory of the language system. Then Shen goes on to explicate why she created "covert progression" and "dual narrative dynamics" and how these original theoretical concepts and models can extend and transform narrative studies, stylistics, and translation studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the effects of community environment on older adults' attitudes toward retirement based on a sample survey of 1,979 retired workers in a suburban district of Beijing, China. After controlling for demographic characteristics, it is found that older people's satisfaction with the community environment has a positive and direct effect on their retirement attitudes; community participation plays a mediating role in the relationship; and the mediating effect of community participation is moderated by a higher level of self-efficacy. Our results have practical significance for improving the quality of retirement life among older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution events frequently occur in China during the winter. Most investigations of pollution studies have focused on the physical and chemical properties of PM2.5. Many of these studies have indicated that PM2.5 exacerbates asthma or eosinophil inflammation. However, few studies have evaluated the relationship between bacterial loads in PM2.5, and especially pathogenic bacteria and childhood asthma. Airborne PM2.5 samples from heavily polluted air were collected in Hangzhou, China between December 2014 and January 2015. PM2.5 and ovalbumin (OVA) were intratracheally administered twice in 4-week intervals to induce the allergic pulmonary inflammation in adolescent C57/BL6 mice. PM2.5 exposure caused neutrophilic alveolitis and bronchitis. In the presence of OVA, the levels of the Th2 cytokines IL-4, IL-12, and IL-17 were significantly increased in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) after PM2.5 exposure, while eosinophil infiltration and mucin secretion were also induced. In addition to adjuvant effects on OVA-induced allergic inflammation, PM2.5 exposure also led to the maturation of dendritic cells. These results suggest that PM2.5 exposure may aggravate lung eosinophilia and that PM2.5-bound microbial can exacerbate allergic and inflammatory lung diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyze the composition rules of oral prescriptions in the treatment of headache, stomachache and dysmenorrhea recorded in National Standard for Chinese Patent Drugs (NSCPD) enacted by Ministry of Public Health of China and then make comparison between them to better understand pain treatment in different regions of human body. Methods: Constructed NSCPD database had been constructed in 2014. Prescriptions treating the three pain-related diseases were searched and screened from the database. Then data mining method such as association rules analysis and complex system entropy method integrated in the data mining software Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Support System (TCMISS) were applied to process the data. Results: Top 25 drugs with high frequency in the treatment of each disease were selected, and 51, 33 and 22 core combinations treating headache, stomachache and dysmenorrhea respectively were mined out as well. Conclusions: The composition rules of the oral prescriptions for treating headache, stomachache and dysmenorrhea recorded in NSCPD has been summarized. Although there were similarities between them, formula varied according to different locations of pain. It can serve as an evidence and reference for clinical treatment and new drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, Canine influenza virus (CIV) H3N2 is continuously circulating in dog populations in China, Korea, and the United States (US). Both influenza SA‐α‐2,3‐Gal and SA‐α‐2,6‐Gal receptors have been observed in the respiratory tracts of both horses and dogs. Hence, the increasing number of CIV H3N2 cases in the world indicates a potential risk for transspecies transmission to horses with dog exposure. Here, a seroepidemiological survey of CIV H3N2 infections in horses was conducted using hemagglutination inhibition (HI), microneutralization (MN) and the chicken embryo neutralization test (CENT). From April 2014 to November 2016, 399 sera from race horses were collected in Guangzhou, Dongguan, Huizhou, and Shenzhen in China. Nine specimens (2.2%, 9/399) were positive for CIV H3N2 with HI titers ≥ 1:20, MN titers ≥ 1:80 and CENT titers ≥ 1:80. Furthermore, these positive horses showed significant correlation with dog exposure, and some dogs (20%, 3/15) from the same riding clubs as the positive horses also possessed antibodies against CIV H3N2. This study is the first to provide seroepidemiological evidence of CIV H3N2 infection in horses with exposure to dogs. Based on these findings, continuous serological and virological surveillance of CIV H3N2 infection among horses is imperative, and further animal experiments should be performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Placenta accreta (PA), a severe complication during delivery, is closely linked with massive hemorrhage which could endanger the lives of both mother and baby. Moreover, the incidence of PA has increased dramatically with the increasing rate of cesarean deliveries in the past few decades. Therefore, studies evaluating the effects of different perioperative managements based on different modalities in the treatment of PA are necessary. Among the numerous treatment measures, prophylactic abdominal aortic balloon occlusion (AABO) in combination with cesarean section for PA seems to be more advantageous than others. However, up to now, all studies on AABO were almost retrospective. Current evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against routinely using the AABO technology for control intraoperative hemorrhage in patients with PA. Thus, we hope to carry out a prospective, randomized controlled trial (RCT) study to confirm the effectiveness of the AABO technology in patients with PA.Methods/design: This trial is an investigator-initiated, prospective RCT that will test the superiority of AABO in combination with cesarean section compared to the traditional hysterectomy following cesarean section for parturients with PA. A total of 170 parturients with PA undergoing cesarean section will be randomized to receive either AABO in combination with cesarean section or the traditional hysterectomy following cesarean section. The primary outcome is estimated blood loss. The most important secondary outcome is the occurrence of cesarean hysterectomy during delivery; others include blood transfusion volume, operating time, neonate's Apgar scores (collected at 1, 5 and 10 min), length of stay in intensive care unit, total hospital stay, and balloon occlusion-relative data.Discussion: This prospective trial will test the superiority of AABO in combination with cesarean section compared to the traditional hysterectomy following cesarean section for parturients with PA. It may provide strong evidence about the benefits and risks of AABO in combination with cesarean section for parturients with PA.Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR-INR-16008842 . Registered on 14 July 2016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In humans, the relative lengths of the index finger to the ring finger (2D:4D) is a sexually dimorphic trait which correlated with prenatal sex steroids and has been increasingly used as a promising tool to evaluate the impact of prenatal hormone exposure in some traits, such as physical performance. Handgrip strength (HGS) is one potent index of physical ability and its relationship with 2D:4D ratio has been discussed in several ethnic groups.Aims: To investigate whether there is a correlation between 2D:4D ratio and HGS in Chinese college students of Ningxia Han ethnicity.Methods: 608 students (211 males and 397 females) of Han ethnicity were recruited from Ningxia medical university. Photocopies and HGS of both hands were collected at Yinchuan city, in the Ningxia province of China.Results: Sexual dimorphism of 2D:4D and HGS were found, males had significantly lower 2D:4D and greater HGS than females. 2D:4D in both hands were significantly negative correlated with HGS in females and not in males.Conclusions: 2D:4D ratio is negative correlated with HGS in a Chinese population of Ningxia Han ethnicity and this association should be considered on the anthropological research within an evolutionary concept in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anti-tuberculosis drug induced hepatotoxicity (ATDH) is a major adverse drug reaction associated for anti-tuberculosis therapy. The glutathione S-transferases (GST) plays a crucial role in the detoxification of hepatotoxic metabolites of anti-tuberculosis drugs.An association between GSTM1/GSTT1 null mutations and increased risk of ATDH has been demonstrated in adults. Given the ethnic differences and developmental changes, our study aims to investigate the potential impacts of GSTM1/GSTT1genotypes on the development of ATDH in Han Chinese children treated with anti-tuberculosis therapy. Methods: Children receiving anti-tuberculosis therapy with or without evidence of ATDH were considered as the cases or controls, respectively. The GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotyping were performed using the polymerase chain reaction. Results: One hundred sixty-three children (20 cases and 143 controls) with a mean age of 4.7 years (range: 2 months-14.1 years) were included. For the GSTM1, 14 (70.0%) cases and 96 (67.1%) controls had homozygous null mutations. For the GSTT1, 13 (65.0%) cases and 97 (67.8%) controls had homozygous null mutations. Neither the GSTM1, nor the GSTT1 polymorphism was significantly correlated with the occurrence of ATHD. Conclusion: Ourresults did not support the GSTM1 and GSTT1 polymorphisms as the predictors of ADTH in Chinese Han children treated with anti-tuberculosis drugs. An age-related association between pharmacogenetics and ATHD need to be confirmed in the further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of malachite green (MG) in fish farming is prohibited in China due to its potentially toxicological and carcinogenic nature, but it is still illegally used in some places. The aim of this study was to investigate the time and concentration-dependent responses of xenobiotic metabolizing and detoxification-related genes in diverse fishes exposed to MG both in vivo and in vitro. Experimental fish were administered to two exposure groups of malachite green (MG) (0.10 and 0.50 mg L−1) for 8 h. The hepatocytes isolated from Nile tilapia were incubated with MG (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg L−1) for 8 and 24 h, respectively. In vivo, exposure to 0.10 and 0.50 mg L−1 MG for 8 h caused significant changes of the detoxification-related genes on the mRNA expression levels. Low-concentration (0.10 mg L−1) level of MG induced significant increase on the mRNA expression level of GSTR gene in Nile tilapia and other fishes. The mRNA expression of grass carp UCP2 was significantly induced when exposed to 0.5 mg L−1 MG. However, the mRNA expression levels of GSTA, CYP1A, and GPX were inhibited significantly by 0.5 mg L−1 MG in Nile tilapia, grass carp, and Taiwan snakehead. In vitro, the significant increase of mRNA expression of these genes was detected after exposure to 0.5 mg L−1 MG (UCP2), and 1.0 mg L−1 MG (CYP1A1, GSTA, GSTR, and UCP2). The induction of hepatic CYP1A1, GSTA, GSTR, and UCP2 in response to MG suggested a potential role of fish CYP1A1, GSTA, GSTR, and UCP2 in MG metabolism. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2013. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver glutathione S-transferase (GST) plays a major role in the detoxification of microcystins (MCs) via conjugation to glutathione (GSH). We evaluated the relationship between seasonal variation in fish gut contents and the expression of GST isoforms in mud carp ( Cirrhina molitorella) and Nile tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus). We quantified the abundance and diversity of plankton in the water column and foregut of mud carp and Nile tilapia in the tropical Xiangang Reservoir between October 2007 and July 2008. The mRNA expression of 7 liver GST isoforms was determined by real-time RT-PCR. The gut contents of both species were dependent on the amount and type of phytoplankton and zooplankton in the water. The expression of liver GST genes in Nile tilapia and mud carp was positively and negatively correlated, respectively, with the abundance of toxic cyanobacteria in the fore-gut. The expression of liver GST mRNA was correlated to the abundance of toxic cyanobacteria in the gut contents of both species, suggesting that mRNA expression of GST isoforms could be used as a biomarker in Nile tilapia and mud carp to monitor cyanobacteria blooms in reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new century has witnessed the fast development of both ‘traditional Chinese stylistics’ and ‘westernized stylistics’ in China. This article points out that the term ‘style’ (‘wenti’) has drastically different senses in the two different analytical contexts, and that the two stylistic approaches have very different concerns. With this distinction and clarification paving the way, this article goes on to review the development of ‘westernized stylistics’ in China in the new century, focusing on functional stylistics, cognitive stylistics, pragmastylistics, corpus stylistics and pedagogical stylistics. In China, westernized stylistic research is often carried out in connection with interlingual translation, either to shed new light on the stylistic choices through interlingual contrast, or to provide a new way for translation criticism. The fast development of westernized stylistics in China has to do with the EFL context, where it has attracted a large number of practitioners in the English department. Moreover, the thriving development of westernized stylistics in China in the new century testifies to the increasing international remit Language and Literature and PALA have achieved since more modest beginnings in the UK in the 1980s and 1990s. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article explores the specific concepts or aspects of Wayne C. Booth's "The Rhetoric of Fiction" and presents a discussion about the book in the Chinese critical context in the twentieth century. Chinese scholars were adopting the formal criticism which gives veritable sense of liberation and freedom. It has been stated that the book offers a very useful and wide-ranging discussion of fictional narrative techniques that would give significant role in transforming and promoting narratives studies. The book is a milestone of Western aesthetics of fiction and provides practical value of congenial context for the Chinese. The concepts and aspects of the book including the implied author, unreliability and narrative distance are discussed.

The article focuses on the aspects of the history of Comparative Literature in China and examines the developments in literary theory and criticism. It was around the 1980's that contemporary Western literary and cultural theories began making an entrance to China. The post-'Cultural Revolution' in China was characterized by an interest in modernity and modernization which saw the proliferation of Western theories into China.

In this study, the phenolic profiles and bioactivities of five representative cultivars of okra collected in China were investigated. Noticeable variations of phenolic compounds and their bioactivities were observed among these different cultivars of okra. The contents of total flavonoids (TFC) in "Shuiguo", "Kalong 8", "Kalong 3", "Wufu", and "Royal red" ranged from 1.75 to 3.39 mg RE/g DW, of which "Shuiguo" showed the highest TFC. Moreover, five individual phenolic compounds were found in okra by high performance liquid chromatography analysis, including isoquercitrin, protocatechuic acid, quercetin-3-O-gentiobioside, quercetin, and rutin, while isoquercitrin and quercetin-3-O-gentiobioside were detected as the main phenolic compounds in okra. Moreover, all tested okra exhibited significant antioxidant activities (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging capacity, 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical scavenging capacity, and ferric reducing antioxidant power) and inhibitory effects on digestive enzymes (lipase, α-glucosidase, and α-amylase). Indeed, "Shuiguo" exhibited much better antioxidant activities and inhibitory activities on digestive enzymes, which might be attributed to its high TFC. Results suggested that okra, especially "Shuiguo", could be developed as natural antioxidants and inhibitors against hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia in the fields of functional foods and pharmaceuticals, which could meet the increasing demand for high-quality okra with health-promoting properties in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• At present, researches mainly focus on fatigue, buckling and corrosion failure modes and prevention of coiled tubing. • The material problem of coiled tubing body leading to its failure is rarely studied. • The effects of martensite in coiled tubing banded structure on coiled tubing service life were studied. • Accidents caused by material problems in coiled tubing operations cannot be ignored. • This research is of significance to improve coiled tubing manufacturing quality, improve inspection standards and methods. TS-110 coiled tubings used in drilling operations rarely fracture and fail after only five cycles. In this study, a failed coiled tubing was analysed by conducting various experiments. The experiments included macroscopic observation, outside diameter and wall thickness measurement, physical and chemical inspection, magnetic particle inspection, Vickers hardness test, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectrometry. The results revealed a band structure composed of granular bainite and martensite at the centre of the wall thickness. In addition, the formation of martensite influenced the uniformity of local tensile properties. During coiled tubing operations, martensite with undesirable plasticity cracked and formed microscopic voids which continued to expand. Finally, when the coiled tubing was lifted to the tubing reel for bending deformation, the tensile stress on the outer arc surface reached its maximum value. Moreover, the cracks in this part first penetrated the wall thickness, which triggered cracking and tubing failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The study aimed to investigate whether isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) mutation status in gliomas can be estimated by volume-based histogram analysis of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI).Materials and Methods: Preoperative DCE-MRI data of 85 pathologically confirmed glioma patients including 33 carrying IDH1 mutant type (IDH1mut) and 52 with IDH1 wildtype (IDH1wt) were reviewed in a retrospective approach. Regions of interest (ROI) covering entire tumor volume were manually delineated using O.K. software (OmniKinetics, GE Healthcare, China). Histogram parameters of volume transfer constant (Ktrans) and volume of extravascular /extracellular space per unit volume of tissue (Ve) derived from DCE-MRI were obtained. Mann-Whitney U tests were made to compare the differences in histogram parameters of Ktrans and Ve between IDH1mut and IDH1wt in all gliomas and high-grade gliomas (HGGs, grade III and IV). Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis were implemented to assess the diagnostic performance.Results: In histogram parameters of Ktrans and Ve, pairwise comparisons demonstrated statistically significant differences in mean, standard deviation (SD), 90th and 95th percentiles (90%, 95%) values between IDH1mut and IDH1wt in all cases of gliomas and HGGs (P < 0.05, respectively). The ROC analysis revealed that the cut-off values of 95% value of Ktrans (0.097 min-1) and mean value of Ve (0.099) provided the best combination of sensitivity and specificity to distinguish all gliomas with IDH1mut from IDH1wt. In HGGs, the cut-off values of mean value of Ktrans and Ve (0.044 min-1, 0.099) played similar role.Conclusion: Volume-based histogram analysis of DCE-MRI performs well in identification of IDH1mut gliomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/introduction: To investigate the related risk factors of retinopathy in young and middle-aged diabetic patients in order to improve the prognosis of patients., Materials and Methods: Using clinical practice data from a cohort study at our two research centers, we developed a bivariate logistic regression model to investigate the frightening risk factors potentially for retinopathy in young and middle-aged patients with diabetes, including diabetes type, physical activity level, treatment-related characteristics and laboratory tests., Results: A total of 453 patients with diabetes were investigated, 197 (43.5%) developed retinopathy. The risk of retinopathy was closely related to place of residence (OR: 0.275, 95% CI: 0.093-0.814), education level (OR: 0.522, 95% CI: 0.363-0.749), medical payment method (OR: 2.152, 95% CI: 1.308-3.539), BMI (OR: 1.187, 95% CI: 1.091-1.291), disease course (OR: 1.072, 95% CI: 1.028-1.118), hyperlipidemia (OR: 2.547, 95% CI: 1.260-5.150), physical activity level (OR: 0.312, 95% CI: 0.220-0.443), and dietary compliance (OR 0.871, 95% CI: 0.806-0.940). The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve was 0.915. Goodness of fit (Hosmer-Lemeshow) was 0.658., Conclusions: The risk of young and middle-aged patients with increased as a result of certain patient characteristics and complications, especially lower dietary compliance and physical activity level., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The studies involving human participants were reviewed and approved by the ethics committee of Tianjin Eye Hospital, China (Approval number: 2022041). The patients/participants provided their written informed consent to participate in this study. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: Since January 8, 2023, China has managed COVID-19 as a Class-B infectious disease, marking the epidemic's transition to a low-level stage. This study analyzes the relationship between the public's perceived a community with shared future for doctor-patient (PCSF), health self-consciousness, benefit finding, and anxiety in this stage. Additionally, it compares changes in these variables across different stages of COVID-19., Methods: Using a repeated cross-sectional design, three surveys were conducted respectively in three different stages of COVID-19 in China. Specifically, the first survey was conducted in Beijing, Dalian, Zhengzhou, Heihe, and Shangrao from November 13 to 20, 2021 in the outbreak stage of COVID-19, yielding 1,252 valid responses out of 1,534 collected questionnaires. The second survey was conducted in Dalian, Zhengzhou, Heihe, Shangrao, and Lanzhou from December 1 to 19, 2021 in the stable stage of COVID-19, with 872 valid responses obtained from 1,075 collected questionnaires. The third survey was conducted in Beijing, Dalian, Zhengzhou, Heihe, Shangrao, Lanzhou, and Chengdu from January 29 to February 4, 2023 in the low epidemic level stage of COVID-19, achieving 2,113 valid responses from the 2,461 questionnaires collected., Results: Unlike in the outbreak stage but similar to the stable stage, the public's anxiety, health self-consciousness and benefit finding decreased while PCSF was improved in the low epidemic level stage. Consistent with both the outbreak and stable stage, PCSF, health self-consciousness, benefit finding, and anxiety showed positive correlations in the low epidemic level stage, with health self-consciousness partially mediating the positive impact of PCSF on benefit finding. Unlike in the stable stage but similar to the outbreak stage, anxiety did not moderate the relationship between PCSF and health self-consciousness in the low epidemic level stage., Conclusions: The public's health self-consciousness, benefit finding, and anxiety decreased, while PCSF increased in the low epidemic level stage. Furthermore, PCSF had a greater impact on benefit finding, and anxiety's impact on health self-consciousness was significantly reduced. Across different stages of COVID-19, PCSF directly increased benefit finding and also enhanced benefit finding by improving health self-consciousness. Thus, comprehensive intervention measures are beneficial in the low epidemic level stage., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had global attention with regard to the urgent challenging threat to global public health. Currently, the novel Omicron variant is showing rapid transmission across the world, which appears to be more contagious than the previous variants of COVID-19. Early recognition of disease is critical for patients' prognosis. Fever is the most common symptom. We evaluated the clinical characteristics of febrile patients with COVID-19 reported in Suzhou and explored the predictors for a longer duration of hospitalization in febrile patients., Methods: This retrospective study was carried out in 146 Omicron variant infected patients confirmed by nucleic acid tests in the Affiliated Infectious Hospital of Soochow University between February 13, 2022 and March 2, 2022. Data of febrile and afebrile laboratory-confirmed patients on hospital admission in Suzhou were collected and compared. According to the median length of stay (LOS), febrile cases were divided into short and long LOS groups. Then the predictive factors for a prolonged duration of hospitalization were analyzed using logistic regression methods. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) Curve analysis was used to analyze the effectiveness of the risk factors for prolonged duration of hospitalization in febrile COVID-19 patients., Results: Of the 146 discharged patients in our study, 112 patients (76.7%) caught a fever. Compared to afebrile Omicron patients, febrile patients showed a significantly longer duration of hospitalization (15.00 (5.80) vs. 13.00 (6.00), p = 0.002). Taking the median LOS (15 days) as the dividing point, 64 febrile cases were assigned to the short LOS group and the rest to the long LOS group. The long LOS group had a longer virus shedding duration than the short LOS group (18.42 ± 2.86 vs. 11.94 ± 2.50 days, p < 0.001). Compared to short LOS febrile patients, long LOS patients were older (44.88 ± 21.36 vs. 30.89 ± 17.95 years, p < 0.001) and showed a higher proportion of greater than 60 years old (33.3% vs. 9.4%, p = 0.002; Supplemental Table S2). Febrile patients with long LOS also showed a higher proportion of hypertension (25% vs. 6.3%, p = 0.005) and higher levels of cTnI (5.00 (3.00) vs. 4.00 (2.00) µg/L, p = 0.025). The multivariate analysis indicated that virus shedding duration (OR 2.369, 95% CI 1.684 - 3.333, p < 0.001) was the independent risk factor associated with long-term hospital stay in febrile patients with Omicron. Furthermore, ROC Curve analysis revealed that the area under the curve (AUC) for virus shedding duration to diagnose prolonged duration of hospitalization in febrile COVID-19 patients was 0.951 (95% CI 0.913 - 0.989). The cutoff point was set at 14.5 days., Conclusions: More than half of the non-severe patients exposed to the new Omicron variant had symptoms of fever. In total, 42.86% of the febrile patients were discharged within 15 days since hospital admission. Febrile Omicron cases took a longer duration of hospitalization compared to afebrile patients, and virus shedding duration (OR 2.369, 95% CI 1.684 - 3.333, p < 0.001) was probably a predictive factor for long-term hospital stays.

Introduction: To aim of this analysis was to investigate the extent and evaluate risk factors of residual hyperglycaemia in Chinese individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) initiating basal insulin., Methods: FPG GOAL was a 24-week, open-label, treat-to-target randomised controlled trial in Chinese individuals with T2D inadequately controlled with oral anti-hyperglycaemic drugs initiating treatment with basal insulin. This analysis categorised participants into the following glycaemic control categories: hyperglycaemia [glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) ≥ 53 mmol/mol (≥ 7%), fasting plasma glucose (FPG) ≥ 7.0 mmol/L], residual hyperglycaemia [HbA1c ≥ 53 mmol/mol (≥ 7%), FPG < 7.0 mmol/L], discordant [HbA1c < 53 mmol/mol (< 7%), FPG ≥ 7.0 mmol/L] and at target [HbA1c < 53 mmol/mol (< 7%), FPG < 7.0 mmol/L]. The proportion of participants in each glycaemic control category was assessed at weeks 12 and 24. Multivariable regression analyses were conducted to evaluate risk factors for residual hyperglycaemia., Results: Of the 914 participants included, 22.1% had residual hyperglycaemia, 31.9% had hyperglycaemia, 11.1% were discordant and 29.3% were at target at week 24. More participants who were randomised to a fasting blood glucose (FBG) target of > 3.9 to ≤ 5.6 mmol/L had residual hyperglycaemia compared with participants randomised to a FBG target of > 3.9 to ≤ 6.1 mmol/L or > 3.9 to ≤ 7.0 mmol/L. Multivariable analysis indicated that higher HbA1c and lower FPG levels at baseline were associated with greater proportion of residual hyperglycaemia., Conclusion: Some Chinese individuals with T2D may have residual hyperglycaemia 3-6 months after initiating basal insulin treatment and require further intensified treatment. Higher HbA1c and lower FPG levels could be risk factors for residual hyperglycaemia., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02545842., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Holobionts comprising nitrogen-fixing diazotrophs and phytoplankton or zooplankton are ubiquitous in the pelagic sea. However, neither the community structure of plankton-associated diazotrophs (PADs) nor their nitrogenase transcriptional activity are well-understood. In this study, we used nifH gene Illumina sequencing and quantitative PCR to characterize the community composition and nifH expression profile of PADs with > 100 μm size fraction in the euphotic zone of the northern South China Sea., Results: The results of DNA- and RNA-derived nifH gene revealed a higher alpha-diversity in the active than in the total community. Moreover, the compositional resemblance among different sites was less for active than for total communities of PADs. We characterized the 20 most abundant OTUs by ranking the sum of sequence reads across 9 sampling stations for individual OTUs in both nifH DNA and RNA libraries, and then assessed their phylogenetic relatedness. Eight of the 20 abundant OTUs were phylogenetically affiliated with Trichodesmium and occurred in approximately equal proportion in both the DNA and RNA libraries. The analysis of nifH gene expression level showed uneven attribute of the abundance and nitrogenase activities by the remaining 12 OTUs. Taxa belonging to cluster III and Betaproteobacteria were present at moderate abundance but exhibited negligible nitrogenase transcription activity. Whereas, the abundances of Richelia, Deltaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria were low but the contribution of these groups to nitrogenase transcription was disproportionately high., Conclusions: The substantial variation in community structure among active dizatrophic fractions compared to the total communities suggests that the former are better indicators of biological response to environmental changes. Altogether, our study highlights the importance of rare PADs groups in nitrogen fixation in plankton holobionts, evidenced by their high level of nitrogenase transcription.

To investigate risk factors for extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECC) in China. A total of 200 ECC cases and 200 matched control were included in the study. The presence of cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, choledocholithiasis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, liver fluke infection (Clonorchis sinensis), diabetes mellitus, was investigated through clinical records. Blood from all cases was tested for hepatitis B surface antigen. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using conditional logistic regression. Compared with controls, ECC patients had a higher prevalence of cigarette smoking (61.0 vs. 47.0%, P=0.007), alcohol drinking (17.5 vs. 3.5%, P<0.000), and choledocholithiasis (6.0 vs. 1.0%, P=0.011). By multivariate analysis, the significant risk factors for the development of ECC were current smoking (OR=1.90, 95% CI=1.08-3.34), heavy alcohol drinking (OR=2.08, 95% CI=1.39-3.13), and choledocholithiasis (OR=6.68, 95% CI=1.48-30.27). The prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection, diabetes mellitus were not significantly different between cases and controls. These findings suggest that smoking, alcohol drinking, and choledocholithiasis are positive risk factors for the development of ECC in China.

DNA methylation may epigenetically inactivate tumor suppressor genes in NSCLC. As the human 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (hOGG1) gene promoter is frequently methylated in NSCLC, we evaluated whether genetic or epigenetic alterations of hOGG1 are associated with increased risk of non-small cell lung cancer. Three hOGG1 haplotype-tagging SNPs (htSNP) were genotyped in PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism assays, and one htSNP was genotyped in a PCR-single-strand conformation polymorphism assay in case-control studies of 217 NSCLC patients and 226 healthy controls. The methylation profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cell specimens from 121 NSCLC patients and 121 controls were determined through methylation-specific PCR of hOGG1. No differences in allele or genotype frequencies between NSCLC patients and controls were observed at any of the four polymorphic sites (rs159153, rs125701, rs1052133, and rs293795). However, hOGG1 methylation-positive carriers had a 2.25-fold greater risk of developing NSCLC (adjusted odds ratio: 2.247; 95% confidence interval: 1.067-4.734; P = 0.03) than methylation-free subjects. Furthermore, the demethylating agent 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine restored hOGG1 expression in NSCLC cell lines. These data provide strong evidence of an association between peripheral blood mononuclear cell hOGG1 methylation and the risk of NSCLC in a Chinese population.

The effect of time from diagnosis to treatment (TDT) on overall survival of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains obscure. Furthermore, whether chemotherapy delay impacts overall survival (OS) of patients with a special molecular subtype has not been investigated. Here, we enrolled 364 cases of AML to assess the effect of TDT on OS by fractional polynomial regression in the context of clinical parameters and genes of FLT3ITD, NPM1, CEBPA, DNMT3a, and IDH1/2 mutations. Results of the current study show IDH1/2 mutations are associated with older age, M0 morphology, an intermediate cytogenetic risk group, and NPM1 mutations. TDT associates with OS for AML patients in a nonlinear pattern with a J shape. Moreover, adverse effect of delayed treatment on OS was observed in patients with IDH1/2 mutations, but not in those with IDH1/2 wildtype. Therefore, initiating chemotherapy as soon as possible after diagnosis might be a potential strategy to improve OS in AML patients with IDH1/2 mutations.

Aim: To investigate fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) protein expression in Chinese patients with resectable gastric cancer (GC) and the association with clinicopathological characteristics and survival., Methods: One hundred and seventy-five GC patients who underwent curative surgical procedures were enrolled in this study. The protein expression of FGFR4 in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) GC tissues was determined by immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis. Patient clinicopathological data and survival information were also collected and χ(2) statistical analysis was performed to analyze FGFR4 protein expression in the subgroups with differing clinicopathological characteristics including; gender, age, tumor location, differentiation, tumor-node-metastasis stage, macroscopic type, depth of invasion, lymph node metastases, distant metastasis, neural invasion and vascular invasion. Furthermore, some common molecular markers of GC in our cancer center, including p53, p27, topoisomerase IIα (Topo IIα) were also determined by IHC and their association with FGFR4 protein expression evaluated. The probability of survival for different subgroups with different clinicopathological characteristics was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and survival curves plotted using the log rank test., Results: Seventy seven cases (44%) were found to have high expression of FGFR4 protein. Significantly different FGFR4 expression was observed between gastric cancers with differing expression of Topo IIα (log rank χ(2) = 9.4760, P = 0.0236). No significant differences were observed between subgroups defined by any of the other clinicopathological characteristics. The median survival time of the FGFR4 high expression (77 cases) and low expression groups (98 cases) was 27 mo and 39 mo, respectively. The five-year survival rates and median survival times of gastric cancers with high FGFR4 expression were worse than those with low expression (30.8% vs 39.2%, 27 mo vs 39 mo), respectively, however, no significant difference was observed in survival time (log rank χ(2) = 1.0477, P = 0.3060). Survival analysis revealed that high expression of FGFR4 was a predictor of poor outcome in GC patients if the tumor was small (less than or equal to 3 cm in size) (log rank χ(2) = 5.5033, P = 0.0190), well differentiated (log rank χ(2) = 7.9757, P = 0.0047), and of T1 or T2 stage invasion depth (log rank χ(2) = 4.8827, P = 0.0271)., Conclusion: Our results suggest that high tumor expression of FGFR4 protein is not an independent risk factor for GC cancer initiation, but is a useful prognostic marker for GC patients when the tumor is relatively small, well differentiated, or in the early stages of invasion.

Since Feb, 2013, more than 100 human beings had been infected with novel H7N9 avian influenza virus. As of May 2013, several H7N9 viruses had been found in retail live bird markets (LBMs) in Guangdong province of southern China where several human cases were confirmed later. However, the real avian influenza virus infection status especially H7N9 in Guangzhou remains unclear. Therefore, a cross-sectional study of avian influenza in commercial poultry farms, the wholesale LBM and retail LBMs in one district of Guangzhou was conducted from October to November, 2013. A total of 1505 cloacal and environmental samples from 52 commercial poultry farms, 1 wholesale LBM and 18 retail LBMs were collected and detected using real-time RT-PCR for type A, H7, H7N9 and H9 subtype avian influenza virus, respectively. Of all the flocks randomly sampled, 6 farms, 12 vendors of the wholesale LBM and 18 retail LBMs were type A avian influenza virus positive with 0, 3 and 11 positive for H9, respectively. The pooled prevalence and individual prevalence of type A avian influenza virus were 33.9% and 7.9% which for H9 subtype was 7.6% and 1.6%, respectively. None was H7 and H7N9 subtype virus positive. Different prevalence and prevalence ratio were found in different poultry species with partridges having the highest prevalence for both type A and H9 subtype avian influenza virus. Our results suggest that LBM may have a higher risk for sustaining and transmission of avian influenza virus than commercial poultry farms. The present study also indicates that different species may play different roles in the evolution and transmission of avian influenza virus. Therefore, risk-based surveillance and management measures should be conducted in future in this area.

To analyze the composition regularity of prescriptions containing Scutellaria baicalensis in Drug Standard of Ministry of Public Health of the Peoples Republic of China--Chinese Patent Medicines and Preparations on the basis of the traditional Chinese medicine inheritance support system (TCMISS), in order to provide reference for new drug R&D. the platform's software V2.0 was applied to establish a database of prescriptions containing S. baicalensis. The software's statistical statement module, association rules and improved mutual information method and other data mining technologies were adopted to analyze commonly used drugs, combination rules and core combination of S. baicalensis prescriptions. Having analyzed 477 prescriptions containing S. baicalensis, the researchers summarized 45 most commonly used drug combinations, whose ingredients mostly had functions of heat-clearing and damp-drying, purging fire for removing toxin and hemostasis. Drugs adopted in core combinations were relatively concentrated and selected according to definite composition methods. There were 23 diseases that S. baicalensis were most frequently applied in the treatment. Having compared three highly frequent diseases--cold, cough and dizziness, the researchers concluded that S. baicalensis could show different therapeutic effects through different combination ratios. Therefore, TCMISS (V2.0) is an important tool in analyzing the composition regularity of traditional Chinese medicines. The longitudinal and parallel comparison method is an effective method for studying the clinical composition regularity of S. baicalensis, while providing reference for new drug R&D.

Aim: To investigate the contribution of the fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) Gly388Arg polymorphism as a genetic risk factor for gastric cancer (GC) and to investigate any associations between this polymorphism and clinicopathological parameters and survival., Methods: Tumors and matched adjacent non-cancer tissues were collected from 304 GC patients, and 5 mL of venous blood was collected from 62 GC patients and 392 age- and sex-matched healthy controls without cancer history from the same ethnic population. DNA was extracted, and direct sequencing analyses were performed to genotype the FGFR4 Gly388Arg polymorphism in all the samples. Differences in the genotype frequencies of the FGFR4 Gly388Arg polymorphism between GC patients and healthy controls were estimated using the χ(2) test. Binary logistic regression was used for all analysis variables to estimate risk as the ORs with 95%CIs. The relationships between the FGFR4 genotype and clinicopathological parameters were tested with the χ(2) test. The Kaplan-Meier product-limit method, the log-rank test, and the Cox regression model were applied to evaluate the effect of the FGFR4 genotype on the overall survival of patients with GC., Results: In the present GC cohort, 118 patients (38.8%) were homozygous for the Gly388 allele, 124 patients (40.8%) were heterozygous, and 62 patients (20.4%) were homozygous for the Arg388 allele. The frequencies of the Gly/Gly, Gly/Arg, and Arg/Arg genotypes in the healthy controls were 33.6%, 48.0%, and 18.4%, respectively. The distributions of genotypes (χ(2) = 3.589, P = 0.166) and alleles (χ(2) = 0.342, P = 0.559) of the FGFR4 Gly388Arg polymorphism were not different between the GC patients and the healthy controls. Although we observed no correlation between the FGFR4 Gly388Arg polymorphism and clinicopathological parameters or survival in the total cohort of GC patients, the presence of the Arg388 allele was associated with shorter survival time in patients with GC if the tumor was small (log rank χ(2) = 5.449, P = 0.020), well differentiated (log rank χ(2) = 12.798, P = 0.000), T1 or T2 stage (log rank χ(2) = 4.745, P = 0.029), without lymph node involvement (log rank χ(2) = 6.647, P= 0.010), and at an early clinical stage (log rank χ(2) = 4.615, P = 0.032)., Conclusion: Our results suggest that the FGFR4 Gly388Arg polymorphism is not a risk factor for GC cancer initiation but that it is a useful prognostic marker for GC patients when the tumor is relatively small, well differentiated, or at an early clinical stage.

Aim: To investigate human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) gene amplification and protein expression in Chinese patients with resectable gastric cancer and the association with clinicopathological characteristics and survival., Methods: One hundred and ninety-seven gastric cancer patients who underwent curative surgery procedures were enrolled into this study. HER2 gene amplification and protein expression were examined using fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded gastric cancer samples from all patients. For scoring, Hofmann's HER2 gastric cancer scoring system was adopted. All cases showing IHC3+ or FISH positivity were defined as HER2 positive. Patient clinicopathological data and survival information were collected. Finally, χ² statistical analysis was performed to analyze the HER2 positivity rate amongst the subgroups with different clinicopathological characteristics including; gender, age, tumor location, Lauren classification, differentiation, TNM staging, depth of invasion, lymph node metastases and distant metastasis. The probability of survival for different subgroups with different clinicopathological characteristics was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and survival curves plotted using log rank inspection., Results: According to Hofmann's HER2 gastric cancer scoring criteria, 31 cases (15.74%) were identified as HER2 gene amplified and 19 cases (9.64%) were scored as strongly positive for HER2 membrane staining (3+), 25 cases (12.69%) were moderately positive (2+) and 153 cases (77.66%) were HER2 negative (0/1+). The concordance rate between IHC and FISH analyses was 88.83% (175/197). Thirty-six cases were defined as positive for HER2 gene amplification and/or protein expression, with 24 of these cases being eligible for Herceptin treatment according to United States recommendations, and 29 of these cases eligible according to EU recommendations. Highly consistent results were detected between IHC3+, IHC0/1 and FISH (73.68% and 95.42%), but low consistency was observed between IHC2+ and FISH (40.00%). The positivity rates in intestinal type and well-differentiated gastric cancer were higher than those in diffuse/mixed type and poorly-differentiated gastric cancer respectively (28.57% vs 13.43%, P = 0.0103; 37.25% vs 11.64%, P < 0.0001), but were not correlated with gender, age, tumor location or TNM stage, depth of invasion, lymph node metastases and distant metastasis. In poorly-differentiated gastric cancer patients, those without lymph node metastasis showed a higher HER2 positivity rate than those with lymph node metastasis (26.47% vs 7.14%, P = 0.0021). This association was not present in those patients with well-differentiated gastric cancer (28.57% vs 43.33%, P = 0.2832). Within our patient cohort, 26 cases were lost to follow-up. The median survival time for the remaining 171 patients was 18 mo. The median survival times of the HER2 positive and negative groups were 17 and 18.5 mo respectively. Overall survival was not significantly different between HER2-positive and negative groups (χ(2) = 0.9157, P = 0.3386), but in patients presenting well-differentiated tumors, the overall survival of the HER2-positive group was significantly worse than that of the HER2-negative group (P = 0.0123). In contrast, patients with poorly differentiated and diffuse/mixed subtype gastric cancers showed no significant differences in overall survival associated with HER2. Furthermore, the median survival time of the HER2 positive group did not show any statistically significant differences when compared to the subgroups of gender, age, tumor location, TNM classification, lymph node metastases and distant metastasis., Conclusion: Patients with intestinal type gastric cancer (GC), well-differentiated GC and poorly-differentiated GC without lymph node metastasis, may all represent suitable candidates for targeted therapy using Herceptin.

Objective: Our aim was to describe the patient characteristics, clinical-epidemiological profile, and treatment outcome of childhood tuberculosis (TB)., Methods: A retrospective, descriptive study was undertaken of 1212 children aged 0 to 18 years admitted to Beijing Children's Hospital for the treatment of TB from January 2002 to December 2010. Statistical significance of category variables was evaluated by using Fisher's exact test., Results: Fifty-four percent of patients had extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB), 38.8% had tuberculous meningitis, and 31.3% had disseminated TB. The last 2 types were defined as severe TB. Most patients with TB (81.6%) were cured or completed treatment. There were more patients aged <5 years and from rural areas with EPTB than with pulmonary tuberculosis. More severe cases of TB were found in patients aged <1 year than other less severe types of TB. Patients with no bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccination and a contact history at home had a significantly risk of contracting severe TB. Children aged <1 year and those with severe TB were more likely to have poor treatment outcomes (failed to improve or died). Among those with EPTB, only 61.3% and 61.1% had positive results on the purified protein derivative tuberculin skin test and chest radiograph, respectively., Conclusions: In this referral hospital setting, more pediatric EPTB and severe TB patients were found among children aged <1 year. Age <1 year and having severe TB were risk factors for treatment failure. Thus, prevention and health care in pediatric TB should focus on both EPTB and severe TB.

Total dissolved gas (TDG) supersaturation caused by dam sluicing can result in gas bubble trauma (GBT) in fish and threaten their survival. In the present study, Chinese suckers (Myxocyprinus asiaticus Bleeker) were exposed to TDG supersaturated water at levels ranging from 120% to 145% for 48 h. The median lethal concentration (LC(50)) and the median lethal time (LT(50)) were determined to evaluate acute lethal effects on Chinese suckers. The results showed that the LC(50) values of 4, 6, 8, and 10 h were 142%, 137%, 135%, and 130%, respectively. The LT(50) values were 3.2, 4.7, 7.8, 9.2, and 43.4 h, respectively, when TDG supersaturated levels were 145%, 140%, 135%, 130%, and 125%. Furthermore, the biological responses in Chinese suckers were studied by assaying the catalase (CAT) activities in gills and muscles at the supersaturation level of 140% within LT(50). The CAT activities in the gills and muscle tissues exhibited a regularity of a decrease after an increase. CAT activities in the muscles were increased significantly at 3/5LT(50) (P<0.05) and then came back to the normal level. However, there were no significant differences between the treatment group (TDG level of 140%) and the control group (TDG level of 100%) on CAT activities in the gills before 3/5LT(50) (P>0.05), but the activities were significantly lower than the normal level at 4/5LT(50) and LT(50) (P<0.05).

An H10N8 avian influenza virus (AIV), designated A/Duck/Guangdong/E1/2012 (H10N8), was isolated from a duck in January 2012. This is first report that this subtype of AIV was isolated from a live bird market (LBM) in Guangdong Province in southern China. Furthermore, the complete genome of this strain was analyzed. The availability of genome sequences is helpful to further investigations of epidemiology and molecular characteristics of AIV in southern China.

Objective: N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) and cytochrome P450 2EI (CYP2E1) play a crucial role in the drug metabolic process. The aim of this study was to understand the genotype and phenotype polymorphisms of NAT2 and CYP2E1 in the Han Chinese pediatric population in order to provide a theoretical basis for individualized drug treatment., Methods: A total of 341 (211 males and 130 females) randomly sampled Han Chinese children, aged from 2 months to 14 years, were enrolled in this study. Genotyping was carried out by PCR method, and metabolic phenotypes were identified., Results: In this study population, wild genotype was found as a major genotype in seven SNPs of NAT2, rs1801279, rs1041983, rs1801280, rs1799929, rs1799930, rs1208 and rs1799931. The frequency of NAT2 fast metabolism was highest (61.3%), followed by middle to slow metabolism (34.1%). Wild genotype also predominated in the four SNPs of CYP2E1 (rs2031920, rs3813867, rs6413432 and rs72559720) named as CYP2E1*5, *6 and *2, with a frequency of 61.3%, 60.1% and 99.4% respectively. As the relationship between CYP2E1 genotype and phenotype was unknown, phenotyping of CYP2E1 was not done., Conclusions: The important SNPs of NAT2 and CYP2E1 are predominantly wild genotype in the Han Chinese pediatric population. Fast metabolic phenotype predominates in important SNPs of NAT2.

Taking cotton cultivars Liaomian 19 and NuCoTN 33B as test materials, a field experiment was conducted to study the effects of nitrogen fertilization rate (0, 240 and 480 kg x hm(-2)) and planting density (75000, 97500 and 120000 plants x hm(-2)) on the boll biomass and nitrogen accumulation in the extremely early maturing cotton region of Northeast China. With the growth and development of cotton, the biomass and nitrogen accumulation of cotton boll, cotton seed, and cotton fiber varied in 'S' shape. Both nitrogen fertilization rate and planting density had significant effects on the dynamic characteristics of boll biomass and nitrogen accumulation, and on the fiber yield and quality. In treatment 240 kg x hm(-2) and 97500 plants x hm(-2), the biomass of single boll, cotton seed and cotton fiber was the maximum, the starting time and ending time of the rapid accumulation period of the biomass and nitrogen were earlier but the duration of the accumulation was shorter, the rapid accumulation speed of the biomass was the maximum, and the distribution indices of the biomass and nitrogen were the lowest in boll shell but the highest in cotton seed and cotton fiber.

Acrodermatitis enteropathica, a rare autosomal recessive disease, manifests as periorificial and symmetrical acral dermatitis, alopecia, and diarrhea due to insufficient zinc uptake by the intestine. Recent research revealed that mutations in the SLC39A4 gene are responsible for acrodermatitis enteropathica. This gene encodes one member of a human zinc transporter-like protein, also known as ZIP4. We detected one novel homozygous mutation c.1115T > G in the human SLC39A4 gene in one Chinese patient, which leading to p.L372R of the ZIP4. Homology analysis shows Leu372 in ZIP4 is conserved in Eutheria.

Background & Aims: The present study was undertaken to determine the expression of a newly identified tumor antigen cancer-placenta 1 (CP1) in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) and explore the CP1-specific immune response in CRC patients and its correlation with patient survival., Methods: CP1 expression was determined by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot analysis. Serum antibodies against CP1 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and T-cell response was measured by interferon-gamma/granzyme-B release enzyme-linked immunospot assays. The HLA-A2-restricted epitopes in CP1 were predicted by bioinformatics and then experimentally validated by enzyme-linked immunospot assay., Results: CP1 expression was detected in a significant number of CRC tissues, reaching 47.6% at the messenger RNA (mRNA) level and 28.6% at the protein level. Of patients with CP1 mRNA(+) tumors, more than 50% had CP1-responsive CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells and 30% spontaneous-occurring antibodies against CP1. Further studies revealed 2 dominant HLA-A2-restricted epitopes in the CP1 antigen: p31-39 and p58-66. In a follow-up study up to 33 months after surgery, 9 of the 10 patients with CP1-specific CD8 T-cell response survived, whereas 6 of the 8 nonresponders died. Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated a significant correlation between T-cell response and patient survival., Conclusions: CP1 represents a new class of tumor-specific shared antigen. Its high expression in CRC tissues, prevalence of CP1-specific immune responses in CP1 mRNA(+) CRC patients, and positive correlation with survival suggest that the antigen may be a useful target for cancer immunotherapy.

Based on the livestock statistical data of 31 provinces of 1997 - 2004, this paper analyzed the structure of livestock and the variation of fecal nitrogen pollution load in China. The results showed that the relationship between structure of livestock and the economic situation of different provinces was obviously significant. The nitrogen pollution load of livestock was increasing gradually from the northwest to the southeast, and could be divided into relative higher and lower parts, in line with the boundary of 400 mm rainfall of China. Meanwhile, in Beijing and Shanghai, with population concentrated and economy developed, the livestock had developed at a higher speed. However, in the last few years, the developing speed had been decreased slowly; the pollution load had begun to decrease, while the pollution load of livestock in the provinces around Beijing and Shanghai has been increased gradually. Additionally, it is found that only eight provinces are not facing the risk of livestock pollution theoretically.

Objective: To analyze current stroke prevention measures for elderly patients with atrial fibrillation., Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of the clinical records of elderly patients with atrial fibrillation treated in our hospital within the recent 5 years. The distribution of high risk factors for different age levels was studied, and the incidence of stroke and complications such as hemorrhage were compared between patients treated with warfarin and aspirin therapy., Results: Compared with patients of 65 to 75 years old, the incidence of complications with other high risk factors was increased in advanced age group (over 75 years). Of these patients, 19.0% were treated with warfarin and 73.4% with aspirin. Compared with the aspirin group, stroke incidence was decreased significantly in warfarin group, which had simultaneously increased nonfatal hemorrhage., Conclusion: Warfarin can be more effective than aspirin for stroke prevention in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation, but in clinical practice, the usage rate of warfarin still remains low with insufficient monitoring.