Hedyotis diffusa plus Scutellaria barbata Induce Bladder Cancer Cell Apoptosis by Inhibiting Akt Signaling Pathway through Downregulating miR-155 Expression.

Traditional Chinese medicine is increasingly used to treat cancer. Our clinical experiences identify Hedyotis diffusa plus Scutellaria barbata as the most common herb-pair (couplet medicinal) used for the core treatment of bladder cancer. This study aims to investigate the antitumor effect of the herb-pair in bladder cancer cells.

Microfluidic chip capillary electrophoresis coupled with electrochemiluminescence for enantioseparation of racemic drugs using central composite design optimization.

Optimization based on central composite design (CCD) for enantioseparation of anisodamine (AN), atenolol (AT), and metoprolol (ME) in human urine was developed using a microfluidic chip-CE device. Coupling the flexible and wide working range of microfluidic chip-CE device to CCD for chiral separation of AN, AT, and ME in human urine, a total of 15 experiments is needed for the optimization procedure as compared to 75 experiments using the normal one variable at a time optimization. The optimum conditions obtained are found to be more robust as shown by the curvature effects of the interaction factors.

Microfluidic chip-capillary electrophoresis with dynamic multi-segment standard addition for rapidly identifying nephrolithiasis markers in urine.

A microchip-CE device was fabricated for bed-side monitoring of nephrolithiasis biomarkers in urine by incorporating on-chip continuous passive mixing and standard addition to reduce sample matrix interference, increase sample throughput and eliminate accessories for active mixing. Under optimized conditions with buffer containing 20 mM borate and 0.5 mM CTAB at pH 10.

Evaluation of the mass measles vaccination campaign in Guangdong Province, China.

Objective: To evaluate the mass measles vaccination campaign of 2009 in Guangdong Province, China.

Methods: Data on the campaign implementation, measles surveillance, and serological surveillance were reviewed and analyzed by statistical methods.

Results: Rapid coverage surveys showed that 98.

Microfluidic chip-capillary electrophoresis for two orders extension of adjustable upper working range for profiling of inorganic and organic anions in urine.

To meet the need for onsite monitoring of urine anions, a microfluidic chip-capillary electrophoresis device was designed, fabricated and tested to extend the upper CE working range for an enhancement up to 500 fold (100 fold for sample dilution and 5 folds for CE injection) in order to analyze highly variable anionic metabolites in urine samples. Capillaries were embedded between two PMMA plates with laser-fabricated microchannel patterns to produce the microfluidic chip-capillary electrophoresis to perform standard/sample dilution and CE injection with adjustable dilution ratios. A circular ferrofluid valve was incorporated on-chip to perform cleanup and conditioning, mixing and dilution, injection and CE separation.

Clinical laboratories on a chip for human immunodeficiency virus assay.

Automated chip-based technologies for clinical diagnosis may have great facilities in the area of life science and medicine. This paper presents the lab-on-a-chip design for the assay of HIV, which includes the sample preparation, reaction, and signal amplification module. A laser induced fluorescence system is also designed for real-time monitor of the signals.

Epidemiologic clues to SARS origin in China.

An epidemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) began in Foshan municipality, Guangdong Province, China, in November 2002. We studied SARS case reports through April 30, 2003, including data from case investigations and a case series analysis of index cases. A total of 1,454 clinically confirmed cases (and 55 deaths) occurred; the epidemic peak was in the first week of February 2003.

[Effectiveness of personal protective measures in prevention of nosocomial transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome].

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of personal protective measures of health care workers (HCWs) against severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

Methods: A case-control study from ten hospitals in Guangdong, with 180 non-infected and 77 infected staff members that accessed the isolation unit every day, and participated in direct first aid for severe SARS patients. All participants were surveyed about how they were using personal protective equipment (PPE), protective drugs and hygiene habits when caring for patients with SARS.

[Severe acute respiratory syndrome in Guangdong Province of China: epidemiology and control measures].

Objective: To explore epidemiological features and risk factors of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Guangdong Province of China, so as to work out effective strategies for its better control.

Methods: A total of 1 511 clinically confirmed SARS cases in Guangdong Province of China from November 16, 2002 to Jun 15, 2003 were retrospectively analyzed.

Results: The first SARS case was identified in Foshan municipality on November 16, 2002, followed by 1 511 clinically confirmed cases (including 58 deaths) up to May 15, 2003.

[Epidemiological study on severe acute respiratory syndrome in Guangdong province].

Objectives: To understand the epidemiological characteristics of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreaks in some areas of Guangdong province and to provide scientific basis for prevention and control measures against it.

Methods: Standardized questionnaire was used on individual cases. Data on the epidemiological characteristics as time, place, persons and aggregation status of SARS cases, development of the epidemics, were analyzed with software EPI 6.