Serum protein S100A9, SOD3, and MMP9 as new diagnostic biomarkers for pulmonary tuberculosis by iTRAQ-coupled two-dimensional LC-MS/MS.

This study aimed to discover the novel noninvasive biomarkers for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). We applied iTRAQ 2D LC-MS/MS technique to investigate protein profiles in patients with pulmonary TB and other lung diseases. A total of 34 differentially expressed proteins (24 upregulated proteins and ten downregulated proteins) were identified in the serum of pulmonary TB patients.

[Viral etiologies of hospitalized pneumonia patients aged less than five years in six provinces, 2009-2012].

Objective: To analyze the viral etiologies of hospitalized pneumonia patients aged less than five years in six provinces during 2009-2012, and to describe the seasonality of the detected viral etiologies.

Methods: Eight hospitals were selected in six provinces from a national acute respiratory infection surveillance network. Demographic information, clinical history and physical examination, and laboratory testing results of the enrolled hospitalized patients aged less than five years with pneumonia, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human influenza virus, adenoviruses (ADV), human parainfluenza virus (PIV), human metapneumovirus (hMPV), human coronavirus (hCoV)and human bocavirus (hBoV) were analyzed.

Evaluation of the performance of a dengue outbreak detection tool for China.

An outbreak detection and response system, using time series moving percentile method based on historical data, in China has been used for identifying dengue fever outbreaks since 2008. For dengue fever outbreaks reported from 2009 to 2012, this system achieved a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 99.8% and a median time to detection of 3 days, which indicated that the system was a useful decision tool for dengue fever control and risk-management programs in China.

Human exposure to live poultry and psychological and behavioral responses to influenza A(H7N9), China.

To investigate human exposure to live poultry and changes in risk perception and behavior after the April 2013 influenza A(H7N9) outbreak in China, we surveyed 2,504 urban residents in 5 cities and 1,227 rural residents in 4 provinces and found that perceived risk for influenza A(H7N9) was low. The highest rate of exposure to live poultry was reported in Guangzhou, where 47% of those surveyed reported visiting a live poultry market > or =1 times in the previous year. Most (77%) urban respondents reported that they visited live markets less often after influenza A(H7N9) cases were first identified in China in March 2013, but only 30% supported permanent closure of the markets to control the epidemic.

[Analysis of effect on infectious diseases outbreak detection performance by classifying provinces for moving percentile method].

Objective: Providing evidences for further modification of China Infectious Diseases Automated-alert and Response System (CIDARS) via analyzing the outbreak detection performance of Moving Percentile Method (MPM) by optimizing thresholds in different provinces.

Methods: We collected the amount of MPM signals, response results of signals in CIDARS, cases data in nationwide Notifiable Infectious Diseases Reporting Information System, and outbreaks data in Public Health Emergency Reporting System of 16 infectious diseases in 31 provinces in Chinese mainland from January 2011 to October 2013. The threshold with the optimal sensitivity, the shortest time to detect outbreak and the least number of signals was considered as the best threshold of each disease in Chinese mainland and in each province.

[Comparing the performance of temporal model and temporal-spatial model for outbreak detection in China Infectious Diseases Automated-alert and Response System, 2011-2013, China].

Objective: For providing evidences for further modification of China Infectious Diseases Automated-alert and Response System (CIDARS) by comparing the early-warning performance of the temporal model and temporal-spatial model in CIDARS.

Methods: The application performance for outbreak detection of temporal model and temporal-spatial model simultaneously running among 208 pilot counties in 20 provinces from 2011 to 2013 was compared; the 16 infectious diseases were divided into two classes according to the disease incidence level; cases data in nationwide Notifiable Infectious Diseases Reporting Information System was combined with outbreaks reported to Public Health Emergency Reporting System, by adopting the index of the number of signals, sensitivity, false alarm rate and time for detection.

Results: The overall sensitivity of temporal model and temporal-spatial model for 16 diseases was 96.

[The implement performance of China Infectious Diseases Automated-alert and Response System in 2011-2013].

Objective: To analyze the implement performance of China Infectious Diseases Automated-alert and Response System (CIDARS) of 31 provinces in mainland China, and to provide the evidences for further promoting the application and improvement of this system.

Methods: The amount of signals, response situation and verification outcome of signals related to 32 infectious diseases of 31 provinces in mainland China in CIDARS were investigated from 2011 to 2013, the changes by year on the proportion of responded signals and timeliness of signal response were descriptively analyzed.

Results: A total of 960 831 signals were generated nationwide on 32 kinds of infectious diseases in the system, with 98.

Sequence variation in tcdA and tcdB of Clostridium difficile: ST37 with truncated tcdA is a potential epidemic strain in China.

Clostridium difficile is a well-known nosocomial infectious pathogen. Research on C. difficile infection has primarily focused on strains such as the hypervirulent PCR ribotype 027 (sequence type 1 [ST1]) emerging in Europe and North America.

Viral etiologies of hospitalized acute lower respiratory infection patients in China, 2009-2013.

Background: Acute lower respiratory infections (ALRIs) are an important cause of acute illnesses and mortality worldwide and in China. However, a large-scale study on the prevalence of viral infections across multiple provinces and seasons has not been previously reported from China. Here, we aimed to identify the viral etiologies associated with ALRIs from 22 Chinese provinces.

Hp1404, a new antimicrobial peptide from the scorpion Heterometrus petersii.

Antimicrobial peptides have attracted much interest as a novel class of antibiotics against a variety of microbes including antibiotics resistant strains. In this study, a new cationic antimicrobial peptide Hp1404 was identified from the scorpion Heterometrus petersii, which is an amphipathic α-helical peptide and has a specific inhibitory activity against gram-positive bacteria including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Hp1404 can penetrate the membrane of S.

Proteomic analysis of the venom from the scorpion Mesobuthus martensii.

Unlabelled: The scorpion Mesobuthus martensii is the most populous species in eastern Asian countries, and several toxic components have been identified from their venoms. Nevertheless, a complete proteomic profile of the venom of M. martensii is still not available.

A three-dimensional finite element study on anterior laminate veneers with different incisal preparations.

Statement Of Problem: Mechanical properties are important in the long-term success of restorations, but whether different incisal preparations can affect the behavior of veneers remains controversial.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of different preparation designs on stress distribution in a maxillary incisor restored with veneers and with regard to different restorative materials and loading conditions.

Material And Methods: Based on the cone beam computed tomography scanning of a maxillary incisor, 3-dimensional finite element models for 2 different designs were developed.

Rapid life-history diversification of an introduced fish species across a localized thermal gradient.

Climatic variations are known to engender life-history diversification of species and populations at large spatial scales. However, the extent to which microgeographic variations in climate (e.g.

Serum complement C4b, fibronectin, and prolidase are associated with the pathological changes of pulmonary tuberculosis.

Background: Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection can activate the immune system, leading to characteristic pathological changes such as inflammatory granuloma, caseous necrosis, and cavity formation.

Methods: Clinical data of 187 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) were analyzed using statistical methods, while serum levels of complement C4b (C4b), fibronectin (FN), and prolidase (PEPD) were detected using the ELISA method among the control, minimal PTB, moderate PTB, and advanced PTB groups.

Results: We found significantly higher levels of serum C4b and PEPD (P = 0.

Nicking enzyme-assisted biosensor for Salmonella enteritidis detection based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer.

Salmonella enteritidis (S. enteritidis) outbreaks continue to occur, and have increased public awareness of this pathogen. Nicking endonuclease Nb.

NOD2 polymorphisms and pulmonary tuberculosis susceptibility: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The association between NOD2 and tuberculosis (TB) risk has been reported widely, but the results of previous studies remained controversial and ambiguous. To assess the association between NOD2 polymorphisms and TB risk, a meta-analysis was performed. A literature search was conducted by using the PubMed, Ovid, ISI Web of Knowledge, Elsevier ScienceDirect, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI).

Screening and identification of six serum microRNAs as novel potential combination biomarkers for pulmonary tuberculosis diagnosis.

Background: It is very difficult to prevent pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) due to the lack of specific and diagnostic markers, which could lead to a high incidence of pulmonary TB. We screened the differentially expressed serum microRNAs (miRNAs) as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of pulmonary TB.

Methods: In this study, serum miRNAs were screened using the Solexa sequencing method as the potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of pulmonary TB.

Discovery and identification of serum potential biomarkers for pulmonary tuberculosis using iTRAQ-coupled two-dimensional LC-MS/MS.

Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a chronic disease. Currently, there are no sufficiently validated biomarkers for early diagnosis of TB infection. In this study, a panel of potential serum biomarkers was identified between patients with pulmonary TB and healthy controls by using iTRAQ-coupled 2D LC-MS/MS technique.

[Application of the China Infectious Diseases Automated-alert and Response System in Guangxi, 2009-2011].

Objective: To analyze and further improvement the application of the China Infectious Diseases Automated-alert and Response System (CIDARS) in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Methods: Results related to the amount of signal, proportion of signal responded, time to signal response, manner of signal verification and on each signal of Guangxi in CIDARS from 2009 to 2011 were described. Performance was compared between the periods of pre/ post the adjustment of parameters in CIDARS on December 10, 2010.

Improving the performance of outbreak detection algorithms by classifying the levels of disease incidence.

We evaluated a novel strategy to improve the performance of outbreak detection algorithms, namely setting the alerting threshold separately in each region according to the disease incidence in that region. By using data on hand, foot and mouth disease in Shandong province, China, we evaluated the impact of disease incidence on the performance of outbreak detection algorithms (EARS-C1, C2 and C3). Compared to applying the same algorithm and threshold to the whole region, setting the optimal threshold in each region according to the level of disease incidence (i.

Ultrastructure of lymphatic stomata in the tunica vaginalis of humans.

Lymphatic stomata are small openings of lymphatic capillaries on the surface of the mesothelium that lines the serous cavity and have the function of active absorption. They play an important role in physiological and pathological conditions. The cavity of the tunica vaginalis is a typical serous cavity of the testis, but the lymphatic stomata of the tunica vaginalis of humans have never been reported.

[Correlation between genetic polymorphisms of -855 G/C and -1140 G/A in GRIN1 gene and paranoid schizophrenia].

Objective: To investigate the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of -855 G/C and -1140 G/A in promoter regions of GRIN1 gene and find their genetic correlation to paranoid schizophrenia as well as their applicable values in forensic medicine.

Methods: The genetic polymorphisms of -855 G/C and -1140 G/A at the 5' end of GRIN1 gene were detected by PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism and PAGE in 183 healthy unrelated individuals of northern Chinese Han population and 172 patients of paranoid schizophrenia, respectively. The chi2 test was used to identify Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium of the genotype distribution.

Comparative epidemiology of human infections with avian influenza A H7N9 and H5N1 viruses in China: a population-based study of laboratory-confirmed cases.

Background: The novel influenza A H7N9 virus emerged recently in mainland China, whereas the influenza A H5N1 virus has infected people in China since 2003. Both infections are thought to be mainly zoonotic. We aimed to compare the epidemiological characteristics of the complete series of laboratory-confirmed cases of both viruses in mainland China so far.