Abstract Many studies have analyzed the relation about xeroderma pigmentosum group D (XPD) Lys751Gln polymorphism on esophageal cancer risk; however, the results were inconclusive. The present study was designed to assess the relationship in China. We searched the relevant articles from the databases of PubMed, Springer Link, Ovid, Chinese Wanfang Database, CNKI and Chinese Biology Medicine up to December 2019. An OR with the corresponding 95%CI was adopted to evaluate this association. This meta-analysis included 12 studies with 4195 esophageal cancer cases and 4762 controls. Overall, a positive association between XPD Lys751Gln and esophageal cancer risk was found in all the analysis model (Gln vs. Lys, OR= 1.26, 95% CI= 1.14-1.44; Gln/Gln vs. Lys/Lys, OR= 1.73, 95% CI= 1.29-2.31; Gln/Gln vs. Lys/Lys + Asp/Asn, OR= 1.63, 95% CI= 1.22-2.18; Gln/Gln+ Asp/Asn vs. Lys/Lys, OR= 1.25, 95% CI= 1.13-1.39). Subgroup analyses by geographic area and source of controls were further conducted; there was no substantial change in subgroup analyses. Our study suggested that XPD Lys751Gln polymorphism could increase the risk of esophageal cancer in China. Further studies in other ethnic populations are wanted to confirm these conclusions.

Abstract Cholera continues to be a serious public health issue in developing countries. We analyzed the epidemiological data of cholera from 1976 to 2013 in Shandong Province, an eastern coastal area of China. A total of 250 Vibrio cholerae isolates were selected for PCR analysis of virulence genes and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The analysis of the virulence genes showed that the positive rates for tcpA and tcpI were the highest among strains from the southwest region, which had the highest incidence rate of cholera. Low positive rates for tcpA, tcpI and ctxAB among isolates from after 2000 may be an influencing factor contributing to the contemporary decline in cholera incidence rates. Spatiotemporal serotype shifts (Ogawa, Inaba, Ogawa, Inaba and O139) generally correlated with the variations in the PFGE patterns (PIV, PIIIc, PIa, PIIIb, PIIIa, PIb, and PII). O1 strains from different years or regions also had similar PFGE patterns, while O139 strains exclusively formed one cluster and differed from all other O1 strains. These data indicate that V. cholerae isolates in Shandong Province have continually undergone spatiotemporal changes. The serotype switching between Ogawa and Inaba originated from indigenous strains, while the emergence of serogroup O139 appeared to be unrelated to endemic V. cholerae O1 strains.

ABSTRACT The genus Aconitum has strong toxicity, but the acute toxicity of baked Aconitum flavum Hand.-Mazz., Ranunculaceae, was reduced significantly on the premise of keeping anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activities. However, the risk associated with long-term use is unknown. In a sub-chronic toxicity study, rats were orally administered A. flavum at doses of 0.76–3.03 g/kg for 90 days and further recovered for 14 days. Our results showed that oral treatment with A. flavum for 90 days caused significant changes in some hematological indicators at doses of 3.03 and 1.52 g/kg, such as red blood cell, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration. These results indicated that the A. flavum affects the structure and function of red blood cell. Furthermore, significant changes were observed in the white blood cell at dose of 3.03 g/kg in male rats, which confirmed tissue damage or toxicity. The liver function tests exhibited non-significant alterations in aspertate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and avenin-like storage proteinsgene. But other parameters, such as total protein and albumin were obviously decreased at all doses. A. flavum also caused a significant decrease in glucose, cholesterol and triacylglyceride at all doses. For kidney function, there were significant elevations in urea and creatinine at doses of 3.03 and 1.52 g/kg. The levels of certain electrolytes (Na+, K+ and Cl-) were significantly different after 90 days of treatment with A. flavum (3.03 and 1.52 g/kg). Organs were observed by light microscopy after hematoxylin-eosin staining. Hemosiderin depositions in the spleen were observed in the A. flavum group. These data demonstrated that the subtoxicity of A. flavum was reduced considerably by baked, but the subchronic toxicity effects on the liver, kidney and spleen should not be ignored.