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In China, channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) is an important aquaculture species; however, haemorrhagic disease (Aeromonas hydrophila induced disease) in these fish has caused tremendous economic loss due to high morbidity and mass mortality in the breeding industry. The role of cortisol in bacterial diseases, particularly in the acute phase, remains unclear. In this study, liver transcriptome (RNA-seq) and chromatin accessibility (ATAC-seq) analyses were employed to investigate the early functional role of cortisol in Aeromonas hydrophila-stimulated responses. Our experiments confirmed that A. hydrophila infection can initially significantly increase serum cortisol levels at 1 h after infection. At this time point, the increased serum cortisol levels can significantly regulate A. hydrophila-regulated genes by affecting both transcriptome and chromatin accessibility. Cross-analysis of RNA-seq and ATAC-seq revealed that a certain gene group (92 target_DEGs) was regulated at an early time point by cortisol. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that the top three pathways according to target_DEGs were cancer, glutathione metabolism, and the Notch signalling pathway. The proteinprotein interaction analysis of target_DEGs revealed that they may be primarily involved in cell proliferation, CD8+ T cell function, glutathione synthesis, and activation of the NF-κB signalling pathway. This suggests that after the emergence of immune stress, the early regulation of cortisol is positive against the immune response. It is possible that in this situation, the animal is attempting to avoid dangerous situations and risks and then cope with the imbalance produced by the stressor to ultimately restore homeostasis. Our results will contribute to future research on fish and provide valuable insight regarding the mechanism of immune regulation by cortisol and the study of bacterial haemorrhagic disease in channel catfish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extra cooling pads on the sidewalls are needed for larger poultry houses using tunnel ventilation system. Preliminary study showed that the airflow velocity going through different aisles varies greatly when the extra pads are installed at the end of sidewalls, making a "["-shape air inlet. Combined with field tests, the CFD (computational fluid dynamics) technology was used to study the uniformity of airflow distribution in a tunnel-ventilated laying-hen house. The air distribution was first monitored in a layer house to find the main reason resulting in the variations of airflows in different aisles. Then CFD simulations were carried out with different distances (D=2 m, 3 m or 4 m) between the pads on end-wall and the extra pads on side walls. The field test showed that airflow streams from the different groups of cooling pads collided vertically at the house corners, mixed with each other, then flew towards the center of the house. This was the main reason that the wind speed in the middle aisle was much higher than in other aisles, leaving large zones of lower ventilation in the aisles adjacent to the sidewalls. The results of CFD simulations indicated that air distributions could be significantly improved when the extra pieces of pads were moved away for an appropriate distance from the end coolingpads. As far as conventional poultry house with a span of 12 m, the air speeds in different aisles were more uniform when this distance was about 3 m. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides information on a study which described condom use and influencing factors in China. The study focused on the five populations that are at high risk for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/sexually transmissible infections (STI) infection. They are female sex workers, men who have sex with men, migrant workers, young people and sero-discordant couples. The study also examined condom-related policies in China, which include the Action Plan for Reducing and Prevnting the Spread of HIV/AIDs (2001-05). The challenges and recommendations of condom promotion in the country were also provided in the study.

Cyprinid herpesvirus 2 (CyHV-2) is an emerging pathogen in the commercially exploited fish, Prussian carp (Carassius auratus gibelio), which has caused huge economic loss in China and appears to be spreading worldwide. In this article, CyHV-2 infection of Prussian carp was confirmed for the first time by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which gave positive results from the tissue samples dissected from moribund fish including kidney, spleen, liver, and gill. Histological examination showed systemic inflammatory reactions in the infected tissues, with infiltration of hemocytes, hypertrophied nuclei, marginal chromatin and karyorrhexis, epithelial cell shedding, vacuolar degeneration and focal necrosis. Tissue alterations were also evaluated semi-quantitatively by the degree of tissue change. The values of degree of tissue change determined for kidney, spleen, liver, and gill were significantly greater than respective controls and kidney was the most severely damaged organ, with highest degree of tissue change value. In addition, a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) based on oligonucleotide probes to detect the pathogen directly in the tissue, allowing pathogen--lesion correlation, was established. With the advantages of better tissue penetration, potentially more specific and stable, three oligonucleotide probes were designed. Positive reactions to the probes with intense green fluorescence were observed within the infected tissues where PCR and H&E analysis had suggested previously the presence of the virus within these lesions. The probes did not hybridize with host tissues of uninfected fish, nor did they cross-react with 3 other virus samples tested. The current research could facilitate the study of CyHV-2 infection mechanism in Prussian carp, and enhance the early diagnosis of the novel virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The prevalence of fundic gland polyps (FGPs) is increasing. Some researchers consider this increase to be associated strongly with the long-term use of proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs); however, not all researchers share this belief. There are minimal data on the development of FGPs in China. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of FGPs and risk factors associated with the development of this disease., Materials and Methods: We studied 10 904 consecutive patients who underwent gastroduodenal endoscopies at our digestive endoscopy center between February 2011 and January 2013. Information on sex, age, Helicobacter pylori infection, PPIs intake, and the pathological results of the polyps were collected in the FGPs group and in the control group. The use of PPIs, sex, and H. pylori infection were statistically evaluated as dichotomous variables using a χ-test; age was evaluated as a continuous variable using a t-test. Finally, these factors were evaluated using a multiple logistic regression analysis., Results: Gastric polyps were found in 759 (7.0%) patients, and 213 (2.0%) of these patients had FGPs. FGPs accounted for 28.1% of the gastric polyps. In the FGPs group, the percentage of H. pylori infection was 66.8% and the percentage of PPIs intake for at least 12 months was 23.1%. In the control group, the percentage of H. pylori infection was 77.4% and the percentage of PPIs intake for at least 12 months was 2.3%. The difference in the long-term use of PPIs was statistically significant between these two groups [χ=33.98, P<0.05, odds ratio (OR)=12.83, 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.47-36.80]. The results of the logistic regression were as follows: long-term use of PPIs (P<0.01, OR=14.11, 95% CI: 4.15-47.93); age (P<0.01, OR=1.69, 95% CI: 1.31-2.18). The P-values for sex and H. pylori infection were higher than 0.05., Conclusion: Age and the long-term use of PPIs were risk factors for the presence of FGPs; the long-term use of PPIs was a particularly strong risk factor.

Purpose: Rehabilitation services need strengthening further. This study explores a sample of the population in Beijing in order to establish the extent of medical impairments and disabilities. It describes the present utilization of rehabilitation by different economic groups of the population and also explores the attitudes of these same groups to the concepts inherent in rehabilitation. The conclusions are that a considerable information program is needed to help people with disabilities to access and utilize services appropriately. Finally, it concludes that the present Rehabilitation Services need to be professionally improved and expanded., Background: In China, the spectrum of disease is changing, along with the development of society, and progress in science and technology. The requirements of people for medical rehabilitation following major accidents, and acute or chronic disease, leading to disability and handicap, increase year by year. This is especially so now, with the added geriatric problems of an aging population. At present, rehabilitation services and resources within this country are limited. It is difficult to meet the immediate or long-term needs of disabled persons. Recently, there have been many national publications describing the requirements and discussing those factors which influence Rehabilitation Service provision, but much of this discussion has been theoretically based, rather than facing practical issues. We can find no studies describing the nature and extent of disabling disorders in the Beijing population and, in particular, few formal studies relating the provision of rehabilitation services to that population in need of this essential management process. We have therefore carried out a survey-based study to demonstrate the present rehabilitation service requirements for disabled residents in some typical Beijing urban districts. We have also looked at those factors which influence clients to accept the various services which are available to them at present. This will, we suggest, provide an epidemiological and demographic analysis with data on which to base future policies for government services to best meet these requirements., Method: A series of comprehensive questionnaires were designed, in order to investigate the demographic characters, health conditions, knowledge of rehabilitation services, and social status of the interviewees. Some 460 disabled residents from three districts in the city of Beijing were selected. They were randomized, with multi-stage cluster sampling for in-house survey., Results: Some 74.78% of interviewees expressed a need for rehabilitation, at different levels, but only 26.73% received any services. Factors influencing requests for community rehabilitation services for disabled residents in Beijing included income, nature of disability, awareness of rehabilitation services and the nature of services supplied. The expressed needs for rehabilitation services by disabled residents in communities in Beijing urban districts are real, and are largely unmet. Only a few of the disabled received any services. Factors influencing disabled residents' abilities to access rehabilitation service, included the nature and degree of disability, the economic status of the residents, the quality and nature of the rehabilitation programs and treatment available, and the knowledge by clients of the existence and availability of these services., Conclusion: More effective measures need to be taken to make the appropriate Rehabilitation Services more available to community residents with medical disabilities.