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Xiao-mei Li

Publications and source records attributed to Xiao-mei Li.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

[Astragalus and angelica mixture inhibits the renal tubular epithelial cell injury induced by aristolochic-acid I].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether Chinese herb astragalus and angelica mixture (A&A) have influence on the renal tubular epithelial cell injury induced by aristolochic-acid I. METHODS: Human proximal tubular epithelial cell line HK-2 was pre-treated with AA-I (2.5 mg/L) for 4 hours. Cells were then treated with or without A&A for additional 44 hours. Cell apoptosis was evaluated by using FACS. Secreted fibronectin (FN) and TGF-beta1 levels were assayed by ELISA. The changes of AA-I-induced FN, TGF-beta1 level and the rate of apoptosis were compared before and after A&A treatment. RESULTS: There was basement secretion of TGF-beta1 by HK-2 cells (7.05+/-1.98 microg/L). Both normal serum (N-S) and A&A could not induce the cells to secret TGF-beta1(6.35+/-1.99 microg/L and 6.57+/-2.19 microg/L, vs. control, P>0.05). AA-I could induce the TGF-beta1 secretion by HK-2 cells (18.26+/-5.98 microg/L, vs. control, P<0.05). A&A could block AA-I-induced TGF-beta1 secretion by 63.5% (6.66+/-0.70 microg/L, vs. AA-I, P<0.05). It also suppressed AA-I-induced cell apoptosis by 93.7% (3.32%+/-0.41% vs. 19.19%+/-6.32% respectively, P<0.001) and FN secretion by 44% (1.64+/-1.11 folds vs. 2.93+/-0.87 folds respectively, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: A&A inhibits AA-I induced injury in human renal proximal tubule epithelial cells, whose mechanism may be partially through blocking TGF-beta1 secretion.

Angelica↗
PubMed2006

Cytotoxicity of phenanthrenes extracted from Aristolochia contorta in human proximal tubular epithelial cell line.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Aristolochic acid nephropathy, a progressive tubulointerstitial renal disease, is predominantly a result of aristolochic acid I (AA-I) intoxication. However, other unidentified phytotoxins have indeed been postulated as the cause of this unique interstitial nephropathy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the cytotoxicity of other phenanthrene derivatives extracted from Aristolochia contorta in the human proximal tubular epithelial cell line HK-2. METHODS: After HK-2 cells were incubated with an indicated concentration of test compounds for 24 h, cell viability was assessed by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage assay (cell membrane damage) in combination with MTT assay (metabolic capability). Cellular morphologic assessments were performed with a phase-contrast inverted microscope and transmission electron microscope. RESULTS: In all test compounds at 5 microg/ml, AA-I, 7-methoxy-aristololactam IV and aristololactam IVa showed cytotoxic activity in HK-2 cells in both MTT assay and LDH leakage assay (p < 0.01). At high concentration (5-80 microg/ml), these three compounds caused a dose-dependent decrease in MTT reduction and a dose-dependent increase in LDH leakage compared to non-treated cells (p <0.01). In LDH leakage assay, 40 mug/ml 7-methoxy-aristololactam IV induced a 1.58-fold LDH leakage compared to AA-I at the same concentration (p < 0.01). Moreover, the IC50 of these three compounds were 16.675 microg/ml for AA-I, 4.535 microg/ml for 7-methoxy-aristololactam IV, and 30.244 microg/ml for aristololactam IVa in MTT assay. The cellular morphologic assessments suggest interactions with cell membrane and intracellular structures such as lysosome and mitochondria are likely to be involved in cell injury induced by these three compounds. CONCLUSION: The potency of cytotoxic activity of aristololactam IVa and 7-methoxy-aristololactam IV extracted from A. contorta is similar to or even stronger than that of AA-I.

Aristolochia↗
PubMed2006

[Automatic decompression with micro-catheter for open and tension pneumothorax].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of treating pneumothorax with automatic intermittent decompression with micro-catheter instead of traditional thorax water sealed drainage (TWSD). METHODS: The automatic decompression instrument (ADI), which decompressed intermittently with programmed control, was designed and assembled by the authors (Patent No. ZL 01242081.6). A prospective study of the efficacy of this device was conducted in 87 pneumatothorax cases, and the results were compared with those of TWSD. RESULTS: The average time of closure in ADI group was 4.12+/-0.98 days, which was significantly shorter than that with TWSD (6.83+/-2.06 days, P<0.01). The incidence of complications was also significantly lower in ADI patients (P<0.01), and none of them developed severe complications. Clinical cure was achieved in all the patients in ADI group except for two patients who gave up treatment voluntarily and one transferred for open surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Application of ADI allows faster healing and safer and easier operation, and causes fewer complications and less pain with shortened hospital stay as compared with conventional therapy for open and tension pneumothorax.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

[Relationship among the characteristics of anemia, serum level of erythropoietin and the renal tubulointerstitial injury in drug-associated renal parenchymal acute renal failure patients].

OBJECTIVE: To recognize the characteristics of anemia in patients with drug-associated renal parenchymal ARF and to investigate the possible relations among Hb, serum level of EPO and the renal tubulointerstitial injury. METHODS: Sixteen in-patients with drug-associated renal parenchymal ARF (including ATN and ATIN groups) for the last five years and 8 healthy volunteers (control group) were assessed in this study. The general information of these patients was analyzed retrospectively. Anemia related laboratory parameters, serum EPO, serum creatinine (Scr) and the renal tubular function from the samples on the time of renal biopsy in each group were compared. For pathological comparison of renal tubulointerstitial pathological changes, renal biopsy specimens from 5 patients with mild non-IgA mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis were used as negative controls. The pathological changes in renal tubules and interstitial area were semi-quantitive scored by a computer imaging system. The correlations between Hb and EPO levels, as well as EPO level and renal function or pathological injury index were analyzed, respectively. RESULTS: There was no significant difference among the ages, genders and the time intervals both from the administration to the onset of the disease and from the onset to the kidney biopsy among ATN and ATIN groups. Scr level was all higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). The renal tubular function injury index and the tubular interstitial pathologic injury index in the two groups were relatively elevated, in which the ATIN group had the highest indexes compared to the others (P<0.01). There were more anemia patients in ATIN group. It showed much lower levels of Hb, Hct and RBC than those in the control group (P<0.01). ATN group possessed fewer anemia patients and the levels of Hb, Hct and RBC remained in the normal range. The remarkable decline of EPO levels was found as 84.8% and 70.7% in the ATN and ATIN groups, respectively (P<0.01). In all patients with renal parenchyma ARF, the levels of Hb and EPO showed an obvious positive correlation (r=0.589, P<0.01), but the negative correlations existed between EPO and Scr, the renal tubular function injury index and renal tubular interstitial pathological injury index, respectively (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The mechanism of the anemia in the drug-associated parenchymal ARF patients may be due to the lack of intrinsic EPO secretion, mainly induced by acute renal tubular interstitial injury, which contributes to the decreased genesis of red blood cells.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed2005

[Influence of taking aristolochic acid-containing Chinese drugs on occurrence of urinary transitional cell cancer in uremic uremic patients undergoing dialysis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of urinary transitional cell cancer (TCC) in uremic patients undergoing dialysis who have history of taking aristolochic acid (AA)-containing Chinese drugs. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted among 283 uremic patients with history of taking aristolochic acid (AA)-containing Chinese drug who were undergoing dialysis, 118 males and 165 females, aged 59 +/- 13 (22-88), to understand the drug-taking history, nephropathy-related situation, and prevalence and clinic TCC pathological features of TCC. RESULTS: Twenty-four of the 283 were suffering concomitant TCC with a prevalence rate of 8.48%. Sixty-six of the 283 patients had a history of taking AA-containing Chinese drugs, 22 of which had developed TCC with a prevalence rate of 33.3%, significantly higher than that among the 198 patients without a history of taking AA-containing Chinese drugs (1.0%, P < 0.01). Seventeen (94.4%) of the 18 TCC patients with a clear AA-taking history reported took the drug at routine doses for a long time, and 1 of the 18 patients took overdose of AA-containing drug. The average time between the beginning of taking AA-containing drugs and the occurrence of TCC was 10 years. TCC was found only in the patients with remnant urine > 100 ml after dialysis (8/38, 21.0%) and was not found in those with anuria after dialysis. The first symptom in the 18 TCC cases was intermittent painless hematuria. The positive rates of imageology and nuclear matrix protein (NMP)-22 detection were both more than 90%. Tumor was found in the urinary bladder or ureter (11/18, 61.2%). The relapse rate after routine surgery was 27.8%. CONCLUSION: With a very high prevalence of TCC, the patients with a history of taking AA-containing Chinese drugs should be monitored closely.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

[Peritubular capillary injury in Chinese herb guan-mu-tong-induced acute tubular necrosis].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the role and mechanisms of peritubular capillary (PTC) injury in the progression of Chinese Herb guan-mu-tong (GMT, aristolochiae manshuriensis kom) induced acute tubular necrosis (GMT-ATN). METHODS: Renal biopsy tissue from 4 cases of GMT-ATN and 5 cases of antibiotic induced ATN (A-ATN) were included in the study. Tubulointerstitial injury was semi-quantitatively assessed. Immunohistochemical SP method was applied to reveal PTC as well as the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Ultra microstructure of endothelial cells and basement membrane of PTC was detected by electronic microscopy (EM). 5 cases of minor mesangioproliferative non-IgA glomerulonephritis were selected as a control group. RESULTS: The density of PTC was decreased significantly in GMT-ATN, as compared with the A-ATN and control group (211.08 +/- 56.15 vs 413.54 +/- 66.59, 536.62 +/- 68.38, P < 0.01). Dilated and deformed PTC lumina were noted in GMT-ATN with some endothelial cells and basement membrane partially disrupted. Most endothelial cells were found to be swollen with vacuoles dispersed in the cell plasma. The basement membrane was partially shrunk and thickened. The expression of VEGF in renal tubular epithelial cells (RTEC) was much less in the GMT-ATN than that in A-ATN group 2.1 (0-3.86)% vs [42.5 (31.33-60.25)%, P < 0.01], even though it was higher than that in the control group [23.1 (18.2-39.5)%, P < 0.01]; the expression was correlated with PTC density. Close correlation was also found between RTEC regeneration and PTC density, as well as VEGF expression (r = 0.880 and 0.802 respectively, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: PTC was markedly injured in GMT-ATN; this could be one of the cause for the continuously progressing tubulointerstitial damage. The low expression of VEGF in RTEC might contribute to the PTC injury process.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Four new stilbenoids from the lianas of Gnetum montanum f. megalocarpum.

From the lianas of Gnetum montanum Markgr. f. megalocarpum Markgr., four new stilbenoids, gnetumontanins A - D ( 1 - 4) were obtained together with 16 known compounds. Gnetumontanin A ( 1) is the first oligostilbene dimerized from two oxyresveratrol units, gnetumontanin B ( 2) is a new stilbene trimer oligomerized from two oxyresveratrol and one resveratrol units, gnetumontanin C ( 3) is a new stilbenoid with a novel skeleton having a delta-lactone moiety and gnetumontanin D ( 4) is a glucoside of 3. Their structures were determined by means of spectroscopic evidence, especially 2D NMR techniques. Gnetumontanin B showed potent inhibition of TNF-alpha with an inhibitory ratio of 58.1 % (P < 0.05) at a concentration of 10 ( - 5) mol L (-1) and the IC (50) was 1.49 x 10 ( - 6) mol L (-1).

Animals↗
PubMed2004

[Study on the relationship of MTHFR polymorphisms with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T genotypes to unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA). METHODS: This study included two groups:57 currently non-pregnant women with a history of URSA (URSA group), and 50 currently non-pregnant women with a history of having given birth to at least one live baby and without any history of spontaneous abortion, still-born fetus, placental thrombosis and intrauterine growth retardation(IUGR)(control group). The fasting serum-Hcy was measured with high pressure liquid chromatography. Folic acid and vitamin B(12) were detected by radioimmune assay; antiphospholipid antibody (ACA) was detected by ELISA. MTHFR C677T gene polymorphisms were detected by the technique of polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). RESULTS: C/C genotype in URSA group was significantly lower than that in control group, the total mutant T allele frequency was significantly higher than that in control group. There was no significant difference in respect of "age, rural area/city, period, primary/secondary abortion" between the genotype distributions of MTHFR C677T. The T/T genotype and C/T+T/T genotypes frequencies for "abortion times>or=3" were higher than those for "abortion time <3". CONCLUSION: MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism is a genetic risk factor for URSA.

Abortion, Habitual↗
PubMed2004

[Preventive and therapeutic effects of astragalus and angelica mixture on renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis after unilateral ureteral obstruction in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the preventive and therapeutic effects of Astragalus and Angelica mixture A&A on renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis after unilateral ureteral obstruction UUO in rats and their mechanisms. METHODS: UUO rats were randomly divided into Sham, UUO, A&A or ACEI groups. A&A, ACEI or the same amount of water was administered by gavage beginning 24 hours before UUO preparation and continued through ten days after UUO. Sera and the kidney tissues were collected from each group on the tenth day. Scr and BUN were measured. Trichrome staining, measurement of tubulo interstitial damage index and immunohistochemical studies localizing alpha-smooth muscle actin alpha-SMA , TGF-beta1, fibronectin FN , laminin LN were carried out. RESULTS: In UUO rats, the tubular-interstitial damage index, the expressions of alpha-SMA, TGF-beta1, FN and LN were all increased compared with those of Sham group. The tubulo interstitial damage index had positive correlation with expressions of alpha-SMA, TGF-beta1, FN and LN. A&A significantly ameliorated deterioration of renal function, tubulo interstitial damage index and inhibited the over-expressions of alpha-SMA, TGF-beta1, FN and LN in UUO rats. These anti-fibrotic effects were similar to those affected by ACEI. CONCLUSION: In renal interstitial fibrosis-induced UUO rats, A&A retard the progression of renal fibrosis and renal function deterioration by inhibiting myofibroblasts and suppressing TGF-beta1 expression, which may consequently result in a decreased production of extracellular matrix.

Angelica↗
PubMed2004

[Studies on pharmacodynamic characteristics of aristolochic acid I in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study pharmacodynamic characteristics by oral administration aristolochic acid I (AA-I) in rats. METHOD: After one-time oral administration of Aristolochiae manshuriensis decoction 10 g x kg(-1) and 125I labeled AA-I (containing AA-I 37.2 microg x mL(-1)), whole blood concentration of 125I-AA-I and the binding rate of serum albumin were detected in 69 normal wistar male rats. Metabolic dynamic parameters were calculated by program 3P87 with a two compartment model. The distribution ratio and ID% of nine viscera or tissue were measured and compared with other until the 40th day. RESULT: After oral administration, AA-I was rapidly absorbed into the blood and reached its peak at 30 minutes and lasted till 90 minutes. AA-I concentration in the blood gradually declined afterwards. 24 hours later, only few AA-I could be detected. By the 10th day, 68.5% of AA-I presented as the binding type with serum albumin. Pharmacodynamic parameters were calculated as follows: Tmax 0.74 h, Cmax 0.92 microg x mL(-1), t1/2alpha 0.68 h, t1/2beta 20.46 h, V/F 87.39 mL, CL(s) 5.85 mL x h(-1) (0.10 mL x min(-1)). On the other hand, after oral administration AA-I was rapidly distributed to all the viscera or tissue, whose peak appeared in 5 minutes and the vallecula was from 24 to 48 hours. The distribution ratio of AA-I rose in the kidney after 24 hours, and it showed the highest level in the kidney and in the liver by the 4th day compared with other organs or tissue (P < 0.05). However, the distribution ratio of AA-I in the kidney became the most dominant one after the 30th and the 40th day compared with the others (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: AA-I is rapidly absorbed after oral administration in rats. Its distribution has the organ specificity, which is characterized as the possible partial metabolism in the liver and the accumulation in the kidney because of rather slower elimination. The characteristics may be related to the long term nephrotoxicity of AA-I.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2004

[Injury in renal proximal tubular epithelial cells induced by aristololactam I].

OBJECTIVE: To study whether aristololactam I (AL-I) induces injury in human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells. METHOD: Cultured human renal proximal tubular epithelial cell line HK-2 was used as the subject. Aristolochic Acid I (AA-I) was used as a positive control. Cell toxicity of AL-I was detected by LDH releasing rate. Cell apoptosis was evaluated by cellular morphology, DNA content and expression of cell membrane phosphatidylserine (PS). The secretion level of fibronectin (FN) and TGF-beta1 in HK-2 cells were assayed by ELISA. RESULT: AL-I had a direct toxicity on HK-2 in a dose dependent manner from 2.5 mg x mL(-1) to 20 mg x mL(-1); In these range of concentration, AL-I could induce cell apoptosis which was detectable by measurements of morphology, DNA content and expression of PS. AL-I could stimulate the secretion of FN and TGF-beta1. The potency of AL-I cell toxicity was higher than AA-I at the same concentration. The effects of AL-I on apoptosis, secretion of FN and TGF-beta1 were all weaker than AA-I. CONCLUSION: AL-I as one metabolite of AA-I in vivo induces direct injury in renal proximal tubular cells. Its effects are similar to those of AA-I. AL-I may be one of toxic metabolites in Chinese herbs containing AA which participate in renal damage and fibrosis.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed2003

[Interleukin-1beta-induced transdifferentiation of renal proximal tubular cells is mediated by p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of p38MAPK signaling pathway in interleukin (IL)-1beta induced transdifferentiation and its functional influences in human renal proximal tubular cell line HK-2 cells. METHODS: Human renal proximal tubular cells, cell line HK-2, were cultured and then co-incubated with IL-1beta (10 ng/ml) for 24 hours. The expression and distribution of cytokeratin and alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA), markers of transdifferentiation of renal proximal tubular cells, were detected by immunofluorescence staining and confocal microscopy. Western blot technique was used to detect the expression of alpha-SMA 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours after IL-1beta stimulation. The morphology of cells was monitored from the 1st to the 5th day. Expression of alpha-SMA, phosphorylation of p38MAPK was assayed by western blot. Specific p38MAPK inhibitor SB203580 was added into the culture of HK-2 cells, 24 hours later IL-1beta was added for 24 hours Cell-cell adhesion and migration assay were performed. Inverted microscopy was used to examine the morphology of cells after stimulation of IL-1beta for 24 hours. Western blot technique was used to detected total and phosphorylated p38MAPK after stimulation of IL-1beta for 2, 5, 15, 30, 60 and 120 min. RESULTS: The phosphorylation of p38MAPK was increased after treatment of IL-1beta, and reached the level of 1.7 times the basic level 5 - 30 minutes after stimulation (P < 0.05). Almost no expression of alpha-SMA was shown in the control group. Two hours after IL-1beta stimulation, the expression of alpha-SMA was increased a little followed by an up-regulated expression of alpha-SMA 6 to 48 hours after the stimulation. The expression of alpha-SMA was down-regulated by 40% in the SB203580 group in comparison with that in the control (P < 0.01) and by 50% in comparison with that in the IL-1beta group (P < 0.001). The cell number was not significantly different between the IL-1beta group and control group (P > 0.05). A decreased expression of cytokeratin and disordered distribution of alpha-SMA were shown in the cells 24 hours after stimulation of IL-1beta. The morphology of cells remained unchanged 1 to 5 days after IL-1beta stimulation. The cell-cell adhesion was almost identical in the groups with IL-1beta and/or SB203580 no in comparison with that in the control group (P > 0.05). The migration ability of HK-2 cells was 2.2 times that in the control group in the IL-1beta group (P < 0.05) and decreased by 35% in the SB203580 group (P < 0.01). SB203580 uppercased the IL-1beta-induced expression of alpha-SMA and the enhancement of cell migration ability were suppressed by 51% (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: IL-1beta induces transdifferentiation of renal proximal tubular cells characterized by alpha-SMA expression and enhanced ability of cell migration. These effects are mediated, at least in part, through the activation of p38 MAPK signaling pathway.

Actins↗
PubMed2003

[Mutation of 5'noncoding region of the bcl-6 gene in diffuse large B cell lymphomas].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the mutation of 5'noncoding region of bcl-6 gene in diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and its effect on lymphoma pathogenesis. METHODS: 38 DLBCL, 2 reactive hyperplasias, 5 follicular lymphomas and 5 T cell lymphomas were chosen for PCR direct sequence analysis using two sets of primers in 5'noncoding region of the bcl-6 gene. RESULTS: No mutation was found in the marginal region of reactive hyperplasias, T cell lymphomas, and follicular lymphomas but detected in 1/2 of the follicular center cells, and 7/38 cases of DLBCL. The incidence is less than that seen in other reports. Basepairs substitution and point insertion were the main mutation types. CONCLUSIONS: The positive rate of mutation of 5'noncoding region of bcl-6 gene in DLBCL is 18.7%, less frequent than the published data of DLBCL reported in other countries. It may, in some extent, participate in the pathogenesis and progression of DLBCL.

5' Untranslated Regions↗
PubMed2003

[A comparative study of manchurian Dutchmanspipe and antibiotics induced acute tubular necrosis in renal cellular biological features].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the possible cell biological mechanisms of the difference in prognosis between the acute tubular necrosis (ATN) induced by Manchurian Dutchmanspipe (MD-ATN) and that by antibiotics (A-ATN), by means of comparing their renal tubular mesenchymal cell phenotype characteristics and extra-cellular stroma secretion. METHODS: The expression of proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), epithelial cell growth factor (EGF), alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), fibronectin (FN), collagen type III and IV, transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF beta 1) and connective tissue growth factor in renal biopsy samples of patients with MD-ATN (4 patients) and A-ATN(5 patients) were compared with immunohistochemical SP method. The analysis of above-mentioned parameters on repairing of injury and development of fibrosis was stressed for the obvious difference in clinical prognosis between the two groups. RESULTS: (1) The PCNA positive rate of renal tubular epithelial cell (RTEC) and EGF expression in the MD-ATN group were significantly lower than those in the A-ATN group respectively (P < 0.01); (2) Renal tubular mesenchymal alpha-SMA level increased in both groups with no significant difference; (3) TGF beta 1 positive cell infiltration and obvious CTGF expression revealed in renal mesenchyma of both groups with insignificant difference; (4) FN, collagen III and IV levels were significantly higher in the MD-ATN group than that in the A-ATN group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: (1) As compared with A-ATN group, the RTEC auto-repairing ability was lower in the DM-ATN group, lower expression of EGF might be one of the mechanisms of its poor repair; (2) High expression of alpha-SMA, TGF beta 1 and CTGF presented in all patients with ATN, but extra-cellular stromal deposit appeared only in the renal stroma of patients with MD-ATN, suggesting that its chronical trend might be related with the reducing of extra-cellular stromal degradation factor and/or endogenous anti-fibrosis factor.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

[Analysis on the epidemiological features and the transmission of an imported severe acute respiratory syndrome case in Beijing].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the characteristics of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) transmission in the population base on analyzing the first imported case and the chains of transmission. METHODS: For the first imported SARS case and cases who were transmitted by the index case, epidemiological investigations were conducted using the guidelines for surveillance and case investigation issued by the Ministry of Health. Data as the date of onset of symptoms, date of hospitalization, contact history etc. for each of the cases and their close contacts were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: The first imported SARS case introduced to Beijing had infected 9 people within the family and at the hospital, with two of whom died of the same disease. The incubation period for that index case was 4 days, and that for the cases considered to be the secondary and tertiary generations were 7 and 8 days, respectively. The shorter the incubation period, the longer the fever would last and clinically more severe. CONCLUSION: One of the epidemiological characteristics of SARS in Beijing was noticed that the disease clustered in families and hospitals. Infection through droplets and close contact has been viewed as the primary mode of transmission.

Adult↗