Objective To express the receptor binding domain (RBD) protein of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and to characterize the antigenicity of the purified recombi-nant protein. Methods The codon-optimized gene encoding the RBD protein of MERS-CoV was synthesized and then cloned into the pET30a ( +) vector to construct the recombinant expression plasmid. The trans-formed E. coli BL21 (DE3) strains carrying expression plasmid were induced by IPTG under different condi-tions. The expressed products were purified by using nickel affinity chromatography and further analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot assay. Indirect ELISA was performed to analyze the antigenicity and specificity of RBD proteins expressed in prokaryotic expression systems in human serological test. Results The recom-binant RBD proteins were mainly expressed as conclusion body in an optimal induction condition of 37℃ and 0. 5 mmol/ L IPTG for 4 h. The high purified recombinant RBD proteins were obtained through denaturation and renaturation with a relative molecular mass of about 29×103 . Results of the Western blot assay showed that the recombinant RBD proteins could have specific reaction with the serum samples collected form mice with MERS-CoV infection. Indirect ELISA revealed that the RBD proteins expressed in the prokaryotic ex-pression system showed better sensitivity and specificity in the detection of antibodies against MERS-CoV in human serum samples. Conclusion This study reported the prokaryotic expression and purification of RBD protein of MERS-CoV for the first time, which might pave the way for further investigation on immunological detection of MERS-CoV and development of vaccines against MERS-CoV infection.

Objective To investigate the phenotype and function of CD8+T cells cultured with SK-OV-3. Methods Transwell coculture experiments were conducted in 24-well plates with inner wells to separate CD8+ T cells and SK-OV-3. After 5 days of culture, CD8+ T cells were washed, and 1 × 106 cells were collected for Foxp3, CD25, CD28, CTLA-4 and GITR mRNA analysis and 2 × 106 cells were collected to detect expression of Foxp3, CD25, CD28, CTLA-4 and GITR in CD8+ T cells by flow cytometry. CD8+T cells that cultured alone or with SK-OV-3 were added at ratios of 1∶0 , 1∶1 , 1∶5 , 1∶10 , and 0∶1 to na?ve CD4+ T cells in 96-well plates. All wells were cultured with the presence of irradiated PBMCs and anti-CD3 antibody. After 72 h, [3H]-thymidine was added for 16 h prior to the determination of proliferation by scintillation counting. Results Compared with CD8+ T cells cultured without SK-OV-3 , the expression of Foxp3 and CTLA-4 was increased and CD28 expression was decreased in CD8+ T cells cultured with SK-OV-3 (both P < 0.001). We found that CD8+T cells cultured with SK-OV-3 significantly suppressed the na?ve CD4+ T cell proliferation induced by the anti-CD3 stimulation in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, CD8+ T cells cultured without SK-OV-3 did not suppress na?ve CD4+ T cell proliferation. Conclusion Ovarian cancer cell can induce the suppressive CD8+Treg, which is an important link of the immunosuppressive microenvironment in ovarian cancer.

AIM: To investigate the design significance, method and content of the oncology clinical trial case report form (CRF) based on the clinical data acquisition standards harmonization (CDASH). METHODS: Compared with CDASH v 2.2, the characteristics of oncology clinical trial data were analyzed, and a standardized CRF was designed to meet the actual needs of oncology clinical trials. RESULTS: The CDASH was applied to the design of the CRF of the oncology clinical trial, and the data collection of the oncology clinical trial was standardized, so that the CRF design of the oncology clinical trial was relatively standardized and the data quality was improved. CONCLUSION: The implementation of oncology CRF design based on CDASH can promote the exchange and sharing of oncology clinical research data, which is conducive to improving the reliability of oncology clinical research results.

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of detection of protein SP70 in differentiating benign and malignant pleural effusion.Methods A case-control study was conducted from July 2011 to February 2012.108 cases of pleural effusion from patients with clinically proven lung cancers and 122 cases of benign pleural effusion were collected.SP70 was detected by Sandwich ELISA,while CEA,CYFRA21-1,NSE were measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay for comparison.Meanwhile,protein SP70 on exfoliated cells in pleural effusion was detected by direct immunofluorescence,and was compared with the results of HE staining.The differences between the groups were evaluated by the chisquare test Fisher' s exact test.Results Positive rates of SP70,CEA,CYFRA21-1,NSE were 72.2％,58.3％,52.8％ and 30.6％ in malignant pleural effusion,obviously higher than benign pleural effusio (9.8％,13.1％,23.0％ and 19.7％).The specificity of SP70,CEA,CYFRA21-1,NSE were 90.2％,86.9％,77.0％ and 80.3％,NSCLC had significantly higher positive rate than SCLC(74.3％ ＞0.0％,P =0.02 ＜ 0.05),detection of protein SP70 in malignant pleural effusion had significantly higher coincidence rate than HE staining(72.2％ vs 47.2％,x2 =14.03,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Determination of the protein SP70 in pleural effusion and in exfoliated cells,can improve the sensitivity and specificity of the diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion.

Objective To explore the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer by investigating the function of Toll-like receptor 1 (TLR1),TLR2 and TLR6 in peripheral blood mononuclear cell(PBMC) from patients with ovarian cancer.Methods PBMC,SK OV 3 co culture system and anti-TLR1,anti-TLR2,anti-TLR6 mAb blocking experiment were used to explore the relationship between TLR1,TLR2 or TLR6 signaling and inflammation in ovarian cancer.Quantitative real time PCR was used to measure interleukin(IL)-1β,IL-6,IL-8,and tumor necrosises factor(TNF)-α in the PBMC.MyD88,TRAF6,TANK,NF-κB and P-NFκB were observed by Western blotting.Results In the PBMC and SK-OV-3 coculture system,we found the activation of TLR signaling pathways,including significantly increased MyD88,TRAF6,TANK and P-NF-κB levels following cocultured with SK-OV-3 in PBMC from ovarian cancer patients.PBMC derived from ovarian cancer patients led to a increase in IL-1β,IL-6 and IL-8 mRNA levels after 24 hours of co-incubation with SK-OV-3 (Fold=1.74,Fold=1.92,Fold=1.65,P＜0.05),though there was no difference of TNF-a mRNA expression.In contrast to the ovarian cancer patients,coculture of PBMC derived from benign diseases controls and healthy normal controls decreased IL-1β at the mRNA level (Fold=0.71,P＜0.05;Fold=0.72,P＜0.05),furthermore the expression of MyD88,TRAF6,TANK,P-NF-κB,and NF-κB showed no changes.PBMC which treated with anti-TLR1,anti-TLR2 or-TLR6 mAb could inhibite inflammatory IL-1β (Fold=0.16,Fold=0.31,Fold=0.29,P＜0.05) and IL-6 (Fold=0.14,Fold=0.20,Fold=0.28,P＜0.05).Conclusion TLR1/TLR2/TLR6 in PBMC of ovarian cancer patients participate in the recognition of the factors.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of tazarotene/betamethasone dipropionate cream at different concentration ratios in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris, and to determine the optimal drug concentration ratio for clinical use.Methods:A multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, multi-dose controlled study was conducted. From December 2008 to April 2009, a total of 180 patients with psoriasis vulgaris were enrolled from 7 research centers, such as Hospital for Skin Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College. These patients were randomly and equally divided into 5 groups: treatment groups 1, 2, 3, 4 treated with tazarotene/betamethasone dipropionate cream at concentration ratios of 0.025%/0.025%, 0.05%/0.025%, 0.025%/0.05% and 0.05%/0.05% respectively once a day, and control group treated with the cream vehicle once a day. The treatment lasted 4 weeks. Efficacy and safety were evaluated after 1, 2 and 4 weeks of treatment. One-way analysis of variance and least significant difference (LSD)- t test were used to compare measurement data among several groups, chi-square test and Fisher′s exact test to compare categorical data among groups, and Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel (CMH) test to compare psoriasis area severity index (PASI) response rates between groups. Results:After 4 weeks of treatment, 11 patients (30.56%) , 12 (33.33%) , 12 (33.33%) , 19 (52.78%) and 2 (5.56%) in the treatment groups 1, 2, 3, 4 and control group respectively achieved a 75% reduction in PASI (PASI75) , and the proportions of patients achieving PASI75 were significantly higher in the treatment groups than in the control group (all P < 0.012 7) . Additionally, the proportions of patients achieving PASI90 were also significantly higher in the treatment groups 1, 2 and 4 than in the control group (all P < 0.012 7) . After 4 weeks of treatment, the rates of reduction in PASI scores were 59.52% ± 26.79%, 57.19% ± 31.98%, 56.85% ± 30.46% and 68.21% ± 37.20% in treatment groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively, which were all significantly higher than the rate of reduction in the control group (20.07% ± 28.55%; LSD- t = 5.36, 5.05, 5.00, 6.55, all P < 0.001) . The treatment group 4 showed marked comprehensive efficacy. All the tested drugs were well tolerated in the patients, and adverse reactions occurred in 11 (30.56%) , 8 (22.22%) , 2 (5.56%) , 4 (11.11%) and 2 (5.56%) cases in the treatment groups 1, 2, 3, 4 and control group respectively. The incidence rate of adverse reactions was significantly higher in the treatment group 1 than in the control group ( P = 0.012) , and there was no significant difference among the treatment groups 2, 3, 4 and control group (all P > 0.05) . Conclusion:The tazarotene 0.05%/betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% cream can be recommended for subsequent clinical trials in psoriasis vulgaris.

Objective:To preliminarily evaluate clinical efficacy and safety of tazarotene 0.05%/betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% cream in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris.Methods:A multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, single-dummy, parallel-controlled clinical trial was conducted. Subjects with mild to moderate psoriasis vulgaris were randomized into 4 groups at a ratio of 2∶1∶1∶1, including tazarotene 0.05%/betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% cream (Taz/Bp) group, betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% cream (Bp) group, tazarotene 0.05% gel (Taz) group and cream vehicle control (Plb) group. The treatment lasted 4 weeks. After 1, 2 and 4 weeks of treatment, efficacy and safety of drugs were evaluated in the above groups. Two-way analysis of variance model with main effects was used to compare continuous indices, least significant difference t-test was used for multiple comparisons, and chi-square test or Fisher′s exact test for comparisons of categorical data. Results:A total of 300 subjects were enrolled from 7 research centers, including 120 in the Taz/Bp group, 60 in the Bp group, 60 in the Taz group and 60 in the Plb group. After 4 weeks of treatment, proportions of patients achieving a 75% reduction in PASI (PASI75) were 35.83%, 20.00%, 18.33% and 6.67% in the Taz/Bp, Bp, Taz and Plb groups respectively, and there was a significant difference among the 4 groups ( P < 0.05) ; the proportion of patients achieving PASI75 was significantly higher in the Taz/Bp group than in the Plb group (α = 0.05, P < 0.05) and Taz group (α = 0.025, P < 0.025) , but there was no significant difference between the Taz/Bp group and Bp group (α = 0.016 7, P > 0.016 7) ; the proportions of patients achieving PASI90 were 25.00%, 8.33%, 5.00% and 1.67% in the Taz/Bp, Bp, Taz and Plb groups respectively, which significantly differed among the 4 groups ( P < 0.05) , and the Taz/Bp group showed a significantly increased proportion of patients achieving PASI90 compared with the Plb group ( P < 0.05) , Taz group ( P < 0.025) and Bp group ( P < 0.016 7) . All the tested drugs were well tolerated in the 4 groups. Adverse drug reactions occurred in 15 (12.50%) , 5 (8.33%) , 19 (31.67%) and 9 (15.00%) patients in the Taz/Bp, Bp, Taz and Plb groups respectively. The incidence rate of adverse drug reactions significantly differed among the 4 groups ( P = 0.004) , and was significantly lower in the Taz/Bp group than in the Taz group ( P < 0.05) , but insignificantly different between the Taz/Bp group and Bp or Plb group (both P > 0.05) . Conclusion:Tazarotene 0.05%/betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% cream is effective and safe for the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris.