To study the kinetics in vivo of a Hantaan virus DNA vaccine, we constructed a fusion DNA vaccine,pEGFP/S, by cloning the S segment of Hantavirus into the vector, pEGFP-C1, which encodes Green fluorescent protein EGFP. In this report, we provide evidence that pEGFP/S was distributed and persistently expressed for more than 60 days in several organs after inoculation. Our findings suggest that the persistent immune responses induced by a Hantaan virus DNA vaccine are likely due to the plasmid pEGFP/S deposited in vivo, which acts as a booster immunization.

To study the mechanism of Shenkangling (SKL), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, combined with prednisone in treating adriamycin-induced nephropathy in rats.

China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; Registries

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an acute infectious disease caused by the new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, which has led to serious worldwide economic burden. Due to the continuous emergence of variants, vaccines and monoclonal antibodies are only partial effective against infections caused by distinct strains of SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, it is still of great importance to call for the development of broad-spectrum and effective small molecule drugs to combat both current and future outbreaks triggered by SARS-CoV-2. Cathepsin L (CatL) cleaves the spike glycoprotein (S) of SARS-CoV-2, playing an indispensable role in enhancing virus entry into host cells. Therefore CatL is one of the ideal targets for the development of pan-coronavirus inhibitor-based drugs. In this study, a CatL enzyme inhibitor screening model was established based on fluorescein labeled substrate. Two CatL inhibitors IMB 6290 and IMB 8014 with low cytotoxicity were obtained through high-throughput screening, the half inhibition concentrations (IC₅₀) of which were 11.53 ± 0.68 and 1.56 ± 1.10 μmol·L^-1, respectively. SDS-PAGE and cell-cell fusion experiments confirmed that the compounds inhibited the hydrolysis of S protein by CatL in a concentration-dependent manner. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) detection showed that both compounds exhibited moderate binding affinity with CatL. Molecular docking revealed the binding mode between the compound and the CatL active pocket. The pseudovirus experiment further confirmed the inhibitory effects of IMB 8014 on the S protein mediated entry process. In vitro pharmacokinetic evaluation indicated that the compounds had relatively good drug-likeness properties. Our research suggested that these two compounds have the potential to be further developed as antiviral drugs for COVID-19 treatment.

Objective To understand the situation of iodized salt consumption at the household level and non-iodized salt distribution in those areas with low iodized salt coverage.Methods In 2010,iodized salt was monitored in 31 provinces and Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps in accordance with the Monitoring Program of the National Iodine Deficiency Disorders (Trial) (hereinafter referred to as the Program) requirements.Under the jurisdiction of counties (cities,districts,banners) with more than 9 townships (towns,street offices),based on the location of east,west,south,north and center,9 townships (town,district offices) were selected using simple random sampling method; 4 administrative villages (neighborhoods) were selected in each township (town,district office); and 8 residents in each administrative village (neighborhood) were selected.Under the jurisdiction of counties (cities,districts,banners) with less than 9 townships (towns,street offices),based on the location of east,west,south,north and center,1 township(town,district office) was selected using simple random sampling method; 4 administrative villages(neighborhoods) were selected in each township(town,district office);and 15 residents in each administrative village(neighborhood) were selected.Iodized salt coverage rate,qualification rate of iodized salt and consumption rate of qualified iodized salt were calculated in various provinces.The salt samples were tested by semi-quantitative method on the spot and then tested with quantitative method in laboratories.The standard of qualified iodized salt was set as 20-50 mg/kg and that of non-iodized salt was set as ＜ 5 mg/kg (GB/T 13025.7-1999).Results In 2010,a total of 2862 counties(districts,cities and banners) and 14 divisions of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps,reported the monitoring results,and the monitoring coverage rate was 99.79％(2876/2882).A total of 826 696 copies of edible salt samples were tested,the coverage rate of iodized salt was 98.63％,the consumption rate of qualified iodized salt was 97.95％,and the coverage rate of qualified iodized salt was 96.63％.At province level,only in Tibet iodized salt coverage rate was ＜ 90％.At county level,2755 counties qualified iodized salt coverage rate was ≥90％,and 33 counties iodized salt coverage rate was ＜ 80％.The counties with qualified iodized salt coverage rate of 90％ or more accounted for 96.63％(2785/2882) of the total counties.Conclusions The counties where non-iodized salt coverage is higher than 20％ mainly distributed in the western or coastal areas and adjacent areas with higher iodine.These areas need policy and funding support from governments at all levels to reducc the gap between these areas and other areas.

Aorta, Thoracic ; pathology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; diagnosis ; mortality ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Vascular Malformations ; diagnosis ; mortality

BACKGROUNDRepair of anterior mitral leaflet (AML) prolapse is still a technical challenge for cardiac surgeons. It is an important issue to find a way to repair the AML prolapse with a reliable and reproducible technique.

METHODSBetween January 2002 and June 2009, the operation of chordal transfer based on the "edge-to-edge" technique was performed in 21 patients with serious mitral valve regurgitation because of prolapse of the anterior leaflet. After the operation, echocardiography was performed in each patient before discharge and at the time of follow-up.

RESULTSAll patients survived the operation. One patient required mitral valve replacement because of anterior leaflet perforation 3 days after the operation. The other patients were free from reoperation. At the time of follow-up, all these patients were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class I. In all these patients, pre-discharge and follow-up echocardiography showed neither stenosis nor significant regurgitation of the mitral valve: the cross-sectional area of the mitral valve was 3.3 - 4.8 cm(2) (mean (3.78 ± 0.52) cm(2)), the mean regurgitation area was (0.45 ± 0.22) cm(2). At the same time, both dimension of left atrium and left ventricle reduced significantly (left atrium diameter: pre-operation (48.26 ± 11.12) mm, post-operation (37.57 ± 9.56) mm, P < 0.05; the end-diastolic diameter of the left ventricle: pre-operation (61.43 ± 8.24) mm, post-operation (42.35 ± 10.79) mm, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION"Edge-to-edge" chordal transfer technique is a simple, reliable, and reproducible technique that can provide good results for repair of anterior leaflet prolapse of mitral valve.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Chordae Tendineae ; surgery ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve ; surgery ; Mitral Valve Prolapse ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Suture Techniques

In order to decrease the potential side-effects of human basic fibroblast growth factor (hbFGF) caused by its broadspectrum mitogenic activity, a single residue of hbFGF, the residue serine 108, was replaced with neutral alanine residue to construct a mutant of hbFGF (mhbFGF) with reduced mitogenic activity. The mutant was overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) by IPTG induction. The expression level of mhbFGF was about 30% of the total cellular protein. The expressed mhbFGF was purified by ionic exchange and heparin affinity chromatography from the supernatant of bacteria lysate. Measured by MTT method, the effect of mhbFGF on Balb/c 3T3 cell proliferation was much lower than that of wild-type hbFGF. The purified recombinant mhbFGF was prepared and sufficient for the following pharmacological and safety studies.

Objective To describe and analyze the characteristics and trend of liver cancer,through data gathered from the Cancer Registry System,in China.Methods Annual registration data on cancer incidents and deaths of 2003-2007,from 32 cancer registries were employed.Crude rates of incidence and mortality,and age-standardized rates by the China population (ASRc) and the world population (ASRw) were calculated.Incidence and mortality rates by age,gender,and by area (urban or rural) were analyzed,and comparison was made internationally,based upon data from the GLOBOCAN 2008.Results The total person-years of 2003-2007 observed from the 32 cancer registries were 255 430 909,in which 197 651 428 from the urban areas,and 57 779 481 from the rural areas.A total of 68 146 incident cases with liver cancer were reported,which accounted for 10.03％(ranked second) of all the registered cases with cancers,with the average annual incidence as 26.68per 100 000 (39.42 in males,13.63 in females).ASRc and ASRw were 13.29 per 100 000 and 17.45per 100 000,respectively.Sex ratios for incidence and mortality were 2.89:1 and 2.72:1,respectively.Incidence rates were 23.91 per 100 000 in urban areas,and 36.15 per 100 000 in rural areas.For mortality rates,they were 22.39 per 100 000 m urban areas and 34.05 per 100 000 in rural areas,respectively.Relative greater differences could be seen amongst these registries.The incidence rates were 10.15-33.85 per 100 000 in the urban areas,and 11.83-78.59 per 100 000 in the rural areas.For mortality rates,they were 13.99-28.45 per 100 000 in urban areas,and 11.02-71.99 per 100 000 in rural areas.According to data from the 184 cancer registries through GLOBOCAN 2008,liver cancer incidence in China was ranked the 5th in males,and 6th in females while mortality was ranked 2nd in males,and 5th in females.Conclusion Liver cancer had been the second most leading malignancy,following lung cancer,with annual incidents and death cases around 360 000 and 350 000,respectively and the figures seemed to be increasing.Nationwide monitoring and research programs on liver cancer should be emphasized.

Objective To analyze the trend of incidence and mortality on thyroid cancer in China.Methods Data from 32 cancer registry sites in China was collected and Jionpoint model was used to obtain the crude,age-specified incidence and mortality,both Chinese national and world age-standardized rates of incidence and mortality and their trends.Results The crude incidence of thyroid cancer was 4.44/105,and the Chinese national and world age-standardized rates were 2.89/105 and 3.31/105 respectively.The crude mortality of thyroid cancer was 0.44/105,with the Chinese national and world age-standardized rates as 0.21/105 and 0.29/105 during 2003-2007 in the country.Thyroid cancer accounted for 1.67％ and 0.26％ of the Chinese national and world age-standardized proportions,for total cancers.Both incidence and mortality of thyroid cancer were higher in females than in males,3.38 and 1.75 times higher in urban areas than those in rural areas.The incidence of thyroid cancer showed annually increase of 14.51％ while the mortality had an increase of 1.42％.Conclusion The incidence and mortality of thyroid cancer increased rapidly in China,calling for more control efforts on this disease.