Objective To determine sequence of sporogony stage-specific (S type) 18S ribosomal RNA gene of Plasmodium yoelii (P.y) By265 strain, and by using it to detect the malaria parasites within vector mosquito. Methods A pair of conserved DNA primers, universe primer (Pu) and reverse transcription one (Pr), was designed and synthesized according to sequence of the 18S rRNA gene of Plasmodium berghei (P.b). The segment of the S type 18S rDNA of P.y was amplified by reverse transcript-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) from dissected midguts of Anopheles stephensi infected with P.y on the 7th day after infective blood-meal, and its sequence was then determined. One P.y sporogony stage-specific primer (Pys) was selected according to the sequence. Using this primer and Pr, the parasites within mosquitoes were semi-quantitatively detected through RT-PCR between 1-7 d post-infection. Results The length of the amplified segment was 920 bp. Alignment in match region of the 18S rDNA among S type of P.y (PyS), S type of P.b (PbS) and asexual blood stage-specific one of P.y (PyA) revealed that the similarity between the former and the latter two reached 95\^3% and 94\^0% respectively. The density of amplified band was significantly concordance with the intensity of oocyst in the midgut. Sensitivity of RT-PCR method was higher than that of the traditional dissection and oocyst observation also. The assay could detect the 18S rRNA molecule of the parasites on the third day post-infection while their oocysts were difficult to be recognized under an optical microscope at that time. Conclusion This S type 18S rDNA sequence in P.y species was first reported (AF266261). As a molecular marker, it could be applied to monitoring the parasite development in its vector at an earlier stage semi-quantitatively with an adequate sensitivity and specificity.

Schwann cells play an important role in diabetic peripheral neuropathy.Recently,to investigate the effect of high glucose on Schwann cell in vitro has become a new research hotpoint with the development of cell culture technology.This review concentrates on the biological effect of high glucose on Schwann cell.

Objective To isolate and identify genes related to malaria parasite infection in vector mosquito, and to explore the mechanisms. Methods Anopheles stephensi infected with Plasmodium yoelii was used as tester (T) group, while uninfected but normal blood fed as driver (D) one. Engorged female mosquitoes of two groups were collected separately at 24 hours after biting. An enriched subtractive cDNA pool was generated through the course of suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) and selective PCR amplification. The subtracted library was screened by hybridization using T and D cDNA mixture as probes, respectively. The positive clones, which produced stronger signal when probed with T than with D, were sequenced and their sequence homologues in GenBank database were searched with BLAST by internet. Results The analysis of subtraction efficiency showed that the differentially expressed genes in T comparing to in D were enriched significantly. In dot blot screening, 24 of 58 randomly selected clones (41.4%) were shown up regulation in malaria infected mosquitoes. The BLAST search of 23 genes revealed that 12 were homologous to functionally known genes, 4 were homologous to functionally unknown entries, and 7 were novel without any relatives. Nine of the 23 genes (39.1%) also hit homologous sequences in the An. gambiae EST database generated from an immune competent cell line treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Conclusion An enriched cDNA pool of the mosquito genes which up regulated responsively at the early stage of malaria parasite infection was obtained. Expression screening against the pool indicated that various biochemical processes and mechanisms might be involved in the response of mosquito to parasite infection, especially those related with the innate immune system and energy metabolism.

Objective To investigate the changes of the gray matter in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) based on the voxel based morphometry (VBM).Methods 35 patients with RA and 30 healthy volunteers with age,sex and education level matched performed a high-resolution 3D-T1-weighted whole brain structural scan by GE Signa HDxt 1.5T MRI scanner.The high resolution T1WI images were preprocessed by the VBM 12 implemented in the SPM 12 software to display the gray matter structures of the RA patients and the healthy volunteers.T test was used to compare the morphological changes of gray matter between the RA patients and the volunteers.Results The gray matter volume gray matter volume in the right lentiform nucleus,left frontal lobe and left cerebellum posterior lobe significantly decreased in RA patients,and their gray matter volume had no correlation with the clinical indications.The increase of gray matter volume was not found in the RA patients.Conclusion RA patients show decreased gray matter volume in several cerebral regions,which suggests that RA can lead to the brain structural abnormalities.VBM can provide an objective imaging evidence to evaluate the cerebral morphological abnormalities of RA.

Objective: To observe the influences of different follow-up methods on rehabilitation and compliance of patients with severe scar after burns. Methods: From January 2012 to May 2016, medical records of 116 patients with severe scar after burns who were admitted to our unit, discharged after wound healing and conforming to the criteria, were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into face-to-face follow-up group [n=59, 45 males and 14 females, aged (36±9) years] and routine follow-up group [n=57, 44 males and 13 females, aged (35±9) years] based on different follow-up methods they received. On the day of discharge and in post discharge month (PDM) 1, 3, and 6, the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) was used to evaluate the hypertrophic scar in joints, Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale was used to evaluate the disability of patients in the 2 groups. In PDM 1, 3, and 6, Medical Compliance Behavior Questionnaire was used to investigate the medical compliance behaviors of patients in the 2 groups. Data were processed with chi-square test, t test with Bonferroni correction, and analysis of variance for repeated measurement. Results: (1) The VSS score of patients in face-to-face follow-up group on the day of discharge was (11.1±0.7) points, which was close to (11.7±0.7) points of routine follow-up group (t=2.021, P>0.05). The VSS scores of patients in face-to-face follow-up group in PDM 1, 3, and 6 were (10.5±0.6), (8.6±0.7), and (4.7±0.5) points, which were significantly lower than (11.4±0.7), (10.9±1.0), and (9.4±0.8) points of routine follow-up group respectively (t=2.034, 2.033, 2.042, P<0.05 or P<0.01). (2) The ADL score of patients in face-to-face follow-up group on the day of discharge was close to that of routine follow-up group (t=1.781, P>0.05). The ADL scores of patients in face-to-face follow-up group in PDM 1, 3, and 6 were higher than those of routine follow-up group respectively (t=9.683, 8.584, 9.772, P<0.01). (3) The compliance rates of consisted rehabilitation, reasonable diet, and timing consultation of patients in face-to-face follow-up group were better than those of routine follow-up group respectively (χ²=19.015, 13.251, 8.652, P<0.01). Conclusions Compared with routine follow-up by phone, face-to-face follow-up can do better in evaluating the scar condition and ADL of patients with severe scar after burns, and improve the medical compliance rates of patients, which is worthy of clinical promotion.