Objective To explore the significance of gene mutations of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase(MTHFR) C677T,cystathionine ?-synthase(CBS)844ins68,T27796C and methionine synthase (MS A2756G) in the development of brain stroke. Methods There were no obvious differences in age and sex among the four groups. The plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels of 78 patients with cerebral infarction, 26 patients with cerebral hemorrhage, 29 patients with other neurological diseases and 50 healthy control elders were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay. Moreover,the genotypes of MTHFRC677T, CBS844ins68, CBST27796C and MSA2756G were detected by PCR-RFLP in four groups. Results The mean plasma Hcy levels in cerebral infarction or in cerebral hemorrhage was significantly higher than those in other neurological diseases or in healthy control elders. The prevalences of CBS 844ins68 and MS A2756G in the cohort studies were obviously lower than those in Caucasian populations. The plasma Hcy level in C677T homozygote mutation was higher than that in wild type or heterozygote. However,heterozygote mutation of CBS T27796C gene reduced Hcy concentration. There were no significant differences in the frequencies of MTHFR,CBS and MS mutations among four groups. Conclusions Hcy might be associated with brain stroke. Moreover,the prevalences of gene mutations of CBS 844ins68 and MS A2756G might vary with different ethnic groups or geographic regions. The homozygosity of MTHFR C677T might contribute to the increase of total plasma Hcy, and CBS T27796C gene heterozygote mutation might lower the raised total Hcy. In addition, four gene mutations are consistent with the law of heredity balance.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common disabling and neurodegenerative disease.As the disease progresses,the patient's respiratory system will be affected.PD leads to obstructive and restrictive airway diseases,and PD medications may produce pulmonary side effects,such as pleuropulmonary fibrosis related to dopamine agonists.Finally,motor fluctuations in advanced PD may trigger respiratory symptoms.Abnormal central control of ventilation,obstructive sleep apnea,emotional disorders will influence respiratory system.Recognizing these pulmonary complications will assist the clinician in appropriately managing the disease and potentially reducing the impact of the abnormal respiratory system on overall PD patient health.

Objective To examine the immunoregulation of Celastrus orbiculatus extracts(COE),a traditional Chinese medicine,on maturation and function of dendritic cells(DCs)in vitro and in vivo.Methods In vitro,after treated with COE indifferent nontoxic concentrations(0,10,20,40,80,and 160 μg/mL)for 5 d,the surface immunological molecules andcytokine secretion of mice bone marrow-derived DCs in response to COE were analyzed by flow cytometric analysis(FACS)and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),respectively.In vivo,mouse hepatoma cells(Hepal-6,1 ×106)were injected sc and were treated with different dosages of COE(10,20 or 40 mg/kg/d).Effects on tumor growth were determined by tumor volume and histology analysis after 28 d administration of COE.The relative proportions ofmature DCs and CD8+ T cells were measured in mononuclear cells that had been isolated from spleen by FACS.Results COE stimulated IL-2 and IFN-γ secretion of DCs,simultaneously enhanced the maturation of DCs byenhancing immunological molecule(CD40,CDS0,CD86,H-2Kb,and I-Ab)expression in a dose-dependent manner.Furthermore,the chcmotactic responses of DCs were significantly higher in COE-treated than untreated DCs,in association with higher chcmokine receptor 7 expression.Furthermore,COE increased DCs produce IFN-γ and IL-2 ina dose-dependent manner when the concentration of COE less than 40 μg/mL,decreased DCs produce IL-10 and IL-4also in a dose-dependent manner.In in vivo studies,COE can not only suppress growth of malignant hepatocellularcarcinomas but also stimulate maturation of DCs,associated with strongly enhanced CD8+ CTL responses.ConclusionThese data provide new insight into the mechanism of action of COE and indicate that the stimulation of maturation andfunction of DCs by COE contributes to its immunoregulatory effects.

Bombyx mori bidensovirus (BmBDV) has been identified as causing chronic densonucleosis in Bombyx mori specifically. The replication mechanism of BmBDV remains unknown. Its genome comprises two single stands DNA (VD1 and VD2). In order to rescue infectious virions in vitro, we obtained the total viral DNA extracted from the BmBDV-infected larvae midguts, subsequently cloned the full-length sequence of BmBDV genome fragments by PCR and constructed recombinant plasmids pMD18T-VD1 and pUC-VD2. The linear genome fragments were obtained by digesting recombinant plasmids with corresponding restriction enzymes, and then collectively transfected BmN cells by the method of liposome-embedding. We determined the replication of the virus gene by PCR with the template of demethylated total DNA extracted from the post-transfect BmN cells. Meanwhile, we collected the total proteins from the post-transfect BmN cells and the larvae midgut of feeding the post-transfect BmN cells to perform Western blotting analysis, and detected the expression of viral genes. Here we firstly confirm that infectious virions can be rescued in BmN cells by linear co-transfect method.
Animals ; Bombyx ; DNA, Viral ; Densovirus ; growth & development ; Larva ; Transfection ; Virion ; Virus Cultivation

Objective To explore the effects of an aerobic exercise of different durations on the binding capacity of NF-E2-related factor 2(Nrf2)/Kelch-like ECH-associated protein-1(Keap1) in skeletal muscle of mice.Methods Thirty C57BL/6J mice were divided into a control(0h) group,an acute exercise for 3 hours (3h) group and an acute exercise for 6 hours(6h) group.The mice ran on treadmill at the speed of 15 m/min for different durations.The mice were sacrificed immediately after exercise and collected skeletal muscles of legs.The high quality fluorescence assay was done to detect the reactive oxygen species(ROS) level in the skeletal muscles of mice.The binding capacity of Nrf2/Keap1 was detected using co-immunoprecipitation.The expression of Nrf2 and Keap1 was analyzed using the Western blotting.Result Compared with group 0h,the Nrf2/Keap1 binding capacity in skeletal muscles of group 3h and 6h decreased significantly(P＜0.05),but the total Nrf2 in skeletal muscles increased significantly(P＜0.05).No significant differences were observed in the expression of total Keapl.The expression of Nrf2 protein of group 3h and 6h increased significantly compared with 0h,with that of group 6h significantly higher than group 3h(P＜0.05).The ROS level in skeletal muscles of group 6h increased significantly compared with group 0h(P＜0.05).Conclusion The effect of acute aerobic exercise on Nrf2/Keap1 binding capacity in skeletal muscle of mice depends on its duration.

Objective To investigate if improving or slowing the progression of glucose intolerance might be linked with the reduction of cardiovascular disease(CVD)events and mortality in a Da Qing population with prediabetes.Methods In 1986,577 subjects with impaired glucose tolerance in 33 clinics in Daqing city were randomly assigned to either the control group or one of three lifestyle intervention groups(diet,exercise,or diet plus exercise)to receive a 6 year lifestyle intervention.All the participants were followed for 14 years(1993-2006)after completion of the 6 year active interventions to assess the long-term effect of the interventions.In this post-hoc analysis,the participants were stratified into four subgroups(quartiles)based on their 2 h plasma glucose(2hPG)level after glucose loading at the end of the active intervention,in order to analyze the impact of plasma glucose level on CVD events and mortality.Results During the 20-year follow-up,there were a total of 142 deaths(68 of which were attributed to CVD)and 211 first CVD events(145 strokes and 66 myocardial infarctions).From the highest to the lowest levels of 2hPG in the 4 quartiles,the all-cause mortality(17.8,12.7,10.9,and 9.7/1 000 personyears),CVD mortality(9.1,5.9,6.1,and 4.9/1 1300 person-years)and the incidence of first CVD events(30.4.24.0,18.8,and 19.7/1 000 person-years)showed a clear trend of decline.In multivariate analyses,controlled for age,sex,body mass index,smoking habit,blood pressure,and intervention methods at baseline,the results showed that the 5 mmol/L elevation of 2hPG level after glucose loading in 1992 significantly increased the all-cause mortality(HR 1.335.P=0.005),the incidences offirst CVD events(HR 1.227,P=0.012)and stroke(HR 1.213,P=0.026).Conclusion In pre-diabetes population.if the lifestyle intenrentions are substantially efficacious in improving glucose intolerance,the CVD risk and mortality will be reduced.

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) is an autosomal dominant degenerative disease. The main clinical manifestation of SCA2 is progressive cerebellar syndrome, but a wide range of extracerebellar and non-motor symptoms can be observed clinically. The non-motor symptoms and extra-cerebellar signs in SCA2 patients are reviewed to provide a better understanding in cognition, diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Objective To investigate ultrahistopathological features of symmetrical acrokeratoderma.Methods Biopsy specimens were obtained from skin lesions and perilesional normalappearing skin of 6 patients with symmetrical acrokeratoderma,as well as from normal skin of 3 healthy volunteers.Then,these skin specimens were subjected to transmission electron microscopy (TEM).Results TEM showed obviously thickened stratum corneum,irregular morphology of keratinocytes and discontinuous cornified envelope.Aggregation and abnormal arrangement of keratin filaments occurred in all epidermal layers.Many vacuoles of different sizes were observed in the transitional zone between the stratum corneum and stratum granulosum.Hypogranulosis,abnormal shape and different sizes of keratohyalin granules,and reduction of membrane-coating granules were found in the stratum granulosum.Increased melanocytes with a large number of stage Ⅳ melanosomes in the cytoplasm were observed in the basal layers.Moreover,there was infiltration of a few lymphocytes in the superficial dermis.Perilesional normal-appearing skin tissues showed similar but milder ultrastructural changes.Conclusion Abnormal metabolism of keratins,epidermal differentiation complex proteins and lipids may exist in skin lesions of symmetrical acrokeratoderma,which may contribute to epidermal thickening and impairment of skin barrier function.

The annual deaths associated with influenza is estimated to be between 290 000 and 650 000,which caused substantial burden to the society.Children have the highest incidence of influenza among all age groups,which can cause overloaded medical visits and a significant increase of hospitalization risk.The severe economic burden includes not only the direct medical costs due to outpatients and hospitalization,but also the indirect burden of school absence of children and work absence of their family members.Annual vaccination is the best measure to prevent influenza,however,influenza vaccination coverage among children in China is very low,and influenza vaccination has not yet been included in the National Immunization Program.Now,the disease burden of influenza and the vaccine usage in children in China were reviewed,and in order to provide evidence for influenza control and prevention.

Embryo is regarded as a semi-allograft for carrying paternal genetic information. It can escape the attack from maternal immune system and successfully implant into the uterus, which mainly relies on the establishment of immune tolerance at the maternal-fetal interface. The maternal-fetal interface is the basis for the connection and material exchange between the mother and fetus. The mechanisms of immune re-sponses at this interface are the key to the maintenance of normal pregnancy. Immunomodulatory molecules expressed at the maternal-fetal interface are vital for immune tolerance. Studies have shown that sialicacid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectins (Siglecs) are abundantly expressed at the maternal-fetal interface and play an important role in immune regulation. Siglecs are important members of the typeⅠimmunoglobulin-like superfamily. By binding with the sialic acid residues on the side chains of glycoproteins or glycolipids, Siglecs involve in immune regulation, the activation and proliferation of immune cells and immune cell-medi-ated physiological and pathological processes. Present research on the expression of Siglecs in the maternal-fetal interface is mainly focused on Siglec-6 and Siglec-10, while other Siglecs are less studied. Siglecs, such as Siglec-6 and Siglec-10, might involve in the regulation of immune tolerance at the maternal-fetal in-terface through binding to different ligands. This article briefly reviewed the expression of Siglecs and their ligands at the maternal-fetal interface and their roles in immune tolerance.