MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are recently discovered major regulators of gene expression, which play a pivotal role in a wide spectrum of biological processes including antiviral defence. There is growing evidence that some viruses either encode their own viral miRNAs or subvert cellular miRNAs. The host-and virus-encoded miRNAs and their targets together thus form a novel regulatory layer of interactions between the host and the virus. A better understanding of host-virus interaction mediated by miRNAs would not only enable us to unravel the molecular basis of viral pathogenesis, but also enable us to develop better therapeutic strategies.

@@

Risk factors for developing hemolytic uremic syndrome among patients with enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157: H7 (EHEC) infection include age. The young, especially those under the age of five, face an increased risk, as do the elderly. In the present study, we evaluated the protective effects of Hochu-ekki-to (HET) on intraperitoneal infection with EHEC, using immunosuppressant, dexamethasone (Dex)-treated mice.
It was found that HET induced improvement of Dex-induced leukopenia. Similarly, the IgM-plaque forming cell responses to sheep red blood cell (SRBC) were restored by the administration of HET to the normal-mice level in Dex-treated mice. Consequently, HET was administered orally into the Dex-treated mice before infection with EHEC to observe the therapeutic effect. With the oral administration of 500mg/kg/head of HET into the Dex-treated mice, prolonged survival was shown: the 50% survival time in the HET-administered mice was four days, compared with one day in the non-administered controls. In addition, the number of bacteria in the liver was reduced by the administration of HET in the Dex-treated mice.
The results indicate that orally administered-HET protects against EHEC infection in Dex-treated mice, and such protective effects appear to be due to the restorative effects of HET against the Dex-induced immunosuppression.

Background and purpose:Through detection of MG7-Ag expression in various types of gastric mucosa biopsy tissues as well as serum,we studied their correlation and its clinical application value in the role of prediction of gastric precancerosis and its clinical significance.Methods:Using 125 samples of gastric mucosa biopsy tissues and corresponding sera(12 samples of normal gastric mucosa,21 samples of superficial gastritis,24 samples of gastric mucosal erosion and ulcer,15 samples of atrophic gastritis,22 samples of dysplasia,31 samples of gastric cancer)MG7-Ag expression in tissues was detected by SP immunohistochemical two-step staining;enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect serum content of antigen MG7.Results:No expression of MG7 was detected in 12 samples of normal gastric mucosa and the positive expression rate of MGT-Ag was 93.55% in 31 samples of gastric cancer.In the order of superficial gastritis,gastric mucosal erosion,ulcer,atrophic gastritis,dysplasia and gastric cancer,expression rate of MG7 was increased sequentially(P

To investigate biological characteristics of the IVpi-189 progeny virus derived from the culture of influenza A virus as a live-attenuated vaccine candidate. Persistent infection of a cultured cell line with influenza A virus (MDCK-IVpi) was established by incubating continuously influenza virus-infected cells at a lower temperature. The infectious progeny virus derived from MDCK-IVpi cells at the 189rd subculture was designated as the IVpi-189 strain of influenza virus. The cytopathic effect induced by IVpi-189 virus was observed under different temperature conditions. The production of infectious progeny virus was examined at 38 and 32 degrees C by plaque titration of cell-associated and released virus. IVpi-189 virus showed cytopathic effect as strong as that of IVwt in infected cell line of MDCK at 32 degrees C. However, when culture temperature was raised to 38 degrees C, the cytopathic effect induced by IVpi-189 virus was delayed and less pronounced. Virus growth in IVpi-189 virus-infected cells at 38 degrees C was significantly reduced as compared with that of IVwt virus, although both viruses yielded nearly equivalent high titers of cell-associated and released virus at 32 degrees C. The reasons of the decreased proliferative ability of IVpi-189 virus at high culture temperature were unrelated with virus inactivation or the release of progeny virus, but associated with the decreased replication of infectious progeny virus in the infected cells. IVpi-189 virus derived from MDCK cells infected persistently with influenza A virus showed biological characteristics as a potential live-attenuated vaccine candidate.
Animals ; Cell Line ; Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral ; Dogs ; Humans ; Influenza A virus ; genetics ; physiology ; Temperature ; Virus Cultivation ; methods ; Virus Replication

OBJECTIVETitin is recently known as the largest protein which exists in the striated muscle sarcomere and is dynamic both in biomechanics properties and biochemical functions. Four possible disease-associated mutations located in three exons (3, 14, 49) of titin gene (TTN) have been identified in Japanese DCM patients in 2002. We observed the possible association of TTN mutation in Chinese patients with DCM.

METHODSThree exons of TTN (3, 14, 49) were screened in 117 DCM patients and 120 controls by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphisms (PCR-SSCP) and DNA sequence. SSCP was carried out following a protocol optimized for each PCR fragment after amplification. Abnormal SSCP results were subsequently confirmed by DNA sequencing.

RESULTSThe mutations reported in Japanese DCM patients were not identified in this patient cohort. A novel mutation [the G13053A (TTN cDNA sequence, X90568) change resulted in amino acid change at position 4351 (Gly4351Asp)] was found in two young DCM patients from a DCM family (1.7%). There was no similar mutation in controls.

CONCLUSIONThis novel Gly4351Asp mutation in TTN might be associated with DCM.

Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Connectin ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscle Proteins ; genetics ; Mutation ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational ; Protein Kinases ; genetics

Objective To evaluate the value of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in transthoracic minimally invasive device closure of ventricular septal defect(VSD).Methods A total of 164 cases of VSD were recruited as candidates to receive transthoracic minimally invasive device closure between January 2007 and October 2010,including 138 perimembranous VSDs,3 muscular VSDs and 23 supracristal VSDs.Among these groups,85 male patients were included.Four-champer view,five-champer view,left ventricular long-axis view,short-axis view and right ventricular inflow view were detected to evaluate the availability of device closure.Results A total of 152 cases(92.7%)were successfully closed with a device.All the patients were followed up more than 3 months arranged with a standard protocol.No complete atrioventricular block (CAVB) or associated valvular complications were observed.Three of the five cases with traced residual shunt after device closure closed spontaneously.Conclusion TEE plays an important role in transthoracic minimally invasive device closure of ventricular septal defect,which has been proved by the good follow-up results without CAVB and associated valvular complications.

Objective To explore the status, characteristics and factors in relation to occupational stress for medical staffs in tertiary general hospitals. Methods A total of 2460 medical staff were sampled in five tertiary general hospitals in Beijing, with their occupational stress levels evaluated with the Occupational Stress Inventory. Results The top ten stressors as found ranked as heavy duty, high risk exposure, high workload, low wages, setbacks in the health care management system, insufficient staffing, excessively frequent inspections and examinations, strained doctor-patient relationship, price inflation, frequent overtime, and pressure from continuous learning. Occupational stress is seen as moderate and above by 95.2% of the surveyed. Differences in age, gender, marital status, professional title, education, work experience, as well as those of different organizations, departments, professions, and duty were found to be statistically significant in regard of professional stress. Conclusions Stress management should be in place targeting demographic and stress characteristics. Effective measures are recommended to alleviate the pressure on medical staff, in order to maintain their physical and mental health, hence improving their work efficiency and organizational cohesion.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Bone Marrow ; pathology ; Bone Marrow Examination ; methods ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To establish a subjective indicator system for the evaluation of sub-health status and study on its reliability and validity. Methods Based on the basic features of general malice and losing ability of workforce, the indicator system for sub-health status evaluation was developed according to the chronic stress on human body' s main systems. The items were adjusted according to the experience from experts and the results of the pilot study. Indices as Chronbach' s a, IIC and ICC were used to evaluate the reliability of the questionnaire. Factor analysis and ANOVA were used to evaluate the construct validity and discriminative ability of the questionnaire. Results The formal sub-health survey questionnaire would include five domains and 25 questions in total. The whole questionnaire' s Chronbach's α coefficient was 0.92. Cronbach's α of the four domains, including cardiovascular, digestive tract, immunity and mental health were no less than 0.7 while IIC ranging from 0.51 to 0.72 and ICC ranging from 0.89 to 0.98. The five extracted common factors which contributed 62.35% to the total variation were basically consistent with the five dimensions. ANOVA showed significant differences among different groups (P<0.05). Conclusion The questionnaire appeared reliable and valid for measurement of sub-health status.